Two Positive Tests at the Altar

The night before my wedding, I received two ultrasound scans. One was mine. The other belonged to Chloe Sparks, Julian Hayes's young intern. I stared at the medical report for a long time, but in the end, I didn't say a word. I had planned to wait until the reception was over and hand him the scan as a surprise. Yet on the day of the wedding, Chloe walked right up to me, glass of wine in hand, flaunting a stomach that wasn't even showing yet. With teary eyes, she asked, "Nora, if a man already has a fiancée but falls desperately in love with another woman anyway, what do you think that woman should do?" I smiled calmly. "If he truly loves her, he wouldn't make her wait." The very next second, in front of every single guest, she threw herself into Julian's arms. "Julian, the doctor said the baby isn't doing well today. You promised you'd take me to my prenatal checkup." Dead silence fell over the hall. I looked up at Julian. There was no panic on his face, only tenderness as he gently stroked her flat belly. "Don't worry. I'll take you." I lowered my gaze and touched my own abdomen. If he didn't want this child... Then I didn't want him, either. The crowd erupted into hushed murmurs. Countless mocking gazes landed on me like icy needles, sending a chill deep into my bones. "Oh my god, the other girl is pregnant? Why is the bride still trying to force him to marry her?" "You can't force love. She should just let him go!" A sharp pang shot through my heart as I watched the two of them embrace on stage. Julian spoke in a doting tone, "Stop acting up. I'll take you right after the ceremony, okay?" Chloe pouted petulantly. "No, I want to go right now." Dropping his usual reserved, composed demeanor, Julian looked down at her with eyes so soft they could melt stone. "Alright, alright. "Whatever you want." Chloe flashed a triumphant, provocative smirk in my direction before sinking into a passionate kiss with Julian. The scene felt so surreal it was almost absurd. Standing beside them, I didn't look like a bride. I looked like a clown. Realizing there was no saving the situation, the officiant abruptly ended the ceremony without another word. Before I could even step down, Julian's mother grabbed my sleeve and yanked me off the platform. "What are you doing? "Do you want all our friends and family to laugh at us?" I looked at her in disbelief. She and Julian's father instinctively avoided my eyes. That was when it hit me—they had known all along. They knew Julian was cheating on me with his young intern, and they knew she was pregnant. What was I to them, then? Today was supposed to be our wedding day! Dazed, I walked into the bridal lounge like a ghost. Julian came over, his brows slightly furrowed, and handed me a small plate of cake. "Your stomach has been acting up. Eat something first." His tone was so casual, as if discussing nothing more than the weather. "Chloe is just spoiled. I apologize on her behalf." A suffocating tightness gripped my chest. Trembling, I looked up at him. "Don't you owe me an explanation? Why her... and the baby, is she carrying your baby?" Julian lit a cigarette, his voice chillingly detached. "There's nothing to explain. "Infidelity happens. Nora, we've been together for twelve years. I'm bored. You're thirty-two now, and Chloe is only twenty-two. She's young, gorgeous, full of life. You just can't compete with her anymore." Tears blurred my vision, turning his face into an indistinct smear. "Nora." He sighed. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. "If you want to call off this marriage and sign the divorce papers, I won't stop you." My lips trembled, but I couldn't find my voice. Just then, his phone began to buzz. A glance at the screen revealed the caller ID: Chloe, Baby. Julian looked at me, seemingly deciding there was no longer any need to hide it, and answered the call. Chloe's whiny sobs came through the speaker. "Julian, where are you? "My belly hurts. Will you please take me to the hospital?" His expression softened instantly. He stood up, preparing to leave. Instinctively, I grabbed the hem of his jacket. "Don't go..." Julian looked down at me, his gaze turning impatient. "Nora, the baby comes first. "You're thirty-two, not a child. Stop throwing a tantrum." Without hesitation, he pried my fingers off his coat and walked out without looking back once. I pressed my lips together and stared at the ultrasound report poking out of my purse, letting out a hollow, bitter laugh. Right. The baby comes first. But Julian, we had a baby, too. I had thought I would give him the sweetest surprise once the vows were exchanged. Who would have thought he'd give me his "surprise" first? Clutching my flat stomach, tears fell silently, soaking into the fabric of the sofa. With trembling hands, I picked up my phone and dialed the clinic. "Dr. Evans, I need to schedule an abortion."Under the judgmental eyes of friends and relatives, I returned to our newly decorated penthouse alone. Every corner was still adorned with white roses and celebratory ribbons. What was meant to be festive decor now felt like a dozen daggers stabbing straight into my heart. I wanted to lose my mind, to tear every single decoration to shreds, but when I moved my fingers, I couldn't summon an ounce of strength. I collapsed onto the bed, completely drained, yet sleep would not come. Memories of the past rushed into my head like a flood. Julian used to love me so deeply. We got together when I was twenty. Later, he told me he had secretly crushed on me for four whole years before that. He said I was radiant and full of life, like a ray of warm sunshine in the coldest winter. One summer, when I fell ill and couldn't tolerate air conditioning, tossing and turning in the heat, he sat beside me all night, fanning me until dawn. After my mother died, my deadbeat father, drowning in gambling debts, wanted to sell our house. When I refused, he sneered, “You're just a girl. Not a single brick in this house belongs to you. What right do you have to say no?” I was kicked out into the street. It was Julian who came looking for me in the dead of night, pulling me into a tight embrace. He said, “Don't be afraid, Nora. You still have me. We'll build our own home.” Yet now, just as that home was finally within my reach, he shattered it into pieces with his own hands. It had only been twelve years. The lifetime he had promised me burst like a fragile bubble under the sun, vanishing with a single poke. I rolled over, burying my face into the pillow, letting tears soak my cheeks. When I woke up the next morning and unlocked my phone, countless notifications flooded the screen. Without reading them, I threw on some clothes and headed to the clinic. On the way, I sent Julian a text: [Let's finalize the divorce.] Julian replied: [Have you really thought this through? We just had the wedding yesterday. Filing for divorce today will make us a laughingstock to all our family and friends.] So he did remember yesterday was our wedding. Bitterness welled up in my throat. I replied with a mocking sneer: [I'm already the biggest joke in town. [Have your lawyer draft the settlement papers and send them over. Once we sign, we'll file the paperwork.] I stared fixedly at the screen. It took him a long time to text back: [Sorry, Chloe threw a fit and smashed a glass just now. She's delicate and insecure. Took me a while to calm her down. [Fine. We'll do it your way.] My eyes locked onto his first sentence, unable to pull away. A hollow ache blossomed in my chest. It wasn't just pain—it felt as though a giant hole had been punched through my heart, leaving an icy draft blowing right through it. A moment later, another text popped up: [Nora, don't blame me. Truth is, I left plenty of clues about the affair. I just didn't expect you to be so oblivious that you didn't notice for months. [Like that night you were hospitalized for stomach cramps? I told you at midnight that there was an emergency at the office. The truth is, Chloe was jealous that I was by your bedside and threw a tantrum until I went over to comfort her. That was the night she got pregnant.] My pupils constricted in horror. I had waited for him all night that night. I was in so much agony I couldn't sleep, yet I didn't dare call him because I was terrified of interrupting his work. And all the while, he was in bed with Chloe Sparks! I bit down hard on my lower lip until the metallic taste of blood spread across my tongue. I couldn't bring myself to look at my phone again. Like a hollow shell, I walked into the hospital. Dr. Evans asked me repeatedly, "Are you sure you don't want this child? I recall you and your husband trying to conceive for quite some time. And didn't you two just get married yesterday...?" Yes. We tried for so long, only for him to get another woman pregnant first. I offered a bleak smile and insisted on the procedure. With a sigh, the doctor completed my paperwork. The D&C procedure was over quickly. An hour later, I staggered out of the operating room, leaning heavily against the wall. My lower abdomen felt hollow and excruciatingly painful. For some reason, a bone-chilling cold overtook my body, followed by a strange, throbbing ache radiating through my limbs. I looked around, desperate to find a seat. The next moment, a familiar figure entered my line of sight. Frowning, Julian strode toward me. He grabbed my wrist, pulling me aggressively toward the exit. "Come with me," he demanded coldly. "Chloe wants to apologize to you."He shoved me violently into the passenger seat. A wave of agonizing cramps ripped through my lower belly, causing my vision to go pitch black. It took several seconds to catch my breath. Starting the engine, Julian said in an icy voice, "Nora, you crossed the line! "Chloe was just playing a little joke on you, and you went ahead and leaked the wedding video online? She's just a kid! How is she supposed to face the world now?!" I didn't bother defending myself. Instead, I let out a dry, raspy laugh. "So she actually knows what shame is?" Only then did he finally notice how paper-white my face was. "What's wrong with you? Your stomach again?" He smoothly retrieved a bottle of painkillers from the console and held it out to me. "There's warm water in the thermos. Take your pills." A wave of dizziness washed over me. Keeping stomach medication and warm water in his car—these were habits he had formed entirely for me. He once told me that since I had no one else in the world, he had to take care of me twice as well. Now, the habits remained, but we were no longer us. My eyes burned, but I pressed my lips tightly together and refused to take the pills. He cast an irritated glare at me and tossed the medication back into the compartment. "Fine, don't take it. Just don't touch anything in the car. Chloe will be furious if she finds out. "Nora, you're a grown woman. Why do you still throw tantrums like a spoiled teenager? It's pathetic." I stayed silent, curling into myself and pressing my arms tightly against my lower abdomen. When we arrived at Chloe's apartment, Julian warned me, "Don't cause a scene. "Make her feel better, and I'll agree to whatever terms you want for the divorce." I curled my lips into a bitter smirk. The moment we stepped inside, Chloe dramatically dropped to her knees in front of me, clutching her belly in tears. "I'm so sorry, Nora! It's all my fault! I shouldn't have been so impulsive and ruined your wedding! "You can hit me or scream at me, just please call off the cyberbullies! People were pointing fingers at me when I went out today... I'm terrified..." Julian instantly rushed forward and pulled her into a protective embrace. When he turned back to me, his tone was freezing. "Clear her name, Nora. "Post a statement saying the leaked video was an AI deepfake you made out of petty jealousy because Chloe is younger and prettier than you." It was beyond absurd. Gritting my teeth, I said, "Hundreds of guests saw it with their own eyes yesterday—" Julian cut me off. "Leave that to me. Those were all my family and business associates. I'll handle them." Perhaps noticing how deathly pale I looked, his tone softened slightly. "Nora, I know you're just acting out because you're jealous. "Look, I don't even have to divorce you. When Chloe gives birth, you can raise the baby. It won't be any different from having our own child." Pushed past my breaking point, I shouted, "In your dreams!" Julian froze. "What did you say?" My words came out in a furious rush. "I will never clear her name! Chloe Sparks deserves every single insult she gets! She's a homewrecking whore, and she deserves to rot!" Slap! Enraged, Julian's face turned livid, and his hand struck across my face with brutal force. Before he could say another word, Chloe tugged at his sleeve, her face contorting in agony. "Julian... my stomach hurts so much... "The baby... it hurts..." Panicking, he scooped Chloe up into his arms. "Don't be scared, baby. I'm taking you to the ER right now!" As he rushed past, he cast a venomous glare over his shoulder. "Nora, I will make you pay for this." The pain in my abdomen flared up viciously. Yelling at them had drained the last ounce of my strength. Unable to stay upright, I slowly slid down the wall onto the cold hardwood floor. It took me a long time to recover enough to reach for my phone. Remembering his parting threat, a heavy dread sank into my stomach. Sure enough, social media was entirely inundated with smears against me.The viral posts claimed I had been sleeping with street thugs since high school, undergoing countless abortions. They claimed I had slept with my college professors to scrape by and graduate. They claimed that even after getting together with Julian, I had maintained scandalous affairs with dozens of men, and Julian only turned to Chloe because he had reached his absolute breaking point. There were even countless vile, deepfaked explicit photos circulating under my name. Public sentiment on TikTok and X completely flipped. [The bride had it coming! With a woman that dirty, can you blame Hayes for looking elsewhere?] [Poor Julian Hayes, imagine marrying someone else's damaged goods!] [Chloe Sparks isn't a homewrecker, she's an angel who saved him from that toxic psycho!] It was Julian. Because I refused to issue a statement, he chose this vicious route to whitewash Chloe's name! Rage shot straight to my brain. Stumbling to my feet, I tried to call Julian, but my phone rang first. The caller was my father. "Nora, I saw the news online. "Why do you have to be so stubborn? It's normal for men of status to fool around! Go apologize to Julian right now! Don't throw away a golden ticket into high society over something so trivial!" An icy chill washed over me. "I am your flesh and blood," I said numbly. "I was humiliated and discarded, and all you care about is latching onto wealth?" My father hesitated, then sneered, "Well... if you won't do it, don't blame me." He hung up. Seconds later, a notification popped up. My father had posted a video, wearing a remorseful expression as he apologized to Julian. “It's all my fault. I failed to raise my daughter properly. She's been reckless and promiscuous with random men since she was a teenager...” His public statement became the final nail in my coffin, confirming every vile rumor. The crushing pressure on my chest grew unbearable, as if a boulder were suffocating my lungs. With a violent heave, I coughed up a mouthful of blood. Clinging to my last shred of consciousness, I dialed Julian's number. His voice was as cold as ever. "Saw the news?" "Julian Hayes," I asked with a trembling voice, "we were together for twelve years. How could you do this to me?" He went silent for a brief second before sighing. "Nora, I didn't want it to come to this. "Come to the hospital and apologize to Chloe. She almost miscarried because of you. The moment she forgives you, I'll clear your name." I wanted to smash the phone and tell him to burn in hell, but I forced the fury back down my throat. I still had a life to live. I couldn't let my reputation and my future be thoroughly destroyed. Hanging up, I dragged my battered body to the hospital. Inside the private room, Chloe lay delicately in Julian's arms while he patiently fed her soup, spoonful by spoonful. Looking at them, it seemed as if they were the ones who had just celebrated their wedding yesterday. I walked in slowly and muttered, "I'm sorry." Chloe flashed a sly, mocking wink at me before instantly bursting into dramatic sobs. "Nora, I know you hate me! "If you don't mean it, you don't have to force yourself! Stop acting like a martyr!" Julian's brow furrowed immediately. "Chloe got on her knees to apologize to you earlier. Where's your sincerity?!" Before I could react, he grabbed my shoulder and forced me down onto the floor. My knees slammed painfully against the icy tiles. The frigid chill seeped into my veins, sending a drilling, tearing ache straight through my lower belly. I clenched my fists as every drop of color drained from my face. Noticing this, Chloe gasped in mock concern. "Oh no, is Nora feeling unwell?" Julian cast a disgusted glance down at me. "Ignore her. "Playing the fragile victim at her age just to guilt-trip me... it's sickening." He helped Chloe out of the room. Moments later, a swarm of paparazzi armed with cameras and bright flashes barged into the room, their dark lenses pointing directly at my face. The shutter clicks and blinding lights were relentless. "Are you Nora Vance? Are the rumors of your husband having an affair with his intern true, or is your personal life really that depraved?" "Do you have a psychological disorder that drives you to cheat continuously? Your own father condemned you publicly—do you feel any remorse as a daughter?" "What do you have to say in response to Mr. Hayes's actions? Please answer us!" "Did Mr. Hayes file for divorce because you're a nymphomaniac?" ... Countless invasive questions came at me from every direction, threatening to drown me alive. The cameras were shoved right into my face, making my head throb violently. The pain tearing through my lower abdomen grew unbearable, leaving me unable to straighten my back or utter a single word. Between my thighs, a warm, thick fluid began to seep out. The sharp metallic scent of blood filled the air. Just as my vision blurred and my body gave out, a familiar figure shoved through the crowd, pulling me tightly into a protective embrace. "Get the hell away from her! Don't you dare touch her!"