After That, the Rainy Season Never Ended

The day before my wedding, I secretly go to the hospital to terminate my pregnancy with Richard Johnson's baby. In the hallway, I run into a doctor I know. She looks at me in surprise. "Ms. Xander? Just last week, you were worried that your belly would show through your wedding dress. Why did you suddenly decide not to keep the baby? "Didn't Mr. Johnson come with you?" I lower my head and gently touch my slightly rounded belly, my heart aching with emptiness. "He's very busy. "He's downstairs, accompanying his young stepmother to her prenatal checkup." Chapter 1 The doctor blinked twice in shock when he heard me. For a moment, he seemed completely at a loss for words. Just then, the private investigator I had hired came rushing down the stairs toward me, clutching a file and breathing heavily. "Ms. Xander, I found out! Wendy's baby is Mr. Johnson's!" The doctor's eyes widened when he heard that. The surprise on his face quickly gave way to embarrassment. He hurriedly took half a step back and gave me an awkward, forced smile. "Ms. Xander, I'll leave you to it. I still have rounds to make, so I'd better go." I ignored him. I took the paternity test report and opened it. My eyes fell on the conclusion on the last page. "The results support that the tested individual is the biological father of the fetus, with a paternity probability exceeding 99.99%." "Thank you for your help. I'll have double your fee transferred to your account." The investigator thanked me profusely. But I was too drained to even respond. Clutching my stomach, I walked in a daze to the window at the end of the hallway. There was a large pane of glass there. All I had to do was look down to see Richard Johnson supporting Wendy Warren, who had just finished her prenatal checkup, as they strolled through the first-floor garden and chatted. The two of them were incredibly affectionate, with Wendy practically nestled in Richard's arms. They chatted and laughed together, looking every bit like a happily married couple. I watched them, trembling all over with pain. But I still couldn't bring myself to let go. I wasn't ready to give up on Richard, so I decided to give him one last chance. I watched the two of them and called him. His phone rang. He glanced at the screen as it lit up, frowned in irritation, and hung up. I called again, only to be hung up on again. It wasn't until the third time that he finally answered. Before I could say a word, Richard's impatient voice came through the phone. "Yolanda, what the hell is wrong with you? "I told you I'm busy! I'm busy! Why do you keep calling me over and over? What could possibly be so urgent?" I swallowed the tremor in my voice. "Richard, I'm not feeling well. Could you come with me to my prenatal checkup?" He let out a heavy sigh, clearly annoyed by me. "If you're not feeling well, go see a doctor yourself. Can't you have the maid or nanny take you to the hospital? I'm so swamped at the office every day that I barely have time to breathe. I really don't have time to spend all day fussing over you just because you're pregnant." "I..." I wanted to say something else, but he had already hung up. Downstairs, Richard, who had just been speaking harshly into the phone, instantly returned to his gentle demeanor the moment he turned around. He continued strolling leisurely with his arm around Wendy. I couldn't put the feeling into words. The bitterness welling up inside me felt like it was about to spill from my mouth. A chill ran through me, and I shuddered. When I looked up, I saw a pregnant woman with red, tear-swollen eyes reflected in the glass. I felt sorry for her. The nurse's footsteps sounded behind me. She said gently, "Ms. Xander, it's time for your procedure. "If you haven't made up your mind yet, we can reschedule or cancel the appointment." Only then did I come back to my senses. I hastily wiped the tears streaking down my face, turned around, and said, "No. "I've made up my mind. Take me in for the procedure." I didn't want the baby or Richard anymore. The procedure was over quickly. As the anesthesia gradually wore off, a deep, dull pain spread through my body. I hadn't brought a maid with me, so I could only make my way out slowly, using the wall for support. As I passed the corner, I heard someone calling my name loudly. "Yolanda!" I turned around. Sure enough, it was Richard's young stepmother, Wendy. Chapter 2 Wendy hurried toward me and exclaimed in surprise, "Yoli, it really is you. "What brings you to the hospital? Are you here because you're not feeling well from the pregnancy too?" The moment she finished speaking, Richard hurried after her, his voice anxious yet affectionate. "Wen, I only went to get you a jacket. How did you manage to disappear on me? The air conditioning is always so cold in the hospital. You need to wear something warmer indoors, or you'll catch a chill." Only after he finished speaking did he seem to notice me standing in front of him. He froze for a moment before asking guiltily, "Why did you come to the hospital alone? Where's the maid?" I didn't answer. I simply stared at him in silence. My gaze seemed to make him uncomfortable, so he reluctantly began to explain. "I promised Wen a few days ago that I'd come with her to her prenatal checkup. "I was worried you'd overthink it. You've gotten upset about things like this several times before. Besides, we're getting married tomorrow. I just figured it was better not to make things more complicated, so I kept it from you." I responded quietly, showing little reaction. Richard seemed to think the matter was settled, so he casually picked up his jacket and helped Wendy put it on. He even carefully fastened the buttons for her, one by one. Wendy tilted her head, studying my pale face with a look of pity and smug satisfaction. Feigning annoyance, she said, "Richard, what are you doing? "Yoli's right here. You should put the jacket on her first. Why are you putting it on me?" He didn't even look up. "It's fine. She's healthy. "You're carrying my—" He suddenly stopped halfway through the sentence. His expression changed, as if he had suddenly come to his senses. He shot me a quick glance and immediately corrected himself. "I... I mean, my little brother. I need to take good care of him." I had no interest in watching any longer. It had already started raining outside, and judging by the look of it, the rain was only going to get heavier. I made up an excuse, intending to leave. "I still have some tests to do, so I'll go first." But Richard suddenly grabbed my arm. I turned around. He pointed to the umbrella in my bag and said matter-of-factly, "If you don't need it right away, let me borrow this umbrella. “The rain looks pretty heavy. I'm worried Wendy might get drenched on the way to the car. Summer rain usually stops quickly. It'll probably have stopped by the time you're done with your tests, so you won't need it anyway." I looked at him, the corners of my eyes slightly red. In a hoarse voice, I demanded, "She's pregnant, so she needs to be taken care of. What about me? "Richard, I'm carrying your baby too." Seeing me like this, he assumed I was about to start crying again. He waved his hand impatiently, his voice full of dismissiveness and irritation. "Forget it. I don't need it. "I ask to borrow one thing from you, and you have to make such a fuss about it. Wendy's always been in poor health. Even if you get a little wet in the rain, you'll recover quickly. You came here for your prenatal checkup alone, didn't you? And you look perfectly fine. Stop making a fuss over nothing, will you?" With that, he put an arm around Wendy and walked away with her. As they walked off, I could still hear him muttering under his breath. "Being pregnant has turned her into a complete lunatic. "I really can't stand her anymore." He spoke loudly, as if he wanted to make sure I heard him. As if he wanted to hurt me on purpose. My tears suddenly stopped. I forced them back until my eyes felt dry and raw. The hurt and hatred surging through me were so overwhelming that even breathing hurt. My legs went weak, and I could barely stand. I staggered over to a bench and sat there for a long while. Then I called the private investigator from earlier. "Do you still have backups of those intimate photos you took of the two of them? Print fifty thousand copies. I'll buy every single one. "Find someone to plaster them all over the new home. "Tomorrow, when he comes to pick me up, stuff those explicit photos into the confetti cannons. I want them raining down on everyone." Chapter 3 By the time I got home, Richard had already had dinner with Wendy. He was curled up on the couch with her, watching a soap opera and even laughing as they discussed the plot. "If I were the female lead, I'd just break up with him. Why drag it out like this?" Wendy giggled and leaned against Richard's shoulder. Then, almost casually, she glanced over at me standing in the entryway. She said it with a pointed look. "Can't help it. The female lead is such a bitch! She just won't leave!" Watching them, I felt like I had a lump in my throat. I remembered that whenever I watched this show before, Richard would always make some snide remark, even if he was just passing by. "Turn it down. Don't you know how loud that is? "I seriously don't understand how you can sit through something this mindless. I could never get into it." Looking back, maybe he didn't actually hate soap operas. He just hated me. And because I loved them, he hated them too. When Richard heard the door open, he shot me a cold glance before looking away. He didn't say a word. He was still giving me the cold shoulder over the umbrella. I pretended not to notice and went to the dining room to eat by myself. But halfway through my meal, Wendy came in, drawn by the smell of food. "Yoli, your food smells so good. "Lucy, is there any left? Get me a plate." Lucy Parker looked uneasy. "I'm sorry, but your meals and Mrs. Johnson's are specially prepared, so I only made one serving of each." As soon as she finished speaking, Richard strode in. Without a word, he picked up the tray in front of me and carried it straight over to Wendy. "It's just one meal, Wen. Go ahead and eat. It's not like I'm going to let you and the baby go hungry. "Yoli, have Lucy make you something else later. Wendy rarely speaks up about what she wants to eat, and she's your elder. Just let her have this one." I stared at him, my stomach aching with hunger. All I could do was grip my fork so tightly that my knuckles turned white. I still couldn't hold it in. I slammed my fork down and snapped. "Is the Johnson family so broke you can't afford to feed yourselves? Do you actually have to take food right out of someone else's mouth? "You're so good to your stepmother. Anyone who didn't know better would think you were marrying her tomorrow!" Richard looked like I'd hit a nerve. He snapped, "Yolanda, what the hell are you talking about? "You just got home and you're already throwing a tantrum. Who spoiled you rotten?" Seeing this, Wendy immediately covered her face and burst into tears, her shoulders trembling with sobs. Yet she was still putting on an act. "No, no, that's not it. Yoli, please stop arguing with Richard. "It's all my fault. I'm pregnant, so I've been craving everything in sight. I don't want this meal anymore. You can have it back, okay? "You spent three years chasing Richard, and you finally got together with him. You're getting married tomorrow. Please don't let me ruin your wedding!" The more she played the victim, the darker the anger in Richard's eyes became. He wrapped an arm around her and tried to soothe her. "Wen, stop crying. "Why are you apologizing to her? You haven't done anything wrong." He turned to me and snapped, "Yolanda, if you hadn't spent three years chasing after me like a dog, do you really think I would've dated you or ever agreed to marry you? If you dare go after Wendy again, I swear I'll call off the wedding!" Wendy clearly didn't want the situation to calm down. She lifted her tear-streaked face and timidly tugged at Richard's sleeve. "Richard, please, stop. Yoli only acted this way because she cares about you so much. She's afraid I'll take you away from her. "I'll move out tomorrow. I don't want to be a third wheel anymore..." Richard cut her off sharply, his icy gaze stabbing into me. "Move out? If anyone's leaving, it's her! "This house is mine, and the Johnson family is mine. Yolanda, pull this stunt again, and tomorrow's wedding is off. You're out of the Johnson family, too! "Now, apologize to Wen!" Chapter 4 Thunder boomed outside, and a blinding flash of lightning lit up the entire sky. I looked at Richard, his face twisted with fury, and Wendy, nestled smugly in his arms. I suddenly shook my head and laughed. Richard froze. "You..." I didn't give him a chance to say anything else. I calmly wiped the corner of my mouth, got to my feet, grabbed my bag, pushed open the villa door, and walked out. I held up the umbrella I had refused to give Richard and walked into the rain. Half my body was soon drenched, and I shivered violently from the cold. But my steps never wavered. Another bolt of lightning flashed. It was as if it had suddenly jolted Richard back to his senses. Listening to the heavy rain pounding outside, he realized that he'd been too harsh with his words. After all, it was pouring outside, and I was pregnant. A sudden wave of panic hit him, and he wanted to go after me. But the moment he broke free, Wendy wrapped her arms around him again. "Richard, don't go. There's thunder outside, and I'm scared." He placed a hand on her arm and tried to pull himself free. He gently reassured her, "It's okay. There are plenty of maids here. "Yoli is pregnant, after all. I should go check on her." But instead, she only tightened her arms around him. Her voice trembled as she cried. "Richard, don't you love me anymore? "I was forced to marry your father, but you were always the one in my heart. You promised you'd take care of me. After the way Yoli treated me, are you really going to leave me here and go after her?" He hesitated for a long time, but in the end, he stopped. Instead, he gently reassured Wendy. "Don't overthink it. I'm right here." But his eyes remained fixed absently on the torrential rain outside the window. Once Wendy had calmed down, Richard called me. I didn't answer. He called three times in a row, but I didn't answer. Wendy suppressed her secret delight and rested her head against his chest, carefully testing the waters. "Richard, do you think Yoli might be so angry that she won't even come to the wedding tomorrow? She's pregnant, after all. What are we going to do? Maybe you should text her and apologize properly." Richard's eyes darted away, but he stubbornly insisted otherwise, almost as if he were trying to reassure himself. "Apologize? She's the one who was in the wrong. If I apologize now, she'll think she can walk all over me. "Don't worry. She loves me that much. We're getting married tomorrow. Do you really think she'd actually give me the cold shoulder and break up with me? She probably just went to our new home to cool off." He was wrong. I was at the airport. Ten minutes ago, I boarded a plane with no destination in mind. I simply asked an airport staff member for the next flight out. It was 3:20 am. I'd just gotten off the plane when I received two text messages. One was from the private investigator. "Ms. Xander, everything is ready." The other was from Richard. "I was a little too harsh earlier. Get some rest. I'll come pick you up from our new home tomorrow morning." I didn't reply to either of them. I was so exhausted I could barely keep my eyes open. I found a hotel near the airport, collapsed onto the bed, pulled the covers over my head, and fell asleep. At 7:00 am, everything was ready at the Johnson residence, and the groomsmen were noisily urging everyone to get moving. But Richard couldn't shake his unease as he stared at the message that still hadn't received a reply. Wendy asked with concern, "Richard, what's wrong? You look awful. "Yoli still hasn't replied to you?" He shook his head. His gaze fell on her outfit, and his brows furrowed. It was dazzling, a brilliant shade of red. Beautiful, but completely inappropriate. "Wendy, why don't you go change? "Today is my wedding to Yoli, after all. If you show up dressed like that..." Wendy lowered her head, looking wronged again. She had planned to use the same trick again, putting on a pitiful act to make Richard back down. But the groomsmen weren't having it. One after another, they chimed in. "Wendy, don’t you think you're dressed a little too flashy? I mean, today is Richard's big day, but you're still a senior member of the family. You should dress a little more appropriately. That outfit... honestly, it looks a bit too provocative." "Exactly. Richard is marrying Yoli today, and you're his stepmother. Showing up in a dress like that? How is that appropriate?" "There are several media outlets here today, too. Wendy, you should stop hanging onto Richard. What if someone gets a picture? What if rumors start spreading? What will that do to the Johnson family's reputation?" … With everyone chiming in one after another and Richard distractedly saying nothing, Wendy resentfully changed into something more understated and followed the wedding procession to the new home. Fortunately, along the way, Richard's assistant called. "Mr. Johnson, a security guard said he saw quite a few people inside the new home around two or three in the morning. They seemed to be setting something up. "They said Mrs. Johnson was the one who called them in. She should be inside too." The weight in Richard's chest finally lifted, and the corners of his lips even curled up slightly. But when they arrived at the entrance of the new home, the entire villa was eerily quiet. There wasn't a single wedding decoration in sight. It didn't feel like a wedding was about to take place at all. Richard was uneasy, but remembering what the security guard had said, he forced a smile and waved a hand confidently. "Come on! Let's go get the bride!" But what he didn't expect was that there was no one inside. The door was slightly ajar. With a gentle push, it swung open, and the groomsmen and friends outside all poured in. Rows of confetti cannons suddenly went off with a series of loud bangs. Countless photos burst through the air like fireworks, flying everywhere. High-resolution photos of Richard and Wendy embracing, kissing, and even intimate photos of them in bed came raining down like snow. Richard froze in place, the color draining from his face in an instant. He stared at a photo that had fluttered to the ground beside his feet. In it, he was kissing Wendy passionately in the lounge of his father, Alexander Johnson's memorial hall, completely carried away. Beneath it was a line of text. "Richard, congratulations on your wedding to your stepmother!"