Chapter 1

My husband, Adam Foster, drove me to meet my best friend, Flora Lane, for coffee and snacks, but in the passenger seat crevice, I found a used condom and an earring.

I arrived at the restaurant in a daze. Flora hugged me with a smile, but the single earring left on her ear pierced my heart in an instant.

I didn't say a word. That night, I knocked on the door of my husband's best friend, Michael Quinn.

Later, Adam roared at me with reddened eyes, asking me why.

I just smiled softly, leaning against Michael beside me.

"Plenty of people have had their little flings in the passenger seat. You're hardly special," I said.

*****

When I found that used condom stuffed between the passenger seat cushions, I felt frozen to the core. My mind shut down.

Adam and I had been together for ten years.

Back then, we fell for each other when we were young and reckless. Those days were the highlight of our youth.

Even when we were stuck at colleges thousands of miles apart, nothing could tear us apart. For countless days and nights, we clung to our phones, pouring out all our longing for each other.

I'd be crying so hard I could barely speak, and Adam would listen quietly on the other end, his eyes turning red as he fought back tears.

No one believed in us. Everywhere online, people were trash-talking long-distance relationships.

But on my graduation day, Adam showed up at the ceremony, got down on one knee in front of everyone, and pulled out a ring he had spent every penny he had to buy.

The sun was shining that afternoon, but to me, Adam outshone it completely.

Back then, his eyes were bright and full of determination as he looked at me.

Adam said, "Emily, ever since I met you, I've been missing you every single day. You're the only one who can make me feel both pain and sweetness. The idea of you not being in my life scares the hell out of me.

"I know maybe it's not the smartest move, maybe it's a little crazy to propose right now...

"But all I want is to be with you, for the rest of my life.

"Emily, will you marry me?"

I didn't remember how I ended up with that ring on my finger. All I remembered was everyone around us cheering, me crying my eyes out, and Adam holding me tight, tears streaming down his face as he softly promised me forever.

"I'll love you and take care of you for the rest of my life. Believe me," Adam whispered.

And I did.

I put my faith in him for five years straight.

After college, we got married and became the envy of all our friends.

Adam really did treat me like a queen, always protecting me and showering me with love.

He wouldn't let me cook anymore, all because I cut my finger the first time I tried cooking.

That day, his eyes were red as he carefully bandaged my finger, then kissed the back of my hand.

"Emily, don't get hurt. It pains me," Adam whispered.

I used to think I was the happiest woman alive. Even when I went against my parents and married into a strange city far from home, I still believed it was all worth it.

I was taking a gamble, convinced Adam wasn't like all those guys who never really cared.

For a while, I thought I had actually won. But I never expected things to turn out this way.

Ten years into our relationship, five years into our marriage, I was hit with a betrayal so devastating it felt like my whole world was falling apart.