Clark gently helped the young woman out of the obstetrics clinic. Both of them were smiling, their faces glowing with happiness.
Nyla immediately recognized her. This was the woman from the photos in those anonymous messages.
Just then, the woman spotted Nyla standing frozen in the hallway. Her eyes lit up with surprise and something that looked like malicious delight.
"Oh wow, isn't that Mrs. Summer?" she exclaimed loudly. "What a coincidence running into you at the hospital!"
At the sound of her voice, Clark looked up. His eyes met Nyla's across the corridor. His entire body went rigid. He quickly dropped his hand from the woman's arm, panic flooding his features.
"Nyla!" Clark hurried toward her, his voice high with nervousness. "Why are you here? You should be resting in your room!"
He reached her side, speaking rapidly. "I was just downstairs getting your medicine when I accidentally bumped into Jordyn here. She's my new secretary, and she's pre-gnant. I was worried she might fall, so I helped steady her."
His explanation tumbled out in a rush. Sweat beaded on his forehead despite the air conditioning.
Nyla's gaze moved to the woman's slightly swollen belly. She felt her breathing become shallow and labored. But she forced herself to remain outwardly calm.
"Miss Jordyn," Nyla said slowly, "when did you get pre-gnant? Where's the father? Shouldn't he be here with you for such an important appointment?"
Jordyn caressed her belly with obvious pride. A sweet, satisfied smile spread across her face. "I just found out I'm two months along. The father couldn't be here because he's so busy with work, but he was absolutely thrilled when I told him."
She practically glowed as she spoke. "He said he wants to give me and the baby the best life possible. He's already bought me a beautiful apartment downtown and promised to make everything official after the baby arrives."
Every word felt like a knife twisting in Nyla's chest.
Jordyn continued, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "Mrs. Summer, you're so lucky to have such a wonderful husband. But I think my boyfriend is just as amazing. He tells me I've become even more beautiful since getting pre-gnant. He can barely stand to leave my side."
She paused, tilting her head with feigned innocence. "Mrs. Summer, do you have time? I'm free today. Would you like to have dinner together? I could invite the baby's father to join us."
The challenge in her eyes was unmistakable.
Clark's expression darkened. He shot Jordyn a warning look. "My wife doesn't have time. Miss Jordyn, I'm sure your boyfriend is waiting for you. Don't keep him worried."
His voice carried clear dismissal and irritation.
Then he wrapped his arm around Nyla's shoulders, his touch gentle and concerned. "Honey, you're still recovering. You shouldn't be walking around the hospital. Let me take you back to your room."
He spoke in the same caring tone. "She's just a secretary. Don't worry about her."
Jordyn's face crumpled at the cold dismissal in Clark's voice. Her eyes filled with tears, making her look young and vulnerable. "You're right. I got too excited. I'm not worthy of having dinner with Mrs. Summer."
She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, looking genuinely hurt. "I should go. My boyfriend will be wondering where I am."
With that, she turned and walked away, her shoulders shaking slightly.
Clark's expression flickered. For a moment, he looked like he wanted to follow her. But when he noticed Nyla watching him carefully, he stayed put.
He turned back to Nyla and patted her head affectionately. "Be good, okay? I have some urgent things to handle at the company. I'll have James drive you home. Get some rest, and I'll be back tonight to check on you."
His voice was warm and loving, the same tone he had used for three years of marriage.
As soon as Nyla returned to her hospital room, her phone buzzed with a new message. It was from Jordyn.
The first image was a pre-gnancy test showing two clear pink lines.
Then came a series of messages that made Nyla's hands shake:
[Nyla, I know you figured it out today. The baby is Clark's. Don't think he loves you as much as you believe. If he truly loves you, then what am I doing in his life?]
[Do you know how obsessed he is with me? Every year on your birthday and your anniversary, after he puts you to sleep, he comes to spend the night with me. He's so passionate with me, so wild. We go through boxes of c0n-doms, and I can barely walk the next day.]
[We've faking in his car, his office, even in your bedroom when you were away. He's done things with me that I bet he's never done with you. Has he ever been truly passionate with you, Nyla? Or does he save all his fire for me?]
Reading these brutal messages, Nyla felt something break inside her chest. Her hands trembled as she set down the phone.
She took deep, measured breaths, trying to suppress the storm of emotions threatening to overwhelm her.
That evening, Clark returned with an elegant white box.
Inside was a strawberry mousse cake from the city's most expensive French pastry shop. It had once been Nyla's absolute favorite dessert.
"Baby, I brought your favorite cake," Clark said carefully, watching her face for a reaction. "The doctor said you're still weak and need to eat more sweets to build up your energy."
He opened the box with a flourish, revealing the delicate pink confection.
In the past, Nyla would have clapped her hands with delight at seeing this cake. She used to say it was almost too beautiful to eat. But now, looking at it made her stomach turn.
She picked up the small silver fork and took a mechanical bite. The overly sweet flavor sat in her mouth like paste. She couldn't swallow it.
Without a word, Nyla stood up and threw the entire cake box into the trash can. The beautiful dessert landed with a dull thud.
Clark stared at her in shock. "Nyla, what's wrong with you? "
Chapter 7
Nyla turned to face Clark, her eyes completely devoid of their usual warmth. "It doesn't taste the same anymore."
Her voice was eerily calm, but it sent a chill through Clark's entire body.
He rushed to her side and pulled her into his arms.
"Baby, maybe this bakery changed their recipe," he said. "I'll call them tomorrow and find out. No matter how much it costs, I'll make sure they get the taste exactly right again."
Nyla's body remained rigid in his embrace. "Things change, Clark. Once they change, you can't go back."
Her voice was still calm, but each word felt like an icicle piercing Clark's heart. He sensed she wasn't just talking about the cake anymore. She was talking about them.
Clark felt panic rising in his chest. That was when his phone rang.
The ringtone cut through the tension. Clark glanced at the caller ID and his face went pale.
Nyla caught the shift in his expression, and her disappointment deepened.
"I... I need to take this call," Clark stammered. "There's an emergency at work."
Nyla turned away from him completely. "Go ahead. Work is important."
Clark stood frozen for several seconds, torn between answering the phone and staying with his wife. Finally, he made his choice and headed for the door.
As he stepped into the hallway, Nyla could hear his voice through the thin walls: "Jordyn, what's wrong? Are you feeling sick? I'll be right there..."
His voice faded as he moved further away, leaving Nyla alone in their living room.
The silence felt suffocating. Nyla stared at the white walls, feeling like they were closing in on her.
Twenty minutes after Clark left, Nyla's phone buzzed with an incoming call. She didn't recognize the number, but she answered anyway.
"Mrs. Summer, I hope I'm not interrupting," came Jordyn's sweet voice. "I'm not feeling well, so I borrowed Clark from you tonight. He came without hesitation when I called. He said nothing was more important than making sure I was okay."
Nyla's grip tightened on the phone, but she said nothing.
Jordyn continued with obvious satisfaction. "You know what Clark told me today? He said I'm younger and prettier than you. He said I can give him something you never could - a child. He mentioned that you haven't been able to conceive in three years. He's worried there might be something wrong with your body."
"Oh, and that strawberry mousse cake you threw away today?" Jordyn's voice turned mocking. "Clark buys me that same cake all the time. He says sweet treats are perfect for sweet girls. Don't you think it tastes sweet, Mrs. Summer?"
The call ended with Jordyn's cruel laughter.
Nyla sat in the darkness, feeling something fundamental shift inside her. The pain was so intense it took her breath away. Then slowly, mercifully, numbness began to set in.
From that day forward, Nyla began quietly packing her belongings. She folded her clothes carefully and placed them in suitcases.
She packed her books, her makeup, her jewelry. Each item felt heavy with memories she no longer wanted to keep.
Clark became even busier during this time. He came home later and later, sometimes not at all. When he did return, he was distant and distracted.
Meanwhile, Jordyn's messages never stopped. Photos of her growing belly, pictures of expensive gifts, taunting words designed to twist the knife deeper.
Nyla's best friend Valarie came over to help with the divorce paperwork.
"Given that Clark committed adultery and got another woman pre-gnant, you could definitely ask for substantial compensation," Valarie said seriously. "Plus, you gave up your career for this marriage. That's worth a lot in court."
Valarie spread the legal documents across the coffee table. "You sacrificed your research position at the university. You could have been earning six figures by now."
But before proceeding with anything official, Nyla felt she should tell her father. She drove to the hospital where he was still recovering from his recent surgery.
Her father looked better than he had in weeks. His color was returning, and he was sitting up reading the newspaper.
"Dad," Nyla began carefully, "if... hypothetically... if I wanted to get divorced, what would you think?"
Her father set down his newspaper and studied his daughter's face intently. "Nyla, is something wrong between you and Clark?"
Nyla forced herself to maintain eye contact. "I'm just curious. If that day ever came..."
"Absolutely not!" Her father's voice rose sharply. "Nyla, do you understand what the Summer family has done for us? When my factory had that terrible accident, they provided the money that saved us from bankruptcy. They've been paying my medical bills for three years. Without them, we would have lost everything."
Her father's face was flushed with emotion. "Clark has been nothing but good to you. How could you even think such thoughts? Has someone been filling your head with ideas?"
Nyla realized she couldn't continue this conversation. Her father had no idea about Clark's betrayal. She couldn't bear to put her sick father through that kind of shock and disappointment.
She was about to change the subject when her father's phone chimed with a text message. He glanced at the screen and his face went completely white.
The message was from Jordyn. It contained a photo of her and Clark kissing passionately in what looked like a hotel room.
Below the image was a message that read: "Thought you should know - I'm pre-gnant with your son-in-law Clark's baby."
Chapter 8
Harrison suddenly developed a violent coughing fit. His body convulsed as he struggled to breathe.
His face turned an alarming shade of blue, and his hands clawed at his chest. The phone slipped from his trembling fingers and clattered to the floor.
Nyla saw the message on the fallen phone and immediately understood what had triggered his condition.
Rage flooded through her veins, but her father's health took priority over confronting Jordyn. She frantically pressed the call button for the nurses.
"Help! I need a doctor now!" she shouted into the hallway.
A team of medical staff rushed into the room. They immediately began checking her father's vital signs while Nyla stood helplessly in the corner, watching his condition deteriorate before her eyes.
The lead doctor emerged from the examination looking grave. He pulled off his mask and shook his head slowly.
"Mr. Jayston's condition has suddenly worsened," he said wearily. "His kid ney failure has progressed rapidly. We need to transfer him to the ICU immediately for intensive monitoring and treatment."
Nyla felt her legs go weak. "How serious is this?"
"It's critical," the doctor replied bluntly. "But I'm afraid we have a problem. Our ICU is completely full. Every bed is occupied, and there's a waiting list. All the hospitals in the city are experiencing the same shortage of resources."
"Wait?" Nyla could barely comprehend what she was hearing. "Doctor, my father can't wait. Look at him!"
Her father was still struggling to breathe normally. His skin had a grayish pallor that terrified her.
"I understand your concern, Mrs. Summer, but we're doing everything we can," the doctor said helplessly. "All we can do right now is stabilize his condition with medication and hope a bed opens up soon."
Desperation clawed at Nyla's chest. She thought immediately of Clark. As the heir to Summer Group, he had connections throughout the medical community. He could pull strings and get her father the care he needed.
With shaking hands, she dialed Clark's number.
After several rings, someone picked up. But it wasn't Clark's voice that greeted her.
"Hello, who's calling?" came Jordyn's sickeningly sweet voice.
Nyla's blood turned to ice. "This is Nyla. I need to speak to Clark immediately. It's an emergency."
"Oh, Mrs. Summer!" Jordyn's voice was dripping with false concern. "Clark is in the shower right now. He's been taking such good care of me all day that he's completely exhausted. Poor thing needs to rest."
Nyla bit back her fury and forced herself to stay focused. "This is about my father. He's dying and needs an ICU bed. Please put Clark on the phone right now."
"Oh my, what terrible timing," Jordyn said with obvious fake sympathy. "I wasn't feeling well this afternoon either. Just some pre-gnancy nausea and dizziness, you know how it is. But Clark was so worried about me and the baby that he immediately called in the best medical team in the city. They're all on standby right now, just in case something happens to us."
Nyla's hands were shaking so violently she could barely hold the phone. Her father was dying, and her husband was playing house with his pre-gnant mistress.
"Can you please just-" Nyla began, but Jordyn cut her off.
"Oh, I hear the shower turning off. Clark will be so tired after everything we've been through today. I should probably let him rest. You understand, don't you?"
The line went dead.
Nyla stood in the hospital hallway, feeling like the world was collapsing around her.
She closed her eyes and tried to think of alternatives. Then suddenly, an image flashed through her mind - a figure handing her a coat in the rain. Damon's cold but decisive voice echoing in the car.
Without allowing herself to second-guess the decision, she dialed his number.
"Mr. Damon, this is Nyla," she said when he answered. "I'm sorry to bother you, but my father is critically ill. He needs an ICU bed urgently, but the hospital says they don't have any available. I know this is a lot to ask..."
"Send me the hospital address," Damon's voice cut through her rambling. It was sharp and authoritative. "I'll handle it. Ten minutes."
The line went dead, but his words carried more reassurance than Clark's empty promises ever had.
Exactly ten minutes later, the hospital director personally arrived at her father's ward.
Behind him came a full medical team, including specialists Nyla recognized from medical journals. They moved with efficient precision.
"Mr. Jayston will be transferred to our premium ICU immediately," the director told Nyla respectfully. "We're bringing in the city's leading kid-ney specialists for consultation. He'll receive the absolute best care available."
Within an hour, her father was settled in a private ICU room with round-the-clock monitoring.
That evening, after her father's condition had finally stabilized, Nyla returned to the house she had shared with Clark.
She sat in their living room, surrounded by three years of memories that now felt like lies.
She opened her phone and began forwarding every single message and photo Jordyn had sent her to Clark's email address.
The videos of Jordyn showing off expensive jewelry. Photos of their intimate moments in the apartment Clark had bought her.
Recordings of Jordyn rubbing her belly and cooing, "Daddy loves us so much. He's going to give us everything."
After sending all these, Nyla typed a final message: "Clark, these are from your girlfriend Jordyn. Since you two love each other so much, I'll step aside and let you be together."
Then she photographed the divorce papers Valarie had prepared and attached them to another email: "The divorce agreement is ready. Have your lawyer contact Valarie tomorrow to finalize everything."
After hitting send, Nyla stood up and began dismantling their life together.
She pulled their wedding photos off the walls and threw them directly into the trash. The jewelry Clark had given her, the clothes he had bought, the makeup he had surprised her with - everything went into garbage bags.
She called a moving company and worked through the night to clear out her belongings. By dawn, the house looked exactly as it had before she had moved in - empty and cold.
Nyla took one final look around the space that had once felt like home.
She dragged her suitcase to the door and walked out without looking back.