"What are you crying for?" Shen Xiao wiped it away with a flick of his thumb, uncaring and at the same time disgusted. He pulled out abruptly and turned away to clean himself.
When he returned, he tossed a small silver box onto the bed. It was birth control pills.
Yueyao sat up slowly, clutching the blanket to her chest. She reached for the pills with trembling fingers.
Their marriage had never been made public no matter how good she had tried to be to her husband.
Five years ago, an unplanned pregnancy had forced their families to arrange a secret wedding. It had been enough to drive Bai Zhi away back then and she was blamed for all these.
Shen Xiao probably hated her for that. Otherwise, why would he break her every night, using her body but never giving her his heart?
"Can I… skip it tonight?" Yueyao asked softly, her voice almost inaudible. She just looked soulless and no longer wished for the comfort or sympathy from him.
Shen Xiao didn't bother to reply to her. He held the glass of water and handed it over to her.
The message was very clear. There's nothing like forfeiting it today, once was a mistake and that shouldn't be repeated.
Biting back her tears, Yueyao swallowed the pill. Before she could even put the glass down, Shen Xiao's phone rang.
It was in the bedside drawer; he strode over and received the call.
"Mm… okay. I will be right there." His voice softened ever so slightly.
Yueyao's heart twisted painfully.
"Where are you going this late into the night?" she asked, though she already knew the answer.
"It's none of your business." Shen Xiao pulled on his coat and left without looking back.
Yueyao watched his figure disappear down the hallway. Only the faint scent of his cologne remained in the room, reminding her that he had just left their room.
Suddenly, a sharp cramp twisted her stomach. Yueyao curled up on the bed, clutching herself tightly as cold sweat dampened her forehead.
Moments later, a light knock sounded at the door. "Young Madam, would you like to handle Master Shen's and Young Master Shen Xuan's laundry tonight, or will you do it tomorrow? How about we do it?" It was Aunt Mei, the elderly housekeeper who has been around for several years now.
Yueyao forced herself up, her vision swimming, "I will do it now."
She staggered to the laundry room, each step feeling like her bones were splintering from within.
As she approached the laundry room, she heard two maids whispering inside.
"She's practically a servant in this home. Master Shen treats her like trash. Poor woman."
"This place is so cold and doesn't feel like a home! Why is she tolerating him like that?"
"Is she a masochist?"
"Shh! Do you want to get fired? Keep your mouth shut!"
"It's still true…"
"It's not like I'm making things up!"
The moment Yueyao entered, both maids fell silent and bowed their heads hurriedly keeping their respectful gesture towards her, "Young Madam."
"I will take over it," she said gently. She smiled, but her smile didn't reach her eyes. It was cold and restrained.
After they left, Yueyao bent over to pick up Shen Xiao's white shirt. The faint smell of rose clung to it like it had been freshly applied.
She never wore perfume that strong and she didn't need to guess whose scent it was because she knew the kind of colognes her husband used.
Her hands trembled as tears blurred her vision, but she blinked them away while she exhaled and inhaled rapidly.
Aside from Shen Xiao, she still had Shen Xuan. Her son was the only reason she could continue enduring this hollow life. It was because of her son that she could withstand anything.