Chapter 1

Gabriella's POV

My bag dropped to the floor with a soft thud.

As I crouched to pick it up, a prenatal report fluttered down to my feet. It showed that the pregnancy was 12 weeks along and that the father's name was William Harrington.

Around that time, William always claimed he was busy. He would only answer my calls once a week.

Once, William finally agreed to a video call, and I spotted a hickey on his neck.

He immediately explained, "That's a mosquito bite. Gaby, after all these years of our long-distance relationship, have you ever seen me with anyone else?"

I had believed him back then, even apologizing for being too suspicious. But now, he had become someone else's husband and was even expecting a child.

The woman took the report from my hand and thanked me with a smile. When she noticed that I hadn't moved, she asked, "Are you here to see William too?"

I nodded.

"Then let's go up together," she said. "My husband's meetings always run long."

The word "husband" hit me without warning, and a sharp pain pierced my chest.

In the reception room, the woman introduced herself. Her name was Alexandra Rowland, and she was the beloved daughter of the Rowland family in Frostmere.

She stroked her belly, sounding as if she was complaining, though her eyes were full of joy. "My husband just won't admit how sweet he is. He always says he's busy, but he comes with me to every prenatal checkup.

"He's been working overtime lately, saying he needs to earn more for the baby. The whole company belongs to his family, yet he still comes up with excuses like that just to make me smile."

I tightened my grip on my bag and forced down the rage rising inside me. William had lied to me, saying he was just an ordinary employee who was sidelined at work and struggled to get promoted.

We had been in a long-distance relationship for seven years. He always complained about the distance and kept putting off any talk of marriage. So after wrapping up my last project at the end of the year, I quit my job and rushed to Frostmere, ready to finally make things official with him.

Just then, footsteps sounded from the doorway.

Several men in suits walked past the reception room, and each of them stopped to greet Alexandra. "Mrs. Harrington, are you here to wait for Mr. Harrington again?"

When William walked in, his colleagues immediately teased him. "Mr. Harrington, Mrs. Harrington's here to keep tabs on you again."

Alexandra threw herself into his arms. "Darling, I've been waiting for so long. My back is killing me."

William wrapped his arm around her waist without a second thought. When he looked up and saw me, his smile froze instantly.

In just a second, he regained his composure and said coldly, "What are you doing here?"

Alexandra turned to look at me and asked William, "Darling, who is this?"

William's colleagues exchanged glances and smiled as they spoke for him.

"What else could she be? She must be a friend of Mr. Harrington's."

"Mrs. Harrington, don't worry. Everyone knows how devoted Mr. Harrington is to you."

William stepped forward, positioning himself between Alexandra and me. He explained in a polite but distant tone, "She's a classmate from college."

Then he turned to his assistant. "Please show this lady out. We don't want to hold up everyone's work."

I stared at him in disbelief, but his eyes were fixed on Alexandra.

When the assistant came to escort me out, William held Alexandra's hand and playfully tapped her nose. "Let's go, Lexi. I'll take you to your appointment."

Alexandra stood on tiptoe and kissed him. "Darling, you're the best."

As they walked past me, Alexandra glanced back at me. "Darling, isn't it a little rude to just leave your classmate standing there?"

William didn't look back. "She's just a classmate I'm not very close with. You're the one who matters."

My tears fell uncontrollably. The passing employees looked at me with mocking eyes, relishing my humiliation.

William and I had been together for a decade, seven of which we spent in a long-distance relationship. I had traveled over a thousand miles to see him, and all I got in return was being called "a classmate I'm not very close with".

My phone still had the message William sent three days ago. "Gaby, just give me a little more time. Once things settle down at work, I'll marry you."

Because of those words, I gave up my job and traveled a long distance to be with him. I never could have imagined that all of it had been a lie.