My Perfect Second Life

[Primrose]

I glanced at the digital clock on the nightstand, one minute to go. I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, but it didn't calm my racing heart. I paced back and forth near the bed.

I waited three days before taking the test because I wanted the results to be accurate. That long wait might finally be over. I had high hopes that the symptoms I was experiencing were a sign of good news.

I glanced at the digital clock. It was time to see the results. I rushed to the bathroom. A pregnancy test was sitting by the sink. That little stick would determine whether my prayers had been answered or if I needed to try harder.

I stood facing the stick, closed my eyes, and took a deep breath. I opened my eyes and glanced at that crucial object. "Oh!"

There was a single horizontal line in the middle of the stick. I blinked, but the line didn't add another. I closed my eyes as I felt them grow warm. My chest felt tight with surging emotions.

I sobbed, unable to hold back my tears any longer. We'd been trying to become parents for five years. For those years, I'd been disappointed by the pregnancy test results and visits to the OB-GYN.

Hearing the vibration on the nightstand, my chest tightened even more. I knew who was calling, but I couldn't speak in that state. Since the sound wouldn't stop, I forced myself to get up and walk over to the small table. I picked up the phone and answered the call.

"Good morning, sweetheart," Thorne greeted me.

I could only sob, unable to tell him the result of the pregnancy test. I knew my husband would be just as disappointed as I was. Unfortunately, he was out of town. I couldn't hug him when I needed him most.

Thorne sighed. "It's okay, sweetheart. I'll be home tomorrow night. We'll face this together. You mustn't lose hope. We'll try again."

"Okay." That was all I could say.

"I love you. This situation won't diminish my love for you. I hope you don't give up on our love either," he pleaded.

"I won't," I promised.

Thorne ended our call after offering those comforting words. I didn't feel any better because I'd heard those words for five years. All my hopes of having a child had crumbled because we'd done everything, but there were no results.

I changed my mind on the way to work. I turned around and headed to the hospital. In a state of despair, I went there to find new strength. I saw the sign above the room: Intensive Care Unit.

A nurse greeted me warmly. She helped me put on protective gear before entering the room. After putting on a mask, I walked toward an isolation room. A man lay weakly there.

"Hi, Brother," I greeted him. "Sorry to bother you again, but I'm really sad today."

I bowed my head as tears welled up. I sobbed, unable to say anything. I held Briar's hand, hoping that touch would give me the strength I needed. If he could see me crying, he'd tease me mercilessly.

"You know? I miss you. I don't blame you for my situation, but I wish you'd stop teasing me and wake up. I need my brother. I've lost my anchor since you've been lying here for two years. Two years, Briar."

My brother was in an accident on his way to his apartment. The police concluded that the driver who ran the red light was at fault. The judge sentenced him to five years in prison, but it wasn't enough for me.

That man would be free and living his life in three years. He might even be released sooner because I heard he was behaving well. Meanwhile, my brother was in a coma with no guarantee he'd wake up. My life had completely changed without him.

"Prim?" Someone entered the room and closed the door behind her. "What are you doing here?" she asked in surprise.

I placed my brother's hand by his side and covered him with a blanket. I sighed. Two years passed, and he still hadn't woken from the coma. I believed in miracles, but I began to wonder whether he still wanted to live or would rather rest forever.

"I don't know why I wanted to visit him this morning," I muttered.

"You never visit except on Mondays. Is something troubling you?" Violet asked.

I smiled. "I know I can't hide anything from you."

We stepped out of the room. I didn't want to disturb my brother with our conversation. I took the pregnancy test out of my bag and handed it to my best friend. Violet took it, glanced at the result, and let out a sigh. She handed the test back to me.

"I don't have the words to comfort you." Violet glanced toward the ICU. "Maybe God hasn't given you a child, so that someone can take care of your brother."

I nodded. "That's why I came here. I'm asking Briar to wake up soon. He's been asleep for too long."

"He's been in a coma for two years now," my best friend murmured.

"Please take care of him." I held the woman's hand. "I have to go to the office. See you later."

"Don't you want to stop by my clinic for a pregnancy check?" she asked in surprise.

I shook my head. "The pregnancy test was enough."

I walked away from the ICU with heavy steps. I'd hoped for two miracles, but neither happened. Briar hadn't woken up, and I wasn't pregnant. I wasn't a good person, but I wasn't a bad one either. Why did my life feel like a curse?

I turned at the end of the corridor. A familiar figure made me stop in my tracks. My husband was hugging a woman holding a baby. My mother-in-law was walking on the woman's other side, flanking her and the baby between them.

I blinked. Yes, I wasn't seeing things. Those two were indeed Thorne and his mother. However, the woman wasn't a stranger. I knew her well. Why was she with my husband and mother-in-law? Whose child was in her arms?

"Excuse me." I stopped a nurse passing by. "What are Mr. Watson and his mother doing in this hospital? Is his mother sick?"

"No. Mrs. Watson Sr. is fine. It's Mr. Watson's son who's sick. His wife is very lucky. It's rare to find a husband and mother-in-law as attentive as they are," she replied sympathetically.

Thorne had a child? But I wasn't mistaken. The two people with the woman holding the baby were my husband and my mother-in-law. How could I not know my husband had a baby?

The nurse said that the woman was his wife. Was that what they had listed in his records? Thorne's wife was me, not that woman. Thorne only loved me. Oh, God. It couldn't be. He couldn't have cheated on me with another woman.

I held onto the wall as my legs suddenly went weak. My vision blurred, making everything around me spin. The nurse quickly approached and took my hand. She helped me sit down on the nearest empty bench.

"Are you okay? You look pale. Do you need me to get you something?" she asked worriedly.

I shook my head while trying to smile. "No. Thank you. I'm fine," I replied quickly. "Um, thank you for your help. Once I feel a little better, I'll go home and rest."

"Okay. I hope you stay healthy." She gently rubbed my shoulder.

I waited anxiously in the car. Seeing Thorne's vehicle not far from where I was, I decided to find out the truth behind the nurse's words. I couldn't believe my husband would betray me. Thorne wouldn't do that.

After an hour, Thorne's driver approached the car. He drove it toward the lobby just as my husband emerged with his mother and that woman. Thorne helped the woman into the car, wrapping his arm around her waist and keeping her head from bumping against the car's roof.

My hands clenched, gripping the steering wheel tightly. My whole body trembled as I saw that my husband not only had a child with another woman, but he seemed to care for her. The hands that always touched me with such tenderness were now on another woman's body.

I laughed in shock at their destination: my mother-in-law's house. So, that woman and the child had been living there all the time, close to me, but I hadn't realized it. I'd been there several times, but I'd never seen them. Since when had they been living there?

I stared at the house from a distance. I wasn't seeing things. It was my in-laws' house, and there was my husband with a woman and their child. My whole body was shaking with rage. I couldn't believe my own eyes. How could my mother-in-law and my husband have done that behind my back?

Magnolia had indeed been pressuring me to get pregnant after Thorne and I had been married for three years. However, I never expected her to take such a shortcut. Instead of scolding her son, she welcomed that cheap woman and her baby into her home.

Since when has Magnolia stopped standing by my side and sided with another woman? I couldn't believe she chose my best friend to be my husband's mistress. I met Lilybeth after marrying Thorne. Even though she was the daughter of a successful businessman, she wasn't the type to pick and choose her friends.

We met a few times at events I attended with Thorne. They acted like two people who knew each other, nothing more. My husband took me wherever he went and never spoke alone with Lilybeth.

What should I do? Even though Lilybeth was wrong for getting involved with a married man, her child was innocent. If Thorne chose her over me, what would become of me? Should I end our marriage?

I glanced at the digital clock on the dashboard. Realizing I had work to do, I calmed myself down. My hands were shaking on the steering wheel. I couldn't drive in that state. After drinking some water and turning on the music, I felt better.

I was late for the meeting, but everyone waited patiently for me. The directors presented their reports on each division's progress and their targets for the week. We focused on plans to promote vacant apartments ahead of summer.

I wasn't the company's owner-my brother was. Since Briar was in a coma, I'd taken over as CEO and was doing everything I could to fulfill his responsibilities. I wanted him to be happy when he woke up, knowing his beloved company was still standing.

I headed to my office after the meeting. I wanted to put my phone on the desk, but it vibrated. I took a deep breath before answering the call. "Hi, Thorne," I said.

"Hi, sweetheart. There's been a change of plans. I'm done with work today. I'll be coming home tonight," my husband said cheerfully. "My assistant booked a vacation spot for this weekend. What do you think?"

"You just got back from abroad. Aren't you tired of traveling again?"

"I want to be alone with my wife," he teased.

I smiled, playing along with his act. "Alright. I'll have the maid pack our clothes for the weekend."

Thorne uttered words of love as he ended our conversation. I replied smoothly. After he hung up, I stared at my phone. How could he do that? He slept with another woman, had a child with her, yet claimed to love me.

My phone vibrated; I frowned at the name of one of the directors on the screen. "Hello?" I answered.

"I have bad news, ma'am," the woman said.

The phone nearly slipped from my grasp after hearing the director's explanation. Two people who had promised to lend my company money had backed out. One was supposed to transfer the funds that afternoon, while another was due tomorrow afternoon.

Lilybeth was my best friend who helped me convince those two to lend their money. My brother's real estate company needed an investment. I was renovating two of his apartment buildings to keep existing tenants happy and attract new ones.

Unfortunately, the CFO embezzled the project funds. The police found him last month, but all the money had gone to the gambling table. I couldn't do anything to get that money back. Lilybeth came and offered her help. I gladly accepted.

"There's a debt due next Monday. What should we do, ma'am?" the finance director asked in a panic.

"I'll look for another loan," I replied.

"We have to pay the employees tomorrow," she reminded me.

"Don't worry. All of you will receive your pay on time," I promised.

"Alright, ma'am. Thank you," the woman sighed in relief.

"You're welcome," I said before ending the call.

After hanging up, I called Lilybeth. She didn't answer my call. I stopped after trying three times, as she ignored me. Her behavior was completely out of line. What had she told that potential lender?

I didn't confront her at my in-laws' house because I needed that loan. Besides, I kept my personal life separate from my work. Briar built that real estate company from scratch. He would be heartbroken if he saw his hard work go to waste. I was also worried that hundreds of employees would lose their jobs.

I left work as evening approached. My heart was heavy because I hadn't found a solution. As I passed the intersection leading to the hospital, I turned the car around. I didn't want to go home and face Thorne. I decided to visit my brother and calm myself down.

"Mrs. Watson?" a nurse said. She looked at me in confusion. "You usually come on Mondays. Are you here to see your brother?"

"Can't I come on a day other than Monday?" I asked. "I didn't know this hospital had rules about family visiting hours."

"Oh, I'm sorry," the nurse apologized. "You can come anytime during visiting hours, but you'll have to wait. Someone is checking on Mr. Gagnon."

I furrowed my brow. "Who?"

The ICU room door opened, and the nurse and I turned at the same time. A man in a wheelchair looked at us kindly. I was stunned to recognize that handsome, oval face. His hair was the same color as his eyes-dark brown. He was my brother's best friend from high school.

"Rhodes?" I asked in surprise. "What are you doing here?" I glanced toward the ICU.

"Hi, Primrose. I'm visiting Briar," he replied.

I looked at his legs. "What happened to you?"

The man smiled. "You should go see your brother. If you still want to talk to me after you're with him, meet me in the cafeteria," he suggested.

I wanted to say something, but his suggestion made sense. We were in front of the ICU, not exactly the right place to talk. So, I nodded. I saw a man approaching Rhodes. They excused themselves and headed for the elevator.

The sight broke my heart. Rhodes was a cheerful and energetic person. What had happened to make him end up in a wheelchair? Judging by how calmly he maneuvered it, he must have lost the ability to walk a long time ago.

Remembering his message, I hurried to see my brother. I knew he wasn't conscious, but I couldn't hold back my disappointment. I thought that after a visit from his best friend, he'd surprise me by opening his eyes and shouting.

"I'm selfish. I know. The injuries you sustained after the accident were severe. The fact that you survived is a miracle. Doctors and medical staff are studying your case because of your strong will to live. Take as much time as you need to recover," I said.

"You know? I had problems, but they all vanished after meeting your friend. I knew I'd find a way out during my visit tonight. Brother, help me save your company," I whispered.

I headed to the cafeteria with my heart pounding. I thought through every word I would say to convince that man to give me the help I needed. Rhodes was my only way out of my big problem.

Seeing Rhodes eating his meal, I approached the counter to choose my order. After filling my plate and glass and paying my bill, I carried the tray to his table. The man with him stood up to help pull out a chair for me. I sat down across from him.

"Thank you," I said to the man.

"You're welcome," he replied. The man sat back down beside Rhodes.

"Um, hi, Rhodes," I greeted him.

The man smiled. "Hi, Primrose," he replied.

"I didn't know you lived in this town," I said. "Do you visit Briar often?"

"I opened a branch here two years ago. Even though Briar forbade it, I wanted to compete with him. I was tired of living in the old town," he answered. "I visit him every Thursday."

I nodded. I visit my brother on Mondays. Therefore, I didn't know who visited him on other days. Besides, the nurses wouldn't let anyone see him.

"I know you told the nurses not to let anyone visit Briar without your permission. I bribed them to keep their mouths shut," Rhodes admitted, half-jokingly.

I chuckled. "You're my brother's best friend. I won't complain about your visit tonight," I said.

"Thanks," the man smiled.

Seeing him continue eating, I did the same. I was hungry because I hadn't eaten anything since leaving the meeting room. The issues that day had taken up my time and consumed my thoughts. I hadn't felt like eating. Thankfully, I felt better after visiting Briar and meeting Rhodes.

The problem was that I didn't know how to start our conversation. I didn't want to make small talk, and Rhodes wasn't the type to enjoy meaningless chatter. He was the kind of person who spoke his mind, but my tongue was tied.

I could easily get a loan from Thorne at a low interest rate, but I didn't want to work with that selfish man. We had a huge fight when I decided to take over my brother's company and refused his offer to appoint someone else as CEO.

"Is there something on my face?" Rhodes smiled.

"Ah, n-no," I stammered.

"You've been looking at me like you want to say something. You open your mouth, but then change your mind." The man set his fork and knife down on his plate. "What's wrong? Did the nurse or doctor say anything about Briar?"

I had an unpleasant past with Rhodes. He confessed his feelings for me while I was working at my brother's company. I only saw him as a friend because I was dating Thorne. Even though we hadn't discussed the future, I was serious about him.

Our relationship grew distant. Briar didn't invite Rhodes over to his apartment. He also didn't include me when greeting his friend at an event. We stopped seeing each other when I moved after marrying Thorne.

I didn't know if he was married because Briar didn't share anything about his friends after I got married. Rhodes wasn't wearing a ring on his finger, making it hard for me to know his status. He didn't have any feelings for me, did he?

"It has nothing to do with Briar," I answered.

"If you want to ask about my leg, I was in an accident two years ago," Rhodes answered my question when we met outside the ICU.

"I'm sorry," I muttered. I furrowed my brow as Rhodes stared at me without saying a word. "Um, what's wrong?"

"You've changed a lot. Did Thorne hurt you?" he asked.

I shouldn't have been surprised since Rhodes liked to speak his mind, but the question caught me off guard. "Why would you think that?"

"Your eyes are swollen, your forehead is constantly furrowed, and you're restless," he replied.

"I forgot. You like to notice the little details in everyone," I said.

"Not everyone. Just you," the man said.

His eyes looked at me seriously. The room suddenly felt empty, as if there were only him and me. It was as if the events of seven years ago were repeating themselves. Rhodes stood before me with his gentle gaze and declared his love for me.

No. It was impossible. That man didn't love me. I must have misread his attitude because it had been so long since I'd seen him. Even though he wasn't wearing a ring, he might be married and have children.

"I'm having problems at work," I said, taking advantage of his attention.

"Oh. What happened? I know you've been running Briar's company since he's been in a coma," Rhodes said. He leaned in, eager to hear my answer.

"The company is having financial problems. I was getting help, but they suddenly canceled the loan they'd promised," I explained.

The man pulled his phone from the inner pocket of his jacket. "How much do you need?"

"Huh?" I asked.

Rhodes looked at me. "You said you needed a loan. How much do you need?"

"Y-you want to help me?"

"Of course. Briar is my best friend. His sister is my sister," he replied.

I felt a huge sense of relief as I left the hospital. Rhodes had helped me solve one problem. I drove my car home, but that feeling of happiness quickly faded. I remembered another huge issue that weighed heavily on my heart.

I was relieved Thorne wasn't in our room. I washed myself under the shower and let my tears flow along with the water. I dried myself off as my body began to shiver. My reflection in the mirror looked absolutely terrible. Rhodes was right. I had changed a lot.

I couldn't believe my husband had betrayed me. That woman and her child were staying at Mom's house. My mother-in-law wouldn't have taken them in if the child weren't Thorne's. She must have had them both tested. I couldn't believe he'd be capable of doing that behind my back.

The most painful reality was that it didn't take that woman long to get pregnant, while I had to wait five years. Even though the doctor said I was healthy and had no issues with my fertility, I failed. Why was God being so unfair to me?

Someone knocked on the door and opened it. Breathing in the familiar scent, I knew Thorne was home. I heard his quiet footsteps on the carpet as he approached the bathroom. My hands clenched into fists, remembering what happened at the hospital.

"Oh. Hi, Thorne." I turned around when he was standing near me. I knew he would wrap his arms around my shoulders and kiss my hair.

"Hi, sweetheart," he replied. "For you." Thorne handed me a bouquet of red roses.

I avoided his kiss and walked toward the walk-in closet. I placed the bouquet on the vanity. "Your meeting ended a day early. Does that mean your colleagues approved all the terms you proposed?"

"Of course. You know how amazing your husband is," he said.

"Where are we going tomorrow?" After putting on my nightgown, I applied night cream to my face.

"You must be bored waiting for summer to arrive. Therefore, I chose Hawaii." Thorne took off his clothes. "I'm going to take a quick shower."

I nodded. Hearing the sound of the shower, I sighed. How dare he pretend nothing had happened. I knew Thorne had ordered his spies to follow me wherever I went. That man must have told him about what happened at the hospital earlier.

I stepped out of the dressing room and placed the bouquet on the sideboard. I asked the maids to bring a bottle of wine to the room, and they set it on the table. I poured the wine into a glass. After sitting down on the couch, I sipped the red liquid.

"What about you? Have the issues with your business been resolved?" Thorne sat down beside me.

I moved away and set my glass on the table. "No need to pretend, Thorne. I know everything. When did you sleep with Lily? Was it when you went to Dubai on a business trip two years ago? Did you and she spend a two-week honeymoon there?"

"You shouldn't have found out this way. I wanted to explain everything to you," Thorne said gently.

I scoffed. "I don't need an explanation. It's all clear to me. You couldn't wait to have a child, so you approached that woman and slept with her. I don't want to share the name Mrs. Thorne Watson with her. So, you choose-her or me."

"Can't you just listen to me first?" Thorne pleaded. "Nothing has changed, sweety. We'll be happy together. You and I will live in this house without anyone else's interference, and my son and his mother will be with my parents."

I gaped at him. "W-what? You want me to let you keep that woman as your mistress. Is that it? You're with me today and with her tomorrow? No, Thorne. You have to choose between us."

"I love you and won't let you go, but I can't ignore my son. He needs his mom, at least until he's five. I won't sleep with Lily. Her purpose has been fulfilled. I never wanted her."

"Wow! Don't you have any feelings? Do you think I'm happy hearing that nonsense? You say you love me? That's not love, Thorne. You've betrayed your love and vows to me!" My eyes burned with anger.

"I didn't betray you." He took my hand, but I quickly pulled away. "I slept with Lily just to have a son. Nothing more. I only love you. Five years. She won't be living here with us. What's got you so angry?"

"Okay. What if the situation were reversed? Wouldn't you be angry if I gave birth to another man's child? Would you agree if he and our son were living at my parents' house?"

"Don't compare our situations, Rose. You have no obligation to carry on your family line, whereas I do," he growled, defending himself. "Don't you dare talk about another man, let alone have a child with him."

"I'm just asking you to imagine it, and you're furious. Do you understand how I feel now?" I demanded.

He sighed. "You don't need to worry. Nothing has changed. I finally have a son, and we can move on with our lives without listening to my parents' pressure anymore."

"No, Thorne. I want you to choose," I protested. "I want us to get a divorce if you choose-"

"Have you forgotten about your brother?" Thorne threatened. That sentence silenced me. "Do you want him to keep receiving treatment or die?"

I became a housewife after we got married. So, I relied on Thorne's generosity to pay for his treatment because all his life-support equipment wasn't cheap. Even though I worked while he was in a coma, Briar's company was on the verge of bankruptcy.

What Thorne did was despicable. He used my brother's condition to threaten me. The thing he did only made me more certain that he didn't love me. He was a selfish man who only thought of himself and his family.

"Good that you understand. Never bring up divorce."

I clenched my fists, holding back my emotions. I gave in for my brother's sake. I was the only one he could rely on. I got a loan from Rhodes to save Briar's company. I was sure I could get help to cover his medical expenses.

His phone vibrated; Thorne checked it immediately. "I have an urgent matter. We'll talk later."

I moved back as he leaned in to kiss my forehead. My eyes stung at the thought of him being intimate with that woman. For that reason, I wouldn't let the hands that caressed her, or the lips that kissed her body, touch me.

Thorne didn't protest. He stood up and left the room. There was only one reason he'd leave without a second thought. That message must have been from Magnolia or Lilybeth. It was outrageous. He'd lied to me about a business trip when he was actually with that woman at his parents' house.

My phone vibrated; I picked it up from the table. Seeing an incoming message from my mother-in-law's number, I opened it reluctantly. She had sent a photo of Thorne sitting very close to that cheap woman as she held her baby.

"My son is happy with his little family. Let him go," Magnolia messaged.

I bit my lip to hold back the tears welling up in my eyes. I should have been there with my husband and our baby, but life was so unfair to me. Since I needed Thorne to help with my brother's treatment, I held back.

"Thank you for letting me know. I can sleep peacefully and not wait for my husband to come home tonight," I replied, sending a photo of the dozen roses Thorne had given me.

My phone vibrated, but I didn't read the new message. I was sure it was my mother-in-law who sent it. I enjoyed the wine alone. My eyes stung imagining my husband in another woman's arms, but I held back my tears.

I woke up alone in bed. Tears betrayed my struggle to stay strong. Unwilling to waste time crying over my situation, I got ready for work. The quiet atmosphere in the house was normal since the staff was busy in the kitchen.

"If they had a child, that baby would be as handsome as William," a maid in the dining room remarked.

I held back my urge to open the door. I thought Magnolia and Thorne were hiding the child's existence. How could the servants know about it when I didn't? Oh, God. Was I the only one completely in the dark about Thorne's betrayal?

"It is what it is. Mrs. Watson didn't approve of their relationship. Young Master insisted on marrying Young Madam. I feel guilty, but I couldn't disobey her orders to mix that medicine into Young Madam's food," another maid added.

"It breaks my heart to see the pregnancy test and used pads in the trash in Young Madam's bathroom. She must be depressed after five years of trying but not getting pregnant. If only she knew she's been taking birth control all this time-" she continued.

"Shh. Lower your voice. Young Madam will be coming down for breakfast soon. We shouldn't discuss it here," her colleague cut in.

My heart nearly stopped when I heard that. I placed my hand over my stomach. Was I not pregnant because the maid had mixed the medicine into my food? My eyes stung as I realized the painful betrayal.