1 - The Event.

It was the third anniversary of the JS Group. A lot of elite guests showed up to celebrate the anniversary with the reputable CEO, Julian, who had founded the company and built it up from scratch.

Sydney, Julian’s wife, sat with one of the shareholders of the company, Ashley, watching her husband with a proud smile as he gave a speech at the podium.

“… I’m so grateful to everyone who came to celebrate with us tonight. Three years ago, this company was just something I had envisioned, but thanks to Ashley, the company has become what it is today,” Julian said, smiling warmly at Ashley.. “Please give her a round of applause.”

Sydney’s smile dropped.

Ashley wasn’t even his wife yet he was flaunting her before everyone. Sydney tightened her hand around her glass of wine as she thought, if only he knew she was the one who had invested in his company three years ago.

The whole audience rose to their feet and clapped. Ashley covered her face with her hands, smiling shyly. “Please don’t applaud me,” she said, looking at Julian. “You made this company what it is today, not me.”

Julian laughed at Ashley’s statement before continuing his speech.

Sydney shifted in her seat, a frown etched on her face. It wasn’t like she thought Julian and Ashley were having an affair, but something about how he smiled at Ashley made her feel irritated. She was his wife, the one who had put so much effort into his business. Even if he wasn't aware of her contribution, it still didn’t justify him praising and doting on Ashley before everyone. She gulped down her glass of wine and slammed it on the table. Its clang caught Ashley’s attention.

“What happened?” Ashley looked down at Sydney’s empty glass. “Would you like another glass?”

Sydney didn’t respond, but Ashley called a waitress who was serving drinks. The waitress came to their table, took a glass of wine from her tray, and placed it in front of Sydney. She then picked up the empty glass and left.

Still feeling irritated, Sydney picked up the new glass of wine and gulped it down.

“Oh my gosh,” Ashley laughed. “You must be really thirsty.”

“My throat is just dry.”

Ashley nodded and looked back at Julian who was now talking about how much Ashley meant to him and the company. She smiled at him and touched her chest.

Sydney rolled her eyes and reached for her glass. It was empty; she’d downed it all in one go.

She turned, searching for a waiter. Just then, a sharp pain stabbed through her. She let out a low groan and clutched her lower abdomen. Her brows furrowed as the pain surged through her, sharp and relentless, like a cluster of knives twisting in her gut. She drew in a shaky breath, trying to ignore the ache, but she couldn’t.

With great difficulty, she rose from her seat and made her way toward the exit of the event hall. Once outside, she found a quiet corner, braced herself against the wall, and fumbled through her purse. Her fingers finally closed around her phone. She pulled it out and dialed her chauffeur.

In no time, her chauffeur arrived and helped her to the car.

Meanwhile, back inside the hall, Julian wrapped up his speech and returned to his seat. He paused as he noticed the empty chair beside him. Sydney was gone.

He turned to Ashley. “Where’s Sydney?”

Ashley looked at the exit. “I saw her talking to a man over there. They left together.”

Julian frowned. “You saw Sydney with a man?”

“Yes,” she said, then asked. “Why are you surprised? I thought you knew.”

“Knew what?”

Ashley narrowed her eyes, giving Julian a skeptical look. “You don’t know your wife is seeing another man?”

“What?”

“You really didn't know?” Ashley gasped. “It has been going on for a while now.”

Julian frowned, rubbing his temple. “Stop joking around, Ashley. This isn’t funny.”

Ashley had been his friend since college and he knew how unserious she could be.

“I’m serious, Julian. Sydney is seeing another man. Wait,” she brought out her phone and looked through it. “I took pictures of them, I will show you,” she said while scrolling through her phone. “Here,” she gave her phone to him.

He froze as he saw different images of his wife, entering a hotel, having dinners, smiling, warming up to, and touching another man!

What the hell?

“How long did you know about this?”

“Almost three months.” Ashley sighed. “I didn't tell you about it because I thought you knew.”

Everything seemed surreal.

How could Sydney cheat on him?

She was his wife. She was meant to be devoted to him.

He got up and turned to leave the hall.

“Julian!” Ashley stood up, about to follow him.

“Don’t worry,” Julian raised his hand, stopping her. “I’m okay.”

With that, he went outside. He brought out his phone and dialed a number.

“Find out everything Sydney has been doing the past three months!” He ordered the moment the call went through and hung up.

He placed a call to Sydney, but she didn't pick up. After the tenth call, he slammed the phone and gripped his hair.

While in the car, Sydney remained curled in the back seat, her whole body trembling hard. Her purse had fallen under the seat, vibrating as her phone rang repeatedly, but she was too weak to pick it up.

The chauffeur glanced at Sydney. “Ma’am, you don't seem to be feeling well. Should I take you to the hospital?”

“Yes… Please do that.”

The chauffeur nodded and rushed straight to a hospital.

By the time they reached the emergency ward, Sydney was pale and sweating. Nurses transferred her to a gurney and rushed her into a brightly lit room that smelled of antiseptic and fear. Monitors beeped as doctors fired questions she could barely answer. They drew blood, wheeled her for scans, and pumped pain relief into her IV while the sharp, burning ache continued to radiate through her lower abdomen like liquid fire.

Sydney’s thoughts spun wildly. Just minutes ago she was fine at the event… What the hell happened?

The pain had struck so suddenly. Right after that second glass of wine Ashley had ordered.

Julian…

He had no idea she was in the hospital. He was probably still at the venue, or already home, wondering where she’d gone. She needed to call him.

She fumbled weakly for her phone but couldn’t find it.

“My phone…” she murmured, glancing toward the ward door as she remembered leaving it in the car.

A nurse stepped in and checked the monitors.

“I need my phone,” Sydney said, her voice weak but urgent. “My husband... I have to call him.”

“You’re in a critical state right now ma’am,” the nurse replied gently but firmly, preparing a syringe. “You need to rest. The hospital will contact him in due time.”

Before Sydney could protest, the sedative slipped into her IV. The world softened around the edges, then faded to black.