Two Wives, One Husband

I was sitting in the hospital waiting for my prenatal checkup when I noticed the woman next to me. Her husband was Caleb Hawthorn, a well-known tech entrepreneur.

What a coincidence. My husband was also Caleb Hawthorn.

As we chatted, she mentioned her husband was away at a conference and couldn't be there for her.

It got even weirder. My husband was also out of town for a business meeting.

After a long silence, I didn't go in for my checkup. Instead, I turned around and chose to end the pregnancy.

It wasn't until I brought up the divorce later that I realized the truth. He had never actually signed a marriage license with me.

"I'm so sorry, babe. Don't be mad. I'll bring you back a special gift," I read the text on my phone and sighed deeply.

It took five years of marriage for Caleb and me to finally conceive. Today was my first official ultrasound, but he was stuck on a business trip and couldn't make it back.

Watching the other pregnant women being pampered by their husbands in the hallway, I couldn't help but feel a pang of loneliness.

"Are you here alone too?" the woman sitting next to me suddenly asked.

Before I could answer, she continued, "My husband is away on business. He couldn't make it back in time, but he promised to get me a Birkin bag to make it up to me."

She tucked her long hair behind her ear, revealing her profile. Although she was complaining, her face was glowing with happiness.

She kept talking about how wonderful her husband was. I just listened quietly, not wanting to interrupt.

But when she mentioned her husband was Caleb Hawthorn, the CEO of Hawthorn Biotech, I froze.

My husband was also the CEO of Hawthorn Biotech. His name was Caleb Hawthorn.

A sense of dread washed over me. I asked tentatively, "When did your husband leave for his trip?"

"On the eighth. He went to Maui. He wanted me to go with him, but I'm too far along to fly now," she said.

The woman kept talking, but my ears started ringing. I couldn't hear a word she said after that.

Caleb had also left for Maui on the eighth. Was it possible we were married to the same man?

I forced myself to stay calm and squeezed out a smile. "Do you mind if I see a photo of him?"

She looked confused by the request but pulled out her phone with pride. "This was taken on our sixth wedding anniversary."

Sixth anniversary? I had only been married to Caleb for five years. Was I actually the other woman?

In the photo, Caleb was smiling slightly, standing behind her and pulling her into his arms. I scrolled through more photos. There were shots of them together and even photos with his parents.

"And this one is from our trip to the ranch," she added. My blood ran cold, and I felt a sharp pain in my chest.

"I don't feel well I have to go," I stammered. I pushed her phone away, my eyes stinging with tears.

I stood up to leave, but then her phone rang with a video call. The name "Hubby" flashed on the screen.

She picked up, and a familiar voice boomed out. "Hey, honey! Is the checkup done? How's the baby? Is our little one growing strong?"

Caleb's face appeared on the screen. He had that same tender look in his eyes that I knew so well.

We had been married for five years, yet here he was, calling someone else his wife.

I felt like I was about to break. My entire life felt like a cruel joke.

I needed to confirm it one last time. I used the last of my strength to walk to the restroom and called Caleb.

His line was busy. I knew he was still on that video call, but I kept dialing like a madwoman.

Thirty minutes passed before he finally sent a text. He said he was busy.

Those few words shattered what was left of my heart. I pulled myself together enough to take a photo of the woman waiting by the clinic and sent it to him.

Less than five minutes later, my phone rang.

"June, I I can explain," he said, his voice trembling with panic.

"I can explain." Those words were a confession in themselves.

"So, she really is your wife?" my voice was hoarse, the words barely escaping my throat.

"No, she isn't Mandy is just a friend. She likes to play jokes, don't believe her," Caleb pleaded over the phone.

His words stung like a needle. In all the years we were together, he was often away, but I never doubted him.

Now, he was throwing out such a pathetic excuse. It was laughable.

"She showed me your anniversary photos. All of them, Caleb!"

"She said you've been married for six years!" I screamed, my voice shaking with rage.

"I" Caleb tried to say something else, but I hung up on him.

A sharp ache radiated through my lower abdomen. It felt like a reminder. Tears streamed down my face as I touched my belly.

I walked past the ultrasound room and headed to the surgical wing. I was going to end this.

The nurse told me I needed a family member to sign the papers and suggested I think it over.

My hand stayed on my stomach, my gaze firm. "No need. I've made up my mind."

"I haven't had any morning sickness at all! Maybe the baby just loves me too much to make me suffer," I heard Mandy's voice talking to a doctor outside.

The day I found out I was pregnant, Caleb had been so happy he cried. He was babbling with excitement.

That memory was still fresh, but now it was all ruined. Caleb had destroyed it so easily.

"Your body makes it very difficult to conceive. If you go through with the termination, it will be extremely hard to get pregnant again. Please reconsider," the doctor said, looking at my chart.

"Just do it. I've decided," I said. My heart had already hit rock bottom. I didn't care about the consequences anymore.

I couldn't give this child a real family. I had to stop the damage now.

The anesthesia kicked in quickly. My vision blurred, and soon, it was over.

I clutched my stomach and stumbled out of the surgery room. I went home like a ghost.

The physical pain was so intense that I collapsed onto my bed and fell into a feverish sleep.

In the middle of the night, I felt a movement beside me. Caleb was sitting on the edge of the bed, staring at me.

He saw me wake up and tried to pull me into a hug. I pushed him away with every ounce of strength I had left.

"Caleb, I want a divorce," I whispered, my voice trembling.

Caleb's hand froze in mid-air. His whole body went stiff.

I watched his expression shift from confusion to shock. Then, he looked at me with a strange, serious intensity.

His reaction reminded me of something. We had never actually gone to the courthouse to get a marriage license.

He always claimed he was too busy, pushing it off month after month. We had a small ceremony, so I eventually thought the paperwork didn't matter.

Now I knew why. He was already legally married to Mandy.

If he had signed those papers with me, it would have been bigamy. I was just the mistress in his shadow. I didn't even have the legal right to ask for a divorce.

I met Caleb at a gala years ago.

It was my twentieth birthday. My father had invited all the elite families to a five-star hotel, including the Hawthorns.

Caleb was five years older than me. He had just started running the family business after graduation.

He was stunning that night. His cold, handsome face drew everyone's attention.

I was no exception. I was captivated by his mysterious, distant aura.

But what really won me over was the hidden warmth I thought I saw. I once caught him feeding stray cats in an alley.

He looked so gentle in that moment, like he was bathed in light. That image made me want to follow him forever.

One night, while we were walking, he suddenly asked, "Do you like me?"

I was stunned. My face turned bright red. All our friends knew I had a crush on him, so of course he knew too.

"Good. Because I like you too. If you're willing, we can try dating," Caleb said.

In the dim streetlights, I couldn't see his face clearly. I had no idea he already had a wife.

I thought I was the luckiest girl in the world. My cold idol had finally noticed me.

I was so blinded by love that I agreed instantly.

I had met his parents before, but now I suspect they were just actors hired to deceive me. They looked nothing like the people in Mandy's photos.

When we talked about marriage, they just followed his lead. For our wedding, he took me to a small chapel in Europe.

He didn't invite any friends or family. He went to such lengths just to keep me in the dark.

The atmosphere in the bedroom was suffocating. I looked Caleb in the eye. "Let's just end this."

He didn't expect me to say it again. His face darkened. "I won't allow it! You're the one I really love, June! Marrying Mandy was my parents' idea. I don't love her!"

"Don't call me that. We aren't even legally married. You disgust me," I said, pushing him away again.

But he grabbed me and pulled me into his chest. "June, listen to me. She and I have been living separate lives for years. There's no love there. You have to believe me."

"We just don't have a piece of paper. As long as we love each other, isn't that enough?"

Rage boiled in my chest. I pushed him back and slapped him across the face as hard as I could.

Caleb touched his cheek, looking at me in disbelief. I laughed bitterly. "You don't love her? You live separate lives? Then how did she get pregnant, Caleb? Did someone else do it?"

"You're a CEO. Do you even believe the lies coming out of your mouth?"