Chapter 1

Heading to pick up a client, I tapped on my GPS.

A sickeningly sweet, overly-familiar female voice cooed from the speaker.

“Teeheeheehee, your little helper, Brianna, is excited to start this journey for two with you, almost like eloping, teehee!”

I slammed on the brakes, hitting the steering wheel, as the voice continued its syrupy monologue.

“There’s a cute little snack shop up ahead that Brianna just *adores*! Please, pretty please, get me some cookies?”

I froze, listening to the GPS voice. I immediately called Julian, my husband. “Did you use the Porsche recently?”

On the other end, Julian’s voice was calm and gentle. “My car broke down a few days ago, so I used it briefly. Why, what’s up?”

I smiled, said it was nothing, and hung up. Then, I turned the car towards Julian’s company.

I rarely went to Julian’s office, knowing that trust was paramount in a marriage.

I didn’t want to suspect Julian, but that voice kept replaying in my mind. I sat in Julian’s office, asking HR to bring me all the new female employee files. Just then, Julian pushed open the door.

“Audrey.”

Julian sat opposite me, a playful smile on his face. “Playing detective, huh?”

“Find anything?”

“If you didn’t, you’ll have to make it up to me,” Julian leaned back, tapping the table with a teasing grin. “I want you to go skydiving with me.”

I looked at Julian’s open, honest smile, and couldn’t help but wonder if I was being too narrow-minded.

All the files HR provided turned up nothing. Not a single new employee named Brianna. Was I overthinking it, being too sensitive? I put the files down, meeting Julian’s mischievously teasing grin, and sighed.

“Just a routine check.”

I pushed the files towards him. “If you don’t like it, I won’t do it again.”

Julian immediately put on a placating smile. “My wife cares about me, I’m thrilled! Why would I ever dislike it?”

Julian had always been gentle. Even if he was decisive and commanding in the boardroom, he still doted on me like I was his most precious treasure. Even when I was in the wrong, he’d be the first to apologize, wanting me to always feel cherished.

I shouldn’t doubt Julian.

I followed Julian home, watching him carry groceries into the kitchen. I turned to head to my study to deal with some documents when I saw Julian’s phone vibrate. I was about to call out to him when my peripheral vision caught the caller ID. My breath hitched. I picked up the phone and answered.

That familiar, sickeningly sweet voice echoed.

The person on the other end practically purred his name. “Julesy, Julesy, Brianna’s entire second-half sales is counting on your big deal! My boss praised me today, I really need to thank you properly.”

My heart clenched.

I heard her chuckle. “I heard a little bird told me your Mrs. was on the prowl earlier, Julesy, Julesy, report in! What’s the situation on your end?”

The woman, saved as [Yuanhe Vineyard’s Brianna], was calling my husband "Julesy." Even the old-timers who’d been with the company since its inception called him Mr. Julian. No one, not even close acquaintances, spoke to Julian like that.

And now.

The woman hesitated.

“Julesy, Julesy.”

“Why aren’t you answering me?”

“Bad signal?”

The call was abruptly disconnected. My face was ashen as I stared at Julian, still busy in the kitchen. It suddenly hit me – Julian had indeed developed a sudden interest in wine tasting, and a Yuanhe Vineyard project had unexpectedly appeared on the company’s deal roster, one that really shouldn’t have been there.

I had even asked Julian at the time why he was suddenly changing strategy.

Julian had simply said,

“No matter the industry, if there’s a piece of the pie to be had, I want a bite,” Julian had looked at me with tender eyes. “I want to make my wife the happiest woman alive, to give her the best life.”

My heart had been filled with sweetness. Now, it felt like a heavy hand had just slapped me across the face, shattering my fantasies and all my hopes for our marriage.

Julian.

How far had he gone with her?