The Dead Wife Returns

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At eight months pregnant, I accidentally discovered that my husband, Ethan Smith, was having an affair with my adoptive sister who had come to take care of me.

When I caught them, his tone was flat:

So you saw everything? Actually, I started sleeping with her when you were three months pregnant. Every night for the past few months, I've been with her... Who told you to always refuse me during your pregnancy?

I couldn't help but raise my hand and slap him. "You bastard! She's my sister!"

But Stella knelt before me, tears streaming down her face. "Natalie, don't blame Ethan. I was the one who initiated it..."

My head was buzzing, my body swaying, and Ethan caught me in his arms.

I shoved his hands away. "Why?"

Stella bit her lip, struggling to speak. "I've always liked him..."

I slapped her across the face.

Ethan pulled her behind him, his eyes cold as ice:

"I'm a man. I have needs. Isn't this arrangement better? She's your sisterwe're all family. Would you prefer I cheat with someone else?"

I stood frozen, my throat feeling like it was stuffed with cotton.

Ethan sighed helplessly and gently wiped the tears from the corners of my eyes. "Natalie, your pregnancy hormones are just making you overthink things. Don't get so upsetit's bad for the baby."

The familiar features before me suddenly seemed like a stranger's.

So he did remember I was pregnant after all.

Stella scrambled to her feet and headed for the kitchen, her legs still trembling as she walked. "Natalie, what would you like to eat? I'll make it for you..."

Their eager expressions made me wonder if everything I'd just witnessed was a dream.

"When did this start?"

Ethan frowned. "January 25th. That day you went for your prenatal checkup and asked Stella to deliver some documents to me. I couldn't control myself..."

The bright red hickey on his neck stabbed at my eyes.

The baby in my belly kicked again. My lower back ached so badly I couldn't straighten up, and tears fell in heavy drops onto the floor.

So it was that day.

I had taken a taxi to the hospital alonewaiting in line, getting my number, going through the checkup.

I'd asked Ethan if he could come with me, but he said he had work.

I'd asked Stella if she could help me, but she said after delivering the documents, her school advisor needed her assistance.

My legs were swollen from pregnancy. Someone bumped into me at the hospital, and I nearly had a miscarriage.

Meanwhile, my two closest people were tangled together on his office desk.

I had made excuses for him, thinking he was just too busy. I never imagined he was busy in my sister's bed.

I was the only fool.

Ethan suddenly crouched down and rubbed my legs. "If you hadn't found out, you wouldn't be upset. Wouldn't it have been better to just play dumb?"

Nausea surged in my stomach. I kicked him in the chest.

"Ethan Smith, you disgust me!"

But he used the momentum to help me onto the sofa. "If this makes you feel better, you can kick me a few more times."

As I struggled, my hand touched something on the sofa.

I looked down. A pair of torn stockings.

The blood in my veins seemed to freeze.

Ethan hesitated, wanting to say something but holding back.

Stella came out carrying soup. When she saw what was in my hand, her face went white.

She rushed forward anxiously to explain. "Natalie, it's not what you think..."

Ethan calmly took the stockings, his tone casual. "No need to make such a fuss. Yesterday you said your stomach hurt, so I went to sleep in the study. Actually, I just tried it with Stella on the sofa. You didn't even notice. It was quite thrilling."

Tears blurred my vision.

I bolted up and rushed to the bathroom, retching violently.

Outside the door came Stella's worried voice. "Natalie, are you okay? Ethan was just talking nonsense. Don't get worked upyour health is what matters. You still have a baby to think about."

The nausea only deepened. I stared at my swollen belly in despair.

Why did it have to be at eight months?

Why did it have to be Stella?

All my life, I'd given way to her in everything.

So she could go to college, I dropped out early to work.

When she needed a place to stay in college, I let her move into the home Ethan and I shared.

The thousand-dollar tablet in her handsI bought it without blinking.

The dress she wore, even those stockingslast week while shopping, she casually mentioned her legs weren't smooth enough, and I bought them for her.

I opened the door and stared hard at Stella. "Haven't I been good enough to you?"

Stella ingratiatingly handed me a bowl of soup, her voice careful. "Natalie, eat something first. We can talk after you've eaten, okay?"

I knocked the bowl from her hands. The scalding soup splashed onto the back of her hand, leaving it bright red.

"I don't need your fake kindness!"

Stella's eyes instantly reddened. "Natalie, how can you say that about me!"

Ethan's expression darkened, glaring at me with displeasure.

"Take your anger out on me if you must. Stella cares about you. Is there really a need to make such a big deal out of nothing?"

He rubbed his temples while gently wiping Stella's tears. "See? I told you we absolutely couldn't let Natalie find out. Your parents were rightNatalie has such a difficult temperament. Now that she knows, this house is going to be turned upside down."

Stella looked at me with tears in her eyes, the picture of grievance.

My throat tightened. It had always been like this since childhood.

"I'm taking Stella to the hospital. You stay home and reflect on yourself!"

The door slammed with an earth-shattering bang.

I collapsed weakly into a chair, but soon a strange smell came from the kitchen. In their rush, they hadn't even turned off the gas...

I struggled to move my body toward the door, only to discover that Ethan had broken the lock when he slammed it.

I desperately called Ethan's phone.

Ring after ring, he hung up every time.

Finally, on the last call, he answered, his voice laced with impatience. "Can you stop being so paranoid? Because of you, Stella cried her voice hoarse, asking me over and over if you really hate her. She genuinely cares about you."

I dragged my heavy pregnant belly, my whole body weak and powerless. "Ethan, I..."

"I'm still trying to comfort Stella. If there's nothing important, I'm hanging up."

The dial tone sounded in my ear. The smell of gas had nearly filled the entire house. I finally despaired.

Ethan Smith, I won't love you anymore.

When I woke up, my mother was lying by my bedside.

From extreme grievance and fear, I instinctively hugged her, my voice choked. "Mom..."

"Ethan is having an affair."

My mother cut off my tearful complaint. My heart felt like it was being crushed by a giant hand.

"Over such a small matter, do you really need to act like you want to die? Which man doesn't cheat?"

My emotions surged. "But the person he cheated with is..."

Her tone was calm. "I know."

I looked up in disbelief, staring into my mother's clouded eyes.

Not a trace of guilt, only dissatisfaction with me.

I grabbed my mother's arm, my voice breaking. "You knew? You knew and you still..."

"Men have work stress and need an outlet. It's bad enough that you as the wife don't understand."

"Women outside would cost money. Your sister is clean. Isn't it good that she's helping share your burden? What are you making a fuss about?"

Her mouth opened and closed, every word criticizing me for being unreasonable. My mind went blank.

Even though I'd long known her favoritism had no bounds.

Even though I'd long known Stella was the apple of her eye.

I still couldn't comprehend it. I screamed and questioned her in despair.

I thought she could at least show some concern for me, but instead she said, "When I gave birth to you, my body was ruined because of you. Since you were little, you've been an ungrateful wretch, always fighting with Stella over things. Now you even want to fight with Stella over a man!"

My fingertips nearly drew blood.

My phone chimed with a special notification.

Stella had updated her social media:

"Feeling down, so Ethan swept the whole claw machine arcade for me."

I was lying in the hospital from gas poisoning.

My husband was accompanying Stella to check out the newest Western restaurant, playing at claw machines with her, taking her to Disneyland.

"If you can't hold onto your man's heart, who's to blame?"

My mother's light mockery made my red-rimmed eyes seem especially pathetic.

When Ethan and Stella returned, I was still in the hospital waiting to give birth.

"Natalie, I'm sorry. When I was cooking, I forgot to turn off the gas. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have..."

Stella cried like a pear blossom in the rain, but I didn't even bother to look at her.

She cried harder. "Ethan, is Natalie mad at me? I'm so stupidI can't even handle such a simple thing."

Ethan gently comforted her. "It's not your fault."

He looked at me, seemingly displeased with my attitude. "Natalie, Stella is apologizing to you. Are you deaf?"

I suddenly felt like laughing, but tears fell traitorously instead.

Ethan realized his tone was too harsh and softened it, pulling out two plush toys. "I know this scared you. I asked the doctoryou and the baby are fine. Stella is still young. She even brought you the dolls you like."

The necklace around Stella's neck was blindingly conspicuous.

It was the wedding gift I'd asked Ethan for over an entire year.

To this day, my neck remained empty.

Was I only worthy of these cheap dolls?

I nearly bit through my lip. "In what capacity are you speaking up for Stella? Ethan? Her lover?"

Ethan's expression darkened bit by bit.

He laughed coldly.

"No wonder your mother doesn't like you."

"Stella is sunny and cheerful, unlike youpetty and small-minded. If I were your mother, I would also..."

I looked up in disbelief.

Ethan's eyes showed panic. "That's not what I meant..."

From my earliest memories, my mother had disliked me. Even with two chicken drumsticks, she'd give both to Stella.

When I was little, every friend I made would be drawn to Stella and become her friend instead.

Every late night, I hated myself for not being as likable as Stella.

It was Ethan's appearance that told me even if I wasn't perfect, he would always stand by my side.

But now, even he stood on Stella's side.

My tears poured out like a broken faucet, uncontrollable. I grabbed things and threw them at him, breaking down. "Get out! Just get out!"

Over the next few days, perhaps from guilt, Ethan and Stella came to the hospital to see me every other day.

Baby diapers and supplies, all kinds of pregnancy nutrition meals appeared endlessly.

"Natalie, didn't you always say you really liked this necklace? I specially bought it for you."

The necklace I'd wanted for so long was placed in my palm by Ethan, yet it felt cold to my heart.

One year and three months. He knew I liked it but never thought to buy it for me.

I raised my head and finally spoke the words I'd been holding in my heart.

"Let's get divorced."

We spoke in unison.

I looked up in shock, only to see a flicker of joy in Ethan's expression.

"That's greatNatalie, you know about it?"

Confusion crossed my face.

Ethan had already pulled out divorce papers. "Here are the divorce documents. If everything looks good, just sign."

"After all, you and I have wronged Stella. I'll get a marriage license with her, and you can give her the spousal work assignment quota. Consider it compensation."

"Don't worry, you'll actually still be my wife. Anyway, I'll support you. Being a housewife from now on isn't so bad."

By the time I finished signing, I finally registered what Ethan had said.

"Ethan Smith, do you remember what you promised me?"

Ethan paused, as if trying to recall.

Clearly, he'd forgotten. Back when I'd been trying to conceive for two years, gave up my position in the capital, took countless ovulation injections to have this child, he'd promised me, "You've sacrificed so much for me. Even after you have the baby, I'll make sure you have work."

Now he wanted a divorce and to give the spousal quota to Stella.

The door opened, and Stella walked in. "Natalie, are you feeling better?"

Ethan warned me with his eyes not to say anything.

I smiled through my tears. "How can I be better with a homewrecker like you around? Seducing my husband isn't enoughnow you want to steal my work quota too. Stella, you're shameless beyond belief."

Her face went deathly pale.

Tears fell like broken pearls.

Ethan's face darkened. "Natalie!"

"Am I wrong? She's barely twenty and already knows how to climb into her brother-in-law's bed! Isn't that slutty?"

I raised my voice. People around us looked at her with mockery.

Ethan shielded her in his arms and sneered at me. "Who's sluttier than you? At eighteen, you worked part-time at a bar, got drugged, and when I took you to the hospital, you refused. You insisted we do it in the woods..."

Contemptuous jeers rose around us.

My face flushed red and white with shame and anger. I rushed forward to hit him.

Stella suddenly blocked him and took the slap. "Natalie, blame me if you want. It's all my fault. Ethan already works so hard."

"Natalie, what's gotten into you!"

Ethan's eyes flashed with heartache as he pushed me back hard.

My belly slammed into the corner of the table, and blood pooled beneath me.

Ethan shouted for a doctor in shock. Stella cried and hit him.

"Natalie, I didn't mean to. Please don't let anything happen to you..."

Ethan cried as he watched me being wheeled into the operating room.

In the darkness, the surgical forceps opened, tearing pain.

I cried my heart out as my life flashed before my eyes like a movie.

It was eighteen-year-old Ethan on the grass, fingers intertwined with mine. "Natalie, I'll be good to you for a lifetime."

A lifetime turned out to be only seven years...

The baby was premature and went into the incubator.

Ethan grabbed my hand guiltily, eyes reddening. "Natalie, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to push you. After this summer ends, I'll make Stella leave our home."

I turned away, tears flowing silently.

After being discharged, Ethan locked me in the house. He even hid my phone.

The first day, they only brought me three meals. I held my newborn baby and cried myself hoarse.

The second day, I smashed everything in the room and cut my hand.

The third day, Ethan finally came to see me.

I demanded hysterically why he wouldn't even give me the freedom to move around.

He frowned as he bandaged my hand, his eyes helpless. "Your emotions are too volatile right now. I'm afraid you'll go out and ruin Stella's reputation. She's still a young girl. We can't destroy her life over your momentary impulse, can we?"

Stella beside him cast me a sympathetic look. "Natalie, don't worry. I'll do that job well, and I'll maintain your friendships for you too."

My heart felt like a piece of flesh had been carved out.

I was disheveled and deathly pale. "Ethan Smith, what gives you the right to let someone else replace my life! Is this what you call love?"

Ethan froze for a moment, his patience exhausted. "When you learn how to be a magnanimous mother, I'll naturally let you out."

He wanted me to learn to be a magnanimous mother, yet he stripped away my marriage, my work, my freedom.

Meanwhile, under his protection, Stella enjoyed everything that should have been mine.

I covered my face, laughing until tears streamed down.

The baby beside me suddenly began wailing. I touched the child's burning forehead, and my heart twisted like a knife.

"Ethan Smith, let me out! Nathan has a fever!"

I beat frantically on the door, my nails leaving bloody streaks.

The crying finally brought Ethan.

He frowned. "What are you making a fuss about now?"

I begged without dignity. "Ethan, look at Nathan! He's your son! He's really going to die!"

Hesitation and conflict flashed in his eyes. "But..."

My mother suddenly entered. With one glance, she said lightly, "Making a mountain out of a molehill. You had fevers when you were little too. Just give him some fever medicine. You're making such a scenecould it be because... Stella got confirmed in her position today, and you want to go ruin her work?"

Ethan's expression instantly darkened. "Natalie, enough is enough. When did you become so unreasonable? You're even using your son as an excuse."

I laughed, my whole body trembling. "I'm unreasonable?"

He didn't understand. "Stella is your sister. Why can she accept all this, but you can't?"

It seemed my breakdown and helplessness were nothing in Ethan's eyes. He answered a call, his face breaking into a smile, and left without looking back. "Mom, Stella's promotion report is starting. Let's go."

I looked at the child in my arms with his flushed face, feeling no pain as I desperately kicked the door open.

But I was covered in blood. Passing drivers didn't dare let me in their cars. When I finally got a taxi, I discovered Ethan had confiscated my phoneI had no money for the fare and was thrown out by the driver.

By the time a kind stranger got me to the hospital, the doctor shook his head helplessly. "Why didn't you bring him in sooner? The baby was already premature. As a mother, you're too careless."

Holding my child's cold body on the way home, I was dead inside as I lit a fire. In the firelight, the drone of a helicopter was especially jarring, and a figure slowly walked toward me...

"Sorry. I came late."