Chapter 1

At the restaurant, Serena’s friend asked her in Spanish.

“So you’re really planning to have a baby with that side piece of yours, and Liam still hasn’t a clue?”

Serena gently shook her head, her expression calm as ever:

“Liam says he can’t stand emotional betrayal. If he finds out, he’ll walk right out of my life for good. That’s why I’ve been so careful.”

What she didn’t realize was that I not only understood every word of Spanish, but I was already plotting my exit from her life.

In a month’s time, I’d use an overseas business trip as my ticket to disappear for good and start fresh.

Serena chatted fluently with her friend in Spanish, all the while feeding me pieces of fruit like nothing was wrong.

She never noticed the faint redness around my eyes.

She figured I didn’t understand Spanish, so she felt free to talk about this stuff right in front of me.

What she didn’t know was that over the years, I’d taught myself multiple languages—five, to be exact—just to connect with her better.

Even her private chats with her lover, the ones she intentionally had in Spanish? I caught every single word.

She’d been hiding so much from me for so long, and turns out I had a secret of my own.

In a month, I’d erase all my personal info and leave the country with a brand-new identity.

By then, no matter how many resources Serena poured into finding me, I’d be gone for good.

I watched the woman I’d loved for a decade in silence. Same eyes, same smile—but she felt like a total stranger now.

Suddenly, exhaustion hit me like a wave. I couldn’t keep up this charade anymore.

I made an excuse about being tired and needing to head back to rest. The second I stood up, Serena got up too, telling her friends in English:

“You guys keep having fun, I’ll take Liam home first.”

Her friends groaned playfully: “We barely get to hang out, and you’re bailing already? Party pooper.”

I gently pulled my hand from Serena’s grip and said calmly, “The driver can take me home. You should stay and enjoy your friends.”

Without waiting for her response, I turned and walked out of the restaurant.