Chapter 1: THE SURPRISE THAT WASN'T

EMMA'S POV

I walked into Daniel’s office building with excitement bubbling inside me. Today was his birthday, and I had spent weeks planning the perfect surprise for him. I could already picture his face lighting up when he saw the box in my hand—his favorite cake—and the gift I had carefully picked out for him. I couldn’t wait to see his smile, to celebrate the man I loved so much.

I stepped off the elevator and walked down the hallway to his office. The closer I got, the more I imagined how the day would unfold. It would be just the two of us, laughing together, sharing a quiet moment. It was supposed to be perfect.

But then, I rounded the corner.

I froze.

Through the glass of the office door, I saw them. Daniel was sitting there, relaxed, smiling at someone. And that someone wasn’t me. It was Veronica—his colleague, someone I’d heard of but never really paid attention to. They were sitting close to each other, their laughter blending together, and Veronica’s hand was resting casually on his arm. It was too familiar, too comfortable.

My heart sank in my chest. The smile that had been on my face just seconds ago vanished. What was this? Was I reading it wrong? Had I misunderstood? Or was this exactly what I feared? Was my husband... with her?

I stood there for a moment, paralyzed. I tried to shake off the panic, the feeling that something was terribly wrong. Maybe it was nothing. Maybe it was just a friendly conversation. But the way Veronica’s hand rested on Daniel’s arm, the way they laughed together—it didn’t feel like nothing.

I tried to calm myself. No. I was overreacting. I should go inside and surprise him, just like I planned. But before I could push open the door, I heard their voices clearly through the glass.

“Oh, come on, Daniel,” Veronica said, her voice light and teasing. “You know I’m right. You never liked surprises. You always tell me how much you hate them.”

Daniel chuckled. “Maybe so, but I’ll make an exception for today,” he replied. “It’s Emma’s surprise, after all.”

I felt my stomach twist. “Emma’s surprise.” That’s what he had said. But why was he so relaxed with Veronica, as though she were more than just a colleague? They seemed so comfortable with each other, like they had a history I didn’t know about.

I pushed the door open quietly, not wanting to interrupt their conversation. But as soon as I stepped inside, both of them looked up. Daniel’s face softened when he saw me, but I could see it—his unease. It was almost as if he wasn’t happy to see me.

“Emma,” Daniel said, standing up quickly. “You’re here early.”

His voice lacked the warmth it usually had, and the smile he gave me was forced, like he was trying too hard. I smiled back, but I couldn’t ignore the sinking feeling in my chest. I had expected to walk into his arms, to have him greet me with a kiss and a laugh, but instead, I felt like an outsider in my own marriage.

“Happy birthday,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady as I held out the cake. “I brought your favorite cake, and I have something special for you.”

Veronica stepped forward, her smile sweet but her eyes glinting with something sharper. “How thoughtful, Emma,” she said, her voice full of politeness, but there was an edge to it. “Daniel’s a lucky man to have such a sweet wife.”

I nodded, forcing a smile, though I couldn’t help but notice how she still had her hand on Daniel’s arm, as though she had every right to be there.

“Well, Emma, thank you for the cake,” Daniel said, taking it from my hands, but he didn’t give me a kiss or even a proper hug. He just set it down on the table, his gaze lingering on the cake rather than on me. I could feel my heart racing, but I tried to ignore the nagging feeling that something wasn’t right.

Veronica cleared her throat, as if she had been waiting for her moment to speak. “You know, Emma,” she said, her voice sweet but a little too smooth, “Daniel and I have known each other for a long time. We’ve been through a lot together.” She glanced at him, her fingers lightly brushing his arm again, as if to emphasize her point.

I didn’t know what to say. I felt a pang of confusion, but I forced myself to hold it in. “I’m sure you have,” I said, trying to keep my voice neutral. “But I’ve been with Daniel for a long time too.”

She smiled, her eyes glinting with something that I couldn’t quite put my finger on. “Oh, I know. But you see, Emma, Daniel and I... we’ve been through a lot even before you came into the picture.”

My heart stopped. What was she saying?

I looked at Daniel, hoping for him to speak up, to tell me that she was just being dramatic. But instead, he shifted uncomfortably, his eyes avoiding mine.

Veronica continued, her smile never fading. “We’ve had our moments, haven’t we, Daniel?” She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a soft whisper. “Before Emma, Daniel and I were always... close. You know, really close.”

I felt a sharp sting in my chest. What did she mean by that? I had never known anything about this. Never once had Daniel mentioned how close they were, how much history they shared.

I took a step back, trying to process what was happening. “I... I don’t understand,” I said, my voice wavering. “Daniel, is this true?”

Daniel finally looked at me, but the look in his eyes was so different from what I had expected. It wasn’t warm or apologetic. It was distant, almost cold. “Emma, this is not how I wanted you to know.”

I felt like the ground was slipping away from beneath me. How long had this been going on? How long had he and Veronica been... whatever they were?

I turned to Veronica, my heart pounding in my chest. “What exactly are you saying?” I asked, my voice shaking. “That he... belongs to you?”

Veronica’s smile was slow and calculating. “Not in the way you think, darling,” she said, her voice smooth like honey. “But yes, Daniel and I have something you can’t take away. We’ve been together long before you showed up.” She looked at Daniel again, her fingers caressing his arm in a way that made me feel sick.

Daniel didn’t say anything. He just looked at me, his expression unreadable.

I felt my head spin. I couldn’t breathe. This wasn’t supposed to be happening. I was married to Daniel. We had shared so much together. But now, I wasn’t sure what was real anymore. Was Veronica right? Had I always been in the dark about something?

I needed to leave. I couldn’t stay in that room for another second. The suffocating tension was too much.

“I... I have to go,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. I turned to walk out, my heart heavy, my thoughts jumbled. I felt like I was drowning in confusion, my world crumbling around me.

Before I could reach the door, I heard Veronica’s voice behind me, smooth and cruel. “Don’t worry, Emma. Daniel will always belong to me. No matter what.”

The words echoed in my mind as I stepped out of the office, the door slamming behind me. I was shaking, my hands clammy as I walked down the hallway. The birthday surprise I had so carefully planned now felt like a cruel joke.

I didn’t know what to do, where to go. I couldn’t go back in there. I couldn’t face either of them again. What was I supposed to believe now?

I stepped into the elevator, pressing the button for the ground floor, my mind spinning. The doors closed, but the questions remained. The pain lingered. I didn’t know what came next, but one thing was clear: nothing would ever be the same again.