Last night at ten o'clock, when I was getting ready to go to sleep, I got a call from an unknown number in our city.

The voice on the line, clear and pleasant, asked, "Are you Jen Middleton?"

I didn't hesitate and said, "Yes, that's me. Who's this?"

Instead of answering, the woman laughed and said, "Your husband is so wild in bed"

I was completely confused and was about to ask who she was and how she knew anything about my husband, but the call was abruptly cut off, leaving a dial tone.

At first, I thought it was just a prank and didn't think much of it.

But as soon as I hung up the phone, a troubling thought crossed my mind: if it was just a prank, how did the caller know my name so accurately?

Lost in my thoughts, I received a video through text from the same unknown number, followed by a message.

"Don't believe it? Take a close look at the true colors of your husband, Max Jennings."

Even the mention of my husband’s name ‘Max Jennings' was alarmingly accurate.

A few seconds after my mind went blank, curiosity got the better of me and I pressed play.

Instantly, the sound of a woman moaning loudly came from my phone, shockingly loud against the silence of my bedroom. I quickly turned the volume down!

Once I had calmed down, I glanced at the screen. It showed a hotel room with a king-sized bed, clothes strewn all over the floor, and two bodies intertwined—a sight so explicit I could only describe it as downright obscene.

I was infuriated, thinking to myself, who would be so thoughtless as to send a pornographic video to a pregnant woman in the middle of the night?

Just as I was about to turn it off, a familiar voice came from the video.

"My little pussycat, twice isn't enough for you?"

It felt like a bucket of cold water had been poured over me. I froze and stared intently at my phone screen.

Then, the man's face appeared—he was slapping the woman's behind and boasting smugly, "Do you want to drain me completely?"

I was stunned; my entire body went rigid.

The man in the video was my husband, Max, who was supposed to be on a business trip in North City!

It felt like a bolt from the blue, completely paralyzing my ability to think.

I forced myself to calm down and watched the video several times.

Eventually, I was certain it wasn't doctored.

Even the timestamp in the top right corner showed tonight's date, just minutes ago.

This means that my husband, Max Jennings, was using his business trip as a cover to cheat on me with his mistress in a hotel!

Seeing Max's face in the video— a face I could recognize even if it were burned to ashes— left me utterly devastated.

Just last night, Max called me, complaining about how difficult the client was, saying, "If I don't drink myself under the table tonight, we won't secure the contract." He apologized profusely, "Baby, I'm sorry. As soon as I sober up tomorrow morning, I'll fly right back. Your giving birth is a big deal, and I must be by your side to witness the birth of our baby!"

Over the past few years, many entrepreneurs have faced severe losses due to the pandemic and a tough economic climate. Although Max lost some money, he wasn't hit as hard as others.

After I became pregnant, he said he needed to create a good life for our baby, which meant working harder than ever to earn money. He often drank to the point of blacking out, missing his flights, and getting stranded.

I felt sorry for him, constantly networking for the company's benefit, and told him not to rush, to take his time, and come back when he was ready. I was only 39 weeks pregnant, not yet at my due date, and I told him not to worry.

Looking back now, my accommodating attitude seems almost laughable.

Were the days he got drunk and missed his flights really spent at business meetings?

As someone who cannot stand deceit, I immediately called Max.

However, he hung up after just two rings!

Shortly after, Max sent a voice message through WhatsApp.

"I'm in a meeting right now, babe. Can't talk on the phone, but I miss you!"

A meeting?

Is that what he calls being in bed with another woman?

Filled with grief and rage, I was about to call him again when I received another video from the same person.

This new video was even more disgusting and infuriating!

It took every ounce of courage I had to tremulously tap open the second video clip.

In the video, Max was shown bathing in a transparent glass shower, and two used condoms were lying on the carpet.

The mistress purposefully zoomed in and asked Max in the video, "Max, you're so naughty, lying to your wife about being busy with work out of town."

"How else would I find time to be with you?" he replied.

"Isn't she about to give birth? Shouldn't you be there for her?"

Max responded nonchalantly, "What's so special about a woman giving birth? If I were there, would it make her suffer any less?"

"You bad boy! Is it because your wife is pregnant and it's inconvenient that you can't bear to touch her, and now you're so horny? Tonight, I almost broke under you."

"Do you think she tastes as good as you?" Max scoffed dismissively, "Even if she wasn't pregnant, I would be too lazy to touch her."

"Liar, if you're too lazy to touch her, how did she get pregnant? Could it be that the child in her belly is from another man?"

Max did not respond.

The woman pressed on, "So, Max, when are you actually going to divorce her?"

Max spoke in a soothing tone, "Baby, please be patient, okay? Now is not the right time. I will not go back on my promise to you."

The woman sounded annoyed, "Then tell me, when is the right time?"

"Wait until she..."

The video abruptly ended there.

Even though I knew it was the mistress intentionally provoking me, I still fell into her trap.

I immediately called her and demanded, "Who exactly are you?"

She seemed to anticipate my call and calmly replied, "Who I am doesn't matter. What matters is that I just slept with your husband."

I could hear the sound of running water through the phone; Max must have been showering, which gave her the audacity to openly taunt me.

My heart twisted in pain, and I clenched my teeth to hold back tears as I snapped, "Don't you have any shame?"

"I wouldn't be stealing your husband if I had any shame," she casually laughed, taunting me further, "Jen, if you really care, why don't you just divorce him and make space for me?"

"You..." I was about to hurl back an insult when suddenly Max's voice came through the phone, "Baby, who are you talking to?"

"Your wife," the woman playfully cooed.

Max chuckled and said, "Baby, you're so naughty."

"Do you really not believe me?"

"I believe you. Let her listen closely to how I make love to you."

Then, the phone transmitted a series of vile and indecent flirtations.

I figured the woman had hidden the phone, deliberately letting me hear the disgusting sounds of her and Max being intimate in bed.

Disgusted to the core, I hung up the phone.

Today, I discovered a hidden side of my husband, who had been seen as a devoted and exemplary spouse for many years. Tears streamed down my face as my heart felt like it was being ripped apart.

During the early stages of my pregnancy, I struggled with low progesterone and severe morning sickness. Even a sip of water would make me vomit.

The doctor recommended bed rest, and Max insisted that I quit my job to focus on the pregnancy. With more time at home, I often found myself scrolling through the internet and stumbling upon various posts by pregnant women whose husbands had cheated on them during their pregnancies.

Occasionally, I would share these posts with Max, expressing my shock and dismay. How could a man betray his wife when she was going through such a life-threatening ordeal, risking her life to bring their child into the world?

Max would always comfort me, assuring me that if he ever cheated, I should grind him up and use him to plaster the walls or throw him down the drain, wishing him misfortune in this life and the next.

He would also say, "Baby, don't worry about such nonsense. Nothing could make my love for you fade away. You have my whole heart for my whole life."

I used to believe with certainty that while any man in the world might cheat, my Max never would!

How foolish that belief seems now, doesn't it?

Max, who was two years ahead of me in college, caught my eye during freshman orientation and it was love at first sight.

Clad in a white shirt and black casual pants, Max stood tall at six feet, boasting a lean and beautiful physique reminiscent of a masterpiece crafted by skilled sculptors. Emerging from beneath the lush camphor trees along the campus path, he waved and smiled, with the bright sunlight casting a dappled glow upon him, his eyes sparkling.

It was impossible not to be captivated.

Once we began dating, I learned that Max was enrolled in the Business School, while I pursued studies in the School of Foreign Languages. On the day we met, he mistook me for a Business School freshman and kindly carried my luggage all the way to my dorm.

It was only upon reaching the entrance to my dorm building that he realized I belonged to a different department. However, driven by his love at first sight, he boldly continued with his mistake.

He confessed to me that from the moment he laid eyes on me, he knew that if he let me walk away, he would regret it for the rest of his life.

When Max Jennings pursued me, he displayed both proactivity and romance. In the winter, I had a tendency to sleep in late. To ensure that I could enjoy a cup of hot coffee from the cafeteria, Max would purchase one early in the morning, keep it warm inside his jacket, and patiently wait beneath my dormitory until I slowly made my way downstairs. By the time I drank it, the coffee was still warm.

Whenever we went hiking, Max would pack a bag filled with snacks, fruit, and two flasks - one with cold water and the other with hot water. He ensured that regardless of whether I desired a cold or hot drink, he could instantly provide it. I felt like a pampered princess, and he promised a lifetime of gentle companionship and attentive care.

There are numerous examples of his thoughtfulness and devotion.

Even after we got together, Max's thoughtfulness and devotion never wavered.

Max came from a humble rural background. His father passed away early, leaving him with three older sisters who were all married with children. Raised by his mother under challenging circumstances, he grew up in a financially struggling household.

He once shared with me, "Jen, you probably can't imagine what it's like to fear that your house might be blown away during a storm, right? Having grown up in hardship, I've learned to truly cherish my loved ones and to respect my parents and elders."

A wise man once said, "People who grow up in hardship often develop psychological shadows that can lead to abnormal behaviors. These issues manifest as a persistent hostility towards society and people, an inability to trust anyone, and a lack of sympathy. Being overly frugal or excessively focused on money is just a minor symptom of these deeper psychological issues. In contrast, those who are broad-minded and insightful, despite growing up under difficult circumstances, tend to be more compassionate and generous. They understand life and appreciate its sweet and bitter aspects."

At that time, I believed Max was the latter; I felt proud of him.

During the summer of his second year in grad school, Max took on a job wearing a heavy mascot costume in the plaza to distribute flyers, all to buy me a necklace for my birthday. Despite the intense heat, when I brought him lunch, he was soaked with sweat but still insisted to me that he wasn't hot at all.

He said, "Jen, even though I can't afford expensive gifts right now, believe me, I will work hard to give you a better life."

He proposed to me, vowing that we would stay together forever.

That day, I brought him home for dinner to tell my parents that we were getting married and to seek their blessing.

It was Max's first time meeting my parents.

At the dinner table, Max appeared slightly tense. Despite normally exuding confidence and being outgoing as the head of the student council, that evening marked the first time I had seen him nervous.

Quietly, he led me out onto the balcony and asked with a touch of apprehension in his voice, "Jen, why didn't you tell me that your dad is the dean of our business school?"

I wrapped my arms around his waist and playfully asked, "Would you still pursue me if you knew my dad holds a prominent position here?"

Max's expression turned serious as he replied, "Absolutely! I like you for who you are, not because of your father's status!"

Nestling into his embrace, I felt content and said, "Well, that settles it. It doesn't matter who my dad is as long as we're together."

Later, after Max had left, my dad called me into his study for a heart-to-heart conversation.

He advised me to deeply consider marrying Max. Our families were not on equal footing, and marriage is a serious matter that requires careful thought.

Initially, I thought my dad was solely fixated on Max's background and family situation. I even accused him of being old-fashioned and clinging to outdated notions of social status.

But my dad shook his head and said, "Jen, marriage should not be based solely on impulsive feelings. Do you truly know the man you plan to spend your life with?"

My parents cautioned me against rushing into marriage and suggested waiting until after I completed graduate school. At that time, I had just been accepted into a postgraduate program and was mindful of the heavy workload ahead, so I agreed with Max to postpone our plans until after graduation.

Max was incredibly intelligent. He understood that my parents would not approve of our relationship. Holding me tightly, he said, "Jen, I will need some time to prove to your parents that I deserve their trust for a lifetime."

However, tragedy struck the following summer. My parents were involved in a car accident and passed away before I had the chance to say goodbye.

During those days, I was overwhelmed with grief, and tears were constantly streaming down my face.

Max was always there for me, holding me close and reassuring me, saying, "Jen, please don't cry. You are not alone. I am here for you, through thick and thin."

Three months later, Max and I got married.

We did not have a lavish wedding, as the pain of our loss was still fresh. Instead, we knelt before my parents' graves.

Max humbly bowed his head in front of their resting place and promised to be by my side for the rest of our lives.

However, even the most solemn promises can be broken over time.

Just in our second year of marriage, he strayed.

To make matters worse, it happened while I was pregnant with our child.