Chapter 2

Henry and Charlotte had known each other for almost 30 years.

They were childhood friends. When they were just kids, Charlotte was the girl next door who would coax him to eat. When they grew older, she was the upperclassman at school whom he could never get away from. Their union later on was the perfect marriage with blessings from both families.

Charlotte had always loved him. In middle school, she would step in and drive away the school bullies for him. In college, she would cross the campus grounds just to be the womenswear model for his fashion design class.

Henry thought their marriage would be smooth-sailing and blissful, just like when they were younger.

That was, until that fateful accident when he protected Charlotte, injuring himself and becoming infertile in the process.

Charlotte drowned her guilt in alcohol, and she happened to meet Gavin, Henry's former classmate in college.

Gavin didn't have a single penny to his name, and he was working as a bar server. Still, he remained positive as he talked Charlotte through her distress. The two gradually grew closer to each other.

At first, Charlotte was just grateful to Gavin, so she gave him some small gifts and helped him find a better apartment.

Later on, Henry bumped into Charlotte and Gavin in the Davidsons' villa, and their clothes were in disarray.

That day, Henry almost punched Gavin in the face.

Gavin looked hurt as he hid behind Charlotte, saying, "I'm just staying at the villa for the time being. Charlotte got me a new job, and I had some questions for her…"

Henry's voice was shaking as he asked, "Why would you need to undress just to ask a question?"

Charlotte was young and rash back then. She felt that Henry was being unforgiving and pressing his advantage, so she signed the divorce agreement on the spot.

But just a few months after Henry left, Charlotte missed him so much that she desperately begged him to come back.

She claimed she had completely cut ties with Gavin, and she would never have anything to do with him in the future.

Henry said off the top of his head, "I'm not forgiving you unless you get me a star from the sky."

So, Charlotte bought out the nearest alignment of seven stars, getting Henry way more than he asked for.

She even said that their love would last as long as the universe.

On the day they registered their remarriage, Charlotte threw herself into Henry's arms, looking as giddy as a child.

Henry didn't say a word. He simply stared at their marriage certificate.

He had indeed agreed to the remarriage because he couldn't get over her, but he also couldn't let go of the career boost the Davidsons could bring him.

His position as Charlotte Davidson's husband could save him a lot of unnecessary trouble.

But not long after they remarried, Gavin showed up once more.

Pointing at Charlotte's belly, Gavin begged Henry for mercy. "Charlotte is pregnant with my child, and she's too scared to tell you. Can you please allow her to give birth to the child?"

Charlotte never thought she would be exposed like this. She didn't dare meet Henry's gaze as she said, "Henry… Things really are over between Gavin and me. This is an accident from before… Also, with so much wealth and property, the Davidsons need an heir to inherit the family legacy…"

Looking at his wife in front of him, he felt nothing but a sense of strangeness and irony. "And what if I say no?"

Charlotte didn't say anything for a long time. In the end, she turned around and escorted Gavin out.

That night, Henry smashed everything he laid his eyes on.

He hid in the Davidsons' guest room furthest away from traffic, venting in heart-wrenching anguish. He thought no one would be able to hear him then.

At dawn, Charlotte came home to find Henry's limbs covered in blood.

"Henry!" Charlotte's heart ached so badly for him that she almost couldn't breathe.

Henry pulled away from her, his gaze cold as he said, "It's either me or him, Charlotte."

Charlotte froze on the spot. Then, she said in a strained voice, "I'll abort the kid. Things are really over between Gavin and me now…"

It was only then that Henry stopped acting out. At the very least, Charlotte still chose him.

But from that day on, everything changed.

Charlotte began using work as an excuse and was rarely at home. On Gavin's birthday every year, Charlotte would celebrate it with him as a form of compensation.

Henry had complained about it before. He felt that Charlotte's actions were biased and crossed the boundary of an ordinary relationship.

But Charlotte would only reply over the phone, "I've done everything you wanted me to do. I didn't even spare my own child! Gavin and I broke up for good, but remember, he was my child's father at one point. Am I not allowed to at least show him some concern? Henry, you weren't this cruel before."

Cruelty was certainly one way to put it. Yes, he was cruel, and that was why he couldn't tolerate Gavin. He was not fine with this third person in their relationship.

He was exhausted. He thought that no matter how absurd this situation might be, that would be the extent of it.

That was, until the college reunion, when Gavin drunkenly revealed the truth that had been hidden from him.

Charlotte's love for Gavin had never ended. She only kept it a secret from Henry.

During that period when Charlotte hid behind the excuse of being busy at work, she had even given birth to the child.

The last shred of hope Henry had was dashed to pieces. His heart would never ache for Charlotte ever again.