A Love Built on Deception

I nodded silently, my gaze fixed on Sean, still saying nothing. If this had been before, when there was no mysterious call pulling him away, he might have noticed my mood. He would have asked questions, tried to figure out what was wrong, and done everything he could to make me smile.

However, all his attention was on his phone. His lies were getting sloppier, full of loopholes he did not even bother to cover up.

Sean rushed off in a hurry, but instead of leaving the hospital, he went straight into the VIP maternity ward. That was when I saw Jenna, the woman who had once competed with me for everything.

Sean, who had always been cold and distant, looked completely different. His expression was soft, and his every move was cautious and gentle.

Jenna pouted, her voice dripping with playful grievance. "Oh? Sean, you've finally decided to visit me? I was starting to think that now that Natalia is pregnant, you only have eyes for her and the baby. You almost forgot about me, didn't you?"

Then, she stretched out her arms like a spoiled child, waiting for a hug.

The Sean I knew had always disliked intimate gestures like that. Yet, the man in front of me was so unfamiliar that I could hardly trust my own eyes.

His expression was full of tenderness, and even when Jenna tentatively brought her red lips closer, he did not push her away. Instead, he placed a hand on the back of her head and deepened the kiss himself.

I stood in complete despair, tears streaming down my face as I watched Sean's hands wander over her body while his eyes gradually filled with desire.

His voice was thick with lust as he murmured, "Jenna, you're such a bad girl. Seducing me in broad daylight? You're asking for it!"

Jenna's face turned bright red as she clung to him, her petite hands teasing and provoking anywhere they touched.

She whined, saying, "Sean, you're the worst. You kept Zander so busy these past few days that he couldn't spend time with me and our baby. Don't you think you should make it up to me?"

Sean let out a low chuckle, his breathing growing heavier. "Fine. I'll make it up to you tonight."

However, just before he lost himself completely, he hesitated. He restrained his burning desire and pulled a dazzling necklace from his pocket. Then, he gently fastened it around Jenna's neck.

...

I did not remember how I made it back home. What had once been a warm, safe place now felt like a prison, filled with nothing but coldness and unspeakable pain.

I could only think about Sean's passionate embrace of Jenna, whispering her name with such tenderness, the same way he had once whispered mine.

Talia and Jenna—the two names overlapped in my head, twisting all those sweet memories into knives that cut me open over and over again.

I finally realized that every time Sean had held me the tightest or touched me with the most urgency, he had never been thinking of me. The truth had always been there, but I had been too blind to see it.

I used to think he was looking through me, searching for someone else in my eyes. I had doubted and overthought, but he held me close every time and whispered sweet promises in my ear.

"Natalia, you're the only woman I will ever marry. You're the most important person in my life, and no one can ever take your place."

Nonetheless, those vows only mocked my foolishness.

Later, I printed the divorce papers, signed them, and then made a call to the hospital to schedule an abortion.

The nurse asked, "Mrs. Walsh, are you sure? You've been trying for so long to have this baby. Do you really want to go through with this? Have you discussed it with Mr. Walsh?"

"Yes, I'm sure. I'll be at the hospital on time tomorrow morning."

Before I could even hang up, the bedroom door swung open. Sean walked in, exhaustion etched across his face. Then, he pulled me into his arms and kissed my cheek, just like he always did.

He asked with a hint of concern, "Talia, what's wrong? Didn't you go to the hospital today? Why are you going back tomorrow?"

My entire body stiffened as I swallowed back the nausea rising in my throat. I quickly ended the call and flipped the divorce papers over, hiding them beneath the blanket.

"It's nothing, just another routine fetal heart monitoring."

He smiled and nodded. "Alright, I'll have Carlile go with you tomorrow, okay? You know how crazy things are right now with the company going public. But don't worry, Talia. Once things settle down, I'll clear my schedule and spend all my time with you and the baby."

I nodded lightly and hummed in response. Seeing that I had no intention of continuing the conversation, Sean casually reached for the papers in my hands.

I quickly pulled them away, gripping them tightly.

He chuckled, his eyes filled with warmth and affection. "What's this? Darling, are you planning a surprise for me? Is that why you don't want me to see it yet? The day after tomorrow is my birthday. Darling, you got me a birthday present, didn't you?"

Bitterness filled my heart, but I forced a smile. "Yeah, it's your gift. I'll leave it in the study, and you can open it on your birthday."

He wrapped his arms around me, his laughter muffled as he buried his face in my shoulder. "Alright, whatever you say. Darling, I'm exhausted tonight. I'll wash up and then sleep in the study so I don't disturb you and the baby."

I nodded silently, watching as he walked into the bathroom. The moment he disappeared, his phone vibrated on the bed, and the screen lit up with message after message from Jenna.

[Jenna: Sean, you've gotten better. As a reward, make sure that the cripple sleeps alone for the next few nights. Like you said, she's boring. You can only get turned on if you take something, right?]

[Jenna: Sean, I love the necklace you gave me today. It's the royal jewelry you bought at auction in South Freinca for 200 million dollars, right? I recognized it immediately. Thank you for showering me with love, Sean. I'll cherish it forever.]

[Jenna: Let's have a video call tonight. I need to make sure you're not sharing a bed with that useless cripple.]

I could not bring myself to read the messages any further. Without a word, I turned my wheelchair and left that house.

I realized I could not wait until tomorrow. I did not want to stay in the same space with Sean anymore, acting out our fake roles, which had become incredibly tiresome.

Every second I stayed, it made me feel sick to my stomach.