CHAPTER 4

EVELYN

I stepped forward and quickly snatched the phone from his hand. My fingers wrapped around it so tightly they almost hurt.

He looked at me with a puzzled smile. "Easy, baby. Is something wrong? You look startled."

I forced myself to smile even though my fingers trembled around the phone. Before he could see anything, I locked the screen.

"No," I said, trying to sound calm. "It's nothing."

He studied my face for a moment. "Are you sure?"

"I'm fine."

He didn't look completely convinced, but he didn't push any further. Instead, he slipped his hand into mine and gave it a gentle squeeze.

"Why don't you get in and take it for a drive?" He nodded toward the silver car. "I know how much you liked this model."

Just a few minutes ago, I had admired how beautiful it looked. Now all I could think about were the messages.

My stomach twisted. I imagined Julian and Chloe inside that car, laughing together, touching each other, creating memories that should have been ours alone. The image made me feel sick.

I forced another smile.

"I'm a little tired today," I said quietly. "I just want to rest."

His expression softened immediately.

"Of course." He brushed a loose strand of hair behind my ear before gently stroking my cheek. "Then go inside and get some sleep. Tomorrow, I'll go to the hospital with you to see Mom."

Even now, he remembered every little thing. He remembered that I'd told him I was visiting Mom tomorrow. But another part of me reminded me that remembering wasn't the same as being faithful. I didn't know which version of Julian was real anymore.

"Okay," I replied.

He smiled before leaning down to kiss my forehead once again. "I love you."

The words settled heavily on my chest. I searched his face. He looked so calm. So genuine.

"Julian... Can I ask you something?"

He smiled. "You can ask me anything, love."

I hesitated before speaking. "How important do you think loyalty is in a marriage?"

For a brief second, he looked surprised by the question. Then he chuckled softly. "That's a random question."

"Just answer me."

His smile faded into something more serious. "It's everything." He didn't even have to think about it. "Loyalty is the foundation of a marriage. Once that's gone, what's left?"

My heart squeezed painfully. "So..." I tried to keep my voice steady. "You've never betrayed me?"

His eyebrows drew together. "Evelyn."

He took a step closer and gently cupped my face in his hands. "I married you because I want to spend the rest of my life with you." His eyes never left mine. "There has never been another woman, and there never will be."

He paused for a beat before adding quietly, "And if I’m lying… then I deserve to lose everything I’ve spent my life building. My business. This marriage. You. All of it.”

His expression was so sincere. So full of conviction.

If I hadn't seen the messages... If I hadn't watched that video... I would've believed every word.

He was such a perfect actor. He deserved an Oscar for that performance.

"I love you until my last breath. Never doubt that."

"I know," I whispered.

It was easier than saying I loved him back because I didn't think I still did.

The moment I entered the bedroom, I picked up my phone and opened a new message. My fingers hovered over the keyboard for a few seconds before I finally typed.

"I want to sell this car. Donate all the money from the sale."

I didn't care how Julian would react when he found out. One thing I knew for certain was that I never wanted to sit inside that car.

Ever.

I pressed send.

~~~

The next morning, Julian drove us to the hospital himself. The drive was peaceful. Too peaceful. Soft music played through the speakers while he occasionally reached over to hold my hand.

If someone looked inside the car, they would see a happily married couple. No one would ever guess that I had already asked a lawyer to prepare our divorce papers.

When we arrived, Julian wrapped an arm around my shoulders as we walked into the hospital together.

The nurses greeted him warmly. "Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan."

One of the nurses smiled at me. "You two are such a lovely couple."

I smiled politely. If only she knew.

Mom was sitting up in bed when we entered her room. The moment she saw us, her tired face lit up with a smile.

"There you are!" she exclaimed, holding out both hands.

Julian walked over first and gave her a gentle hug. "How are you feeling today, Mom?"

She laughed softly. "I keep telling these doctors I'm perfectly fine, but they refuse to let me leave."

Julian smiled. "They're just doing their job."

"I know, son." She reached over and patted his hand affectionately before smiling at him. "I don't know what we'd do without you."

My chest tightened as I watched them.

Julian smiled modestly. "You don't have to thank me."

"No." Mom shook her head. "I do."

I quietly sat beside her bed as the familiar smell of medicine filled the room.

Mom had been battling chronic kidney disease for years. After Dad died, the stress only made her condition worse. Every month brought more medications, specialist appointments, and dialysis sessions to keep her stable.

His death didn't just leave us heartbroken. It shattered everything else too. The business he had invested in collapsed, and the debts piled up so quickly that we almost lost our home.

Then Julian stepped in. He cleared our debts, saved our house, and quietly took over every expense Mom could no longer afford. He paid the hospital bills, bought every medication, and covered every dialysis session. He never complained.

Mom never forgot what he'd done.

Neither did I.

Maybe that was why walking away felt so difficult. Not because I wanted to stay, but because everyone believed Julian had saved us.

But he was also the man who was slowly destroying me. The man who had broken every vow he made to me.

Mom looked between us with a bright smile. "So..." she said mischievously. "When are you two finally going to give me a grandchild?"

I froze.

For years, Julian and I had wanted children. We went from one specialist to another, sat through countless tests, and every doctor told us the same thing: there was nothing medically wrong with either of us. Still, month after month, nothing happened.

I remembered the whispers from relatives. The pity in people's eyes. Some even called me infertile behind my back. Every time I broke down because of it, Julian held me and promised that one day we'd have our own child.

Looking back now, I was almost grateful it never happened.

The thought of raising a child with a man who could betray me so easily made my chest ache. My future children deserved better than growing up in a home built on lies.

Julian laughed softly. "Soon, Mom." He looked at me with a teasing smile. "We'll give you a grandchild soon."

Mom turned to me. "Evelyn?"

I lowered my eyes. "I don't think I'm ready yet."

The room fell silent.

Mom looked surprised, but Julian simply smiled.

"There's no rush," he said calmly. "Whenever she's ready." He reached over and gently rubbed my shoulder.

Just then, his phone rang. He glanced at the screen. "I'm sorry." He stood up. "I have to take this." He walked into the hallway as he answered the call. "Yes?"

For a few seconds, the only sound in the room was the steady beeping of the heart monitor.

I looked at Mom. She looked so peaceful. So happy. Would she still be smiling if she knew the truth?

I swallowed hard. "Mom..."

"Hmm?"

I hesitated. "If... if I divorced Julian..."

She stared at me for a moment before shaking her head. "What nonsense are you talking about?"

I lowered my gaze.

"When your father died," she said softly, "that man never turned his back on us." Her eyes glistened with tears. "He's been paying for my treatment all these years without ever making me feel like a burden."

She gently squeezed my hand. "I know marriage isn't always easy."

"It isn't."

"Then work through it."

She smiled, though sadness lingered in her eyes. "Good men like Julian don't come around twice."

I wanted to tell her everything. I wanted to tell her about Chloe. About the anonymous messages. About the video that shattered my heart. But one look at the machines beside her bed stopped me. She was already fighting enough. She didn't need my pain too.

A little while later, my phone rang. Julian.

I answered. "Hello?"

"I'm sorry, baby." His voice sounded rushed. "Something urgent came up at the company. I have to head over there."

Before I could answer, I heard the soft sound of lips meeting. A woman's quiet giggle followed.

My heart lurched.

It sounded like someone had covered the phone speaker.

A few seconds later, Julian's voice came back, calm as if nothing had happened. "I'll send the driver to pick you up," he continued. "Just call me when you're ready."

I looked down, my grip tightening around my phone.

"No need."

Before he could reply, I ended the call.

I stayed with Mom for another hour. We talked about ordinary things — the weather, the flowers outside her window, and a television show she'd been watching.

I smiled when I needed to and laughed when she expected me to.

By the time I finally left her room, I felt emotionally drained.

I walked slowly toward the hospital exit. The main lobby was unusually crowded, so I decided to take a quieter hallway instead. As I turned the corner, a familiar voice made me stop.

Julian.

He was walking out of the obstetrics department. His arm was wrapped protectively around the young woman beside him. At first, I couldn't make out her face. She leaned comfortably against him, and one of her hands rested on a slightly swollen belly.

Then she turned.

Chloe.

My breathing stopped. My legs refused to move. The hallway around me disappeared until all I could see was Julian with his arm around Chloe... and her hand resting protectively over her swollen belly.