Chapter 1

My husband, Austin, was the top creator at my digital agency. During a live stream battle today, they were playing a game of Pictionary, and the prompt was "Pregnant Woman."

His little assistant, Chloe, glanced in my direction.

Then, she picked up a cucumber prop and slid it slowly into her mouth.

Before I could even process the disgusting implication of her gesture,

Austin blurted out, "Pregnant woman!"

The live chat instantly exploded.

"OMG! Is the chemistry between them always this insane? I stared at that cucumber for a solid minute and still didn't get the connection..."

"Haha, and look at Chloe's technique. That definitely wasn't her first time doing that!"

Our live room's traffic skyrocketed, instantly hitting the number one spot on the platform.

I completely ignored the screen. Clutching my aching, pregnant belly, I slammed the studio door and walked out.

Chloe quickly chased after me, a playful, innocent smile plastered on her face as she tried to explain.

"Aurora, honey, please don't get it wrong. Austin didn't cheat on you."

"Remember the celebration party for our last big launch? You had just gotten pregnant, and Austin had way too much to drink. He looked so frustrated and tense, so... I just helped him out a little."

Before she could finish her sentence,

Austin ran over, grabbing Chloe by the arm and pulling her back.

"Why are you wasting your breath here? The stream isn't over yet, and we just hit number one on the charts!"

Chloe looked at me, then back at Austin, putting on a worried face.

"Austin, Aurora just walked out so suddenly. I only came out to explain things so she wouldn't misunderstand."

Austin glanced at me, let out a hearty laugh, and patted Chloe on the shoulder.

"Is Aurora really that petty? The whole company knows I got a vasectomy for her! How could she possibly get upset over some stream content?"

Without waiting for my reaction, Austin dragged Chloe back into the studio.

In Austin’s casual words, his vasectomy sounded like some grand, benevolent gift to me.

But the truth was, he had a severely low sperm count. I was the one who couldn't get pregnant because of him.

To conceive this child, I had gone through over a hundred rounds of IVF, enduring countless hormone injections. The box of empty needles I saved weighed literally pounds.

Afterward, to prove his loyalty, Austin went and got a vasectomy, promising me that boy or girl, he would only ever love me and our child.

I had been so deeply moved by his "sincerity" that I actually believed I had found true love.

Standing outside the studio, I stared coldly through the glass window.

Because they had temporarily left the screen, they had to take a penalty from the opposing streamer.

The penalty was for Austin to hold Chloe and do twenty squats.

Chloe leaped effortlessly into Austin's arms, wrapping her hands tightly around his neck.

Austin's hands landed, far too conveniently, right on her perky chest, while Chloe blushingly buried her face into his neck.

I looked at the live chat on my phone.

The viewer count had reached an all-time high, and the comments were rolling in like a tidal wave.

"Holy shit, is this really just for the views? If you tell me these two aren't sleeping together, I'll eat my hat!"

"Did I accidentally click on some premium adult stream? Honestly, I'm not complaining. Keep it coming!"

I couldn't take it anymore. I immediately reported the stream on my phone.

Then, I kicked the studio door open, marched in, and violently slammed all the cameras and lighting equipment onto the floor.

Screams and gasps echoed through the room.

I crossed my arms, looking at the panicked crew, and spoke in a bone-chilling voice.

"Are you done with your little penalty?"

I waved over my assistant, Mia.

"Clip the footage from the stream just now. Attach the security camera footage from the hallway outside, and make sure the audio is at maximum volume."

"Put it out on Ins and TikTok: Top Creator Austin Harasses Female Staff."

Austin finally snapped out of his shock. He lunged at me, raising his hand to slap me across the face.

I stepped forward, thrusting my pregnant belly right in front of him. He froze instantly.

Seeing Mia pulling out her phone beside me, Austin redirected his anger and slapped her hard across the face.

"She tells you to do something and you just do it? Do you have a brain at all? Can't you see this is all just for the stream?!"

"We have so much traffic right now! Spreading lies like this will ruin my career! It will ruin Chloe!"

Staring at Mia's swollen, red cheek, my fists clenched so hard my nails dug into my palms. But when I spoke, I forced a sob into my voice.

"Austin, you are the one who ruined our marriage, your career, and your precious little assistant!"

Austin glared at me coldly. He pointed at the confused crew members around us and sneered.

"Look at them! Do you even know how live streaming works? Everyone here knows it's just content!"

I grabbed Mia's hand and turned to walk out.

But Austin took a swift step forward, blocking our path.

"I need you to issue an official statement under the company's name. Say tonight's stream was just an accident, and promise a one-million-dollar cash giveaway in the next stream to make it up to the fans."

I paused and looked at him.

"A giveaway? Are you paying for it? Or is your assistant?"

Without a shred of shame, he replied, "The company, obviously!"

Unable to hold back my rage any longer, I swung my hand and slapped him squarely across the face.

"In your dreams!"

The entire room fell into a dead silence.

Chloe stepped forward, gently tugging at Austin's shirt, looking incredibly victimized.

"Austin, don't blame Aurora. We're both women; I can understand why she's upset."

She sighed, looking at me with an apologetic expression.

"Aurora, to be honest... I'm pregnant too, and Austin knows about it. That's why we're so comfortable with each other and don't mind doing some edgy content for the stream."

She took my hand and Austin's hand, trying to force them together.

"Austin, just apologize. Once Aurora calms down, she'll help us handle the PR. She'll tell everyone it was just a stunt."

"Right, Aurora?"

She even winked at me. In an instant, she had made me look like the only unreasonable, dramatic person in the room.

But Austin kept glaring at me, refusing to back down.

Chloe gently pulled Austin down and whispered something in his ear with a soft, coquettish giggle: "I'm carrying a boy."

Her voice wasn't loud, but it was just clear enough to reach my ears.

Austin's eyes lit up, an uncontrollable joy washing over his face.

Only then did he look at me with reluctant obedience.

"I'm sorry, okay? I was wrong. I'll make sure to keep my distance from my colleagues in the future."

At that moment, my anger surged straight to my brain. I didn't even notice my nails drawing blood from my palms.

I pushed past Austin and walked straight out of the building.

I pulled out my phone and sent a message to a blocked number: "I believe what you told me now. I'll send you my and the baby's DNA. Help me find out who the real mother is."