Chapter 4

The comments exploded with envy, saying her boyfriend was so romantic.

Eunice lifted her chin, her smugness practically radiating through the screen.

"My boyfriend really is amazing. On the fifteenth last month, I lost a piano competition and was a total mess. He had an important family event that day, but the second I called, he dropped everything and came to me.

"He took me to an amusement park, stayed with me all day, then bought me a Hermès Birkin. That night at the hotel, he gave me a full-body massage and even got down on all fours so I could ride on his back.

"He treats me like a princess."

The fifteenth of last month...

My fingers tightened around my phone.

That was Sasha's birthday.

We'd planned to take her to Disneyland together.

But right before we left, Andy claimed there was an emergency at work.

Sasha burst into tears.

"Daddy broke his promise!"

And I snapped at her.

"Daddy works so hard, and you're throwing a fit? Stop being selfish."

So I took her alone.

The heat was brutal. I passed out from heatstroke.

I fell onto a sharp rock that sliced my collarbone open. It took over a dozen stitches.

The scar still crawled across my skin like a centipede.

I stared at Eunice's young, smug face and typed a comment.

[If he loves you that much, when's the wedding?]

The comment stood out in the flood of praise.

Eunice spotted it right away.

Her smile faltered.

Just for a second.

Then it came right back.

"Soon. I took a pregnancy test this morning."

She looked down, resting a hand on her stomach.

"I'm pregnant with his baby.

"When he finds out, he's going to lose it. I know he loves me enough to give me and our baby a real family."

I closed the livestream.

My heart felt hollow.

There wasn't even room left for grief.

Once heartbreak went deep enough, all that was left was numbness.

I picked up my phone and texted my private attorney.

[File to freeze our marital assets.]

When I reached the office, I went straight to Andy's.

Empty.

Then I heard his lowered voice coming from the private lounge.

"Are you crazy, Eunice? You can't keep the baby.

"I already told you—I love my wife. We're never getting married. That was the deal from the start.

"Be good. As long as you don't ruin my family, I'll pay for whatever you want..."

I stood outside the door, listening as my husband sweet-talked another woman.

What a joke.

He said he loved me.

He said he loved our family.

But he had no problem sharing his love—and his body—with someone else.

And the money he used to keep her quiet?

That came from the life we'd built together.

I took a slow breath and knocked.

Andy jerked so hard he almost dropped his phone.

"Babe! You're here. When did you get in?"

He hurried out of the lounge, forcing a smile.

I acted like I'd heard nothing.

"Just now."

I looked at him.

"The marketing director was asking about the annual gala. I was thinking of inviting Ms. Seaton to perform. What do you think?"

Andy went still.

"Invite her?"

I tipped my head.

"What? You don't like the idea?"

"N-No. If that's what you want, then sure. I'll ask her when I see her."

After I left his office, I called the marketing director over.

"Invite every media outlet and business partner you can. I want the entire gala livestreamed on every major platform."

When the time came, I wanted everyone to see who Andy Bennett really was behind that polished, perfect image.