My Parents & Friend Aided His Cheating, I Divorced

7 months after forgiving my cheating husband, I discovered my entire family had been helping him support his mistress. For those 7 months, my father checked his dashcam footage every day, while my mother reviewed his bank statements on schedule. Even my best friend carefully inspected his clothes each day for long hair and perfume. In the end, they all concluded that Ethan Sterling had truly come back to the family. I believed them and stayed home, waiting peacefully for the baby's arrival. When I was 7 months along, Ethan said he had to go out of town for business. I went to the hospital alone for a prenatal checkup, only to hear a familiar voice at the end of the obstetrics hallway. When I pushed open the door, Ethan was holding a newborn in his arms, his head lowered as he kissed Chloe Reed on the forehead. My parents stood nearby with an insulated food container, while my best friend held up her phone to take a photo of them. The moment she saw me, her phone slipped from her hand and hit the floor. My parents rushed to stand in front of the bed, while Ethan clutched the baby tighter. All of them watched me warily. I stood still, looked at Chloe, then at Ethan. "Congratulations. You managed to deceive me for 7 whole months. Don't worry. I'll file for divorce right away and make room for you guys." "Elena, don't get the wrong idea," Ethan tried to explain. "Chloe had a massive hemorrhage during delivery. I was only—" "The child's father," I finished the sentence for him. The room fell silent. My mother was the first to react. She immediately stepped in front of Chloe's bed. "Elena, don't make a scene here. Chloe has just given birth. She can't take any stress!" I looked at my mother and suddenly found her unfamiliar. 7 months earlier, when I found out Ethan had cheated on me, my father had cursed him with tears in his eyes. My mother had held me and cried all night. Sophie had even wanted to confront Chloe. It turned out that every one of those reactions had been an act. Chloe coughed, her face pale as she weakly tugged at Ethan's sleeve. "Ethan, forget it... Don't fight with Elena because of me. It's my fault. I never should have had this baby..." Tears streamed down her face as she spoke. My father's expression darkened at once. "Chloe, don't say that. The baby has done nothing wrong!" I froze. That was my father. When I had a high fever as a child, he carried me on his back for two miles to the hospital. Now he stood beside another woman's bed, protecting her newborn child. Ethan handed the baby to the postpartum nanny, then walked over to me. His tone was soothing, yet patronizing. "Elena, I know you're angry. Go home first. We can talk once Chloe feels better." "Talk about what?" I asked. He frowned. "Don't cause a scene at the hospital. You're pregnant too." I looked down at my swollen belly. So he still remembered I was carrying his child. Chloe suddenly started sobbing. "Elena, I know you hate me, but please don't blame Ethan. It's all my fault... If you truly can't accept this, I can leave with the baby." She said she would leave, yet her hand gripped the hem of Ethan's shirt tightly. Ethan's face darkened immediately. "Chloe, don't say nonsense." Then he looked up at me. "The baby can't leave." I nodded. "Fine." Everyone froze. Sophie was the first to approach me. She gently took my hand. "Elena, are you okay?" I calmly pulled my hand away. "I'm fine." A flash of guilt passed through Sophie's eyes. My mother frowned, impatience clear in her voice. "Since you know now, hurry home. Stop acting like a victim all the time. Who owes you anything?" I looked at my mother and suddenly laughed. "Yes. Who exactly owes me anything?" No one answered. I turned and left the room. Behind me, I heard Chloe's muffled sobs, followed by my mother's gentle voice comforting her. "There, there. Stop crying. Crying during your postpartum recovery is bad for your eyes." By the time I reached the hospital entrance, it had started to rain. Ethan ran after me, holding a black umbrella. "Elena." I didn't turn around. He held the umbrella out in front of me. "Chloe's child is mine. But I won't abandon you or the baby you're carrying. You'll always be Mrs. Sterling." "Mrs. Sterling?" "I'll give you the best life possible. A house, money, our child's education—I'll arrange everything. As for Chloe, she won't affect your position." At last, I turned to face him. "Ethan, do you really think I can't live without you?" He went still. I slipped off my wedding ring and placed it in his palm. "Tomorrow, the divorce papers will be delivered to your law firm." His expression changed dramatically as he closed his fist around the ring. "Elena, don't act on impulse." "I'm not. I know what I'm doing." I turned and ran into the rain. Behind me, Ethan seemed about to follow, but a cry from the hospital room stopped him. "Ethan! The baby's crying!" His footsteps came to a halt. I never looked back. When I got home, the phone on the bathroom counter lit up. It was Chloe's social media account. In the photo, she held the baby in her arms while Ethan sat beside the bed. My parents and Sophie stood around them, all smiling happily. The caption read: Mia Sterling, welcome to the world. Thank you, Mom and Dad. Thank you, Ethan. And thank you to everyone who loves us. My finger froze over the screen. Mia. Mia. That was the name I had chosen for my first child.