Chapter 1

When I got home and opened the door, I saw a fancy box on the table.Angelo Harmon was sitting on the couch, flipping through a magazine. A week had passed since our blowout fight over his mistress, and he had been absent.By now, I had stopped obsessing over where he had been or what he had been doing, like some bitter wife. Had he not shown up that day, I might have begun to forget his existence.He stood up, trying to slip his arms around my waist.I stepped back, dodging his touch. His embrace, once cherished, now made my stomach churn.Angelo froze, but he didn't fuss over it. Instead, he picked up the box and handed it to me. "You said your watch broke, so I got you a new one. See if you like it."I knew this was his attempt to smooth things over.For five years, whenever we fought, he'd offer small gifts, and I'd let go of my anger, forgiving him. Those heartbreaking nights had always faded when he extended an olive branch.But now, I was done.Without even a glance at

Chapter 2

Angelo narrowed his eyes. "When your dad cheated, he brought his mistress to your mom's doorstep and demanded a divorce. I'd never do that to you. What's so hard to accept? You will always be Mrs. Harmon. Think it over."He grabbed his coat and stormed out, slamming the door shut.I stared at the red marks on my wrist, tears finally spilling over.When I was 18, my dad, the perfect husband in everyone's eyes, cheated. His mistress showed up pregnant, demanding my mom step aside.My dad, who used to adore my mom, stood by his mistress, looking at my mom with nothing but contempt.The shock broke her, but she refused to divorce, insisting that as long as she was his wife, the other woman would remain a mistress and her child illegitimate.My dad and his mistress kept causing scenes, but my mom held her ground.Our once-happy family was reduced to a laughingstock. That drama dragged on for two years until the court finally settled it.I stopped believing in love, having witnessed

Chapter 3

The irony stung.To a stranger, Angelo was just someone I knew. No one would guess he was the jerk husband.Angelo took the chart and read it. A curse then spilled from his mouth. "You were pregnant and didn't tell me? Why did you get rid of our kid?"I'd thought about telling him the day I found out about his mistress. He'd said he was working late, so I went to his office with a snack and the good news.But when I got there, I saw him drive off.A bad feeling rose from the bottom of my heart. I tried to convince myself he was just meeting a client, but he should have told me if it was business.Doubtful, I followed him to an apartment complex. A young woman ran out and threw herself into his arms.Angelo hugged her like it was routine, and they kissed passionately by the car.My heart shattered. The joy of his proposal was matched only by the despair of that moment.From bliss to heartbreak took just five years. We didn't even make it to the seven-year itch. If I'd held onto

Chapter 4

I took what was mine and went to my mom's place.She was surprised. "Why are you back all of a sudden?"I didn't hide anything from her.She was quiet, then hugged me. "You did the right thing. I wasn't as brave as you back then."My nose stung, and all the grief I'd held in burst out.I'd known Angelo for nine years and had been married for five. I never imagined he'd cheat so openly and still think he'd done nothing wrong.He had trampled my trust, but his betrayal wasn't the worst part. He used my dad's actions to attack me.In our most intimate moments, I'd revealed my wounds to him. Now he'd turned them into a weapon.He knew it was my deepest pain, yet he stabbed me with it.I sobbed in my mom's arms, letting go of those nine years.In the days that followed, I took a trip to clear my head. When I returned, I sent Angelo the divorce agreement I'd prepared.His calls flooded in as he realized I wasn't bluffing.Annoyed, I blocked him.That night, he showed up. His fac

Chapter 5

Angelo's face paled, but he wouldn't budge. "No way. I'm not divorcing you.""Sign it when you're ready," I said, slamming the door shut.While traveling, I'd lined up a job. Back home, I got ready to start work.Back when I married Angelo, he was building his company, and I helped him every step.Once his business stabilized, he begged me to focus on home and be his rock. I resigned and became a housewife.For five years, my life revolved around him. Now it was time to live for myself.I never expected to run into Sigrid at the new company.She was taken aback, not expecting me to be the new hire, but I didn't hold much against her.An unbroken egg was safe from the fly. If Angelo hadn't opened the door, no woman could have even gotten close.But apparently, Sigrid saw me as the enemy. She cornered me in the break room, her innocent act gone, replaced by arrogance."You need to divorce Angelo. He is done with you and only loves me," she flaunted.I laughed, knowing that Ang

Chapter 6

Angelo's question made me laugh.He was delusional to think that I'd go back to him."I've got one demand: sign the divorce agreement," I said. "Or I'll sue, and those recordings might just..."His bravado wore off, and he hung his head. "Why can't you understand me? At every business dinner, the other CEOs mock me for being whipped. They all have mistresses. I just did what any guy in my position would do."He sighed and added, "I already promised I'd ditch Sigrid and keep only you. Why can't you just forget and forgive? It's just a mistake all guys make."His excuses fed me up.He was still clueless, and I started to question my taste in men.Even now, he thought I was the problem. That I was holding him back, making him an outcast.He even had the gall to ask for forgiveness. Too bad for him, I didn't tolerate betrayal.Once a cheater, always a cheater.If I forgave him, I'd be planting a bomb in my future. Our lives would be filled with nothing but suspicion and distrust.