Chapter 1. Never Really Faithful

Fall had settled in Boston, bringing with it a biting chill and a sky that hung low and gray above rows of old buildings. Maple leaves scattered along the sidewalks, painting the streets in quiet shades of orange.

On the fourth floor of a colonial-style office building in Back Bay, the women's restroom felt like a different world—silent, still, almost untouched.

Evelyn Sinclair leaned against the half-open door, clutching her phone tightly. Her eyes were locked on a photo. The man in it was Lucas Callahan—her husband. But what made her breath catch wasn’t him. It was the woman beside him. The face was blurry, but the tiny rose tattoo on her shoulder was crystal clear. Too clear.

The sound of a faucet turning on broke the silence, followed by whispers from two coworkers who clearly didn’t realize Evelyn was still inside.

“Don’t you think it’s weird how Evelyn’s always too busy? I wouldn’t be surprised if Lucas started looking somewhere else.”

“Right? They’ve been married for over three years and still no kids.”

“I heard... she can’t get pregnant.”

Then came the laughter. Quiet at first, fading slowly—leaving behind something far more painful than their words.

Evelyn pushed the door open and looked at herself in the mirror. She looked exactly the same as always. Hair pinned up neatly, tailored gray blazer, light makeup, dark sunglasses perched on her nose. Calm. Mature. Professional. But only she knew it was all surface. Beneath it, everything was slowly unraveling.

The image from the photo came back to her, bleeding into her reflection. She tried to deny it, to convince herself it had to be fake. But that tattoo... there was no mistaking it.

Lucas had always been kind to her—even after finding out she couldn’t have children. He never blamed her, never complained. If anything, he became more attentive. And for the past three years, Evelyn had handled everything. Their home, her job, even helping with the Callahan family business. She thought they were a team. She thought they were in love.

“Evelyn!”

A voice snapped her back to the present. She turned quickly to see Chloe Hartman standing near the door, looking worried.

“You okay? You look super pale,” Chloe said as she stepped closer.

Evelyn turned away fast, splashing her face with cold water from the sink. She tried to steady her breathing. When she finally looked up, she noticed Chloe’s outfit for the first time.

She was wearing a long white strapless dress. Her blonde hair was pinned up elegantly, and her makeup was more dramatic than usual.

“Why are you dressed like that?” Evelyn asked, drying her hands with a paper towel.

Chloe smiled warmly, like always. She casually wrapped an arm around Evelyn’s shoulder like nothing had changed. “You forgot? Tonight’s the celebration party with the Reed family. The project was a huge success—and you were the key to all of it. Don’t tell me you spaced.”

Of course she hadn’t forgotten. She couldn’t forget. For the past three months, she and Chloe had worked side by side on that major deal with Sebastian Reed and his family. It was finally done, and tonight was the celebration.

But Evelyn’s mind was still trapped in that photo. She was about to respond with something polite, when her eyes caught sight of Chloe’s back. The dress revealed her left shoulder—and there it was. That same tiny rose tattoo, red and black against her pale skin.

She froze. Her gaze locked on that ink like the entire room had gone silent.

“Evelyn? What’s going on?” Chloe turned her head slightly, her voice casual, almost innocent. And the tattoo became even more visible.

And just like that, Evelyn's last line of denial collapsed. She had tried to reason with herself. Maybe the photo was fake. Maybe it was someone who just looked similar.

But no. The woman in the photo was standing right here.

Chloe Hartman. The girl Evelyn had personally recommended to join the company right after graduation. The girl she had mentored, protected, defended. The one she stuck her neck out for during tough meetings. The one she trusted more than anyone at the office.

Lucas used to joke that Chloe was too good to be just a coworker. Evelyn never thought twice about it. She never suspected. She never imagined that of all people, Chloe would be the one to stab her in the back.

Now she stood still in front of the mirror, surrounded by the scent of soap and damp paper towels, while the world she believed in started falling apart—quietly, piece by piece.

“Evelyn?” Chloe waved a hand in front of her face, eyes wide with concern. “Are you sure you’re okay? If you’re not feeling well, I can call Lucas. I can handle the company stuff too, no worries.”

The girl in front of her looked the same as always. Innocent. Calm. Harmless.

Evelyn clenched her hands into fists, holding back the surge of emotion threatening to spill. She forced a faint smile.

“I’m fine. Let’s go.”

Starting a scene now would only make her look weak.

“Okay,” Chloe said, checking her phone. “Lucas and I promised we’d meet Mr. Reed’s team before the party. They wanna go over the rundown. We’re supposed to be there at least an hour early.”

Evelyn nodded slowly. “You go ahead. I’m heading home for a bit. I need a shower, and... well, I can’t show up at a party dressed like this.”

Chloe laughed softly. “Totally. I’m changing at the hotel later too.”

Evelyn gave her a thin smile. “See you there.”

They parted in the office lobby. Evelyn headed straight for the basement parking.

Her steps were quick. Once inside her car, she shut the door and sat in silence. Her fingers gripped the steering wheel, but her thoughts were still stuck in that restroom—on Chloe’s tattoo, and on Lucas’s eyes that maybe hadn’t truly seen her in a long time.

Callahan Property Group had nearly collapsed a few years ago. But after Lucas married Evelyn, the company surged back stronger than ever.

In just three years, what once seemed like a sinking ship turned into a major player in Boston’s real estate world. This month was the peak—thanks to the Reed partnership they had spent months building. The future looked brighter than ever.

---

A few hours later, after a long cold shower that did nothing to clear her head, Evelyn stood in front of the mirror at home. She wore a long black dress—sleeveless, simple, and elegant. Her makeup was retouched, her hair left down and loose. No flashy jewelry. No extra effort to impress. She just wanted to look presentable.

That night, the ballroom was buzzing. Jazz played softly in the background. Chandeliers bathed the room in warm light. Laughter and clinking glasses filled the air.

Evelyn entered quietly. Some guests glanced her way, offering brief greetings. She replied with a polite nod.

Across the room, a crowd had gathered around a man in a sharp white suit. Lucas Callahan. Her husband.

Normally, she would’ve walked straight to his side. But not tonight. She grabbed a glass of wine from a passing waiter and made her way to a corner.

She sat alone, letting the scene in front of her carve its way into her thoughts.

Since when had Lucas and Chloe gotten that close?

How far had things gone behind her back?

Was Lucas actually in love with Chloe?

Had he just been pretending to stay loyal while quietly resenting the fact that she couldn’t give him children?

Questions piled up in her mind. And without realizing it, she started downing one glass of wine after another. Her head grew lighter. Everything around her began to blur.

She hadn’t even finished her last glass when she stood up, walking toward the center of the room—toward Chloe, who was laughing softly while touching Lucas’s arm. Too intimate.