She Replaced My Medicine With Vitamins

Start Reading

On the eve of our anniversary, my wife replaced my heart medication with vitamins.

I was rushed to the ER in critical condition, but she didn't even show up. Instead, she let her young assistant take my place on our planned getaway to the Maldives.

By the time I was discharged, I saw her leaning on that same assistant's arm at the clinic for a pregnancy checkup.

When I confronted her, she didn't even blink.

"You're just a kept man, Harlan. I don't know what gives you the right to be angry."

I hung up the phone and left a signed divorce agreement behind.

She thought I was joking. "Whatever makes you happy. Do what you want."

......

When Serena Sterling finally came home, I was already finished packing. I was directing the movers as they hauled my crates out.

She stood at the doorway, glancing at the workers before landing her cold gaze on me.

"Harlan, stop this drama. You're a grown man, and yet you're still playing the 'running away from home' card?"

Her tone was sharp, her face practically screaming her impatience.

In the past, I would have rushed over to pamper her. I would have asked about her day and offered words of encouragement.

But now, I was done forcing myself to care.

I looked back at her once, then picked up the divorce papers from the table and walked toward her.

"You're just in time. Sign this. When you have a moment later, we'll head to the lawyer's office to finalize it."

Serena looked down at the papers in my hand, her brows knitting together in a scowl.

"Harlan Reed, is this really necessary? So what if I'm pregnant with Silas's child? It's not a big deal."

"Don't worry, once the baby is born, he'll call you daddy. If you're that desperate, I'll give you one of your own in a few years."

"Silas isn't trying to replace you. He just loves me so much he wanted a child with me. What's so wrong about that?"

Seeing that I remained silent, Serena softened her temper slightly.

She snatched the agreement from my hand, ripped it into pieces, and tossed it into the trash can by the door.

"If you're so jealous of Silas, I'll make sure he doesn't show his face around you anymore. Besides, don't you love kids? This baby can keep you company!"

Was I jealous?

Any normal man seeing his wife's loverDthe father of the bastard in her wombDwould be furious.

But I wasn't. I didn't feel a spark of jealousy or anger.

I just felt a brief, hollow numbness. Then, I let out a self-deprecating laugh.

"No need. You two can do whatever you want. It has nothing to do with me," I said.

"Harlan, stop acting like a child. You scared Silas with your tone on the phone yesterday. Go apologize to him tomorrow, and we'll call this settled."

I couldn't help but let out a dry chuckle at that.

"Apologize? To him?" My eyes were full of mockery.

I stared at Serena. "Do you honestly think he's worth my breath?"

Serena's face went completely dark. She lowered her voice in a warning. "Harlan, don't push your luck. You will apologize to Silas tomorrow, or else..."

"Or else what? You'll hit me? Or kick me out of the Sterling mansion?"

I cut her off. "Don't bother with the threats. We'll divorce, you can marry him, and you can give your little bastard a legitimate name."

Serena's hand flew out, and a sharp slap landed on my face.

She realized her soft approach wasn't working, so she went straight for the jugular.

"Harlan, I gave you a chance. Who gave you the right to call this child a bastard? Are you sure you want to leave?"

"If you dare walk out that door today, don't ever think about coming back. You'll be dead to the Sterling family."

I frowned as I looked at the woman I had loved for so many years.

I didn't know when she had turned into this creature.

She had the face I knew best, but her words and actions were those of a total stranger.

Serena thought I couldn't survive without her. She thought I needed the status, the title, and the money the Sterlings provided.

In reality, she had no clue what I actually wanted.

I pushed past her, grabbed my suitcase, and walked out without looking back.

"Harlan! You're only living this life because of me and my family!" she screamed behind me.

"You're nothing but a trophy husband. A dog that begged to be let in. Look at your ageDwho else would want a pathetic loser like you?"

I told myself I didn't love her anymore. I told myself I was ready to leave.

But hearing Serena's final insults still made my chest tighten until I could barely breathe.

She wasn't entirely wrong. For years, I had lived off the Sterling fortune. It was because of her family that I had this comfortable life.

As soon as I stepped away from the estate, I checked my phone. My wife's pathetic little assistant had just updated his social media.

He posted a photo of some high-end supplements Serena had bought him.

The caption read: "Baby bought these for me. She said it's to make up for my poor heart getting bullied by the ex!"

What a fragile little thing. Serena should probably put him in a glass display case.

The man was a textbook manipulatorDa total snake with a victim complex.

But it didn't stop there. Just as I found a decent place to stay, I got a DM from the snake himself.

"Harlan, does Serena go this hard with you too? It really hurts. It's been a day and the marks still won't fade."

He attached a photo. It showed his collarbone covered in dark purple hickeys.

I felt a surge of nausea. I didn't hold back and typed a reply.

"You should tell her to be careful. If she keeps sucking on your neck like that, she might cause a blood clot. You could literally die."

I wasn't even trying to be petty. I was giving him some genuine health advice!

I'd hate for him to pass away so young. The bastard in Serena's belly needs a father, after all.

Seconds later, my phone started vibrating like crazy.

The moment I answered, Serena's roar filled the air. She threw one curse after another at me until my head throbbed.

I silently hit the mute button.

Ten minutes later, I unmuted and said, "So, when can we meet at the courthouse for the divorce?"

Serena let out a cold laugh. "Playing hard to get only works for so long, Harlan. Don't trick yourself into thinking I care."

She hung up. When I tried to call back, she didn't answer.

I shook my head. She was always so arrogant, convinced the world revolved around her.

The old me would have crawled back and begged for her forgiveness. I would have spent days trying to make her smile.

Now? She could fly to the moon for all I cared. Being with her had made me feel like a stray dog.

How did we even get to this point?

Serena and I met in high school.

I was a year older, so I spent those years taking care of her.

She was so dependent on me. When her family wanted her to come home to inherit the business, she cried and said she couldn't leave me.

That was when I found out she was the sole heiress of the Sterling empire.

Because of her, the Sterlings had no choice but to let me stay by her side.

At first, my position in the family was awkward, to say the least.

But after they saw how well I looked after her, they treated me a bit better.

With their support, I finished my Master's degree with top honors.

After graduation, I planned to start my own career.

But Serena's confession changed everything. She said she loved me. She begged me to stay forever.

The Sterlings assumed I was just a gold-digger who had manipulated their daughter.

From that moment on, their attitude shifted to cold contempt.

After Serena went on a hunger strike to protest, they finally caved.

But to protect their assets, they made me sign a draconian prenup.

I was forbidden from working for the Sterling Group. I had no say in any business decisions. Even if Serena died, I would inherit absolutely nothing.

I hesitated for a brief moment, looking at my bright future versus a life with her. Then, I signed the papers and chose her.

We got married. Just like that.

But she changed the moment the ring was on her finger. I kept enduring it.

Eventually, she crossed the line.

She hired a handsome young assistant and fell head over heels for him.

Our life became a cycle of endless arguments until we couldn't stand the sight of each other.

She looked down on me for being a "kept man," forgetting that I was the one who had sacrificed my career for her.

She forgot that her success was built on the times I swallowed my pride to help her network.

During one of our last fights, she promised to take me on a real honeymoon.

When we first married, she knew I had suffered, and she swore she would make it up to me.

But once she had the power, she lost the heart.

She made that promise, and for a moment, my dead heart started beating again...

And then she destroyed it all.

I never expected her to swap my meds for that man. I never expected her to carry his child.

The second I found out she was pregnant, any lingering love I had for her died.

I finished organizing my things, took a long shower, and had the best sleep I'd had in years.

The next morning, a ringing phone jolted me awake.

I fumbled for it and swiped to answer.

Immediately, Serena's furious voice exploded through the speaker. "Harlan, where the hell are you? My clothes aren't laid out, and no one made breakfast! Your little tantrum has gone far enough. Are you trying to embarrass me?"

Hearing her words, my disappointment in her grew even deeper.

I had no idea where I ranked in her heart anymore. Apparently, I was lower than her daily outfit.

"Serena, I was very clear yesterday. I want a divorce. You're just too full of yourself to believe me."

Every single day, I used to prep her clothes for the next morning. Every meal she ate was handmade by me.

"You're not an idiot. Can't you find your own clothes?"

"And the Sterling mansion has dozens of maids. Are you telling me you don't know how to use them?"

"Why don't you have your precious Silas do it? You love him so much, don't you?"

"Silas's hands are for filing documents, not for menial chores!" she snapped.

"Harlan! That's enough!" Serena screamed my name through the phone.

"I am ordering you to come back right now. This is your last chance. Don't force me to use other methods."

Finally, Serena was going to use the ruthless business tactics she learned in the corporate world on me.

My heart twinged with an involuntary pang of pain. My eyes felt a bit stinging.

Can a person really change this much?

Serena continued her verbal assault on the other end of the line.

Was I really supposed to just take this?

I remembered her back in school. She was always the quiet, lonely girl who got isolated by everyone else.

Only when she was with me did she ever really speak.

Back then, she asked, "Harlan, will we be together forever?"

I told her, "Of course. As long as you want to, Serena, we'll be together forever."

But now, she didn't need me anymore.

I snapped back to reality and realized she had already hung up.

I didn't call back. I fought to keep my emotions in check so the tears wouldn't fall.

I stared blankly at the ceiling, my mind a tangled mess of memories I couldn't unknot.

I sent her a short text: "3:00 PM. Meet me at the courthouse."

Serena replied instantly. "Do you really think you can threaten me? Don't overestimate your importance, Harlan."

"I'm giving you one last warning. Come home. If you keep this up, I'm done with you."

God, I never realized how much she lacked basic listening skills.

Looking at the chat history just made me feel exhausted.

"I don't want your warnings. Just show up at the courthouse."

"Fine. I'll be there. If you don't show, you're a coward. Don't regret this."

I showed up exactly on time.

I waited until the office closed, and she never appeared.

Typical. She always did whatever she wanted, saying one thing and doing another.

I called her dozens of times, but she never picked up.

I sighed, my anger simmering with nowhere to go.

We're getting a divorce, and she's still playing games. It's pathetic.

I went back to my apartment, and Serena finally called me.

"I'm getting married tomorrow. You'd better be there."

I froze for a second. Before I could speak, her voice bubbled over with a suppressed joy.

"I'm just helping Silas out. I'm pretending to be his bride for the ceremony as a favor."

It was so ridiculous I almost laughed. I hung up immediately.

Right before I could block her, another message popped up.

"Don't forget to come. Once the wedding is over, we'll go sign the divorce papers."

I closed my phone.

I made a silent decision. Oh, I was definitely going to that wedding.

The next day, I arrived late. The ceremony had already reached the point of the ceremonial toast.

The moment people saw me, the atmosphere in the room turned incredibly awkward.

Many of our mutual friends began whispering behind their hands.

Silas, wearing a smug grin, walked straight toward me. "Harlan! Everyone's been waiting for you!"

"Harlan is basically the witness for Serena and me. Since everyone is here, why don't you say a few words?"

He shoved the microphone into my hand.

I slowly turned my head. I looked at their locked arms and the sweet, triumphant smile on Serena's face.

I gripped the mic. The crowd was buzzing, clearly expecting to watch me make a fool of myself.

I kept my face perfectly calm. "It's an honor to witness this union today. As their witness, I've brought a very special gift for the happy couple."

"Everyone, please welcome Silas's actual wife, Mavis Blackwood, to the stage!"