My husband of five years, Eric Vale, came home drunk again. As I laid him in our bed, he murmured, “Don’t worry, my love… I’ll take care of you and our baby.”

My heart stopped.

Baby? We’d been on birth control since the day we married. There was no baby.

I shook him lightly. “What are you talking about, Eric?”

He blinked at me, confused, then smiled like nothing had happened. “Hey, babe… did I say something?”

The next morning, I checked our joint account. Every month, ten thousand dollars had been wired to a woman named Bella Evers.

Yesterday, he sent two hundred thousand more—with a note: I can’t wait for our baby to be born.

Bella was Eric’s mistress and was now six months pregnant.

So I made one call.

“Papa,” I told the most feared Don in the South, “I’m getting a divorce.”

I glanced at my sleeping husband. “I want him gone. And I want him broke.”

Nerissa’s POV

My husband came home drunk and let it slip—his mistress, Bella, was pregnant. Then I discovered he’d been stealing from our joint account, sending her money every month like she was the real wife. I’m the daughter of the most feared mafia Don in the South. I don’t tolerate betrayal. So I called my father and said only one thing: “I want him gone. And I want him miserable.”

Papa exhaled on the other end of the line. “You say the word, Nerissa, and I’ll make him pay for what he did to you. I’ll make him kneel at your feet and beg for mercy. He’ll wish he were dead.”

After I hung up, I sat down on the sofa, staring at nothing.

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel it—anger, yes, but also something heavier. Maybe sadness or even disbelief.

Five years of marriage don’t just vanish in a single second. For a moment, I thought about waking Eric up, dragging him out of bed and forcing him to look me in the eye and explain.

But I was raised by my father—a man who just happens to be one of the most powerful mafia Dons in the South. He taught me not to confront when I can calculate, not to argue when I can end things cleanly. Confronting Eric would only give him room to lie—and give me room to hesitate.

My gaze drifted to the wedding photo in the living room. He was smiling. I was smiling.

Marrying Eric had never been part of my plan. We came from different worlds. But I believed in what we had, I believed in him. So I fought for us, I fought to build this small family together with his.

When he said he dreamed of owning his own casino, I made it happen. I pulled resources from my father’s side, quietly. I arranged funding through channels he never traced back to me. I let him believe he built everything with his own hands. I let him believe I was just his lucky charm.

Later, when I said I wanted kids but Eric said he didn’t want children yet, I yield. I thought maybe Eric just wanted more time. The casino was new. There was pressure. I had my responsibilities too.

But tonight, hearing him promise to take care of his mistress and their baby, something inside me settled into clarity.

Eric didn’t refuse to have a child—he just preferred to have one with someone else. And I was never his lucky charm. I was simply the wife who fit his life at the time. Now, I don’t even fit that.

I picked up his phone again and scrolled more carefully this time.

Eric hadn’t even tried to hide Bella. Their photos were everywhere—vacations they took while he told me he was meeting clients, candlelit dinners on nights he canceled plans with me at the last minute. And then there was the ultrasound and doctor appointments and baby clothes.

The latest image stopped me. Bella wrapped around Eric’s arm on the balcony of a waterfront penthouse.

I recognized that balcony immediately. The property was registered under one of the casino’s shell companies—which meant it was mine.

Bella wore a silk dress that hugged the curve of her stomach. Eric’s hand rested at her waist, possessive and gentle, his eyes warm in a way I had never seen directed at me.

I scrolled.

More photos surfaced.

Two months ago: “The doctor said I’m the healthiest pregnant woman she’s ever seen. Thank you for taking care of me and our baby.”

Eric replied: “You’re the one doing the hard work. I’m sending you a gift tonight.”

Later, Bella sent a picture back. A diamond necklace shimmered at her throat—the same one I once told him I loved. He’d promised to buy it for me someday. That day never came. The casino was new, he said, we needed to wait.

It wasn’t that I couldn’t afford it. I just thought Eric genuinely wanted to give it to me himself.

Six months ago: “Two lines, Eric. What should we do?”

His reply came instantly. “I’m coming to you now."

Later that night, there was another photo—their fingers intertwined over Bella’s stomach.

The watch on Eric’s wrist nearly burned my eyes. The platinum piece I gave him the day I announced our engagement—the day he was granted entry into the Ardent family as my husband.

He just never understood what that truly meant.

Each image cut deeper than the last. Tears slipped down my face before I even noticed.

I didn’t even feel like I was crying. It was as if something inside me had gone silent and numb, and everything felt like déjà vu—like I was watching someone else’s life unravel instead of my own.

I walked back into the bedroom. Eric was still asleep, a faint smile on his lips—perhaps dreaming of Bella and their child.

I stood there and studied his face for a long time.

Eric looked no different from the day I first met him.

I defended this man in front of my father. I insisted that he was my other half when members of the Ardent family doubted him.

I never questioned his access to everything I owned and everything I brought with me to this little family. Never made him feel small, even when he was just a businessman and I was a mafia Don’s daughter.

I brought him into my world. I taught him how to sit across from Dons without flinching. I handed him a casino so he would never feel lesser standing beside me.

And this was how he chose to repay me.

Eric, did you really think you could siphon money from the Ardent, lie to my face, raise another child in secret—and walk away untouched?

I am Nerissa Ardent.

In the South, my surname opens doors and closes graves.

I reached out and gently wiped away the last of my tears.

Eric… I am not the kind of woman you betray and still expect to survive.

…

I walked back into the study and made a few calls. Minutes later, Bella’s file landed in my inbox.

Bella Evers. Twenty-three. College dropout. Currently a table girl at Golden Casino. Parents: ordinary, paycheck to paycheck.

She hadn’t been good at her job—several warnings on record. But about a year ago, the complaints stopped with fewer shifts and higher pay.

So that’s when it began.

I kept reading.

Bella had left college after getting involved with a married man. When he went bankrupt after his divorce, she left him just as quickly. And somehow, she found her way to my husband.

A pattern.

Bella Evers didn’t just stumble into married men. She targeted them.

And Eric—my husband, who couldn’t even keep himself in his own vows—walked right into her arms.

An ungrateful cheater and a professional home-wrecker.

What a perfect match.

Nerissa’s POV

“Hey, babe, you’re already up?” It was ten when Eric finally came out of the bedroom, freshly showered and dressed.

I was on the sofa with a book open in my hands. I hadn’t turned a single page.

I told myself not to react when I faced Eric. I wouldn’t let him sense a single crack before I had everything prepared—before I could throw those damn divorce papers in his face.

He leaned down and kissed my forehead like he always did. “I can’t stay for breakfast. Big client coming to the casino this afternoon. I’ve got to keep him happy.”

He winked, grabbing his keys.

A big client? Or a doctor’s appointment with your mistress?

I kept my voice steady. “Alright. Work comes first.”

He paused at the door, studying me. “Don’t be upset, Neri. You know me. If it wasn’t for this client, I’d skip the whole day and stay with you. How about we take a vacation next week?”

Normally, I would have asked him to stay, at least for coffee.

Today, I just smiled. “Focus on your client first.”

After he left, I picked up my purse and drove to Golden Casino.

I rarely went to see Eric at the Golden. Part of it was practical—some of his biggest clients knew my face, and they certainly knew my father. The rest of it was simple, I trusted Eric enough not to need to.

But today, I wanted to. I didn’t want to see Bella only through filtered photos and stolen moments—I wanted to see her in real life.

I walked nearly the entire casino floor and didn’t find her. So I turned toward Eric’s office instead.

That was when I saw her.

Bella—just outside Eric’s office, seated behind his usual secretary’s desk.

Her pregnancy was obvious now—round and full beneath her dress. She looked even younger than in the photos, long golden hair spilling over her shoulders, clear eyes bright and soft. Bella got the kind of face that looked innocent and untouched.

No one would guess that a girl who looked so harmless had willingly slipped into a married man’s arms—smiling sweetly while tearing apart another woman’s life.

“Hello, miss. Who are you here to see?” she asked when she noticed me, her smile sugary, her voice light and melodic.

I let my gaze move over her slowly. The tailored white dress. The diamond necklace resting at her throat. The quiet confidence beneath all that polished innocence.

“I’m here to see Mr. Eric Vale,” I said evenly, like I was any other guest.

“Mr. Vale is in a meeting with a client. May I have your name, please?” She kept smiling.

“Of course. Nerissa Ardent.”

The change was subtle—but I saw it, a flicker in her eyes and a tightening at the corners of her lips.

She hadn’t recognized my face. That meant Eric had kept me out of sight. But she knew my name, which meant she knew me.

“Sorry, Mrs. Vale,” she said quickly, reaching for the phone. “I’ll inform Mr. Vale that you’re here.”

So I was right. Bella had known Eric was married.

“Mr. Vale,” she said into the receiver, her voice trembling just slightly, “your… your wife is here.”

…

I waited about five minutes before the elevator doors opened.

Eric stepped out, his expression tight the moment he saw me. “Nerissa? What are you doing here?”

“Dropping by to see you,” I said lightly, walking toward him and slipping my arm through his as if nothing had changed. “What? I’m not allowed to visit my own husband?”

He glanced at me—then at Bella—then quickly back again. “No. I was just… surprised.”

“Don’t mind me,” I said, glancing around the floor. “Go handle your client. I can wait.”

“No, no.” He took my hand a little too quickly and steered me toward his office. “Wait inside.”

He was in a hurry to get me away from Bella.

Once the door shut behind us, I turned casually, letting my gaze wander around the room. “Since when do you have such a young, lovely secretary? Bella, right? I don’t remember seeing her up here before.”

For a split second, Eric’s face changed, then the smile returned. “Oh, her? I’m not sure. I’ve seen her around a few times. Maybe HR moved her. You know how casinos work—we shuffle people around all the time.”

“I see.” I tilted my head slightly. “She looks very young. How old is she?”

His smile faltered again. He suddenly seemed very interested in the papers on his desk. “How would I know? I didn’t even know her name until you mentioned it.”

“Oh.” I nodded slowly.

I didn’t push. His explanation was already laughable enough.

…

That afternoon, I had suggested we eat something simple at the casino, but Eric wouldn’t hear of it. He insisted on taking me out for lunch. He probably didn’t want me anywhere near the office floor, therefore anywhere near Bella.

During lunch, I played the attentive wife.

I asked about the gaming room expansion, whether the late nights entertaining clients were wearing him down, if the casino needed additional capital.

Eric looked deeply moved. “You’re the only one who truly cares about me,” he said. “Having you is my greatest luck.”

I nearly lost my appetite.

“Oh, right,” I added lightly, as if the thought had just come to me. “A friend mentioned a new waterfront property. Private security. Restricted access. Maybe we should take a look?”

His fork paused midair. “A new place? Isn’t our current villa enough?”

“It’s comfortable,” I said. “But not very spacious. If we have children someday, we might need more room.”

There it was—that subtle shift in his expression.

“There’s no rush for children,” he replied quickly. “The casino’s cash flow has been tight. We shouldn’t add pressure.”

Cash flow tight?

Interesting. He hadn’t seemed concerned about pressure while buying a sea-view penthouse for his mistress through a shell company tied to our casino.

“You’re right,” I said smoothly. “We can wait.”

Nerissa’s POV

After lunch, Eric brought me back to his office, but a call pulled him away. The moment he stepped out, I slipped into the hallway.

Bella and two other girls were in the secretary lounge, cups of coffee in hand.

I slowed just enough to listen.

“The doctor said the baby’s very healthy,” Bella said softly, her hand resting over her stomach. “Due at the end of the year.”

“You’re so lucky,” one of them sighed. “Your boyfriend spoils you. That sea-view penthouse alone—”

Bella smiled shyly. “That’s not all. He promised that once the baby is born, he’ll marry me.”

Marry?

A quiet laugh rose in my throat. My husband hadn’t even filed for divorce, yet he was already planning another wedding.

Bella turned—and saw me. The color drained from her face instantly.

“Mrs. Vale,” she stammered, stepping back.

I walked toward her slowly, unhurried. “Bella, right?” I offered a gentle smile. “I heard you’re expecting. Congratulations.”

Her hand moved instinctively to shield her stomach. “Th-thank you, Mrs. Vale.”

“The child’s father treats you well?” I asked, my voice calm, almost warm.

“Yes,” she whispered, eyes lowering.

“That’s good,” I said softly. “Young girls should be careful. In this city, there are men who gamble with more than money.”

I let the words settle between us before I turned away.

…

Later that night, Eric came home drunk again. The usual scent of tobacco and whiskey clung to his shirt—and beneath it, faint but unmistakable, the cheap floral perfume that belonged to Bella.

He stumbled into the shower as usual. I picked up his phone and unlocked it.

The newest message appeared on the screen: “The test came back, honey. We’re having a son!”

Eric replied almost instantly. “Then I’ll work even harder. Once our boy is old enough, everything I have now will be his.”

“But what about… her?” Bella asked. “So weird that she dropped by the casino today, do you think she noticed anything?”

“So what? Don’t mention her. Bad luck. Just wait. Once you safely give birth to our son, she won’t have any excuse not to divorce me. Then we’ll be a real family. Just you, me, and our baby boy."

My stomach twisted. Every our future, every our baby, every promise he wrote to her felt like something crawling under my skin.

They had already planned it all—the penthouse, the child, the wedding.

All they needed was for me to quietly disappear.

I placed his phone back exactly where it had been and smoothed my expression into something soft and unsuspecting.

When Eric stepped out of the shower, I walked over and guided him to the bed. He rested his head on my thigh, and I began to massage his temples gently.

“You’ve been working so hard,” I murmured. “The casino’s been busy lately. So many clients. So many parties.”

He leaned into my touch, satisfied. “It’s all for our future,” he said, pride flickering in his eyes. “Everything I do is for us.”

For us.

“By the way,” I added lightly, “that pretty girl at your secretary desk—Bella. She’s pregnant. So young to be having a baby.”

His smile stiffened for just a second then casually said. “Yeah. You know how young girls are. Fooling around. She’s probably not even married.”

“She looks five or six months along,” I continued, fingers still moving at his temples. “I just hope the father is responsible.”

I paused, my voice soft. “It would be tragic if she trusted the wrong man.”

“Of course,” Eric replied too quickly. He sat up, then turned onto his side, ending the conversation as neatly as he could.

But before he slipped away from my touch, I felt it—A thin sheen of sweat along his temple.

Eric was nervous.

Was he that afraid I would uncover his little secret?

Tell me, Eric, was any of this worth it?

…

The next day, I had the my family’s private investigator follow Eric.

The photos came in one by one. Apparently, Eric and Bella skipped work and went shopping for baby clothes. Now that they knew it was a boy, they looked eager—laughing, pointing at tiny suits and blue blankets like they were already a family.

But that wasn’t the worst of it. There were also photos from a jewelry store.

Eric stood behind Bella as she tried on a diamond ring, his chin nearly brushing her shoulder.

They were already looking for one.

I glanced down at my own hand, the simple band he gave me on our wedding day was still there.

He used to say, “This ring is too plain. Wait for me. I’m working hard. One day I’ll buy you something bigger, better.”

“It’s just a ring,” I had told him. “Save the money for the casino expansion.”

I almost felt sorry for him back then—enough to lower my standards and accept something that was never truly at my level.

And Eric had looked at me like I was the most understanding woman in the world.

And now? Now he could slide a two-hundred-thousand-dollar diamond onto another woman’s finger without even a hesitation.

I saved every single photo. It hurt to look at them, but they were evidence—proof of how broken this marriage had become, of the kind of man Eric truly was, and of just how irresponsible he had always been.

…

This afternoon, the investigator sent over a video. Bella was sitting in a mall café with her friends. The audio was clear enough to catch the smug edge in her voice.

“Bella, are you serious?” one friend asked. “He’s married. You knew that.”

“So what?” Bella replied, her voice sharp, nothing like the trembling girl she had played in front of me. “He doesn’t love her anymore. They’ve just been together too long. He was waiting for the right time to bring it up. And they don’t even have kids.”

She leaned back, smug. “Just wait. Once my son is born, he’ll divorce her.”

“What if he’s lying to you?” her friend asked carefully. “You remember what happened last time… when you dropped out of college for that married man—”

“Shut up!” Bella snapped, almost shouting before lowering her voice. “Don’t ruin my day bringing him up. I checked this time, alright? Eric’s casino is doing great. And his wife has nothing to do with it. Even if they divorce, she won’t get any of it.”

“But—”

“Look.” Bella held out her hand. The diamond ring sparkled under the café lights. “If he’s lying, would he buy me something like this?”

She tugged her collar down slightly, revealing the diamond necklace resting against her skin. “And this? Would he spend this much just to lie to me?”

Her friend hesitated. “Aren’t you worried his wife will find out?”

“So what?” Bella’s voice sharpened. “I’m carrying his baby—his only son. Who do you think he’ll protect? Me and his son, or that old, ugly woman who probably can’t even have kids?”