That evening, when Saul returned, he carried a massive bouquet of flowers, their vibrant petals a mockery of the ache inside me.

From his pocket, he pulled out a delicate necklace, the kind that sparkled under the faintest light, and gently clasped it around my neck.

Overwhelmed, I threw myself into his arms, peppering his face with kisses as if trying to etch this moment into eternity.

He stroked my hair, his gaze soft and filled with what seemed like love. “If you’re happy, then I’m happy,” he murmured, his voice warm enough to melt glaciers.

But then, the tears on my cheeks brought me back to reality.

I glanced at the screen, at the entwined figures who had shattered my world. A bitter laugh escaped my lips, sharp and hollow.

Saul, the man who had promised to cherish me forever on our wedding day, could still whisper words of comfort while holding another in his arms.

Shutting off my phone, I let my eyes close, but there was no peace to be found.

My heart felt as though it had been slashed repeatedly, each cut deeper than the last, bleeding in silence.

And yet, the courage to confront him was nowhere to be found.

A nail driven deep into a wall might be removed, but the scar it leaves can never truly heal.

When Saul was just nineteen, he had boldly rushed toward me through a sea of people, holding a bouquet of flowers as though they were his heart.

He swore with unshakable conviction that he would love me, Beatrix, until the day he died.

But promises made in passion often wither before they reach their end.

By the time Saul returned that night, the clock was nearing midnight.

After his shower, he slid into bed beside me, his arms wrapping tightly around my waist as though he couldn’t bear to let me go.

I stiffened, an inexplicable disgust rising within me, and shifted ever so slightly away from his touch.

He noticed instantly, drawing closer with an almost childlike confusion, his voice soft and pleading.

“Wife, are you upset? I swear I couldn’t get away; that’s why I came back late.”

His tone brimmed with regret as he continued, “I’m sorry. How about tomorrow? Didn’t you say you wanted to visit the hot springs? Let me take you there, okay?”

I met his gaze, those familiar eyes filled with concern, but instead of comfort, they only made my heart ache.

A numbing pain spread through me as I stared at the man who had once been my world.

For years, we had shared the same bed, yet I had no idea how effortlessly he concealed his lies. Not a single crack in his perfect mask.

But I had become a skilled actress, too.

“It’s fine,” I said softly, forcing a smile. “Just some insomnia.”

I reached out, brushing a hand over his cheek. “You’ve had a long day. Get some rest. Don’t overthink it.”

His expression softened as he smiled, warm and genuine, pulling me back into his embrace.

By morning, Saul was the same as ever, slipping seamlessly into the role of the perfect husband.

The toothpaste was neatly squeezed out, and the breakfast was arranged on the table with care.

Every detail whispered of love.

And yet, all I could hear was the echo of a promise that had died somewhere along the way.

But even a man who once vowed to love me deeply could find space in his heart for someone else.

My phone buzzed, and a message from Saul lit up the screen.

[Wife, I’ll be home soon. Let’s go out for dinner together.]

I replied with a simple, detached response, unsure where to direct the storm of emotions swirling inside me.

Then, another notification. An email.

Saul, who had claimed to be buried in work, was at her house again. The woman didn’t bother to hide her triumph, flaunting his presence with shameless boldness.

Strangely, I felt no anger. Just an eerie calm, as though a burden had finally been lifted from my shoulders.

After shedding what felt like the last tear I had left for him, I booked an appointment at the hospital for an examination.

My suspicion was confirmed. I was pregnant.

Deep down, I had already known. Even before we moved, I had felt the subtle signs.

I had planned to wait until after the chaos of moving settled to confirm it, imagining the joy on Saul’s face when I shared the news.

He had always loved children.

But now, it seemed pointless to tell him.

I hadn’t yet decided whether to keep the baby.

Once, I had longed for this child, imagining how it might bring us closer.

Now, its existence felt like a cruel reminder, an unrelenting needle pricking at the reality of Saul’s betrayal.

The phone rang as I stepped out of the hospital. It was Saul.

His voice carried its usual warmth as he asked where I was.

I didn’t hesitate to tell him the truth. “I just left the hospital. Can you come pick me up?”

In no time, Saul arrived. He rushed to my side, his eyes scanning me with concern as though searching for signs of something he didn’t yet know.

"Wife, why did you go to the hospital? Are you feeling unwell?"

The concern on his face was almost palpable, his eyes wide with worry. It was as though the world had come to a halt, and all that mattered was me.

I pushed his hand away, merely brushing it off and saying I was visiting a friend.

He exhaled deeply, his tension easing as the fear melted from his expression, replaced by the same familiar tenderness.

It felt like nothing had changed.

But as I looked at him, a chill crept up my spine, spreading from my feet to my head. How could he turn on this charm so easily?

Just hours ago, he had been in the arms of another woman, yet here he was, holding me as if he had never wavered.

Words eluded me, and I found myself silently following his lead.

Saul seemed determined to make up for the tension between us, going out of his way to win me back.

He reserved a table at the finest restaurant and bought me gifts that were as extravagant as they were expensive.

But no matter how much he tried, I couldn’t bring myself to smile, not even faintly.

How many women had he done this for?

How many times had that woman, the one who kept sending me emails, been the one after me?

Just as the thought crossed my mind, the phone rang, pulling me from the depth of my thoughts.

Saul glanced at it impatiently before hanging up, his mood visibly shifting.

"Is it work?" I asked softly, offering him a chance to take the call.

He hesitated for a split second, then picked it up. "It’s my assistant. Probably needs something from the company. I’ll be back in two minutes, wife."

I already knew who was calling. Zelda Finnegan.

It had to be her.

But I didn’t say a word.

As Saul stepped away, absorbed in the phone call, I found myself watching him, lost in the past.

I could almost hear the old Saul again, the one I once knew, the one who had once begged for my forgiveness.

"Beatrix, don’t be sad, it’s my fault, my mistake."

"Please don’t ignore me, Beatrix," he had pleaded, his voice raw with desperation.

He grabbed my sleeve, repeating his apologies as his eyes filled with tears.

Even before I could cry, he was already shedding his own.

"Beatrix, you can hit me or scold me, but please don’t ignore me. I’m scared."

The phone rang again, snapping me back to the present.

I glanced at it, and once again, that familiar email flashed before my eyes.

This time, it wasn’t words of apology. It was a test result.

She was pregnant.

Four months along.

I quickly glanced over at Saul, who was still deep in conversation.

He must have known by now.

Saul’s voice was strained, his agitation creeping through, and I could barely make out his words.

“Get rid of it, and then come find me.”

His eyes met mine, and he quickly forced a smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

Just as I absorbed the weight of his words, another message from Zelda Finnegan popped up on my phone.

[Mrs. Gatlin, how’s it going? Did you see clearly?]

[I’m pregnant with President Gatlin’s child. He said he’ll divorce you soon and marry me.]

[You know, President Gatlin has long since grown tired of you. He said you’re too rigid and boring, no longer satisfying him. How can you still hold the position of Mrs. Gatlin?”]

A bitter laugh escaped me.

As Saul walked back in, he raised an eyebrow at me, his curiosity piqued.

“What’s so funny?”

I quickly turned off my phone, offering only a vague response.

“Just watching a funny video.”

Throughout dinner, neither of us spoke much, our thoughts tangled in a web of their own.

When the meal ended, Saul drove me back.

He casually mentioned that his assistant had called earlier with matters that needed his attention.

I knew exactly what it was; he was off to handle Zelda’s little ‘problem.’

Once he left, Zelda didn’t waste any time.

The messages started flooding in, each one more taunting than the last.

[Beatrix, has President Gatlin finally left you?]

[It was me who called him. So, how does it feel? Does it sting? I acted just a little coquettish, and he came rushing to my side while you... despite all your efforts, couldn’t keep him.]

[For the past year, every night he hasn’t been home, he’s been with me.]

[He told me to have this child. After all these years together, you couldn’t give him one, and he’s been wanting a divorce for a long time.]

I didn’t know if her words were true, but they still sent a cold shiver through my chest.

I saved every screenshot of her messages, though I already knew the painful truth.

The man I’d loved for eight years was nothing more than a skilled actor.

I could no longer distinguish his true self from the lies.

After everything, I picked up the phone and called my childhood friend.

"Faye, about the store you mentioned before... is it still possible for me to join?"

"Of course! We’re short-handed at the moment, and having you on board would be like adding wings to a tiger! But didn’t you say you weren’t interested before? What changed?"

She had invited me a year ago.

Back then, Saul and I had been trying to conceive while his career was just starting to climb.

I only wanted to stay behind the scenes, supporting him quietly, but it seemed like I had been playing the fool.

"Well... I was foolish before. Now, I’ve finally woken up," I said.

Faye Barlowe caught the meaning in my voice.

"Did you and Saul have a fight? What did he do?"

I didn’t try to hide anything. "I’m going to divorce him."

"Do you remember what we said back then, Faye?"

She stayed silent for a long moment, then replied softly.

"I remember. If you’re unhappy, I’ll take you away."

"But what about the child?"

I wiped away a tear and managed a sad smile.

"My child will never want a father like him. I won’t allow it."

"Saul can’t trap me, not anymore."

As I looked around at what was left, all I could take were the jewelry pieces he’d bought me over the years.

From humble beginnings to the glittering treasures of later years, each one could be traded for enough money to start fresh.

The day I left, everything seemed ordinary.

Saul and I shared breakfast, just like so many mornings before.

He looked at me, his smile warm and familiar. I returned it with one of my own.

Before I could leave, he reached out, pinching my cheek gently.

"Why are you so cute today, hmm?"

"I just keep liking you more and more," I teased, my smile growing as I brushed his hand away.

But as I studied his face, a chill settled deep in me.

This face, though older and more mature, was the same as the one I had known.

In his eyes and brows, I could still see the young Saul, the one from eight years ago.

The nineteen-year-old Saul would pull me close on rainy days, his arms a shield against the storm.

He would slip my cold hand inside his sleeve on winter nights, keeping me warm.

That nineteen-year-old Saul had loved me, and I had never doubted it.

The twenty-three-year-old Saul used to bring me late-night snacks after long days at work, his thoughtfulness never wavering despite his packed schedule.

He would take care of everything, ensuring I never had to lift a finger, even when his own time was scarce.

That twenty-three-year-old Saul had married me, and without hesitation, I had said yes.

But now, as I stood there, I couldn’t help but wonder—how had we ended up here?

Love had been real, but betrayal? That was all too real, too.

Saul seemed to sense my confusion, his hand reaching out to gently rub my head, offering me a fleeting moment of comfort.

He pressed a soft kiss to my lips, his voice filled with that same care I had always known.

"Wife, the company’s a bit busy today, but I’ll try my best to make it back for dinner. Wait for me, okay?"

I nodded, offering a smile that felt almost foreign.

But once he was gone, I didn’t feel like waiting anymore. I began packing my things.

Before I left, the maid asked what to prepare for dinner.

I shook my head, my voice soft but firm, telling her not to bother.