On the night of our seventh wedding anniversary, my wife, Emily Clark, went to the hotel with Daniel Taylor. Emily and Daniel had been friends since their childhood.

Not long after, I saw Daniel update his Twitter: [The days with you by my side are my happiest times.]

He attached a few photos of them hugging each other tightly with their fingers intertwined.

The bed behind them was a mess. Various types of condoms were scattered around.

At this moment, I felt hopeless.

My fingers trembled. I couldn't help but look carefully at the photo.

I murmured, "Then I wish you happiness."

1

Tonight was our wedding anniversary.

I specially arranged a candlelight dinner and waited for Emily to return.

If my secretary, Mia, hadn't sent me the photo, I would never have believed that Emily was hanging out with someone in a hotel.

Mia asked me if I wanted to catch them in bed. I replied: [No. They are having a good time. Don't disturb them.]

Not long after, I saw Daniel's Twitter. Seeing their happy faces, I felt mixed emotions.

I was angry, but my reason told me to stay calm.

After seven years of love, Emily still didn't know my true identity. She thought I was just an employee. She didn't know that I was the chairman of a listed company.

I had been planning to take advantage of this important day tonight to give her a surprise, but now it seemed that there was no need.

I looked at the candlelight dinner that I had worked so hard to prepare and threw it all into the trash can.

I suddenly felt very strange to these familiar surroundings. I collapsed on the sofa, smoked, and tried to numb myself with nicotine.

At two o'clock in the night, the door opened, and Emily came back.

Looking at the cigarette butts all over the floor and the smell of smoke in the room, Emily did not blame me. Instead, she showed a distressed look and sat next to me. She held my hand and comforted me, "Honey, are you having problems at work?"

Emily didn't explain why she came back so late, nor did she explain why she disappeared on such an important day as our wedding anniversary.

Listening to her gentle consolation, I felt dazed, as if she really was a considerate and virtuous wife.

I shook my head, ignored her, and went to bed without even taking a shower.

Emily pulled me up from the bed and pushed me into the bathroom.

"Honey, we haven't taken a shower together for a long time. Can I take a shower with you?" Emily asked me with a gentle smile.

This scene gave me the illusion that what happened a few hours ago was just a long dream.

If it weren't for the faint kiss mark on her neck, I would have almost hypnotized myself.

Emily started to take off my pants, but I stopped her in time. "I will work in the study tonight. You can go to bed after you take a shower."

I fled from the bathroom in a panic. Emily looked at my back in shock.

I thought Emily would let me go if I stayed in the study, but I was too naive.

Emily entered the study room wearing a lace pajamas. She didn't wear anything in this pajamas. I could see her fair skin.

She leaned behind me and rubbed my temples gently with her smooth fingers. I felt very comfortable.

But when I thought about how she was holding hands with Daniel not long ago and the mess in the hotel, my stomach couldn't help but twitch.

If a person was too successful in pretending, she was born to be an actor.

"Honey, I have good news to tell you. You will definitely be happy after hearing it," Emily leaned close to my ear and whispered.

Her chest was pressed against my back as if she was afraid that I couldn't feel her fullness.

In the past, when she told me about some surprises, I would definitely be thrilled.

But today, the situation was different.

I asked casually, "What good news?"

Emily smiled happily, "You're going to be a father. Look."

As she spoke, she handed me a hospital examination form.

I was stunned for a few seconds. For a moment, I was happy.

However, when I saw those eye-catching words, my heart sank as if falling into an icy cave.

The hospital examination form showed that Emily had been pregnant for two weeks.

Half a month ago, I was on a business trip. Emily was having affairs with Daniel.

I looked at the examination form, and my heart hit rock bottom.

Emily started sitting on my lap and chattered about the things that needed to be purchased after the baby was born. She was looking forward to the future with a child.

I just listened quietly until Emily said she was tired and fell asleep on my shoulder.

Seeing her close her eyes and fall asleep so quickly, I felt heartbroken.

I never thought that this kind of thing would happen to me.

I remembered the vows we made at our wedding seven years ago. I said that I would be with her for my whole life, no matter what. However, on the journey of life, some unexpected things would happen.

I didn't see this coming. Maybe our marriage was about to end.

Looking at the photo of Emily and me during our college years on the desk, I remembered the past.

That year, she was walking in a hurry and accidentally bumped into me. Her books fell all over the floor.

She gave me a glimpse, and I fell in love with her at first sight.

We started to get to know each other and fell in love. Every step was not easy.

My family said that the girls who approached me were all vain and wanted my money. In order to prove it, I concealed my identity since college.

Ever since I fell in love with Emily, every day had been a torment for me. The feeling of hiding something was not pleasant. I wanted to tell her my identity all the time.

Later, I felt relieved. I wondered, "Since we love each other, does identity matter?"

Watching the pendulum ticking, I collected my thoughts and carried Emily to the bed in the bedroom.

That night, I numbed myself with alcohol and nicotine.

I realized that it was time to end this relationship.

I was also glad that I didn't have a child with her.

I stayed awake all night. When I went to find Emily, I didn't expect her to leave alone early in the morning.

Not long after, I received a message from Emily: [Honey, I have to go to work. See you tonight. Love you.]

I looked at the time. It was just past 6 in the morning. Emily would never leave home before 8 o'clock in the past.

I wondered, "Emily must have gone to find Daniel again."

Half an hour later, Daniel updated his Twitter again.

Daniel posted some photos. They were in the coffee shop. Emily made a heart shape with her hands towards Daniel's camera and held his hand tightly. They were wearing a couple of outfits.

I collapsed on the sofa, stared at the ceiling above my head, and let out a long sigh.

I thought, "Emily is so eager to see Daniel."

In the afternoon, after receiving an important client, I was exhausted and had to drink coffee to stay awake.

I checked my phone in my spare time.

Daniel posted on Twitter again: [In the future, let me and the child protect you together.]

He showed a pregnancy test report with Emily's name on it. It was the same one I saw last night.

In addition, there were several layout drawings of Cascade Heights Estates.

I took a look at the location address and quickly guessed that Emily and Daniel were going to buy a new house.

I was kept in the dark about such a big thing.

I was very clear about Daniel's financial background. He couldn't afford a house there.

In the evening, I returned home with a heavy mood. Emily took off my coat for the first time and knelt to change my slippers. Her humble appearance was heartbreaking.

I pondered, "I never ask Emily to do this. She has never treated me like this before. If she didn't feel guilty, why would she try so hard to please me?"

I looked down at her back from above. My heart clenched in knots. I felt like I almost couldn't breathe. I was very depressed.

Emily cooked a sumptuous meal, all of which were my favorites.

"Honey, I made this meal by myself. Do you think I'm awesome? Open your mouth. Let me feed you." Emily picked up a piece of tender fish and stuffed it into my mouth.

Her cooking skills were very good. She was comparable to those of chefs in big hotels. But tonight, the fish in my mouth had no flavor at all.

If I had to describe the taste, it was more bitter than coffee.

Seeing me looking at her silently, Emily blushed and said shyly, "We are married for a long time. Why do you look at me like this?"

I hesitated and was about to say something.

Emily quickly kissed me and interrupted my thoughts, "Honey, I want to discuss something with you."

"I want to buy an apartment for our baby." After saying this, Emily looked at me quietly. Her eyes were as clear as spring water.

When I heard this, I felt like a heavy stone was pressing down on my heart. I had a bad premonition.

I asked, "The baby hasn't been born yet. There's no way to write his name on the house proprietary certificate, right?"

Emily became anxious when she heard this. "You can write my name on it first. I'll transfer it to our baby when he's older."

She didn't mention my name at all.

I wondered, "If the baby is my child, I will buy it without hesitation. I will buy the most prosperous place in the city, not to mention Cascade Heights Estates. However, the child in her belly has no blood relationship with me. The more I think about it, the more heartbroken I feel. What's more, she should be very clear about my current identity. I am just an ordinary employee with a monthly salary of less than 5,000 dollars. How can I afford to buy a house worth tens of millions of dollars?"

I asked tentatively, "Where are you going to buy it?"

Emily said, "Cascade Heights Estates is pretty good."

I pretended I knew nothing and continued to ask, "Why don't we go to see the house together sometime?"

"No need. I've seen it." Emily blurted out without thinking.

She quickly explained, "Don't you have to go to work? So I asked Daniel to go with me."

Seeing that I was silent, she took my hand and said coquettishly, "Don't be jealous. Daniel is my childhood friend. We grew up together. Don't let your imagination run wild."

When I heard these words, I couldn't express my inner feelings in words.

I felt sad and angry. More importantly, I would not submit to such treatment.

I thought, "Daniel took off your pants and had sex with you. What kind of childhood friend is he?"

I tried to force a smile. "You know, the housing prices there..."

"Didn't your parents gave you some money? I remember it is more than 30 million dollars, right?" Emily said impatiently.

At that moment, I was a little dizzy, as if the person standing in front of me was not my beloved wife but a skilled executioner.

She caused me excruciating pain.

I once told her that the money was my parents' last money.

I didn't expect that Emily would still be thinking about the money.

I actually began to feel lucky that I didn't tell her that I had more money than 30 million dollars.

For the sake of Daniel, Emily was willing to sacrifice the ten years of our relationship.

It was at this moment that I realized that Emily didn't love me anymore. She left me with only those beautiful but short-lived memories.

My heart was torn into pieces. It was just like the candlelight dinner, which was thrown into the trash can on our wedding anniversary.

Seeing that I remained silent for so long, Emily lost her patience. "Honey, you clearly said when you married me that everything you have is everything I have. Even if I ask for the stars in the sky, you will pick them for me."

I wondered, "Did I really say that? I can't remember anymore."

I smiled bitterly. "You can use that money as long as you are happy."

Emily was delighted. I seemed to hear her sigh of relief.

Emily said happily, "Honey, you are the best. I love you. Come, the food is getting cold. I will feed you."

I politely declined her offer. She didn't force me. She kissed me on the face and whispered in my ear, "Tonight, I'll give you a surprise."

After saying that, she pretended to be mysterious, took some clothes, and rushed into the bathroom.

Listening to the sound of water splashing inside, I gently put down the fork.

I lost my appetite.

I thought, "Haven't I gotten enough 'surprises'?"

My eyes fell on the wedding ring on the middle finger of my right hand. I gently took it off and threw it into the trash can.