On My Birthday, He Was with His First Love

: My Husband's Tenderness Isn't for Me

There were more photos.

Ethan Kaelen was at Nina Shaw's bedside, holding her hand tightly.

He carefully adjusted the height of her bed.

He thoughtfully helped her drink some water.

He patiently held her while she cried, comforting her.

I'd never seen him look so gentle.

'So it's true. An iceberg really can melt for the person he loves.'

There were many more photos, but I didn't have the courage to look at them.

My heart ached with a bitter pang. I took one deep breath after another, trying to force back my wretched tears.

'They're just photos. Who knows if they're real? I should trust him.'

After reassuring myself, I called Ethan Kaelen.

'As long as he explains, I'll believe him.'

But the call went unanswered.

I didn't give up. I called again and again.

'Pick up, please pick up!'

'Just explain, and I'll believe you!'

"I'm sorry, the number you have dialed is currently unavailable..."

I heard that message until I was numb, my vision blurring.

But I kept dialing, over and over, though I didn't know who I was fighting against.

A phone call interrupted my one-sided battle.

"What's going on with Ethan and that woman?"

A familiar, displeased tone.

It was my biological father.

"I don't know."

I replied coldly.

"I did everything I could to get you married into the Kaelen Family, and you can't even keep an eye on your own husband! You useless thing, you've completely disgraced me!"

I sneered. "Destroying my mother's family, driving my Grandfather to his death, pushing my mom to suicide, and scheming against me... you're quite 'useful' yourself. Not something just anyone could pull off!"

"Shut up! Is that any way to talk to your father?"

I curled my lip. "What? Did I hit a nerve? I'm surprised you have enough humanity left to know you'll face retribution for what you've done."

"You've got such a sharp tongue, but in three years of marriage, I haven't seen you make Ethan Kaelen happy enough to produce a son!"

I didn't say a word, and he must have thought he had me cornered.

He ordered, "Get someone to take down those headlines immediately. And tell Ethan you'll both be attending our family's dinner party in two days!"

The call ended.

It felt as if all my strength had been drained away. I closed my eyes, completely spent.

The pain in my lower abdomen grew worse. I forced myself to dial 911.

After a battery of tests, I was relieved to hear the baby was fine.

After the IV drip was done, the doctor lectured me on the importance of staying relaxed and stress-free before finally letting me go home.

Just as I stepped out of the hospital, Ethan Kaelen's assistant came up to me.

"Mrs. Kaelen, President Kaelen instructed me to take you home."

I was pleasantly surprised. "Ethan's back!"

The assistant nodded.

I quickly pulled out my phone, realizing that even now, he hadn't returned a single one of my calls or even sent a single text.

In the car, I asked the assistant, "Does Ethan... does he know I was at the hospital?"

The assistant nodded. "Security informed President Kaelen."

'That makes sense. He sent his assistant to pick me up from the hospital, so how could he not know?'

'Then why didn't he come himself?'

The assistant dropped me off at the villa's main gate.

"Mrs. Kaelen, President Kaelen is waiting for you inside."

All the heartache and resentment I'd been feeling were easily dissolved by those words.

I opened the door and went inside, my eyes immediately landing on a figure busy in the kitchen.

"Ethan..."

"Ethan..."

My voice rang out at the same time as another woman's.

I stiffly raised my head to look at the top of the stairs, and my heart plummeted.

Nina Shaw was looking down at me, her hair unbound, wearing my favorite pajamas.

Ethan Kaelen came out of the kitchen. He glanced at me for only a second before turning his full attention to Nina Shaw.

"Why are you out of bed? Didn't I tell you to rest? You're not even wearing slippers. Go on, get back in bed. The nourishing broth is almost ready."