Chapter 1

On my thirtieth birthday, my husband, Andrew Stone showed up to my birthday party with the college girl he sponsored.

When I asked my husband sweetly for a birthday present, the girl covered her mouth and giggled. I let it slide.

Then, when I clasped my hands and closed my eyes to make a wish, she nearly doubled over laughing. I let that slide, too.

When it was time to blow out the candles and cut the cake, I reached for Andrew, wanting him to come up and celebrate with me.

Lily Shaw couldn't stop laughing. "Seriously, Evelyn? You're already thirty, and you're still doing all these childish things? Aren't you embarrassed?"

That was the last straw.

I picked up a piece of cake and threw it straight at her.

Lily burst into tears and fled the party, looking absolutely humiliated. Andrew glared at me, his expression ice-cold.

"What gives you the right to bully Lily? Was she wrong?" he asked. "Evelyn, get this through your head. You're thirty years old, not some young girl anymore. You already have that stale, musty smell on you."

*****

I stood there, frozen, staring at Andrew's cold, indifferent face in shock.

With all the guests looking at me with pity and mockery, I awkwardly tugged at his sleeve.

I forced a stiff smile, trying to remind him to mind the occasion and not make a scene.

"What are you talking about, Drew? This is my birthday party," I said.

"So what if it's your birthday party?" He said coldly, not holding back at all. "Just because it's your birthday party, you think you can bully Lily however you want?

"You know her family's not well-off and she's got a lot of pride. What's the point of embarrassing her in front of everyone today?"

I stared at him, stunned by how he pressed his advantage, not giving me an inch.

For a moment, I couldn't process what was happening.

Seeing me stay silent, Andrew's brows furrowed, looking utterly disappointed in me.

"Evelyn, staying silent doesn't mean this is over. I brought Lily here to celebrate your birthday, but I'm really disappointed in you today," he said.

I stood there in the middle of the stage, numb, listening to him tear into me.

When he said he was disappointed, I couldn't help but laugh.

I took a deep breath, my fists clenched tight, and shot Andrew a cold, mocking smile.

I said, "So, you're really going to tear our marriage apart and divorce me over some college girl you're supporting?"

Andrew was silent for a moment.

But I could see the struggle and confusion in his eyes.

Then he let out a laugh and placed the gift he'd been holding into my arms.

He said, "I'm not taking sides, and I'm not trying to pick a fight with you. I'm simply trying to be reasonable here. Just because Lily's poor doesn't mean she's beneath anyone.

"Evelyn, respecting others is the least we should do."

With that, Andrew turned and walked away without a second thought, heading after Lily.

I looked down at the gift I'd been longing for, a bitter smile spreading across my face.

He didn't say a word about all the times Lily had provoked me before. He simply put all the blame on me.

The guests watched the whole drama unfold between Andrew and me.

Nobody wanted to get involved, so they left.

Before long, the huge birthday party was empty, and I was left standing all alone in the middle of the stage.

One of the waiters, who'd been watching from the sidelines, suddenly let out a quiet, mocking laugh.

"What a joke! She's got the nerve to throw a birthday party after all that? It's ridiculous," he said.

His words echoed loudly through the empty room.

My face burned with shame, and I let out a scream, like I was about to lose it.

I knocked over the cake and sent the champagne tower crashing to the floor.

Glass shards scattered everywhere, and my hand was cut open, blood dripping down.

I had no idea when Andrew came back.

He shot a cold glare at the waiter who'd mouthed off, stood up for me, and barked at him, "I've got money, and if I want to spend it on my wife, that's none of your business."

The waiter didn't dare say another word and slunk away, head down.

Andrew sighed behind me, then gently pressed a bandage onto the wound on my hand.

"What's the point of hurting yourself like this, Evelyn? You need to learn to control your emotions, and stop seeing people through colored lenses," he said.

That was it. I finally snapped.

I shoved him away, my throat tight with hurt and anger, like a lump in my throat that wouldn't go away.

I yelled, "What do you want me to do, Drew? Lily mocked me three times. Were you deaf or simply pretending not to hear? Can't you speak up for me?

"You say I'm being biased? Why didn't you mention that Lily was the one who started it? When she laughed at me, you didn't say a single word."

As soon as I finished, I couldn't hold it in anymore. Tears I'd been holding back finally spilled over.

I knew I was in the right, but the moment I cried, it made me look weak.

Andrew thought for a long time, then spoke to me in a calm, almost detached tone.

He said, "Evelyn, you never really look at yourself. You always blame others for your problems. It's honestly suffocating.

"And tell me, what did Lily say that was wrong today? Even if she messed up, she's only a young girl who came here to celebrate your birthday.

"Did you really have to blow things out of proportion and toss cake at her in front of everyone to embarrass her?"

He was acting all high and mighty, like he was always right and I was always wrong.

Every time it was me versus Lily, he always took her side, never once defending me, his wife.

He said he felt suffocated, but honestly, I was just as fed up.

"I hope next time you can actually learn something for once. Stop dragging me into all this drama," he said.

With that, Andrew walked away again.

I was shaking with anger, my heart a mess.

Honestly, I'd lost track of how many times Andrew and I have argued because of Lily.

The last time was over our seventh anniversary gift. Lily threw a fit out of jealousy, and Andrew shrugged it off, saying she simply envied me.

So he went and bought her the exact same gift, so she wouldn't feel left out.

And before that, when I twisted my ankle, Andrew was carrying me and Lily happened to see us.

He acted all flustered and put me down right away, saying I was just being a baby.

I never really paid much attention to it before.

But today, all those moments kept replaying in my mind.

After leaving the venue, I was on my way home when I passed by a square.

Under the bright neon lights, I spotted Andrew and Lily dancing together, with a bunch of folks egging them on and making a big fuss.

Their steps matched perfectly. It was obvious they'd done this before.

I remembered Andrew used to hate dancing. I'd begged him a few times, but he always refused, saying it felt like being a circus animal with everyone watching.

But now, for Lily, he was suddenly all enthusiastic, acting like he actually enjoyed it.

Thinking about that, I glanced over, keeping my cool, and my eyes met Andrew's.

I caught a flicker of panic and discomfort in his eyes.

I turned to blend into the crowd, ready to leave, but he chased after me and grabbed my arm.

"What are you doing here?" Andrew asked.

Hearing that, I forced a bitter smile.

Yeah, he was obviously embarrassed to be caught dancing so close with another woman right in front of me.

I glanced at Lily behind him, who was pouting and acting all innocent.

I voiced what he was really thinking.

"Don't mind me. I'm just passing through. I'll be gone in a minute," I said.

I pulled my arm free from Andrew's grip and headed home, taking my time.

He stood there, watching me leave, torn.

He hesitated, wanting to follow me, but in the end, he stayed for Lily, who was waiting for him to keep dancing.

When I got home, I took a shower.

I stood out on the balcony, lit a cigarette, and watched Andrew and Lily down below, looking all reluctant to part.

My heart was a mess of emotions.

If Andrew was fed up with me, or thought I was getting old, he could've simply said it straight.

Why go out of his way to do something so nasty?

Not only did he ruin my thirtieth birthday party, but he also made me watch them dance together, looking all lovey-dovey.

I forced myself to hold it together, until the burning cigarette tip snapped me back to reality.

That was when I realized Andrew and Lily had finally parted ways downstairs.

As I stepped back into the bedroom from the balcony, I heard the sound of the door unlocking.

Andrew walked in, his face lit up with excitement, like he was still buzzing from the night.