Chapter 4 Bittersweet News

Pregnant? Just as she resolved to completely relinquish Austin, to abandon their marriage, the child arrived.

This was not a continuation of their entanglement, but a rebirth belonging solely to Ella. She gently placed her hand on her abdomen, her eyes shining for the first time with a light that had nothing to do with Austin.

"Baby, from now on, it's just you and me." She no longer needed him; she would forge a new world for herself and her child.

"Doctor, what should Ella be aware of regarding her current condition?" Sarah asked, standing beside the hospital bed after recovering from her initial shock.

Ella immediately jumped in with her own question. "Can I be discharged?"

The doctor's expression turned serious as he glanced at the medical report in his hand.

He answered Ella first, then instructed Sarah. "There aren't any major issues preventing discharge, but her physical condition is extremely poor. She needs proper rest. There's a significant risk of miscarriage at any time."

Sarah nodded, accepting the responsibility.

After the doctor left, Sarah helped Ella with the discharge paperwork.

As they exited the ward, Sarah supported Ella, her eyes filled with concern. "Are you sure you don't want to stay in the hospital a few more days?"

"No, I can't stand being cooped up in that room. The antiseptic smell is suffocating."

Sarah continued supporting Ella as they walked, her face etched with worry. "Does Austin know you're pregnant?"

She had heard how Austin had pressured Ella relentlessly about getting pregnant.

As Ella's friend, she couldn't help but feel protective.

Yet when Ella married Austin, there was little she could do.

"You were right, Sarah. Austin and I were never right for each other," Ella said.

The advice Sarah had given her years ago, which Ella had dismissed, now felt painfully prophetic after experiencing the harsh reality firsthand.

She finally understood how naive she had been.

Sarah stopped walking, looking at her friend with concern. "Ella?"

After taking a deep breath, Ella looked at her with tear-filled eyes. "I'm filing for divorce."

Sarah froze, her eyes widening in disbelief. "Divorce? Did Austin hurt you again?"

Ella remained silent.

"You know what I'm feeling right now? It's like following a book to what you think is going to be a happy ending, only to discover the author completely ruined the final chapter. I always thought that even if you weren't in love, you and Austin would at least have a comfortable life together."

Sarah's heart ached as she looked at Ella's thin frame, seething with rage.

"Let me confront him and set things straight!" Sarah said.

Ella grabbed her hand and shook her head. "I don't want to drag you into this complicated situation."

Sarah's gaze was fraught with complexity. "Ella, have you truly made up your mind?"

Ella nodded firmly, her gaze unwavering.

"All right, whatever you decide, I'm behind you one hundred percent."

Sarah's immediate support warmed Ella's heart.

Having such a loyal friend was truly a blessing.

As evening fell, darkness descended, and a bright moon hung in the sky.

Ella entered the security code—0623—to unlock the mansion door.

Austin had never changed the code, always using these four digits.

She had often wondered about the significance of this number, but whenever she asked Austin, he never gave her a straight answer.

She hesitated before pushing the door open, finding the interior empty.

Moonlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting shadowy tree silhouettes across the floor.

Had Austin not returned home?

The household staff was also absent.

Looking around, she decided not to linger.

She had come to collect her belongings.

Since she had decided on separation, she wanted a clean break.

Ella opened the wardrobe and immediately caught sight of two neatly segregated rows of clothing.

The crispness of the suits intermingled with the delicate elegance of the skirts, creating a strangely comforting tableau.

For a fleeting moment, Ella was caught off guard.

Although the household chores were predominantly entrusted to the maid, Ella always took it upon herself to organize the clothes, believing that this intimate act nurtured the essence of their marriage.

Yet, in the end, it was merely self-deception.

Drawing a deep breath, she cast aside the thought, hastily gathered her clothes, and packed a few essentials before placing the prepared divorce agreement on the bedside table.

If she was intent on leaving, she resolved to do so decisively.

Having completed these tasks, Ella summoned a moment by the villa's entrance to dial Austin's number.

Before he could utter a word, she straightforwardly announced,

"The divorce agreement is on the bedside table. Remember to sign it."

What followed was a long silence, punctuated only by the crackling static of the phone line, a silence so prolonged it felt like an eternity.

Just as Ella almost presumed he had hung up, a voice, softer and far more gentle than before, finally came through the receiver.

"You went to the hospital?"

Ella froze.

He rarely showed concern for her. Why would he suddenly ask about this?

She didn't answer his question, instead pressing on. "Austin, I'm trying to discuss something important."

"You need to take better care of yourself. I've given you so many supplements, yet you're still this frail."

Austin continued, speaking as if to himself.

Ella furrowed her brow, a trace of irritation flickering across her features. In the next moment, she understood the reason behind Austin's sudden change of heart.

"There is a banquet. You are required to attend as my companion," His voice issued forth, cold and commanding.

It was no longer a husband consulting his wife, but a superior issuing orders to a subordinate.

Perhaps, in this fragile dynamic, Austin had grown accustomed to her countless capitulations, assuming she lacked the resolve to refuse.

Clutching the phone tightly, Ella instinctively wished to decline.

"I have work to attend to," He said.

Without hesitation, he cut her off and mercilessly ended the call.

A suffocating wave washed over her, rendering her hands limp at her sides.

What, in this marriage, was she truly? A wife? A mere companion for carnal indulgence? Or merely an obedient marionette, bound to obey?

In the end, Ella resolved to acquiesce.

She left her luggage at Sarah's residence, quickly composed herself, and set off toward the banquet.

As her high heels clicked against the marble floor, Ella noticed Austin in the center of the lavish hotel, holding a glass of red wine, engaged in conversation.

Just as she was about to approach him, a graceful, petite figure blocked her view, linking arms with Austin in a gesture of extreme intimacy, her face radiant with joy.

Ella halted, her expression stiffening.

It was Judith.