02

In front of the Colin Group building, the vehicle came to a stop.

A delivery man with a huge bouquet of red roses walked past her toward the door as Haley emerged.

She instantly recognized the unusual wrapping—the pricey florist downtown, Kieran’s favorite.

She walked behind the delivery man into the elevator. She caught a glimpse of the card nestled among the roses as the doors slid shut: "Happy Birthday, Lydia. Love always, K"

She froze.

Her lungs were empty of breath.

It was more than simply their fourth anniversary today. Lydia’s birthday fell on the same day.

Kieran’s claim that he was "working late" was just another fabrication, a pretext for celebrating with his true wife at work.

Haley’s nails dug into her palms as she tightened her fists.

The doors of the elevator opened. Before she could move forward, she heard familiar sounds coming from down the corridor.

"Nadine," Kieran remarked, his voice as smooth as ever, "today's marks it four years of being with Haley." He was speaking to Nadine Swift, his closest friend and business partner. “She will want a gift as she think we’re legally married and today’s supposed to be our wedding anniversary. Give her the personalized bracelet I crafted, and she will receive a large bouquet of white roses. Put a sentimental message on the card, such as "Forever yours."

Haley froze.

Nadine chuckled, half inquisitive, half mocking. "She’s such a fool. I wonder how she’ll react when she knows you guys aren’t legally married. However, I must ask: "Why not let her go if Lydia is the one you love?”

With the exception of Kieran’s low laugh and the flick of a lighter, the hallway fell silent.

"Haley is like... I don't know, something pure," Kieran replied with a smile. "She deserves everything—the ring, the title, the whole package,”

"But Lydia," he added, "she saved my life once. The limelight is not necessary for her. She is devoted to me, gave me a daughter. The least I could do was to marry her.”

Haley’s face was completely devoid of color as she remained motionless in the darkness.

"It's been three years, K." There was a hint of sympathy in Nadine’s voice. "Haley has always desired a kid. However, you intentionally spilled oil on the stair. She lost the baby because of you. She still doesn't know till now?”

Kieran hesitated. "Lydia is now pregnant once more. And—“

Nadine interrupted him. “Are you not concerned that Haley will go crazy if she finds out, K?”

Haley’s whole body stiffened. Ice formed in her blood. That fall, then, had never happened by accident.

Lydia is pregnant for him again?

Wow just wow.

So Kieran had planned it? He made her lose her pregnancy on purpose? just for what? For Lydia?

"And Haley will never find out too. She helped me when I was struggling. She supported me during the darkest years of my life. Her type is rare and I can’t let her go also.”

He hesitated. “However, Lydia has also made many sacrifices by remaining in the background. I can't simply leave her. I want both of them."

Haley sneered. Thus, he was still able to recall who had supported him in his darkest moments. However, it seems that the years they had endured together were insufficient to maintain his loyalty.

How pitiful.

Their words trailed off along the hallway.

*****

Haley peered through the glass office walls, her eyes burning. Flowers and balloons created a festive scene inside.

Workers gathered around, chatting and joking. Glowing, Lydia stood in the middle, with Kieran standing next to her. Together, they looked flawless. Holding hands.

"Happy birthday, Mrs. Colin!"

"You two are so sweet together!"

"Hope you have many more!"

“Oh my…thank you so much.” Lydia responded, smiling.

Haley felt the upbeat voices piercing her chest like knives. She sneered as she heard everyone calling Lydia “Mrs. Colin”

And now she realized the “Mrs. Colin” they also had been calling her was fake all this while. Maybe Kieran and Lydia told her colleagues to do so…so she wouldn’t suspect them.

Lydia had been here the entire time, but Haley had stayed at home for almost two years after her miscarriage, accepting Kieran’s justifications for not coming to the office.

It all makes sense now why Kieran no longer wanted her to work for the company after he employed Lydia.

After years of hard labor, Haley had assumed he was being thoughtful by allowing her to take a break.

She realized now that he had been creating an entirely different life with Lydia. At home, she received white roses. And for Lydia who is important, it was crimson roses.

Petals from the white bouquet fell to the ground like fragments of her marriage as it slid from her grasp.

She felt nothing but icy rage as she gazed at the familiar faces within, all swooning over Lydia.

She inhaled deeply before pushing the door open.

"Well," Haley remarked with a smile, "looks like quite the party."

At once, everyone's heads turned.

The room fell silent. A pin drop could be heard.

As if they had been caught stealing, Kieran and Lydia leaped apart.

Kieran’s face briefly showed signs of panic, but he quickly covered them up. "Darling, what are you doing here?" he asked, taking two swift steps to reach Haley’s side and grab her wrist.