Chapter 2

I ended the call and said calmly, "It's nothing. A friend of mine was talking about going to Imperia."

Benjamin stepped closer and pulled me into his arms. "Emma, if you want to travel, give me a few days to wrap up work. I can go with you in three days."

I gently pushed him away. "Let's rest."

Early the next morning, he left for the office.

However, from what I had already seen scrolling past those strange on-screen comments, I knew he was not going to work; he was going to see Samantha.

The moment he was gone, I went straight to a law firm and had them draft a divorce agreement for me.

That afternoon, Benjamin called.

"Emma, today's our tenth anniversary. There's a jewelry exhibition tonight. You can choose anything you like, and I'll buy it all for you."

He had forgotten.

Our actual anniversary was yesterday.

I forced a small smile. "As long as it's from you, I'll like it."

At the exhibition, Benjamin spent money like it meant nothing: two necklaces, a pair of earrings, two bracelets…

People around us could not hide their envy.

A waitress with a striking figure accidentally spilled tea onto him.

"Sir, I'm so sorry. Let me help you clean it…"

Benjamin shoved her away. "Don't touch me. No woman except Emma is allowed near me."

Back when he had just started his business, he often had to entertain clients. One night, he came home late, carrying another woman's perfume on him.

When he noticed my expression, he swore on the spot that he would never meet female clients again and that he would never let another woman get close to him.

From then on, his reputation as a devoted, almost wife-fearing husband spread across the city. I had become the woman everyone envied.

More of those scrolling comments drifted past.

[Samantha's got some nerve, daring to provoke Emma right in front of her.]

I looked straight at the waitress.

So, she was Samantha.

She ran off in tears.

Benjamin stood up shortly after. "Emma, I'm going to the restroom to clean up. Wait for me here."

The crowd buzzed again with admiration.

"Mr. Shaw is such a decent man."

"Everyone in Helios knows he loves his wife more than anything. As long as they're together, I can still believe in love."

However, the comments kept scrolling.

[The worst one here is Benjamin; that scumbag is already hooking up with Samantha in the restroom right now!]

Before I realized it, my feet were already moving toward the restroom.

From the next stall, sounds spilled out: low, breathless, unmistakable.

"You slut… Moaning that loud? Trying to let everyone hear?"

A soft, sugary voice answered, half-teasing, half-breathless.

"Mr. Shaw, whose fault is that? You're the one who won't let me stop…"

His voice dropped, thick with pleasure.

"Can't stop, huh? Then, why did you dress like that and come here?"

Her tone turned coy.

"Thinking about how you'll be traveling with your wife in two days… It makes me sad. I don't care… You have to stay with me for these two days. You have to satisfy me."

The sounds grew louder.

Something inside me hurt so much it went numb.

I wiped the tears from the corners of my eyes and turned away.

An hour later, the exhibition had already ended when Benjamin finally returned, looking flustered.

"Emma, I'm sorry. I ran into a business partner and got caught up talking with him."

He lied so smoothly.

I simply nodded, my expression calm. "It's fine. Work comes first."

We loaded the jewelry into the trunk, and he drove me home.

Halfway there, his phone rang.

He glanced at it once and then declined the call without a word.