A Heart Adrift and Bereft of Love

"Sweetheart, you're carrying a baby now. Try not to cry so much, okay? It's not good for the little one."

I looked up in disbelief. My face turned pale as I stared at Harrison in shock.

With tears still shimmering on her cheeks, Kate's lips lifted and formed a subtle, knowing smile. Out of Harrison's sight, she shot me a smug glance.

Harrison gently took her hand, his palm resting on her stomach.

"Kate, the baby wouldn't want to see you upset over someone else."

Of course, that "someone else" was me.

I watched as Harrison gently coaxed Kate back into the bedroom.

My stomach turned at the sight.

Standing up, I took the cake and leftover food and tossed them into the trash. By the time I finished washing the dishes, my phone was buzzing nonstop with notifications.

When I checked, I saw Harrison had posted a photo—something he almost never did.

The image was a profile shot of Kate.

At first glance, she bore a slight resemblance to me.

Many thought Harrison was showing his love for me to the world. The comment thread was flooded with endless well wishes.

I couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity. Even on our seventh wedding anniversary, my husband was openly flaunting his affair with his mistress.

It was clear this was Harrison's revenge for my refusal to take down that comment.

He spoiled Kate without hesitation, but at the same time, he knew exactly how to shatter my pride.

As I scrolled through the endless stream of comments, a heavy sigh escaped me.

I couldn't even remember when our love morphed into a game. What had once been a relationship between two had evolved into a jealous conflict involving three.

I couldn't sleep a wink that night.

Resting in new beds has always been difficult for me.

When we were younger, Harrison had even gone so far as to order a bed identical to mine from home, just to help me sleep more comfortably.

Maybe it was the fact that I hadn't eaten anything the night before, but my stomach acted up again.

Clutching my stomach, I stumbled into the kitchen and made myself a bowl of instant noodles.

After a quick trip to the bathroom, I returned to find Kate sitting in my spot, digging into my noodles.

Harrison was beside her, carefully wiping the corners of her mouth.

"Is it really that good? If you like it, I can have Daisy make you another bowl."

Kate glanced at my pale face, a smile playing at the corners of her lips. "Really? I don't think Ms. Kershaw would be too happy about that."

Harrison followed her gaze, his eyes landing on me. He couldn't help but notice the cold sweat forming on my forehead.

His expression shifted with concern as he hurried over to me. "What's wrong, Daisy? Why do you look so pale?"

I didn't want to appear vulnerable in front of him or Kate, so I shoved him aside.

"Why should you care?"

Kate's eyes welled with tears. "Ms. Kershaw, if you're upset, please take it out on me. Don't take it out on Harrison!"

I turned toward the kitchen, trying to find something else to eat.

As I passed Kate, she suddenly pretended to offer me the bowl of noodles.

In that brief moment when we brushed past each other, Kate collapsed to the ground. The hot soup splashed all over both of us.

I cried out in pain, stumbling back from the burn.

Harrison's gaze instantly hardened. He rushed forward and shoved me out of the way.

The moment my forehead struck the wall's edge, everything around me spiraled into a blur.

Warm blood trickled down my temple, but Harrison didn't glance my way. His eyes were fixed on Kate, sprawled on the floor beneath me.

She clutched her stomach, crying out in agony. "Harrison, it hurts so much! Is our baby going to make it?

"Ms. Kershaw, if I'm the one you despise, take it out on me. Please, don't harm my child. He's innocent!"

At her accusation, Harrison shot me a sharp glare.

"Daisy, I must have spoiled you too much. How could you bring yourself to go after an innocent baby?"

I slumped against the wall, a faint smile tugging at my lips. "You and Kate really do deserve each other. One's a liar, and the other's too blind to see it."

My words landed hard, igniting Harrison's rage. He lunged at me, his hand whipping across my face.

A burning heat spread across my cheek.

Clutching my face, I steeled myself against the stabbing pain in my abdomen and the tears threatening to fall.

Through the haze of my blurred vision, his face slowly dissolved into a vague silhouette.

No matter how much I tried, I couldn't reconcile the hateful man in front of me with the one who once pledged a lifetime of love.