Chapter 1
Estelle Hopper had been by Wallace Hopper's side for six years, sticking with him as he built everything from the ground up. They started out splitting a piece of bread between them, and now they lived in a fancy villa.
Estelle's stomach was always sensitive, so Wallace tracked down the top nutritionist and learned to cook for her.
Wallace struggled with sleep, so Estelle picked up every massage trick she could find, always trying new ways to help him drift off.
Estelle adored white roses, so Wallace flew overseas to a famous rose estate, bringing back the best seeds just for her.
They cherished and loved each other. To help take Wallace's career to the next level, Estelle even chose to spend four years studying overseas for him.
After finishing her studies abroad, Estelle returned home, and they finally got married.
But then, out of nowhere, Wallace suddenly became obsessed with the idea of a sexless marriage. Estelle couldn't understand it, but she agreed anyway.
That was, until she spotted a woman's stocking hidden in Wallace's closet.
*****
Celeste Obrien, who was Estelle's best friend, texted her a string of pictures. [These are the cutest baby photos I could find online. I've been collecting them for ages. Show them to Wallace Hopper. Maybe this time he'll finally want a kid.]
Estelle scrolled through the photos one by one, her smile growing wider with each one.
She replied: [Okay, I'll be home in half an hour.]
After putting her phone away, Estelle was practically bursting with excitement. She told the driver to take a shortcut, and in just ten minutes, she arrived at the villa.
But the moment she walked in, she caught the unmistakable sound of a woman moaning coming from the bedroom.
The woman asked, "You really never slept with her?
"That idiot is still trying to talk you into it."
Estelle felt as if she'd been struck by lightning, rooted to the spot.
Estelle stared at her phone, utterly stunned. That voice belonged to Celeste, who'd just been texting her ten minutes ago.
In the past, Celeste schemed with her every day, trying to get Wallace to give up on his sexless marriage idea.
Celeste stayed up drinking with Estelle till dawn whenever Wallace ignored Estelle. Celeste would also write long rants just to curse out Wallace whenever Estelle felt even a little hurt.
Now, Estelle was shocked that Celeste was actually sleeping with Wallace.
Wallace's heavy breathing came through the door. "You know I've only ever been with you."
Through the crack in the door, Estelle saw Wallace's face. He was usually so cold and restrained, but now filled with intense desire and a dazed look. Only then did it hit Estelle. Wallace wasn't uninterested in sex. He just wasn't interested in her.
A wave of helplessness and despair hit Estelle so hard that her knees nearly buckled. She could barely stand.
It had been ten years since she started dating Wallace.
She thought that he had respected her by having a sexless relationship, but it only turned out to be a way for Wallace to show his loyalty to another woman.
Inside the room, the sounds kept going. Celeste clung to Wallace's back, her voice playfully whining. "That playboy from the Beasley family is dead set on marrying me.
"I don't want to, but my parents are in business with his family, so I can't say no.
"Why not just send Estelle instead?"
Wallace's voice turned cold. "Celeste, don't even think about using Estelle."
Celeste pouted. "So you're really just going to let me marry him? You keep bringing up Estelle, but don't forget that she was gone for four years. I think she returned because she is after your money, not because she loves you!"
Wallace fell silent.
They dropped the subject, leaving only the sound of their ragged breaths filling the room.
Outside the bedroom, Estelle bit down hard on her lip, fighting to keep the sob from bursting out.
Everything was happening so fast. She felt like her head was about to explode. She'd always felt that Wallace wasn't the same as he was in the past, but she never thought that he was having an affair with Celeste.
Estelle had grown up with Celeste. They were so close that they could share everything with each other.
Estelle knew deep down that four years was enough to change many things, including a man's heart.
However, she couldn't accept that Wallace was having an affair with Celeste, of all people.