Chapter 1

He claimed it was just borrowing sperm, a simple transaction. Yet every holiday, I found myself with only half the gifts, forever the afterthought, the leftover. This isn’t just a secret; it’s a betrayal that her husband deserves to know. Because how can I ever find my true love if I remain shackled to the ghost of their deceit?

Elena's post hit like a slap in the face, but this slap came slow, deliberate, savoring every sting it left behind.

The ultrasound was the centerpiece—a blurred, wriggling shadow growing inside her. And the caption—god, the caption—dripped with condescending sweetness.

"Thank you to my dear Mike for lending me the gift I needed when I was most helpless. Soon, we’ll meet our little miracle."

As if Mike had merely donated a pen, a book—something insignificant. Not like he’d lent her sperm.

My fingers hovered over the screen for what felt like an eternity. Every letter of my comment seemed to weigh a thousand pounds. "Congratulations to both of you," I typed, my heart shattering with each word. And yet, as I hit send, it was as if I’d just let go of the last thread of dignity I had left.

Mike’s voice came through like a thunderclap, full of fury and disdain. "I just lent my sperm to Elena, can you stop making a fuss?"

The coldness in his voice had settled deep into my chest, numbing the ache that once throbbed there. It was clear—it’s time to let go.

I placed my trembling hands over my slightly bulging belly. The life growing inside me was supposed to be our future,and I had planned to surprise Mike on our anniversary, imagining his face lighting up with joy. But now, that fantasy shattered before me. He didn’t deserve it—didn’t deserve us.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered to the baby inside me, my voice breaking. This was supposed to be the beginning of a new chapter, a fresh start. Instead, it was a quiet farewell, to a life that could have been, and to a man who never truly cared.

The dam inside me broke, and tears began to spill down my cheeks.

Mike never wanted this, never wanted us. The intimacy between us had been hollow for years, each touch empty, each kiss colder than the last.

That night, Mike came home early, something he rarely did.

I heard him call my name from the hallway, his voice carrying a forced warmth that made my stomach turn. But I couldn’t answer him. I lay still in the bedroom, the silence between us thick, like an ocean of words unspoken.

The sound of running water echoed from the bathroom, and with each drip, my heart sank deeper.

The sound of the water stopped, and the door creaked open.

In the darkness, I felt him—his presence as undeniable as the ache in my chest. He moved quietly, deliberately, like a shadow slipping into the room. I could hear his soft footsteps, the rustle of his clothes, but I refused to move, to acknowledge him.

Then, out of nowhere, he was beside me, his arms wrapping around my waist. It was the first time in what felt like forever that he had reached for me, touched me as though I mattered.

His warmth seeped through my thin pajamas, an unexpected and unsettling comfort.

His body pressed against mine, but my heart was already miles away, frozen like stone. My eyes burned with unshed tears, but I kept my breath steady, unwilling to let him see the storm raging inside me.

This sudden tenderness wasn’t love. It was a last gasp.

"Wife, I lent my sperm just to help her fulfill a wish. I promise, as soon as she gives birth, I’ll end things with her completely."

The flattery in his tone, the pleading—it was hollow, like he was trying to plaster over a gaping wound with flimsy words.

His voice shifted, the tone growing sharp, laced with impatience. "I’ve been so humble to please you, aren’t you satisfied?"

"Don’t forget it was you," he continued, his words biting, "You said you want to be with me no matter who I had been with."

"I could have kept it from you, but I told you out of respect, and now you've really disappointed me."

. "Think carefully about how I've treated you recently," his voice laced with frustration. "You want a child, and I've tried my best to accommodate you."

With that, he slammed the door, the echo of it reverberating through the room, leaving me gasping for air, drowning in the suffocating darkness.

Mike had disappeared before dawn, vanishing like a ghost, leaving the house cold and empty. I was alone, and the weight of it crushed me. The silence was unbearable, and a part of me knew—I deserved this. I had allowed myself to fall so deeply into this trap, to believe in a love that had long since withered.

The phone rang several times, and I reluctantly answered. It was John, one of Mike’s colleagues, expressing concern with a kindness I couldn’t even register. But in his well-meaning words, he let something slip. Mike hadn’t been at work recently. He’d been with her—taking care of Elena.

My heart shattered, but I had no time to let the pain consume me. I dragged myself to the hospital, every step heavy with dread, knowing what I had to do. I couldn’t bring this child into a world where love didn’t exist, where the only thing waiting for us was abandonment and betrayal.

The abortion was quick. Too quick. Ten minutes was all it took for the life inside me to be erased. When they wheeled me out, I felt hollow, like a shell of the person I used to be. My face was pale, my hands trembling as I numbly handed over my credit card to pay the bill.