Chapter 2— SMILES THAT HID THE KNIFE

ARIANA’S POV

I managed to drive home with a heart full of pain.

My hands shook on the steering wheel, and my chest felt so tight it hurt to breathe. Thoughts crowded my mind—each one more painful than the last.

So this is how men are?

After everything I’ve done for him, he could still do this to me?

Tears streamed down my cheeks as the road blurred before my eyes.

How long has Lucas been seeing my friend?

Weeks? Months?

How long have they been laughing behind my back while I trusted them with my life?

The more I thought about it, the worse it became. My heart felt like it was being torn apart piece by piece. I wiped my tears angrily, forcing myself to focus.

You must be strong, I told myself. Not today. You cannot break today.

When I finally reached home, my heart sank.

The compound was full of cars.

All our invited guests had already arrived.

From my car, I saw my mother-in-law standing at the entrance, looking around eagerly—waiting for me. A sharp pain pierced my chest. For a moment, I considered staying in the car and driving away. But I couldn’t.

You have to act like nothing happened, I reminded myself.

Just for today.

I cleaned my eyes quickly, took a deep breath, and stepped out of the car.

The moment my mother-in-law saw me, her face lit up.

“There she is!” she exclaimed. “My beautiful daughter-in-law!”

From afar, she called me sweet names, praising me proudly as her son’s wife. Every word felt like a knife, but I forced a smile and walked toward her.

When I reached her, she pulled me into a tight hug.

“Happy anniversary, my darling wife,” she said warmly.

My heart shattered again.

If only she knew.

If only she knew her son had already destroyed the marriage she was celebrating.

We entered the house together. The sitting room was beautifully decorated—flowers, laughter, and familiar faces filled the space. Everyone looked joyful, dressed nicely, smiling brightly. I even saw my cousin who had just returned from abroad—he had come all the way to celebrate with us.

They greeted me happily.

“Happy anniversary!”

“Congratulations!”

“May your home be blessed!”

Their words were meant to make me happy, but they only deepened the pain. My body was there, but my mind was still stuck in Lucas’s office, replaying the betrayal again and again.

Today was meant to be a celebration.

Instead, it felt like the burial of my marriage.

I welcomed the guests with a trembling voice, doing my best to appear calm. No one noticed the storm raging inside me. After a while, I excused myself and went upstairs to change.

The moment I entered my bedroom and closed the door, I lost control.

I broke down completely.

Tears poured out as my body shook with every sob. I felt betrayed, humiliated, broken.

What have I done to deserve this?

How could the man I loved and respected treat me this way?

I had given Lucas everything—my love, my trust, my future. I stood by him when he had nothing. I believed in him when no one else did.

And this was how he repaid me.

Betrayed by my husband.

Betrayed by my best friend.

Suddenly, loud voices rose from downstairs—cheers, greetings, excitement.

Lucas had arrived.

Fear rushed through me. I wiped my tears, washed my face, and stared at myself in the mirror. My eyes were red, but I had no choice.

I must go downstairs, I told myself. At least for the guests.

As I stepped into the hallway, something felt wrong.

I couldn’t see Lucas anywhere.

Where could he be? I wondered.

The guests were welcoming him loudly, yet he was nowhere in sight. A strange heaviness settled in my chest—a warning I couldn’t ignore.

Something inside me pushed me toward the visitor’s room.

The door was slightly open.

I pushed it.

And my world collapsed.

Lucas.

Vanessa.

Together.

I couldn’t understand what I was seeing. The pain was too sudden, too overwhelming.

A scream escaped my lips.

And everything went dark.

⸻

When I opened my eyes again, white walls surrounded me.

The smell of antiseptic filled the air. Machines beeped softly beside me.

I was in a hospital.

My body felt weak, but the pain in my heart was unbearable.

I turned my head slowly—and froze.

Someone was standing beside my bed.

And in that moment, I knew my life would never be the same again.