Chapter One

Kate pov

I was busy with my laptop when my phone suddenly chirped. I almost ignored it, too engrossed in my work, but at the last moment, I decided to glance at the screen just as the call was about to end.

Seeing the caller ID, my brows furrowed. It was my husband's secretary, Melissa. Why would she be calling me? I had only saved her number because she worked closely with my husband, Lucas. On days when I couldn’t reach him at work, I would call Melissa to pass the phone to him.

But this was the first time she had ever called me. I quickly answered and placed the phone against my ear, but the filthy sounds that greeted me left me flabbergasted and troubled.

I pulled the phone away and stared at the screen again to confirm that it was really Melissa who had called. When I placed the phone back to my ear, the same filthy sounds filled my ears—loud and intense moans, unmistakable sounds of someone having a heated round of sex.

I had spoken to Melissa enough times to recognize her voice. The moans were definitely hers. Did she accidentally dial my number during her intimate session with her boyfriend? That had to be it. I was about to hang up when the words I heard next nearly made my head fall off my neck.

I shoved my laptop aside, needing to be sure I had heard correctly. I listened carefully again, and then Melissa repeated, “F*ck me, baby... Lucas, go deeper, I’m loving it... oh my gosh!”

My heart pounded violently, and I jumped to my feet. That’s not possible. I shook my head, rejecting the thought immediately. I trusted Lucas with my life and loved him dearly. Although I hadn’t conceived yet, we had always been affectionate with each other.

There was no way Lucas would cheat on me. That was simply not possible.

Maybe Melissa was trying to turn herself into a villain in my marriage. If so, she was wasting her time—it wouldn’t work.

I sat back down, trying to push away what I had just heard, but a small voice inside me wouldn’t let me rest. In a world where anything is possible, what if Lucas was actually cheating on me?

As I battled my thoughts, my phone chirped again. It was a text message. I picked up my phone, and my heart raced when I saw the sender. It was none other than Melissa.

I opened the message and felt my stomach churn. She had sent me a location—an address to a hotel, with the exact room number she wanted me to come to.

What was going on? My mind spun, filling with worst-case scenarios. I snapped my laptop shut and hurried to my wardrobe. I was still in my home wear, but if I was going out, I needed to change.

Once dressed, I stepped out of my room, intending to inform my mother-in-law that I had something urgent to attend to. She lived with us, so it was only proper to let her know.

I went to her room and knocked, but she wasn’t there. Where else could she be if not in the kitchen?

I took quick steps toward the kitchen, but just as I reached the doorway, I heard a loud burst of laughter. It was her—Stella, my mother-in-law.

After another round of laughter, she spoke, completely unaware of my presence. "That barren woman is such an idiot. I wonder what my son sees in her. Just consuming my son’s money and can’t even produce a child! Never have I seen such a shameless woman."

She laughed again. It was obvious she was on a phone call with someone.

A sharp pain stabbed through my chest. I couldn’t believe it. Stella—my mother-in-law, whom I had respected—was saying these cruel things about me. My eyes stung with unshed tears, but I swallowed them back and stormed into the kitchen abruptly.

Stella turned to me, her face paling in shock. Her heart must have leaped into her throat. Just thirty minutes ago, I had told her I would be busy in my room until nightfall. She clearly hadn’t expected me to be here now. That’s why she had spoken so freely and carelessly.

For a brief moment, heavy silence filled the air. I could see the panic in her eyes as she wondered whether I had heard her words.

She faked a cough and said, “Chloe, erm... I thought you... Are you going out?”

I smirked, masking my pain. “Mum, are you scared?”

“Scared... why? W-why would I be?” she stammered.

I crossed my arms. “I have something important to do. I’ll be leaving, ma.”

Then, without another word, I turned and walked away, intentionally leaving her in confusion. Let her wonder if I had heard her or not.

I arrived at the hotel in record time and made my way to the room number stated in the message.

At first, I considered knocking, but that wouldn’t be smart. Instead, I grabbed the doorknob, twisted it, and pushed the door open.

My heart nearly stopped.

There, on the bed, were Lucas and Melissa completely naked.

And at that very moment, Melissa was giving Lucas a blow job.

My handbag slipped from my grasp, and my legs turned to jelly. Please, let this be a dream.

But it wasn’t.

Hot tears streamed down my cheeks, and my chest tightened with unbearable pain. "Luc...as!" I choked out between my agony.

But to my shock, Lucas laughed. Melissa joined in, leaning against him without an ounce of remorse.

“Why are you crying, barren chick?” Lucas sneered. “Did you really think I would put up with you forever? Oh! So you don’t want me to have a child? It’s your fate not to have a child because you’re barren—but that’s not my fate.”

The pain in my heart grew unbearable. How could he say such cruel words?

Had he been cheating on me all along? If so, when did it start? He used to love me—what changed?

Melissa scoffed. “She’s really good at crying,” she said to Lucas.

Rage bubbled inside me. I wanted to grab something heavy and smash it against her head. But was this really her fault? No. The fault lay entirely with Lucas. He was the one who betrayed my love and trust.

I wiped my tears, straightened my back, and smirked. “You betrayed me, Lucas. It’s over between us.”

I grabbed my handbag and walked out. But the moment I stepped into the hallway, I slumped against the wall and sobbed uncontrollably.

This pain was the worst I had ever felt in my entire life.

It felt like the only way to escape it was to end everything.

But instead, I stormed to the courthouse, filed for divorce, and drove back home.

As I entered, I found Stella at the dining table, sipping warm tea. Without hesitation, I placed the divorce papers in front of her and said, “Ma, I heard what you said on the phone before I left.”

She nearly choked.

I continued, “I also caught Lucas cheating on me with his secretary. It’s clear I’m not wanted in this family anymore. I’ve signed the divorce papers. When he comes home, tell him to sign them—I’m leaving.”

I could see the joy hidden behind Stella’s sour expression.

I smirked. “Don’t act sad, Mum. We both know you never wanted me with your son.”

I turned to leave, but she suddenly spoke. “Where are you going?”

I faced her. “To pick up my belongings, of course.”

She scoffed. “Lucas said you must not take a single thing from here. Everything you own was bought with his money. Just leave.”

My chest tightened again, but I forced a smirk. “Sure.”

The only thing that mattered to me was my mother’s bracelet, which was safely on my wrist.

Without another word, I turned towards the door and walked away—slowly and painfully.