Abandoned Wife Returns to the City

My daughter was deathly ill. I traveled a thousand miles to the city to find my husband, Silas Sterling.

He hadn't been home in two years.

Silas didn't let us anywhere near his office. Instead, he tucked us away in a dingy hospital on the outskirts of the city.

I thought he was just being cautious about his reputation. I thought he was protecting us.

Then, he looked at me with cold, indifferent eyes.

"To secure my position at the network, I married the CEO's daughter two years ago," he said.

"She has a temper and she's hard to please. If she finds out about us, she'll ruin everything."

I stood there, frozen. A loud buzzing filled my ears.

"You married someone else? What about me? What about our daughter?"

He frowned, his face full of irritation.

"In this city, she is my wife," he snapped.

"She's coming to visit tomorrow. You'll tell her you're a distant cousin looking for a handout."

"If you want to save Noa, you'll do exactly what I say. She's pregnant, and if you upset her, I'll make you regret it."

1.

The buzzing in my ears wouldn't stop. Silas had already walked over to the hospital bed.

Noa blinked her eyes open. She looked surprised and happy, whispering, "Daddy."

He scowled, looking at me with judgmental eyes.

"Why is this girl so thin?" he asked.

"You can't even raise a child properly. What good are you?"

He pulled a silver bracelet from his pocket and slipped it onto Noa's wrist. He smiled slightly and patted her head.

"This is for protection. All the kids in the city have one," he murmured.

"But listen, Noa. You can only call me Daddy when we're alone. Other times, you call me Uncle Silas."

"Do you understand?"

My knuckles turned white as I gripped the medical records.

Five years ago, there was a sponsored relocation program for the rural workers.

There was only one spot left at the city network. By right, it belonged to me.

But Silas had held me in bed back then, whispering sweet promises.

"Honey, the city is a shark tank. I'm afraid you won't be able to handle it," he had said.

"Let me take the spot. I'll send every cent of my paycheck back to you."

"Once I've made a name for myself, I'll bring you and the baby to the city to live like royalty."

But five years passed. Not a single cent came back.

He didn't even send a letter.

Noa had been sickly since she was born. My meager wages in the rural outskirts weren't enough to cover her treatment.

I had sent word to the city multiple times, asking when he would come for us.

I never imagined he had already built another family.

Noa thought she had said something wrong. She looked at me helplessly.

"Mommy, isn't he Daddy? He looks just like the man in the photo..."

I pulled her into my arms, fighting back the bitterness. I comforted her and then turned to Silas.

"You promised to come back for us in two years when you took my placement," I hissed.

"Silas Sterling! Do you have any idea how we've lived these past five years?!"

We wore rags that were mended a dozen times. We couldn't even afford a decent meal for the holidays.

But look at him now.

His suit was sharp, expensive, and tailored. He carried the air of a man who had never lacked for anything.

Silas knit his brows, his eyes full of impatience.

"Are you really going to hold that old favor over my head forever?"

"Did you ever care about what I had to go through to survive in this city?"

"You should be grateful I took the spot. If you had come, you would have been chewed up and sent back to the sticks in a week."

Looking at his cold face, my heart ached so much I could barely breathe. Tears blurred my vision.

"This is bigamy. If I report you to your superiors, you'll be thrown in a labor camp."

It took every ounce of my strength to say those words.

Silas just let out a cold laugh.

"We only had a small ceremony back home. We never signed a marriage certificate. We aren't legally anything."

"I'm only doing this because Noa is my daughter. If it were anyone else, I would have had you kicked out of the city already."

"If you don't like it, take your kid and get out."

His entitlement was beyond shameless.

Over the years, many neighbors had seen how hard I worked. They tried to set me up with decent men.

Some even brought gifts, saying they didn't mind that I had a child.

Everyone told me Silas wasn't coming back.

But I didn't believe them.

I waited for five years, clinging to a memory.

And all I got was this monster.

I couldn't stop the tears. Noa saw me crying and started to sob too.

"Don't cry, Mommy. I don't need the medicine. Let's just go home..."

I held her thin body tight.

Noa's condition was complicated. I had been to so many doctors, and only the specialists in the city could perform the surgery she needed.

And this hospital only took people with connections.

For my daughter's sake, I couldn't leave.

"I'll do it. I won't tell anyone who we are, as long as you save Noa."

Silas smirked. He tried to reach out and put an arm around me, but I flinched away.

"Good. I knew you were smart," he said.

"Don't worry about the surgery. I'll pull some strings."

"She is my daughter, after all. I won't let anything happen to her."

2.

Silas used his influence to move Noa to a private, high-end suite.

Shortly after the move, he brought Bianca to the hospital.

Bianca was clearly pregnant. Silas held her arm carefully, guiding her every step.

Hospitals are filthy. I told you we should go to the mall instead, you little rebel, Silas teased.

I was coming back with a jug of water when I saw him leaning down to listen to Biancas belly.

A passing doctor smiled and nodded.

Officer Sterling, Mrs. Sterling.

The two of them chatted with the doctor, looking like the perfect couple.

My heart twisted. I walked past them with a pale face.

Bianca stopped me with an arrogant look.

So, youre the poor relative my husband is helping out?

A widow and her kid should know their place. People might think my husband has a secret family in the woods.

My grip tightened on the water jug.

Silas shot me a warning look, terrified I would speak up.

Don't be ridiculous, honey. Id never marry a country girl, he said.

The only children worthy of the Sterling name are the ones you give me.

His words felt like poison.

Silas used to say things like that to me, too.

Well call her Noa, he had told me.

Shes the proof of our love. A promise that my heart will never change.

But before she was even a month old, he abandoned us.

When it was time to register her birth, I asked him to help.

He told me, Just put her under your name. Its not convenient for me.

Back then, I didn't understand what he meant by not convenient.

It turns out my child was never good enough to carry his name.

I couldn't even find the words to fight back. I just looked down and spoke quietly.

Youre right. How could an officer like Silas marry a girl like me? Im just grateful for the help.

Silas looked at my submissive state with a complicated expression.

Bianca huffed, glancing at Noa through the window of the suite.

Since shes just a charity case, she doesn't deserve this room!

Move this brat down to the isolation ward in the basement.

A few nurses stepped forward to move the bed on her orders.

My blood ran cold.

I rushed into the room and shielded my daughter.

No! My daughter is weak! If you put her in that ward, shell catch an infection!

Noa started crying in fear.

Mommy, I don't want to go to the basement!

Silas frowned, trying to soothe Bianca.

Sweetheart, if youre unhappy, Ill move her to a general ward.

If the kid gets sicker, people might talk.

Bianca stared at the silver bracelet on Noas wrist with pure jealousy.

A general ward costs money! The basement is the only place thats cheap enough!

A country brat doesn't deserve to spend our familys money!

She reached out and tried to pull Noa off the bed.

In the struggle, she ripped the IV needle out of Noas arm.

Blood sprayed across the sheets. Noa screamed in pain.

Silas panicked and shouted at the nurses.

Fix her! Now!

He stepped toward Noa, reaching out to comfort her.

Suddenly, Bianca grabbed her stomach and let out a sharp cry.

Silas! My stomach hurts so much...

Silas immediately turned around. He scooped Bianca up and ordered every nurse in the room to follow him.

Every doctor in the hospital was summoned to check on Bianca.

I was left alone. I used the basic first aid I learned back home to stop Noas bleeding.

I moved her to a cramped, regular ward myself.

Noa hid under the covers, asking when we could go home.

My voice was firm.

Soon. Were going home very soon.

And very soon, Silas Sterling would be nothing to us.

3.

After Biancas scene, I refused any more help from Silas.

I wrote to my relatives back home and managed to borrow three thousand dollars for the surgery.

But when I came back from the pharmacy, the envelope of cash was gone from my bag.

The nurse told me, Mrs. Sterling was the only one who came in here. She left a note.

I opened the note. Bianca had written a single sentence.

If you want your money, find me at the Spruce Restaurant.

I raced to the restaurant.

Bianca was sitting with her friends, eating steak and drinking imported wine.

She tossed a twenty-dollar tip to the waiter like it was nothing.

Its on me today, girls. Order whatever you want.

The stack of cash on the table was the money I had begged for.

I lunged forward and grabbed the money, staring at her with rage.

This is for my daughters life!

Bianca slammed her hand down on the cash, her red nails digging in.

So, youre the old hag my husband keeps in the country, she sneered.

I haven't even had you erased yet, and you have the nerve to come here and annoy me?

Using my husbands connections to save that dying brat? Dream on.

I froze.

What are you talking about?

Bianca laughed.

The surgeon who was supposed to operate on your daughter? I had him transferred to another city this morning.

Fire surged from my toes to my head. I couldn't take it anymore.

I grabbed her by her hair and yanked.

We never did anything to you! Why would you do this?!

Suddenly, I heard footsteps behind me. Biancas face changed instantly.

She went from a monster to a helpless victim, begging for mercy.

The surgery is risky. I was just trying to warn you, she sobbed.

Its not my fault shes sick! Please, don't hurt my baby!

Silas shoved me away with a violent force.

You psycho! How dare you lay a hand on my wife!

I slammed into the edge of a heavy wooden table.

I heard a sickening crack in my lower back.

Bianca huddled in his arms, weeping lies.

Silas, we were just having lunch, and she burst in saying she wanted my baby to die with her daughter!

If you hadn't come, she would have killed me!

I looked at Silas, my voice trembling as I tried to explain.

Thats not true! She stole Noas surgery money! I came to get it back!

Biancas friends chimed in immediately.

Officer Sterling gives Bianca hundreds of dollars a day for fun. Why would she want your pocket change?

Shes the CEOs daughter! Stop lying!

Silas grabbed the money from the table and threw it at my face.

Youre telling me Bianca went to a hospital to steal this?!

I know youre a simple-minded country girl, but at least try to make your lies believable!

You ruined my wifes lunch. Youll pay for this ten times over.

The bills hit my face, the sharp edges cutting my skin.

I stared at him through tears.

She stole it, Silas. Your daughter is waiting for that money to survive!

Silass face went dark.

What daughter?! I told you, I would never have a child with a woman like you!

Call the police!

This woman is harassing my wife and making up insane stories. Get her out of here!

The police arrived quickly. They didn't listen to a word I said.

They cuffed me and started dragging me toward the exit.

But then, I saw a dark green Jeep parked outside with government plates.

I broke free for a second and threw myself at the window, screaming at the man inside.

Sir! I am reporting the CEOs daughter for theft! And her husband, Silas Sterling, for bigamy and child abandonment! He is a criminal!