3 I stared at the single line on the pregnancy test and let out a bitter laugh. Benjamin could rest easy. There'd be no baby. And honestly? I didn't even want one anymore. He exhaled in relief, his voice soft. "Ellie, I just don't want you overworked. Ethan and Olivia are enough." Such a hypocrite. "Thanks for the concern," I said flatly. He blinked. "Why so formal?" Formal? In this house, I was the only outsider. How could I not be? I didn't bother explaining. Instead, I pulled out the divorce papers. "Alright, no formality. I want to buy a commercial property." It was the first thing I'd ever asked for. Benjamin sensed something was as off, his eyes narrowing at the contract. But then my cold voice cut in- "Are you... hesitating?" He signed immediately. There had never been anything his wife wanted that he wouldn't hand over. The weight lifted the second I took those papers. Outside, Ethan and Olivia's whispers slipped under the door. "Mom's not really having another baby, is she? She's so dumb-what if it's another idiot like her?" "Exactly! We're amazing. She just got lucky with us. I don't want a mom like that. Such a headache." My knuckles whitened against the papers. They'd get their wish soon enough. In a month, I wouldn't be their mom anymore. The next morning, I didn't wake at six. I left Benjamin and the kids to the maid. Chaos followed. Ethan, picky since birth, refused every dish the maids cooked, no matter how many they made. He didn't eat a bite. Olivia hated the braids the maid did, pouted, and stomped off to preschool. "Ma'am... another maid approached nervously. "How do I style Mr. Carter's Armani pinstripe suit? I've tried, but he's unhappy with all of them." I answered automatically. The tie in the second compartment, left cabinet, closet three. And the dark silver cufflinks-third drawer, right side, closet five." Benjamin appeared moments later, tall and refined. In the perfectly styled suit, he looked untouchable. He leaned on the doorframe, irritation flickering. "What's with the strike?" "Not feeling well," I said coolly. His gaze lingered on my bruises, on the wounds he and the kids had given me just yesterday. Guilt crossed his face, fleeting. "Alright. Rest." But my strike was only beginning. Within days, the house fell apart. Even following my recipes to the letter, the maids couldn't satisfy Ethan. He lost weight from refusing food. Olivia cried through tight braids, or worse, her hair unraveled halfway through the day. Benjamin, meanwhile, drowned in details he'd never noticed hafa-._bi-si- L:- left his book at night. He snapped after a few days, something he never did with maid. You can't handle a single simple task? What good are you?" They froze in fear. I almost laughed. Simple? Maybe in their eyes I was just a housewife, living off my husband, doing meaningless chores anyone could replace. But no one knew the truth. How many combinations of ingredients I'd tested, adjusting flavors endlessly, just to coax one more bite into my son. How many hours I'd spent watching braiding tutorials, practicing on a wig head until my daughter's hair was perfect-fast, secure, never tugging. How I secretly studied fashion, color theory, even art appreciation, just to meet Benjamin's exacting taste. Those 'simple things"? They were my devotion. My heart, my love poured into this family, piece by piece. And they took it all for granted. They never even saw me. Not as Mrs. Carter. Not as a mother. Not as Ella Thompson-a woman with feelings, with a life of her own. But soon, I'd shed it all. Soon, I'd just be me. After a week of chaos, Benjamin finally confronted me. "We need to talk." Morning light filtered in as his fingers tapped the nightstand. "Did you hear something?" Of course I had. In elite circles, gossip travels fast. While our home unraveled, the outside world had its own show. Benjamin was parading Sophia everywhere. The auctions once reserved for Mrs. Carter? He took Sophia instead. She mentioned disliking local architecture, and he handed her a French-style estate. She said she wanted a career. Days later, he bought a top-tier private school in the capital and made her principal. And still, he told me, "Don't overthink it. Sophia and I are just friends." The absurdity left me speechless. Benjamin frowned. "Even if you're jealous, the kids are innocent. Your attitude affects their quality of life. Are you saying you don't want to be their mother anymore?" My nails dug deep into my palms. I met his gaze, fury sparking. Fine. Then I won't be their mom." The air froze. Benjamin let out a short laugh. "Oh, so you're worried about your position? I told you, nothing's happening between Sophia and me. You'll always be Mrs. Carter, the mother of our kids." He thought that would calm me down. Instead, he ordered like always: "Stop acting up. Ethan and Olivia are almost five. You need to focus on their birthday party." A bitter ache spread through my chest. Every year, I poured my heart into their birthdays. Just days ago, I'd even been researching trust funds-planning to make them my gift. But I wasn't their mother. And I couldn't give them that gift. My silence made Benjamin think I'd agreed. He paused, then added casually, "Funny coincidence-Sophia shares the same birthday as the twins. Why not plan it together? The more, the merrier." BOOM. Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!