Chapter 1

It was the third year after the death of my wife and daughter.

That was when my biological parents came to find me and officially acknowledged me as their son.

I boarded a flight with them to return to Notingdun City.

No sooner had we arrived than I was ushered into my father's car to attend a dinner party hosted by one of his friends.

At the party, I stood in a corner, holding a wine glass, my face expressionless. The glittering crowd and lively chatter couldn't stir even a flicker of interest in me.

"Hey, isn't that Mrs. Peyton?

"Look at her outfit. Must be worth over hundreds of thousands, easily."

"She's so lucky. If only I could marry into a wealthy family like that."

The gossip buzzed all around me, and I caught it despite my apathy.

Curious, I glanced toward the entrance and instantly froze.

A woman in a designer gown stepped in, her figure draped in jewels, smiling radiantly as she waved to the guests.

That face... was identical to the wife I'd thought died three years ago.

Hilary Stone was alive?!

Thinking I must be hallucinating, I pinched my thigh so hard it turned red. But the sharp pain confirmed it—this was real. My eyes burned red, my heart tossed like a stormy sea.

I set down my glass and strode toward her without hesitation.

But before I could call her name, a tall man suddenly stepped into my line of sight.

He wrapped his arm around Hilary's waist, leaning in close.

"Hilary darling, what took you so long?" he asked gently.

Their intimate exchange rang in my ears. I froze mid-step, eyes locked on them.

"It was Lily. She wouldn't let me leave. Took me forever to coax her into letting go."

The words struck like lightning to my skull. I stood behind them, stunned, studying the pair.

Then I saw his face. My breath hitched.

He was Ross Peyton, Hilary's first love.

A dull ache pressed against my chest, and a thought surfaced in my mind like a dark wave rising from the deep.

Hilary hadn't just betrayed me. She'd lied to me.

Like plunging into an ice pit, my strength drained. I staggered back and leaned against the wall. Only after the party ended did I finally recover from the shock.

I waited until she left for the restroom and rushed after her. Blocking her path, I shouted, "Hilary!"

She turned, pupils contracting, her face going pale.

But just seconds later, she composed herself and smiled. "Excuse me, sir? Do we know each other?"

I forced myself to stay calm, scanning her face for a crack in the act. But she stayed perfectly composed.

I clenched my jaw.

"Sir?" I repeated, seething. "Hilary, are you seriously putting on a show right now?"

Without waiting for a reply, I lunged forward and grabbed her right hand, pulling her toward me.

Startled, she let out a shriek. "You—you! What do you think you're doing?! I'll call the cops for harassment!"

I yanked up her sleeve, revealing the familiar mole on her wrist. A bitter laugh escaped my throat.

"Still pretending? I'm your husband, Hilary. I know every inch of your body. Most importantly, why are you pretending not to know me?"

Her expression darkened, lips pressed tightly as she glared at me. "Husband? Are you insane? Keep this up and I'll scream for help."

I chuckled coldly. "Go ahead. Let everyone hear. Let's see if they believe me—or better yet, we'll let your new man come and see for himself."

"You—!" Her face flushed red in fury. After a long moment of deadlock, she finally gave in. "Fine, you win. I won't pretend anymore. I'll lay it all out for you. But even now, there's nothing left to say between us. I've remarried. Stop clinging to me."

"What did you say?!"

Rage surged through me, clouding my vision.

I clenched my fists, teeth grinding. "Hilary! It's been three years! I thought you and our daughter were dead! And now you won't even give me an explanation? Just toss me aside with one sentence about remarriage?!

"You have no idea how much guilt and regret I've carried! I've been tormented by nightmares every night, while you've just been out here, living your life without a care?"

"An explanation?" she said coldly. Her voice drained the heat from my bones. "You already saw it all. What more do you want me to explain?"

She stared straight into my eyes. "Fine. I'll tell you. I planned that fire three years ago. I did it to get away from you. I never loved you. I never wanted to live that life with you."

Her words struck like a hammer to the chest. My body turned to stone, heart clenching with each beat.

I'd suspected it, but hearing it from her own lips still tore me apart.

"Nick," she continued. "Marrying you was the biggest regret of my life. I never loved you. And I could never accept your poverty. Look at you! Do you really think someone like you deserves to be my husband or Lily's father?

"You think just because you make a few extra bucks serving wine at parties, you can provide for me now? I'll tell you something. With what you earn, you can't even afford a fingernail of mine."

Her voice rose in fury, every word a direct blow to my chest.

I stared at her, hopeless and heartbroken. "All for this? You faked your death and lied to me? So this is what you really thought of me all these years? If that's how you feel, why did you agree to marry me in the first place?!"

My chest ached so much I could hardly breathe.

After a long silence, she looked at me and delivered the final blow.

"Because I needed to survive. Listen to me, Nick. I never loved you. I've always loved someone else."