STIGMA

"I'm pregnant!" While holding the pregnancy test result, Lily Qiao returned home with joy. She wanted to share the good news with her husband as soon as possible.

They had been married for five years already. The Gu family were looking forward to cementing their love with a baby now.

Lily Qiao had tried every means possible to conceive, but she had failed up till now.

Her husband, Frank Gu, was supportive of their attempts, and he didn't say anything, but her mother-in-law's attitude was steadily worsening. At first, she hadn't openly criticized Lily Qiao, but over time this had changed into real insults.

"Marrying a sow would have been better than marrying you. At least a sow is able to have babies.

If you are unqualified, there are tons of women who could have done this job better than you. Don't you know how many women out there want to have a baby with Frank? Don't occupy this position and do nothing!"

Lily Qiao could not stomach her mother-in-law's harsh words any longer. But for the sake of the family's harmony, she had struggled to endure it.

Finally, she could now satisfy the demands of her family.

As she strode down the passageway to the bedroom, Lily Qiao suddenly heard strange sounds, which were easily associated with passionate lovemaking.

Lily Qiao wondered who was having sex at this time of day. The voices came from her and Frank's room. Did it mean…

She quickly walked the last few steps and opened the door.

How could her beloved husband and sister be so obscenely tangled up with each other on their bed?!

Witnessing this scene of reckless abandon, Lily Qiao felt unsteady and struggled to remain standing. She was so shocked that she could hardly believe her eyes. But this was really happening!

"Frank Gu! Claire Qiao!" Lily Qiao shouted angrily, her voice driven hoarse with pain.

They froze mid-act on the bed. Claire Qiao, wearing a seductive smile, glanced at Lily Qiao. She didn't feel guilt or show any signs of remorse; she was even flaunting it!

"Lily, didn't you go to the hospital? Why have you returned so soon?" Frank picked up a bath towel and wrapped it around his naked body. He didn't feel any shame at being caught cheating on his wife. Instead, he felt impatient with her interruption.

"If I didn't return so soon, how could I see what you have done? Frank Gu, is this how you remain faithful to our marriage? You said you loved me. Is this how you show your love?" Lily stepped forward angrily and glared at him.

"Ha-ha! Love you? Apart from our company's stock you own, what do you have that could make Frank fall in love with you? Why would he stay married to you? I tell you, Frank loves me." Claire giggled, "Today, I waited until you finally signed the equity transfer agreement. Once that is resolved, I'll give you a divorce agreement, my dear sister."

"No way!" Lily couldn't believe what Claire said at all.

"Stop it, Claire." Frank could not bear to see Lily's pale and drawn face. "Let's get a divorce, Lily. I'll give you a sum of money afterward. I won't leave you destitute for the rest of your life."

Looking at their disgusting faces and hearing what they had said, Lily was so shocked that she almost fainted. She grabbed Frank's arm and shouted, "You are a liar! You are a liar! You are all liars! Frank, I'm pregnant. Is it true that five-years' relationship with me is not as good as that of a mistress, and that my child is not as good as a mistress?"

"How could that be possible? I gave it every day..." Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Claire's shocked voice.

"Lily, are you kidding me? Every time you had sex, Frank gave you a contraceptive. But now, you say you are pregnant? Who can believe that?"

"What?" Lily’s brain was stunned.

Claire looked at her in a condescending manner and said contemptuously, "I don't know whose bastard you’re carrying, and I can’t believe you'd dare to say that the baby is Frank’s. Look at your crumpled face, which man could fall in love with you? Oh, by the way..."

She pretended to be surprised as she continued, "I almost forgot to tell you that I'm pregnant too. I'm already four months along. Lily, you are nothing more than a mistress. Now get out of here. Don't always try to occupy Frank."

With these words, Claire snuggled up to his bare chest and said in a spoiled tone, "Frank, my belly is starting to look a little bit swollen. We have to hurry up with planning the wedding or my stomach will get too big to fit into a wedding dress."

Looking at the cuddling couple before her, Lily just felt a tragic sense of irony. She was just a mistress?! It was so ridiculous! The mistress had accused her, a married woman, for interrupting their love!

Now she realized how silly she had been when she had insisted on choosing this man in front of her. It turned out that everything was a fraud.

"One more thing, my dear sister, let me tell you. It was us who orchestrated the accident with our father." Claire continued complacently, "Otherwise, how can you give up your shares without featuring in this scene? So you don’t have to be so angry. Even our father is on my side. It's time for you to take a long and hard look in the mirror!"