My Husband’s Secret Mistress Forced My Abortion,So I Broke the Time Loop

I had just finished my prenatal checkup when a local help-wanted post popped up on my feed:

My wife finally got pregnant after years of trying, but the college girl I've been keeping on the side doesn't like the idea of me having a kid with someone else. How do I convince my wife to get an abortion?

The comments were a dumpster fire of outrage. But the original poster had liked one reply in particular:

"Easy. Just tell your wife the baby's deformed and won't survive anyway."

I never engage with these things. I'm a lurker by naturegrab my popcorn, read the drama, move on. But this time, my fingers moved before I could stop them:

"How do you people sleep at night? Karma's going to destroy you."

The moment I hit send, my husband walked in.

Edward Abbott was the chief of obstetrics at the hospital. He was holding a test report, and his face was a mask of grief.

"Sweetheart," he said softly, "there's something wrong with our baby. Severe deformities. Even if we carried to term, the child wouldn't survive." He paused, swallowing hard. "I've already scheduled the procedure. Tomorrow."

1.

I stared at himat the anguish carved into his features, at the report trembling in his hands.

My phone screen was still glowing with the comment I'd just posted.

Coincidence, I told myself. It has to be.

Edward and I had been together for nine years. Four years of dating, five years of marriage. Nine years of him anticipating my every need, sheltering me from every storm.

But the year we married, he was diagnosed with severe oligospermia. Our chances of conceiving naturally were almost nonexistent.

His mother had collapsed on the spot. The Abbott line had been single-heir for three generationsit couldn't end with her son.

Edward's hair turned white overnight. Literally. I watched it happen.

After that, we began our long, desperate journey toward a child.

As chief of OB-GYN, he threw everything he had at the problem. Experimental treatments. Bitter herbal concoctions that made him gag with every swallow. Acupuncture sessions so frequent that his back became a roadmap of needle marks, not an inch of skin left untouched.

Every failed sperm retrieval, he'd look at me with red-rimmed eyes and whisper, "I'm sorry."

His mother went to temples. She knelt on stone steps for an entire day and night, praying for a single Abbott heir.

When the IVF finally tookwhen the test came back positiveEdward, my stoic, unshakeable Edward, held me and sobbed like a child.

"Celine Fox," he'd choked out. "Thank you. Thank you for giving me hope."

"I swear I'll love you and our baby with everything I have. With my life."

He'd meant it. Every word.

When a stranger accidentally bumped my stomach at the grocery store, Edward rushed me to the ER for a full-body exam. When his mother's soup was a degree too hot, he blew on each spoonful himself before lifting it to my lips. The nursery was already overflowingan entire room packed with clothes and supplies, every item hand-selected, only the best.

This was a man who treated legacy like oxygen.

This was a father who already loved his unborn child like breath itself.

He wouldn't cheat on me. He wouldn't throw away the miracle we'd fought so hard fornot for some mistress, not for anyone.

Would he?

I inhaled slowly and met his eyes.

"Are you sure there isn't some mistake?" My voice came out steadier than I felt. "Every checkup before this was perfect."

Edward sighed, his eyes glistening.

"Some abnormalities only show up as the pregnancy progresses," he said gently.

He held the report out to me, pointing at a line of clinical text.

"See here? Severe cardiac underdevelopment. Multiple organ malformations." His voice cracked. "Even if the baby is born, survival rate is essentially zero."

His hands were shaking. He looked gutted.

But my gaze had drifted to something else.

The scar on his right handa pale ridge across the web between thumb and forefinger.

The same scar I'd seen in the profile picture of the man who'd made that post.

Identical.

My blood turned to ice.

If I remembered correctly, that scar was three months old.

I'd been two months pregnant then. We were leaving the hospital after a routine checkup when a massive wolfdogunleashed, teeth baredcame charging straight at me.

Edward didn't hesitate. He threw himself between me and that massive dog, fighting it off with nothing but his bare hands.

In the end, the beast sank its teeth into the web of flesh between his thumb and forefinger, tearing away a chunk.

Blood everywhere. Seventeen stitches.

I'd cried until my eyes were raw, but Edward just smiled through the pain and pulled me close.

"Don't cry. As long as you and the baby are safe, this scar is nothing. I'd lose the whole hand if it meant protecting you two."

That scaronce a symbol of his devotionnow felt like a blade twisting in my chest.

Without thinking, I reached for his hand, my fingers tracing the raised ridge of tissue.

"Does it still hurt?"

Edward blinked, instinctively curling his fingers away. "That healed ages ago. Why bring it up now?"

I lowered my gaze. "Just... remembering how things used to be."

"How good you were to me. To our baby."

His expression softened into that familiar tenderness. He caught my hand and held it tight.

"Silly girl. When have I ever stopped being good to you?"

"The moment you got pregnant, I swore to myselfI'd die before I let anything happen to you or our child."

His eyes glistened, his voice thick with emotion.

"That's exactly why I can't let you go through with this pregnancy. Don't you see? I can't stand by and watch you carry a baby for nine months only to... to hold it in your arms while it dies. That would destroy you. It would destroy me."

Such a thoughtful reason.

Such heartfelt words.

Too bad every single one was a lie.

I held his gaze, needing to push just once more.

"But this babywe waited five years for this. You went through all those injections, all that medication. You nearly lost your hand protecting us." My voice cracked. "Can you really just... give up?"

Something flickered in his eyes. "Of course I can't. No one wants this baby more than I do."

But then his jaw set, his tone hardening with false conviction.

"But Celine, I'm your husband. I'm this child's father. It's my job to protect you both. If we bring this baby into the world, it will only mean endless suffering for you. Trust me on this. Let it go."

"We'll have other children. I promise."

Whether his grief was real or simply award-worthy acting, I couldn't tell anymore.

By the end, Edward was crying.

Hot tears splashed onto the back of my hand. I flinched.

I didn't understand.

He loved meI'd seen it, felt it, lived it.

He loved this baby.

So why the affair? Why was he so desperate to end this pregnancy?

I opened my mouth to speak, but his phone buzzed.

The moment he saw the caller ID, panic flashed across his face.

He shot me a guilty look, already backing away. "It's the hospitalprobably an emergency."

"Think about what I said, okay? I'll be right back."

He retreated to the far end of the corridor, deliberately turning his back to me before answering.

But there was a window in front of him.

And in that glass, clear as day, I watched his reflection transform.

The worry melted away. In its place: warmth. Tenderness. Adoration.

I knew that expression.

I'd seen it when he flew a thousand miles just to surprise me for one weekend.

When he stayed awake for three days straight, holding my hand through a fever.

When he knelt before me at our wedding, voice breaking as he promised me forever.

He used to look at me that way.

Now he was giving it to her.

The girl on the other end of that call.

A strange numbness settled over me.

Edward had a reputation in our circlethe devoted husband, the man who only had eyes for his wife.

Young, successful, handsome. Women threw themselves at him constantly. Even the hospital director's daughter had made her interest painfully obvious.

She'd even made it publicif Edward was willing to be with her, the entire hospital could bear his name.

But Edward hadn't wavered. Not once.

He'd offended her so thoroughly that the medical establishment nearly blacklisted him. Even then, he'd held my hands and told me with absolute conviction:

"I could lose the whole world, Celine Fox (the Other Celine). But I could never lose you."

So I had to wonder.

What kind of woman could make a man like Edwarda man who treated loyalty like religionchange his heart?

What kind of woman could make him willing to destroy the child we'd spent five years hoping for, just to see her smile?

I was still lost in thought when Edward ended his call and walked over to me. His expression was serious, attentive.

"Honey, have you made your decision? About the baby?"

I looked at him. Really looked.

Then I nodded.

"Yes. We'll do what you suggested."

Edward smiled and stroked my hair, satisfied.

"I'm glad you came around."

"Don't worryI'll perform the procedure myself. I promise we'll have children later. When the time is right."

When the time is right.

The words dragged me back to the day I'd found out I was pregnant. He'd held me just like this, made promises just like this, his voice thick with emotion:

"Celine, I swearI'll use every skill I've learned in medicine to keep you and our baby safe. No illness. No pain. Ever."

How laughable.

The man who'd sworn to protect me and our child for a lifetime was now ready to end that child's life with his own hands.

For another woman.

I couldn't stand looking at that mask anymore.

"I'm tired," I said flatly. "I want to go home."

"I'll drive you"

"No." I shook my head. "The surgery's coming up. You must have preparations to make. Go do what you need to do. I'll take a cab."

Something flickered in his eyes. Tenderness. Gratitude.

"Celine..." His voice dropped, reverent. "Marrying someone as understanding as you is the greatest blessing of my life."

If I hadn't seen that post.

If that college girl didn't exist.

Maybejust maybethe sincerity in his eyes would have moved me.

But now, meeting that gaze so full of love

All I felt was the bitter taste of irony.

So love really could be faked. Perfectly. Completely.

I said nothing. Just turned and walked away.

But I didn't go far.

I slipped into a caf on the ground floor of the hospital, ordered a coffee, and waited.

Minutes later, Edward emergedwhite coat gone, civilian clothes on, moving with obvious urgency.

I set down my cup and followed.

He looked happy. Giddy, even. He walked and talked on his phone simultaneously, gesturing with his free hand, practically bouncing with every step. Clearly delivering good news to whoever was on the other end.

I trailed him to an upscale residential complex near the hospital.

The moment he reached one of the buildings, a girl came flying down the stairs and threw herself into his arms.

When I saw her face

My eyes went wide.

Her?

It was her?

I'd been torturing myself trying to understand. Edward had loved me. Loved our child. Loved us enough to throw away his own life if he had to.

How could he suddenly have a mistress? How could he betray everything we had?

Now I understood.

Because of her.

The sight knocked the air from my lungs.

Everything clicked into place.

This was why Edward hadn't hesitated. Why one word from this girl was enough to make him demand I abort our baby.

I couldn't watch them anymorecouldn't stand seeing his arms around her, his smile meant for her.

I fled.

Back home, I collapsed onto the couch.

And sat there, unable to move, unable to think, for what felt like hours.

That girl's face kept flashing before my eyes.

And it made me realizethis was far more terrifying than I'd imagined.

With trembling hands, I pulled out my phone and made several calls in quick succession.

Half an hour later, my parents, my mother-in-law Margaret, and my sister-in-law Sophie Abbott had all rushed over.

"What's wrong, Celine? You called us all here so suddenlydid something happen?"

The four of them sat by the sofa, watching me with worried expressions.

I looked at them for a long moment, then told them everythingEdward's affair, and how he'd tricked me into agreeing to abort my baby.

The moment I finished, Margaret shot to her feet, trembling with rage.

"That animal!"

"How could he do this to you and the baby?"

"Celine, don't you cry over him. I'm going to find him right now and"

My mother caught Margaret's arm, holding her back.

She turned to me, cautious. "Celine, could there be some kind of misunderstanding?"

My father nodded slowly. "Everyone can see how much Edward loves you and the baby. How could he possibly have an affair?"

Sophie shook her head in disbelief.

"Exactly, Celine. You're the only woman my brother has ever lovedhis whole life."

"He treasures you and the baby more than his own life. Why would he trick you into an abortion for some mistress?"

I knew they wouldn't believe me.

So I pulled out my phone and showed them the photo I'd secretly taken while following Edwardthe photo of that girl.

"What if this is who he's been seeing?"

The instant they saw her face, all four of themwho'd been so certain Edward could never betray mewent pale.

"How... how is this possible?"

"Why would it be her?"

Margaret's face drained of color. Her lips moved soundlessly, her eyes filled with horror.

Sophie's confident expression crumbled, her voice hollow.

"So it's her. No wonder he wanted you to terminate the pregnancy..."

My parents seemed to deflate, their voices shaking.

"It's over. Everything's over."

In that moment, every single one of themmy parents, Margaret, Sophielooked at me with the same expression.

Despair. And pity.

Like they were looking at someone already marked for death.

Just then, the front door opened.

Edward walked in, carrying a bag of my favorite sugar-roasted chestnuts.

He froze when he saw everyone gathered there.

"What's going on? Why is everyone here?"

Then, as if it clicked, he answered his own question.

"Is this about the baby?"

He set down the chestnuts and turned to face our parents.

"Mom, DadI know none of you want to lose this child. Believe me, I want it even less than you do."

"But the baby has severe deformities. Even if Celine carries it to term, the child won't survive. I can't bear to put her through ten months of pregnancy only to watch our baby die in front of her. That would be too cruelfor the baby, and for Celine."

"We've already discussed it. The procedure is scheduled for tomorrow."

"I'll perform the surgery myself. I'll make sure nothing goes wrong."

Everyone in that room knew Edward was lying.

But no one called him out.

Instead, they exchanged glances and kept their silencea shared, unspoken understanding.

After a long pause, Margaret couldn't hold back any longer.

"Edward, can we postpone tomorrow's surgery?"

Edward frowned slightly. "Why would we postpone it?"

"Mom, it took everything Celine had to agree to this. If we cancel now and she changes her mind, what then? She'll only get more attached. Better to rip off the bandage than drag out the pain."

Sophie looked like she was about to burst into tears.

"Edward, if you go through with this surgeryyou're going to regret it for the rest of your life!"

Edward's expression didn't waver.

"Regret? Why would I ever regret this?"

"This is for your sister-in-law's own good. I have no reason to regret it."

He turned to mesilent, unmovingand his voice softened with concern.

"Sweetheart, you look terrible. Are you feeling unwell?"

I met his worried gaze. My chest tightened.

"It's nothing." I forced the words out. "Just... nervous."

That much was true.

But it wasn't tomorrow's surgery that frightened me.

Edward drew me close, his arm curling around my shoulders, his voice impossibly gentle.

"Don't be scared. I'm right here."

"Once you're in the operating room, you'll just fall asleep, and when you wake up, it'll all be over."

No.

He didn't understand.

He had no idea what tomorrow's surgery truly meant.

Margaret and Sophie opened their mouths to say something more, but my parents intercepted them, ushering them away.

Before leaving, my parents turned back. Their eyes met mineheavy with something I couldn't name.

Edward noticed none of it. He was too consumed by the joy of what tomorrow would bring.

His mood soared. He insisted on cooking dinner himselfa full spread of all my favorite dishes.

That night, Edward held me tight as he drifted off, murmuring my name even in his sleep.

The next morning, we arrived at the hospital together.

Soon, I was being wheeled into the operating room.

The moment the anesthetic entered my veins, my consciousness began to blur.

Through heavy-lidded eyes, I watched Edward lean over me in his surgical gown, his voice a soothing murmur.

"Celine, don't be afraid. I'm here."

"You've always wanted to see the Northern Lights, haven't you? Once you've recovered, I'll take a long leave. We'll go together."

"Ohand that necklace you've had your eye on? I already ordered it. It'll be waiting for you when the surgery's done."

"If I could have my way... I'd grow old with you. Just you."

Tears slipped down my temples as I listened to him paint our future.

We won't make it.

Edward.

This ending was written long before today. I can't escape it.

And neither can you.

The instant his scalpel broke my skin

The operating room doors crashed open.

A voice, ragged with panic:

"Dr. Abbott! Something's happened!"