Chapter 1: My Husband Was Cheating

JULIET

I stood right in the middle of the room as the Morales women stared me down, their hatred so thick it was almost suffocating.

They are the most powerful family in all of Mexico, so a "lowlife" like me marrying their primary heir was something they felt I never deserved.

“How is the pregnancy coming along?” Grandma asked softly, sipping her green tea with practiced ease.

My chest tightened as I lowered my gaze, twisting my fingers together in my lap.

It’s been a year and six months since I married Andrew—the eldest twin and the heir to the family. Andrew is sweet and caring, the picture-perfect husband on the outside, but he has a problem with lasting more than five minutes in bed. And that problem is making it almost impossible for me to get pregnant. They all know about it, but none of them have the guts to bring it up with him. I’m the only one taking the heat.

“Grandma, I... we are trying—”

“Shut up!” Andrew's aunt yelled before I could even finish. “It’s always the same damn thing with poor people. If my mother hadn't insisted on you, I had plenty of women lined up who could have given my nephew a child by now!”

I swallowed hard, tears stinging my eyes.

“Juliet, my mother has been far too nice to you,” Andrew’s mother added coldly. “I never agreed to this marriage in the first place, but I couldn't go against my mother. Still, since you aren't fulfilling your end of the deal, I’m going to be forced to take action.”

The tears I’d been holding back finally slipped down my face. Ever since I got married, I’ve been summoned like this every three months, and every single excuse I give is completely useless to them.

Grandma let out a quiet sigh, set her mug on the table, and stood up.

My heart dropped. She’s usually the calm one, leaving the rest of them to talk while she just watches. But her calm expression today was way more terrifying than her yelling.

“Juliet, I’m giving you three months to bring me good news about a pregnancy,” she said softly. “Otherwise, the Morales family will stop paying for your mother’s hospital bills.”

My entire body went numb, and before I could stop myself, my knees hit the floor.

“Please, Grandma, don't let my mother die!” I sobbed. “I’ve been trying! I go to the gynecologist every single month, and they all say I’m healthy. Please, it isn't just up to me!”

She just looked at me coldly and walked toward her room without another word. The rest of them got up, scoffing under their breath as they all disappeared down the hall.

My heart ached so badly. I couldn't let my mother die. For the past year and a half, the Moraleses have been paying for her oxygen. There’s no way I could ever afford that on my own.

I had to see Andrew. If I had to, I’d drug him unconscious and handle everything myself.

I scrambled to my feet, ran out to my car, and drove straight to his office. It was 6:30 PM, past the normal closing time, but because it’s Friday, he usually stays until around 8:00 to finish up the week's work.

I pulled into the driveway a few minutes later and slipped inside. The building was dark, but a faint sliver of light was still coming from Andrew's office door.

I held onto the small bottle of water, which I had already drugged with sleeping pills, my heart racing. This felt so wrong, but it was my only option. I need to give them an heir, and since I’m ovulating, tonight is my best shot.

I crept toward the door and froze.

Andrew wasn't alone.

A loud, breathy gasp echoed through the hallway, making my blood run completely cold. I stepped closer to the slightly open door, and my heart shattered into a thousand pieces.

Sitting right on the desk was Sofia, and Andrew was driving into her hard. She had her face buried in his neck, holding onto him tight as she moaned. His rhythm was intense—far more skilled than anything he’d ever done with me.

And Sofia... she’s practically family. She’s related to his aunt’s husband.

“Andrew, I’m exhausted... I’m going to come again,” she panted loudly.

I slapped my hand over my mouth, the bottle shaking violently in my grip as tears poured down my cheeks. Come again? That’s something I’ve never even experienced with him. How could he be this cruel?

“I’m close, Sofia,” he growled out. “I need to get my fill before I go home to my wife.”

Everything inside me fell apart. It was never a medical issue. He wasn't broken—he just didn't want me.

I squeezed my eyes shut as tears burned my face. I didn't marry Andrew for love, but over time I actually grew to care for him because he never treated me like garbage the way his family did. Now I see it was all a lie. He was just as disgusted by me as the rest of them.

“If Grandma finds out about us, we’re dead,” Sofia whispered between heavy breaths. “And what about your wife? She’ll leave you for good.”

“I’ll kill you myself if anyone finds out about this—especially Juliet,” Andrew warned sharply.

“Why? Are you afraid she’ll leave and find another man?” Sofia taunted.

“No,” Andrew scoffed. “She can’t leave. Her mother’s life depends on this marriage.”

I opened my eyes, staring at their shadows through the crack in the door. He wasn't lying. My mother’s life does depend on this marriage. No one else is ever going to pay the huge monthly bill for her oxygen.

As much as I wanted to run away, I was trapped. I still needed that child. Even after seeing this, I had to carry his heir just to keep my mother breathing.

Shaking violently, I backed away from the door and ran down the dark corridor. I made it to my car, collapsed over the steering wheel, and cried my eyes out.

Andrew’s words kept playing over and over in my head: I need to get my fill before I go home to my wife.

Why was he doing this to me? He knew how desperate I was to have his child. Did he really hate me that much—or was he keeping me from getting pregnant on purpose just to keep me trapped under his thumb?