When He Stopped Loving Me First

After five years of marriage to Vincent Grey, I still hadnt become pregnant.

He withstood immense family pressure and publicly claimed that the problem was his own.

Everyone said his love for me, Claire Ashford, was unmatchedhe was even willing to give up his masculine pride for me.

But even a man like Vincent Grey eventually cheated.

At a business reception, he was drugged by a rival and ended up sleeping with a female college student working part-time at the event, Chloe Rivers.

The day I asked for a divorce, he cried and swore:

Claire, Im dirty now. You can hit me, yell at me, punish mejust dont leave me.

I believed him.

But five months later, I accidentally saw Vincent accompanying Chloe, her belly slightly rounded, as they picked out baby supplies at a shopping mall.

This time, I asked for a divorce again. He frowned and said:

Can you stop making a scene?

Chloe is pregnant. Once she gives birth, Ill make her leave.

You are still my wife.

Everyone thought I would forgive him again this time.

But I threw away my wedding ring, cut up our wedding photos, and boarded a flight in the middle of the night to leave.

A man who has been tainted is no longer worth keeping.

Claire Ashford POV

Everyone said Vincent Grey's love for me was incomparable.

When I casually mentioned wanting to see the Northern Lights, he postponed his meetings and chartered a private jet, flying me all the way to Scandinavia to chase the aurora.

When I said I missed my grandmother's apple pie, he flew in seven master pastry chefs from England, all to recreate that familiar taste.

He spoiled me endlessly. Even when I coughed, he would panic like it was a crisis.

But that same Vincent eventually cheated on me.

He was drugged by a rival at a business gala and slept with a college girl who was working part-time at the event.

When I found out and packed my bags to leave, he sent the girl away overnight. Then he knelt outside my family's house under the scorching sun until he collapsed.

He said, "Claire, I have been tainted. You can hit me, scream at me, punish me. But please don't leave me."

Looking at his cracked lips, I softened in the end.

But less than five months later, I accidentally ran into Vincent at a mall with that same college girl, her belly slightly swollen, shopping for baby supplies together.

He rushed to explain. "Claire, she got pregnant that night. Grandfather found out and threatened his own life if I didn't keep the child."

"Grandfather raised me. He has been the best to me since I was young. I can't just ignore his life. Please don't leave me, okay?"

He held me tightly, his eyes red as he promised.

"I swear, once she gives birth, I'll send her abroad. Grandfather will raise the child. They will never appear in front of us again."

Seeing the deep pain in his eyes, I softened once more.

I thought if I could just endure until Chloe Rivers gave birth, this absurdity would end.

Until this time, at a private collector's auction on a cruise ship, Vincent actually competed against me for my mother's keepsake, just to make Chloe happy.

It was an antique pocket watch, the last thing my mother left me before she died.

After my family went bankrupt, the watch was forced into collateral and had been lost ever since. It became my deepest regret and obsession.

I'd been searching for three years before it finally reappeared at this auction.

But Vincent kept raising his paddle, and finally bought it from me at an exorbitant price.

I followed him out of the auction and confronted him on the cruise ship deck.

Vincent sighed helplessly. "Chloe wanted to pick a gift for the baby, but couldn't find anything she liked, until she saw this pocket watch. She fell in love with it at first sight."

"Claire, can you just let her have this one?" His eyes were gentle, his voice soft and coaxing. "I'll find you a better one later, okay?"

I clenched my fists, my heart turning cold. My face was icy. "Vincent, you know perfectly well that this watch is my mother's keepsake. You know exactly how long I've been searching for it."

"I know it means the world to you, but Chloe has her heart set on it. Giving it to her is just to help her stay calm and safely deliver the baby."

Vincent reached out to take my hand, but I dodged.

He rubbed his temples instead. "Claire, don't throw a tantrum over something this small. Chloe only has a few more months before she gives birth. Once she has the baby and leaves, everything will go back to how it was before."

I suddenly laughed. "Go back to how it was before?"

What were we like before?

Was it when he set all his passwords to my birthday?

Or when he drove across half the city in pouring rain during my period, just to bring me a hot water bottle?

But ever since he slept with Chloe Rivers, that Vincent who only had eyes for me was gone.

I should have understood earlier. Once a crack forms, it can never be restored.

We could never go back to before.

"Oh no!"

Suddenly, Chloe, standing at the edge of the deck, cried out.

"What's wrong?" Vincent panicked and rushed over immediately. "Are you feeling sick?"

I instinctively turned to look.

I remembered Chloe had just been holding that pocket watch, playing with it lovingly.

Now her hands were empty.

An ominous feeling crept over me.

I quickly approached Chloe and asked urgently, "Where's the watch? Weren't you just holding it?"

"Mr. Grey..." Chloe's eyes brimmed with tears as she looked helplessly at Vincent. "I'm so sorry. When I was looking at the watch just now, the baby suddenly kicked me. I couldn't hold on properly, and it... accidentally fell into the ocean."

Vincent froze. "Fell into the ocean?"

I felt a roaring in my ears. All the blood in my body rushed to my head.

I lunged forward and grabbed Chloe's collar, my eyes blazing. "That was my mother's keepsake! Chloe, was that an accident or on purpose?!"

Chloe flinched, tears streaming down her face, looking even more pitiful. "Miss Ashford, I'm so sorry. I didn't know it was so important to you... I'll go get it back for you right now!"

She struggled against me, as if about to climb over the railing and jump into the sea.

"Chloe, stop this nonsense." Vincent pulled Chloe into his arms and snapped at me disapprovingly. "Claire, you're scaring her. It's just a watch. If it fell, it fell. Is it really more important than her and the child? She's pregnant. How can she do something so dangerous?"

Just a watch.

Every word was like a needle stabbing into my heart.

"Calm down first. It's windy on the deck. I'm taking Chloe back to rest."

With those words, Vincent didn't spare me another glance. He walked away with his arm around Chloe.

He didn't notice that the second he left, I climbed over the railing and jumped into the pitch-black, freezing ocean without hesitation.

As seawater flooded into my nose, I suddenly remembered. Five years ago, when he proposed to me, it was also on a cruise ship like this.

He said, "Claire, from now on, even if you want the stars in the sky, I'll get them for you."

But now, he didn't even care about the keepsake my mother left me.

Claire Ashford POV

It took me all night to crawl out of the freezing seawater.

The recovered pocket watch was clutched in my palm. My fingers were stiff from the cold, my lips purple.

I staggered onto shore. After just a few steps, everything went black and I lost consciousness.

Afterward, I struggled between chaotic dreams and reality.

Sometimes I dreamed of my mother's gentle smile. Sometimes I dreamed of Vincent kneeling under the scorching sun. Sometimes I dreamed of the pocket watch slowly sinking to the ocean floor.

When I woke up, the smell of disinfectant filled my nostrils.

My whole body was burning with fever. I groggily opened my eyes to see the white ceiling of a hospital.

The room was silent. There was no one by my bedside.

No Vincent.

Not even a nurse.

I propped myself up and reached for my phone on the nightstand, wanting to call Vincent. But then I saw a new post Chloe had made on Instagram.

The photo's background was the passenger seat of Vincent's black Bentley. Chloe's hand rested on her slightly rounded belly, and on her ring finger was a dazzling diamond ring.

The caption was just one sentence: "He said he wants to give me and the baby a home."

I stared at that diamond ring for a long time, until my eyes stung.

That was the pink diamond Vincent had won for me at an auction last year. I thought it was too flashy and kept it in the safe.

Turns out he'd taken it out and put it on someone else's hand.

I pulled my lips into a smile, wanting to laugh, but only tasted bitterness.

I was hospitalized with a high fever for three days. Vincent never came once.

No calls. No messages. It was as if I had disappeared from the world.

On the day I was discharged, I had the taxi stop at a law office.

Two hours later, I walked out with a document. The cover read.

Divorce Agreement.

That evening, I finally returned to the villa I once thought would be my forever home.

As soon as I stepped through the door, I sensed something was off.

Several servants were carrying boxes upstairs, new boxes with luxury brand logos.

"What are these?" I stopped one of the servants.

The servant looked uncomfortable, stammering without answering.

"Claire?"

Vincent's voice came from the living room.

He walked over quickly, his face wearing its usual gentle smile. He reached to take my bag. "You're back."

I avoided his hand and asked again, "Whose things are those?"

Vincent's smile froze for a moment, his gaze evasive. "They're Chloe's. She only has a few more months until she gives birth. I was worried about her living alone, so I thought I'd have her move in. This way it's easier to take care of her, and I won't have to run back and forth between two places."

I looked at him silently. I knew my eyes must have looked like two dry wells at that moment.

My silence made him panic.

He quickly added, "Claire, don't overthink it. Chloe's only staying here for a few months. Once she has the baby, I'll send her abroad immediately. She'll never appear in front of us again. I promise."

Promise.

I remembered how he'd knelt under the scorching sun and promised he'd never see Chloe Rivers again.

I remembered how he'd held my hand and promised that once the child was born, he'd send her away.

Now he was promising again. It was only temporary, just for a few months.

Every promise came with another boundary crossed.

"If you're really that unhappy," Vincent said, seeing my continued silence, his tone softening, "I'll have them throw all this stuff out right now. I won't let Chloe move in. Okay?"

I closed my eyes.

After a long moment, I opened them, calm and emotionless. "No need. I agree to let her move in."

What would be the point of refusing anyway?

Since he'd already made up his mind, since he'd already brazenly moved Chloe Rivers' belongings into our home, did my agreement or disagreement even matter to him?

It would just mean more coaxing words from him, or another day of kneeling in the sun.

Hearing this, Vincent's face showed obvious relief.

He couldn't help but lean in and kiss my cheek. "I knew it. My Claire is the most understanding and considerate."

That kiss landed on my skin, but I felt like I'd been burned.

"By the way," Vincent said, as if suddenly remembering something, frowning, "where have you been these past few days? I haven't seen you around. Were you still mad about the watch and hiding from me on purpose?"

I looked up at him.

He asked so naturally, so innocently, as if he were truly just a husband worried about his wife throwing a tantrum.

I was hospitalized with a high fever for three days, and he had no idea.

I suddenly remembered a phrase I had read somewhere.

When someone doesn't love you anymore, even if you were hanging from a rope, they would think you were on a swing.

I used to think that saying was too harsh.

Now I understood. It was all true.

"No," I heard myself say. "I was just tired and wanted some time alone."

Vincent relaxed and put his arm around my shoulders. "That's good. Tonight I'll cook your favorite dishes to make it up to you. Okay?"

Claire Ashford POV

"Mr. Grey..."

Just as Vincent was coaxing me, a soft, timid voice came from the spiral staircase.

We both turned.

Chloe Rivers stood midway up the stairs in a loose maternity dress, one hand supporting her waist.

Vincent immediately released his arm from around me and strode toward the stairs. "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Why did you come downstairs by yourself?"

He quickly climbed the steps and naturally supported Chloe's arm, his movements gentle, as if handling a fragile treasure.

Chloe said softly, "I'm not feeling bad. I just suddenly had a craving for the crme br?le and chestnut cake from that bakery on the west side of town. Could you send someone to get me some?"

"Little glutton." Vincent's face showed an indulgent smile. "Wait here. I'll go get it for you."

Chloe looked flattered. "You'll go yourself? Isn't that too much trouble..."

"Don't be silly." Vincent's palm covered her slightly swollen belly, his eyes so tender they could melt. "You're carrying our baby. You're precious to the Grey family. Running an errand for you, how could that be trouble?"

That tender gaze, that protective manner, that picture of sweet happiness. They were like countless fine needles piercing my eyes, making them ache.

Vincent helped Chloe settle on the living room sofa, carefully instructing her not to wander around, before turning to get his car keys.

As he passed me, he seemed to remember I existed. "Claire, do you want anything? I can bring something back for you too."

"No need." My voice was flat, emotionless.

Vincent nodded. "Alright then. I'll be back soon. Chloe, call me if you need anything."

That last sentence was directed at the sofa.

With that, he grabbed his car keys and left the villa quickly.

In the vast living room, only two women remained.

I slowly turned around, my gaze falling coldly on Chloe.

That look carried scrutiny and a chill that made Chloe shrink, her fingers clutching the fabric of her dress.

I walked toward her step by step.

"Miss Ashford." Chloe looked at me with those doe-like moist eyes, speaking timidly. "Are you going to punish me for the watch? I'm sorry. I really didn't do it on purpose. The baby really did kick me, and my hand slipped."

"Whether you did it on purpose or not," I stopped one step away from her, "you know the truth."

Chloe froze, her eyelashes trembling.

I stared at her intently. "You're quite capable, actually managing to make Vincent compete with me for my mother's keepsake."

Chloe shook her head frantically, tears quickly filling her eyes, threatening to fall. "Miss Ashford, you're misunderstanding me. If I'd known that pocket watch was so important to you, I never would have dared compete for it."

"Is that so?"

"Even though Mr. Grey bought it from you and gave it to me, I know he was just trying to keep me calm so I'd safely deliver the baby and leave as soon as possible." Her eyes glistened with tears as she choked up. "Mr. Grey treats me well, but I understand he's doing all this for the child. In his heart, he's always been thinking of... you."

I laughed coldly. "There are only the two of us here, Chloe Rivers. No matter how well you act, no one's going to applaud you."

Chloe's expression stiffened for a moment.

"Six months ago, Vincent gave you thirty million and sent you away. But you not only secretly kept his child, you also found a way to let his grandfather, who desperately wanted a great-grandchild, know about it. That forced Vincent to bring you back. You schemed your way back here, moved in, and you claim it's just to peacefully give birth and then leave?" I said mockingly. "Chloe Rivers, do you even believe that yourself?"

I didn't, anyway.

Chloe's lips moved as if to defend herself, but I took out a document from my bag and handed it to her.

"I know exactly what you want," I said expressionlessly. "I can make it happen for you. But if I ask Vincent for a divorce, he won't agree. If you can find a way to make him sign this divorce agreement, you'll get what you want."

Ever since Chloe got pregnant, Vincent had been terrified I'd leave him. He carefully read any document I gave him.

Chloe looked uncertain. "Miss Ashford, you really are misunderstanding me. I never wanted to break you and Mr. Grey up..."

"This chance only comes once." My face was cold. "Think carefully before you answer."

Chloe stared at the divorce agreement for a long time. After much hesitation, she bit her lip and reached out to take it.

"Then, thank you."

Claire Ashford POV

After Chloe moved into the villa, Vincent's attention was mostly focused on her.

He hired a professional nutritionist to prepare elaborate pregnancy meals for her daily.

He read parenting books, learning how to provide prenatal education for the unborn child.

Every time Chloe went up or down the stairs, he'd carefully support her, terrified she might bump into something.

I saw all of this.

But I said nothing.

One night, I was jolted awake by a sudden, sharp stomach pain.

"Vincent," I instinctively called his name, my voice weak. "My stomach hurts..."

Usually, even if I just coughed, he'd wake up immediately and ask anxiously what was wrong.

But this time, there was only silence beside me.

Didn't he hear me?

"Vincent." I called again, reaching toward the other side of the bed.

My palm touched the sheets, cold and flat, without a trace of warmth.

He wasn't there.

I froze.

Just then, a man's low, gentle voice came faintly from the guest room next door, reading intermittently, "and so, the prince and princess lived happily ever after..."

It was Vincent.

He was in the guest room next door, reading Chloe a bedtime story.

I, his actual wife, was in agony from stomach pain, while he sat by another woman's bedside, building a fairy-tale world for his pregnant mistress and unborn child.

I pulled my lips into a smile, wanting to laugh, but my stomach hurt even more. Even my chest ached with a dull pain.

The stomach pain didn't allow me to think further. Gritting my teeth, I forced my weak body to get up, wanting to go downstairs to find painkillers.

Cold sweat soaked my hair. I supported myself against the wall and had just reached the bedroom door when a violent cramping pain struck.

Everything went black, and I passed out before I could grab onto anything.

When I woke up again, I was back in bed.

Vincent was sitting by the bedside. When he saw me open my eyes, he immediately bent down and grasped my hand.

"Claire! You're awake?" He was incredibly anxious, as if terrified. "You collapsed in your room last night. You scared me to death!"

I looked at his bloodshot eyes without speaking.

"The doctor came by. He said you've had irregular eating habits lately, and your stomach condition flared up, causing you to faint from the pain. It's nothing serious." He frowned, worried and confused. "But you eat with us every day. How could your eating be irregular?"

I lowered my eyes, hiding the self-mockery in them.

Recently, all his thoughts were on Chloe and her growing belly. Naturally, he wouldn't notice that watching him dote on another woman made me lose my appetite completely. I couldn't eat anything.

"It might be because of me." Chloe appeared at the bedroom door at some point, her face full of guilt. "Miss Ashford is probably still upset about me accidentally dropping the watch. That's why she can't eat. It's all my fault."

Vincent's brow furrowed deeply. He turned to me. "Claire, Chloe really didn't do it on purpose. I already talked to her about it. If you're still bothered by it, I'll compensate you on her behalf, okay? Whatever you want, I'll give it to you, as long as you stop being unhappy about this and eat properly."

Compensate again.

The word was so absurd it made me want to laugh.

Did he think everything could be traded away or smoothed over with "compensation"?

Before I could respond, Chloe slowly walked in with a warm smile. "You don't need to compensate Miss Ashford for me, because I have already obtained something Miss Ashford wants even more."

She handed me a document envelope.

Vincent's gaze was drawn to it. "What is that?"

Seeing him curiously reach for the envelope, my heart tightened. I quickly snatched it before he could.

I forced a smile. "This is just a little secret between me and Miss Rivers."

Vincent paused, then laughed. "When did you two become so close that you're keeping secrets from me? You used to tell me everything."

I looked up at him. "Didn't you also keep it from me that she was five months pregnant before letting me know?"