On our sixth wedding anniversary, I hid the medical report from my recent miscarriage inside a Tiffany box and placed it on the nightstand. I had planned to share my silent grief with my husband, Judson Hawthorne.

However, just as he leaned in to reach for it, his best friend, Caleb Reed, called, and they slipped into French.

Caleb’s voice crackled teasingly over the phone, "Hey, Judson, how's that new custom superyacht?"

Judson chuckled, replying in French as he casually pushed the unopened box aside. "The hot tub is fantastic."

He held me in his arms, his chin resting on my shoulder, but his gaze seemed to pass right through me, as if fixed on someone else far away.

"This stays between us. If Camila finds out I celebrated on it with her sister, Rebecca, I'm done for."

A knife plunged into my chest. They must have forgotten, or simply didn't care, that I had minored in French at Brown University. I heard every last word.

I forced myself to stay calm, but my arms, wrapped around his neck, began to tremble. In that moment, I made my decision.

I would accept the invitation to the confidential biological research project in Canada.

In three days, I would disappear from Judson's world forever.

————————

1

Judson Hawthorne noticed my arms slipping from his neck and leaned in to press a gentle kiss on the tip of my nose.

"Darling, what are you thinking about? Getting tired of this face already?"

He gazed at me with his usual tenderness, a look I now found utterly absurd.

Just minutes ago, he was on the phone with his best friend, recounting the details of his tryst with my sister, Rebecca Ross, in French. Now, he had seamlessly switched back to the role of the perfect, faithful husband.

How long had he been playing this part? I didn't dare to dwell on it.

I buried my face in the crook of his neck, using the movement to hide the bitter twist of my lips. "Nothing. I was just spacing out, wondering what you two were talking about."

Judson gave me a fond smile. "Just business with Caleb. You know, boring stuff."

He must have had too much fun with Rebecca to remember that I understood French.

The air around me seemed to freeze.

I pushed him away. "You two go on," I said, my voice unnaturally calm. "I'm thirsty. I'm going to get a drink."

Before Judson could say anything, I padded downstairs barefoot.

As I passed the living room, I overheard the maids whispering.

"The necklace Mr. Hawthorne bought from Sotheby's just arrived. I heard it's worth millions."

"The storage room is overflowing with gifts. Mrs. Hawthorne hasn't even finished unwrapping last year's Christmas presents. He's so good to her."

Before, these words would have made me feel like the luckiest woman in the world, convinced I had married the best man alive.

Now, the sight of these expensive gifts sickened me. No one knew the depravity hidden behind the perfect facade of the man they all praised.

Yesterday, I had clicked on Rebecca's private Instagram story and seen Judson's one-of-a-kind Patek Philippe watch on her wrist. The back of that watch was engraved with our wedding anniversary, and he had once sworn he would never take it off.

In that moment, I knew my marriage was a sham.

My phone vibrated in my robe pocket, interrupting my thoughts. It was my advisor, Professor Alistair Finch.

"Camila, I saw you signed the confidentiality agreement," he said. "After giving up that postdoctoral opportunity at MIT for Judson, even quitting academia entirely... I'm just so glad you're finally coming back. We'll have someone pick you up in three days. You should take that time to say goodbye to your family. This could be a long-term, isolated project."

My family?

My fingers tightened around the phone until my knuckles turned white.

Six years ago, my parents died in a sailing accident in Puget Sound. For six years, Judson and Rebecca were the only family I had left. Now, after their joint betrayal, I had no one.

I took a deep breath, my voice barely a whisper. "Professor Finch, that won't be necessary. I need you to apply for the highest-level security protocol and erase all records of my identity."

Alistair's voice sharpened with shock. "Why? Once the records are wiped, the person 'Camila Ross' will cease to exist. All your credit history, medical files, even your social security number will be frozen. If Judson can't find you, he'll turn Seattle upside down."

"He won't," I let out a bitter laugh. "He's too busy starting his 'new family'."

My eyes began to burn.

Since leaving the lab, I had done nothing but play the part of "Mrs. Hawthorne." I had erased myself for him, only to be rewarded with the ultimate betrayal.

There was a long silence on the other end of the line before Alistair finally sighed.

"I knew something was wrong when you suddenly accepted the invitation. But I respect your choice. I'll make sure your protocol application is approved. You only have three days to get your affairs in order."

I closed my eyes, a sense of relief washing over me for the first time in years. With that protocol, "Mrs. Hawthorne" would simply cease to exist.

"Thank you, Professor Finch."

Just as the words left my lips, a voice I knew all too well spoke from behind me, making me jump.

"Darling, who were you on the phone with? Who betrayed whom?"

I ended the call and turned to Judson, my expression carefully neutral. He was watching me from the staircase, a flicker of suspicion in his eyes.

I maintained my usual gentle smile. "Just an old college classmate. She was complaining to me about some office gossip. Apparently, some CEO cheated on his wife with his secretary, and now his wife is filing for divorce."

If he was determined to act, then I would play along until the final curtain fell.

Judson scrutinized my face, his eyes shifting as if searching for any cracks in my composure. When he found only serenity, his tense shoulders finally relaxed.

He descended the stairs, wrapping an arm around my waist and kissing my forehead. "The guy's a fool. He doesn't understand that a marriage is the most precious thing in the world."

"If it were me, I'd rather let my company go bankrupt than betray you."

I met his deep gaze and let out a soft laugh. "But what if it really happened, Judson?"

Judson cut me off immediately, his brow furrowing slightly. "Camila, let's not talk about 'what ifs.' I, Judson Hawthorne, swear on everything I've built that I will never betray you."

I shook my head, swallowing the hard lump that had formed in my throat. "Of course. I was just saying."

Judson fell silent, rubbing his rough stubble against my cheek. I could feel his unease.

It was so absurd. He had slept with Rebecca, yet he was still stubbornly trying to possess all of me.

"If I ever break my vow, then I deserve to lose everything—my wealth, my status, and you. You are my angel, my entire life. Camila, without you, I'll be living in hell."

I didn't speak, just gently pulled away from his embrace and turned toward the liquor cabinet.

I would be gone in three days. He swore he deserved to lose everything if he betrayed me. Fine. I would grant him his wish.

Just then, Judson's assistant, Owen Knight, called out from the doorway, "Sir, everything is ready."

Judson nodded, his previously solemn expression instantly replaced by excitement. "Come on. I have a surprise for you."

He took my hand, led me to the terrace, and then suddenly covered my eyes. He whispered in my ear, "Get ready for your sixth-anniversary gift. Five, four, three..."

The moment the countdown ended, he moved his hand away.

I froze, completely stunned by the sight before me.

A thousand drones ascended over Lake Washington, their lights blazing as they formed a glowing number "6" that morphed into a giant, beating heart.

Judson wrapped his arms around me from behind. "Darling," he murmured, his voice full of emotion. "Six years, and every day with you still feels as perfect as the first."

The lights in the sky were dazzling, illuminating half of Seattle, but something deep inside me quietly went out.

Six years. It was long enough to transform me from the spirited, brilliant heiress of the Ross family to the demure hostess of the Hawthorne estate, smiling on cue at social events. Six years. It was long enough for love to decay into betrayal and for vows to become lies.

Judson turned me to face him, looking at me as if I were his entire world. "We'll have countless anniversaries to come, and for every single one, I'll give you the best of everything."

He slowly leaned in to kiss me.

If I hadn't seen that Patek Philippe on Rebecca's private story, if I hadn't heard that phone call, I probably would have been lost in his gaze forever.

Just as his lips were about to touch mine, his phone rang. He frowned, clearly annoyed by the sudden interruption.

Perfect. Even God was helping me dodge this kiss.

"Damn it," he muttered. "I told them no interruptions tonight. Who the hell has the nerve?"

But when Judson saw the caller ID, his expression instantly changed. The name "My Starlet" flashed on the screen.

I didn't need to guess to know it was Rebecca.

Judson cleared his throat, angled the phone away, and quickly typed on the screen.

I could see the panic and irrepressible desire in his eyes. Sure enough, a second later, he turned back to me, wearing that familiar, apologetic expression.

"What's wrong?" I asked calmly, even though my nails were digging into my palms.

I already knew the truth. I just wanted to see who he would choose on our anniversary.

Judson shoved the phone into his pocket, his face a mask of apology. "Darling, an urgent M&A deal just came up. I have to go handle it."

"Now?"

"I'm sorry. I know tonight is important, but I can't delay this. Can you go rest in the bedroom for a bit? I promise I'll be back soon."

I nodded obediently. "I understand. Work comes first."

Judson was visibly relieved by my compliance. He gave me a quick hug and then hurried out the door.

A few minutes later, his car sped away from the estate, its taillights vanishing into the darkness.

I slipped out to the garage and got into my unassuming Audi. I was going to see for myself just how "urgent" this so-called deal really was.

I maintained a safe distance, tailing Judson's car until he pulled into a private yacht club. I followed, pulling in slowly.

Thankfully, the guard at the gate recognized my car, offering a respectful nod as he let me pass without a word.

I parked in the shadows, watching quietly through the windshield.

The moment Judson opened his car door, Rebecca rushed out of the clubhouse in a plunging red dress that left little to the imagination. She wrapped herself around him like a vine, holding him in a tight embrace.

"Darling, I saw the drone show on a livestream. I'm so jealous."

Judson patted her back affectionately. "Didn't I throw you an extravagant party on the new yacht for your birthday just last week? Half of Hollywood was there. Wasn't that enough, my little starlet?"

"Behave yourself, and don't let Camila find out," Judson murmured. "You can have everything she has. Everything but the title."

My chest tightened so much I could barely breathe. The "extravagant yacht party" flashed through my mind.

That night, Judson had told me he needed to "handle" a confidential company matter. He didn't come home.

Like a fool, I had waited up for him in our vast, empty house.

Now I finally understood. What he was "handling" was Rebecca.

"So, I'm not even allowed to be jealous now, Mr. CEO?" Rebecca pouted. "Honestly. What am I going to do with you?"

"Well, you'll have to make it up to me tonight," she purred. "I've prepared something special for you."

She leaned close and whispered something in his ear. His eyes darkened with desire.

He swept her into his arms, kissing her deeply as he strode toward the private dock and onto the massive yacht. Even from the car, I could see the triumphant smirk on her face as his lips captured hers.

They disappeared below deck.

I stayed in the car, staring at the yacht long after they were gone.

In that moment, our six-year marriage finally crumbled to dust. I thought I was numb, but tears still streamed uncontrollably down my face.

When we first got married, Judson promised we would spend every anniversary together. Now, a single phone call from Rebecca was enough to make him forget everything.

I was utterly defeated. I took a long, shuddering breath, forcing the pain down.

I just had to hold on for three more days. After that, I would shed the identity of "Mrs. Hawthorne" and become "Dr. Ross" once more.

...

It was two in the morning when I returned to the estate. I walked straight past the master bedroom and into the guest room, locking the door from the inside.

Around three-thirty, Judson burst into the house, reeking of sea breeze and another woman's perfume. When he found the master bedroom empty, he started shouting my name, his voice growing more frantic with each call.

"Camila? Camila! Damn it! Where did she go? You all get paid a fortune and can't even keep track of one person. What good are you?"

The estate manager, David Coleman, answered in a trembling voice, "Sir, Mrs. Hawthorne's car went out earlier, but it came back. She... she might be in the guest room."

His footsteps grew closer. I turned off the light, slipped under the covers, and feigned sleep, as if I'd just been woken by the noise.

The door flew open with a bang.

The moment Judson saw me, his anger instantly melted into relief. "Oh, God, Camila, you scared me to death. I thought something had happened to you!"

He rushed over and held me tightly. I could feel his heart hammering against my chest and smell the nauseating scent of Chanel No. 5.

I gently patted his back, stifling the urge to gag. "What's wrong?"

Judson kissed the top of my head, his voice tinged with fear. "Nothing. I just couldn't find you, and I panicked. Why weren't you in our bedroom?"

"I couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd try a different room."

Lying was becoming frighteningly easy.

A flicker of relief crossed Judson's face. "Don't do that again. I can't stand not knowing where you are. You know I'd do anything for you."

If he really believed that, he wouldn't have been with Rebecca in the first place.

I closed my eyes and let out a cold laugh to myself, my resolve hardening like steel.

...

The next morning, I re-wrapped the Tiffany gift box. Inside, I placed three things: the miscarriage report, my wedding ring, and the divorce papers I had signed in the dead of night.

I closed the lid, tied the ribbon, and handed it to Judson at breakfast. "Judson, this is the gift I didn't get to give you last night."

He took the box, a little surprised. "Can I open it now?"

"No. Open it in two days. I want you to see it when you get back from your business trip. It'll be more special that way."

He nodded, carefully placing the box in his safe. "Whatever it is, I'll love it."

Good. That was exactly what I wanted to hear.

In two days, when he saw the contents, I would already be crossing the border. The "gift" would tell him everything.

Just as he finished speaking, the doorbell rang.

He opened the door to find Rebecca standing there, makeup-free and tear-streaked, looking pitiful and helpless.