Chapter 1
After seven years of marriage, Serena Wright and Jacob Paisley were trying for a baby. Serena visited every specialist she could find.
She'd taken countless medications, tried physical therapy, and even traveled abroad for advanced treatments. Nothing worked.
They decided to pursue IVF. The clinic required their marriage certificate. But their dog had torn it to pieces.
Serena brought the taped-up fragments to the Clerk of Court office.
"Ms. Wright, are you here to get a copy of your marriage certificate or your divorce papers?" the clerk asked.
"Of course, I'm here to get a copy of my marriage certificate..." she started.
"But you're divorced." The clerk turned the monitor toward her. The marital status field read: [Divorced.]
The divorce was dated September 17. Exactly six months earlier.
"The system shows you were divorced six months ago," the clerk said, opening the digital record. "Mr. Jacob Paisley's legal spouse is now Cecilia Bartley."
September 17 was Serena's birthday. Jacob had taken her to watch fireworks on a hilltop.
Under the sparkling sky, he got down on one knee. He handed her a house contract. "This will be our home," he told her.
Overjoyed, she signed. She never saw the divorce papers hidden behind the last page.
That night, he got an "urgent work call" and had to leave.
The woman who picked him up was Cecilia. The same woman he'd once kissed forcefully at a company party, right in front of everyone.
*****
Serena dragged herself out of the Clerk of Court office, feeling completely drained.
Her phone suddenly rang in her pocket, and she picked up instinctively.
"Serena, where are you? Are you at the hospital again?" Jacob's voice came through.
When she heard his voice, Serena's heart gave a little jolt.
Before she could say anything, he softened his tone. "Serena, don't push yourself so hard. You know I didn't marry you just to have kids. All I want is to wake up each morning with you beside me. That's enough for me."
There was a time when words like that would have warmed her heart.
But now, all she felt was a pain that cut deeper than ever.
She couldn't understand why Jacob, who always professed to love her so much, would marry another woman behind her back.
One by one, memories of how Jacob had treated her over the years played out in her mind like a movie.
When she was 18, Serena had casually mentioned how much she missed the cakes she'd loved as a child, and Jacob had searched every bakery in town just to find them for her.
At 20, right before a major competition, she was a nervous wreck. He secretly recorded a sweet video of their moments together to give her courage.
When she turned 21, she handed over all her savings to help him start his business.
He was so moved that tears welled up in his eyes. He pulled her into his arms and declared loudly, "Serena, trust me. I'll never let you down."
He had always been so good to her. She never once doubted she had chosen the right person.
But everything changed two years ago, when Cecilia came into their lives.
Slowly, their love that was supposed to last forever began to crack.
When Jacob's company scored a huge deal, Serena prepared a lavish dinner at home, hoping they could celebrate together when he got home.
She waited all evening, but he never came back. She called him again and again, but he never picked up.
Worried sick, Serena braved the pouring rain and rushed to his office. What she saw broke her completely. There was Jacob, surrounded by cheering colleagues, pulling Cecilia into a deep, unmistakably real kiss.
Her heart broke into pieces, and the gift she'd brought for Jacob slipped from her hands and hit the floor with a loud crack.
Jacob saw her. He raced after her into the rain and made desperate promises to her.
He pleaded, "Serena, you have to believe me. I only kissed her because at that moment, she was so much like you. I lost my head.
"You're the only one I've ever loved. Please, don't throw away everything we have over this."
He ran recklessly into the busy street, cars honking as he swerved, just to plead with her not to leave.
When she saw him risk his life like that, Serena's anger melted into painful pity. She made herself believe him, burying her doubts deep down.
But now, standing alone, she finally realized she had loved the wrong man and had lost everything.