His Lies Showed in Her Baby Bump

As Melissa Smith stared into Lydia Webb's eyes, which were identical to her own, the past came flooding back.

She remembered the first night her husband, Hayden Davies, had brought her home. She had been so nervous that her entire body had gone rigid.

With a tender gaze, he lowered a black veil over her face, leaving only her clear, bright eyes visible.

He had kissed her again and again, until she lost herself completely.

The next morning, he looked at Melissa and asked if she'd marry him in secret.

She nodded.

There was no grand wedding. Just a marriage certificate, a ring, and lukewarm congratulations from three mutual acquaintances.

For three years, they were inseparable. He spoiled her rotten, giving her anything her heart desired.

But the day Lydia returned to Cavareth, a heavily intoxicated Hayden took Melissa that night, unrelenting in his demands.

Afterward, he buried his face in the crook of her neck and rasped, "If you chose to leave back then, why come back now?"

Only then did the devastating truth hit Melissa. She was just a stand-in for someone else. Hayden only treated her as a proxy for Lydia.

An overwhelming exhaustion washed over her. It was time to bring their three-year marriage to an end.

Outside the ward, Lydia caught sight of Melissa. She offered a provocative smirk before melting coyly into Hayden's arms.

"Hayden, I heard you got married." Lydia pouted. "Does that mean you don't want me anymore?"

Hayden stroked her hair fondly and replied with a smile, "How could I not? You're the only one I love."

Lydia glanced smugly toward Melissa. Her tone turned playful as she said, "Hayden, we didn't use protection yesterday. What if I get pregnant? I really don't want to have a baby. It'll ruin my body."

Hayden cooed softly to reassure her, "I'd never put you through that. Once Melissa has my baby, I'll hand the baby over to you and have them call you Mom."

The words struck Melissa like a thunderbolt. Tears spilled uncontrollably over her lashes.

She had been eagerly awaiting her baby's arrival, only to realize Hayden intended to gift her child to another woman.

"So, when are you divorcing her?" Lydia asked.

Hayden went quiet for a beat. "We have to wait on that. My dad is set on getting a grandchild first."

Every word sliced through Melissa like a blade, carving deep into her chest.

She couldn't listen anymore. Numbed by the agony, she turned and walked away aimlessly.

She finally realized that Hayden had never loved her. To him, she was nothing more than a convenient tool.

Her feelings, her dignity, and even her unborn child were all just bargaining chips to keep Lydia happy.

As Melissa drifted down the corridor, two nurses nearby were whispering.

"Was that really Hayden Davies, the CEO of Davies Corp, and the famous actress Lydia Webb? They look like a match made in heaven!"

"Did you hear? Ms. Webb was admitted for a ruptured corpus luteum. How intense was that?"

"Talk about passionate. I heard Mr. Davies even ordered 999 roses and picked her up at the airport himself when she got back."

Melissa felt as though her heart had been crushed by a sledgehammer. After what felt like an eternity, she wiped her tears and headed straight for the doctor's office.

"Doctor, please schedule an abortion. I'm not keeping this baby." Her voice was raspy and laced with a subtle tremble.

The doctor frowned at that. His eyes were filled with confusion and concern as he said, "Ms. Smith, the fetus is completely healthy. An abortion carries real physical risks. Are you sure?"

Melissa let out a bitter laugh as pain flashed in her eyes. She refused to be a baby-making machine, and she wouldn't let her child become a pawn.

"I've made up my mind. Arrange for the surgery." She forced the words out one by one, leaving no room for argument.

The procedure took three full hours. When Melissa finally stepped off the operating table, her face was as pale as paper.

She sank onto the hallway bench, using the wall to steady herself as a dull pain continued to throb in her lower abdomen. Then, she dialed a number she had turned down countless times before.

"Andrew? I'm in for the Elite Program. I can go abroad in 15 days."