Chapter 1

Five months pregnant, when I went to book my prenatal care, I discovered my CEO husband, Liam, had booked out the entire luxurious maternity retreat.

Thrilled, I snapped a picture to post on Instagram.

But as I raised my phone, I saw Liam tenderly leaning into Stella, his widowed sister-in-law's swollen belly, his voice impossibly gentle.

"Stella, thank you for blessing me with another child. My life is finally complete."

My heart seized, I couldn't breathe.

Back home, I hired a private detective to dig into Liam's past.

After his brother's death, he secretly became the guardian of Stella's child, giving her a home, all behind my back.

I sat numbly all night, the pain suffocating, as I slowly slipped off my wedding ring.

I couldn't stay with a man who was unfaithful.

Footsteps approached.

I quickly wiped away the tears stinging my eyes.

The rich scent of roses filled the air, but it couldn't mask the unfamiliar perfume clinging to Liam.

Liam wrapped his arms around me from behind, pressing a soft kiss to my temple.

"My dearest Chloe, here are the passionate red roses you adore."

I took the flowers, forcing a brittle smile.

"Is this the surprise you wanted to give me? I thought it was that necklace I loved from the auction."

Liam's gaze darted away, trying to hide his guilt.

"I heard that necklace was already reserved. It was impossible to snatch it away."

I sneered, a bitter laugh bubbling up as I watched Liam lie.

Last week, news spread about a stunning sapphire necklace at the auction, and Liam knew how much I loved blue.

He had vowed to buy it for me.

But just moments ago, I'd seen him with my own eyes, fastening that very necklace around Stella's neck.

The image of Liam and Stella kissing so passionately, unable to tear themselves apart, churned my stomach.

I stumbled to the trash can, violently throwing up.

Liam, panicked, immediately called the family doctor.

But the next second, his phone vibrated wildly.

A fragile female voice echoed from the speaker.

"Liam, I accidentally slipped in the bathroom..."

The man who was always so calm and composed suddenly grabbed the doctor and rushed out of the apartment.

I watched his frantic retreat, tears finally streaming down my face.

Before Liam's brother died unexpectedly, he had asked Liam to take good care of his wife and child.

Back then, Liam's entire focus had been on his widowed sister-in-law.

When Stella grieved, drinking herself into oblivion all night, he abandoned me even as I suffered from a raging fever.

When Stella collapsed from emotional distress, refusing to eat, he left me, unconscious and miscarrying in the rainy night.

…

I had always assumed Liam was just trying to protect their broken family, swallowing my complaints, burying my resentment deep down.

But I never imagined that his sense of responsibility would morph into love for his sister-in-law.

He had betrayed me, becoming another woman's husband, another child's father.

With all my strength, I ripped off the wedding ring from my ring finger and hurled it into the trash can.

The glass window reflected a woman's pallid face, her hair disheveled, looking like a complete lunatic.

My swollen pregnant finger was raw and bleeding where the ring had chafed it.

Once I calmed down, I dialed the pinned contact, my voice hoarse.

"Mom, I want to come home."