Met Wife's Cheating in Delivery

On my first night on call at the new hospital, I encountered my wife, Natalie Warren, who claimed to be on a business trip abroad.

She lay on a gurney outside the delivery room, heavily pregnant, blood pooling beneath her.

My hand was gripped tightly by a man kneeling at her side, his desperate pleas echoing in my ears.

"Doctor, please, you have to save her!"

The nurse beside me handed him the surgical consent form.

"We need a family member to sign before surgery. What's your relationship to the patient?"

The man took the pen, his hands trembling as he signed.

"She's my wife."

My chest tightened at his words, my mind flashing back to a year ago when Natalie had smiled as she handed me our marriage certificate.

"Adrian, from today on, we're officially husband and wife."

Sensing my shock, the man looked up with red-rimmed eyes, confusion written across his face.

I quickly lowered my head, adjusting the mask on my face, and pushed open the operating room doors.

"We'll do everything we can for the patient."

But as for the relationship between Natalie and me, I think it had just been declared completely over.

After a round of emergency treatment, Natalie's condition stabilized, and the atmosphere in the operating room relaxed.

A colleague beside me lowered her voice to gossip.

"I heard these two ended up like this because they were too rough during sex."

"The woman's at her due date, and her husband couldn't show any restraint. Young people these days really don't value their lives when they're in love..."

My hands slowed for a few seconds, my mind drifting to when Natalie proposed to me, her eyes shining with light.

"Adrian, marry me. For the rest of my life, except for you, I, Natalie, will never touch another man!"

But on our wedding night, she put back on the clothes I'd removed, one by one, pain and struggle written all over her face.

"I'm sorry, Adrian."

"I accidentally got a gynecological condition. The doctor said we can't have sex. Just wait a bit longer."

I believed her. The consequences were that I was now saving her soon-to-be-born child.

I pulled my lips into a mocking smile.

So it wasn't about physical discomfortit was simply because she didn't love me.

The surgery ended smoothly. I held the newborn baby in my arms.

It didn't weigh much, yet it pressed heavily on my chest.

When I opened the operating room door, the man waiting outside immediately stood and rushed over.

His bloodshot eyes showed uncontrollable worry and anxiety.

"How's Natalie?"

I looked at the man before me, recalling the name he'd signed on the consent formEthan Shaw.

A complete stranger. Natalie had never mentioned him before.

I handed him the baby and offered my congratulations.

"Congratulations. The surgery went well. Mother and daughter are both safe."

Ethan's tense expression visibly relaxed, and he looked at me with unfamiliar gratitude.

He seemed about to say something more when Natalie's gurney was wheeled out from behind me.

"Ethan..."

She lay on the bed, extremely weak.

Ethan immediately brushed past me, rushing to her side.

Natalie touched the baby with one hand and held Ethan's hand with the other, her voice carrying a tenderness I'd never heard before.

"Ethan, our baby looks so much like you."

"When she grows up, she'll be just as handsome as you."

What a perfect little family, radiating happiness that stung my eyes.

I clenched my fists, digging my nails in until my fingertips turned white, barely maintaining my composure.

Elena Hayes had just finished surgery, and I'd just been transferred to this upper-level hospital.

This wasn't the right time or place to tear away this facade.

After regaining some strength, her gaze fell on me.

"Thank you so much, Doctor. May I ask your name?"

Hidden behind my cap and mask, Natalie didn't recognize me.

I stared into her eyes, trying to find a trace of guilt.

"My surname is Smith. Just call me Dr. Smith."

Unfortunately, Ethan quickly diverted her attention, and she didn't spare me another glance.

As soon as I returned to the on-call room, my phone vibrated in my pocket.

I slid to answer, and Natalie's voice came through.

"Adrian, there's a sudden emergency at the company. I might not be able to come back for a while."

My chest was full of rage and questions I wanted to demand answers to.

But when the words reached my lips, the physical and emotional devastation left me without even the desire to speak.

My silence made Natalie misunderstand, thinking I was sulking, so she continued talking.

"Be good. When I'm done here, I'll definitely make time for our honeymoon trip..."

"Natalie..."

Before she could finish, Ethan's call and the baby's crying sounded on the other end of the line.

"Gotta go!"

Natalie hastily hung up the phone.

Too much had happened today.

The overwhelming absurdity made my stomach churn, and I threw up violently in the bathroom.

In my dazed state, I made a phone call.

"Send me the marriage certificate from the study cabinet."

"And tell my dad that Natalie cheated. I want him to withdraw all financial support for Natalie starting now."

According to the schedule, I was in charge of rounds next.

I forced myself to gather my energy and picked up the record sheet.

Standing at the door looking through the glass, I saw Natalie and Ethan squeezed together on a small single bed.

She nestled in Ethan's arms, one hand gently patting his back, dark circles under her eyes from staying up all night.

Even though I'd completely given up hope, seeing this scene still made my heart ache uncontrollably.

The knock made Natalie's eyes fly open.

I put on my mask properly and pushed the door open.

Though it was a hospital room, it was decorated warmly inside.

The table was piled with maternity and baby supplies, from large to small, everything one could need.

Without exception, they all came from my heartfelt recommendations.

The night before she left on her business trip, Natalie suddenly shook me awake in the middle of the night.

"Adrian, you're an obstetrician. Can you tell me what things you need to prepare for childbirth?"

I squinted, somewhat confused.

"Why are you suddenly asking this?"

Natalie answered hesitantly, saying a colleague's baby was about to be born and had asked her to consult me.

Having just finished a thirty-six-hour shift, I was so exhausted I was practically delirious.

The next second, Natalie suddenly sat up and turned on all the lights in the house, dragging me out of bed.

"Adrian, write it all down quickly."

She forcefully shoved a pen into my hand, then viciously pinched the softest flesh on the inside of my arm.

The overwhelming pain instantly jolted me awake.

I worked on that list until daylight broke outside.

Before leaving, Natalie carefully tucked it into a hidden pocket in her clothes, but when she turned around, she didn't even say thank you.

Suppressing my emotions, I walked to the bedside for routine questioning.

"How are you feeling today?"

Ethan held Natalie's hand, his voice gentle.

"Natalie's feeling much better now. Yesterday was so dangerouswe really have Dr. Smith to thank for that. I haven't even had a chance to say thank you yet."

"I had the factory rush-make a trophy. I hope Dr. Smith won't mind."

I smiled, but my eyes fell on their intertwined hands.

On Natalie's previously bare finger was now a ring matching Ethan's uniquely designed one.

Noticing my gaze, Ethan turned the ring and explained, happiness radiating from his voice.

"My wife designed this herself. There are only two like it in the world."

"It's a bit ugly, but I love it."

I quickly lowered my gaze, hiding the tumultuous emotions in my eyes.

The day after our wedding, Natalie removed the wedding ring I'd specifically commissioned from a French designer.

I watched her seal it in a box and shove it into the deepest part of a drawer, never to see daylight again.

"Why aren't you wearing it?"

She frowned and shook her head.

"It's too valuable. What if I lose it? That would be such a waste."

I said nothing more, just silently removed my own ring and casually tossed it on the nightstand.

When at home, Natalie's ring finger had always remained bare.

Now it was firmly encircled by a band.

It turned out that in front of me, she couldn't even be bothered to pretend.

The baby slept peacefully in the nearby crib, facial features unmistakably showing Natalie's influence.

As the body shifted, a jade pendant slipped out from around the baby's neck.

The stone was lustrousone glance revealed its considerable value.

This jade pendant was the wedding gift I'd given Natalie. Now she'd given it to her illegitimate child.

My heart felt completely hollow, as if something had been thoroughly carved out of it.

Ethan's cloying voice sounded behind me.

"Honey, I'll go buy you breakfast. You rest here."

Natalie looked at him, her eyes worried.

"You're not familiar with this place. Let someone else go."

Ethan waved his hand dismissively, looking at me.

"Don't worry, Dr. Smith is here. He can show me the way."

Only after receiving my affirmative answer did Natalie nod reassuringly.

The door opened and closed. Ethan and I walked side by side down the corridor.

I couldn't help but feel somewhat ironic, mockery hidden in the corner of my mouth.

"Mr. Shaw and Ms. Warren have such a good relationship."

Ethan's lips curved in a smile, his eyes brimming with happiness.

"Natalie and I both came from small towns. Two people out in the world naturally have to understand and support each other."

"Fortunately, Natalie worked hard and now has her own business."

"If that investor wasn't so difficult, she'd probably already be among the industry's rising stars by now."

I raised an eyebrow, a spark of anger igniting in my chest.

Natalie's company, from registration to financing, was built step by step with my father's guidance.

The biggest investor now was also my father.

Initially, she'd refused to work at Smith Corporation, saying she wanted to provide me with an affluent life through her own hands.

But her business acumen was truly mediocre. The company had been losing money for two years, with my father secretly covering the losses out of respect for me.

But from her mouth, my father had become the most difficult investor.

What an ungrateful wolf that can't be fed.

My shoulder was suddenly bumped. The person beside me held a red trophy.

Ethan suddenly stopped, arms crossed, looking at me with a half-smile.

"Dr. Smith, catch."

The trophy was handed over. The person's hand trembled, and the banner fell down.

When I saw the words clearly, my expression instantly darkened.

[Shameless Homewrecker]

Those words were like invisible slaps across my face, turning it burning red.

My whole body trembled as I spoke coldly.

"What's the meaning of this, Mr. Shaw?"

At this point, Ethan's attitude completely changed. His eyes looked me up and down.

"Natalie's not here. You don't need to pretend in front of me."

"I noticed yesterday outside the operating roomyour eyes were practically glued to Natalie."

"We're both men. Don't think I don't know what filthy thoughts are running through your mind."

He deliberately covered his mouth and dry-heaved, looking at me with disgust and judgment.

"Some angel in white you are. All day thinking about seducing patients' wives. Absolutely revolting."

I slapped the trophy to the ground, instinctively wanting to refute Ethan's words.

But thinking of those two marriage certificates of unknown authenticity, the words stuck in my throat refused to come out.

Seeing me struck silent, Ethan grew even more arrogant.

"Hit the nail on the head, didn't I?"

"You deliberately chose to work in obstetrics to take advantage of people in vulnerable positions."

He raised his chin toward the person who'd delivered the trophy.

"You, hold him down."

I looked at him warily, backing up several steps, shouting sharply.

"Don't touch me!"

But the next second, I was struck in the head by a heavy object.

A warm stream flowed down my temple.

When I came to my senses, the corridor was already packed with onlookers.

Ethan's eyes were red as he pointed at me and shouted loudly.

"Everyone, come see! This obstetrician specifically targets vulnerable postpartum women to seduce them!"

"From the first moment he saw my wife yesterday, his eyes haven't left her!"

He directed the person holding me to rip off my mask and grab my hair, exposing my face to everyone's view.

After seeing my face clearly, a flash of jealousy crossed Ethan's eyes.

"Of course he has a seductive faceborn to lure people in."

He came before me and slapped me across the face.

My cheek instantly burned with stinging pain.

Ethan deliberately turned the jagged side of his ring toward his palm and forcefully carved a wound across my face.

The nurse who'd heard the commotion ran anxiously toward the director's office, stamping her feet.

I tried to break free from the hands restraining me, but the bleeding wound rapidly drained my strength.

Natalie, seeing Ethan hadn't returned, came out in a wheelchair to look for him.

Seeing the crowded mass of people, she immediately panicked.

"Excuse me, excuse me!"

She struggled to push through the crowd, heading straight for Ethan and examining him thoroughly from head to toe.

"Ethan, are you okay? Why are there so many people out here?"

Ethan grabbed her hand, his face full of pride.

"Natalie, perfect timing. I just exposed Dr. Smith's true colors in front of everyone!"

"He's been deliberately hanging around you, trying to climb up the social ladder through you!"

Natalie affectionately tapped his nose.

"You're always so jealous. Besides you, how could I have room for anyone else in my heart?"

"But let me see what this Dr. Smith looks like that he'd dare set his sights on me."

Ethan's finger pointed straight behind her.

Following his direction, Natalie turned and locked eyes with me.

"Clatter."

The things in her hands crashed to the floor.

Natalie's pupils contracted sharply, her face changing dramatically.

"Adrian, how are you here?"