Chapter 1

Alia woke up, her head heavy, a bit dizzy and confused.

She tried to sit up on the bed, holding her throbbing head. Then she realized she was… naked?!

“Wh–What? Wh–Why am I…” she started to panic.

She looked to the side when she heard a groan beside her. There was someone next to her.

Her hands trembled as her fingers gripped the bedsheet. She pulled it up to see who it was—and to her horror, expecting it to be her husband, it was a stranger. Someone she didn’t even know.

She screamed in panic. “Ahhhh!”

Her loud scream made the man beside her sit up abruptly. “Waaah! Wh–What’s happening?!”

Alia quickly moved aside, covering her naked body with the bedsheet as the man looked around in confusion. When he realized the situation, he glared at her.

“What is wrong with you?! Why are you yelling?!” the man shouted angrily.

“Why are you angry?! I should be the one angry right now! Who are you?! Why are you in my husband’s and my bedroom?!” she yelled back.

She stood from the bed and grabbed the scattered clothes on the floor. Rushing to the bathroom, she tried to put them on—but before she could finish, she heard the bedroom door being forced open.

“Wh–Who…”

Before she could open the door, it was kicked open by Jasper—her husband.

Alia froze in panic when Jasper saw a stranger, naked, in their bed.

What husband wouldn’t think his wife had done something unforgivable in their own bedroom—naked, no less?

“Wa–Wait, Jasper, let me explain—”

Before she could even start, he slapped her.

The slap was so strong it made her fall hard to the floor.

She lost consciousness for a second. When she came to, her head was spinning. Her cheek stung and her mouth filled with the taste of blood. She spat it out and realized—one of her teeth was broken.

Alia looked up at her husband, her face pitiful and bruised.

“Jasper, please, let me explain. It’s not what you think it is. Please, listen to me, I beg you!” she pleaded.

“Shut up!” Jasper roared, his hands trembling with rage.

“But—”

Her plea was cut short by a familiar voice behind Jasper.

“Oh my! Alia! What the hell is happening here?! Why are you in bed with another man aside from your husband? What were you thinking?!”

Rhea pretended to be shocked and horrified by the scene—but deep inside, she was delighted to see Jasper slap Alia.

Rhea walked closer, reaching a hand toward her, but before Alia could take it, Rhea jerked back dramatically.

“Alia, I just wanted to help you. Why slap my hand away? Do you hate me that much?” she cried in a saddened tone.

“I–I didn’t—”

“Don’t waste your kindness on her!” Jasper shouted. “She doesn’t appreciate it! Let her act like the victim—she’s good at it!”

Alia and Rhea both flinched at Jasper’s voice. Rhea secretly smirked before speaking again, pretending to persuade him.

“Jasper, let’s listen to her first. Let’s not jump to conclusions without hearing Alia’s explanation.”

“Why should I listen to her? It’s clear she slept with another man! It’s disgusting enough that we had s*x because of her manipulations—and now she’s done it again, this time with someone else! How repulsive!”

“Ja–Jasper…” Alia’s lips trembled, her eyes welling with tears. His words stabbed deeper than any slap.

She snapped.

“So that’s what you think of me,” she said, smiling bitterly.

Now she understood why her husband had always been so distant.

Alia stood up and walked out of the room, barefoot and trembling. She ignored Jasper’s insults and Rhea’s fake sympathy.

When she reached the living room, her knees buckled, and she fell to the floor. Someone grabbed her hair roughly, jerking her head back.

Looking up, she saw Jasper’s mother—Joana—glowering at her like she was a filthy street rat.

“You filthy peasant! How dare you cheat on my son and bring your lover into this house to have s*x in his bed!” Joana screamed, shaking her head by the hair she held.

Alia was a mess, and Joana’s hits only made her look more pitiful. She was used to the older woman’s insults—but being humiliated in front of the maids still crushed her.

Jasper just stood there, watching. He didn’t even try to stop his mother.

When had he ever cared for her? Never.

“Get out!” Joana shouted. “My son will file for divorce after this scandal you caused! You’re not only an opportunist—you’re a fcking slt! You deserve to rot in hell!”

Humiliated and broken, Alia stood up and ran out of the mansion.

She ran blindly into the street, tears blurring her vision. She didn’t see the car coming.

BAM!

Her body hit the ground hard, rolling across the asphalt. Pain exploded everywhere. Blood poured from her abdomen.

“M–My… ba–baby… s–save… my… baby…” she gasped weakly, trying to call for help.

She was more than five months pregnant. Even though she and Jasper had slept together only once, it had been enough. Despite his disgust, she had endured everything—for their child. She’d hoped he would change once the baby was born.

Jasper, Joana, and Rhea—who had followed her outside—saw everything. They stood frozen in shock.

Rhea clung to Jasper, trembling in “fear” at the sight of blood.

Alia saw them hugging. Anyone who didn’t know better would think they were the married couple.

She wanted to laugh at how pathetic she must look—for still hoping Jasper cared. But she couldn’t even smile.

Jasper knew she was pregnant.

Yet he didn’t move. He didn’t run to help her.

Her vision dimmed. Her tears mixed with the blood pooling beneath her.

She was scared—terrified—but there was nothing she could do.

Before her eyes fluttered shut, she witnessed something she never expected.