The Gentle Trap

At twenty-eight weeks pregnant, I discovered that my husband, Jim, had married me only so I could endure the pain of childbirth in place of the woman he had always loved. The tenderness and thoughtfulness he showed me had all been part of a carefully crafted lie. When I decided to divorce him and leave the country, his lover caused me to miscarry. After the miscarriage, I left everything behind and went somewhere far away. Only then did Jim begin desperately chasing after me. He kneeled in the snow and begged for my forgiveness, yet he had no idea that I had already laid a trap for him. This time, I would make him and Lucy pay the price and seek justice for my unborn child. Chapter 1 I, Christine Sonnet, stood outside the study and held the ultrasound report I had just printed. The baby's outline was crystal clear. Its tiny hands and feet reminded me of a seed that had just begun to sprout. 'Lucky Luther.' That was the name Jim Luther had given our baby. He said he hoped our child would grow up with good fortune and be surrounded by love. At this moment, the name that used to signify blessings felt painfully ironic. I dug my nails into the paper until they tore through the word 'Lucky.' This was absurd. When he named our child, he was thinking about another woman. My stomach suddenly churned, and I felt something acidic in my throat. I instinctively ran into the bathroom next door. Leaning over the sink, I dry-heaved several times, but nothing came up. I glanced at the ultrasound report, which was now crumpled into a ball beside me, and felt like someone had reached into my chest and squeezed my heart. The baby's tiny hands and feet were still perfectly visible, but now they felt like knives stabbing straight through my heart. It turned out I was nothing more than a surrogate mother whose only purpose was to give Jim a child. Suddenly, I heard hurried footsteps behind me. Jim placed a hand against my back, and the scent of mint mixed with cigarette smoke filled my nostrils. "Why are you throwing up again?" His voice was tense as he gently patted my back. "I had Gina prepare soup for you. Wait for a while and–" I abruptly avoided his touch. The movement was so sudden that his hand froze in midair. "Is Lucky giving you trouble again today?" He crouched down and brushed my damp hair away from my forehead. The moment his fingertips touched my earlobe, my entire body trembled. I used to find the warmth of his hands comforting. Now, it felt like a flame that could scorch me. "Don't touch me." My voice was hoarse as I pushed him away. He froze for a moment before smiling helplessly. "Is pregnancy messing with your emotions? I'll get you some warm water." I said nothing. I merely stared at the tattoo on his collarbone. [LY.] He had gotten it the day I found out I was pregnant. When I'd asked him about it, he'd told me, "L and Y are the first and last letters of Lucky's name. That's how much I love our child." Only now did I understand that 'L' and 'Y' were also the first and last letters of Lucy Lindt's name. "Open your mouth." He brought the warm water over and held the rim of the glass to my lips. Sunlight shone in through the window, casting long shadows from his eyelashes across his face. It was like a carefully placed trap disguised as tenderness. Jim's phone suddenly rang. He glanced at the caller ID, and his brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. "Answer it," I said softly. "It might be something from the company." He hesitated for a second before walking to the window to take the call. "Y-Yeah, I know. I'll be there right away." After hanging up, he turned around with that same gentle expression already back on his face. "Honey, there's an emergency meeting at the company. I'll have Gina look after you." I stared at the tattoo on his collarbone and suddenly smiled. "Sure." The moment he left, I heard a hushed voice from the end of the hallway. Chapter 2 "Jim, Lucy's back. She's at the airport." It was Jim's childhood friend, Fabian Scott. I steadied myself against the wall and slowly made my way toward the corner. Jim had his back to me. His voice was lowered to a whisper. "Wasn't she supposed to come back next week?" "She came back early." Fabian glanced in my direction and tugged at Jim's sleeve."You'd better go. I'll cover for you here." Jim glanced in the bathroom's direction. I quickly pulled myself out of sight. "Just tell her something came up at the company," he instructed Fabian in a deep voice. "Don't let her get suspicious." Their footsteps gradually faded into the distance. Leaning against the wall, I retrieved my phone and scrolled through my contacts. The first call I made was to a lawyer. "Draft a divorce agreement for me. The sooner the better." The second was to my professor. "Professor, I'd like to reapply for the PhD program at Meridian College of Technology." There was a brief silence on the other end. "Are you sure? You're pregnant, and the child's father–" "I'm getting a divorce." I cut him off. I was surprised by how calm I sounded. "I want to leave as soon as possible." After hanging up, I opened my email inbox. There was a draft sitting in my inbox that I'd written three years ago. I read the title. [Withdrawal Statement.] I deleted it and started a new email. [Dear Admissions Committee, I respectfully ask that you reconsider my application for the PhD program.] I closed my laptop and curled up on the bed. Half asleep, I found myself recalling that rainy night. I was twelve years old back then. I had watched Mom sit in front of a computer and write a suicide note. She looked extremely thin from behind. Her fingers tapped lightly against the keyboard with a faint clicking sound. "I'm sorry, Christine. I can't go on anymore." She had put on the red dress I liked most. She then jumped from the eighteenth floor. The rain was pouring that day. Rainwater mixed with blood and stained the entire street red. I stood behind the crowd and watched her red dress sprawl across the cold concrete like a withered flower. Dad held his new lover in his arms at the funeral. He didn't even shed a single tear. "Your mom was too fragile." He ruffled my hair and added, "You have to be strong." From that day on, I stopped believing in love. I spent most of my time reading books and building a wall of knowledge around myself. It wasn't until I met Jim. On rainy days, he would come from the other side of the city just to bring me an umbrella. He remembered every little thing I mentioned in passing. After I finished my experiments, he would even bring me supper late at night. "Christine, give me a chance." When he kneeled on one knee, there was nothing but pure affection in his eyes. "Let me give you a home." I believed him. I even gave up a full scholarship to Meridian College of Technology for him, thinking I'd finally found a safe harbor. I thought he would be the person who made me stop being afraid of the dark. Looking back now, it was certainly ironic. My mother died for love, and I gave up my future for love. In the end, we were both tormented by love. While I was sleeping, I felt the mattress sink slightly. Jim climbed onto the bed beside me without a shirt on. He then wrapped an arm around my waist. Reeking of alcohol, he leaned close to my neck. "Honey." I smelled an overly sweet scent of women's perfume. I forcefully pushed him away. "Get away from me. You're disgusting." He froze for a moment. He then staggered to his feet and walked into the bathroom. When the shower started, I heard his voice through the door. "Honey, breakfast is on the table. You said yesterday that you wanted waffles from that popular diner. I waited in line for thirty minutes to get it." I got up and walked to the dining table. That's when I saw the shirt he'd left on the floor. There was a lipstick mark on the collar. Its bright red color was painfully obvious. I didn't need to ask who had left it there. Suddenly, my stomach churned. I grabbed the waffles from the table and tossed the entire thing into the trash. When he came out of the shower, he saw what was in the trash and frowned. "Honey, what's wrong? Did the waffles taste bad?" "They looked disgusting. I didn't want any," I said. Chapter 3 I had spoken in a cold tone. Jim was silent for a moment before turning around and walking into the kitchen. A little while later, he came back with a bowl of oatmeal. "Here, I made this fresh. Eat it while it's warm." I lowered my head and ate the oatmeal. He sat across from me. His voice carried a hint of impatience. "Christine, why have you become so difficult lately?" My grip tightened around the spoon. Back when my morning sickness was so bad that I couldn't eat, he used to make all kinds of dishes for me. Sometimes, he'd even drive out in the middle of the night just to buy the pastries I was craving. "Honey, whatever you want to eat, I'll make it or buy it for you. As long as you're happy." He used to say that. Now, I was nothing but a burden to him. I lowered my head, and my tears silently fell into the oatmeal. When he saw my expression, his tone softened. "Didn't you want to have maternity photos taken? I made an appointment for today." I froze for a moment. I touched my protruding belly and nodded gently. No matter how awful he had become, these were still memories of my child and me. At three that afternoon, we arrived at the photography studio. The makeup artist was matching shades of concealer. "This shade will cover the stretch marks perfectly." She dipped her brush into the concealer and gently swept it across my belly. "Mrs. Luther, just relax. The photos are going to look beautiful." I stared at my swollen body in the mirror. Pregnancy spots were scattered beneath my collarbone. Suddenly, I heard the sharp click of high heels from outside. Jim's younger sister, Leah Luther, barged in with an unfamiliar woman on her arm. Her red-painted nails were almost painful to look at. "Lucy, look." Leah deliberately raised her voice. "This is the surrogate my brother married." Lucy had on a cropped top that exposed her waist. It was paired with wide-leg black pants. Her toned abs were faintly visible. She tilted her head and examined my belly. She then suddenly reached out and poked it. "So stretch marks are raised when you touch them? They feel like the bark of an old tree." The makeup brush fell to the floor with a sharp clatter. I instinctively grabbed my coat to cover my belly, but Leah snatched it away and tossed it into the trash. "What are you covering it up for? You're ugly anyway. Don't expect people to pretend otherwise." "Leah." Lucy gently slapped the back of Leah's hand in mock reproach. "Don't tease her. You'll hurt her feelings." She then turned to face me with a gentle smile. "I have to admit, I don't understand why anyone would willingly let herself get ruined like this–" I gripped my dress and looked at Jim. His gaze landed on my belly. His brows furrowed almost imperceptibly before he looked away. In the past, if someone said even one harsh word to me, he would turn cold and demand an apology. Now, he merely lowered his head and scrolled through his phone. The screen illuminated the tattoo on his collarbone. [LY.] "I heard pregnant women sometimes leak urine." Leah suddenly lifted the hem of my dress. "Christine, do you want me to get you a diaper?" Lucy burst out laughing. She covered her red lips with her rhinestone-covered nails. "Leah, stop it. You're going to make her cry." Lucy suddenly leaned close to my ear. I could smell the scent of Chanel No. 5. "You know, Jim told me you've gotten fat and ugly since you got pregnant. Every time he touches you, he has to wipe his hands with alcohol three times afterward. He'd never make me endure something like that," she said maliciously. My entire body trembled as I stood up. The makeup chair toppled over with a loud crash. Jim finally looked up, but all he did was glance at his watch with a frown. "Can you hurry up? I have something to do at five." Lucy immediately slipped her arm through his. Her fingers brushed over the tattoo on his collarbone. "Five? Are you coming to my welcome-back party? There's no rush. I'll let you stay and finish the photos with your wife first. After all, she's gone through so much to bear a child for you." I looked at my reflection in the mirror. My belly was covered in stretch marks and protruded outward. Standing beside Jim, Lucy looked glamorous. Her long hair cascaded around her shoulders. They looked like a perfect couple. "Mr. Luther." The makeup artist nervously held up a powder puff. "Your wife's eyes are a little teary. Would you like me to touch up her makeup?" Chapter 4 Jim finally spoke, "Lucy, that's enough." Jim's tone sounded like he was trying to stop an argument, but his eyes never left Lucy's face. I clenched my fists, and my nails dug deep into my palms. For the next week, Jim left home early in the morning and came home late at night. I never asked where he went. We lived under the same roof, yet we might as well have been strangers. Today was the day of my prenatal checkup. I texted him, but he didn't reply. I called him, but he didn't answer either. In the end, I had no choice but to take a cab to the hospital alone. The waiting room was packed with couples. Husbands carefully supported their wives while speaking softly as they comforted them. I sat alone in a corner with my medical records in my hands. As if sensing my emotions, the baby gave me a gentle kick. "Number 28, Christine." When I heard the nurse call my name, I struggled to my feet and slowly made my way into the examination room. I pressed one hand against the wall for support. After the examination, I walked out with my report in hand. I suddenly spotted a familiar figure at the end of the hallway. Jim was supporting Lucy. His movements were so gentle that it was as if he were holding something fragile. She was in a hospital gown. Her face was pale, yet she was still breathtakingly beautiful. I stood there and watched them lean against each other like newlyweds deeply in love. Jim lowered his head and whispered something into her ear. She nodded gently and smiled. "Jim!" Leah suddenly came running from behind them with a bag of medicine in her hand. "I got Lucy's medicine." When she saw me, she froze for a moment before sneering. "Oh, look. Christine is here too. Are you all by yourself?" Only then did Jim notice me. His expression changed. "Christine–" He started to walk toward me, but Leah grabbed his arm. "Jim, are you really going to leave Lucy alone? She got hurt trying to save you." Lucy leaned weakly against the wall. Her voice was soft. "Jim, go ahead. I'm fine. Your wife needs you more right now." Her tone was gracious and considerate, but there was a clear challenge in her eyes. Leah grew anxious. "Lucy, don't pretend you're fine! You nearly risked your life for my brother. Can he even call himself a man if he walks away from you now?" I simply stood there and watched their pathetic performance. I felt nothing. Maybe once upon a time, Jim's betrayal would have broken my heart. But after he had pushed me away again and again, all the resentment and hatred inside me had already been worn away. I didn't say a word, and I didn't make a scene. I simply turned around and walked away. I knew that from this moment on, I would never feel sad over this man again. ... That evening, I finished taking a shower and walked out with a towel still draped over my damp hair. I then saw my mother-in-law, Leah, and Lucy all sitting on the sofa in my living room. There were several cups of coffee on the coffee table. The atmosphere was so warm and harmonious that they looked like the real owners of the house. Lucy leaned against the armrest. Her face was pale, but she couldn't conceal the smugness in her eyes. The moment my mother-in-law saw me, she spoke. "Christine, Lucy is injured. She'll be staying here for a while so Jim can take care of her." Her tone left no room for discussion. She wasn't asking me. She was informing me. Leah crossed her legs and casually popped a grape into her mouth. "Lucy got hurt trying to save Jim. You wouldn't be that petty, would you, Christine?" I dried my hair with a towel. I then glanced over them before finally looking at Jim. He stood off to the side with his brows slightly furrowed. It looked like he was caught in an awkward position, but he didn't object. "Whatever," I said indifferently before returning to the bedroom. After closing the door, I sat down at my desk and switched on my laptop. A new email was waiting in my inbox. I read the title. [Meridian College of Technology PhD Admissions.] I clicked on it and stared at the word 'congratulations' for a long time. I slowly began to smile. Chapter 5 As the flight-booking page loaded, the doorknob turned. Jim walked in. He was holding a glass of warm milk, and his gaze swept across my laptop screen. "What are you doing up so late?" I quickly switched to another page. "Nothing. I was just searching for some music for the baby." He walked up to me from behind and rested a hand on my shoulder. "Honey, Lucy's only staying at our house for a few days. You're about to give birth. Don't overthink it." I switched off the laptop and stood up. "I'm tired. I'm going to bed." He stood there looking like he wanted to say something. In the end, he only sighed before turning around and leaving. I switched on the laptop again and booked a flight to Baronica. The glow of the screen illuminated my face. I gently touched my protruding belly and felt completely at peace. This time, I was really leaving. Early the next morning, I opened my wardrobe and started packing. In the corner sat a faded red velvet jewelry box. Its edges were worn white with age. I gently opened it. Inside was a silver necklace with a tiny bell pendant engraved with the words 'safe and sound.' It was the only keepsake my mother had left me. Just as I placed the jewelry box into my suitcase, Lucy suddenly pushed open the door. Her gaze immediately locked onto the necklace. A flicker of greed appeared in her eyes. "Isn't this the necklace Jim gave me?" I looked at her coldly. "It belonged to my late mother." "You're lying!" She ran over and grabbed the jewelry box. "Jim told me he was going to give me a bell necklace. It has to be this one!" I held tightly onto the other end of the box. "Lucy, are you deaf? I already told you this belonged to my mother!" "Stop pretending to be some poor victim!" she shrieked. "Jim already told me. Your mother killed herself because your father cheated on her. Someone from a family like yours doesn't deserve to wear a necklace this nice!" My entire body trembled. My grip loosened involuntarily. She seized the opportunity and yanked the box from my hands. It hit the floor with a sharp thud, and the necklace rolled out. "Jim's a piece of trash, and you're the only one who thinks he's a knight in shining armor. If you want him, then keep him. I don't care!" I bent down to pick up the necklace. My voice was cold and firm. "But this belonged to my mother. Don't you dare touch it." "Why are you acting so high and mighty?" She sneered. "Do you really think Jim loves you? He just didn't want me to go through childbirth, so he borrowed your belly." "Shut up!" I slapped her across the face and snatched the necklace back. Enraged, she shoved me with all her strength. I lost my balance and crashed to the floor. My belly slammed hard against the corner of the bed. I felt a wave of excruciating pain throughout my body. I curled into a ball, and sweat trickled down my forehead. Lucy froze. Her face turned pale. "C-Christine, don't try to pin this on me. I-I didn't mean to." She backed away two steps before turning around and running out. I lay on the floor as amniotic fluid and blood soaked into the carpet. The pain felt like a blunt knife twisting against my abdomen repeatedly. "H-Help me." I struggled to crawl forward, and my fingernails left several bloody marks across the floor. The necklace was still in my hand. It was now stained with blood. At last, I reached my phone. With trembling fingers, I dialed 911. My voice was hoarse. "I-I'm 35 weeks pregnant. I fell, and my water broke–" The voice on the other end immediately became anxious. "Your address! Tell me your address!" I gave them the address. My vision began to go black. The pain came crashing over me like a wave. I bit down hard on my lip, refusing to let myself pass out. "Hang in there! The ambulance is on its way!" I lay on the floor and stared at the chandelier above as my vision grew increasingly blurry.