The Substitute Wife He Threw Away

I was born in a perpetual haze, my mind often muddled and confused.

Three years ago, in a daze, I brought home a drunk, handsome stranger.

When he woke up, he stared at me for a moment, then suddenly said, Let's get married.

Too lazy to think, I nodded.

For three years, I lived in a fog as a wealthy socialite. I could swipe my cards freely and live in mansions as I pleased.

I had just found out I was pregnant and hadn't had the chance to tell him when he handed me divorce papers:

"I'm bankrupt. This is the last of my money. Take it and go."

Just then, several floating comments suddenly appeared before my eyes:

[Whoa! Leonardo's first love, Prescott, is back in the country!]

[I bet Leonardo is faking bankruptcy just to dump Lawrence so he can win Prescott back!]

[Leonardo got drunk three years ago because Prescott went abroad. Lawrence is just a substitute!]

Huh? So I was just a replacement?

I slowly nodded. "Oh, okay. Let's divorce then."

The light in his eyes instantly extinguished.

Looking at him, I felt like there was something I'd forgotten to mention.

Whatever. I'll tell him when I remember.

Leonardo pressed his lips tightly together, pushing the agreement and pen toward me.

His eyes were slightly red, his fingers tapping lightly twice on the edge of the table. It was his nervous habit.

I looked at the agreement but didn't rush to take the pen. Instead, I reached out and touched the back of his hand resting on the table.

"Your hand is so cold."

Leonardo trembled slightly but didn't pull away.

Without even glancing at the content, I picked up the pen to sign.

Leonardo pressed down on my hand. "Wait! Read it carefully before signing."

He explained each clause of the agreement to me.

The villa would remain mine, the savings would go to me, and all debts under his name had nothing to do with me.

He had even purchased a substantial trust fund for me to ensure my future would be secure.

Comments floated before my eyes:

[Holy crap, this divorce agreement is all in Lawrence's favor?]

[What an incredible man! But I feel like Leonardo really is bankrupt!]

[Wait, in the original story, Leonardo ends up filthy rich later...]

After hearing his explanation, I just felt stars swimming before my eyes.

"Don't understand. So I just need to sign, right?"

I moved to sign again, and Leonardo stopped me once more.

His Adam's apple bobbed, his voice somewhat hoarse:

"There's one last clause. Divorce doesn't mean we're strangers. If you ever need my help in the future, just ask."

I looked at him oddly. "You're drowning in debt. What could you possibly help me with?"

Leonardo was at a loss for words and lowered his head.

I thought about these past three yearshow no matter how busy he was, he always replied to my goodnight messages.

Any dessert I mentioned in passing would appear in the fridge the next day.

Every time I came home tipsy, the living room light was always on.

My heart suddenly softened. I said seriously:

"If you really end up too poor to survive, come find me. I'll take care of you."

Leonardo's head snapped up.

His eyes grew even redder. His Adam's apple bobbed several times before he finally said in a low voice, "...Okay."

More comments floated by:

[What kind of attitude is this? He just gave you everything he had!]

[Poor Leonardo! He still thinks he's not worthy!]

[Prescott, come out and comfort him!]

[Lawrence is really so oblivious...]

Leonardo said he'd found work hauling bricks at a construction site.

The pay was good, with room and board included. He was leaving right away.

He stood in the living room with a suitcase, glancing back at me.

His lips moved, but in the end, he said nothing. He pulled open the door and left.

The moment the door closed, the comments exploded:

[Hauling bricks? Is he serious?]

[A CEO going to haul bricks... I kind of want to laugh, what's wrong with me]

[Stop laughing, this is tragic]

[Wait, he really is bankrupt? Otherwise why would he actually haul bricks?]

I returned to the bedroom. Traces of Leonardo were everywhere.

In the closet, his shirts hung neatly in rows.

On the nightstand sat the business magazines he read every night.

In the bathroom, his toothbrush stood beside mine.

I lay on the bed, thinking about these three years.

He'd stayed up late fixing my broken music box.

Whenever I woke up hungover, there was always warm water and hangover medicine by the bed.

After business dinners, no matter how late, he'd always wash up in the guest room first so the smell of alcohol wouldn't bother me.

Lost in thought, a sudden wave of nausea hit me. I rushed to the bathroom and dry-heaved.

After recovering, I remembered.

Oh right, I forgot to tell him I was pregnant.

Comments suddenly flashed frantically:

[Leonardo's first love Prescott is here! Right at the villa gate!]

I walked to the window.

I saw a woman in a white dress with elaborate makeup standing outside the iron gate.

I opened the door. Prescott looked me up and down and gave a knowing smile.

"So you're Leonardo's wife?" She paused. "No, ex-wife now."

I leaned against the doorframe and yawned.

"Who are you?"

Prescott tucked her hair behind her ear and began introducing herself. Between the lines, she hinted that she and Leonardo were childhood sweethearts.

Three years ago, Leonardo had gotten blind drunk because she went abroad.

Now that she was back, naturally Leonardo wanted a divorce.

Comments floated past:

[Leonardo's first love is so pretty!]

[Lawrence! Feel inferior!]

[Get your eyes checked. Lawrence is clearly prettier]

[No catfighting allowed! Also, I don't think they look alike at all?]

[I agree, they don't look alike. Is Lawrence really Prescott's substitute?]

Prescott pulled a photograph from her handbag.

It was a picture of her and Leonardo from high school.

Standing together, though Leonardo wasn't smiling, his eyes were noticeably softer.

Prescott's tone was gentle, but her gaze carried barbs:

"He never loved you. You were just a substitute."

I stared at the photo for three seconds.

"He was a bit heavier then, his face rounder."

Prescott froze.

I continued, "Thanks for telling me this. Otherwise I wouldn't have known what he looked like in high school."

"Can I keep the photo? I'd like a memento."

The comments livened up:

[??? Is that the point here]

[I can never follow Lawrence's train of thought]

[But somehow this is satisfying]

[Prescott is speechless]

Prescott's expression shifted. She said coldly:

"You're quite the oddball. But it doesn't matterhe's already chosen me."

"You know why he left you the villa? Because he's about to move into my house."

I tilted my head, thinking.

"Oh, that's good. He won't have to sleep at the construction site then. Hauling bricks is exhausting."

My tone was sincere, without a trace of jealousy. Prescott was completely speechless.

As she turned to leave, she threw out, "Someone like you deserves to be dumped."

The door closed. I leaned against it and slowly slid down to a squat.

It wasn't that I wasn't sadmy sadness just came half a beat slower than everyone else's.

I touched my still-flat stomach.

"Baby," I said softly, "your dad seems to be going off to be someone else's dad."

After spacing out for a while, I picked up my phone.

I wanted to message Leonardo to tell him I was pregnant.

Just as I unlocked the screen, comments suddenly scrolled:

[Oh my god! Leonardo really is hauling bricks!]

[His hands have blood blisters... But I looked ahead and Leonardo really does become ridiculously rich! Can someone explain what's going on?]

[Can't explain it, I want to know too]

[Prescott called Leonardo asking for his address and is now driving to the construction site!]

I stared at the comments, forgetting what I was about to do, but feeling somehow empty inside.

So I walked to the wine cabinet, wanting to pour myself a drink.

Comments floated past again:

[??? If Lawrence doesn't want to keep Leonardo's child she can terminate it, no need to deliberately drink alcohol! Poisonous woman]

[Right, Lawrence is pregnant but Leonardo doesn't know yet. In the later plot Leonardo has no children, so this baby definitely won't survive]

I froze mid-motion, silently put the wine back, and locked the wine cabinet.

Sitting on the sofa, I contemplated what to do about this child.

My phone suddenly vibrated. Leonardo sent a message:

"Remember to eat dinner. Don't drink on an empty stomach. Don't play with your phone with the lights off. And don't stay up too late."

I stared at it for a while, suddenly reluctant to terminate this pregnancy.

A week later, I received a bank notification.

Leonardo had transferred money to me. The note read: "Half month's wages, use it for now."

The amount wasn't large, with odd cents included.

I stared at the message, spacing out.

Comments instantly flooded the screen:

[Leonardo literally only kept enough for himself to eat bread every day!]

[His hands are covered in blisters but he's still thinking about his ex-wife]

I climbed up from the sofa.

Touching my still-flat belly, I said slowly, "Baby, your dad seems about to starve to death."

Then I walked into the kitchena place I'd barely entered in three years.

Leonardo used to make me all sorts of elaborate dishes.

I could only cook instant noodles, and I often burned them.

I looked up recipes, nearly cut my finger, forgot to add seasoning. After two hours of struggling, I finally made a pot of soup.

I also went to the pharmacy for iodine and band-aids.

Based on the scattered comments mentioning "southern new development zone," I took a cab there.

The construction site was dusty. Standing at the entrance in my soft house dress and slippers, carrying a thermos, I looked completely out of place.

Comments laughed at me:

[Lawrence in this outfit is somehow adorable]

I was looking around when I saw a white car pull up.

Prescott got out. She was carrying an elegant lunch box.

She saw me too. Her smile stiffened momentarily before recovering its elegance.

"Miss Lawrence?" She walked over. "What brings you to a place like this?"

She eyed my thermos and laughed lightly.

"Bringing Leonardo food? He has a sensitive stomach, can't handle anything too greasy."

I seriously examined the soup I'd made.

"It's chicken soup. Not greasy. I skimmed the fat."

Prescott stepped closer and lowered her voice.

"Miss Lawrence, there are some things you might not understand."

"Leonardo is at his lowest point right now. What he needs is someone who can help him make a comeback, not a princess who only knows how to make soup."

I thought for three seconds.

"But he's hauling bricks right now. Hauling bricks requires strength, not a comeback."

I paused, then added:

"And I'm not a princess. I can earn my own money... though I haven't figured out how yet."

Comments were dumbfounded:

[Prescott is rendered speechless]

[Lawrence's logic is always so bizarre yet irrefutable]

The awkward moment was broken when Leonardo emerged from the construction site.

He wore dust-covered work clothes, band-aids on his hands, sweat on his forehead.

Seeing us, he visibly froze.

Prescott immediately rushed over. "Leonardo, I brought you food..."

But Leonardo walked straight toward me.

His brow furrowed. "Why did you come here? It's dusty."

I held up the thermos and medicine bag. "I brought you soup. And medicine."

Leonardo's eyes showed emotion. When he took the items, his fingers trembled slightly.

Prescott's face went pale. "Leonardo, I specially..."

Leonardo turned to her, his tone polite but distant:

"Miss Prescott, thank you for your kindness. But I don't need it. Don't come here anymore."

Then he said to me in a low voice, "I'll take you home."

He completely ignored Prescott, frozen in place.

In the taxi, both were silent. Looking at the band-aids on his hands, I suddenly said:

"The wounds on your hands got dust in them. They'll get infected."

Leonardo pulled his hands back.

"It's fine."

I said slowly, "Prescott said you two are moving in together."

Leonardo's head whipped around. "She's talking nonsense!"

His voice was urgent, with rare anger.

Then, realizing he'd lost composure, he explained in a low voice:

"I have nothing to do with her. I'm living in the workers' dormitory now."

I said "Oh" and fell silent again.

Comments floated by:

[Wait, why Leonardo ends up so rich later is still a mystery?]

[What kind of CEO is as miserable as Leonardo, I'm speechless!]

The car arrived at the villa.

Before I got out, Leonardo suddenly said, "Don't worry about money. If you need more, tell me."

His eyes were bloodshot, but his gaze was serious.

I nodded, remembering tomorrow was my prenatal checkup. After taking two steps, I turned back.

"Will you still be hauling bricks tomorrow?"

Leonardo: "Yes."

"Okay, then you do your thing."

With that, I walked straight into the villa.

Before bed, I received a text from an unknown number.

"Leave Leonardo. You're not worthy of him."

I looked at it for a while, then slowly replied:

"Are you Prescott? You texted the wrong person. I'm his ex-wife."

Then I blocked the number, turned off my phone, and went to sleep.

Early the next morning, I went to the hospital alone.

Registration, waiting in line, waiting to be called.

The pregnancy symptoms were severe. My face went pale during the blood draw.

After the ultrasound, the doctor said I was slightly anemic and prescribed iron supplements.

Coming out of the examination room with my report envelope, I felt extremely dizzy.

Looking for somewhere to sit, I glanced up and saw a crowd gathered near the emergency room.

In the crowd, I saw Leonardo.

He sat in a chair in the emergency room, his left hand wrapped in bandages.

Prescott stood beside him, bending down to say something to him.

She held a cotton swab, trying to treat the scrape on his face. Leonardo turned his head away.

Prescott persisted, reaching out to support his shoulder in an intimate gesture that drew attention.

I stood there, watching.

Comments scrolled frantically:

[Holy crap! Drama incoming!]

[Leonardo got injured at the construction site saving a coworker!]

[Prescott's information network is really something, already here]

[Wait! I know! I know why Leonardo gets rich later!]

I was about to see what the comment revealed when Leonardo's voice came from behind me.

"Lawrence!"

I turned my head and saw him break free from Prescott, walking toward me. Prescott tried to hold him back, but he shook her off.

He walked quickly, reaching me in a few strides. He looked down and saw the report envelope in my hand.

It clearly read "Obstetrics Department."

Then he saw my pale face, my weakened state.

Leonardo froze completely. He stared at the report envelope, then looked up at my face.

His eyes gradually reddened, bloodshot veins filling the whites. His Adam's apple bobbed violently.

His voice was so hoarse he could barely speak:

"You're... pregnant?"

I blinked, trying to recall if I'd forgotten to tell him about this.

I clearly wanted him to come with me to the checkup today, but he had to haul bricks.

Seeing my silence, his lips began to tremble.

His left hand lifted, fingers shaking badly, but he didn't dare touch me.

His voice shattered, carrying desperate tremors:

"...Did you terminate our baby?"