Edwin Bamford, who had always refused to have a child with me, suddenly turned savage. He ravaged me for three days and nights without any contraception.

I thought he had finally accepted me. Blushing, I held the pregnancy test in my hand and went to share the good news, only to overhear his laughter with his childhood sweetheart and his two buddies in the company lounge.

Priscilla Elwood giggled, "You guys spoil me too much. I was just curious about whose child Bertha would end up carrying. But you three were kind of ruthless to her during those three days. If she finds out the baby's father is a mystery, do you think she'll freak out?"

My husband Edwin sneered, "Freak out? She should be grateful. You should've seen how thrilled she was when she thought she could finally have a baby."

One of his buddies chimed in, "But I got to say that Bertha is really hot! Only you can be willing to share her with other men, Edwin."

The other added, "Hey, let's make a bet! Guess who the father of Bertha's baby is! Whoever loses will buy jewelry for Priscilla at the auction. It can't be less than 2 million dollars!"

This bet concerned these three men's dignity, and they all doubled down.

Priscilla sat there watching them bicker, her face lit up with amusement. Through the blinds, she glanced at me with a faint smirk.

***

"Edwin, what if Bertha finds out that her baby isn't yours?"

Edwin snorted with a cold sneer, saying, "Not my baby? Then we can say that slut cheated on me. Even if she knows the truth, would she dare say it out loud?

"And you think I'd go in without a backup plan?"

With that, he took out a stack of photos from his pocket and put them on the table.

His two buddies instantly widened their eyes in surprise. "Shit! Look at these! Her face is totally visible. If others see them, her reputation will definitely be ruined!"

"These just look like those erotic photos. She's really a horny slut!"

Priscilla also picked up a photo. After glancing at it with disdain, she casually threw it away.

The photo slid perfectly through under the door and landed at my feet.

At that moment, I felt like my breathing suddenly stopped. I hurriedly stooped to pick it up and stuffed it into my sleeve, as if trying to maintain my dignity.

But tears streamed uncontrollably from my eyes.

Edwin married me only because of his parents. All these years, he barely touched me.

That day, I thought he finally had some feelings for me. I knew there was something in that wine, but I still drank it, letting my guard down bit by bit.

To win his affection, and to have a child, I gave up my pride. For those three days, I gave in to him and responded to him.

I didn't even know when someone else took his place, or when those photos were taken.

They did all those monstrous things only because Priscilla, their precious childhood sweetheart, was curious.

I ran out of the company as if I were escaping something horrible. I was fully dressed, yet every passerby felt like they were looking at the naked me in those photos.

The huge humiliation almost crushed me.

I covered my head and ran. A few minutes on the road felt like a century.

When I got home, I ran to the shredder and fed the photo into it again and again.

If I could've, I would've shredded myself too.

Suddenly, the loud bang of the door closing startled me. Coming back to my senses, I saw Edwin.

He asked me, "Have you had your period this month?"

I blinked in confusion. "W-What?"

He chuckled as if flirting with me, whispering, "Babe, it was three full days. I'm confident in myself. Come on. Let's go to the hospital for a checkup."

He didn't wait for a reply. He grabbed my wrist and dragged me toward the garage.

I sat in the passenger seat, dazed. He sighed and reached over to buckle my seatbelt.

I suddenly grabbed his hand and blurted, "To check if I'm pregnant? Edwin, do you really want to have a baby with me?"

He rubbed my head and looked at me with endless tenderness in his eyes.

"Of course I do. A girl like you, a boy like me. Wouldn't that be perfect?"

At that moment, I had to admit that Edwin could really make a good actor. If I hadn't heard his conversation with his buddies in the company, I would've believed him now.

At the hospital, Priscilla and his two friends were already waiting for us.

Their gazes were full of veiled mockery.

The two men looked at me with sleazy eyes, making my skin crawl.

Edwin pulled me behind him. "They heard you might be pregnant. They came to congratulate you."

The blood test didn't take long. The result matched what I already knew. I was pregnant.

Edwin held the report in his hand, his expression unreadable. Priscilla, on the other hand, was visibly displeased.

Suddenly, Edwin looked up at the doctor, "Can we do a paternity test now?"

The doctor took a few glances at me and Edwin and said, "It's only been three weeks. Technically yes, but we usually don't recommend it..."

Edwin interrupted in a low voice, "Then do it. Now."

The doctor quickly added, "At this stage, the only option is a uterine puncture. It's risky for both the mother and the fetus, and anesthesia can't be used. It'll be extremely painful for the woman. Sir, maybe you should think it over."

Edwin frowned slightly, showing his impatiently, "Then skip the anesthesia! Just do the test, understand?"

The doctor turned to me for my opinion.

I forced a smile. "Do it."

It took a week to get the paternity test result. But they couldn't wait. After all, the auction was coming. So, none of them cared if I would feel hurt or not.

The people around began to whisper.

After the doctor finished taking the hair, Edwin suddenly said, "Collect the hair of my two buddies and put it into the samples together."

The onlookers were instantly shocked.

"What's going on? Three men? Oh, shit, this woman is really something!"

"No wonder that man would take his three-month pregnant wife to do a paternity test. Turns out he doesn't know if that's his baby or not."

"Her husband is so tall and handsome. Why did she cheat on him? If I were her husband, I'd never forgive her!"

The doctor who just felt sympathy for me also felt cheated. When performing the uterine puncture, he didn't use anesthesia, and his movements were a bit rude. I instantly felt a sharp pain in my belly, causing my vision to blur, and tears slid down the corners of my eyes.

I supported myself against the wall and walked out. Seeing me out, Edwin immediately strode over, ready to hold me.

Meanwhile, Priscilla ran out with her eyes reddened.

Edwin's two buddies hurriedly chased after her.

At the same time, Edwin, who had just held me, let go of me, causing me to fall directly onto the ground.

"Go home yourself. I'll go check Priscilla."

After saying that to me, he ran in the direction of Priscilla's leaving.

I laughed at myself in my heart, "Look how much he cares about her."

When the onlookers around saw me like this, they all gloated.

"A shameless slut. No wonder your husband ditched you."

"Hey, there. Will you give me your number? How much is your price? I can definitely afford it!"

"You want to pay to have sex with her? Oh, she's free! Just call her, and she'll come to you willingly!"

I slowly stood up by the armrest, lowered my head, and stared at my toes as I moved outward.

When I got home by taxi, it was already dark outside.

I gasped heavily and held onto the doorknob. As soon as I opened the door, a damp and sexual smell hit me in the face.

The sound of Priscilla and Edwin's lovemaking was so piercing in my ear.

I couldn't stand it anymore and slammed the door, leaning against the wall and slowly crouching down to cover my head.

I yelled silently, "Enough! That's enough! I don't want to hear it anymore! I don't!"

Many minutes later, the door was opened again.

Priscilla stood there with only little clothing on her. Her face was ruddy, and there were many kiss marks on her neck.

I faintly heard the sound of water coming from the bathroom.

Priscilla leaned against the door frame and looked down at me.

She said to me with malice in her voice, "I know you've been shamelessly seducing Edwin to have a baby with you.

"Now you have one in your belly. Happy? Just one word of mine could let the three of them have you at the same time. If I want, I can even let them throw you into the beggar's den. Do you want it?"

As she spoke, she slowly approached me, and I could only step back.

She continued, "Even if Edwin married you, he still only loves me. Have you seen his look when he's having sex with me? You poor woman, he only treats you as a masturbation tool!"

I saw jealousy on Priscilla's face.

I sneered in my heart, "Is she also jealous of being forced to have sex with three men?

"No. She's jealous only because there's a one-third chance that I may be pregnant with Edwin's baby."

Thinking of this, I subconsciously touched my abdomen.

Unexpectedly, this small action of mine irritated Priscilla.

She cursed, "Just a bastard whose father is still unknown! What's there to be so proud of?"

Afraid that Edwin might hear it, I could only play dumb, saying with an innocent face, "What are you talking about, Priscilla? I don't understand. I also don't know why Edwin took me to take the paternity test. But I'm sure this baby is his!"

At this moment, jealousy had completely driven Priscilla crazy. She shouted, "Who allowed you to have his baby? Who gives you the right? If I can't have his baby, then you can't as well!"

With that, she pushed me with great force.

I fell straight back down the stairs, and I felt pain all over, especially in my abdomen.

When Edwin heard the loud noise, he immediately ran out to check.

Priscilla instantly sat down on the ground, shouting, "Bertha, I've been respecting you all the time. Seeing that you got pregnant, I came to help you clean your house. Why did you want to hit me?

"And why did you roll down yourself? Do you want to frame me or something? I didn't push you! Bertha, why are you doing this to me?"

Then, Priscilla pretended to have just noticed Edwin and said to him in a sobbing tone, "I'm OK, Edwin. Just go check Bertha. She fell down by accident."

When Edwin saw the red marks on Priscilla's skin, a trace of guilt flashed across his eyes. He immediately took off his coat and draped it on Priscilla.

"Priscilla, did you get hurt? I'll take you to the hospital!"

"I'm fine. Just feel a bit hurt in my leg. But Bertha's injury seems more serious..."

Hearing her words, Edwin glanced at me coldly. Then, he scooped Priscilla up and snapped at me, "I've heard everything! Priscilla was just being kind and wanted to help you. How could you be so ungrateful?"

I lay on the ground, feeling I was on the verge of fainting. I explained weakly with my lips trembling, "No, I didn't. She pushed..."

Edwin interrupted me and shouted, "Don't play the victim here! Do you want to frame Priscilla? Do you think I'll be fooled by your stupid lie? She's so weak and can't even unscrew the lid of a bottle! There's no way she could push you down! Besides, she's a kind girl. She has no reason to push you! Bertha, since when did you become such a vicious woman?"

With that, Priscilla strode downstairs with Priscilla in his arms. While walking past me, he kicked me as if kicking a dog.

"Keep lying here if you like! Don't stand in my way!"

At the same time, Priscilla turned her head and showed me a provoking smile.

Soon, I heard the sound of the car leaving downstairs, and I felt like I was really going to faint at any time.

But I couldn't, and the pain in my abdomen was becoming intense. I knew Edwin wouldn't come back to help me, so I could only save myself all on my own.

After taking a few deep breaths, I finally gathered my strength and grabbed onto the armrest to stand up.

Worrying that something might flow out my private parts halfway, I didn't dare to hail a taxi. I could only walk to the hospital.

When the nurse on duty at night saw that my lower body was covered in blood and knew that I had abdominal pain, she quickly helped me register.

The doctor looked at my medical records and sighed, "The baby is only three weeks old. How could you do a puncture now? Your uterus got stimulated and contracted, and you even fell down the stairs. The baby probably won't be able to make it."

After the checkup, the doctor snapped at me, "You're really a tough girl. You've been bleeding profusely, you know? If you came late, you would've died!"

But I heaved a long sigh of relief and chuckled, saying to the doctor, "Please give me an abortion."

From the moment I learned about the truth, I had been feeling disgusted towards the fetus in my womb.

It was actually a good thing for me that it couldn't make it.

The coming of this baby was like a nightmare, and it was time for me to wake up from it.

I went back home the next day. As I expected, Edwin and Priscilla still hadn't come back.

The room was a mess. It was the outcome of their crazy lovemaking.

I avoided those stains and rushed into the bathroom, showering myself dozens of times.

I always felt like I smelt, and as soon as I quieted down, the smell would infinitely amplify in my nose.

It was the smell of men and the dead fetus. I showered but felt like I couldn't get rid of that smell.

Feeling hopeless, I smashed everything to the ground and sat in the bathtub, crying with my face in my hands.

Just as I felt suffocated, I suddenly thought of my parents.

Back then, when I knew that I could marry Edwin, I was so thrilled. I chose those dowries all by myself, and my parents paid for them. They only gave me one thing, which was a file bag.

On my wedding day, Mom handed me that file bag and said to me, "Bertha, although this marriage isn't the outcome of pure love, your dad and I still hope you'll be happy. If you don't feel happy one day, just come back to us. Remember, you always have me and your dad.

"But I hope that day will never come."

I stood up and ran to the study to find that file bag.

It was a divorce agreement my parents drafted for me long ago. I didn't know they had used what method, but Edwin's signature was already on it, and the distribution of property was fully fair to me.

Without any hesitation, I signed my name on it.

Just then, Edwin called me. His voice sounded a bit careful as he asked, "Are you ... OK?"

I asked back coldly, "Should I be not OK?"

"It's good that you're OK. I'm sorry for being rude to you that day. I just lost my mind when I saw Priscilla get hurt.

"I went back to find you later, but you had already gone. So, I thought you should be fine."

He sounded like he wanted to apologize, but he was apparently not willing, which really made me want to laugh.

"Do you have anything else?"

My indifferent attitude made Edwin become impatient again, and he snapped, "I've already apologized to you! What else do you want? Besides, you were in the wrong in the first place. I'm calling to tell you that Priscilla has forgiven you for pushing her that day. She also invites you to an auction. They're going to buy you some gifts for your pregnancy.

"But look at you! What's your attitude? Priscilla's much gentler than you!"

I listened quietly to his complaint, saying nothing.

Noticing my silence, Edwin softened his voice a bit.

"Alright, stop making a fuss. Priscilla's leg is injured. I'm here taking care of her. I'll let the driver pick you up later."

Right after Edwin hung up, I received messages from Priscilla.

Priscilla: "Bertha, you must come. I've prepared a big surprise for you!"

Priscilla: "The photos of you having sex with three men! They'll be the last item to be auctioned! No mosaics!"

Then, she sent me dozens of photos.

My phone kept buzzing.

I was startled and accidentally dropped my phone. At the same time, my heart sank.

The courage I got from the divorce agreement had now disappeared.

I was still too naive. I thought by aborting the baby, I could move on from the past.

But no! The existence of Priscilla, Edwin, and Edwin's two buddies would keep reminding me of my misery!

I trembled all over uncontrollably. I kneeled on the ground and called my parents.

When their soft and familiar voices came through, and when they asked how I had been doing with concern, I instantly broke out in tears. And I told them everything.

In the end, I plead in tears, "Dad, Mom, can I divorce him? I really don't want to be with him anymore!"

I heard their voices trembling through the phone.

"Oh, Bertha, you've really been through a lot. Our driver will go pick you up and send you home tonight. We'll take care of everything. Don't worry. After you come back, just get a good sleep. Everything will be fine."

Tonight, Edwin's driver came first. I handed him a file bag and let him give it to Edwin.

Then, I got into my parents' car and went to my own home.

On the way, my phone kept ringing. It was Edwin calling. I directly pulled out the SIM card and threw it out of the car window.

On the other hand, the auction was about to end. When Edwin saw that I still hadn't come, his face darkened even more. A while later, his assistant handed him a file bag.

Edwin asked coldly, "Just a file bag? No her?"

The assistant lowered his head and replied in a low voice, "Y-Yes. Mrs. Bamford said the thing inside was what she wanted. She wanted you to keep it first, and she'll be here later."

When Edwin heard this, a doting smile appeared on his face. Then, he slowly opened the file bag.

But when he saw that the thing inside was actually a divorce agreement, the smile on his face instantly froze.

At the same time, the auctioneer struck the hammer twice and announced, "Here comes our last item..."