I could not tear my eyes away from Charles's grin, that grin I knew better than anyone. At this point, it seemed miles away, like it belonged to a stranger.

The dam burst, and the tears I had been holding back all night came flooding out.

The ping of a text message cut through my sobs, sounding more annoying than ever. I wiped my face in a mess and checked the screen.

It was from a number that seemed vaguely familiar, with a picture of Charles, bare-chested and asleep.

The caption twisted the knife. [He said I'll be the real Mrs. Lawrence soon.]

I did not need to guess; it was Fiona's doing.

There, on Charles's chest, was my name in initials, a tattoo he once said meant I was the only one in his heart. All that, yet he was sound asleep in another woman's bed, my name marked up with love bites. The irony was not lost on me.

I took shallow breaths, trying to steady myself with the thought that in just three days, I would be done with Charles for good. It was a small comfort against the sting in my heart.

I typed back with a shaky hand, [Congrats, your dream's about to come true.]

I tossed my phone aside and collapsed onto the bed, exhaustion washing over me. Sleep claimed me almost instantly.

My dreams were a jumbled mess: Charles on bended knee, proposing, and then, in stark contrast, him cozying up to Fiona.

In that hazy state between sleep and wakefulness, I felt a sticky suffocation. My eyes snapped open to Charles's gaze, dripping with feigned emotion.

I shoved him away, taking in deep breaths, unable to mask my revulsion.

Unprepared, Charles staggered back. His eyes, a blend of skepticism and concern, probed me. "I came back right after the party ended and found you trapped in a nightmare, looking furious. Who's gotten under your skin?"

I regained my composure, realizing dawn had broken. "I watched a movie last night," I murmured, "about a husband, a childhood friend, who betrays his wife. After more than twenty years together, he finally shows his true face. It was pretty awful."

If he was putting on an act, I would play my part.

I cocked my head. "And then, I actually dreamed you cheated on me..."

Charles quickly covered my mouth, his voice steady, "Even if the entire world turns against you, I won't. Sienna, did you forget? You're the only one for me."

He took my hand, like he always did when we were close, and placed it over his heart.

"If I ever betray you, may I lose you forever."

He pulled out a sheaf of papers. "This is the anniversary surprise I've been planning for you: ninety-nine asteroids named after you, orbiting in a heart shape. Here's the certificate.

"Sienna, I love you."

His eyes were brimming with sincerity, as if the previous night's events were just a figment of my imagination, and he was still the devoted lover I knew.

Tears welled up in my eyes, as if I was touched beyond words. Inside, I was a barren wasteland, a knot in my throat keeping me silent.

Charles studied my face with an intensity that made me feel like he was looking for something hidden. Once he seemed satisfied that I was just my usual self, he leaned in close. Fresh from a shower, he still carried a trace of perfume that definitely was not mine. I fought the urge to shove him away, holding it in until I thought I might actually get sick. That was when his phone rang.

He scowled at the disruption, muttering, "Seriously, who's ruining the moment now?"

However, his irritation melted away when he saw the name on the screen. "Got to handle something at work, babe. I'll be back," he said, slipping into his jacket and heading out the door.

I did not miss that the caller was 'Fiona.'

I quickly wiped the tears from my eyes and followed him, stone-faced, ready to uncover whatever secrets he was keeping.

I trailed behind Charles until he pulled up at a swanky, members-only club on the outskirts of town. Fiona was there, waiting. She practically leaped into his arms the moment he stepped out.

He caught her with ease, cooing, "What's wrong? Was last night not enough for you, my greedy little bunny?"

Fiona clung to him, all soft curves and longing. "I just missed you when I woke up, and I can't help but be jealous of those lucky enough to have stars named after them."

He laughed, a low, warm sound, and handed her a set of keys. "Wasn't the drone show I put on for you the other night spectacular? How about I sweeten the deal with this exclusive sports car?"

I remembered the drone show that had lit up the skies over Jubilee City, spelling out Fiona's initials for all to see. At the time, I had no idea the man behind the grand gesture was my own husband, cheating on me with the woman whose name danced among the stars.

Fiona's face lit up as she eagerly took the car keys from Charles, stood on her tiptoes, and planted a quick kiss on his cheek. Charles could not help but bask in the moment, then leaned in and whispered, "Just keep this between us, okay? I promise you, the power and riches you'll get will dwarf Sienna's."

Her smile grew wider, and with a playful twinkle in her eye, she teased open her coat a bit and said with a shy giggle, "Actually, I wanted you to come over to unwrap a special gift..."

Charles's gaze turned intense, his hands boldly claiming her with a firm squeeze before lifting her into his arms. "Well then, let's not wait any longer," he said with a grin.

I watched from the car, every detail etched into my memory, as they walked away, their closeness fading into the night. A wave of weariness washed over me, too deep for words.

Charles's words cut through me like a knife, leaving me torn and bleeding inside. I could not tell if it was pain or numbness anymore.

If I could have written off yesterday's drama as Charles just putting on a show, today's private words and actions showed his true colors, snuffing out the last flicker of hope I had.

I drove aimlessly around Jubilee City, letting the night air whip through the open window, drying my tears only for them to be replaced by fresh ones, over and over, until the night grew old.

When I finally got back to the villa and opened the door, a loud thud echoed through the hall.

Charles's voice thundered, "Where's Mrs. Lawrence? Where the heck is Mrs. Lawrence?!"

The living room was a disaster zone, with broken vases and sculptures scattered everywhere.

I tiptoed around the debris and stepped forward. "I'm right here."

Charles spun, his eyes locking onto mine. After a long, tense moment, he pulled me into a tight embrace.

"Where have you been, honey? I've been looking everywhere for you. I was so worried you might've left me. It scared the heck out of me."

After being chilled to the bone all day, the instant I sank into Charles's wide, toasty embrace, I almost did not want to let go.

However, I snapped out of it fast. This was just another one of his Oscar-worthy performances.

I gave Charles a light pat on the back. "I just went for a little walk. My phone died, so I missed your calls."

He let out a huge sigh of relief. "Sienna, you know I'd rather lose everything than lose you. Promise me you'll never leave, okay?"

Oh, the sweet talk.

It used to make my heart flutter.

Not anymore.

I managed a half-hearted smile. "Sure."

'As if I'd make it that easy for you to find me once I'm gone,' I mused.

Charles must have been really spooked about losing me, because he stuck to me like glue all night.

I handed him a box. "Surprise for our anniversary. Wait two days before you open it."

Inside was my getaway kit: divorce papers, a pregnancy test, and the pile of love letters from when he was still trying to win me over.

He promised a love letter every year. This year was overdue. Not that it mattered anymore.

Charles froze as he reached for the box, then nodded eagerly. "Do you like the stars I sent you, darling?"

I smiled, playing along. "Of course. You always said you knew me best. How could I not?"

Charles was clever, alright. He knew I loved the night sky, so he gave me stars. Fiona, with her love for all things flashy, got showered with cash.

He seemed pleased with my answer.

The next day, he was all about spoiling me, dragging me to every fancy store in town. "You didn't find anything you liked yesterday. Let me make it up to you today. We'll take home anything you want."

The employees and other shoppers could not help but stare at me with envy. As their eyes bore into me, I could not help but scoff to myself over and over.

However, it was fine. In just two days, I would be out of here, heading to a place where Charles did not exist.

Just two more days, I reminded myself.

I flashed a smile and said cheerfully, "Sure thing."

My bodyguard was quick to load up with bags. I signaled for him to head to the car with them. In that moment, Charles shot a look toward the stairwell, his face clouding over.

He turned back to me with a grin. "I'll just make a quick call and be right back. Stay right here for me, okay?"

Yeah, right. Like I was going to just stand there and wait. I tiptoed after him.

The mall's stairwell was empty and echoed with silence, except for Charles, who was gripping Fiona's arm in a corner.

Charles's voice was a harsh whisper, "What are you doing here? Didn't I tell you that Sienna can't find out about you?"

Fiona's shoulders were shaking, her face the picture of misery. "Charles, I... I just didn't know what else to do.

"I'm pregnant."

Her words hit me like a tidal wave, nearly knocking me off my feet.

She was pregnant, too!

As I touched my own stomach, feeling the life inside, guilt washed over me. I had not protected him, had not secured the happy, whole family life he deserved.

Charles's brow was furrowed as he flipped through Fiona's pregnancy report. His voice was grave. "Didn't we always use protection? How could you be pregnant?"

Fiona was trembling, tears in her voice. "I don't know what went wrong, but this is the Lawrence family's first child. I was so scared you wouldn't want him, Charles. I don't know what to do. It's all my fault..."

Charles was quiet for what felt like an eternity before he wrapped Fiona in a tight hug. "What are you saying? You're practically a hero to the Lawrence family."

"Nothing tops the Lawrence family's bloodline."

A smile spread across Charles's face. "Twelve weeks already, Fiona. This is my first kid, and I'm going to make sure he's the best successor there ever was."

Twelve weeks... I did the math. That was right when Charles said he was jetting off abroad to seal some company deal.

Charles took Fiona by the hand, and they walked away. I quickly ducked into a nearby store to stay out of sight.

Then, my phone buzzed with another anonymous text.

The picture showed Charles, beaming with the pregnancy report in hand, and the text taunted, [Sienna, how can you even compete with me?]

He had convinced me when we got married that we should just enjoy being together and hold off on kids.

How could he betray me like that, letting another woman carry his child so easily?

All those promises we made turned out to be nothing but empty words. I, like a fool, believed him for far too long.

I did not bother replying to Fiona's gloating message.

I was done. No more hoping for anything from Charles. I just wanted out, fast.

Soon after, Charles texted me. Some big emergency at work, he said, and told the bodyguard to take me home. I knew the truth: he could not wait to be with Fiona and their unborn child.

Fine by me. With Charles gone, I could make my exit even smoother.

I erased every trace of myself from the villa, donated anything of value to charity, and packed up the few things I wanted to keep.

As I finished, the first light of dawn was just breaking over the horizon.

The car arrived right on time, and I hopped in with my suitcase, not even bothering to take a last look at the villa that had been my home for the past five years.

There was this hollow feeling inside me, but it was mixed with a sense of relief that was hard to put into words.

As we drove past Jubilee City's biggest wetland park, I caught a glimpse of a wedding in the distance. There were not many guests, but the couple–him in a crisp white suit and her in a flowing white gown–looked like they were made for each other.

Out of nowhere, snowflakes began to dance down from the sky. The groom, standing tall, turned and locked eyes with me, his expression flickering with surprise.

That face, the one that had been sleeping next to mine for five years, belonged to Charles, my husband.

Just 10 minutes earlier, my phone had buzzed with a text from an unknown number. There was Fiona, all cozy against Charles's shoulder, looking like the picture of love. They were dressed just like the couple in the park. The message was like a slap.

[I'm pregnant with the Lawrence heir. Charles has booked the place where we first met for our one-of-a-kind wedding. You, who can't have kids–just disappear and die!]

[And if you don't, once I've completely replaced you, you won't get off easy!]

I could not help but let out a silent, bitter laugh. I knew I was not mistaken.

The ringtone jolted me as I was about to ditch my SIM card. Seeing Charles's name on the screen, I did not think twice. I chucked the card and the phone right out the window into the snowy abyss.

Soon enough, the snow would bury the phone and the years of emotion that went with it, hidden from the world forever.

…

(From a third-person perspective)

The car pulled away from the park. Charles, as if on instinct, took a few steps after it before stopping, lost and anxious. He fished out his phone and dialed Sienna.

The call went straight to voicemail, and with each ring, the knot of dread in his stomach grew tighter.

Had he been wrong? No, he could not be. Deep down, he wished he was.

Panic and shock were written all over his face as he tried to run after the car, but his legs were like lead, too heavy to lift. He managed only two steps before his strength gave out, and he crumpled to the ground in the direction the car had vanished.

"Sienna, please don't leave..."