Chapter 1

I heard footsteps outside the door after I was done making arrangements with a liaison from the dark web. I quickly hung up. The name Nina Secco would disappear from Don Lineti's world in three days.

The soft sound of unlocking was heard, and Chris Lineti walked in, smelling strongly of smoke. He held me tightly in his arms. His eyes were filled with tenderness, just like five years ago, when we first met on that rainy night. He asked me gently, "Who were you talking to, Nina?"

"It was just a marketing call," I replied with a smile, trying my best to act normal.

Everyone around me always said that Chris loved me and pampered me a lot, and how I was like a precious gem that he would go to great lengths to take care of. He would always whisper romantic words into my ears, and I would swim in ecstasy in his sweet murmurings.

However, none of them knew that Chris might have given me a grand wedding, but he had never married me legally, which was not something that had bothered me before. Looking back now, I realized that the woman he truly wanted as his lawfully wedded wife was Yvonne Quinto.

I used to think that I was the happiest woman in the world, but now, I knew that our love was filled with nothing but deceit. It was just a lie he made up to protect his beloved Yvonne.

Chris caressed my belly gently as if wishing that the IVF embryo transfer was successful.

"We'll give up if we fail again this time. The process has really been hard on you." He looked at me worriedly and changed the topic.

"By the way, the Perettis will be having a party tomorrow to celebrate their Donna getting pregnant with their heir and to congratulate Yvonne for entering the finals to become the chief pharmacist. I know you've never liked her, so it's not necessary for you to attend. I'll come home right away after delivering a gift to them."

"I'm running for chief pharmacist too—"

Chris interrupted me gently but firmly, "It's too tiring to run for chief pharmacist. You shouldn't tire yourself out, especially when you've tried so many times for IVF without any success."

I tried my best to hold back a sob. We had tried IVF numerous times but always ended up failing. I used to blame myself for having a weak body every time I lost a baby, but it now seemed that everything was fated.

Our baby must have sensed that its father did not love its mother at all and was not willing to be born into a family like that.

Chris was preventing me from running for chief pharmacist for fear that I would be an obstacle to Yvonne's path to success. He kissed me on the forehead. "It's our wedding anniversary the day after tomorrow. I've arranged a boat party for you that I guarantee you'll love. Also, this is for you."

He took out a velvet box from his pocket, which contained a ruby necklace. "It's a ruby, your favorite gem. I knew it'd suit you perfectly the moment I saw it."

I stared at the necklace in a daze. The brilliant light reflecting from it was exceptionally blinding to my eyes.

We were married for five years, and he would always buy me ruby accessories every time he saw them. It used to cheer me up and fill me with happiness every time I received those presents from him, but now, I knew that he picked them based on Yvonne's preference.

His show of love was actually meant for her.

However, I forced myself to smile naturally. "I've prepared an anniversary present for you too."

I looked into his eyes, which were filled with love, and for a moment, I was puzzled by it. It never occurred to me that a person could put up such a convincing act of being in love with someone he was not.

That night, I tossed and turned in bed, unable to go to sleep. I accidentally knocked his watch onto the floor. That was when I noticed Yvonne's name engraved on the inner side of the strap. It was at that very moment that I lost all hope in Chris.