Cut Open by the Man I Loved

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I woke up during my ectopic pregnancy surgery.

My eyes met My husband Ethan's.

As the lead surgeon, he showed no surprise whatsoever.

Instead, he spoke in an utterly calm tone: Actually, you don't have infertility issues. Four years ago, I performed a tubal ligation on you.

This time, you didn't have an ectopic pregnancy either. The baby was perfectly healthy, but I've already removed it.

A chill ran through my entire body.

My eyes turned bloodshot.

"Why?"

His gaze remained unruffled: "My brother Nathan died in that boat accident. Nathan's wife, Freya, has had a hard time establishing herself as a widow in the Hayes family.

I gave her a child, so I couldn't give one to you."

"Why tell me this now?" I demanded.

Ethan said indifferently, "No particular reason. I'm just tired. I did everything I could to prevent pregnancy, yet you still got pregnant. It was annoying. I didn't want to keep lying to you, so I deliberately adjusted the anesthesia dosage. Better that you know sooner."

With that, he continued suturing.

The sensation of the needle piercing through my skin was unbearably clear.

I moaned in pain continuously.

He remained unmoved.

Only when he finished did he speak leisurely.

"The child is getting older and needs a father. I plan to become Freya's real support. Divorce or maintain the status quo your choice."

Seeing my tears, he paused briefly.

"If you don't divorce, I'll take care of Freya from now on. Just don't give her trouble."

When I woke up, a dull pain throbbed in my lower abdomen.

Only then did I realize that everything that happened in the operating room wasn't a dream.

And from the bed next to mine, increasingly loud moans filled my ears.

"Ethan! Stop it, Eva's still right there."

The only response was an even heavier gasp.

That voice was all too familiar.

Without a second thought, I ripped the IV needle from my hand.

I stumbled out of bed and yanked open the curtain.

On the other side, Freya's clothes hung open at the chest, exposing a large expanse of skin.

Ambiguous marks covered her skin.

On her collarbone was a tattoo identical to Ethan's.

The woman's face was flushed, her eyes hazy.

The moment she saw me, she suddenly screamed.

Frantically, she buried herself in Ethan's arms.

"Eva, don't misunderstand, let me explain!"

Ethan merely glanced at me casually, then leisurely helped Freya button her clothes.

"I couldn't help myself. Don't blame her."

After his confession to me, Ethan was remarkably composed.

He looked at Freya in his arms with utter adoration.

Chuckling softly, he said, "Why be shy? We already have a three-year-old child."

Freya shyly pounded on Ethan's chest again.

She hurriedly finished dressing, then rushed over to me.

She grabbed my hand.

"Eva, listen to me."

I stared at the chaotic scene before me.

The air still reeked heavily of sex.

Freya's panties lay at my feet.

The exact same style.

I clutched my chest as a metallic sweetness surged in my throat.

Those were the birthday gift Freya had given me.

Back then, she'd sworn confidently that if I wore them for Ethan, he would definitely love them.

I'd been half-skeptical at the time, not understanding why Freya seemed more certain of Ethan's preferences than I, his wife, was.

Now I had my answer.

One was my husband, the other my best friend.

Having sex in front of my hospital bed.

My mouth opened and closed.

All words stuck in my throat, unable to form any sound.

But the tears wouldn't stop flowing.

The moment Freya touched me, I violently shook her hand off.

I screamed, "Don't touch me! Disgusting!"

Freya let herself fall to the ground, looking back at Ethan with hurt in her eyes.

Then she looked at me and murmured, "Eva, we've been friends for so many years. Why won't you even listen to my explanation? I have my reasons."

Ethan scooped Freya up in his arms, looking at me with cold indifference.

But his voice was gentle as he comforted Freya, "Ignore her. You did nothing wrong."

Then he looked at me, completely emotionless.

"I already told you everything in the operating room. If you can't handle it, then divorce me."

With that, he carried Freya and strode out.

I grabbed the thermos from the table and hurled it at him.

"Ethan Hayes, I won't divorce you!"

I couldn't help but laugh.

"As long as I don't divorce you, you'll always be nothing but shameful adulterers!"

The shattering glass shards cut into Ethan's arm.

He acted as if he hadn't noticed, instead anxiously asking Freya, "Are you hurt?"

In that moment, countless images flashed through my mind.

In the pouring rain, his umbrella always tilted toward Freya.

Walking down the street, he always kept Freya on the inside.

Even during a sudden fire, the person he instinctively protected was only Freya.

Afterward, it was always just a casual, "She's Freya, and she's your good friend for many years."

Every word, every sentence showed that what he did hadn't crossed any lines.

He was just taking care of his widowed sister-in-law on behalf of his dead brother Nathan.

Though I had my complaints, I refused to believe my husband could be involved with my best friend.

Besides, Freya was the one who'd set me and Ethan up in the first place.

Freya and I grew up together.

We'd promised each other since childhood that even when we married, we'd marry into the same place and never be apart.

So when she got together with Nathan Hayes, she introduced me to Nathan's twin brother, Ethan.

At first, I thought she was joking and kept my distance from Ethan.

Until one time when I had a high fever.

I called Freya, but Ethan showed up instead.

He took care of me all night long.

When I woke up, the usually dignified man had dark circles under his eyes.

His hair was messy, almost comical.

But my heart betrayed me anyway.

After Freya got married, Ethan very suddenly proposed to me...

A shadow fell across me, pulling me from my memories.

Ethan held out a divorce agreement.

"Sign it. You can have the house and car. I'll give you half the assets too."

His hand was still bleeding, but he didn't care at all.

His eyes rested on Freya, who sat in a hospital chair, silently crying.

His gaze was tender, gentle to the extreme.

My heart clenched violently.

It hurt so much I forgot to breathe.

Just the night before surgery, he'd held me with that same gaze, that same tenderness, softly reassuring me.

He'd said we'd have another baby in the future.

But the next day, he tricked me onto the operating table and personally killed our child!

I touched my flat stomach, trembling all over.

Four years.

Because I couldn't have children, I endured Mrs. Hayes's contempt and mockery from our social circle.

I sought medical treatment everywhere.

I drank countless bitter medicines, endured countless needles, all to have just one child.

And everything I suffered was a gift from the man I loved most!

The metallic sweetness surged in my throat again.

I suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, and everything went black.

When I opened my eyes again, I saw Freya bustling around my hospital bed.

Seeing me wake up, she rushed forward excitedly.

"Eva, you're awake?"

She immediately ladled me a bowl of beef stew.

"It's good for your health. Drink up."

My fingers clutched the bedsheet tightly.

My eyes grew hot and my vision instantly blurred.

I couldn't understand why, after sleeping with my husband just moments ago, she could act like nothing had happened.

Chattering away as she brought the soup to my lips.

"I let it cool. Drink up."

I lifted my head, unable to bear it any longer.

I knocked the bowl away.

"Get out!"

The next second, a slap landed on my face.

My ears rang.

Only when I tasted the metallic sweetness at the corner of my mouth did I realize what had happened.

I stared blankly at the man before me.

He was holding Freya's hand, carefully inspecting it.

When he looked at me, his eyes were full of disgust, as if looking at an enemy.

"Do you know how much she cares about you? She spent four hours making that soup for you. Eva Carter, she's your best friend."

I cried and laughed at the same time, pointing at both their faces.

"Cares about me? Cares enough to sleep with my husband? That's a best friend? That's a shameless homewrecker!"

Ethan said coldly, "You've got it backwards. Freya was the one who consummated the marriage with me on our wedding night. Based on the actual order of sexual relations, you're the third party."

My mind went blank.

I thought I'd misheard.

I murmured, "What did you say?"

Ethan continued unhurriedly, "I said Freya and I had sex on our wedding night. Annie was conceived then."

My soul felt stripped away.

My memory returned to that wedding night.

I nervously changed into the nightgown he liked, but he threw a blanket over me.

Coldly saying, "Nathan just died. Don't provoke Freya."

Then he left without looking back.

At dawn, Mrs. Hayes discovered we hadn't consummated the marriage.

Her mental state was extremely unstable from losing her eldest son.

She subjected me to family punishment for failing to continue the Hayes bloodline and not fulfilling my duty as a daughter-in-law.

One hundred lashes fell solidly on my body.

During that time, I called Ethan countless times.

Every call went to a mechanical voicemail.

So on my wedding night, while I was being beaten bloody, he was with my best friend, his Freya.

Making love.

Suddenly, a mouthful of blood spilled from my mouth.

I covered my mouth, staring at the red in my palm.

Somewhat dazed.

Seeing this, Freya quickly pushed Ethan.

"Stop talking!"

Then she rushed forward to check on me.

"Eva, are you okay? I'm sorry. On your wedding night, I missed Nathan so much, I "

Before she could finish, I pushed her away.

I closed my eyes, steadying myself.

Weakly, I said, "Get out."

Freya tried to say something more.

I screamed, "Get out!"

Ethan put his arm around Freya and left.

At the door, he turned to look at me.

"Freya's pregnant again. From now on, I am Nathan Hayes, her husband who miraculously survived. And your husband, Ethan Hayes, went abroad for advanced medical training due to marital problems."

I trembled all over, watching their retreating backs.

Proud Ethan was actually willing to live his entire life under someone else's name for Freya's sake.

I lowered my eyes.

Tears fell heavily, soaking the blanket.

On my ring finger, I still wore the plain ring he'd made himself.

Our names were engraved on it.

He'd said this ring would witness our lifetime of happiness.

Turns out, it was all an illusion.

Ethan moved quickly.

In just one day, news that Nathan Hayes had returned alive spread across the internet.

And equally viral online was news about me.

A wealthy wife abandoned after four years of failing to produce a child, so thoroughly despised by her husband that he'd rather flee the country than live with me.

I watched Ethan, assuming his brother's identity, appear publicly with Freya.

He even announced he would make it up to Freya by giving her a wedding of the century, earning countless blessings.

I also watched the internet's overwhelming mockery and ridicule, clamoring for me to get lost.

I suddenly smiled.

I dialed an unfamiliar number.

"Nathan, it's time you came home."

On the day I was discharged, Ethan surprisingly came to pick me up.

He brought flowers and gifts.

"Happy anniversary."

I wasn't surprised he'd remember that today was our fourth wedding anniversary.

After all, this day held "special meaning" for him and Freya too.

I finally understood why, whenever we celebrated our wedding anniversary, he always suggested bringing Freya along.

I calmly accepted what he handed me, neither arguing nor making a scene.

We were harmonious, just like before.

The ring on his finger had been replaced with the same style as Freya's.

He'd cut his hair short, truly transforming himself into Nathan Hayes.

Ethan opened the passenger door for me.

I'd already gotten into the back seat.

He paused briefly, his tone gentle.

"Sit up front."

As if the man who'd confessed his affair during surgery had never existed.

I said flatly, "I'm used to the back seat. Just drive."

Usually when the three of us went out, because Freya got carsick, I voluntarily let her sit in front.

And I naturally sat in the back.

I was quiet, always silently listening to the two of them chatting and laughing up front.

Once I accidentally fell asleep.

They completely forgot about me in the back seat.

When they got out, they locked me in the car.

Afterward, Freya explained that Ethan had called her to help buy flowers to surprise me.

She even teased me to cherish Ethan because he was a good man.

But I recognized those flowers.

I'd personally bought them for Freya's house when she went on a trip.

The car braked, interrupting my memories.

Ethan didn't move, watching me through the rearview mirror.

"Today is my wedding with her."

I looked up.

Ahead was a banquet hall.

The man continued, "She says you're her only friend. She wants you to be her bridesmaid. Your bridesmaid dress is in the bag. Go change."

I finally understood.

His personally coming to pick me up came with a price.

I smirked.

"You two make me sick."

With that, I moved to get out.

But the moment my foot extended out, someone dragged me into a room.

Several bodyguards in black stripped off my clothes and roughly changed me into a dress.

Ethan followed leisurely behind.

"Eva Carter, Freya was so afraid you wouldn't be her bridesmaid, she cried all night."

I struggled, gritting my teeth.

"And you felt sorry for her? So you kidnapped me to witness this incestuous love between you and your sister-in-law?"

The next moment, Ethan grabbed my chin forcefully.

"Eva Carter, my patience is limited. If you keep making trouble, I don't mind having Hayes Corporation stop cooperating with your family. I'm sure you know your family's company hasn't been doing well these past few years."

My eyes widened.

I stopped struggling.

He smiled with satisfaction.

When Freya saw me, tears immediately filled her eyes.

She rushed forward and grabbed my hand.

"Eva, I'm so happy you're willing to come."

I coldly turned my face away.

Ethan pulled Freya close, gently saying, "The ceremony's about to start."

So the two of them, like a real married couple, walked onstage accepting everyone's blessings.

At that moment, my phone rang.

Just as I lowered my head to answer it, a woman with graying hair grabbed my hair.

"You jinx! My eldest son finally came home, and you drove my youngest son away!"

She shouted, "Someone! Hold her down! Bring me my whip! Today I'll teach you the Hayes family rules in front of everyone using family punishment! You can't give me a grandson, and you drove my son away. I'll beat you to death, you useless bitch!"

Everyone stepped back.

No one dared stop Mrs. Hayes.

They all knew her mental state wasn't stable and feared offending the Hayes family.

When the first lash fell on me, I instinctively looked at Ethan.

He only pressed his lips together, holding Freya, coldly watching everything.

In that moment, the last trace of hope I had for him vanished completely.

I struggled desperately, but the bodyguards held me firmly to the ground.

No one dared plead on my behalf.

In the huge banquet hall, only the crack of the whip remained.

And my increasingly weak breathing.

I don't know how long passed.

My back was already torn and bloody.

Blood stained the white gauze dress.

The air reeked of blood.

Someone began to quietly intervene.

"You can't keep beating her. She'll die."

I stared hard at the two people onstage.

Meeting my gaze, Ethan frowned, his feet shifting slightly.

But at that moment, Freya grabbed Ethan's hand.

She picked up the microphone and announced to everyone, "Mom, there's another piece of good news today. You're going to have a grandchild."

Mrs. Hayes stopped abruptly, excited.

"Really?"

Freya looked at Ethan with deep affection and shyness.

"Yes, one month along. When Nathan came home that day, we "

Mrs. Hayes exclaimed with joy repeatedly.

Just then, the banquet hall doors suddenly burst open.

A tall man wearing a baseball cap walked in.

Sneering, "Is that so? How come I don't know I'm having another child?"

When he removed his cap, revealing his face, everyone gasped in shock.

Ethan's face turned ashen, his voice nearly failing.

"Nathan?"