My Husband's Wife Isn't Me

In the fifth year of my marriage to Hudson Hope, I was still commuting two hours to save a few dollars.

Until the day I transferred to Mary Hospital in New York, I received a VIP patient, the wife of billionaire heir Hudson.

The nurse smiled and showed me their wedding photo.

Mr. Hope is famous for doting on his wife.

I gripped my stethoscope, my knuckles turning white.

That woman had personally slashed my right hand three years ago.

And that man was supposed to be my husband.

I stared at the woman's pregnant belly.

Just then, Hudson's call came through on speakerphone, his voice filled with a tenderness he'd never shown me. "Cecilia, I bought you a mansion to make it up to you."

It turned out I was the other woman all along.

Sylvia's POV

In the fifth year of my marriage to Hudson, I was still pinching pennies, saving every cent.

On my first day at the new hospital, I was assigned a VIP patient.

The nurse said it was the wife of Hudson Hope, the richest man in the city.

Hudson Hope?

That was my husband's name.

After transferring to New York, my very first patient was Cecilia, who'd been entangled with my husband for five years.

I double-checked the medical records, even questioning the intake nurse.

"Are you sure there's no mistake? The patient's name is Cecilia, and her husband is Hudson?"

The nurse laughed.

"Dr. Winters, I could mix up anyone but not Mr. Hope. He's the billionaire heir of New York, famous for how much he spoils his wife. To make sure she has a safe delivery, he specifically reserved our hospital's best VIP suite for her."

The nurse pulled up photos of Hudson and Cecilia's wedding on her phone to show me.

The cruel truth was right there in front of me.

I felt like I'd been plunged into ice water.

Another doctor said enviously,

"Dr. Winters, you're new to New York so you don't know. Mr. Hope and Miss Cecilia have broken up and gotten back together countless times over these five years. It's more dramatic than a TV show! In the end, Mr. Hope swallowed his pride and chased her for ages before they finally got their happy ending!"

My ears were buzzing.

The nurse gently nudged me.

"What's wrong? Do you know Mr. Hope and Miss Cecilia?"

I snapped back to reality, forcibly suppressing the tidal wave of emotions in my chest.

Know them?

I knew them all too well.

The name Cecilia was like a poisoned needle, stabbing straight into my heart.

Five years ago at my wedding with Hudson, Cecilia had stormed the stage like a madwoman, screaming that Hudson was hers.

Four years ago, I got anonymous photos of Cecilia standing naked in front of Hudson. Hudson had immediately called the police, saying she was harassing him.

And three years ago...

I unconsciously touched the hideous, ugly scar on my right arm.

That day, Cecilia had rushed into the hospital where I worked with a knife and, in front of everyone, slashed at my right hand like a maniac.

She screamed at the top of her lungs.

"That's what you get for stealing my Hudson! I'll ruin your hand so you can never be a doctor and seduce him again!"

The top hospital had used all their best resources and barely managed to save my arm.

But this scar would remain on my skin forever.

At the time, Hudson had roared that he would kill Cecilia. I'd desperately held him back to prevent him from making a terrible mistake.

Later, Hudson said he'd sent Cecilia to a psychiatric hospital.

He would torment her daily, make her wish she were dead, make her spend the rest of her life atoning for what she did to my hand.

But now, Cecilia was sitting there perfectly fine, and she'd become Hudson's wife in New York, pregnant with his child.

I closed my eyes.

Absurd.

It was too absurd.

My husband of five years, who made twenty thousand dollars a month, was actually New York's wealthiest man-and someone else's husband.

I forced myself to look at Cecilia in the hospital room, dressed head to toe in designer clothes, clutching her belly with a blissful expression on her face.

Then I looked down at my own cheap clothes worth only a few dozen dollars that I wore to save money.

I felt like a complete and utter fool.

For five years, I'd thought I was happy enough.

My husband was considerate and gentle. Apart from him working in New York and us being apart often, our marriage had virtually no conflicts.

Last month, to have a baby soon and to surprise Hudson, I'd quietly submitted my application to transfer to Mary Hospital in New York as an obstetrician.

I never imagined that on my first day, fate would play such a cruel joke on me.

Sylvia's POV

I put on my mask, struggling to maintain my professional composure.

Walking into the room, I gently placed my stethoscope on Cecilia's swollen belly.

The fetal heartbeat was clear and strong, each beat like a hammer pounding on my heart.

Cecilia unconsciously stroked the enormous pink diamond ring on her ring finger. I recognized it.

The news had once reported that this pink diamond was the finale piece at an auction, purchased by a certain tycoon at an astronomical price.

At the time, I didn't know the "Mr. Hope" in the news was my husband.

I'd even joked with him about it.

"Other people's Mr. Hope can spend astronomical sums with a wave of his hand. Too bad my Mr. Hope is just an ordinary office worker. What he earns isn't even enough for household expenses."

How had Hudson responded?

His hands had explored me with burning heat, his kisses falling like urgent rain.

"Hm? Who are you saying can't measure up? Is your Mr. Hope better, or are other men better?"

I couldn't resist in his embrace and could only beg for mercy.

"It's you! Of course you're better!"

"Dr. Winters, your technique is so gentle. It doesn't hurt at all."

Cecilia's voice pulled me back to reality.

"Hudson always says I'm too delicate."

The nurse beside her immediately flattered her.

"Mrs. Hope, you're so blessed. Mr. Hope treasures you. I heard this VIP suite was specially renovated for you-even the air purification system is top-of-the-line."

I couldn't imagine that Hudson had such a gentle and considerate side with someone else.

Seeing that I seemed distracted, Cecilia raised her eyebrows smugly.

"He's just too nervous. I said I could just rest at home, but he insisted this place has the best medical facilities and reserved an entire floor for me. Tell me, isn't he making too big a deal of this?"

I forced myself to focus on the examination.

But each fetal heartbeat felt like torture to what remained of my sanity.

I didn't even notice my mask had slipped down.

Cecilia's sharp cry jolted me awake.

"Ah! Sylvia!"

I instinctively stepped back.

Her pitying gaze swept over me inch by inch, finally landing on my scarred right hand.

"How did Dr. Winters end up in New York? Can your hand still hold a scalpel?"

"You don't know, do you? I'm pregnant with Hudson's child. Back then he almost imprisoned me because of you, but now he loves me to death."

Her smugness was particularly glaring, especially when she looked provocatively at my injured hand. Anger and humiliation nearly overwhelmed me.

Hudson.

The man who would calculate the exact time to remind me to eat when I worked night shifts, who would prepare surprises when I complained about being tired.

He'd actually married the woman who nearly destroyed my career.

To save money, I couldn't even afford to take cabs to work, commuting over two hours each day.

Yet for Cecilia, he could reserve an entire VIP floor.

How ridiculous! How ironic!

Every moment of the past five years now turned into swords, piercing my heart, the pain so intense I could barely stand.

"Miss Cecilia,"

I struggled to stay calm.

"The fetal development indicators are currently normal."

Just then, Hudson's call came through.

Cecilia raised her eyebrows and put it on speakerphone.

Hudson's voice came through the phone.

"Cici, I'm sorry. I was busy with meetings today and couldn't accompany you to your checkup. To make it up to you, I bought you a mansion. I know you'll love it."

"How could I be angry?"

Cecilia watched my expression.

"You're the one who can't go back on your word."

The tone on the phone was filled with a tenderness I'd never heard before.

I stiffly left the hospital room, didn't even change clothes, and took a cab directly to Hudson's company.

I needed answers!

But just as I reached the door and was about to push it open, I heard the conversation inside.

"Mr. Hope, you're so lucky!"

"The gentle Cici in New York is pregnant with your child, and in London you have a dutiful wife keeping your little nest warm for you. You're a real winner in life!"

Everyone chuckled in agreement.

Someone asked, "Hudson, aren't you afraid Sylvia will find out you have a family in New York?"

Hudson's voice was cold, devoid of any warmth.

"She'll never know."

"That she got to be with me for five years, even if it's a fake marriage, is Sylvia's good fortune."

My whole body went numb with cold. I don't even remember how I left.

As soon as I got downstairs, I received a call from a friend.

"Sylvia, how are things in New York? I heard the work there is very demanding."

He paused, then asked tentatively,

"It's been five years-are you still unwilling to come develop your career in Australia?"

If this were before, I definitely would have refused.

Compared to my career, I wanted a stable, happy family more.

But at this moment, I heard my own voice, unusually clear.

"Gabriel, in seven days, I'll see you in Australia."

"I'm willing to sign a permanent contract with your hospital, on the condition that you help me erase all my identity information domestically."

Sylvia's POV

After submitting my immigration documents, I returned to my small rented apartment.

It was already late. Hudson was sitting on the sofa, looking like he'd been waiting for a long time.

"Sylvia, why didn't you tell me about transferring to Mary Hospital in New York? You wouldn't answer my calls, so I had to call your former colleagues to find out you'd transferred."

His eyes were slightly red, filled with panic.

"I waited at home for three whole hours, terrified something had happened to you."

The worry and heartache in those eyes didn't seem fake.

He was such a good actor.

My heart ached so much I could barely breathe.

The scenes I'd witnessed in the VIP suite wrapped around my nerves like vines.

I wanted to ask him, but I felt that at this point, asking anything was meaningless.

Suppressing the stinging in my eyes, I smiled when I looked up again.

"Yeah, the salary here is higher."

"After work I wanted to walk around, and I got lost."

Hudson pulled me into his embrace.

"Next time take me with you-I can carry your bags."

"Today is our fifth wedding anniversary. I bought you a gift-want to open it?"

His chin rested on top of my head, his posture intimate, as if we were still that loving couple.

Five years together weren't fake.

I truly had loved Hudson.

But behind my back, he'd married the woman who hurt me.

I couldn't understand it.

This tender moment lasted only a few seconds before Hudson's phone rang.

The ringtone was the same as Cecilia's.

The man immediately released me, turned and walked to the balcony, completely shutting me out.

A few minutes later, he said he had to go out.

"Sylvia, there's an urgent matter at the company. I need to go handle it right away."

As soon as the words left his mouth, I could no longer see him.

In the cramped apartment, everything was in plain view.

I walked to the desk and opened the gift box.

Inside was a mug with the word "Forever" written on it.

A cheap style, priced under five dollars.

It formed a stark contrast with Cecilia's astronomical diamond ring and estate.

Such blatant favoritism made me gasp with pain.

How did Hudson suddenly become so rotten?

Where did the man from five years ago go-the one who promised to love me and treat me well for a lifetime?

After showering, I walked back to the desk, wanting to get my documents to close my accounts.

As I walked over, I noticed the computer screen was lit.

Hudson had left in such a hurry he hadn't even shut down his computer.

I hesitated, then tapped my fingers on the keyboard.

A password input box popped up on the screen.

I tried my birthday. Wrong.

Our wedding anniversary. Wrong.

Hudson's birthday. Wrong.

Finally, I remembered Cecilia's birthdate from her medical records and entered it.

Unlock successful.

The computer instantly woke up, the desktop displayed before me.

In the desktop photo, Cecilia nestled in Hudson's arms, her smile bright and piercing.

I forced down my discomfort and opened several folders.

The light from the screen illuminated my gradually paling face.

Photos, videos, and sweet chat records of Hudson and Cecilia were all carefully backed up by him.

All of this pierced the happiness I'd believed in, leaving it full of holes.

It turned out that on all those days he claimed to be on business trips and working overtime, Hudson had been with Cecilia.

They traveled the world together, kissing on private yachts.

They attended elite social events together, Cecilia holding his arm, her smile radiant.

There was even a video, shot in the wedding home I'd personally decorated:

Cecilia, scantily clad, looked at Hudson with seductive eyes.

"Hudson, can you really make love to me while Sylvia is working the night shift? What if she comes back?"

"I think you're just hoping she'll suddenly come back."

Hudson tore off her clothes.

She spread her arms and embraced him with a show of triumph.

"Hudson, you're so bad. This is so exciting-this is your wedding home."

Hudson silenced her mouth with a flurry of kisses.

My stomach churned violently.

With trembling hands, I clicked on a folder marked "Important."

Inside was Hudson and Cecilia's marriage certificate registered in New York.

The date was the day after Cecilia slashed my right hand.

A silent thunderclap exploded in my mind.

What daily torment, what living hell-it was all lies!

Hudson not only let go of the criminal who destroyed my career, but immediately gave her legal status and let her get pregnant with his child!

What did he take me for?

Five years! A whole five years!

I'd been like a fool, guarding this illusory marriage, carefully budgeting every penny, feeling sorry that he was "struggling" in New York.

Meanwhile, my husband was in another city, using astronomical pink diamonds, top-tier VIP suites, even legally recognized marriage to cherish another woman to the utmost!

I laughed softly, but tears fell on the keyboard.

I slammed the computer shut and looked at the cheap mug.

I grabbed the cup, raised it high, and with all my strength smashed it against the wall!

Sylvia's POV

Hudson didn't come home all night.

I sat on the sofa all night without closing my eyes.

I didn't know if I was waiting for him to come home.

But as soon as dawn broke, I submitted my resignation to Mary Hospital.

My colleagues were all very regretful.

My supervisor, Mr. Cooper, tried to keep me.

"You just transferred here-why leave already? Stay one more day and say goodbye to everyone properly."

I knew the department had many patients today, so I nodded in agreement.

In the VIP suite, when Cecilia saw me enter, a flash of coldness crossed her eyes.

"Dr. Winters, we meet again."

Her voice was sickeningly sweet.

"Hudson went to pick out the newest limited edition handbag for me today. He said it's a reward for carrying his baby."

I didn't acknowledge her.

Cecilia sneered.

"Speaking of which, you and Hudson have been married five years-how come there's no movement in your belly at all?"

"Could it be that Hudson doesn't want you to get pregnant?"

I put on gloves and took out the fetal heart monitor.

"Lie down properly. This is a routine examination."

I applied coupling gel to her swollen abdomen, my movements professional and calm.

Cecilia pouted.

"Hey, Hudson treats me so well, and you're not angry at all?"

"Hudson is so bad. All these years he wouldn't let me appear in front of you. But I'm his legal wife. Our wedding was much grander than yours."

"Tell me, if I told him you wanted me to miscarry, what would he do?"

The fetal heart monitor emitted a regular, strong "thump thump" sound, showing the fetus was perfectly normal.

I quickly recorded the data, just wanting to finish as soon as possible.

But just as I was about to complete the examination, Cecilia suddenly let out a terrible scream.

She clutched her stomach desperately, screaming in terror.

"It hurts! My belly! My baby!"

I was startled.

Cecilia's eyes held cold laughter and triumph, her voice particularly piercing in the hospital room.

"Help! The doctor is trying to kill me!"

The room door burst open as medical staff rushed in at the sound.

Cecilia curled up in agony.

"Mrs. Hope, what's wrong?"

A nurse hurried forward.

"She deliberately pressed hard on my belly! She's trying to kill my baby-call my husband quickly!"

Cecilia cried heart-wrenchingly, her accusations clear and vicious.

I tried to explain.

"I didn't. I was just doing a routine examination."

Mr. Cooper spoke up for me.

"Dr. Winters is an excellent obstetrician with extensive clinical experience. She would never make a mistake during a routine examination."

But no one listened to our explanations.

Cecilia quickly dialed Hudson's number, tears streaming down her face.

"Hudson, come quickly! The attending physician pressed so hard on my belly, it hurts so much! She's trying to kill our baby, I'm so scared!"

Hudson's voice came through the phone, cold as ice.

"Don't be afraid, Cici. I'll be right there. Where are the bodyguards? You're just going to stand there and watch my wife get bullied?!"

Several burly bodyguards exchanged glances.

The next second, they grabbed me and dragged me out.

"Let go of me!" I struggled desperately, but the difference in strength was too great.

The bodyguards dragged me all the way and threw me hard to the ground.

"Mr. Hope's orders are for us to 'take good care of' Dr. Winters and help his wife vent her anger."

The lead bodyguard looked at me with sinister eyes.

"Pretty face, but too bad you offended the wrong person."

My heart sank, cold creeping up from the soles of my feet.

"What do you want to do?"

"What?"

Another bodyguard showed a disgusting smile.

"Mr. Hope only said 'punish.' He didn't say how. Such a pretty woman, it'd be a waste just to beat her up."

"We can't touch Mr. Hope's woman, but we can play with this doctor, right? Consider it venting for Mrs. Hope!"

Terror instantly seized my heart.

I looked at the men closing in, my eyes filled with despair.

"Get away! Don't touch me!"

I grabbed debris from the ground and swung it desperately, trying to resist.

But my resistance was meaningless.

One bodyguard easily knocked away what I was holding, while another violently tore at my white coat and shirt.

I screamed, humiliation and terror making my whole body tremble.

I desperately tried to protect myself, rolling on the filthy floor to dodge.

Just at this moment of despair, a sharp stabbing pain suddenly shot through my lower abdomen!

The pain came so fiercely, like a knife twisting inside, instantly draining all my strength.

I moaned in agony.

"Stop pretending!"

A bodyguard impatiently kicked me in the stomach.

But the next second, everyone froze.

Deep red blood spread from beneath me, staining the grimy floor, the bloodstain growing larger and larger, a horrifying sight.

Sylvia's POV

"Blood!"

The bodyguard backed away in terror.

"Why is she bleeding?"

Another one panicked too.

"We didn't even touch her."

I was also dazed.

The severe pain made my consciousness blur.

I looked blankly at the rapidly expanding pool of blood beneath me.

A huge, ominous premonition enveloped me.

With trembling hands, I touched my lower abdomen. The wet, sticky sensation made my whole body go cold.

I... I was pregnant?

I was actually pregnant?

I was an experienced obstetrician, yet in the daily mental torture, I'd overlooked my own physical condition.

At this most unbearable, most desperate moment, the life I'd desperately wanted to surprise Hudson with, the life we were supposed to nurture together, had quietly arrived and just as quietly left me.

Immense grief and physical agony intertwined, making me cry out in pain.

"What do we do? With this much blood, will she die?"

The bodyguards completely panicked. They'd only wanted to "play around"-they hadn't expected to cause a death.

The lead bodyguard's face went pale as he dialed Hudson's number.

"Mr. Hope, something's wrong. That Dr.... the attending physician is bleeding heavily, there's blood everywhere, she looks like she's dying!"

Hudson's tone was cold, even annoyed.

"She's just a doctor. If she dies, she dies. What's all the fuss about? New York has plenty of good doctors-we won't miss her. Clean it up and don't dirty the hospital. Bad luck!"

Hudson's words stabbed into what remained of my consciousness.

My child with him...

In his words, didn't even qualify as "bad luck."

The bodyguards looked at the pool of blood still expanding beneath me. None of them dared touch me again.

Finally, they threw me into the emergency stairwell like garbage and quickly fled.

The heavy smell of blood filled my nostrils.

My body felt hollowed out with pain and weakness. The blood kept flowing.

I kept passing out from pain and waking up again.

But I couldn't die here.

I used every last bit of strength to drag my heavy body out of the emergency stairwell, crawling inch by inch.

Blood left a long, glaring trail behind me.

I didn't know where I was going.

Every step felt like walking on knife points. Every breath pulled at the severe pain in my abdomen.

Just as I was about to collapse, my phone rang.

The name that once made my heart flutter appeared on the screen-Hudson.

I answered with my blood-stained hand, trembling as I held it to my ear.

I wanted to ask him:

Hudson, why are you bullying me? Didn't you say you'd treat me well for life?

I wanted to tell him:

Hudson, our baby is gone.

I'd really been looking forward to it for so long. I really wanted to have a child who looked like you.

But the words I wanted to say stuck in my throat after Hudson spoke.

"Sylvia, where are you? Come to Mary Hospital VIP suite immediately to take care of Cecilia. She's been frightened and needs someone with her."

"You graduated from a top medical school and you're an experienced doctor-you know how to comfort pregnant women."

Realizing his tone was too harsh, Hudson explained.

"When Cecilia was in the psychiatric hospital, she was... violated by another patient and got pregnant."

"That was my mistake. I need to take responsibility."

"She's emotionally unstable right now. You come take care of her-consider it helping me repay my debt."

I felt my mind go completely blank. All the blood in my body rushed to my head, then instantly froze to ice.

So that's it...

Even for the child in Cecilia's belly, he could fabricate such a disgusting yet "devoted" lie to cover it up.

Severe pain and blood loss made my mind fuzzy. My vision went dark, and I passed out.

Sylvia's POV

When I woke up again, three days had passed.

Mr. Cooper saw me wake up and quickly used a cotton swab dipped in water to moisten my lips.

"Feeling better?"

"I..."

"You had a miscarriage,"

Mr. Cooper looked at me with heartache.

"You were unconscious for three days."

I closed my eyes.

As expected.

"During these three days... did anyone look for me?"

Mr. Cooper looked at me sympathetically.

"Your husband called you. As soon as I answered, he started yelling at me. I couldn't hear what he said clearly, but... he was very angry."

I smiled bitterly.

"Didn't he ask what happened to me?"

"...No."

I nodded. When I opened my eyes again, they held only resolve.

"I understand. Thank you."

"Take good care of yourself."

Four more days.

I lay there for two more days. Other than occasionally receiving process notification texts from immigration, my phone was as quiet as death.

For the first time, I was certain-Hudson truly didn't love me anymore.

After lunch, I got out of bed to move around.

Without realizing it, I walked to the VIP suite and happened to see Hudson bringing food to Cecilia.

Cecilia was propped up in bed, taking small sips of the nutritional supplement Hudson fed her.

"Honey, you're so good to me. For my sake, you were even willing to drug Sylvia so she couldn't get pregnant. I heard that drug is very toxic. Even if she miraculously got pregnant, she wouldn't be able to carry it to term."

"You even married me in New York, making me the legitimate Mrs. Hope."

Hudson's hand paused. The expression on his face showed a hint of struggle. After a long silence, he finally responded with a sound of acknowledgment.

Outside the door, I was thunderstruck.

My whole body trembled. My palms were punctured by my nails, drawing blood.

Why?

Why would you treat me this way?

No wonder I couldn't get pregnant in five years of marriage, no matter how actively we tried to conceive.

No wonder when I finally got pregnant this time I didn't feel anything. The fetus was probably too weak.

Inside the room, Hudson put down the nutritional supplement in his hand.

"This is what I owe you."

"Five years ago, I didn't want to reveal my identity, so I just complained that the wedding was too extravagant. You made a scene at the wedding for my sake, forcing the family to agree to let me hide my identity."

"Three years ago when Sylvia was going abroad for advanced studies, I told you I couldn't bear to part with her, so you took a knife and slashed her hand."

"And also, because her mother discovered my relationship with you, you drove and killed her. Just to protect my reputation, you implicated yourself in a hit-and-run and still can't return to the mainland."

Guilt and gratitude flickered in Hudson's eyes.

"Although I can't give you one hundred percent of my feelings, I'm grateful for everything you've done for me. Cecilia, everything I've done for you is what you deserve."

A flash of disappointment crossed Cecilia's eyes, but she quickly recovered and nestled against his shoulder.

"What if Sylvia finds out? She's so proud. If she knew everything you've done..."

Hudson held her and patted her gently.

"Her mother's ashes are kept in the Hope family cemetery."

The implication was clear. I wouldn't dare resist.

Outside the hospital room, I couldn't stop trembling.

It turned out all the dark moments in my life hadn't come from fate.

At the root, they were nothing more than Hudson's complaints and reluctance!

It was him, quietly guiding that mad dog Cecilia from behind, making her attack me again and again.

Destroying my family, tearing apart my dreams, trampling me viciously underfoot!

Even my mother's death wasn't an accident-it was murder!

A murder instigated by my husband Hudson and carried out by my rival Cecilia!

And even after Mother's death, he used her ashes as leverage to control me.

I pushed open the door with shaking hands.

The two people inside hadn't expected anyone to enter. As soon as I walked in, Cecilia screamed in fright.

The nutritional supplement crashed to the floor.

Hudson whipped around. The moment he saw me, his pupils constricted sharply.

He instinctively stood up to explain, but then seemed to think of something and forcibly held back.

"What are you doing here?" he asked quietly.

He moved toward the door, but Cecilia reached out and grabbed his sleeve.

"Hudson, I'm scared."

Hudson's expression darkened. He stood still and looked at me.

"A few days ago I told you to come take care of Cici. Why didn't you come?"

I looked at this man who felt like a stranger to me.