Sacramento, California, at 6.30 am.
Maelie smiled with her hazel blue eyes glistening as she looked at the pregnancy test in her hand showing a positive result, that means she is pregnant."Erland will surely be thrilled with this good news!" she exclaimed joyfully, thinking of her husband who was out of town. She pushed aside her chestnut-black long hair, then rinsed the pregnancy test and took it out of the bathroom.She sat on her bedroom couch, her trembling hand holding the phone, occasionally glancing back at the pregnancy test as if disbelieving the result, unable to fathom that she would soon become a mother."No, I won't tell him now. I'll surprise him when he returns," she said with a smile, thinking of her beloved husband.Click...She immediately turned to the newly opened door, her eyes finding her young sister, Amanda, who stood frozen with an anxious expression."Amanda, you have to see this!" She stood up, holding the pregnancy test and approaching her sister with a hint of happiness on her face. "I'm pregnant, finally i'm pregnant!"Amanda remained silent, her face not expressing joy but instead continued to reflect sadness.Maelie furrowed her brow. "Don't you like this news?"Amanda took the test, her amber eyes examining it, undeniable proof that her older sister was indeed pregnant."You'll be an aunt, we won't be too lonely anymore!" Maelie said enthusiastically, hugging Amanda from the side. "But don't worry, even though I'm pregnant...I'll try to stay focused on our bakery business....""You don't need to do that..." Amanda gently pushed Maelie away, releasing her embrace. "Erland isn't a poor man... You shouldn't need to work hard because he has a lot of money..."Maelie furrowed her brow. "Why would you say that? You even know he has to work out of town as a salesman...""He's lying, he is a fraud, he has taken great pleasure in our suffering all this time, he has fooled us!""What?""He never worked like that; he has another life in New York!"Amanda quickly took her phone from the red jumpsuit pocket she was wearing and showed a social media photo to Maelie."Look...!"Maelie look at the photo, seeing a couple kissing near the aisle, then another picture showing the bride and groom with their families. She couldn't deny the resemblance of the groom to her husband but noticed he looked much younger, with slightly thinner cheeks."that's a photo four four years ago, which means their marriage happened before yours," Amanda explained again.Maelie swallowed hard, trying to think positively considering Erland was so kind, responsible, and always open with her, and they had been together for three years."No... Maybe it's just a resemblance... He's not Erland!" She handed the phone back to Amanda. "You know, in this world, someone always looks like someone else even if they're not related... I don't...""But it's him!" Amanda interrupted Maelie, her eyes wide but reddening, looking at her sister with a shattered soul. "It's impossible for someone to be one thousand percent similar... You can zoom in on this photo multiple times... He is Erland, and his name is Erland. I saw his wife's account profile; her name is Tiffany Geraldton... She uses the last name Erland... Erland Geraldton!"Maelie was stunned, her throat suddenly dry, choked up, the shock rendering her unable to speak."My friends were the ones who first told me this because about four years ago, she went to New York with her family to attend a lavish wedding of a wealthy businessman. They said the man owns a gold mining company in Nevada... That man is Erland!" Amanda explained again, gazing at her sister with such sadness. "He's been deceiving us, pretending to be an ordinary man, a single man... But look at the reality..." She handed her phone to Maelie again.Maelie took Amanda's phone and looked at the wedding photo, then opened Tiffany Geraldton's account, seeing her elegant and beautiful pictures full of luxury, occasionally finding pictures of her with Erland."You can even see there's a photo posted about one weeks ago, and Erland left town one weeks ago until today," Amanda clarified again.Maelie remained stunned, her body suddenly weak, her legs trembling as she returned to the sofa and sat with an empty stare. Her mind wandered, envisioning her husband's face with that woman, and simultaneously recalling their first meeting in front of the bakery, dating for several months before getting married.'This feels surreal, hard to believe...' she thought with tears streaming down. 'But... He has been away more often than with me... Could it be because he wanted to spend time with her? He didn't want me to use his last name, he didn't like taking photos together... He didn't enjoy spending time with me in public? Is this because he has another life and doesn't want me to know, or his family to know about me? Then who were they claiming to be his family during our wedding?'Maelie felt dizzy, too many questions swirling in her head. Her mind was chaotic, reluctant to believe, not wanting to believe, yet the evidence compelling her to.Amanda sat beside Maelie and hugged her."I don't want to believe it," Maelie whispered, unable to hold back her tears."I don't want to believe either, but everything has proven that he's a liar....""I love him... I love him so much, he even said he wanted to have a baby with me..." Maelie kept crying, her chest feeling tight, her heart pounding, and her head throbbing. "How can he want to having babies with me if he has another wife?"Amanda released her embrace. "And now you're pregnant. You have to tell him and force him to be honest... Then choose between his first wife or you!"Maelie fell silent, confused, suddenly worried that Erland might choose that woman over her, but she also felt like a parasite to their marriage because that woman might have known Erland longer than she did."I'm not sure I deserve to be chosen... I'm just... I'm just a mistress... I've just realized that ... all this time I've been a mistress... It's so embarrassing! I'm so awful!" She started to hysterically cry again. "I'm like a snatcher of someone's husband, I'm like a destroyer of people's marriage!"Amanda immediately held onto Maelie's arm. "You're not at fault in this, but Erland!"A few days have passed.A muscular man with a thin beard parked his black jeep in front of a small house with a bakery, complete with a sign that read "Luisa Sweet Cake". He quickly got out, carrying a backpack on his back and two paper bags in his hands then walked towards the glass front door of the house, where Amanda quickly opened it."Erland," she greeted with a flat gaze.Erland smiled and handed one of the paper bags to Amanda."You're back early," remarked Amanda as she received the paper bag."My work finished quickly...I didn't want to stay away from your sister for too long," replied Erland with a sweet smile. "I'm sure she's busy in the kitchen now... But I'll stop her," he immediately entering the house enthusiastically.Amanda glanced at the contents of the paper bag. 'He's rich. I won't let him watch my sister and me suffer while he enjoys a life of luxury with his first wife ... he has to give us luxuries too!' ...Erland entered a beautifully decorated kitchen with p
Erland chased after Maelie, who ran from her bed after seeing him ound a pregnancy test kit under the pillow "Darling, why did you hide this from me? You're pregnant, aren't you?"Maelie stopped in front of the door.Erland immediately embraced her, kissing her forehead with eyes full of suffering, as if in pain seeing her cry."I'm pregnant... I wanted to tell you as a surprise, but... I know you have another wife, and I'm just the second wife, you were with her first, I'm like a home-wrecker!" she cried, pushing Erland away. "You make me feel like a wicked woman now. How can I continue with you when she also needs you and surely doesn't accept me in your life? I'm just a parasite to both of you!" She asserted, her cheeks already filled with tears.Erland shook his head with a resigned look."I don't care what your reasons are, but I can't be with you anymore!" Maelie reiterated, about to leave the room, but Erland immediately grabbed her hand."I will never let you go, and I will nev
Waiting too long for Maelie who kept locking the door, Erland took the spare key and immediately unlocked it."Mae..."His eyes widened as he saw Maelie lying unconscious on the floor. He quickly lifted her and carried her out of the room."Amanda, open the car for me!" he shouted.Amanda, who was in her room, rushed to the small garage and started the black jeep, then drove it to the yard. She got out and opened the passenger door.In a hurry, Erland put Maelie in the car, sat her in the seat, and fastened her seatbelt."Do you want to stay here or come to the hospital with us?" he asked."I'm doing my assignment, but I'll follow later," Amanda replied anxiously."Alright...!"Erland closed the car door, got into the driver's seat, and drove out of the area at high speed, occasionally glancing at the mirror above to see Maelie still unconscious.'Oh God, what should I do? I can't leave Tiffany; it could disappoint my family and hers, and ruin the company's relationships... I can't do
Several days passed...A man entered a large room with golden-white hues and luxurious furniture, dominated by white and golden-yellow colors. He stopped near the table, facing the woman sipping tea."Robbie, what have you got?" the woman asked."This time I bring important information, Ma'am," the man replied, handing over a document. "Your husband transferred a huge amount of funds to his trustee's account, Tommy. And from Tommy, the money was transferred to several accounts until it reached one named Maelie Luisa Romanov," he continued as he watched the woman open the document.The woman read through the papers in the document one by one, her beautiful face serious as if she had found something shocking."For the past three years, your husband has rarely come to the company or the mining site... He's seldom seen working... And during this time, Tommy has always been doing his tasks, like his right hand. And some people who happen to know me saw him shopping with a woman at a store.
Entering the majestic metallic-themed living room, Maelie glanced around at the impeccably clean space furnished with modern and expensive furniture dominated by shades of gray and black. The family room appeared spacious, complete with sofas, decorative cabinets, a fireplace, and even a large aquarium. A black staircase with a silver carpet led upstairs, and several doors indicated the number of rooms there."This is too big just for two people," she remarked."No..." Erland hugged her from behind. "It's not for two people, but eight.""Eight?""Yes... You, me, Amanda, the driver, maid, gardener, security guard, and our baby," Erland explained with a smile, then kissed Maelie's cheek before releasing her and turning to face her. "Please... Don't be angry... I apologize for only providing this... I know it doesn't mean much... But... I'm trying my best to give you a life equal to... My first wife," he continued cautiously."First wife," Maelie whispered, turning her face away, her eye
Maelie entered the room and was immediately awestruck by the metallic-themed majesty, complete with a king-size bed adorned with white sheets, beautiful white pendant lamps emitting a golden hue, a fireplace, a large TV, a long and wide sofa so comfortable for sleeping, a massage chair, and many other amenities.Her gaze shifted to Erland sitting at the piano, playing Lord Huron's song "The Night We Met," accompanied by the original music, making it sound even more beautiful and melancholic."Erland..."Erland immediately stopped playing the piano, his gaze empty, but he could feel Maelie approaching him."You should keep talking to her... If you truly just want to choose me, then leave her in a good way... At least it won't hurt her too much," Maelie said anxiously as if understanding that Erland was angry."When I don't want to talk to her, then don't force me," Erland replied without turning.Maelie sighed, then placed Erland's phone on the piano keyboard and sat next to him."This
At 8 p.m, Erland arrived in New York and went straight to his mansion. He entered the living room, glanced around at the deserted surroundings, feeling bored, and began comparing life here to life with Maelie.'Surely being with Maelie would be better, especially since we'll have a baby,' he thought to himself."I thought you didn't want to come back today," said Tiffany, who came from another room.Erland, turning to her, noticed her somewhat pale face with slightly disheveled hair, wearing only a dusty pink dress, whereas she usually dressed eccentrically and glamorously."I thought you weren't okay, so I came back immediately," he said."I thought you didn't care about me..." Tiffany smiled thinly, approaching Erland to help him take off his black leather jacket. "You didn't answer my calls since morning... So I thought you were angry or had something more fun there."Erland immediately turned away and walked towards the dining room."I'm hungry, you should prepare food for me," he
Erland paced back and forth, occasionally glancing at the doctor examining Tiffany on the king-size bed with gray sheets."Am I too hard? But how... I can't possibly keep her. It will only hurt her more, and I'll lose Maelie too. I don't want that to happen..."The door opened.Erland turned to see his mother, Rosalia Geraldton, approaching him with a black branded bag matching her red outfit."Erland, what happened?" she asked anxiously, then looked at the still-unconscious Tiffany."She fainted suddenly," Erland replied, avoiding the previous issue."Oh my God... What if this is a sign that she's pregnant?""Pregnant?""Yes, of course. She told me that she's been trying to conceive for a few months now... Maybe it worked," explained Rosalia, then quickly approached the doctor.Erland was stunned, shocked, and instantly afraid that what his mother said was true.'What is this? If she's pregnant, it means I can't divorce her. Neither her family nor mine would allow that divorce to hap
Several months passed...The situation improved, and Erland tried to forgive himself, rise from his despair, and was, of course, supported by Maelie, who always understood him, and he also received help from a psychiatrist.Despite this, he still often worried about Tiffany, wondering if she could be happy with the guilt of having aborted their child. And he still often saw Alaina from a distance at school.The man still felt something was missing, but he didn't want to have high expectations and chose to live his life as it was. Naturally, he focused on Maelie, the woman who was always there for him and accepted him despite the suffering he had caused her....Tonight, on their 6th wedding anniversary, the man took his wife to a hotel. He invited her to dine on the terrace balcony, with a view of the night lit by stars and the lights of vehicles and skyscrapers, and of course, the most beautiful sight was his wife, looking stunning in a long red dress with bare shoulders and her hair
At 10:00 PM, Maelie was pacing back and forth on the porch, waiting for Erland who had not come home yet and was ignoring her calls and messages.Amanda felt bored and genuinely sad seeing her sister so worried. Luckily, Teddy and Jane had returned to Sacramento and did not witness this chaos."Why don't you just act normal... Doesn't he usually come home late too?" she asked with a displeased look."For me, this is unusual... I feel like he doesn't want to see me anymore," Maelie replied anxiously, glancing towards the gate and seeing the security guard hurriedly opening it as a black car entered the yard."Tommy..."Realizing it was Tommy's car, Maelie immediately approached him as soon as he stopped in the yard. Amanda also walked over as the man got out of the car."Mae," greeted Tommy."Do you know where Erland is? Did you manage to investigate him today?" Maelie asked eagerly.Tommy nodded with a worried look. "Yes... I was with him all day, but I didn't learn much about what's
Thomas entered Erland's room and saw him sleeping on the sofa, with a lot of files that needed to be reviewed on the table."How could he neglect his work?" he grumbled as he approached his son, intending to wake him up, but his attention was diverted to Tommy, who had just arrived."Mr. Gerald," called Tommy.Thomas turned to Tommy, noticing he was carrying a file."Is there a problem?""No, there's good news," Tommy replied with a smile, handing the file to Thomas. "Carlos' diamond company is willing to collaborate with our company, all the terms are in there," he continued, glancing at the file.Thomas looked at the file with a frown, realizing there was a lot to read, then he remembered Erland and closed the file again."Since yesterday, Erland hasn't done any of his tasks," he said, turning back to Tommy. "And now he's fallen asleep. This is very unusual for him, do you know what he does at home that makes him still need rest at the office?""Um..." Tommy bit his lower lip, glanc
With unsteady steps, Erland climbed the stairs to the upper floor, arriving at the room and finding Maelie standing by the window. She turned towards him as soon as she sensed his presence."Erland..."Maelie immediately greeted Erland with a worried look."You're drunk again!" She grabbed his arm, looking at his dull face, the smell of alcohol from his breath making her wince. "Oh my God ... You stink!"Erland stared deeply at Maelie and then smiled."You are so beautiful!" he exclaimed lazily.Ignoring Erland's compliment, Maelie led him to the bed, laying his body on the edge. She took off his shoes and placed them near the foot of the bed."Why are you always like this? What exactly are you dealing with?" she wondered as she unbuttoned his shirt, which was damp and reeked of alcohol, imagining him spilling drinks on himself.Before she finished unbuttoning his shirt, he suddenly pulled her down onto his chest, then rolled over, making her lie beneath him."Erland...." She gasped i
Erland stopped his car in the driveway of the Billy Johnson family mansion, got out quickly, and saw Alaina just getting out of the car with Tiffany. He smiled at the little girl who was pouting at him from a distance, then took a package from his car."That's not my dad," Alaina muttered with a serious look."Why is he here? I thought everything was over," Tiffany mused, watching Erland walk toward them with a rather large pink paper bag."Hey..." Erland sighed as he reached them. "I... I brought this for her." He lifted the paper bag slightly."This feels strange after what you did," Tiffany said flatly.Erland smiled thinly."This isn't strange... She used to be my daughter, so I still love her and want to see her," he replied casually, then squatted in front of Alaina with a smile. "Sweetie... Daddy missed you so much."Alaina remained silent with a pout, clearly displeased with Erland's presence."Daddy bought LEGO for you; we can build a Barbie house together," Erland said, hand
Leo stood near the gate of an elite school, watching Alaina as she exited the building with her friends, looking around as if searching for someone. He entered the grounds and approached his daughter with a smile."You ..." Alaina squinted at Leo, slowing her small steps."Sweetheart ..." Leo crouched in front of Alaina and briefly touched her cheek. "I've come to pick you up.""Tony is supposed to pick me up," Alaina said, frowning. "Grandma said I'm not allowed to go home with strangers, so I have to wait for Tony here!" she continued, then ran toward a waiting bench near the security post.Leo exhaled sharply, stood back up, and looked at Alaina, who looked so cute and pretty with her long brown hair, wearing pink pants, a white shirt, and a red bag.'I can't waste this opportunity,' he thought, glancing around until his gaze fell on a luxury car stopping in front of the gate."Damn, she's here!" he said, clenching his fists, seeing Tiffany hurriedly exit the car and approach Alain
The next day...Maelie had just woken up after crying herself to sleep the night before. She glanced around the quiet room and saw Erland standing in front of the dresser, getting dressed. She quickly got out of bed and went to the bathroom to wash her face and brush her teeth.When she returned to the bedroom, she saw her husband sitting on the sofa, putting on his shoes. She felt a desire to approach him but felt awkward after their fight last night.Her attention shifted to his injured hand, which was unbandaged and looked terrible. She walked to the small cot, opened the drawer, took out the first aid kit, and approached him.She sat beside him, took his right hand, and placed it on her lap, examining the wound."A wound like this needs to be treated and covered with a bandage," she said."You always know how to heal wounds, but this time, I'm not so sure," Erland replied flatly.Maelie swallowed hard, sensing the deeper meaning behind Erland's words, perhaps referring to the caus
"Why isn't your husband home yet at this hour?" Teddy asked as he saw Maelie and Jane exit the twins' room. "It's already late," he added, glancing at his watch, which showed 10 PM.Maelie swallowed hard and walked to the sofa."Maybe he's busy," she said."But I think it's unusual for a boss to work this late," replied Teddy, frowning and glancing at Jane, who immediately sat next to him."You don't know how busy he is... you don't understand his job, so you should stay quiet," Jane said with a displeased look.Teddy exhaled harshly. "I just don't want him to treat Maelie the way he treated his first wife. I don't want him to get bored, start leaving her often, and then fall in love with a new girl...""Teddy!" Jane interrupted in a soft voice. "You shouldn't say that. You'll ruin your niece's mood!"Teddy remained silent, turning his face away as Maelie quickly stood up."I need to go to my room now," Maelie said.Jane nodded, letting Maelie walk towards the stairs. She then turned
Erland stopped his car at the side of the road, near a bridge where Tiffany was standing with Benjamin. He quickly got out and approached his ex-wife with a serious look."What are you doing here?" he asked."Waiting for you," Tiffany replied flatly.Erland frowned, feeling odd about Tiffany’s attitude. After staying away from him for so long, she suddenly wanted to meet again."He won’t hurt you, no gun or anything dangerous," Benjamin said flatly.Erland stayed silent."We need to talk. I'll be waiting in the car," Tiffany said, then walked towards her car.Curious, Erland followed Tiffany and got into her car, sitting beside her uncomfortably. He looked around, making sure there were no paparazzi or anyone who could take their pictures, which could cause trouble or gossip if their meeting became public."How are you?" Tiffany asked, looking at Erland, who looked dashing in his gray suit but with a beard that was too thick and hair that was too long, unlike his usual self. "You look