"Congratulations, you are one month pregnant. All your symptoms are quite well."
Sienna Parker held her pregnancy report; returning to her room, it felt like she was in a dream. Was she pregnant?
Gathering courage, she messaged her husband, Aiden Parker: [Are you coming home for dinner tonight?]
The wait seemed endless. He didn't like his work disrupted, and she was afraid her messages would be met with no response like in the past.
Her phone lit up after a second, his tone was indifferent: [Hmm, it’s good timing. I have something to discuss.]
Getting a reply from His husband, Sienna hurried out to buy groceries, preparing a wide array of dishes. She placed her pregnancy report on the table but then felt it was too upfront, so she flipped it over.
As evening fell, a black Porsche pulled up in the parking.
Aiden bent down to get out of the car, his blazer casually draped over his arm. His tall silhouette and stern features looked striking in the dimming light.
"Aiden, you're back?"
Sienna jogged over to greet him, reaching out to take his blazer, only to be handed a file instead. Surprise flashed in her eyes.
"Read it, if you have any requests, you can raise them."
Her gaze fell onto the document in her hand, the title on the front glaringly clear - [Divorce: dissolution of marriage]
The whiteness of the page stung her eyes.
Aiden Parker adjusted his tie, his face showing signs of fatigue from work. He briefly glanced at his petite wife beside him. Her face was round like a cherub, resembling a teen girl.
He felt nothing for her, the only reason they were together was because his grandmother liked her. Though it was true that her companionship brought noticeably better health to his grandma. It was a trade-off they both were a part of.
Had it not been for an accident a month ago, he would never have realized they had been married for three years already.
Continuing to uphold the marriage could only delay her prime. Better to split up.
Sienna lightly pat her belly, asking him tentatively, "If, I mean if, we have a child, will we still divorce?"
Aiden's gaze fell on her abdomen, furrowing his eyebrows slightly, "Didn't I tell you to take contraceptive pills after what happened last month?"
The incident a month ago was the only slip-up in their three years of marriage.
Sienna's hand recoiled as if burned, quickly removing her hand from her abdomen, yet the man held onto her wrist forcefully, his eyes somewhat complicated, "Are you really pregnant?"
her breath hitched, "I said 'if' would you want it?"
"No."
Aiden breathed a sigh of relief. There was no need to bring a child into an unhappy marriage like his parents did.
As the man let go of her hand, her heart emptied along with it.
Watching his retreating figure, Sienna held back her tears. His words were soft yet sharp, striking her heart with precision.
She glanced at the carefully prepared, now cold food on the table, and threw it all into the trash can. The greasy smell made her queasy.
She touched her belly again and felt the life growing within her, swallowed the bitterness, and thought, "Baby, Daddy doesn't want you, but Mommy will protect you."
She was an orphan. After her foster parents adopted her and had their twins, they threw her off at her aunt's house, where she fended for herself. Fortunately, her aunt treated her kindly.
Sienna's greatest wish was to have a family. Despite knowing the fact that Aiden didn't like her, she strived to be a gentle wife for three years. But the truth proved you can't thaw a heart as stone cold as his.
Even though she is now divorced, she has a child she is finally not alone.
Without even looking at the contents of the divorce agreement, she simply signed her name on the last page.
At night, she still slept alone in the master bedroom, while Aiden slept in the study room. Everything was the same as before, they had been married for three years but slept in separate rooms.
---
In the morning, Sienna received a phone call from her mother-in-law. The woman's tone was condescending, "Sienna, have your housekeeper tidy up the guest room on the second floor. We will have guests staying for a few days. Remember to take good care of them."
Before she could ask who it was, her mother-in-law had hung up.
The side of her mouth twitched. She was already accustomed to her mother-in-law's disdainful attitude towards her as if saying one more word would tarnish the Parker family's dignity.
When she went downstairs, Aiden had already left for work.
In the afternoon, a young woman dressed in all designer clothes walked into the hall. A flash of surprise appeared in Sienna's eyes. Was this the prestigious guest her mother-in-law spoke of? A woman, so beautiful?
A trace of scorn flashed through Sienna's eyes. In the past, such a situation would have made her uncomfortable, but now that she was divorced from Aiden, it didn't matter to her who came to live here.
Sienna Parker stepped forward, "Hello..."
Before she could finish her greeting, the beautiful woman directly ignored her, took a tour around the hall, and then instructed the housekeeper: "The color of the curtains is wrong, and so is the sofa. The beds in the bedrooms should also be changed to my favorite brand."
Watching the prestigious guest commanding around in what had been her wedding house, Sienna spoke again, "Who are you? There are no plans for renovation in this house.”
"Let me introduce myself, I am Lydia Astor, the future Mrs. Parker. Thus, the interior of this household should be my call."
"You are Lydia Astor?"
A bitter taste rose from the bottom of her heart. No wonder Aiden suddenly suggested divorce; Lydia has returned.
The moment his past returns, she, the substitute, should give way.
"Heard of me, I believe. Sign the divorce agreement quickly. This position has been monopolized by you for three years. It's time to return it to its rightful owner."
Sienna spoke calmly, "You're speaking so passionately. When Aiden was in a coma due to his car accident, why didn't you marry him?"
Back then, Aiden Parker had a severe car accident. His grandma wished to find a girl who could carry on the family line. All the regular socialites kept their distance.
That time, she used to be his grandma's nurse. His grandma was kind to her and even loaned money to pay off her debts. She couldn’t bear to see the elder sadly bury her grandson, so she agreed to marry into the Parker family.
Everyone thought that Aiden wouldn't survive, including her. Everyone assumed the marriage was just a formality. Unexpectedly, Aiden miraculously came back to life!
After that, her position in the Parker family became awkward. After all, it's laughable for the son of the wealthiest family on the East Coast to marry an ordinary nurse.
For these three years, her true identity was unknown.
Lydia's face stiffened, "That's because my brothers wouldn't let me marry him. They locked me at home, which is why I missed the chance to marry Aiden. An impecunious girl like you snatched the opportunity. I warn you, I am the princess of the Astors family from the West Coast and my brothers are very powerful. If you dare to fight with me, watch your family!"
Sienna's face turned cold, "If you dare to touch my family, I won't let you go."
"If you want your family to be safe, just obediently sign the divorce papers."
Lydia spotted the divorce papers on the coffee table. A triumph flashed through her eyes: after waiting three years, she had finally waited for this day.
Sienna calmly responded, "I've already signed."
“You’re smart,” Lydia said.
Lydia pulled a check from her designer bag. "This is one million, a small token from me."
A hint of mockery flashed in Sienna's eyes but she ignored the check.
"Is it too little? According to your nurse's salary, this would amount to ten years of earnings for you. Accept this money and stop disturbing our lives from now on. Aiden and I are a perfect match. After all, you're merely a nobody. You don't belong in our world."
Sienna felt a pang in her heart again. In embarrassment, she went upstairs back to the main bedroom. She had planned to leave today had Lydia not come.
Since she was divorced, there was no need for her to stay here.
While packing her things, she realized how pitifully little she owned, so much so that it couldn't even fill a single suitcase. The past three years had felt like a dream.
Seeing her pregnancy report on the bedside table, Sienna thought to herself: it's time to end this.
Right then, Lydia grandly entered into the master's bedroom, the divorce agreement still in her hands: "Are you done packing?"
Lydia spotted the paper on the bedside table. From a distance, she could just make out the words 'City Women and Children's Hospital', a flicker of confusion in her eyes.
Taking advantage of her quick reflexes, Sienna Parker quickly grabbed the report and crumpled it up. Lydia voiced out her surprise: "Could it be that you're pregnant?"
