Chapter 1

I stared ahead blankly, thinking that I was hallucinating.

Mabel Landry touched my forehead gently. "Why are you looking at me like that? Are you still feeling sick?"

I shook my head. "I'm fine. The company is in its expansion phase now. You should return to the company first."

Mabel gave me a tender hug. "The company isn't as important as you, my darling Dusty. I'll be right here with you."

Just then, her phone buzzed with a notification, and she took it out to glance at the screen. Suddenly, her breath caught in her throat, and she looked flustered and panicked.

She then looked at me apologetically and said, "Dusty, an emergency came up at the office, and I need to go and take care of it immediately. Stay here in hospital and focus on recovering. I'll be back to see you again tonight."

After that, she got up and left eagerly without even waiting for my reply.

The comments popped out before my eyes once again.

[That so-called emergency doesn't exist. That bastard Clyde Johnson just sent her a photo of his abs, and she's on her way to have a good time!]

[Dustin Wright will definitely catch them red-handed if he goes after her right now!]

I read the comments before me and inhaled deeply. Then, I got out of bed and secretly shadowed her out of the hospital.

Mabel's car wasn't headed toward the office. Instead, she drove to Orchid Villas, an upscale residential area, and stopped there.

She knocked on one of the villa's front doors, and a large, muscular arm immediately reached out, curled itself around her shoulders, and pulled her in.

I stood rooted to the ground as if struck by lightning. It took me a while to collect myself before I shakily dialed Mabel's number.

She had set a special ringtone for me, and it never took longer than ten seconds for her to pick up every time.

However, this time, the phone rang until it disconnected on its own, and she still never picked up.

I had been with Mabel since we were 18, and this was already our tenth year together. People around us had always been jealous of our relationship.

Mabel's wedding vows still echoed in my ear, but now, I had to face the fact that she was cheating on me.

I numbly turned around and went back home. After what felt like forever, there was a slight commotion at the door.

Mabel pushed it open and saw me inside. She immediately ran in and threw herself into my arms.

"Dusty! Why didn't you pick up any of my calls? I looked everywhere for you. You nearly gave me a heart attack!"

I looked up at her and asked, "Then, why didn't you pick up my calls earlier?"

She hugged me tighter and apologized. "I'm sorry, Dusty. I was in the middle of an important meeting. My phone was on silent, so I didn't hear your calls."

I didn't know when she started being so smooth and convincing with her lies. I just pushed her away and asked, "Do you still love me, Mabes?"

She immediately answered without hesitation. "Of course I love you, Dusty. I promised you that I would love you forever."

But she was filthy now, and I didn't want her anymore.

I waited until she went into the bathroom to wash up and dialled a number that I hadn't called in six years.

"Brenda? Are the lavenders in Prance City in full bloom? I kinda wanna go see them now."

Brenda Donovan's voice was excited and choked with emotion. "The flowers are indeed in bloom, Dustin. I've also been waiting for you."

"Okay. I'll come to Prancera to see you in three days."

Mabel happened to come out of the bathroom just then in a bathrobe. "Who's going to Prancera?"