Chapter One

I headed to the cake shop to grab my order, eager to add a sweet touch to my husband's birthday celebration. 

With the cake snug in the car, I was on a mission to gather ingredients for his favorite meal: a succulent steak, perfectly cooked, paired with creamy mashed potatoes and a vibrant salad.

Leaving work early was a small sacrifice for the joy it promised. Anticipating the surprise awaiting my husband, I couldn't help but smile as I drove.

Just as my excitement reached its peak, my phone rang, jolting me from my daydream. 

Answering with a grin, I heard Ava's familiar voice. "Hey there! Long time no talk," she exclaimed, prompting a burst of laughter between us. "I know, right? How have you been?" I replied, grateful for the surprising interruption.

We caught up on life. Reluctantly, we said our goodbyes, but not before Ava asked, "So, where are you off to?" 

Chuckling, I revealed, "I'm actually on my way home planning a surprise birthday dinner for my husband. It's going to be epic!"

With promises to meet up soon, we ended the call. Driving home, I couldn't wait to unveil the surprises awaiting my husband and share the day's unexpected joy with him.

My plan for this surprise is to create a special moment with Maxwell and express my emotions about our marriage. 

Despite feeling somewhat trapped in this loveless situation, my deepest desire is to rekindle the spark we once shared. 

There was a time when our marriage was filled with love and promise, back when we first crossed paths in college. 

Over time, though, the signs of strain began to emerge. Despite the facade of a strong marriage to the outside world, behind closed doors, the cracks became unmistakable. 

Enduring the pain and heartache caused by his infidelity and emotional abuse, I wrestle with the betrayal of an unfaithful husband incapable of change.

My instincts tell me he's cheating, evident in his secretive actions, distant gaze, and relentless emotional abuse. Despite this, I try to push these thoughts aside as I pull into the driveway and park my car.

Shantel, one of our helpers, steps out to assist. She takes the cake and groceries inside, placing them on the kitchen island. 

The house, usually filled with life, is unusually quiet, and Maxwell's car is parked in the driveway.

I wonder, "What's he doing at home at this time?" Wrestling with conflicting emotions, I head to the wine cellar. Retrieving a bottle, I slowly make my way to the bedroom.

As I approached, unfamiliar sounds pierced the air – a faint moan and rustling. A chill ran down my spine, freezing my blood in its tracks.

Driven by curiosity and with a trembling hand, I grasped the doorknob and gently pushed the door ajar.

There, on our bed, was my husband entangled with another woman. My breath caught, shattering me into pieces. 

I clamped my hand over my mouth, stifling a heart-wrenching gasp. Tears streamed down my face, blurring my vision. The wine bottle in my other hand crashed to the floor.

At that moment, they both froze. Maxwell's eyes widened with disbelief, caught red-handed, his face flushed with guilt. The room hung heavy with tension, and my heart shattered at the reality of betrayal.

Then, he stuttered, desperately saying, "I...I can explain."

Beside Maxwell, Mandy stood, her hands trembling, clutching the sheet around her naked body as she hastily fled the room.

Time seemed to freeze as I grappled with anger, grief, and the overwhelming pain of a shattered heart. Without uttering a word, I turned and walked away from the painful scene.

Heading downstairs to the wine cellar, I retrieved a bottle of whisky. The alcohol burned down my throat. My mind swirled with thoughts about my life and the betrayal I had just witnessed.

The truth hung heavy in the air – Maxwell's infidelity and constant emotional abuse. He knew my vulnerabilities and exploited them, belittling my achievements and leaving me feeling undeserving of praise. The weight of the realization sank in as I grappled with the harsh reality of a broken marriage.

His lack of encouragement crushed my confidence in my career success. No matter what I achieved, he consistently found ways to undermine my accomplishments.

It became a pattern – he'd justify working extra hours, claiming it was essential for his job. Yet, behind the facade, he was engaged in an affair with a colleague.

Late-night meetings and business trips became cover-ups for the betrayal.

I saw texts on Maxwell's phone from Trisha, my heart sank as I read the messages, overwhelmed with sadness and hurt over his feelings for someone else.

Summoning the courage, I asked Maxwell, "Why is Trisha sending you so many messages?"

Avoiding eye contact, he insisted, "It's not what you think. We're just friends."

As the tension escalated, Maxwell eventually confessed to the painful truth about the affair, leaving our relationship shattered and my heart weighed down by the betrayal.

The breaking point came at a party where I witnessed Maxwell and Jessica hugging for an uncomfortably long time. He used to have strong feelings for her. My heart sank, and the hurt was palpable seeing them so close.

Maxwell reluctantly admitted, "Okay, fine. Jessica and I have been spending time together. We used to have a thing in the past, but I didn't think it's a big deal."

His confession left me deeply upset and feeling betrayed.

I missed our time together, but he constantly talked about working late and having much to do at the office.

The thud of glass against the table brought me back to the present. I glanced at the half-empty bottle I was holding.

Realization struck that I deserved better, and I couldn't keep living this way.

While I yearned for my marriage to work, witnessing today's events made it clear that I needed to prioritize myself and seek happiness.

I stood up, head pounding, tightly gripping the whiskey in my hand.

Grabbing my phone, I dialed a number.

"Hello?" the voice on the other side answered.