Six Years of Poisoned Love

My husband, Alexander, gave me "fertility supplements" every morning for six years. I drank every drop, desperate for the child he promised we'd have. But my body remained stubbornly empty.

Then, on my 40th birthday, I discovered the truth. The supplements were contraceptives. And his mistress was pregnant with the son he'd always wanted.

She sent me a video of Alexander kissing her pregnant belly.

"He's always loved me," the text read. "You were just the placeholder. Enjoy your barren life."

The man I trusted had systematically poisoned me, stealing my dream of motherhood while building his real family with another woman.

He had gaslighted me for years, making me believe I was the one who was broken, all while living a double life that began on our wedding day.

That night, at the lavish birthday party he threw for me, he planned a "romantic surprise" on a giant screen for all our friends and family. He had no idea I had a surprise of my own.

Chapter 1

My wish was simple, whispered into the flickering candlelight, a silent prayer that had been the cornerstone of my life for years: to hold a child of my own, a tiny bundle made of love and Alexander. But that night, as the final candle glowed, my wish solidified into something far darker, a vow I knew I would keep: I wished to never see Alexander Pugh again.

The shift happened on my fortieth birthday, a day that was supposed to be about celebration, but became the fulcrum of my undoing. For six years, Alexander and I had been married, navigating the glittering world of New York' s elite. He was the brilliant tech mogul, I, the passionate gallery owner. Our public image was flawless, a testament to success and enduring love. But behind the closed doors of our penthouse, a silent, persistent ache had grown: our inability to conceive.

My friends, bless their well-meaning hearts, had often teased me about it. "Haylie, when are we going to see a little Pugh running around your gallery?" they'd ask, their voices light, unaware of the raw nerve they touched. I'd smile, a practiced, brittle thing, and Alexander would always swoop in, his arm around my waist, a reassuring squeeze. "Soon, darling," he'd say, his voice deep and comforting. "Haylie just needs a little more time to focus on her art."

He was always so supportive, so understanding. He' d meticulously researched "holistic fertility supplements" for me, insisting they were far better than the invasive medical procedures I'd started to consider. Every morning, he' d bring a warm mug to my bedside, the herbal concoction smelling faintly of ginseng and something else I couldn't quite place. I drank it, every single day, with the unwavering faith of a woman desperate for a child and utterly devoted to her husband.

But the years passed, and my body remained stubbornly empty. The monthly disappointments started to wear holes in my soul. I blamed myself, convinced my humble background somehow made me unworthy, less fertile than the women of Alexander' s prestigious lineage. His parents, always polite, had grown increasingly pointed in their inquiries. "A male heir is important, Haylie," Alexander's mother had once said, her smile not reaching her eyes.

I decided it was time for proper medical intervention. No more "holistic" remedies. I needed answers, a clear path forward. I scheduled an appointment with a top fertility specialist. That morning, I was buzzing with a mixture of fear and hope.

I was heading out, my keys in hand, when I saw Alexander's car. It wasn't parked in its usual spot in front of our building. It was idling a block away, tucked discreetly behind a delivery truck. Something about it felt wrong. It was too early for his usual office departure, and his driver, always punctual, wasn't in sight. Alexander was driving himself.

A prickle of unease ran down my spine, cold and sharp. I told myself it was nothing, just a change in routine. But the little voice inside me, the one I usually ignored, urged me to follow. It was an impulse, a whisper of suspicion I couldn't shake. I hailed a cab, my heart thumping an erratic rhythm against my ribs. "Follow that car," I told the driver, the words feeling theatrical and absurd even as I spoke them.

Alexander's car wove through the city streets, eventually leading us out of the familiar urban grid and into a quieter, more residential area. He pulled up to a modest, yet elegant, private residence-a place I'd never seen before. It wasn' t a client' s home, nor any of his family' s properties. It was clearly a personal dwelling, secluded behind a high hedge.

Then I saw her. A woman, young and slender, dressed in a vibrant red dress, stood by the gate. Her hair, a cascade of dark curls, framed a face that looked both eager and impatient. She was waiting. For him.

My breath hitched. My hands gripped the taxi door handle so tightly my knuckles turned white. Alexander stepped out of his car, a smile spreading across his face, a smile I hadn't seen directed at me in months, perhaps years. It was loose, unburdened, full of an easy joy that twisted my insides. He reached for her, and she melted into his embrace. Their lips met, a long, lingering kiss that stole the air from my lungs.

"Alexander!" she purred, her voice carrying across the quiet street, sharp and clear even through the closed taxi window. "You're late, darling."

He chuckled, a low, intimate sound. "Had to make sure Haylie was settled first. You know how she gets."

My name, used as a shield, a flimsy excuse. A cold wave washed over me, leaving me shivering despite the warmth of the day.

"Oh, poor Haylie," she said, her tone dripping with mock sympathy. "Still trying for a baby, isn't she? So tragic." Her eyes, dark and glittering, met Alexander's. "Good thing you've got me, then, isn't it? No barren wives here." She laughed, a high, tinkling sound that grated on my ears.

Alexander pulled her closer, his gaze sweeping over her. "You know you're all I need, Carson." Carson. The name felt like a knife twisting in an open wound. "Just be careful, darling. Don't make a scene. We have to be discreet."

"Discreet? What fun is that?" she teased, pressing her body against his. "Besides, what's she going to do? She's too busy drowning in her organic baby dust." Then, with a brazenness that stole my breath, she leaned up and kissed him again, a deeper, more possessive kiss this time. Alexander's arms tightened around her.

My stomach churned. A wave of nausea, sharp and bitter, rose in my throat. My head spun, the world tilting precariously. I gripped the seat, trying to steady myself. The taxi driver glanced back, concern etched on his face. "Ma'am, is everything alright?"

"Yes," I choked out, the word tasting like ash. "Just... take me home. Quickly."

I stumbled out of the cab, the crisp New York air doing nothing to clear the fog of betrayal. The penthouse, once my sanctuary, now felt like a gilded cage. It was late, the city lights painting streaks across the floor. My housekeeper, Mrs. Jenkins, a kind woman who had been with Alexander's family for decades, met me at the door.

"Mrs. Pugh, thank goodness you're back," she murmured, her brow furrowed. "Mr. Pugh called. He said you weren't feeling well. I've prepared your special tonic." She held out a steaming mug, the familiar herbal aroma wafting through the air. "He said it's for your fertility, to help you get pregnant."

The words hit me like a physical blow. Fertility. Pregnant. My gaze locked onto the mug, the innocent steam curling upwards, a cruel mockery. A cold, hard knot formed in my stomach, tighter than any physical pain. My hands trembled, a tremor that started deep within my bones.

Years. Years of trying, of hope turning to ash. I'd swallowed every bitter drop of that "tonic," choking down the earthy taste, imagining it nurturing life within me. I'd endured countless doctor' s visits, the invasive tests, the pitying looks of nurses. Alexander had always been there, holding my hand, whispering words of encouragement. "We'll get through this, Haylie. Our baby is coming." His eyes, so full of what I thought was love and shared longing.

I had believed him. I, Haylie Strickland, who had witnessed my own mother's devastation from my father's infidelity, had vowed never to be that woman. I had sought stability, loyalty, a partnership built on trust. Alexander, with his impeccable charm, his powerful family name, his seemingly boundless devotion, had been that rock. He had been my safe harbor. He had been everything my father wasn't.

I had blamed myself for our childlessness. The guilt had gnawed at me, convinced I was somehow failing him, failing our future. I had even started exploring more drastic options, IVF, surrogacy, anything to give him the family I knew he desired, the heir his family expected. I had been so desperate, so blind.

Now, the truth, ugly and raw, flashed before my eyes. Fertility tonic. The words echoed with a sickening irony.

Alexander's voice cut through the silence, warm and solicitous. "Haylie, darling, you're home. How are you feeling?" He walked into the living room, his tie loosened, a faint scent of an unfamiliar perfume clinging to him. He looked disarmingly concerned, his eyes scanning my face with practiced tenderness. "You look pale. Here, Mrs. Jenkins, the tonic. My wife needs her medicine."

He moved towards me, reaching for the mug. My stomach lurched. The smell, once a symbol of hope, now reeked of deceit. I saw it then, a faint smudge of bright red on the collar of his crisp white shirt. Lipstick. Carson's lipstick. The color of her audacious dress.

My throat felt tight, my voice a strangled whisper. "I'm... I'm not feeling well, Alexander. I don't think I can drink it right now."

He paused, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes before it smoothed away. "Nonsense, sweetheart. This will make you feel better. You need your strength if we're going to make a baby, don't you?" He took the mug from Mrs. Jenkins, his gaze lingering on my face. "You know, I was so worried when I went to that... client meeting earlier. You seemed so upset." He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Did you go out, darling? I thought you were resting."

My heart hammered. He was fishing, testing me. "Just a quick errand," I said, my voice barely steady. "A gallery matter. But I came right back. The traffic was awful near... that new development out on the West Side." It was the area near Carson's house.

His jaw tightened, a subtle shift I almost missed. "Ah, yes, that area. Nasty traffic. Well, come, my love." He walked closer, forcing the mug into my hand. "Drink up. For our future. For our child." He raised the mug to my lips, his thumb brushing my chin. It felt like a violation.

I pushed his hand away, the liquid sloshing slightly. "Alexander, what exactly is in this? I mean, after all these years, it's not working. Maybe it's time we reconsidered it." My voice was carefully neutral, a tightrope walk over an abyss.

He frowned, his expression darkening. "Haylie, don't be ridiculous. This is the best, most natural solution. It just takes time. Patience, my love. Patience." His tone was firm, brooking no argument. He grabbed my hand, bringing the mug back to my mouth. "Open."

The bitter taste filled my mouth. I swallowed, the liquid burning a path down my throat. My eyes welled up, tears blurring the edges of the room. It wasn't just the taste; it was the sheer, crushing weight of his betrayal. He watched me, a small, triumphant smile playing on his lips. He pulled a small, intricately carved wooden charm from his pocket, a fertility symbol. "We'll put this under your pillow tonight. And then, my love, we'll make our baby." He leaned in, his lips brushing my ear. "Let's go upstairs, darling. It's been too long."

A cold dread coiled in my belly. My body felt alien, polluted by his touch, by his lies. How could I have been so foolish? So utterly blind? My gaze drifted to the coffee table where Alexander's phone lay face up. The screen lit up. A message notification. Carson Gibson.

"Alexander, we need to talk." The words were out before I could stop them, a desperate plea for truth, for anything but the suffocating charade.