Chapter 1

Lilly's POV

My best friend, Naomi Dodson, grabbed my arm with a look of guilt. "Lilly, I know this is hard for you to accept, but you can't have kids. If anyone's going to carry his child, wouldn't you rather it be me?

"You said it yourself back then. What's yours is mine. To tell you the truth, Joe and I slept together the night after you said that five years ago."

I froze.

Five years ago, on my wedding day, Naomi stood beside me as my maid of honor.

Joe Walsh and I exchanged our vows by the ocean, promising forever.

Back then, Naomi was drowning in debt. I handed over all my wedding gifts to help her out.

When she hesitated to accept, I tried to reassure her by telling her that what was mine was hers.

I never imagined that she would sleep with the man I loved most that very night.

A cold numbness spread through my chest. I couldn't even remember how I walked out of there.

Five years of a loving marriage suddenly felt like a sick joke.

By the time Joe got back, the house was a total wreck.

There was no blowout fight. He just walked over and pulled me into his arms, like he always did when we fought, gently soothing me by my ear, "Are you hurt? Look at you, acting like a child…"

As he said that, he kissed my ear gently.

For a split second, I thought the whole day had just been a nightmare.

I thought I was awake now, and we were still the happy couple we'd always been.

Then his next words shattered the delusion. "Naomi said the baby's been crying all night. I'm going to Northia Villa to spend some time with them. Don't worry. You're still the one I love. Naomi's just the mother of my child, nothing more.

"If you truly can't accept this, you two can just stay out of each other's way. One in the south, and one in the north."

"Why?"

I stared at him, forcing out every word. "Why did you sleep with her on our wedding night?"

Joe stroked my hair and replied gently, "It was an accident at first. I had too much to drink… And later… Well, you two might be best friends, but you're completely different in bed. You're just so uptight, Lilly.

"Plus, you're always throwing fits. Every time we fought, Naomi was the one comforting me."

He had a nostalgic, dreamy look in his eyes as he spoke.

My mind flashed back to our second year together. Joe had been out drinking with clients until 5:00 am. He refused to check into a hotel, insisting on coming home.

He told me he was afraid he might slip up with another woman if he stayed out.

He swore back then that I was his one and only and that he'd never touch another soul. But now, he was sleeping with my best friend.

The realization hollowed me out. I couldn't even bring myself to cry.

Joe's phone buzzed with an incoming call labeled "Client". Instead of answering, he turned back to me. "Alright, you've had your moment. Go shopping if you're still mad. Naomi and the baby are waiting for me.

"The kid's too young to grow up without a father. Lilly, I know you wouldn't want another child to grow up the way you did, right?"

My eyes went wide with fury.

He knew Dad abandoned me for his mistress when I was three. Growing up without a dad was my deepest wound, and he was rubbing salt right into it.

"Joe… I want a divorce." It took every ounce of my strength to get those words out.

Joe just looked at me and laughed.