My Husband, Her Legacy

It wasn't until dawn that the locked door was pushed open. My husband, Theodore Cloud, pulled me into his arms. As he leaned closer, a whiff of faint floral perfume drifted to my nose.

"Izzy, I only ended up sleeping in her room because I really couldn't shake her off. But don't worry. No matter what happens between her and me, you will always be my one and only wife," Theodore said, as if explaining himself to me while trying to salvage his dignity.

Meanwhile, I remained silent. If truth be told, the Theodore who once took a solemn vow of loyalty to me was as good as dead from the moment he obediently followed my elder sister, Sabrina Wood, upstairs.

Since it involved using another man's sperm, the child's real identity naturally had to be kept hidden. Therefore, Theodore had to impregnate Sabrina within a month, for only in this way could my family tell the public that the child was hers and her late husband's.

Thus, my mother publicly lied about her feeling unwell and forced Theodore and me to live with her for a month.

During this period, Theodore slept in Sabrina's bedroom every day, trying his best to get her pregnant.

On the contrary, I, his actual wife, was confined in the room next to my mother's. Worrying that I would sabotage her plan, my mother hired bodyguards exclusively to keep an eye on my every move. She even confiscated my cell phone and tablet.

I was watched like a criminal every day. It was as if I had committed some heinous crime.

…

Finally, Sabrina successfully became pregnant a month later.

My mother joyfully said that this called for a celebration.

Later that night, Theodore was high-spirited when he returned to our room, looking like a victorious general returning from battle.

He came closer and pulled me into his arms, saying, "Darling, I'm sorry for putting you through suffering these days. From now on, I will reward you."

Judging by his alcohol-laced breath, I could clearly tell that he had drunk a lot during the celebratory dinner earlier.

The smell suffocated me, making me feel dizzy and all the more disgusted at his delightful state.

So, I broke free from his embrace by fixing my hair and silently distanced myself from him. "How are you going to reward me?" I asked, my tone laced with neither joy nor anger.

When Theodore heard that, he gently caressed my cheek and replied, "Do you even have to ask? Of course, it's…"

As he spoke, he took off my clothes with his other hand.

Just when I was still thinking about how to reject him, my mother's voice and that of our long-time maid, Grace, drifted in from outside the room.

"Where's Mr. Cloud?"

"Madam, Mr. Cloud has already gone to bed with Ms. Isabella."

As soon as these words escaped Grace's lips, my mother suddenly raised her voice instead. "Izzy, Sabrina suddenly doesn't feel so good, so I'm thinking of having Theodore go to her room to check on her."

Grace urged in distress, "Madam, we should call an ambulance to take Ms. Sabrina to the hospital if she's feeling unwell. Ms. Isabella and Mr. Cloud have just gone to bed, so I don't think we should—"

"No need to call!" My mother swiftly cut her off. "Sabrina feels unwell simply because her mind is filled with worries as she has just gotten pregnant. Izzy, I'm begging you. Please let Theodore check on Sabrina, okay? She just got pregnant.

"What if something really happens to her, and—"

Theodore had already rushed out the door when my mother was only halfway through her speech.

"Wasn't she feeling fine just now after dinner? Why is she feeling sick again? Is it because of the food that we had for dinner that upset her stomach? This won't do. I have to go and check on Sabrina," he muttered as he walked out the door.

When I noticed that, I couldn't help but call him, "Honey!"

Theodore turned around. Guilt and hesitation flickered across his face as he explained, "Izzy, Sabrina finally got pregnant, and the first trimester, in particular, is the most crucial period during a pregnancy. It's okay. I'll just go over and check on her for a while. You've always been so gentle and kind. So, you won't be mad, right?"

Right… I wasn't allowed to be mad at all. Otherwise, I would be labeled as savage and inconsiderate.

"Of course. She is my sister, after all. As my husband, there's nothing wrong with you caring for her." With a smile, I added softly, "You don't have to hurry back, though. Just spend more time with her."

With that, Theodore looked at me with even more satisfaction. "You are the most considerate, Izzy," he said while smiling at me. Then, he turned around and hurried into Sabrina's bedroom.

Grace could no longer stand it as she watched my mother and Theodore disappear up the stairway in succession.

"This is too much! Those who are clueless about their plan might think Ms. Sabrina is Mr. Cloud's wife instead of you! Ms. Isabella, you must not feign ignorance with them. At this point, you must firmly hold onto your spot as the rightful Mrs. Cloud!"

As I listened to her, I smiled faintly. Then, I remarked in an extremely soft voice, "Honestly, I find men who've been with other women... tainted. Besides, it's just the title of Mrs. Cloud. What's there to care about?"