Perfect Until I Disappeared

When Gloria Lawton walked in, she smelled like some other guy's cologne.She was smiling at her phone, recording a voice message."Be good, okay? Listen to me."I was on the couch watching TV. The second she saw me, her face went cold. The warmth in her voice vanished."Why are you still awake?"I nodded toward the TV."This."On the screen, I was surrounded by a swarm of reporters, microphones practically shoved in my face."Mr. Moore, did you see what was blowing up online yesterday? Are the rumors true? Is your wife having an affair with rising actor Damian Keane?""Your wife was spotted meeting Damian Keane late at night. Any comment?"...Yesterday, footage of Gloria and Damian showing up together at a charity gala had blown up online.In the video, Damian was wearing a red suit while Gloria held onto his arm, glowing beside him in the crowd.But Gloria supposedly hated guys wearing red.Back then, she'd cleaned every red thing out of my closet."What kind of guy we

By the time we got to the Lawton estate, Gloria and Damian were already there.They were being treated like royalty, surrounded by people.Jennifer was fastening an antique bracelet around Gloria's wrist."This has been in our family for years. I didn't give it to you before because you weren't pregnant. But now, thanks to Damian..."Her face was all smiles.Then she saw me.Her smile disappeared instantly."What are you doing here?"The disgust on her face wasn't even subtle. She looked ready to kick me out on the spot.Around us, the guests turned to stare, obviously waiting for drama.Gloria leaned against Damian's chest, her eyes half-lowered, like she was waiting for me to react.Damian had this smug look in his eyes as he pulled her closer.I smiled. "Jennifer, what are you talking about? You've always wanted a grandchild. That's on me. Five years of marriage, and I never got Gloria pregnant. Now she and Mr. Keane are expecting, and your wish finally came true. That's

Gloria stared at me like she couldn't believe what she was hearing and took a step back.She looked blankly at the divorce papers in my hand.Like I hadn't noticed her reaction, I pushed them a little closer."Whether I bought the cologne or not, Mr. Keane almost getting hurt is still true. I was careless. I don't deserve to be your husband."Gloria stayed quiet for a long moment before turning away, her jaw clenched."Playing hard to get? Taking a step back so I'll chase you? Looks like you've learned some new tricks."Then she looked right at me."Do you really think I wouldn't divorce you?"I shook my head, confused."I don't get what you're saying. You're carrying Mr. Keane's baby now. Him becoming your husband makes the most sense."Something shifted across Gloria's face.Too many emotions, too fast to make out.She looked at me with an expression I couldn't read, like she was staring at someone she'd never seen before."Do you really mean that?"I nodded without hes

"Mason, are you actually stupid, or are you pretending?"I froze, not understanding what he meant."You seriously can't be this clueless. I came here to take your place as Gloria's husband."Of course I knew.I saw it perfectly clearly.I wanted to tell him that the second Gloria said the word, I'd pull out the papers and divorce her immediately.But she wouldn't say it.Every day, Gloria and Damian were all over each other right in front of me while she treated me like I wasn't even there.I couldn't figure out what Gloria wanted.And I was scared of making her upset, so I didn't dare push it.I answered honestly."Why don't you ask Gloria?""Mason!"Damian's face changed instantly.He knocked over the fresh bowl of chicken soup.The hot soup splashed across my leg, burning like boiling water.I sucked in a sharp breath.Back then, I would've lost it and demanded Gloria explain herself.But now...I didn't even feel like I had the right to get mad.Gloria told me t

The second I pulled my hand back, I froze.I could resist Gloria now?The system said this body couldn't support the Perfect Partner Program anymore, so it automatically unlinked.Which meant I wasn't far from dying.I got thinner every day. Gloria saw it, and her panic kept growing.She stopped going to the office and stayed by my bedside all day.Jennifer stormed in one day, pointed at me on the bed, and called me a walking disaster.Gloria threw her out. Even upstairs, I could hear them arguing.Sometimes the pain dragged me awake in the middle of the night, and I'd look over at Gloria asleep beside me.For a second, it almost felt like we were back to how we used to be. Back when we loved each other.But the betrayal was real. The hurt was real.Truth and lies twisted together until I couldn't tell them apart anymore.If her love for me was real, then why had she whispered sweet words to Damian? Why had she treated him the way she used to treat me?And if it was all fa