Three years into our marriage, my husband Ethan’s college sweetheart, Claire, came back to the States. And she brought a child with her—a child who, everyone whispered, was Ethan’s.

Suddenly, I, his wife, was the pathetic one. The doormat who supposedly clawed her way into being Mrs. Cole.

Everyone said Ethan only married me because Claire left the country, and he made a rash decision out of spite.

It finally hit me. I was never the main character in this story.

But this time, I refused to be just a supporting character in theirs.

"Ms. Hayes, congratulations, you're pregnant."

I held the test results, my hand instinctively going to my stomach. But all I felt was bitterness.

This baby couldn't have come at a worse time.

Two days ago, I got an anonymous text:

"Claire Vance is back. The kid she brought with her is Ethan Cole’s."

That day was my birthday. It was also our third wedding anniversary.

Ethan took a call that morning and then vanished for two days straight.

My calls went unanswered.

Claire was back, so naturally, I was forgotten.

Snapping back to the present, I clutched the test results and headed to Ethan's company.

Three years of marriage, and now a baby on the way. Whatever the truth was, I needed to hear it from Ethan, face-to-face.

Walking into the lobby, the receptionists gave me a fleeting look of panic.

I nodded curtly and stepped into the elevator.

Just before the doors closed, I heard their hushed whispers:

"Is Mrs. Cole here for a showdown?"

"Who do you think Mr. Cole will side with? I heard the woman upstairs is his college sweetheart."

Ethan’s assistant, Mr. Davis, saw me and, unusually, tried to block my path.

"Mrs. Cole, you're here. Let me inform Mr. Cole."

Seeing his uncomfortable expression, I took a deep breath and pushed past him. "No need. I'll go find him myself."

I pushed open the heavy door to the CEO's office. The cozy scene inside stabbed at my eyes.

Ethan and Claire were huddled close, discussing something intently. On the nearby sofa, a little boy was playing with building blocks.

They looked like a perfect, happy family of three.

Hearing the door, Ethan looked up. Seeing me, he frowned. "What are you doing here?"

I stepped inside. "What? Am I interrupting something?"

His face darkened, and he was about to speak when Claire placed a calming hand on his arm. "Ava," she said, "long time no see."

I watched their easy intimacy, a bitter smile twisting my lips.

Four years had passed, but seeing them together felt just like college. Like they belonged to a world I was forever excluded from.

My eyes drifted to the boy on the sofa. I asked the question that had kept me up for two nights.

"Long time no see, Claire."

"Is this your son? Where's his father? Didn't he come back with you?"

Claire’s eyes flickered, her face clouding over.

The boy seemed to sense the tension and suddenly scrunched up his face and started crying.

Ethan shot up from his seat, his face tight with anger. "That's enough! If there's nothing important, you should go home."

I looked at his displeased face, a familiar ache tightening my chest.

Seeing my silence, Ethan softened his tone slightly. "Why are you asking about this? I'm extremely busy right now. Be good, go home first."

My hand tightened around the crumpled test results. "What about Claire? Why is she here?"

He hesitated, a hint of guilt in his eyes. "Claire is my Special Assistant now."

I laughed, the sound sharp with irony. "Ethan Cole, you really have no shame, do you?"

His face hardened completely. "Ava Hayes, don't be unreasonable! Davis, escort Mrs. Cole out. And don't let her in again for the time being."

With that, he turned back to Claire, gently coaxing the crying child with her.

Mr. Davis looked miserable. "Mrs. Cole, please."

I fought back tears. "I can walk myself out. I don't need an escort."

As I walked out of the office, looking defeated, I heard the low buzz of employee gossip:

"Did Mrs. Cole just get kicked out?"

"I heard if Ms. Vance hadn't gone abroad, Mr. Cole never would have married this one."

"Is that kid really Mr. Cole's? He does look a bit like him."

I forced myself to walk tall, head held high, out of Cole Corp. Once outside the main doors, I threw the wrinkled test results into a nearby trash can.

The tears finally broke free, streaming down my face.

2

After leaving the company, I went back to my parents' house, the Hayes house.

Only my mother was home.

My father was off somewhere with his latest mistress.

We ate lunch in silence.

Suddenly, she spoke. "Your father is seeing some starlet again, isn't he?"

My hand paused mid-air. "Who told you that?" Though I knew it was because this particular affair was very public.

My mother put down her chopsticks, her expression bleak. "If only I could have given your father a son. Maybe he wouldn't be like this now."

A wave of sadness washed over me.

My mother had married down, supporting my father when he was starting from scratch. She loved him desperately.

But once he made his money, the affairs started and never stopped.

At first, my mother screamed herself hoarse, cursing him and his mistresses.

Later, her emotions grew unstable. She started blaming herself for not giving him a son, fantasizing that a boy might have made him settle down.

But my father hadn't come home in a long time.

We finished the meal in silence. I drove back to the house Ethan and I shared after getting married.

I threw myself onto the bed, an unprecedented wave of exhaustion washing over me.

That evening, Ethan actually came home, which was rare.

He didn't see me when he came in. Tossing his coat aside, he asked the housekeeper, "Where's Ava? Why isn't she down for dinner?"

The housekeeper replied worriedly, "Ma'am came back this afternoon and went straight to bed. Maybe she's not feeling well."

Ethan came upstairs and pushed open my bedroom door. "What are you still sulking about? Claire and I are just colleagues. Can't you stop being so petty!"

I lay in bed, not wanting to speak.

He walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, pulling me out from under the covers. Seeing my swollen eyes, he sighed. "You've always wanted to go to Switzerland, right? Once things calm down here, I'll take you."

I stared into his eyes. "That little boy at your office today..."

Before I could finish, Ethan cut me off, his face darkening. "Ava, don't ask about that child."

I clutched the duvet tighter. "Why?"

Just then, Ethan’s phone rang. Claire’s anxious voice came through the line. "Ethan, Leo seems to have a fever. Can you come over quickly?"

Ethan immediately stood up and headed for the door.

Before leaving, he seemed to remember something. "Tomorrow is the AU Centennial Gala. I have things to take care of tonight, so I won't be back. Have the driver take you there tomorrow."

I watched his retreating back. That night, I slept fitfully, haunted by dreams of the past.

3

My mother and Ethan’s mother were best friends. They’d practically arranged our marriage when we were kids.

As I got older, it was only natural that I fell for the brilliant and handsome Ethan Cole.

I wasn't as smart as him. I killed myself studying just to get into the same university, AU.

But my grades were still far below AU's standards.

Crushed by reality, I hid away to cry in secret.

Ethan found me. Seeing my tear-streaked face, he chuckled, half exasperated. "What are you doing hiding here and crying?"

I sobbed, "My grades are too low. I can't go to AU with you."

He reached out, pulled me up, and wiped the tears from my face.

The sunlight caught him, making his features look even more defined and handsome. "Alright, seeing how sincere you are, I guess I can help you out."

For the next year and a half, Ethan spent time every day tutoring me.

In the end, I barely scraped into a less popular major at AU.

Walking onto the AU campus with Ethan, my heart soared with joy.

Maybe Ethan liked me too.

It wasn't until Claire Vance appeared that I realized it was all just my fantasy.

Claire and Ethan were both Computer Science majors.

She was as brilliant as he was.

She didn’t need Ethan to explain problems to her; she could confidently debate complex topics with him that went completely over my head.

They teamed up for competitions, spending more and more time together.

The admiration in Ethan’s eyes when he looked at her grew deeper.

It was a look he never gave me.

I felt like an outsider, excluded from their world.

Everyone saw them as the golden couple, destined to be together.

I finally mustered the courage to ask Ethan if he had feelings for Claire.

If he said yes, no matter how heartbroken I'd be, I would let him go and wish them well.

Ethan shoved his hands in his pockets, looking impatient. "Claire is a respected rival and a trusted partner to me."

Before I could say more, Claire’s cool voice called out from nearby, "Ethan, let's go. Professor Thompson's class is next."

Ethan tossed a parting shot— "Stop letting your imagination run wild all day"—and left.

Watching them walk away side-by-side, I felt the distance between Ethan and me growing wider and wider.

Just when everyone assumed they would end up together, during our junior year, Claire abruptly applied to study abroad.

After graduation, pushed by both our families, Ethan and I got married.

Ethan had already left Cole Corp during his senior year to start his own business.

After the wedding, he was consumed by work. I barely saw him during the day, but at night, he was surprisingly passionate.

Just as I started to secretly hope that maybe Ethan did have feelings for me after all...

Claire came back.

And she brought a little boy with her, who looked remarkably like Ethan.

4

I hadn't planned on going to the Gala. I didn't want to see Ethan and Claire.

But the next morning, I received a text from my favorite professor from college.

So, I had the driver take me to AU.

After greeting my professor, a volunteer led me to the university's main hall.

As one of the top universities in the country, AU's Centennial Gala was a grand affair.

Former classmates spotted me and greeted me warmly.

Someone asked, "Ava, didn't Ethan come with you?"

A woman who used to pursue Ethan chimed in meaningfully, "I heard Claire Vance is back. And she brought a child with her."

Suddenly, a stir went through the crowd.

Claire walked into the hall, arm-in-arm with Ethan.

Old classmates from the Computer Science department immediately swarmed them, teasing, "Well, well, look who it is! Our golden couple!"

"Years have passed, but you two are still the perfect match, so good-looking together!"

The classmates around me cast pitying glances my way.

My hands trembled slightly. It felt like college all over again.

Whenever those two appeared together, I was always the forgotten supporting character.

Ethan saw me and walked over.

The teasing crowd fell silent, as if just noticing my presence.

He stood before me, his handsome brow furrowed again. "Why are you only wearing a dress? Aren't you cold?"

He shrugged off his jacket and draped it over my shoulders.

A few classmates who were friendly with me quickly chimed in, "See? Mr. Cole really knows how to dote on his wife."

Across the room, Claire watched us, her expression unreadable. Suddenly, she called out, "Ethan, Professor Thompson is here. Let's go say hello."

Ethan murmured to me, "Wait for me, we'll leave together," then turned and walked with Claire towards an elderly man.

Professor Thompson was old, his memory fading, but he still remembered his two most brilliant students.

He took Ethan's and Claire's hands, placing them together, beaming. "So you two finally got together! Wonderful, wonderful."

Someone in the crowd, clearly enjoying the drama, called out, "Professor Thompson, you didn't know? Ethan and Claire even have a child now!"

A hush fell over the hall.

Many people there knew Claire had returned with a boy who resembled Ethan.

A child whose age suggested he was born before Ethan and I were married.

Professor Thompson beamed, patting their joined hands. "Really? That's wonderful news!"

Ethan kept his eyes lowered, never uttering a word of denial.

My heart sank completely.

Whispers reached my ears:

"So the child really is Ethan's? What about his wife?"

"In front of everyone... Ethan isn't giving his wife any face at all."

"Men always hold a candle for their first love, don't they? Though Ava Hayes was never really good enough for Ethan. Claire coming back just sets things right."

The buzzing voices made it hard to breathe.

My stomach churned violently.

Ignoring the strange looks from the crowd, I rushed out of the suffocating hall.

Stumbling outside, I leaned against a tree, vomiting miserably.

My phone suddenly rang. The housekeeper's panicked voice on the other end sent my mind reeling:

"Miss Hayes, come home quick! Your mother… she tried to kill herself!"

5

By the time I frantically arrived back at the Hayes house, paramedics were loading my mother onto a stretcher.

A deep, bloody gash marred her wrist.

Blood flowed relentlessly, impossible to stanch.

My hands trembling, I rode in the ambulance with her to the hospital.

Mother was rushed into the emergency room.

The harsh hospital lights made my head throb.

Pale and hoarse, I called my father. "Where are you? Mom tried to kill herself!"

His irritated voice snapped back, "Damn nuisance!" before he hung up.

Numbly, I dialed Ethan’s number.

Listening to the ringing, my heart clenched painfully.

Ethan, please, I really need you right now.

The phone rang for a long time before finally being answered.

Before I could speak, Ethan’s heavy voice came through. "Claire's been admitted. I'm staying with her at the hospital. Don't call me for a while."

The dial tone buzzed in my ear, plunging me into an icy abyss.

The emergency room doors opened. A doctor walked out and looked at me, shaking his head helplessly.

I couldn't stand anymore. I crumpled to the floor, tears streaming down my face.

6

My mother’s family had all passed away long ago.

Like a zombie, I handled her funeral arrangements alone.

Back at the house, sorting through her belongings, I found a letter she’d left for me:

"Ava, my sweetheart, I'm so sorry. Mama was in too much pain. This was selfish, but it was the only way out."

"If Ethan ever does something to hurt you, don't be like Mama, trapped in a dead marriage, suffocating yourself. Mama believes you are much braver than her."

Tears soaked the letter, blurring the ink.

Once I composed myself, I contacted a divorce lawyer.

Then I took a taxi to the hospital.

There, I ran into Ethan and Claire.

Ethan was holding Leo. Seeing me, he blurted out, "What are you doing here!"

I exhaled slowly. "I came for a check-up."

He seemed to realize his tone was harsh. Hearing I was there for an appointment, he asked with concern, "Are you not feeling well?"

Leo, in his arms, tugged at his sleeve. "Daddy, we need to go get Mommy's medicine."

A mocking smile touched my lips as I looked at Ethan.

He shifted uncomfortably. "I'll just go get the prescription filled. I'll be right back. Wait here for me."

He walked off holding the child, but Claire didn't follow him.