Chapter 1

That afternoon on New Year's Eve, my friend Bianca Patterson's flower shop received a flower order from my husband.

I stared at the WhatsApp order on the shop phone, reading it three times to be sure.

It was definitely him, my husband, away on a business trip.

But the recipient wasn't me.

I called him on video, and after a long wait, he finally answered.

Before I could even speak, Bianca popped into the screen with a grin. "Not coming home for the New Year... What's he buying Joselyn to make up for it?"

The room behind him was dark. He had a blanket over his head, eyes squinting, and his lips twitched awkwardly.

"Babe... I'm sorry. I'll make it up to you when I get back. I stayed up all night yesterday, really exhausted. Let me sleep a little longer."

That interruption cooled me down considerably. I murmured a few casual words and hung up.

Then I picked up the bouquet, slung it over my arm, and stepped out. "I'll deliver this one myself."

*****

The delivery address was just a short walk from the shop, a new condo building that had opened last year.

The security guard stopped me.

"No deliveries allowed," he said.

I pulled out the shop phone, dialed the number, and kept my voice low as I explained what was going on.

My husband's voice came through the intercom, calm and familiar.

"This is Marlon Bartlett, owner of Unit 1603 in Building Five. Let her in," he said.

The guard immediately nodded, entered my information into the system, and lifted the barrier.

When the elevator doors slid open with a soft chime, I drew in a steady breath.

"I'll go up alone," I told Bianca.

She nodded and headed toward the stairwell. "Call me if anything happens."

I activated the recording function on my phone, then rang the doorbell.

From inside, Marlon's voice floated out, casual and affectionate. "Honey, can you get the door?"

Footsteps approached. The door opened.

She stared, wide-eyed. "Joselyn?"

I froze too.

She was Nancy's former art teacher from her after-school program. Six months ago, she had quit after becoming pregnant. A sudden realization hit me. So the baby was Marlon's.

Her gaze dropped to the bouquet in my hands, then slowly traveled back to my face. She lowered her eyes with a shy smile, though the challenge in her expression was impossible to miss.

"Joselyn," she said lightly, "you're delivering flowers now?"

She wore a loose nightdress that did nothing to hide her swollen belly.

The wrapping paper around the bouquet was crumpled from how tightly I'd been gripping it.

She gave me a caring look as she reached out to take the flowers.

She reached out, her tone gentle. "Thank you. It's so cold outside. You must be tired. Come in and warm up."

"Sure, thanks," I replied.

She blinked, clearly surprised I accepted so easily. After a brief pause, she fetched me a pair of slippers.

The shoe rack was packed with men's shoes. One pair stood out immediately—the ones I'd bought for Marlon last month, the same pair he'd worn when he left for his so-called business trip.

Near the door hung a cartoon-style portrait of the two of them smiling brightly.

Kate leaned closer to the bouquet and inhaled.

"My husband is so thoughtful," she said proudly. "He never misses a holiday."

I let out a quiet, icy laugh. "Even Memorial Day?"

She froze mid-sentence, then scoffed. "Divorce must be rough. Even someone as wealthy as you is delivering flowers now."

I scanned the room. The decor was upscale, and the floor-to-ceiling windows offered a panoramic view of the lake, bathed in the breathtaking glow of the setting sun.

But all my heart could register was a deep, aching sense of desolation.

Pain crept through me, sharp and suffocating.

"Yes," I replied evenly. "Not everyone gets a luxury upgrade like you, Ms. Marshall, after getting involved with Mr. Bartlett."

Her smugness was no longer hidden.

"If it weren't for Nancy, Marlon would've divorced you long ago. My baby was what really mattered to him. The moment he found out I was pregnant, he ended your marriage."

"Divorced?" My voice barely carried.

"Don't pretend. He already told me everything. He only visits once a month to keep up appearances for Nancy. Since you've seen the truth now, stop trying to cling to him with petty tricks."

She lifted her chin. "We're both women. I understand your tactics."

At that moment, Marlon walked out of the kitchen holding a pot of steaming chicken soup.

He didn't even notice me.

Kate slid her arm through his and said sweetly, "Honey, we have company."

"Honey, we have a guest," she cooed.

Marlon turned around, and when he saw me, his hand slipped. He fumbled the bowl, and it crashed to the floor, shattering into pieces.

"What are you doing here?" he stared at me, stunned.

Kate let out a dramatic sigh, pretending to feel sorry.

"Joselyn is really having a tough time these days. Now she's even out here delivering flowers just to make ends meet," she said.

Marlon glanced at the bouquet on the table, and it finally clicked. The delivery person's voice really did sound like mine, but he never thought it would actually be me.

He awkwardly reached for my arm, clearly flustered.