“She’s been thinking of you and wants you to share in her happiness. Don’t be so ungrateful.”
I let out a bitter laugh. My heart was numb by now. I had already called a divorce lawyer. Sophia’s petty little games couldn’t hurt me anymore.
We walked into the private room, and of course, Sophia made her grand entrance, fashionably late, looking like she just stepped out of a magazine. Meanwhile, I hadn’t even had time to pull myself together after the hospital. I probably looked like I had been dragged through a storm.
Sophia, however, was glowing, radiant, everything I wasn’t.
Everyone around her gushed.
“Our beautiful artist, so modern, turning down so many suitors to go it alone as a single mom.”
“Sophia’s got it all. Independent, wealthy, raising a child without needing a man. Not like those wives who can’t manage without their husbands’ money!”
I could feel their eyes on me, the subtle mockery behind their compliments.
Sophia smiled, her eyes glinting with a mix of smugness and sweetness as she ordered round after round of drinks, saying it was her treat tonight.
Someone suggested Truth or Dare to liven things up.
The bottle spun first and landed on Sophia. With a theatrical pout, she said, “I’ll take truth.”
Her friend leaned in, a mischievous gleam in her eyes. “Sunny, since you’re having a baby through IVF, will you have the child call Ethan ‘Dad’?”
Sophia touched her belly and smiled that too-perfect smile at me.
“Olivia,” she said, her voice dripping with sweetness. “I know things aren’t great between you and Ethan, but don’t worry. I’m not here to ruin things for you. If I really wanted to marry Ethan, you wouldn’t stand a chance.”
She paused, letting her words sink in. “But, if you never have kids, when you’re old, I’ll make sure my son takes care of you and Ethan. I wouldn’t want you to end up lonely.”
The room practically applauded her kindness.
Inside, I was a stone. This was nothing new. This was the reality of my life now.
Back when Ethan was struggling, I didn’t know who Sophia was. But when his business started to take off, she appeared out of nowhere, always by his side. At first, it shocked me, hurt me, even made me angry and jealous. But no matter how much I confronted him, Ethan would just accuse me of being childish and paranoid, choosing her time and time again, until I couldn’t feel anything anymore.
“I don’t mind,” I said flatly, my voice steady. “If you want to head to the civil affairs bureau for the divorce right now, I’m fine with that.”
Ethan’s face darkened. “Don’t say things like that out of spite.”
I gave him a cool smile. “Don’t flatter yourself. You’re not important enough for me to care.”
For a brief moment, panic flickered in his eyes, but it quickly turned to something else—defensiveness, anger.
“Alright, don’t be so dramatic. Look at how understanding Sunny is, always thinking of you. I’ve been busy, but I’ll be around more these next few days. Is that better?”
Someone, sensing the tension, quickly suggested moving on to the next round.
This time, the bottle pointed at me. I was about to pick truth when Sophia cut in.
“I picked truth before, so let’s switch it up. I’ll take a dare this time.”
I barely acknowledged her, my apathy growing.
The dare I drew was to kiss the first man I met outside the door.
Ethan immediately slammed three bottles of alcohol down in front of me.
“She can’t do that! We’ll cancel it, and I’ll take the penalty,” he snapped, voice rising.
The others laughed, agreeing. After all, who would want their wife to kiss another man, even in a game?
I stood up, unbothered. “Why cancel it? Isn’t this the game you set up, Sophia? I’m not afraid to play.”
Ethan’s face soured instantly. “Olivia, are you trying to make me mad on purpose?”
I didn’t get it. He was fine with giving Sophia a baby, telling me not to make a big deal out of it. But when I was just playing a game? That sent him over the edge.
Sophia quickly stepped between us, trying to mediate, but her eyes kept flicking nervously toward my stomach. “It’s just a low-alcohol drink. It won’t hurt you,” she said, her voice sweet but laced with something else.
Ethan’s rage flared. He grabbed a bottle and tried to shove it into my face.
“Everyone’s letting you off the hook, but you just have to make it harder, don’t you?”
Before I could even react, the drink splashed into my mouth, and the rest of it hit my face. I choked, coughing, the liquid dripping down my chin.
Panic gripped me as I thought of the baby. I tried to pull away, waving my hands to stop him.
Then, something tripped me from behind, and I went crashing to the floor, hard.
Pain shot through my abdomen, and I gasped, clutching my stomach, tears stinging my eyes.
Ethan stared down at me, but his expression was cold. He reached for me, but his words were as cruel as ever.
“Falling on your bottom isn’t going to kill you.”
Then, a scream cut through the room.
“Blood! There’s so much blood on the floor!”
