Chapter 1

Trembling all over, I grabbed the glass of liquor in front of me and threw it in my husband Joseph Harris' face.

He did not even flinch. He simply said in a calm voice, "You can hit me if it makes you feel better.

"I wanted to keep this from you forever, but Cheryl wants a wedding.

"I figured I should tell you myself rather than have you find out from someone else."

My heart twisted painfully in my chest.

Was I supposed to thank him? Thank him for deigning to inform me personally that I was out of the picture after five years of lies?

My best friend, Noelle Douglas, stepped forward, looking as though she had my best interests at heart.

"Lilian, now that you know the truth, at least have some dignity.

"Stop clinging to Joseph.

"I really don't want my best friend to be the other woman. It’s embarrassing."

I jerked my head up and stared at her, my voice trembling with anger.

"Who are you calling the other woman?"

Noelle folded her arms. There was even a hint of pity in her eyes.

"Who else? You, of course.

"Your marriage certificate is fake. Cheryl's is the real one.

"We were all there five years ago when they got married."

My entire body went rigid.

Five years ago, I had been hospitalized after a car accident. My leg was broken, and the pain kept me awake night after night. Before Noelle visited me at the hospital, she posted something on social media.

[Witnessing two people in love finally get their happy ending.]

I even joked with her, asking which couple had finally gotten together.

She gave me a couple of vague answers, then quickly changed the subject.

That same afternoon, Joseph had arrived at my hospital room with a bouquet of roses. His eyes were red as he got down on one knee and proposed to me.

He had even arranged for someone from the County Clerk's Office to come to my room so we could make our marriage official.

I had been so overwhelmed with happiness that I could barely contain myself.

Now I understood.

He had not been making my dreams come true that day. He had just married another woman and handed me a counterfeit marriage certificate as an afterthought.

Everyone in the private room looked at me like I was a joke.

Maybe all those years, while I happily believed myself to be Mrs. Harris, they had laughed behind my back countless times.

I stared at Joseph, my throat so raw I could barely speak.

"Why?

"Why did you have to do this to me?"

Five years ago, I had accompanied him on a business trip to a neighboring city. On our way home that night, a sudden downpour hit the highway. The car skidded and slammed into the guardrail.

Without a second thought, I threw myself over him to protect him.

He walked away without a scratch, while I ended up with a broken leg.

Even now, I still had a barely noticeable limp. The scar ached whenever it rained.

As Joseph looked at me, emotions I could not understand swirling in his eyes, he finally said, "I was rushing back that day because I needed to marry Cheryl.

"You got hurt because of me. I will take care of you for the rest of your life."

It felt as though something had lodged itself deep in my chest, crushing me until even breathing hurt.

"What about the baby?

"You know how badly I wanted a child!"

In my desperation to get pregnant, I had practically visited every hospital in the city. One fertility injection after another had affected my stomach.

The pain was so unbearable that I would curl up on the bathroom floor in the middle of the night, vomiting until there was almost nothing left but bile.

The medication the doctors prescribed was so bitter I could barely swallow it. Every time I took it, I ended up throwing it back up.

All the while, Joseph knew perfectly well that he had undergone a vasectomy years ago, yet he had never said a word. He had simply watched me suffer, over and over again, not lifting a finger to stop me.

Joseph remained silent, but Noelle delivered the final blow on his behalf.

"Lilian, stop humiliating yourself.

"Why would Joseph ever let you have his child?

"You’re the woman he has to keep hidden. Even if you had a baby, that child would still be illegitimate."

Her words struck my heart one after another, each one like a nail being hammered into my chest.

Only then did Cheryl slowly rise to her feet. Her eyes turned red, and her voice grew so gentle it was almost sickening.

"Lilian, I know how hard it is for you to let go of Joseph.

"Honestly, I don't mind.

"Joseph and I are legally married, but I don't mind if you stay by his side as his mistress.

"My child can even call you Mommy someday."

My stomach lurched. I nearly threw up right there.

I shoved her away, my voice trembling with icy fury.

"Keep your offer. Even the thought of it makes me sick."