My Husband Brought His Mistress Home

Chapter 1

Just as I stepped into the house, holding the pregnancy report I had worked on for five years, I saw my husband leading his young female secretary into the baby room.

Holly Winter clenched her hands, lowered her head, and began to sob, deliberately revealing the red marks on her neck.

"Alex, I’m homeless. Please agree to let Mr. Thornton take me in," she pleaded.

Darrell Thornton held her hand, his tone sharp and defensive toward me.

"She’s the good student you sponsored. She just graduated and doesn’t have the money to rent a place. You’re a grown adult—don’t make a fuss over a young girl."

He glanced at me coldly.

"Besides, you can’t have children. There are plenty of empty rooms in the house. What’s wrong with letting her stay for a while?"

I watched silently as he turned the baby room we had prepared into her bedroom.

Letting out a long sigh, I made a call.

"Mom, is it too late for me to agree to the conditions you gave me before and come home?"

——

"Alex, have you finally come to your senses?" My mother asked her voice for a mix of surprise and suspicion.

"I’m warning you," she continued. "Before you return, you must cut all ties with that man. If you don’t, you won’t get a single penny from the Wood family estate."

I looked down at the pregnancy report in my hands and smiled bitterly.

"Mom, I’ve made up my mind. Just give me a few more days to sort everything out here."

After hanging up, my legs suddenly gave out, and I barely managed to steady myself by leaning against the wall.

In the five years since my marriage, the Thornton family had repeatedly hinted at their desire for a son.

But the tests confirmed that getting pregnant wouldn’t be easy for me.

Consumed by guilt, I visited every gynecological clinic and sought advice from countless traditional medicine practitioners.

For years, I endured endless medications and examinations, my body burdened with the bitterness of herbal concoctions.

Yet during all of this, Darrell brought the college student I had sponsored into his company as his "personal secretary," a role he conveniently described as a "life assistant."

And now, he had taken it a step further—bringing her into our home.

All my efforts over the past five years felt like nothing more than a cruel joke.

"Alex, are you okay? Why are you sitting on the floor?"

Holly appeared in a white shirt and skirt, leaning down to check on me.

As she bent forward, her actions deliberately revealed a provocative glimpse.

I stared at her coldly, watching her shameless display right in front of me.

I couldn’t forget how, back when she first learned I was married to Darrell—a rising name among the business elite—she had publicly knelt before me in her alma mater’s auditorium, begging for my help.

She looked so pitiful. Since she was my junior, I had covered all her tuition and miscellaneous fees, even giving her an extra 2,000 dollars every month for living expenses.

Who would have thought her true target was never my kindness, but my husband, Darrell?

Holly held a large box filled with baby toys and clothes.

“Alex, I looked through these things carefully, and they’re all useless junk,” she said casually.

“Since you can’t get pregnant anyway, let me help you by clearing out this clutter that’s just taking up space.”

I touched my slightly rounded belly, a sharp ache stabbing through my chest.

These toys and clothes were the ones Darrell and I had picked out together, piece by piece.

I remembered how he used to rest his head on my stomach, listening for sounds that weren’t there yet.

When he looked up at me, his eyes sparkled with excitement.

“I heard that if we make the baby room beautiful, the baby will come sooner,” he’d say.

“We’ll definitely have a child of our own someday. I’ll keep this room ready for you, and I won’t let anyone touch it.”

But now, I am pregnant.

And that very baby room—the one we had lovingly designed together—had been handed over to someone else by the man who once promised to protect it.

I stood up coldly and snatched the box from her hands.

“It’s not for you to decide whether these things are useful or not.”

Holly’s wide eyes instantly brimmed with tears, her voice trembling as she stammered,

“Alex, I know you don’t like me, but no matter how much you blame me, someone has to take care of Mr. Thornton. You’re so focused on the baby that you don’t understand Mr. Thornton’s feelings at all.”

Chapter 2

"Darrell always says he doesn’t even have a close friend around him. I agreed to Mr. Thornton’s invitation to join the company to repay the kindness your family showed me back then."

I let out a cold laugh.

"Kindness? Is this how you repay my family? Are you planning to take over this family in a few years?"

Holly’s eyes reddened slightly. She bit her lip, then raised her hand and slapped herself twice.

Clear red marks slowly appeared on her cheeks as tears streamed down her face.

"Alex, do you feel better now?" she said, her voice full of grievance.

Darrell walked in after hearing the commotion. The moment he saw the scene, his face darkened.

When he turned to look at me, his gaze was icy.

"Alex! It’s my fault for not telling you about this earlier, but that doesn’t give you the right to take out your anger on Holly! She’s your former student—the one you sponsored. You were willing to let her die before, and now you’re trying every possible way to stop her from joining the company. How hypocritical can you be?"

He paused, his tone growing even colder.

"If you won’t help Holly, then I will! I’m the one who decided to turn the baby room into a bedroom. It’s been sitting idle for so long, and since you can’t have kids, it’s better to let Holly use it."

My hand instinctively moved to my abdomen. I hesitated, torn about whether to tell him I was pregnant.

"In fact, I already have two..." I began.

But Darrell impatiently waved his hand, cutting me off before I could finish.

"You’re just a housewife who has no idea how hard I work outside. Only Holly understands me—she’s the one who stays with me, working overtime in the middle of the night."

He turned to Holly with a gentle gaze, his tenderness so overwhelming it could drown anyone.

"From now on, if there’s a share of mine in this house, there will be a share of hers too!"

Then he added arrogantly, as if addressing a nanny,

"Alex, go put two layers of sheets on her bed. Her body’s delicate, and she won’t sleep well on anything too hard. Also, I’ll take her out for dinner—you can do whatever you want."

With his arm around Holly’s shoulders, he strode out of the room, leaving me behind.

As I watched his resolute back disappear, a sharp pain stabbed at my chest.

My mind flashed to the chat records I’d stumbled upon on his phone a few days ago.

The man who once wanted the whole world to know how deeply he loved me had long since changed.

When he claimed to be working late, he was actually experimenting with "new " with Holly in the office.

Afterward, she shamelessly messaged him, "Brother, I thought of something even more exciting. Let’s try it on the office chair next time~"

And when he told me he had a last-minute meeting and couldn’t accompany me to the hospital for my check-up, he was in a five-star hotel, going eight rounds with her.

Holly had even teased him with a smirk,

"Brother, who feels better—me or your wife?"

Darrell sneered with disdain, "Her tongue tastes bitter from all the medicine she takes, and I have to hold my breath every time I kiss her. How could she ever compare to someone as fragrant and soft as you?"

As I scrolled through the pictures one by one, my heart felt like it was caught in the freezing chill of December.

My limbs trembled uncontrollably, as if gripped by the cold.

I had followed him to remote Brooklyn, starting from nothing. Together, we built our success, and everyone admired our love, calling it stronger than gold.

"Mrs. Thornton, I remember hearing about your love story back in college," someone once said to me.

"Darrell won every scholarship that semester just to buy you a necklace, and he worked three part-time jobs after class. I heard you still wear that necklace—it’s such a beautiful two-way street of love."

"Yes, Mr. Thornton adores you so much," another had added.

"After you got married, he couldn’t bear to see you overworked, so he didn’t let you work a single day. I even remember once asking him to grab dinner, but he turned me down because he said his wife had cooked, and he was in a hurry to get home."

"It would be perfect if you two had a child someday!"

Chapter 3

I don’t know when it started.

The proud boy with fiery eyes who once knelt in front of his classmates and vowed to always be worthy of me.

That boy has now been consumed by the desires of society.

Yet, I still clung to a foolish fantasy.

If he knew we had a child, would things have turned out differently?

But reality hit me hard, shattering my delusions.

He wouldn’t even let me finish a sentence.

How could I expect him to devote a lifetime to caring for a child?

The one unchanging truth about people is that their hearts will always change.

I stood there, stunned, grappling with my emotions for what felt like an eternity.

Finally, I exhaled a shaky breath, releasing the weight pressing on my chest.

I picked up the phone and made an appointment to terminate my pregnancy for the next day.

At around eleven that evening, Darrell returned with Holly.

I was already in bed, trying to sleep, but their muffled voices disturbed me.

"Brother, I ate too much earlier, and now I have a little belly," Holly giggled.

"Holly looks perfect no matter what," Darrell replied, his voice dripping with affection.

Darrell never came back to our room that night.

I lay awake, tormented, as a relentless downpour seemed to echo in my heart.

The next morning, I rose early.

Just in time to catch Darrell stepping out of Holly’s room.

I looked at him calmly, holding the hot soy milk I had just prepared.

Darrell’s eyes flickered with panic as he hastily buttoned his collar.

He walked toward me, his movements stiff, and rubbed my ear in a gesture meant to be affectionate.

"Baby, why are you up so early today? Were you boiling medicine? Let me help you," he said, his warm breath brushing against my ear.

I shook my head, stepping subtly out of his reach.

"I went to bed early yesterday. Go have breakfast," I replied evenly.

"Is that so? I saw you were already asleep last night, so I didn’t want to disturb you and slept in the study," he said quickly, his tone forced.

"I just went to check on Holly this morning. I was worried she might not be used to staying here. She’s your sponsored student, after all. I feel a certain responsibility for her—it’s only reasonable."

Darrell touched his nose, a telltale sign he was lying. His eyes betrayed his discomfort, but I didn’t press further.

I was tired of this charade. All I wanted now was to end it.

After breakfast, I planned to go to the hospital.

Darrell helped me put on my coat with practiced ease.

I paused, momentarily caught off guard.

"It’s a bit cold. Wear another layer—your hands are always freezing," he said, his voice soft.

"Are you going to the hospital for a check-up today? Let me take you," he offered.

The coat’s warmth wrapped around me, but my heart ached with bitterness.

Before heading out, Darrell always checked the weather in advance and carefully chose clothes for me.

From coordinating colors to matching styles, he even tailored outfits according to the tone of different brands.

Whenever I asked why he went to such lengths, Darrell would answer with unwavering seriousness, "My wife must always be beautiful."

Holly’s voice from the bedroom snapped me out of my thoughts.

"Mr. Thornton! How does this outfit look on me?"

Darrell’s expression darkened briefly, but he quickly masked his irritation.

Adopting a softer tone, he stretched out his hand and gently pushed me toward the door.

"You go ahead. I just remembered I have a morning meeting at the company, so I need to leave early," he said briskly.

"Call me if you need anything."

I watched his back as he hurried away, the bitterness in my chest threatening to spill over.

It had all started two months after Holly joined his company.

Darrell became busier and less available.

He no longer made time to accompany me to the hospital for those endless examinations.

Instead, he spent his free moments visiting trendy dessert shops with his secretary and watching fireworks.

Yet, he never forgot to take a sip of the bitter herbal medicine I had painstakingly prepared for him—until now.

Chapter 4

He once promised to share every joy and sorrow with me.

Now, he wouldn’t even drink the bitter medicine that left his tongue numb.

But I always saw him eating cake in the pictures Holly posted in her circle of friends.

I was the only one who made endless trips to the hospital—enduring examinations, filling prescriptions, and boiling medicinal brews.

I drank it all in one breath, as if the child was an answer to my prayers.

I took a taxi to the hospital, touching my belly and bowing my head in silent prayer.

My child.

I’m sorry that your father doesn’t look forward to your birth.

Maybe you are more suited to be reborn into a happy, complete family.

After going through the tedious process, I trembled and signed my name on the surgery confirmation form.

The result of three years of hope and prayers was ended by my own hands today.

Walking out of the operating room, I felt dizzy and weak.

I sent Darrell a message, asking him to pick me up.

In the chat window, a photo popped up—Holly stood there in her dress.

From the angle, it was clear the picture was taken by someone standing directly in front of her.

I clicked on it, but it was withdrawn almost immediately.

I turned, and her sweet, delicate voice broke the silence behind me.

"I’m so sorry. I sent it to the wrong person," Holly said, her tone dripping with mock innocence.

"Are you asking Mr. Thornton to pick you up from the hospital? Sorry, but he’s busy with business matters right now and may not be able to come."

"Who are you to decide for him? Are you his secretary or his keeper?"

Before she could say anything else, I turned off the phone, my chest tightening with heaviness.

…Even his secretary had control over his phone now.

I remembered the last time he had quickly turned his screen away when I glanced at it.

Later, he explained he was waiting for updates from an important client and couldn’t risk distractions.

But I had already seen the truth—there was only one name in his chat box: Holly.

Darrell’s Porsche eventually pulled up, the window rolling down to reveal his indifferent expression.

"What’s so urgent that I had to come here myself? Can’t you just take a taxi back? And seriously, be more polite when you talk to Holly. Since when did you develop such a bad temper?"

His words cut deeply, but I remained silent.

I opened the car door on my own, feeling the faint ache in my abdomen from the operation.

Without a word, I reached for a bottle of water, but my hand froze.

There were items in the car that didn’t belong to me—a strawberry-shaped hairpin, scattered food crumbs, and…

Darrell had always prided himself on being a clean freak, never allowing food in the car.

Yet here was undeniable evidence of someone else’s presence.

Once, when I had dysmenorrhea, I craved a hot milk tea to ease the pain, but it wasn’t allowed.

Now, not only is food allowed in the car—

Even...

Principles can be bent, but only for someone else, never for me.

The pit in my stomach deepened, a wave of nausea rising as my emotions hit rock bottom.

"What’s wrong now? Still sulking? Do you even realize how much business I lost because of your call?"

Darrell frowned, his tone carrying a hint of reprimand.

"Forget it, I won’t argue with you. It hasn’t been easy for you with all these hospital visits lately. As for the child, don’t stress about it. It’s not urgent."

I nodded mechanically, my mind blank. I just wanted to get out of the car, away from him, and return to the quiet of my room.

At home, I took a long, hot bath, hoping to wash away the weight pressing on my chest, and then tried to sleep.

Darrell returned at noon.

He held a bouquet of radiant foxtail lilies in full bloom, his features softened by tenderness.

Kneeling beside my bed, he gently brushed the stray hair from my face.

"Baby, I saw these lilies you love at the flower shop and thought of you."

I froze for a moment, startled by the gesture. But before I could speak, Darrell continued.

"I’ve been thinking a lot about Holly these past couple of days. She’s from a poor family, but she’s incredibly capable at work and takes great care of me. I can’t stand to see such talent wasted."

Chapter 5

"Fortunately, you’re tolerant enough to let Holly live in our house. I promise she’ll move out once she officially joins the company."

It turns out that all of this was for Holly.

Darrell smiled as he pulled a small box from his pocket and opened it. Inside was a sparkling five-carat diamond ring.

He took my hand, intending to slide it onto my finger immediately.

He always tried to smooth things this way whenever we fought.

I instinctively pulled my hand back.

Darrell paused, his expression shifting into confusion.

He always said I looked paler on the days I took medicine, but today felt different.

"... A beautiful diamond ring like this, and I haven’t even put on makeup or changed my clothes yet. It wouldn’t feel right to wear it now."

He didn’t seem to notice the awkwardness of my lie—or maybe he didn’t want to question it too much.

Darrell smiled softly, gazing at me with affection, and spoke, "No matter how time changes, you are as beautiful to me as ever."

"I once swore that even though I couldn’t provide you with the best material life, I would compensate with my heart. Now, I have a material life, and my heart is still yours."

Darrell and I were college classmates.

Back then, his family wasn’t well-off, and he worked hard for scholarships.

I was drawn to his determination and passion.

Even though my mother didn’t believe he had potential later, I resolutely chose the latter between family and love.

I gave up my career and devoted myself to cooking for him.

Five years have passed since then.

For his son, whom he constantly yearned for, I’ve become like a medicine jar, soaked in the scent of medicine.

I am no longer young and beautiful.

Yet, when I hear Darrell’s words again, my heart is moved.

How much does our eight-year relationship truly weigh in his heart?

"Wife, you look very uncomfortable. Let me take you to the hospital."

"You’re always taking medicine, and your complexion is even worse."

I didn’t have time to respond.

In the next moment, Darrell suddenly received a call and rushed out.

"Wife, I’ll take you to the hospital later. There’s a client I need to meet personally."

"It won’t be long, wait for me."

I sat quietly on the sofa, waiting for him for two hours.

Two hours later, I saw a post from Holly’s circle of friends.

The photo was taken at a high-end custom restaurant.

There was a very conspicuous heart-shaped candle placed between the two sets of tableware.

The caption read "He said I’m the most beautiful woman. Stinky men are always slick, so annoying~"

I once wanted to try this restaurant.

It's just that Darrell said he couldn't get an appointment.

But it wasn’t impossible to get one.

The "client" he needed to receive wasn’t me.

I clicked a thumbs-up.

I called the lawyer and asked him to draft a divorce agreement.

Darrell called, "I won’t be back tonight. Remember to attend the family dinner tomorrow at noon. You can take a taxi here by yourself. Holly got hurt and I took her to the hospital."

"...Brother, I want more..."

He hung up the phone hurriedly, as if he were afraid I’d hear him.

I pulled a mocking smile at the corner of my mouth.

There was no more ripple in my heart.

Even if I didn’t want anything to do with the Thornton family anymore, there were some things I had to handle personally.

At the family dinner, Thornton’s mother glanced at me and finally settled on my belly.

With a tone of regret, she said, "Alex, why is there still no movement in your belly? It’s been so many years, it’s really a sin."

Chapter 6

"Our Thornton family finally produced a dragon and phoenix-like Darrell, and we can’t let your hands tarnish it."

I took a sip of hot tea, my expression unchanged.

If it weren’t for the last 600,000 I had used as startup capital for Darrell, there wouldn’t be a Thornton family today.

But all they seem to care about is pressuring me to have a child, as if I were nothing more than a reproductive tool.

Darrell’s cousin, Red Thornton, looked at me with disdain.

She echoed Thornton’s mother’s words, "Yes, I think it’s better if my cousin finds someone else. We can’t let our Thornton family name be cut off like this."

"Some people take up space without contributing anything. You’ve been living off the Thornton family for so long—outsiders call you Madam Thornton out of respect, but in reality, you’re just a useless ornament who can’t give birth."

I raised my head and met Red’s gaze with a fake smile.

"Okay, Red is 20 this year. I think your age would be perfect. You seem so concerned about your brother, why don’t you go ahead and give him a child?"

Mother Thornton looked absolutely shocked by my words, her hand pointing at me, speechless, stuttering "you, you, you" repeatedly.

Before she could respond, Darrell and Holly arrived late.

He didn’t even glance my way, instead pushing a perfectly dressed Holly forward.

"Mom, this is my new assistant, Holly, the one I mentioned before. Isn’t she beautiful and capable?"

"You’ve always wanted to meet her. I’ve been so busy lately that today is the first chance I’ve had."

Mother Thornton nodded with a satisfied smile, and Holly lowered her head shyly.

She leaned in and whispered to Aunt May.

"Auntie, I’m pregnant…"

Mother Emily Thornton’s eyes widened in surprise, and she quickly pulled Holly to sit next to her, whispering.

The words reached my ears, and my heart sank slightly. A faint, mocking smile tugged at the corner of my lips.

Darrell’s mother must be disappointed in me—Mrs. Thornton, who couldn’t give her a grandchild.

Perhaps she’s eager to replace me. I just wonder if Darrell knows.

I reached out and casually pulled the jade bracelet Mother Emily gave me from my wrist.

I placed it on the table and began to stand up to leave.

The bracelet, once elegant, had become tarnished over time. It was the same bracelet Thornton’s mother gave me when I first met her, after eloping with Darrell.

It symbolized her recognition of me as her daughter-in-law.

Even though I received more expensive pieces later, I never took it off.

But now, it seems she’s found a more suitable candidate, and I no longer wish to be Mrs. Thornton.

It’s time to return it.

Darrell’s gaze darkened, his voice laced with impatience. "Alex, can you stop causing trouble? This was my mother’s dowry. You can wear it if you want, or toss it aside if you please. Who do you think you are?"

"I think you take yourself too seriously. You’re not as obedient or sensible as Holly. If you walk out of this door today, you won’t be part of the Thornton family anymore. Do whatever you like!"

I paused briefly before turning and walking out quickly.

"Oh, Alex looks upset. You brought Holly in and made her angry. Are you going to chase her now? After all, you’ve known each other for eight years, gone through highs and lows together. Back when the company was in crisis, Alex sold all her valuables and somehow got two million to save the company."

Someone at the table offered the reminder kindly.

Darrell curled his lips, shaking his head with a sneer. "I’ve never been unfair with her financially. I’ve just spoiled her too much. Her temper is getting worse. She’s not as gentle or sensible as Holly."

"Where else would she go? Don’t worry about her. She’ll come back on her own."

Unfortunately, he was wrong this time. I had already booked a flight to New York for 8 o’clock tomorrow night.