The Hidden Marriage

I sat at the dressing table, my fingertips gently brushing over my belly. There isn't any obvious bump yet, but it holds a little secret between him and me. Following the plan we had discussed in advance, I opened social media and typed out the official announcement I had already prepared. At the end, I solemnly tagged Calvin Luke's account and chose a sunny profile picture—the photo shows my hand forming half a heart over my belly, so tender it could almost drip. The moment I pressed send, my heart skipped a beat. Imagining his reaction when he saw the message, I couldn't help but smile. Before I even dialed his number, the likes had surpassed ten thousand, and the comment section was flooded with 'Congratulations' and 'Best wishes.' I smiled as I picked up my phone, wanting to ask this "new dad" how he was feeling at this moment. The call connected, but all I heard on the line was the monotonous "beep beep" tone. No one answered. The next moment, a notification suddenly popped up on my phone screen, the headline stabbing painfully at my eyes. [Calvin Luke Studio Official Statement] My fingers trembled as I opened it; each word felt like an ice pick plunging into my heart. "Recently, there have been false rumors online regarding our artist @CalvinLuke and @RubyScott. Our studio solemnly declares: 1. Calvin Luke and Ruby Scott were only former work partners; no legal or factual marriage or emotional relationship exists between them; 2. The content recently published unilaterally by Ruby Scott constitutes serious defamation. We reserve the right to pursue legal action for her malicious damage to Calvin Luke's reputation. Calvin Luke has appointed a lawyer to formally file a lawsuit with the court, and legal proceedings have now commenced." The statement concludes with an attached court filing notice, clearly printed on plain paper with a striking red seal. I stared at the screen, my mind utterly blank. My manager Linda called immediately afterward, her voice fraught with anxiety and anger. "Ruby! Have you seen Calvin Luke's statement? What on earth is going on? Aren't you two legally married? How could he possibly sue you for defamation!" My throat feels like it's clogged with cotton; I can't form a complete sentence. "I don't know... I can't reach him, and no one on his team is answering their phones." "You have to find him." Linda's voice was breaking with tears. "Make him withdraw the statement immediately!" I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm. I dialed that painfully familiar number again, and this time, the call connected. "Hello?" His voice was cold, as if he were speaking to a stranger. The anger building in my chest erupted instantly. "Calvin Luke, you owe me an explanation!" There was a few seconds of silence on the other end, then a cold response came. "Who told you to post that message on social media without consulting me?" I was almost laughing out of anger. "Didn't we agree long ago? We would go public either if we were caught or when the timing was right! Now that I'm pregnant, isn't this the perfect moment?" "It's not your decision to make alone!" His tone grew harsh. "Delete the post immediately!" I was completely stunned, my voice trembling. "Why? Calvin Luke, this is your child. We're legally married—why can't we be open about it?" The only response I got was a cold busy signal—just a "click" before the call ended. Cold. And steady. He actually hung up on me? I held my phone, stunned in place, forgetting even to breathe. Is this really the Calvin Luke I know? The man who would shield me from unreasonable demands on set, stay by my side when I was sick, and promise to love me forever? The man who is both my partner and my husband?