Chapter 1

The night Vincent's mistress showed up at our door, for once, he actually felt like staying home with me.

He said, "Helena, you're a good wife."

Of course I was. What else could I be?

No woman in her right mind would let her husband keep another woman.

But I could.

Too bad Jessica didn't appreciate it.

Backed by Vincent's favor, she came banging on my door.

Jessica Torres was sobbing miserably downstairs, and the warmth in Vincent Burton's eyes disappeared in an instant.

He got to his feet, apologizing to me at the same time.

"Helena, I'm sorry. Jessica's not in good shape. If she keeps crying like this, she'll end up making herself even sicker," he said.

He was so flustered over Jessica that he even messed up his shirt buttons in his rush.

I stood up and gently fixed his buttons for him, giving him a soft reminder. "Jessica's sensitive. Be gentle with her, okay? Don't break her heart."

Vincent gave me a long, meaningful look, then took my hand and pulled me into his arms.

He spoke softly. "Helena, I'm sorry you have to go through all this."

I buried my face in his shoulder and hugged him back just as tightly.

I said, "Vincent, I don't care about being wronged. Just don't leave me, okay?"

Vincent promised me, "Helena, I'll never leave you."

That was enough for me.

I walked Vincent downstairs, watching him leave with Jessica in his arms.

Jessica, her head resting on his shoulder, gave me a triumphant smirk. But I just met her gaze with gentle eyes.

Only homewreckers who dream of taking the main seat bother to provoke me. As for me, all I cared about was holding onto my spot as Mrs. Burton. That was more than enough for me.

After Vincent and Jessica got back, I received a message from the concierge at their luxury condo.

It said: [Mrs. Burton, Mr. Burton is home now.]

When I saw that message, I finally let out a sigh of relief.

Grabbing my car keys, I headed out to another high-end neighborhood across town.

My oceanfront place, with a killer view of the sea, was all mine.

Living there was a guy named Edgar Moore. He was young, really young.

*****

Between a thirty-five-year-old man and a twenty-three-year-old, there was a huge difference.

Youth really was something else. Whether men or women, nobody could fight the pull of youth.

I caught Vincent cheating three years ago.

We'd just made it past the seven-year itch, and I thought we were finally in the clear.

Ironically, that was when I found out about Jessica.

She was only twenty that year, and Vincent had already been keeping her as his secret for two years.

She was at that age, fresh as spring, soft and untouched, while I traced the fine lines that had started to show at the corners of my eyes.

I didn't even have the nerve to make a scene with Vincent.

I was an old woman, ten years older than Jessica. I was thirty that year.

The doctor told me it'd be tough for me to get pregnant on my own, and that I should start thinking about IVF.

And it was just when things were at their worst that I discovered Jessica.

Vincent told me, "Helena, as long as you can put up with Jessica, you'll always be my wife. Even if you'll never be able to give me children."

Vincent seems to have forgotten that I once carried his child.

Back when he was just starting out, I was working myself to the bone for his business, never stopping to think about my own health.

That baby came quietly and left just as suddenly. Before we even realized the baby existed, they were gone, as if they'd vanished in protest.

Vincent held me close and said, "Helena, I'm sorry. I didn't take care of you as I should have."

He added, "Don't be afraid. You still have me. As long as I have you, that's enough for me. You'll forever be my wife, Helena."

Turns out, that "forever" meant I had to accept his three-person setup, stay silent, and turn a blind eye.

So if I couldn't tolerate Jessica, I couldn't be his wife anymore.

He gave himself the perfect excuse. All because I couldn't have a child.

Of course, I could tolerate Jessica.

I had been Vincent's wife for ten years, pouring the best years of my life into him and his ambitions.

Through all the ups and downs, I stood by his side and helped him build everything we have now.

Just gave it all up? Not a chance.

Vincent was touched by how mature and selfless I was, but honestly, he was really just foolish.

Did he ever truly understand how much I had endured for his sake?

The very next day after I found out about Jessica, Edgar moved in.

Looking at his young face, I felt a rush of satisfaction, like I was finally getting my own back.