Chapter 1

City A had several heavy rainstorms in a row, and damp, lightless places grew a stifling, moldy smell. The weather had been cooling down rapidly these past few days, the flu spreading throughout the city. Everyone was rushing to the hospital one after another. Right now, I was also in the hospital, but not because of the flu. I stood at the entrance to the obstetrics department, watching the man I loved accompany another woman for her prenatal checkup. Roger's smile was unconcealed, full of the joy of impending fatherhood. What a loving couple. If only that man with the nice smile wasn't my husband. A few seconds later, the man looked up, and our eyes met. Under the cold fluorescent lights, his face looked even paler. In that instant, I suddenly felt it was all utterly pointless. I had originally intended to cause a huge scene, to turn the hospital upside down. Too ugly. That version of myself would have been both stupid and ugly. I adjusted my emotions, pulled out my phone, and started snapping pictures frantically of the two of them. Especially the mistress's belly, which looked eight or nine months pregnant, almost ready to deliver. Once I had my evidence, I put my phone away and walked off. "Nora!" Behind me, Roger called my name. "Listen to me, it's not what you think." I stopped and turned around, trying hard to keep my voice calm. "Alright, I'll listen to your explanation. How did you hook up with that little bitch? Did she climb into your bed, or did you fail to control your lower half? Is that little slut so good in bed? So good you kept going back for more?" The woman looked displeased, gently stroking her belly. "Nora, stop calling me a little bitch. The one who isn't loved is the third wheel. Roger doesn't love you anymore, you're out." "Ha!" I couldn't help but laugh. I walked up to her. She hugged her belly, trembling, afraid I would hurt her. She was very pretty, with features somewhat reminiscent of how I looked back then. "Girl, have Roger's parents agreed to let you into the family? Do you know you're a mistress, calling me the third wheel to my face?" I took a step back and raised my voice slightly towards the surroundings. "I wanted to preserve some dignity, but who would have thought a mistress would dare tell the lawful wife to her face that the unloved one is the third wheel?" "When you're out in the world, it's best not to be so arrogant." I raised my hand and landed a slap. Harper covered her face, tears streaming down. If this person hadn't been the mistress stealing my husband, maybe even I would have been moved by her tears. Roger stepped forward, his face full of suppressed emotion. The people around started murmuring, saying all sorts of things, mostly criticizing the cheating couple. Roger grabbed my hand. "Nora, let's talk outside." "Why go outside? Let's talk right here." I waved my phone. "Do you want me to delete this? Even if I delete it, it's synced to my email. I have backups." "Besides, with so many people watching, there's bound to be someone who can testify for me." Sure enough, as soon as I said this, many people stepped forward. "Right, we'll testify for you. I hate mistresses more than anything in my life. Shameless." "The man's no good either. Can't control his urges." "Scumbags like this should just die. They're just parasites, a scourge on society if they live." Roger dragged me forward. I struggled fiercely. He exerted more force, hoisting me directly onto his shoulder and carrying me out. "Roger, what about me? Roger! My stomach hurts, that woman hit me and it hurts." "Roger, come back!" Roger seemed not to hear her, closing the stairwell door behind him.