Having been married for three years, I had never met my husband's family.

However, as I had a bad cold and bought 9.9-dollar cold medicine from a small clinic to save money, I accidentally saw my husband, Keith Laurent, at a luxury auction while watching a video.

He splurged on money with a beautiful woman in his arms.

The video blogger said, "If you don't have a net worth of hundreds of millions of dollars, you can't even attend this auction. This is the clear distinction between the poor and the rich."

The rich?

But I remembered that to save money, Keith was unwilling to buy even 29.9-dollar condoms and made me take 9.9-dollar birth control pills.

Keith and I had been together for six years.

Like most couples who had struggled in New York, we rented a house on the most run-down streets.

To be able to afford a house in New York and settle down, Keith and I worked hard to make money and lived frugally in our daily lives.

Therefore, seeing him in the video at a luxury auction, dressed in a suit and tie, I thought it was part of his job.

But then the video blogger said, "The people in the seats are all billionaires, and we ordinary people can hardly reach the heights in our lifetime.

"If you don't have a net worth of hundreds of millions of dollars, you can't even attend this auction. This is the clear distinction between the poor and the rich."

As I heard this, the first scene that flashed through my mind was the scene from a few days ago.

Keith and I had been married for three years. Due to financial pressure, we had agreed not to have children for the time being.

And to avoid any accidents, he and I went to the store and tried to buy some condoms worth 29.9 dollars.

This was already the cheapest.

But Keith put them back. "Too expensive. We need to be frugal with the money. After all, we have to save money for the down payment on a house.

"When I went to the pharmacy before, I saw a contraceptive pill for 9.9 dollars. Honey, how about you bear with it for a while? When I have money, I will definitely let you live a good life!"

I got a little angry when I heard this. "Don't you know how much damage the 9.9-dollar pills will cause to my body? What's wrong with you?"

But Keith complained, "Didn't I spend all my money on your mom's medical treatment three years ago? We should save as much as we can now. A house, remember?

"Besides, the medicine has national standard certification and is available in drugstores, so it must be safe to take. Honey, just bear with it for a while..."

I felt terrible, but I thought back to three years ago when my mother was seriously ill and needed 300 grand for surgery.

Not only did Keith not break up with me, but he also gave me all his savings without complaining, and only then did he save my mom from the brink of death.

Because of his kindness, I ended up marrying him.

But now, I watched Keith in the video over and over again.

He was in high spirits, smiling, chatting, laughing with the female companion next to him, and splurging on his money.

My eyes became confused, and doubts arose in my heart.

Even if it was work, would he have to do so?

Keith was a programmer who worked regularly, occasionally forced to work overtime by his boss. Could he handle such a vanity fair in his stride?

Actually, we had been together for six years.

But I'd never met his family...

Once the seed of doubt was planted, everything would be suspicious.

I went home without questioning and waited quietly for Keith to come back.

Keith worked overtime tonight and came back drunk at midnight.

"Are you okay? I made some lemonade for you. Drink it." I brought the lemonade over to him and cleaned him up.

Keith tugged at his shirt and said, "Vincent made me work overtime again. If the employment situation hadn't been so bad this year, I would have quit this job and looked for another one."

Keith had complained to me many times about his job, and I told him to quit and find another job if it really didn't work out.

However, he said that this company offered a high salary, and he was unwilling to quit because he was afraid that he would not find a better job.

"All this is worth it if we can buy a house and settle down in New York."

Hearing it, I felt even more sorry for him.

But this time, I pushed Keith and said, "I have prepared the bath water for you in the bathroom. Go and take a shower first."

Keith nodded and went to the bathroom to take a bath.

And I secretly checked his phone.

When we were dating, Keith and I would joke around and check each other's phones.

But these years, we had both been occupied with work, and I had never doubted Keith, believing in his character.

This was the first time I had looked at his phone since we got married.

I remembered the password, and after looking through it, I only found all the regular work group chats and chat records.

Apart from that, there was only a few ordinary leisure and entertainment software on the page.

I didn't notice anything wrong.

Was I really overthinking it?

"Honey, I'm done. We're out of shower gel at home. Remember to buy some."

Suddenly, Keith came out, wiping his hair.

I put his phone down immediately.

But he still saw it.

He smiled, "We are married for three years, and you still don't believe me? How about you check it again?"

Keith came over and sat on the sofa. "Why are you checking my phone suddenly?"

"Nothing. It's just that my mom is a little confused about something. I told her about it, but she still wants to ask for your opinion. I just want to see what she says to you."

I chose to stay put for now.

Keith raised his eyebrows when he heard this. "You have the final say about everything. You don't need to ask for my opinion. You know, I trust you the most.

"We have saved up 800 grand now. I believe we will be able to afford the down payment of a house in New York soon. Our lives will get better and better."

Hearing Keith say this, I felt a surge of guilt.

Could it be that I was being too suspicious?

"Well, honey, I just have something to ask you."

I was about to confess when I suddenly saw the emerald bracelet on Keith's wrist that he had not had time to take off.

Suddenly, my whole body went cold.

This was precisely the same as in the video.

The video blogger said that this emerald bracelet was worth millions of dollars.

If it was just a simple job, why didn't Keith return the bracelet after work?

"What's the matter? Is our mom sick again?" Seeing that I didn't say anything, Keith immediately asked nervously.

I calmed myself down and shook my head. "Nothing. There's a new property on the west side of the city. I heard that they can lower the down payment. Why don't we go take a look?"

But Keith said, "Don't worry, we can save more money and the loan interest rate will be lower by then."

It was late at night.

But this time, I didn't fall into a deep sleep like usual.

Keith thought I was asleep, so he picked up his phone and sat up.

Through the mirror, I saw Keith's grave face as he entered the password.

But it was not the password I knew before!

He walked to the balcony and made a phone call.

When I heard him get up, I slowly approached the balcony and eavesdropped on his phone call.

"Roy, help me put the things I bought at the auction today in the Stellar Villa. Keep an eye on the company for me these few days.

"The people below are not well behaved. Grandpa is having his 70th birthday. The day after tomorrow, help me prepare a gift and remember to find me a pretty female companion. I will bring her to the birthday party."

Keith gave a few instructions and then turned to talking about business matters.

Hundreds and tens of millions seemed like just a number in his mouth, and he didn't act like a miser at all like he did in front of me.

I felt desperately disappointed.

Suddenly, a cautious question came from the other end of the phone.

"Mr. Laurent, are you really not going to bring your wife back to meet your grandpa? You have been married for three years, and you haven't confessed it to your grandpa and parents. They are all worried about your marriage all day long...

"I heard that this birthday party, they have arranged a few ladies of equal status for you to go on blind dates with."

Hearing these words, Keith sneered, "I don't want to listen to them and go for a business marriage. Diana Rosenberg is unpresentable, and she comes from a small county town. How could my parents and grandfather like her?

"Taking her back would only embarrass me. Besides, her parents are mercenary and snobbish. They even wanted Diana and me to buy a house in their hometown to provide for their retirement.

"I'll have to test Diana. Even if I have billions of dollars, I won't marry a lazy, selfish, and wasteful woman. Women need to be trained. Only when she learns to endure hardships and lives a good life will she be grateful to me."

Hearing this, I clenched my fists.

We had been together for six years, and he never trusted me?!

Was I this kind of woman in his mind?

Roy, his secretary on the other end of the phone, heard this and said in a flattering tone, "Yes, yes, Mr. Laurent. But you and your wife have been married for so long. What if she fails the test in the end?"

Keith said casually, "Of course, we'll get divorced, but I've already notarized all my pre-marital assets, and even my salary was advanced for five years. Even if we get divorced, she won't get anything from me.

"But we'll part amicably. I'm still willing to give her a substantial divorce settlement."

Roy laughed awkwardly and spoke carefully, "I heard that Ms. Celeste will be back from abroad in a few days, and she specifically asked to see you, Mr. Laurent. Would you like to meet her?

"Mr. Laurent, you and Ms. Celeste had dated for so many years. Even your wife is somewhat similar to her. You haven't forgotten her for so long, have you?"

Keith remained silent for a while. "Diana is just a substitute. How can she be compared to her? If it weren't for what happened that year...

"Forget it. I won't meet her."

The two quickly hung up the phone.

I also went back to bed, tears streaming.

Just a moment before, I was full of joy and thought that Keith and I were working towards a bright future together.

I believed we trusted each other and had been in love for many years. We were a loving couple.

But his phone call shattered all my good hopes.

The lie, the deception, the test, and the substitute...

Combined, it was so absurd!

I deemed he was in love with me, but in fact, he already had someone else in his heart.

I was just a ridiculous substitute!

Who was Ms. Celeste?

Keith actually treated me as her substitute!

The night was dark and quiet.

I felt so heartbroken that I didn't even have the energy to question Keith on the spot.

Keith didn't notice anything was wrong with me and fell asleep as soon as he came back.

I secretly took his phone and hid in the bathroom.

I had to figure out everything!

Recalling the other password just now, I unlocked the phone.

But I saw a different scene.

In Keith's other phone account, there were countless small group chats of rich people, and in the large group chat of the company, Keith had become a boss.

Suddenly, a girl named Lilith Celeste sent Keith a message. [I'm going back the day after tomorrow. Are you really not willing to pick me up?]

[We had been together for so many years, but because of that accident, we didn't get married. Do you hate me so much?]

Was she Keith's first love?

I looked through their chat history.

And I witnessed the gifts worth hundreds of millions Keith had given her without hesitation. The transfer records of countless meaningful numbers were even more irritating.

The most recent transfer record was five days ago when Keith and I were shopping.

He complained that the 29.9-dollar condoms I bought were too expensive, so he asked me to buy the 9.9-dollar birth control pills. But then he transferred 20 grand to his ex-girlfriend just because she suddenly wanted to eat in a luxury restaurant.

My tears dripped onto the phone page.

My life was such a joke!

I saw photos of Lilith traveling around Europe, and the woman in the pictures was 50% similar to me.

But she was more exquisite, decorated with luxury goods.

And now, I was curled up in the bathroom, still wearing the cheap pajamas.

In the pinned group chat of the young rich people, Keith was suddenly tagged.

[Let's go to the bar in a few days. I called a few girls. Keith is 28 years old now, but he is not married or in a relationship. Why is he so abstinent?]

I couldn't help but send a reply.

[No one knows that I'm married?]

As soon as I sent it, the group chat exploded in discussion.

[Married? What? Today is not April Fools' Day! Keith, are you kidding me?!]

[Come on. Ever since you broke up with Lilith, we haven't seen you have a girlfriend. You get married?]

[Keith, are you going crazy because of your family's pressure to get married? You've even started talking nonsense!]

Watching the group of people teasing Keith in the group, I tried to type, but my hands were shaking.

It indicated that Keith didn't even give me the identity of his girlfriend in front of outsiders.

Not only his parents but even so many of his friends didn't know my existence.

How ridiculous!

My six years of love had become a complete joke!

I burst into tears and felt highly heartbroken.

I deleted the chat history in the group chat and turned off his phone.

Looking at Keith sleeping soundly in bed, I found him so strange for the first time.

I couldn't bear it any longer, so I put on my coat and left the house.

Looking at the endless darkness in the sky, I blocked Keith's number.

For the first time, I began to doubt my life.

All the love and affection of the past turned into concrete pain and hatred, and I hurriedly found a hotel to stay in.

In the past, I would save as much as possible, but today, I spent one grand to stay in a three-star hotel.

Lying on the soft, big bed, I couldn't fall asleep.

How dare Keith play with my feelings like that!

Then I should give him a "surprise".