When His First Love Returned

After ten years of marriage, I finally got pregnant with the heir to the Sawyer family.

On the day of my prenatal checkup, I caught my husband accompanying his first love through childbirth.

An hour later, Ethan Sawyer ordered someone to abort my baby and gently coaxed me, Be good, Aria. Madeline's health is fragile. Can you let this one go, just this once?

When I didn't respond, my mother, Clara, slapped me across the face.

"Haven't you caused enough trouble?

If it weren't for you back then, Madeline and Ethan would never have broken up.

Think of this baby as your way of atoning to her."

Afraid I'd disturb Madeline during her postpartum recovery, Ethan had my mother take me away.

I was sent to the old house in the southern district.

The place was chosen specifically because snakes, insects, and rodents frequently appeared there---and I was terrified of these cold-blooded creatures.

After Ethan left, my mother sneered coldly.

"Your father killed Gabriel.

You stole Madeline's man.

Both of you deserve to die."

Watching my lips turn purple, my mother remained unmoved.

I struggled to call Ethan for help, but he said, "Aria, you don't need to do this.

You'll always be my wife, but Madeline---I'll always owe her."

Ethan didn't believe me.

My mother ignored me.

At that moment, I finally understood the destructive power of first love.

Not just on Ethan, but on my mother too.

I thought, this is fine.

Ten years---any debt of gratitude should be repaid by now.

When I woke up, I was already in the hospital.

The nurse told me, "Lucky thing someone passing by found you, otherwise you would've lost that leg."

Just as I was about to thank her, my mother's call came through.

"Who gave you permission to leave?

Aria, are you scheming to harm Madeline again?"

My mother's hysterical voice sounded like she hated me to the bone.

Before I could respond, she scoffed coldly.

"Aria, you forced my hand."

I didn't know what my mother would do, but I knew she wouldn't let me off.

Before, for Madeline's sake, my mother had directly destroyed my father's grave.

She'd said, "Your daughter deserves to die.

Now you can atone for her first."

Thinking of this, I quickly called back, only to discover I'd been blocked.

I stared helplessly at my phone, still unable to understand.

My mother used to treat me well, but ever since I married Ethan, she changed.

I still remember how my mother had said, "If you insist on marrying Ethan, I'll kill myself."

It was only after Ethan talked to her that she reluctantly agreed to our marriage.

After the wedding, my mother rarely contacted me.

Instead, she grew close to Ethan.

It wasn't until Madeline returned to the country that I understood why.

That day was also my birthday, but they both stood me up.

Later, they all appeared on Madeline's social media.

That's when I learned that Madeline was Ethan's first love, and she was also the daughter of my mother's first love.

How wonderful to be someone's first love.

But me?

I was nothing.

My phone suddenly rang, interrupting my thoughts.

It was a call from Rose's nursing home. (My grandmother, Rose.)

That uneasy feeling instantly peaked.

I quickly answered.

"Is this Mrs. Spencer's family member?"

"Yes, I am, I..."

"Please come to the nursing home immediately.

Your grandmother is dying."

Ignoring the doctor's warnings, I took a cab straight to the nursing home.

But I was still a step too late.

Rose had already left me.

At that moment, I felt my life was hopeless---until the caregiver showed me the surveillance footage.

I saw Ethan bringing Madeline to see Rose.

They said, "Aria deliberately framed Madeline and tried to secretly give birth to my child.

She deserves to die.

It's all your fault, you old thing, for failing to raise her properly."

My grandmother kept kowtowing.

But Ethan remained unmoved.

When Madeline said, "Your granddaughter sleeps with old men every day," Ethan even nodded along.

That's what drove my grandmother to her death.

I cried until I was exhausted, until I had no voice left.

Ethan, how dare you?

Don't you remember at all?

My grandmother watched you grow up.

I know I was wrong.

Crying, I dialed a number I knew by heart.

"You saw everything, didn't you?

My child is gone.

I really can't handle Ethan anymore.

Please let me go.

My grandmother is dead.

I really can't hold on anymore."

"Yes, your family saved my father and grandmother back then, but now both my father and grandmother are dead because of your family.

The debt is repaid, isn't it?

I won't hold Ethan accountable, but I want a divorce."

Margaret Sawyer (Ethan's mother) kept apologizing to me.

But what good were apologies?

My grandmother would never come back.

"Alright, I agree."

She booked me a flight for ten days later and promised to help me divorce Ethan.

Satisfied, I hung up and sent my mother a message.

After all, Rose had passed away---surely she should attend the funeral.

For three days, my mother didn't call once.

I was even cursed out on social media.

In a mother's tone, she tearfully said, "I never imagined my daughter could be this kind of person---stealing someone's beloved, causing her own father and grandmother's deaths.

Can I really keep someone like this?

Can you tell me what I should do?"

My mother fabricated a perfect lie, with a clear chain of evidence to support it.

I wanted to cry but had no tears left.

After doing all this, watching me trend on social media, my mother sent me a message: [Hurry up and divorce Ethan. Don't stand in the way of Madeline's happiness.]

This time I replied: [Fine.]

My mother didn't believe I truly wanted to divorce Ethan.

She called to curse at me, saying I was playing hard to get.

"Your grandmother is dead.

Do you really think anyone will support you now?"

"Clara, you're my mother.

My grandmother was your mother-in-law.

Today is her funeral, and she was literally driven to death by Ethan and Madeline.

You..."

"Enough.

If anyone's to blame, it's you."

I could imagine my mother's teeth-gritting expression even through the phone.

She said a whole string of things, every sentence stabbing at my heart.

I thought, fine.

This is it.

My mother's love for me was truly gone.

"Clara, if you get Ethan to attend Rose's funeral, I'll divorce him."

"What are you scheming now?"

My mother still didn't trust me.

She started cursing me, saying I'd die a horrible death, that I'd never bear children.

"If Ethan doesn't come, I'll never divorce him, even if it kills me.

That way, your precious Madeline will be a mistress forever."

I said all this expressionlessly, then hung up.

I knew my mother would make Ethan come, because she cared so much about Madeline.

Sure enough, halfway through the funeral, Ethan appeared.

It wasn't that I insisted he come.

I just wanted Rose to leave with dignity.

At the funeral, I was the only family member.

Everyone else was pointing and whispering.

"Doesn't the old lady have a daughter-in-law?"

"Why didn't she come?"

"Yeah, I heard this granddaughter has a husband too.

What's going on?"

"Tsk, abandoned in her old age."

I knew my mother wouldn't come.

Even if she did, she wouldn't treat my grandmother kindly---she'd probably condemn her in front of all these people.

After all, she'd done it before.

When Rose discovered my mother treated Madeline better than me, she was furious.

She pointed at my mother and demanded, "Why?

She's your biological daughter!

Have you lost your mind?"

"Yes, I have lost my mind---to have married your son in the first place."

That's what put my grandmother in a wheelchair.

"Aria, Rose..." Ethan seemed shocked that Rose had truly died.

Seeing the shock in Ethan's eyes, I couldn't help but laugh mockingly.

"What are you pretending for?

Didn't you and Madeline go to the nursing home together?

Said all those horrible things and drove my grandmother to her death---didn't you expect this?"

"Enough, Aria.

We didn't expect things to turn out this way.

Besides, don't you have any fault in this yourself?"

It was still my fault.

My fault for trusting my mother.

My fault for loving you.

"Fine.

This is my grandmother's funeral.

I don't want to argue with you.

After this is over, I'll divorce you."

"I don't want to divorce you.

Stop making a scene.

Madeline is still heartbroken.

Go back and apologize to her properly, and all this will pass."

"Apologize?"

What did I do wrong that I need to apologize?

"Those things your mother posted online---even though they're not true, they still involved Madeline.

Now people suspect Madeline is a mistress.

How can she not be upset?"

"Isn't she though?"

Sleeping with my husband, bearing my husband's child---if that's not a mistress, what is?

*Slap...*

Ethan, as if pushed to his limit, slapped me across the face.

"Aria, for Rose's sake, I didn't want to make things difficult for you.

Do you have to do this?"

At that moment, I felt no pain---only the increasingly strange looks from people around me.

I was wrong again.

How could I pin my hopes on Ethan?

I looked at Rose's smiling portrait and apologized over and over.

I'd messed everything up.

Seeing my silence, Ethan finally came to his senses.

He wanted to apologize, but I stopped him.

Ethan didn't stay with me for the rest of the funeral because Madeline called saying something happened to the baby.

Ethan left in a rush without even telling me.

That day when I returned home, I discovered I couldn't get in.

I tried for a while but couldn't open the door.

Then my mother came out from inside.

"Get lost.

Madeline is living here now.

She doesn't want to see you."

"I bought this house!" I demanded loudly.

My mother sneered coldly.

"So what?

It's under your father's name now.

We're married.

If I don't want you living here, you can't."

Then my mother threw my things out.

She said, "If you're smart, hurry up and divorce Ethan."

That was the last thing my mother said to me.

Helplessly, I dragged my suitcase away.

Suddenly I didn't know where to go.

As soon as I reached the street, a group of people blocked my way.

I didn't know these people, but they punched and kicked me.

They called me a demon, said I deserved to die.

From what they said, I knew they were Madeline's fans.

Madeline was a minor influencer with many supporters online.

They said, "Divorce Mr. Sawyer right now, and maybe we'll let you off."

I pulled out the divorce agreement.

"I've already signed it.

I won't cling to Ethan."

"Smart move."

That day they also filmed a video.

My disheveled appearance was posted online and mocked by countless people.

Ethan's company was affected as a result.

I knew this was Margaret's doing.

She'd called me before coordinating with the trending topic.

"I wanted Ethan to sign the divorce papers without knowing, but he discovered it, and he doesn't want to divorce."

"But now, for the company's sake, he'll definitely compromise first.

He'll probably propose a fake divorce.

Agree to it---I'll make it a real divorce.

Though you'll suffer some grievances."

"Just rumors and gossip.

It's not like I haven't faced them before.

As long as I can divorce Ethan, I'll do anything."

"I'm sorry, child."

She really was sorry.

Back then, when Madeline left Ethan for fame and fortune, Margaret found me and asked me to help Ethan through the darkest period of his life.

Later, when Ethan moved past his heartbreak, he held me and said, "Even though my love with Madeline was unforgettable, I only want to be with you now.

I want to be with you for the rest of my life."

Unfortunately, men's promises are like farts---gone once released.

That night, Ethan found me looking dejected.

"I'm sorry, Aria.

I didn't expect things to turn out this way."

"Let's get divorced, okay?"

"Okay."

Seeing my agreement, Ethan quickly explained, "It's a fake divorce.

Once the company gets through this period, it'll be fine."

"Okay."

I chose to play along with Ethan.

He held me and made a passionate confession.

But I turned a deaf ear.

That day we filed for divorce.

This way the process would be faster.

Looking at the proof confirming our divorce, I smiled wistfully.

Finally---finally free of this man.

For the rest of my life, I never wanted to see him again.

I cursed him---may he never meet anyone better than me for the rest of his life.

Let him be continuously hurt by Madeline, the woman who hurt him once before.

That day, Margaret transferred a large sum of money to me.

I transferred part of it to my mother with a note: Retirement fund.

I sent my mother a message: [According to government-mandated support, I've given you more than enough. This money is the last connection between us as mother and daughter. Take care of yourself from now on.]

I visited my father and grandmother one last time, then went to the airport.

Before boarding, I posted the presentation I'd compiled during this period online.

Why should I sacrifice myself to make them comfortable?

Since Ethan always thought Madeline was such a wonderful person, I had to let him know exactly what kind of goods he'd fallen in love with.

The moment the plane took off, Madeline's name hit the trending searches.

When Ethan's assistant found him with his phone, he was playing with the baby.

Seeing the trending topic, he nearly dropped the child to the floor.

"How is this possible?"