Chapter 1
Everyone in Northdale knew that Frankie Gardner, the most respected man in town, was absolutely devoted to his wife.
Even after finding out I couldn't have kids, he didn't care at all.
To marry me, he built me a one-of-a-kind mansion, Rosy Manor.
To treat my rare condition, he spent 300 million dollars and scoured the globe for the best doctors.
After the surgery, he personally stayed by my bedside for a whole month, taking care of me himself.
Worried about my health, he slept in a separate room, putting his own needs aside, just so he wouldn't risk hurting me at all.
He even shouldered all the pressure from his family and publicly claimed we didn't want children.
For the past five years, he treated me like I was the most precious thing in the world, and I became the envy of every woman in Northdale, living the dream as Mrs. Gardner.
But on our anniversary, I stumbled across a birth certificate in his bag.
Here was what it said:
Father: Frankie Gardner.
Mother: Daisy Willis.
Baby: Jake Gardner, just two months old.
I froze. All my muscles tensed up in an instant.
Frankie was my husband.
And Daisy was the very doctor who'd done my surgery back then.
Maybe it was all just a misunderstanding.
Aside from discussing my illness, Frankie and Daisy never had any other connection.
The urgent ring of my phone snapped me out of my thoughts.
It was Frankie.
"Hey babe, sorry. Something's come up at work and I need to deal with it. I'll be home late, but wait up for me, alright? We'll still celebrate our anniversary together," he said.
His voice was as gentle as ever.
But right now, my head was spinning.
Before I even realized what I was doing, I found myself driving straight to his office.
As soon as I got to the entrance, I overheard the interns at the front desk whispering to each other.
"Who's that woman? Do you think she's Mr. Gardner's mistress?" one of them asked.
"No way! Everyone in Northdale knows Mr. Gardner is crazy about his wife. He's famous for it. There's no way he'd ever cheat," the other replied.
"You never know. Men are all the same. Plus, Mrs. Gardner's got those health issues, so honestly, it wouldn't be a shock if he's moved on," the first intern said.
Their words sent a chill down my spine.
Rigid with tension, I pushed open the door.
The interns shut up the second they saw me and greeted me respectfully, "Hello, Mrs. Gardner."
"Where's Mr. Gardner?" I asked.
"In... in his office," one of them stammered.
I walked straight past them, and as I brushed by, I overheard the interns whispering again.
"Mrs. Gardner's here to bust him for cheating, huh? This is gonna be wild," one of them snickered.
I pressed my lips together, my mind in total chaos. I couldn't think straight at all.
Just as I reached the office door, I heard a voice coming from inside.
"Didn't I tell you not to come here? Do you not understand what I say?" Frankie's voice was icy and sharp.
His voice was icy and somber, and I couldn't help but freeze.
Frankie had always been gentle with me these past five years. I'd never heard him like this, not once.
Then, a woman's voice drifted out.
"I know I shouldn't just show up like this, and I probably shouldn't have come at all, but I really, really miss you," she said.
"Ever since the baby was born, you haven't come to see him once. I'm holding a wailing baby all day long, and honestly, it's driving me crazy," she added.
"Maybe I'm a little immature, maybe I'm too impulsive, but it's all because I love you. Don't be mad at me, please?" she pleaded.
After a few seconds of silence, Frankie's voice grew gentler.
He said, "Alright. But don't ever do this again."
"And Bryanna can never find out about you. You get that, right?" he said firmly.
My hand on the doorknob was trembling uncontrollably.
Who was this woman?
Why was I being kept in the dark?
And that kid... what was the deal with him?
Suddenly, the info from that birth certificate hit me all at once, sending a chill down my spine.
My mind was in complete chaos, and I felt frozen in place, unable to move a muscle.
"You should leave. I'm going home," Frankie said.
Her voice was thick with tears, a desperate edge to her words.
"Could you stay with me a little longer? Just five more minutes, please?" she pleaded.
"She's barren, so why do you love her so much? You spent 150 million dollars on that blue diamond ring just to give it to her for your anniversary. Was it really worth it?" she pressed.
Frankie grabbed her by the neck, his voice icy and threatening.
"Yes, she's my life," he said.
"Watch your mouth. You have no right to disrespect her," he warned.
I used to trust him completely.
Before they could come out, I bolted and slipped into my car, hiding away.
Suddenly, fear gripped me.
I was terrified to confront the ugly truth.
And even more scared to shatter the facade of love he'd been hiding behind all these years.
As I drove home, memories of the past flooded my mind, and tears streamed down my face before I even realized it.
Everyone in Northdale knew Frankie loved me like I was his whole world.
When I found out I had this rare genetic condition, I didn't want to drag him down with me, so I did all sorts of cold, heartless things just to push him away and break up with him.
But he just held me tight, tears streaming down his face, refusing to let go.