Chapter 5 · When The Lie Felt Like Love

Chapter 5

Over the next few days, Emily stayed in the hospital, recovering from both her stomach ulcer and the return of her claustrophobia.

Matthew visited her the first two days, but by the third, he claimed he had to attend a business meeting in another city and then vanished.

Emily only found out where he really was when she saw Claire's livestream. Matthew had taken her to a seaside resort and even organized a private fireworks show.

The video went viral, drawing over a million viewers. Claire made sure to keep Matthew's face out of frame, but Emily still spotted the wedding ring on his finger.

It was the same one from their matching set.

Years ago, they'd engraved a vow into the rings—split into two halves. Half of his promise was hidden inside her band, and the other inside his.

She recognized the faint mark of the lock on the surface immediately.

A cold smile tugged at her lips.

There was no need for Claire's little "declaration of war".

Matthew had already chosen her again and again. What more did she want?

Emily exited the livestream, but by accident, she'd double-tapped the screen.

A heart appeared before she could take it back. She froze for a second, then sighed and let it go.

A minute later, her phone started ringing—a video call from Matthew.

She hesitated, then finally picked up.

But it wasn't Matthew on the screen. It was Claire.

She smiled smugly, a hint of mockery in her eyes. When Emily's anger surged and she opened her mouth to speak, Claire lifted a finger to her lips and whispered, "Shh."

Emily frowned, her stomach twisting.

Claire propped the phone up, stepped back, and in the next moment, she fell straight into Matthew's arms.

Emily's grip on her phone tightened until her knuckles turned white.

Matthew had no idea Emily was watching. His hair was still damp from a shower, the robe hanging loosely off his shoulders. He leaned down to unclasp Claire's bra, only to be stopped by her breathy protest.

"Matthew, don't... we shouldn't..."

His voice was low and hoarse. Pressing his forehead against hers, he kissed the corner of her eyes, her nose, her lips, murmuring, "I love you so much, Claire. I can't hold back anymore. Please, let me."

Claire's voice trembled with feigned hesitation. "But if your precious wife finds out, she'll be heartbroken."

Matthew tightened his grip around her waist, his breathing rough. "She'll never find out."

"Matthew," Claire whispered, cupping his face, her tone soft and teasing. "Tell me, do you love her, or do you love me more?"

Something flickered in his eyes—hesitation, guilt, maybe both.

But Claire kissed him before he could answer. And just like that, he melted into her touch, whispering against her lips, "Of course I love you."

Claire smiled triumphantly, looping her arms around his neck as he lifted her and carried her toward the bed.

Matthew leaned over her and gently parted her legs.

And on the other side of the screen, Emily watched every second of it.

Her lips trembled. She wanted to scream, but not a sound came out.

By the end, all she could do was shut off the video, her whole body shaking. Then, with a choked sob, she hurled the phone across the room, watching it shatter into pieces.

*****

That night, Emily sat on her hospital bed for hours, staring blankly out the window.

Her mind kept drifting back to the past—the years she'd spent with Matthew.

She remembered the vow he made on their wedding day, swearing that if he ever stopped loving her, his life would fall apart.

She remembered how he used to mark every date of her period in his calendar, how he'd make her coffee himself and treat her like she was made of glass.

And she remembered the time she'd casually mentioned craving some foreign dessert, and he'd actually flown across the ocean just to bring it back to her.

But what was all of that worth now?

Chapter 5

Over the next few days, Emily stayed in the hospital, recovering from both her stomach ulcer and the return of her claustrophobia.

Matthew visited her the first two days, but by the third, he claimed he had to attend a business meeting in another city and then vanished.

Emily only found out where he really was when she saw Claire's livestream. Matthew had taken her to a seaside resort and even organized a private fireworks show.

The video went viral, drawing over a million viewers. Claire made sure to keep Matthew's face out of frame, but Emily still spotted the wedding ring on his finger.

It was the same one from their matching set.

Years ago, they'd engraved a vow into the rings—split into two halves. Half of his promise was hidden inside her band, and the other inside his.

She recognized the faint mark of the lock on the surface immediately.

A cold smile tugged at her lips.

There was no need for Claire's little "declaration of war".

Matthew had already chosen her again and again. What more did she want?

Emily exited the livestream, but by accident, she'd double-tapped the screen.

A heart appeared before she could take it back. She froze for a second, then sighed and let it go.

A minute later, her phone started ringing—a video call from Matthew.

She hesitated, then finally picked up.

But it wasn't Matthew on the screen. It was Claire.

She smiled smugly, a hint of mockery in her eyes. When Emily's anger surged and she opened her mouth to speak, Claire lifted a finger to her lips and whispered, "Shh."

Emily frowned, her stomach twisting.

Claire propped the phone up, stepped back, and in the next moment, she fell straight into Matthew's arms.

Emily's grip on her phone tightened until her knuckles turned white.

"Matthew, don't... we shouldn't..."

Claire's voice trembled with feigned hesitation. "But if your precious wife finds out, she'll be heartbroken."

Matthew tightened his grip around her waist, his breathing rough. "She'll never find out."

"Matthew," Claire whispered, cupping his face, her tone soft and teasing. "Tell me, do you love her, or do you love me more?"

Something flickered in his eyes—hesitation, guilt, maybe both.

But Claire kissed him before he could answer. And just like that, he melted into her touch, whispering against her lips, "Of course I love you."

Claire smiled triumphantly, looping her arms around his neck as he lifted her and carried her toward the bed.

Matthew leaned over her and gently parted her legs.

And on the other side of the screen, Emily watched every second of it.

Her lips trembled. She wanted to scream, but not a sound came out.

By the end, all she could do was shut off the video, her whole body shaking. Then, with a choked sob, she hurled the phone across the room, watching it shatter into pieces.

*****

That night, Emily sat on her hospital bed for hours, staring blankly out the window.

Her mind kept drifting back to the past—the years she'd spent with Matthew.

She remembered the vow he made on their wedding day, swearing that if he ever stopped loving her, his life would fall apart.

She remembered how he used to mark every date of her period in his calendar, how he'd make her coffee himself and treat her like she was made of glass.

And she remembered the time she'd casually mentioned craving some foreign dessert, and he'd actually flown across the ocean just to bring it back to her.

But what was all of that worth now?