Chapter 1

I'd always been extremely goal-oriented.

When I was seven, my dad cheated, and my parents divorced. Without hesitation, I chose to live with the wealthier parent dad.

Life was better with him, and I could also slowly squeeze money out of him to help my mom.

Later, my stepmother and stepsister gave me plenty of trouble.

I found my dad a few beautiful secretaries and pretended to have a crush on a certain guy.

My stepmother was too busy guarding against the new mistress who might follow in her footsteps, while my stepsister was too busy trying to steal the guy I supposedly loved.

That gave me plenty of peace and quiet to focus on my studies.

I was pretty, smart, and knew exactly how to use my advantages.

After graduating from college, I finally got my wish and married Edward, the only son of one of the city’s richest families.

We were deeply in love.

Until the first time Edward forgot our anniversary, and his new assistant posted a photo of two wine glasses clinking with the caption: [Thanks to my amazing boss for the meal!]

It seemed someone was trying to swoop in and reap the rewards of everything I'd worked so hard to build.

*****

Olivia Nash, the new assistant, was actually the ex-girlfriend of Charles Sutton, the infamous playboy in Edward's circle.

She was the one he pursued most relentlessly, and the hardest for him to move on from after their breakup.

When things ended badly between them, Charles had no choice but to leave Olivia with Edward as his assistant for now, hoping he could win her back after a while.

At first, Edward couldn't stand Olivia. He came home and complained to me, "Olivia is so cold and arrogant, always acting like she's better than everyone else.

"She's impossible to work with."

But later, he started praising her work ethic, saying she really did have the skills to back up her pride.

He said it was no wonder Charles, the notorious playboy, was still hung up on her.

From her very first day on the job, it only took Olivia three and a half months to make Edward forget our anniversary.

After seeing Olivia's photo, I called Edward right away.

It was Olivia who answered. "The project team had to work overtime today, so Mr. Pierce took us out for dinner.

“He ended up drinking a bit too much," she said, her tone perfectly calm and considerate. "Don't worry, Mrs. Pierce. I'll make sure he gets home safely."

"That won't be necessary. I'll come pick him up myself," I said.

I wanted to see for myself just what kind of dinner could make Edward forget our anniversary.

Olivia gave me the name of the restaurant.

I raised an eyebrow.

This was one of those hidden gems with sky-high ratings online. Every dish came with a hefty price tag. Definitely not the kind of place companies usually pick for team dinners.

When I got there, I realized the so-called team dinner was just the two of them.

When I pushed open the door to the private room, Edward was slouched in his chair, his tie loosened, his eyes already a little unfocused.

Olivia was sitting next to him, quietly fixing his sleeve that had gotten wet from the wine, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

The waiter walked in carrying a towel, smiling at Olivia. "Your boyfriend's had a bit too much. Should I bring him some coffee?"

She gave a faint smile and gestured toward me. "This is Mrs. Pierce."

The waiter paused awkwardly, then quickly apologized and slipped out.

The cold air from the AC made me shiver all over.

But my heart was even colder.

Because I'd been trying to get pregnant, I was on hormones and all sorts of supplements. I'd put on weight, my face was puffy, and I was nothing like the campus queen I used to be two years ago.

I'd seen Olivia a few times before. She had delicate features and a cool, distant vibe, a real beauty.

Tonight, she'd gone all out. Her hair fell in glamorous waves, and her form-fitting dress hugged every curve.

She was helping the drunk Edward, and together they looked like the perfect couple.

Meanwhile, I stood across from them, feeling like the punchline of a bad joke.

After helping Edward and me into the car, Olivia stood by the window.

A loose curl slipped from her shoulder as she leaned in, giving me a gentle reminder. "When you get home, maybe make him some soup. He'll feel a lot better after a little rest."

I smiled at her. "I'll have the maid, Julie, take care of it. She handles things like that. But thank you for being so thoughtful, Ms. Nash."

That faint, almost imperceptible smile Olivia had been wearing since she first saw me tonight finally vanished.

The car pulled away, slowly merging into the night traffic.

Edward leaned his head on my shoulder.

He nuzzled closer, mumbling, "You came, babe."

It was the kind of closeness that felt totally unguarded.

If this had been before, it would've made my heart melt.

But the next second, a strange scent drifted over, catching me off guard.

It carried a hint of roses that was Olivia's signature perfume.

My stomach twisted, and without thinking, I shoved his head off my shoulder.

He leaned against the window and quickly fell asleep again.

The streetlights outside blurred past, forming a cold, unbroken line.

I never thought the husband I picked so carefully would go wagging his tail and running over the second someone else called.