After His Mistress Conceived, I Left Him

She'd cared for him for three years, only to have him kick her aside the moment he recovered—making way for his mistress.

——

Calista Softhart wrapped up another exhausting day at the lab. As soon as she got home, she prepared a glass of warm water and the newly developed medication, then headed to Gary Frost's room. Three years of the same routine, day in and day out. 

At least Gary would be completely cured soon.

The door stood half-open. Before she could knock, a woman's coquettish sobbing drifted out from inside.

"Gary, I really have no other choice. The baby and I... we can only depend on you now."

Calista's grip tightened on the tray, her heart turning to ice. She'd never forget that voice. Just days ago, she'd received an explicit audio recording. This same woman had been moaning: 

"Gary, gentle... I can't take it..." Followed by the fierce sounds of bodies colliding and a man's heavy breathing. Without question, the two people in that recording had been having sex. She hadn't dared guess the man's identity, so she'd never mentioned it to Gary.

Now, through the gap in the door, she could see a woman on the bed wearing a plunging off-shoulder camisole, pressed against Gary's chest. Her husband made no move to push her away. Instead, he raised his hand to her back, patting her in comfort.

"Don't be afraid. I'm here."

His tone held a tenderness Calista had never heard before.

Her heart felt suddenly crushed in a vise—the pain so acute she could barely breathe. Three years ago, Gary had been struck with a rare illness that caused intermittent paralysis of his lower body. The episodes grew more frequent, and everyone assumed the Frost family would choose a new heir. 

She'd married Gary without hesitation, leading her team through exhausting research, working day and night, even testing drugs on herself. Only then had Gary's recovery become possible. Gary had promised he wouldn't let her down. 

Yet here he was, holding another woman in his arms?

"Gary, will you protect me for the rest of my life?"

The woman looked up tearfully. Calista finally saw her face clearly, her disbelief crashing over her. 

It was her. Rosalind Lake. The Softhart family's biological daughter. Gary's ex-fiancée.

Gary replied, "Rose, you don't need to humble yourself to please me. I'll take care of you and the baby forever."

The baby? Rosalind was pregnant with Gary's child? Calista bit down hard, bitterness flooding her chest. All these years, she'd accelerated the research timeline by testing the drugs herself. The side effects had hollowed out her body, leaving her unable to conceive. 

Yet he'd gotten another woman pregnant. What did that make her—his wife?

Calista couldn't watch any longer. She pushed the door open and walked in. She set the tray down heavily on the table with a sharp clatter.

Rosalind startled like a frightened bird, eyes reddening as she cowered behind Gary. "Calista, please don't be angry..."

Gary pressed his hand to Rosalind's shoulder, his gaze cold as it settled on Calista. "What do you think you're doing?"

The contrast in his treatment was obvious. Rosalind was the mistress who needed his protection, while she—his wife—had become the enemy he guarded against. 

Calista gave a bitter laugh. She was his wife, yet he feared she might harm his lover... Unable to bear the indifference on his face, Calista choked out, "Gary, you'll take care of her and the baby forever. Then what am I to you—your wife?"

Gary's eyes darkened. "Your position as my wife only counts if I acknowledge it."

Calista froze. He'd just recovered, and already he wanted to kick her out? She clenched her hands, clinging to the last shred of her pride. "I won't give this position to Rosalind."

"It's not up to you."

Gary bit out four cold words.

"Gary, don't treat Calista like this." Rosalind's tears spilled over. "After all, she took care of you for three years. For all her hard work..."

Gary scoffed. "She stole your identity. You suffered so much just to finish your education. The team you brought back completely cured my condition, only for her to steal credit for the research—and you're still defending her?"

He released Rosalind and stepped forward, closing in on Calista. His tall frame radiated overwhelming pressure. 

"Calista, I'm cured now. This transaction should be over. But you charmed Grandfather into liking you, so you can stay in the position of Mrs. Frost for life. Don't wish for anything more. And don't you dare use your twisted schemes to slander Rose."

Calista finally lifted her gaze. Her crystal clear eyes held nothing but desolation. "So we were just a transaction? You'd rather believe Rosalind's one-sided story than trust me—the woman who's been by your side for three years?!"

For the first time, Gary's impassive expression wavered slightly. He opened his mouth to speak. But Rosalind interrupted from behind him.

"Gary, could you take me home first? I'm feeling a bit tired..."

One sentence, and Gary's attention shifted entirely to her. His voice softened. "Alright, I'll take you home now."

Rosalind glanced timidly at Calista, then said quietly, "Gary, what about Calista..."

"Don't worry about her."

Gary's tone left no room for argument. Shielding Rosalind, he moved toward the door. Just as they were about to brush past her, Calista called out.

"Gary."

She spoke his name, then said, "Let's get a divorce."

Calista's voice was utterly calm—calm to the point of flatness. Gary stopped in his tracks.

"You've thought this through?"

Yes. She had thought it through. She didn't care that people called her the tool the Frost family bought to keep Gary alive. She didn't care that she was the Softhart family's mistakenly-switched daughter. 

She only cared that Gary didn't love her. Didn't trust her. Rosalind's pregnancy and Gary's distrust were the most resounding slaps to Calista's face.

"I'm willing to give up the position of Mrs. Frost. She's already pregnant with your child—I'm sure Grandfather will agree." Calista continued, "To cure your illness, I wasted three years of my youth and gambled with half my life. Now that you're recovered and back to your former glory, it's time for me to get lost."

Gary's tone turned icy. "Fine. But don't even think about the Frost family assets. Those aren't for you to touch. If Grandfather didn't like you, you wouldn't have lasted this long."

He was warning her not to covet what didn't belong to her. Calista refused to endure this humiliation any longer. Her expression darkened.

"I don't want a penny. I'll only take what's mine."

She gave a self-mocking laugh. "Gary, do you really think I can't survive without you? Without the Frost family? Three years ago, I pulled you back from death's door. Three years later, I can damn well live my own life just fine."