Chapter 2The husband brought his illegitimate child home.

Mark, who usually took five-minute showers, spent over an hour in the bathroom that night. He didn't come out until I was already in bed.

After he fell asleep, I opened the mom's group again. The "other woman" had posted an update.

"Ladies, my man just talked to the old hag at home. Once the baby is with her, we're faking our deaths and moving to Europe to live our best life. In a few years, when the kid is older, we'll come back and reap the benefits. LOL!"

She even posted a screenshot of their texts. The profile picture, though partially cropped, was unmistakably Mark's.

The other women in the group were all praising her cleverness.

I couldn't resist. Using a burner account, I replied to her post.

"Aren't you afraid of getting caught?"

She replied almost instantly. "Caught? That old hag should be grateful. Her womb is a desert. I'm giving her a child to raise. It's a win-win. I get my freedom, and my son gets a free nanny."

Her shamelessness was breathtaking. I closed the app, my blood boiling.

Mark was snoring peacefully beside me, oblivious. The more I thought about it, the angrier I got. I kicked him, hard, right out of the bed.

He woke up with a yelp, dazed and confused.

I pretended to be woken up by the noise, rubbing my eyes. "What's wrong, honey? Are you sleepwalking again?"

He grumbled, rubbing the spot where I'd kicked him, and climbed back into bed. He was snoring again in seconds.

I placed a hand on my stomach and silently clenched my other fist.

You brought this child to me. Getting him back won't be so easy.

The next day, Mark brought the baby home. My mother-in-law, who was visiting, looked concerned.

"Mark, you and Chloe are still young. Are you sure you want to rush into adoption?"

"I'm too busy with work, Mom," he said, looking uncomfortable. "I have to go abroad for a while in a few days. And you've always wanted a grandchild. Look how cute he is." He handed the baby to her.

I glanced at the child. He was only a few months old, but I could already see the resemblance to Mark.

My mother-in-law looked at me, her eyes filled with sympathy. I just smiled, as if to say, it's okay.

That night, the mistress was back in the group, bragging. "The baby is with the old hag! We're off to Europe!" She posted pictures of two plane tickets.

Soon after, Mark's suitcase was packed. "Mom, the company is sending me overseas for a while. Chloe, take care of the house, and the baby."

He gave me a rare hug before he left, a triumphant smirk playing on his lips. "I'll be back, honey."

I waved goodbye, feigning sadness. When I went back to our room, I noticed he had taken the debit card from my nightstand. It was our joint savings account, with the thirty thousand dollars I had painstakingly saved over the years. I wanted to scream, but I held it in.

I pulled a hidden safe out from under the bed. Inside were several gold bars and a few credit cards in my name only. My secret stash. Three hundred thousand dollars, saved over a decade of marriage.

Never trust a man. A woman needs her own money.

After Mark left, life went on. The mistress's last post was at the end of the month. A picture of two silhouettes kissing against a sunset. The location tag was in Italy.