1. Surprise!

May 2025,

The Grandmoon, Country S

“Thank you … The Star and the Wind,” Ayleen Hazel said, mentioning the title of her book, which had been announced to be adapted into a film.

She glanced to her right, where the actors and actresses were being interviewed by reporters from various media outlets.

Suddenly, her brow furrowed as she stared at one of the actors, who played the male lead in her novel.

“Wow! Sea Finley is really perfect for the role of Ian Hasting,” Ayleen praised honestly.

Ayleen suddenly froze where she stood when the actor she was staring at turned to look at her.

Ayleen immediately looked away and pretended not to be looking at the handsome actor, as if she didn’t want to be caught doing something inappropriate by staring at the charming man.

Melody Gigs, her editor and close friend, approached her to offer a ride, but the talented author politely declined.

She hurriedly said goodbye to Melody, explaining that she had to stop by somewhere and didn’t want her daughter to stay at her in-laws’ house too long.

About five minutes later, Ayleen was already walking out of the building at a slightly brisk pace.

However, before she reached the office building where her friend worked, it started to rain. The woman immediately ran toward the building, which was only a few dozen meters away.

Once she arrived at the building’s lobby, she immediately asked permission to see her friend. The attendant promptly gave Ayleen a pass to go up to the 26th floor.

Inside the elevator, she daydreamed, thinking about her entire conversation with Melody. She shook her head, pushing all negative thoughts aside.

Carrying two boxes filled with food, she stepped out of the elevator and walked to the right.

She had visited her friend’s company several times, so she was already familiar with some of the employees. In fact, she could go straight to the office of Natasha Mylan, her close friend who was exceptionally well-groomed and beautiful.

With a broad smile on her lips, Ayleen opened the door to Natasha’s office.

“Surprise!” Ayleen said cheerfully.

Unexpectedly, she saw two people engaged in a steamy scene right before her eyes.

Ayleen froze. The two lunch boxes she was carrying slipped from her hands.

The two people she was staring at turned toward her, their faces filled with shock.

“Natasha!”

She looked at Natasha’s partner and called out, “Liam!”

“W-what are you two doing?” Ayleen’s lips trembled.

“Ayleen, how did you end up here?” Liam asked in return, looking troubled.

The man who had married Ayleen five years ago showed no intention of pulling his hand away from Natasha’s body.

But he tried to compose himself and said again, “Nat, you’re … my best friend.”

“And … Liam, what did I do wrong to you?” she continued, her voice catching in her throat.

Instead of answering Ayleen’s question, the two of them finally pulled apart and reluctantly began to straighten their clothes.

Natasha looked at Ayleen and simply said in a listless tone, “Well, why do you think? Of course it’s because we like each other … we’re attracted to one another.”

“Hm, your best friend is really beautiful and sexy. It would be really weird if I wasn’t attracted to her,” Liam retorted as he buttoned his shirt.

Ayleen froze once again.

“B-but, Liam … we already have Lunara.”

Liam raised an eyebrow, clearly unconcerned even though Ayleen had mentioned the name of their daughter.

Still, Ayleen added, “I even help support our household. I do everything until I don’t even have time to take care of myself. I-”

“Come on, Leen! This is exactly what makes me so bored with you,” Liam replied, staring at Ayleen with a look of boredom he made no attempt to hide.

“Bo-bored?” Ayleen repeated, looking confused.

Liam clicked his tongue and said with a cynical look, “Just look at yourself, Ayleen!”

“This is so boring. You’re not interesting at all,” Liam taunted.

Liam then crossed his arms and looked Ayleen up and down as if appraising her.

“Skinny, flat-chested, a plain face without makeup. Your sense of style is also so old-fashioned and tacky. And you expect me to stay faithful to you?”

She heard a giggle from the woman she considered her best friend. Ayleen could only manage a quick glance toward Natasha. The woman’s hand was being held tightly by her husband.

Ayleen bit her lower lip as she heard her husband’s words, and the mocking laughter from her best friend only made her heart ache even more.

“Men are visual creatures. I need to see beautiful things. Like Natasha, for example,” Liam continued.

Ayleen was stunned.

Natasha laughed again, and in an irritating tone, the woman with long blonde hair said, “That’s exactly it, Ayleen! Don’t complain if your husband chooses me instead. Besides, who could resist me?”

Ayleen was speechless. But a question made her speak up again.

“Since when?” Ayleen asked, her heart breaking.

“SINCE WHEN?” the woman repeated her question when neither of the two answered.

Both remained silent, seemingly unwilling to answer.

Ayleen’s legs went weak. She was even forced to hold onto the door for support.

Instead of showing any concern for Ayleen’s condition, Natasha snapped irritably, “Watch out! Don’t faint right here! Don’t give me any trouble.”

Ayleen shook her head and tried to steel herself. “Fine, then. We might as well get a divorce.”

Natasha clapped her hands joyfully.

Meanwhile, Liam said, “Good decision. As soon as we’re divorced, you’ll have to move out of the house.”

Ayleen stared at him in shock. “W-what do you mean? I’m the one who bought that house.”

Liam smirked, “But the house is in my name and that’s not all. Oh, the car is in my name too, and then-”

“You ….” Ayleen was once again speechless.

“Oh, Ayleen. Don’t think you’re smarter than me! In fact, all the royalties from your book go into my account,” Liam said, followed by Natasha’s mocking laughter.

Ayleen closed her eyes and, with her last ounce of strength, walked away from that cursed couple.

Several people looked at her with sad expressions. Ayleen knew immediately that they most likely knew what was going on.

“I was the only one who didn’t realize it,” she murmured softly.

As she stood in the elevator, flashes of memories from the past suddenly came flooding back.

She suddenly recalled some strange things that had happened since her wedding. Back then, even Natasha had worn a very beautiful dress—one could say it was even more beautiful than hers. She had become the center of attention, while she, the bride, had been overlooked.

Tears began to flow down her cheeks again.

But she quickly wiped them away and hurried out of the elevator. Even though the rain was still pouring down heavily, she was determined to leave the building immediately.

She hailed the first taxi that passed by and got right into the car, her body slightly damp from the rain.

“Orchid Street, please.”

“Okay, Ma’am.”

The taxi sped off into the increasingly fierce rain. Just a few minutes into the ride, Ayleen’s eyes which happened to be fixed on the road ahead widened in shock.

“LOOK OUT!”

CRASH!