Chapter 1

At the most luxurious hotel in Arashan, I grinned while soaking in the flood of congratulations from everyone around me.

Today, my company was finally going public.

I'd given it everything I had to get here.

Right then, Misty was gently rubbing her belly, her eyes soft as she gazed at me.

But in those gentle eyes, I could sense something I couldn't quite put my finger on.

I thought. 'Maybe it was all for that child—the one whose father I might never even know.

'I don't care at all.

'If she wants the whole company, I will give it to her.

'If she wants the entire family assets, I'll toss them all at her feet.

'But she better not come running back with regrets.'

'Since betraying me is the path she has chosen, then the gates of hell have already flung open at her.'

*****

A reporter asked, "Mr. Dennis, what are your plans now that your company is going public?"

Another asked, "Mr. Dennis, is it true you're planning to expand overseas?"

The press swarmed in, bombarding me with questions from every direction.

I kept my cool, answering each one with a friendly smile.

"Thanks, everyone. Now, enjoy your meal," I said, wrapping things up and setting the mood for the evening.

My wife, Misty Dennis, had been at my side the whole night.

Despite being five months pregnant, she looked effortlessly graceful.

The only flaw in this perfect night was how she kept exchanging glances with Bud Burgess—the VP of my company—more often than I'd care to admit.

Each time their eyes met, it was just for a fleeting heartbeat before they quickly looked away.

But there was no way I could miss it.

I narrowed my eyes, catching a faint trace of men's cologne drifting off Misty. The unfamiliar scent set me on edge.

It definitely wasn't the brand I usually wore.

Bud looked plenty cheerful, but it was that hollow, fake sort of happiness.

That exact same cologne hung around him.

But now wasn't the time to expose them.

I believed that playing cat and mouse was way more fun than catching them in the act.

After the dinner party, Misty snuggled up to my arm, acting all sweet and innocent.

She said in gentle voice, "Miles, some of my girlfriends want to catch up for a bit. Why don't you head home first? I'll just hang around with them for a little while.

"Relax, I promise I won't stay out late. You don't need to worry about me.

As she spoke, Misty reached over to smooth out the wrinkles on my shirt.

I didn't bother asking which friends she was meeting or what kind of late-night gathering they were really having.

I thought, 'Liars always have their stories straight.

'I should not waste my time on pointless things.'

I just smiled.

But out of her sight, my gaze was shadowed and cold.

I reached out and gently brushed my fingers through Misty's hair, putting on the softest voice I could muster.

I said, "Alright, just remember you're carrying, so take it easy, okay?"

Misty gave me her usual gentle look, that sweet expression she always reserved just for me.

"Trust me, it's only for a little while," she said.

As I sat in the car, I closed my eyes, letting the silence wash over me.

But all I could see in my mind were those ridiculous scenes, including all that fake tenderness she used to show me.

Now I couldn't help but wonder if any of those so-called good times ever really existed at all.

I wondered how many of those vows we made were actually real.

I gave her the grandest wedding, and a life of luxury beyond anyone's dreams.

However, all she gave me in return was a heartless betrayal.

I couldn't help but ask myself, 'Why does she do this?

'Misty, doesn't it hurt, even a little, to do this to me?

'What made you turn your back on me?'

Half a year ago, my assistant casually mentioned, "Mr. Dennis, I just saw your wife downstairs. Is she dropping off another homemade lunch for you?"

He didn't mean anything by it, but I immediately picked up on it.

Misty had just texted me five minutes earlier.

She'd told me she was going shopping with her girlfriends and wouldn't be dropping by today. She told me not to skip lunch that day.

"Maybe she's out shopping. Which way did she head?" I said.

My assistant filled me in on all the details, telling me exactly what he'd seen.

The more he talked, the more my gut twisted.

It turned out that Misty wasn't with any of her girlfriends.

She went into a cake shop alone, came out carrying a cake, and left by herself.

We didn't have any friends or family members' birthdays coming up.

There hadn't been any kind of anniversary or special day to commemorate, either.

'So what was the cake for?' I thought.