Chapter 1

I silently tore up my husband's positive HIV test results.

Since you two enjoy swimming in the ocean of love so much, I've decided to let you drown in it.

Just as I received the medical report, I got a call from an unknown number. The intimate voices of a man and woman nearly made me drop my phone in shock.

"Liam, be gentle. Don't hurt the baby," a woman's voice cooed.

"Alright, sweetheart. Lower your waist a bit," a man replied.

The call lasted less than ten seconds before they hastily hung up, not giving me a chance to speak.

Liam Westbrook and I had been in love since we were 18, for twelve years now. This morning, before he left for work, he had thoughtfully bought me breakfast and told me to sleep in a bit longer before going to the hospital for my test results.

I wiped away the tears from the corners of my eyes and tore Liam's medical report into tiny pieces, throwing them into the trash can.

How laughable. Just a minute ago, I was worried about him, thinking there must have been a mistake with the test. I couldn't believe that Liam, who had always been so careful and honest with me, could have contracted HIV.

Liam Westbrook, since you're so good at keeping secrets, I'll learn a thing or two from you. I won't tell you about your HIV and severe gout either.

I immediately went to get a full set of tests done for myself. During the anxious wait for the results, I didn't want to see Liam. I used the excuse of visiting my parents and stayed at a hotel for two days.

During this time, that unknown number called me twice more. Both times were when they were being intimate - once at 9 AM and once at 2 AM. It seems he really cares for this woman, staying at her place while I'm not home.

Well, of course. This woman is carrying his child.

Liam and I got married right after graduation. We've been married for eight years but never had children. When we first got married, we were focused on our careers, wanting to wait until we were financially stable before having kids.

When we finally felt ready, we discovered during fertility tests that both my fallopian tubes were blocked. I couldn't conceive naturally. Liam hugged me and said we could spend our lives just the two of us, and that he'd be jealous if I had to share my love with a child.

But I really wanted a child, one that looked like him. For the past three years, since I turned 27, I've been undergoing IVF treatments. The embryo successfully implanted five times, but I miscarried early each time.

To maintain the pregnancy, I gave myself daily injections in my belly. My once smooth, slender abdomen that I had been so proud of was now covered in needle marks and bruises.

When I finally got my test results, I was relieved. I hadn't contracted HIV.

The night I returned home, Liam came back from work earlier than usual. He walked into the kitchen and wrapped his arms around my waist, enveloping me in his familiar scent.

"Smells delicious. What treat have you cooked up for me today, honey?" he asked.

"I couldn't sleep well without you these past two days. The house feels so empty when you're not here," he added.

Suppressing my disgust, I playfully chided, "I bought some fresh seafood to make you a seafood hotpot. Go wash your hands, dinner's almost ready."

Liam went to the bathroom, humming happily. Watching his back, I added another handful of bean curd sticks to the pot.

Liam had always been particular about food. Whenever he enjoyed something outside, I would tirelessly work to recreate it at home, just to please his palate. I had spoiled his taste buds and stomach.

Seeing him eat with such relish, I peeled a shrimp and fed it to him. He smiled at me as he took it, clearly satisfied.

"Honey, why aren't you eating?" he asked.

I lowered my eyes to hide my sadness and poured him a glass of beer. "I've gained a bit of weight recently. I'm avoiding high-calorie foods at night."

Besides HIV, Liam also had extremely high uric acid levels. He was happily eating the gout-inducing, paralysis-inducing meal I had carefully prepared for him.