Chapter 3

After Chloe slammed the bedroom door, I collapsed onto the couch, feeling utterly drained.

I never imagined our marriage would end up like this.

All the sweet memories, reduced to bitter fights and deceit.

I picked up the papers from the floor, my vision blurring.

Our wedding vows seemed like a sick joke now.

I tried to keep my composure, but the pain crashed over me like a tidal wave, suffocating me.

Looking down at Chloe's bag on the carpet, I noticed the zipper was open. A piece of paper had fallen out.

Curious, I picked it up. The moment my eyes scanned the words, my hands started to shake.

She was... pregnant.

In that instant, pure adrenaline overwhelmed my rational mind.

I thought, maybe with a baby, the ice between us would finally melt.

Maybe this child was the turning point our marriage needed.

Taking a deep breath, I walked to the bedroom door and knocked gently.

She opened the door, her eyes cold and exhausted.

"Chloe, I just saw your medical report. We're having a baby." I tried to keep my voice steady, but the tremor of excitement gave me away.

Her expression shifted instantly, a flicker of panic darting across her eyes.

She didn't say anything, her fingers gripping the doorframe white.

"I know you might not feel ready, but maybe we can start over for this baby. We can fix our marriage and give this child a real home."

I tried to convince her—and desperately tried to convince myself.

She stayed quiet for a long moment, her eyes darting as if calculating something. Then, she forced a tight smile.

"Yeah, we're having a baby. When you doubted me earlier, it broke my heart. I even thought about terminating the pregnancy! I couldn't bear the thought of raising my baby in a home filled with suspicion!"

Hearing that, I froze. The burst of joy was swallowed whole by overwhelming guilt.

I even started to wonder if I had truly wronged my own wife.

"Chloe, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have doubted you like that." Looking at the tears in her eyes, I sighed softly.

Chloe didn't say another word. She turned back inside and clicked the door shut. I stood outside in the hallway, my chest aching with mixed emotions.

From that day on, I treated her like royalty. I poured every second of my free time into caring for her.

When she felt unwell and had to be admitted to the hospital, I paid out-of-pocket for a private VIP suite and hand-cooked three meals a day for her.

I showered her with gifts and stayed by her bedside whenever I didn't have major client meetings, praying this would heal the rift between us.

Her attitude toward me softened. It felt like we were back in the honeymoon phase, and I actually let myself look forward to our sweet future as a family of three.

Every time I thought about our unborn child, my heart filled with warmth. Yet Chloe's underlying detachment still made me uneasy.

She stopped giving me the cold shoulder, but she was never truly warm either. There was always an invisible wall between us that kept me guessing.

"Chloe, have you thought about what we should name the baby?" I tried to bring it up casually, wanting to close the distance.

She gave a faint smile, a trace of hesitation flickering in her eyes. "Let's talk about that later. What matters most right now is that the baby stays healthy."

A wave of disappointment hit me, but I didn't push. I assumed she was still holding a grudge over the past.

After wrapping up a business dinner, I rushed home, cooked her favorite dishes, and hurried over to the hospital.

"They're so adorable together! God, I wish my husband was that handsome. The girl just complained about a headache, and he stroked her hair and kissed her on the forehead. It melted my heart!"

A young nurse giggled as she stepped out of Chloe's room, gossiping with a coworker.

Standing right outside the door, I froze.