Chapter 2

Once they were gone, Zara could no longer hold back. She raised her hand and slapped Julian hard across the face.

The slap split the corner of Julian’s lip, and blood began to seep out. He did not get angry and simply wiped the blood away.

“You’ve seen everything, so I won’t hide it from you anymore. Yes, I cheated on you. Be angry at me all you want. Just don’t go after her. She’s pregnant, and she can’t be under any stress right now. Do you understand?”

He used to say, “Zara, you’ll be the only person I love the most. I swear that even if we have to be in a long-distance relationship, I’ll never betray you or cheat on you.”

Yet he admitted so casually that he had cheated on her. He even told her not to cause a scene in front of the other woman.

Zara laughed. Then, she started crying.

“Julian, tell me, why?! What did I do wrong? How did I fail you? Why would you do this to me? If you don’t love me anymore, why couldn’t you just tell me? Why did you have to hurt me by cheating on me?”

Julian sighed when he saw her crying.

“How could I not love you? It’s just that long-distance relationships are too hard. Three years ago, on my birthday, I accidentally bumped into Zoey. She had no family, and I felt sorry for her. So I started going to the hospital every day to keep her company.

“One day, she had to get treatment for her back. She cried so hard that her tears and runny nose got all over my shirt. I didn’t even care. That was when I realized I had fallen for her.

“We got together soon after. Zara, I never thought you’d find out. Now that you know, can’t you just pretend this never happened? We can still be together like we were before.

“You’ve always been the most important person to me.”

Zara could not believe how ridiculous his words sounded.

She and Julian had grown up together. They had been childhood sweethearts, and everyone knew that she was the person Julian loved the most. Zara had always believed it too.

Julian was calm and gentle by nature. He was always distant and reserved with other people, but he was patient and indulgent with her.

When they were kids, other children often picked on her. He always came to her defense and chased them away.

She loved the mulberries that grew on the trees. Julian was not even good at climbing, but he would still climb the tree just to pick the ripest one for her.

Whenever she forgot her umbrella on a rainy day, Julian held his umbrella over her. He never cared if he got completely soaked.

Even when she had bad cramps during her period, he would quietly prepare some hot water and a stick-on heat patch. Then, he would tuck them into her schoolbag before she noticed.

After graduation, she moved to another city and became an OB-GYN at a major hospital. Julian stayed in Jelmont and started his own business.

His business eventually became successful, and he proposed to her.

Even the distance between them did not stop them from loving each other.

They had been married for five years, and her friends always assured her.

“Julian loves you so much. Why are you still worried he might cheat on you? Don’t worry. We’ll keep an eye on him for you. If he ever cheats, we’ll be the first ones to beat him up for you!”

Zara had always believed that Julian would never cheat on her. She believed that if he ever did, their friends would tell her.

But it had all been a lie. Every single one of them had been lying to her.

Zara took a deep breath. She slowly raised her head and looked at the man in front of her. “I understand. If you’ve fallen for her, then let’s get a divorce. Julian, I’ll let you two be together.”

She turned to leave, but Julian grabbed her and pulled her into his arms.

“Don’t go, Zara. Can’t you try to understand me? You’re my wife. You’re the only woman I’ve ever married. I’ll support her and the baby in Jelmont, and you can stay in Javerton. They won’t bother you.”

“Does that make you cheating on me all okay? Even if you keep them in Jelmont, the fact remains that you lied and cheated on me!”

Zara shoved him away. “Julian, let me make one thing clear. I’ll never forgive a man who cheats on me. I’ll never forgive the other woman either!”

“What other woman? What are you talking about?”

Zoey had somehow come out of the private room. She held her belly and looked at Julian and Zara in confusion.

“Honey, what does she mean by ‘the other woman’? Who’s she talking about?”

Zoey looked innocent and confused. Zara did not hold back. “I’m Julian’s wife. We’ve been married for five years! So, you tell me. Who possibly could be the other woman?”

“That’s enough!”

Julian was furious when Zara said the truth out loud. He shoved her away with all his strength. “Zara, shut up!”

Zara had already reached her breaking point.

The force of the shove knocked her off balance, and she fell to the floor.

A chunk of skin on her wrist scraped away. The pain was sharp and immediate.

She instinctively looked up at Julian. In the past, he would have rushed to her side and taken care of her injury.

But this time, he ran straight to another woman.

“Zoey, let me explain.”

“No! I’m not the other woman! I’m not! Julian, you lied to me! You lied to me!”

Zoey shoved him away. She was so overwhelmed that she passed out.