When I Left Him, My Husband Begged Me to Come Back
On New Year's Eve,while I was pregnant,my husband,Rafael Phillips,abandoned me on the roadside to celebrate with his female assistant.
From the passenger seat,the assistant pretended to be considerate,suggesting he should bring me along.
But Rafael glanced at my shivering figure and said coldly,“Jenna has been doing well lately,and I want to spend New Year’s Eve with her.”
“You’re pregnant,so you shouldn’t come anyway.Besides,you don’t understand romance.”
“I won’t be coming home tonight.Don’t bother me or Jenna.Do you understand?”
Without waiting for my response,he sped away.
As I turned,I saw the extravagant fireworks display Rafael had gifted Jenna.It was worth millions.
Smiling bitterly,I walked alone to the hospital to terminate my pregnancy.
After this,I would never need to beg Rafael to accompany me to prenatal checkups again.
——
Clutching my belly,I made my way to the hospital.
When I woke up after the procedure,the first thing I saw was fireworks blossoming outside the window,but my vision grew increasingly blurry.
My poor,unborn child would never get the chance to see how beautiful the fireworks outside were.
Behind me,a young nurse exclaimed enviously,“That’s the Hyperion Ventures’s president,Rafael Phillips,who put on this five-hour,million-dollar firework display for his girlfriend.How romantic!”
In our ten-year relationship,Rafael had never set off fireworks for me.
He always dismissed the idea with disdain,saying,“It only lasts a few minutes—what’s the point?Lily,you’re so wasteful.”
He never understood that I loved fireworks the most.
And the person who least understood romance had always been him.
Taking a deep breath,I called my mentor.“Professor,you mentioned taking me abroad for further studies.I’ve decided—I’m going.”
Excited,my mentor replied,“Lily,with your piano talent,you should have long been a shining star in the music world!”
“Too bad...”
Too bad I gave up the piano for Rafael,becoming a full-time housewife,never touching the keys again.
I never imagined that after marriage,my relationship with Rafael would bring me nothing but pain,over and over.
After a week of recovery in the hospital,I returned home.
Surprisingly,Rafael was there.After all,he had to work during the day and accompany Jenna at night;it had been a long time since he’d been home.
Seeing me,he snorted coldly,“So you finally decided to come back?Just because I spent New Year's with Jenna,you threw a tantrum and stayed out.Were you waiting for me to call and beg you to return?”
I explained calmly,“No,I was in the hospital these past days.”
Rafael froze,then angrily demanded,“Why didn’t you tell me?”
In the past,even when he ignored my messages,I’d still tell him my daily schedule.
Without looking at him,I replied,“I forgot.”
Seeing my indifference,Rafael grew upset.“So I didn’t spend New Year with you—what’s the big deal?I’ve spent so much times with you already.But this was my first time with Jenna.”
I chuckled bitterly.“Rafael,we’ve never spent New Year together.”
In the early years,he claimed to be too busy with work;later,he spent the nights partying with friends,leaving me alone at home,waiting for him to return.
It seemed he finally remembered.Feeling guilty,he embraced me.“I’m sorry.After the baby is born,I’ll spend every New Year with you from now on.”
After waiting ten years for a New Year’s Eve together,I no longer needed him.
I said nothing more,heading to the piano room to practice.But the room was in disarray,and my cherished piano was broken.
This piano,which my mother had spent her life savings to buy,was my most treasured possession after her passing.
Rafael walked in nonchalantly and said,“Jenna thought it was fun last time and accidentally broke it.”
Chapter 2
The state of the piano made it clear it had been deliberately destroyed.
Rafael knew how much this piano meant to me.Anyone else touching it would have already enraged me,let alone ruining it.
Seeing the dark expression on my face,he scoffed,“It’s just an old piano.Jenna broke it,but I’ll replace it for you.What's with the attitude?”
I opened the piano lid,revealing the keys,now deeply scratched and dented.On top lay a pink bow-tied pair of underwear.
Rafael quickly snatched the underwear,stammering,“It’s Jenna’s..!she forgot to take it last time.There’s nothing between us!Don't overthink,okay?”
The sight of the underwear on the piano told me all I needed to know.They had even done that on it.
Looking at Rafael,all I felt was disgust.
Perhaps out of guilt,he grabbed my hand and changed the subject.“Lily,let me take you to your prenatal checkup.”
He had forgotten that I’d just returned from the hospital and no longer needed prenatal care.
Rafael never even asked why I had been hospitalized for the past week.And this was the first time he had ever offered to accompany me to a checkup.
In the past,whenever I begged him to come with me,he always used work as an excuse,scolding me for being inconsiderate.“The company is so busy,and you’re still making trouble!”he’d say.
I only wanted what other pregnant women had—the company of their husbands.If Rafael had joined me just once,I would have been overjoyed.
But now,the baby was gone,and I no longer needed him for anything.
Rafael placed a hand on my stomach,frowning.“Why have you lost weight?That’s not good for the baby.I’ll hire a nutritionist in a few days to prepare meals for you.”
I shook my head,looking at him.“Rafael,that won’t be necessary.”
“The baby is already—”
Before I could finish,his phone rang.
He quickly picked it up and walked away.
When he returned,just as I expected,he was ready to leave.“There’s an emergency at the office.You’ll have to go to the checkup on your own this time.”
I knew too well that it was Jenna on the other end.If she called,he would always leave,no matter what.I had tried to stop him in the past,but it only made him resent me more.
A sudden,sharp pain twisted through my stomach.I guessed it was the sequelae of the miscarriage.
Seeing me clutch my belly in pain,Rafael frowned.“Lily,can you stop using these tricks to fool me?”
“You think just because you’re pregnant,I have to revolve around you every second?”
With that,he slammed the door and left.
I took out the medication prescribed by the doctor,swallowed it,and lay down.Sleep finally eased the pain.
When I woke up and scrolled through my phone,I saw Jenna’s latest social media post.
[My boss is the best~Got cramps from my period,and he came rushing to take care of me~]
I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly.To Rafael,I wasn’t even as important as his assistant.
A moment later,my phone rang.
It was Rafael.For a fleeting moment,I thought he might finally care about me.
But his urgent voice on the other end crushed that hope.“Lily,which brand of sanitary pads do you usually use?”
“Jenna is such a scatterbrain;she forgot to buy hers.”
My heart sank.Rafael was willing to buy sanitary pads for another woman.
I remembered a time when my period came unexpectedly,staining my white pants with blood.I had no pads,and the blood was glaringly obvious.
I asked Rafael to buy me some.However,his response was one of utter disgust.“You want me,a man,to buy sanitary pads?Are you insane?Do you know how embarrassing that would be for me?”
But now,there was no disgust in his tone—only concern for Jenna.
Chapter 3
Rafael anxiously continued,“Do all girls have such bad cramps during their periods?Poor Jenna.Do you know any remedies?Should I get her medicine?Maybe red sugar water?A heating pad?”
He was terrified of causing Jenna any discomfort.
Even during my pregnancy,Rafael had never shown me this level of concern.
I couldn’t help but find our years of love utterly laughable.“Can’t you just Google it?”
With that,I hung up and ignored him.
The next morning,Rafael called me again,his tone angry.“Lily,you’ve grown bold!How dare you hang up on me?”
“I’m giving you a chance now.Come over and cook for Jenna,and I’ll forgive you.”
“Oh,and Jenna loves your sweet-and-sour spare ribs.Make sure to bring that.”
Hearing those words,a sharp pain pierced my heart.
I finally understood why,for a time,Rafael had suddenly loved the meals I brought him—especially the sweet-and-sour spare ribs.
I had naively thought he liked them.I had even practiced tirelessly,my hands became calloused and burned by splattering oil.
It turned out Jenna was the one who loved them,and he only made me cook because of her.
Wiping the tears from the corners of my eyes,I asked,“Rafael,any chef could cook better than me.Why does it have to be me?”
He ordered firmly,“Jenna said she only wants your cooking.You will come today.”
Then he hung up.
I took the divorce papers with me and went to Jenna’s place.It was time to end this farce with Rafael.
Jenna greeted me with an apologetic tone,though her words were anything but.“Sorry,Lily.I just had a sudden craving for your sweet-and-sour pork ribs.But you’re pregnant,and cooking smoke isn’t good for the baby.Yet Sir Rafael insisted on having you come to make them for me.”
Her voice was full of the favoritism Rafael showered on her,while I felt like nothing more than their maid.
Ignoring Jenna,I placed the papers in front of Rafael.“Sign this,and I’ll cook.”
Without even glancing at the document,Rafael signed it.
I asked,“Aren’t you afraid this might be a divorce agreement?”
He sneered,“So what if it is?Nothing is more important than Jenna’s happiness.Besides,you’re pregnant.You wouldn’t dare divorce me.Who else would want you?”
His dismissive attitude spoke volumes.I said nothing more and went to the kitchen to cook.
This would be the last meal that I would ever made for Rafael.
Back then,he loved my cooking.But at some point,he began to despise it.
From the kitchen,I could hear Rafael and Jenna’s laughter in the living room,their joy cutting into me like shards of glass.
When I finished cooking,my weakened body almost collapsed from exhaustion.
Instead of showing any concern,Rafael scolded me.“You’re fainting from just making a meal?Being pregnant has made you so delicate.”
“Jenna still goes to work even when she’s on her period,and she doesn’t complain.You sit at home all day—how can you say you work harder than her?”
No matter how much I sacrificed,in Rafael’s eyes,only Jenna mattered.
Jenna approached to support me.Her voice was syrupy sweet as she spoke.“Lily,thank you for your hard work.Your clothes got dirty.Let me take you to the bedroom to change.”
She led me to her room,where the floor was littered with clothes.
Flushing,Jenna feigned embarrassment and explained,“Oh,my boyfriend is just too much to handle.”
Then,as if it were an afterthought,she asked with a sly smile,“Lily,is Sir Rafael just as passionate with you?”
My expression turned icy.It was clear why Jenna had brought me here—to make me see this.
I had always thought Rafael’s reluctance was due to work stress.But now I knew the truth.
He simply didn’t want me.
Every time I approached him,he would push me away with disdain,calling me disgusting.
Chapter 4
Even my pregnancy had been an accident caused by Rafael’s drunkenness.
I sneered,“Miss Jenna,perhaps you should worry about whether your boyfriend can keep up with this frequency in the future.”
Her face instantly darkened.
When we returned to the dining table,Rafael was busy piling food onto Jenna’s plate.His tone was indulgent,“Jenna,eat more.”
Jenna pouted and teased,“Sir Rafael,you’re spoiling me!How can there be such a perfect boss like you?”
Then,she turned to me with a sweet smile,placing a large spoonful of crab roe into my bowl.“Thank you,Lily,for cooking today.”
I didn’t touch my food.Jenna’s expression twisted into one of grievances,and tears began to stream down her face.“Did I upset you,Lily?Why aren’t you eating?”
Rafael’s face darkened as he glared at me.Without warning,he slapped me hard across the face.“Lily,don’t be so ungrateful!”
Grabbing my head,he shoved the crab roe into my mouth before I could resist.
By the time he was done,red welts were already spreading across my skin.
Once,Rafael had promised me he’d always remember my severe allergy to crab roe and would never let me near it.Yet now,he was the one force-feeding it to me.
Jenna,who had been smirking a moment ago,suddenly feigned fear.“Sir Rafael,Lily looks terrible.Could she have some kind of...contagious disease?”
Rafael’s gaze filled with revulsion as he looked at me.Without warning,he dragged me to the door and threw me out.“Lily,you’re disgusting.”
Kicking me aside,he sneered,“Don’t you dare dirty Jenna’s house.”
I clung weakly to his pant leg,struggling to breathe.“Rafael,please...call an ambulance...I'm begging you.”
However,his response was the slam of the door.
Fortunately,a kind stranger found me and rushed me to the hospital.
When I went to the reception desk to collect my medication,I ran into Rafael and Jenna.
Rafael shot me a disdainful glance while Jenna,gloating,said,“I told Sir Rafael it was just a minor cut,but he insisted on bringing me here to get it treated.He was worried about an infection.”
Rafael’s voice was full of concern.“A minor cut?It was bleeding.How could I not worry?”
But when I had miscarried,he hadn’t cared at all about my pain.
Looking at me,Rafael said impatiently,“It’s just an allergic reaction.Do you really need to stay in the hospital this long?”
Luckily,he didn’t know I had already terminated the pregnancy.Otherwise,his actions would have been even more cruel.
As if granting me charity,he added,“Fine.I’ll take you to your prenatal checkup later.”
Without waiting for my response,he went to the counter to register,leaving me alone with Jenna.
She sneered,her tone dripping with malice.“Rafael is so good to you.But if he truly cared,he wouldn’t have watched fireworks with me or stayed at my place.”
“Lily,you can’t win against me.Rafael loves me now.You,with your sagging skin and stretch marks,are nothing more than an old,pregnant woman he’s sick of.”
“He even said your stretch marks are revolting.Every time he sees them,he feels disgusted.”
My mind went blank.I hadn’t realized Rafael thought that way.Those stretch marks—so repulsive to him—were the only traces our child had left in this world.
Jenna smirked at me,then slapped herself hard across the face twice.Tears welled up as she cried,“Lily,I swear I didn’t seduce Sir Rafael.Please don’t hit me anymore,okay?”
“I promise I’ll stay far away from him so I won’t upset you.”
Hearing her cries,Rafael rushed back.The moment he saw Jenna’s tear-streaked face,his heart ached as if it might shatter.
His eyes blazed with fury as he looked at me.Without hesitation,he kicked me in the stomach.“Lily,is this how you treat Jenna when I’m not around?”
“We’re just colleagues!Only people with filthy minds see filth everywhere!”Rafael thundered.
I knelt on the ground in pain,clutching my abdomen as a sharp,searing ache spread through me.I felt warm blood trickling down.
Rafael wasn’t satisfied with my suffering.He pressed his foot against my back,forcing me to the floor.“Lily,apologize to Jenna!”
Jenna shot me a smug look.
Seeing me in such a pitiful state only made Rafael act more ruthlessly.He stomped on my hand.
He knew.He knew how much my hands meant to me as a pianist.
In the early years of our relationship,Rafael used to carefully massage my hands with oil every day,saying,“Lily’s hands are destined to become those of a great pianist.I’ll take care of them for you.”
Now,looking at his foot crushing my hand,all I felt was bitter irony.
“Rafael,let me go,”I said,my voice trembling.
His foot pressed harder,and I heard the sickening crack of bones breaking.Still,I lowered my head,tears streaming down my face as I whispered to Jenna,“I’m sorry.”
Only then did Rafael remove his foot.“Let this be a lesson.If you dare bully Jenna again,you’ll regret it.”
As his figure disappeared into the distance,something inside me broke completely.
—
A few days later,I stood outside the airport,preparing to leave with my teacher.
Before boarding,I sent Rafael one last message.
[Rafael,I’m leaving.I wish you and Jenna a long and happy life together.]
Goodbye, Rafael.
