Unseen Tears Behind The Roses

The college girl I was sponsoring, Yasmine Reed, texted me that she was pregnant. She asked me what to do. She was only a sophomore. I told her to focus on her degree. Before my message was even sent, she blocked me. A few weeks later, I twisted my ankle. My best friend, Clara Barnes, brought me to the clinic. Clara pointed at a young couple standing outside the maternity ward. "If your husband were in town, he would pamper you just like that," Clara sighed. "I still don't get why he insisted on taking that project that faraway." I stared down at my phone. "Julian is doing it for our future. As long as he loves me, I don't mind." As we walked out, the couple turned the corner. The man held the girl close, kissing her forehead. "Be good, Yasmine. Right after this ultrasound, I'll buy you that designer purse." My blood ran cold. My feet froze to the floor. The man holding her was the same man that was supposed to be faraway. He was standing right in front of me. It was my husband, Julian Drake. And the girl in his arms was Yasmine Reed, the student I was funding. Chapter 1 "Julian?" The name clawed out of my throat, dry and raspy. The man froze. A second ago, his eyes were dripping with devotion. Now, as his gaze met mine, sheer panic flashed across his face. He masked it instantly. His first instinct was to pull the girl tighter against his chest. Yasmine Reed peeked out from behind his shoulder. Her innocent face twisted in surprise. "Vanessa..." Yasmine whimpered, shrinking back. "What are you doing here?" My best friend, Clara Barnes, dropped my medical chart onto the floor. "Julian Drake!" Clara roared, pointing a shaking finger at him. "You lied to us! You're supposed to be abroad! Who the hell is this pregnant girl?!" Julian ignored her. His eyes settled on me, icy and completely unfazed. "Vanessa, this is a hospital," he said calmly. "Don't make a scene." Unbelievable. Caught red-handed, and he still acted like the authority figure. Just three days ago, he called me on video. He was standing on a dusty construction site, whining about the blistering heat and how much he missed my home cooking. I cried for him. That same night, I spent hundreds on high-end skincare, packed a care package, and paid ridiculous international shipping fees to send it out. Yet here he was. Crisply dressed. Holding the college girl I had funded for three years. "What about the contract abroad?" I choked back my tears, refusing to break in front of them. Julian scowled, annoyed by my persistence. "The project was outsourced. I came back last month." He brushed off his jacket. "Yasmine has no family here. She's young, pregnant, and scared. I'm just taking care of her." "Taking care of her?" A bitter, breathless laugh escaped my lips as I gestured to her rounded stomach. "You took care of her right into your bed?! You got her pregnant!" Yasmine’s eyes filled up with tears. She clutched Julian’s sleeve, trembling. "Please don't blame Julian, Vanessa," she sobbed. "It was my fault. I couldn't control my feelings. But the baby is innocent! I grew up without a father. I don't want my baby to grow up alone too..." Julian’s face softened instantly. He gently wiped her tears away. When he looked back at me, his eyes were cold as ice. "Watch your mouth, Vanessa. Yasmine isn't like you. She's pure, gentle, and vulnerable. I touched her first. If you have any problem, take it out on me." A wave of utter exhaustion washed over me. We had been married for five years. To help him build his architecture firm, I quit my dream job as a chief designer. I worked late into the night drawing blueprints for him. I even suffered a miscarriage that left me with a low chance of ever conceiving again. Back then, Julian wept at my hospital bed. He swore on his life that even if we never had children, he would love me forever. When the business finally stabilized, he claimed he needed to oversee the overseas market. I stayed behind. I managed the firm. I took care of his sick mother. When I twisted my ankle today, I didn't even dare mention it on the phone, afraid it would distract him. I was the only one who kept those vows. "I'm not making a scene, Julian Drake." I took a deep breath, forcing my hands to stop shaking. "I want a divorce.” Chapter 2 Julian pinched the bridge of his nose. Irritation seeped into every word. "Vanessa, do you really have to throw a tantrum right now? Yasmine just finished her fetal heart monitor test. She can't take this stress." He straightened his posture. "I said I will handle this. Your position as my wife isn't changing. "Go home," he added. "I'll explain everything tonight." Without waiting for a response, he wrapped an arm around Yasmine and walked right past me. As she brushed by my shoulder, Yasmine turned her head. A victorious smirk played on her lips. She mouthed two words, “Old woman.” I stood frozen. The sharp throb in my twisted ankle was nothing compared to the violent shatter in my chest. I stumbled back to the house in a daze. Looking around at the home we built together felt like a sick joke. Our fifth-anniversary portrait hung on the wall. A sweater I hand-knitted for him rested on the couch. I had been the perfect wife in this house. But I had lost myself along the way. At eleven that night, the front door chimed open. Julian walked in. He carried a faint trail of expensive perfume, a woody blend I used to love, now ruined by another woman’s skin. He paused when he saw me sitting on the sofa. Then, he stepped closer, softening his voice. "Vanessa, why are you still awake?" He reached out to touch my shoulder. I jerked away from his hand. His arm stiffened in midair. His expression hardened. "How long are you going to draw this out? I told you today was an accident." "An accidental trip back to the country?" I looked at him coldly. "An accidental affair? Or an accidental pregnancy?" Julian yanked off his tie and threw himself into the armchair across from me. He lit a cigarette. "You used to be so reasonable, Vanessa," he murmured, exhaling a cloud of gray smoke between us. "Yasmine is only twenty. Her life is just beginning. I can't let a child ruin her future." "What about my future?!" Tears burned my eyes. My voice shook violently. "Julian, I spent five years married to you! I wrecked my health building your company until I could barely conceive! Now you're telling me you can't ruin her life?!" A flash of guilt crossed his eyes, but it vanished as quickly as it came. "I know you feel wronged. That’s why I said you will always be my wife." He leaned forward. "When Yasmine gives birth, I'll bring the baby home. We'll put your name on the birth certificate. "We can raise the child together," he continued smoothly. "You'll finally have a baby. Isn't that a good thing?" I stared at the man sitting in front of me with absolute disbelief. How could he say something so disgusting with such a straight face? "Julian, you make me sick." I grabbed a glass from the side table and smashed it at his feet. Shards of glass exploded across the hardwood floor. Julian bolted up, his face twisted in rage. "Vanessa! I am making massive concessions here! What more do you want?" He pointed a finger at me. "Don't forget, you were the one who pushed to fund that underprivileged student program! How else would I have met Yasmine? "You brought the snake into our home yourself!" My whole body trembled with fury. I had chosen to sponsor Yasmine because she came from nothing, just like I once did. She wanted an education. I used my own savings to give her an allowance, buy her clothes, and help her map out a future. I wanted to help her change her life. Instead, she changed her life by crawling into my husband's bed. Suddenly, his phone buzzed. The screen lit up with the name ‘Yasmine.’ Julian picked it up immediately. His voice softened to a gentle whisper. "What's wrong, Yasmine? Is the baby kicking again? Don't worry, I'm on my way..." He hung up. Without a single glance at me, he grabbed his car keys and walked toward the door. "There's an issue at the office. I won't be back tonight. Calm yourself down." The door slammed shut behind him. I sank onto the couch, staring at the broken glass on the floor. A sharp laugh escaped my lips. Five years of love meant nothing against a younger body. I wiped my tears, picked up my phone, and called Attorney Ford, my senior from law school. "Hey," I said, forcing my voice to stay steady. "Draft a divorce agreement for me. As fast as you can.” Chapter 3 A proper divorce required a clear accounting of our assets. I helped build Julian’s firm with my own sweat and tears. I wasn't leaving with empty hands. The next morning, I went to my design firm. Though I had stepped back from the front lines, I was still a founding partner. It had just been a while since I ran a project myself. Shortly after I sat down, Susan Gabriel, the young receptionist, hurried into my office. Her expression was strange. "Vanessa, there’s a Mr. Drake and a Miss Reed outside. They insisted on seeing you to design a nursery." My hand froze on my mouse. A cold laugh welled up in my chest. Julian, you really push your luck. When I entered the conference room, Yasmine was leaning against Julian’s chest, flipping through a design portfolio. Seeing me enter, she stood up immediately. Her face brightened into a sweet smile. "Vanessa! You're here! "Julian said you're the best interior designer in the city," she said, practically singing the words. "He insisted you design our new house, especially the baby's nursery." She placed heavy emphasis on the word ‘baby.’ Her eyes danced with silent provocation. Julian sat on the leather couch, looking completely unbothered. "Vanessa, I bought a new estate for Yasmine to rest during her pregnancy. "You always wanted to lead big projects again," he said smoothly. "I'll pay you double your market rate for this contract." Looking at his arrogant face made my stomach turn. "Mr. Drake, you are so generous," I sneered. "Unfortunately, you can't afford my rate. "Besides, my firm doesn't take clients who cheat on their wives." Julian’s face darkened instantly. "Vanessa, don't throw away a peace offering. I'm giving you an easy way out!" "An easy way out?" I looked him straight in the eye. "Do you think throwing a bit of money at me means I'll play nice and forgive you?" Yasmine's eyes welled up with tears right on cue. She tugged at Julian’s sleeve, her voice trembling. "Julian, don't get angry. It's my fault for upsetting Vanessa. "Let's just hire someone else. We shouldn't make things hard for her..." "Don't worry, Yasmine," Julian said, patting her hand gently. He turned back to me, his eyes cold and threatening. "Vanessa, with one phone call, I can make sure you never get another design contract in this city." "Go ahead and try," I replied without stepping back. Suddenly, Yasmine gasped. She clutched her stomach and crouched onto the floor, her face turning pale. "Julian... My stomach hurts... I think I'm bleeding..." Julian’s face went white. He scooped her up in his arms, turning to glare at me with pure venom. "Vanessa, if anything happens to my son, I will ruin you!" I watched them rush out without moving an inch. Then, I turned to Susan. "Get the heavy disinfectant. Scrub this entire room three times. It stinks." Chapter 4 Yasmine went to the hospital for a ‘threatened miscarriage,’ and Julian put all the blame on me. That afternoon, my mother called. "Vanessa, what is going on between you and Julian? Why did he suddenly stop the payments for your father's clinic?" My head throbbed. Blood rushed to my ears. My father had severe kidney disease. He was receiving high-end dialysis treatments at a private clinic. Those expenses were always paid through Julian’s company account. That was one of the strict terms I set when I transferred my shares to him years ago. I called Julian immediately. The second he answered, his voice dripped with arrogance. "Vanessa, have you learned your lesson yet?" "Julian! Deal with me directly!" I growled, holding back my rage. "Cutting off my father's medical funds, what kind of man does that?!" Julian chuckled softly on the line. "Yasmine was terrified because of you. She's still on bed rest trying to save our baby. Consider your father's medical bill the compensation she deserves. "The moment you come to the hospital, drop to your knees, and apologize to Yasmine. If you do that, I'll resume the payments." "In your dreams!" I slammed the phone down and checked my bank account. I had poured most of my savings into Julian's company over the years. The liquid cash I had left wouldn't even cover my father's treatments for next month. Left with no choice, I hurried to the clinic. I hoped to ask the lead doctor for a few days' extension. The moment I stepped into the inpatient lobby, I saw my mother. She had a heart condition. Right now, she was clutching her chest, her face pale as she argued with Julian. "Julian, you can't be this heartless! Vanessa suffered so much with you! Now you're cutting off her father's lifeline because of some woman on the side?!" My mother pulled at his sleeve, begging him. Julian yanked his arm back in disgust. "Mrs. Fraser, I'm not being heartless. Vanessa is simply malicious. "She went after an unborn child. I am only teaching her a lesson." "I know my daughter!" My mother trembled with rage, pointing a finger at his face. "You were the one who cheated first!" "Enough!" Julian's face hardened. "Out of respect for your age, I won't argue with you. "But if Vanessa doesn't apologize, I won't pay a single cent!" He turned around to leave. The intense stress overwhelmed my mother. Her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed backward. "Mom!" I screamed, sprinting forward to catch her falling body. Julian heard my cry and turned. Seeing my mother unconscious in my arms, his feet paused for a second. Just as he made a move toward us, his phone rang. "Julian... my stomach hurts again... please come back to me..." Yasmine's frail voice bled through the speaker. Julian’s feet instantly froze. He glanced at my passed-out mother, then down at his phone. Finally, he threw a cold glare at me. "Vanessa, stop playing victim. Apologize right now, and stop gambling with your parents' lives." He turned on his heel and rushed toward the maternity ward without looking back once. Watching his cold back disappear, the very last trace of warmth in my heart died. In the past, even if my mother had a minor cold, he would run around anxiously, swearing she was like his own mother. Now, she was having a life-threatening heart attack, and he thought we were acting. I screamed for a doctor, my tears finally bursting through the dam. Julian, five years of marriage, and this is how we end.