When Eloise Garpin, my daughter, comes back from kindergarten, she tells me that her teacher, Karen Linsell, has given her class a weird assignment. Apparently, everyone is to record their mothers' menstrual week.

But what makes things weirder is that whenever I'm on my period, John Garpin, my husband who's often busy with work, keeps offering to pick Eloise up from kindergarten.

One day, I come across a post on a social media app.

"What should I do? I've fallen in love with my student's rich father! Oh dear, I really like him so much! You have no idea that his taut and slim waist looks so seductive! Every time I see him, I can't help but moan!"

Someone begins admonishing her out of fury the moment they see the post.

"What the hell? Are you itching to become a mistress? You really are shameless! Goodness, you're so disgusting! I can't believe you call yourself a teacher!"

Unexpectedly, the original poster doesn't care about the comment at all. She even posts a photo featuring the aftermath of her carnal fun with the man.

"So what if I am? Anyway, we regularly sleep together every month whenever he picks his daughter up during his wife's period. This is so thrilling!"

I'm stunned when I see the million-dollar custom watch strapped to the man's wrist in the photo.

And today… happens to be the first day of my period.

I woke up to find a new photo post. I was still lying in bed and rubbing my lower back to ease the ache from my period. At first, I thought I was just another spectator like everyone else who was scrolling through the comments. That was until I saw the photo.

The man's hand had distinct knuckles and long, clean fingers. The custom Rolex worth several hundred thousand dollars on his wrist only enhanced his refined air.

Once the photo dropped, the comment section exploded.

"That watch must cost several hundred thousand, right? If it were me, I'd be tempted too. I'd strip naked and stand right in front of him."

"Can't blame the OP for being into him. He's rich, handsome, and has such a great physique—you really hit the jackpot, girl."

The original poster replied to that comment with another photo.

"Hahahaha, you guys have no idea. We go three rounds minimum every time we meet. We even made his Rolls-Royce shake.

"We hook up at least three times every time we meet—doubt his Rolls-Royce can even handle the two of us."

The photo showed the Rolls-Royce's interior trash bin stuffed with used condoms, while several pink cartoon stickers decorated the roof. When I saw those stickers, one of my eyelids twitched. Those were my daughter's favorite stickers.

Every single one of our cars had them.

The realization hit me like ice water through my veins. I couldn't breathe. My phone slipped from my trembling hands and clattered to the floor.

My daughter, who was woken by the noise, sat up beside me. When she saw me rubbing my back, the drowsiness vanished from her face. She looked at me with something like distaste, as if she'd realized something.

"Mom, did you get your period?"

When I nodded, excitement spread across her face.

"Great! I can tell Ms. Linsell again. She'll definitely reward me and Dad really well."

Normally, I wouldn't have thought twice about that comment. But now, hearing the word "reward", the truth lurked just beneath the surface, threatening to break through.

I forced my tired, aching body down to the garage and opened the trash bin of the Rolls-Royce we used to pick up our daughter. Sure enough, countless used condoms and women's lace underwear lay inside, proving that everything in that post was real.

My entire body shook, and I could barely stand. I never imagined that John Garpin would cheat on me.

By the time I stumbled back to the bedroom in a daze, John was up, and our daughter, Eloise Garpin, was getting ready for school.

When John saw my pale face and the way I was clutching my lower back, his expression froze for a moment. Then, he looked at me.

"Honey, you probably aren't feeling well, since you're on your period. I'll pick Eloise up today."

He was the picture of a good man, a devoted husband. However, I caught the flash of desire in his eyes. Disappointment washed over me, and I closed my eyes briefly before forcing myself to answer him, fighting to control the tremor in my voice.

"Okay. You pick her up today."

After they left, my phone buzzed with a new message. It was from Eloise's kindergarten teacher, Karen Linsell.

"Hi, Mrs. Garpin, Ellie just told me you got your period. Make sure you get plenty of rest! Her dad is picking her up today, right?"

My hand clenched around the phone as I fought back my anger and typed a reply. "Yes, my husband is picking her up."

The woman I'd been following online posted again. This time it was a screenshot of our conversation, along with a mirror selfie. She wore black stockings and lingerie that left little to the imagination.

"That woman's on her period again today. I bought something special to surprise him. He won't be able to resist me, especially since he says his wife is boring and uptight. I'm the opposite."

So, the poster really was Karen. When I read that line about being boring and uptight, I froze. Had John said that about me?

When he'd been broke and desperate, and when he was begging me to invest in the failing Garpin Corporation, he certainly hadn't acted like I was boring. Everyone in our circle said I'd made the right investment. Within a few years, the Garpin family had become the wealthiest in Ashville.

I'd followed his advice and left the business world to become what he called the perfect wife and support system. How ironic. He'd been cheating on me this whole time, chasing thrills behind my back.

However, what shocked me more was her next post.

"And tonight I'm doing a home visit at their house. We'll be fooling around right under his wife's nose. Just thinking about it gets me excited!"

The comments flooded in.

"Holy shit, OP, that's disgusting. You're actually going to their house?"

She replied quickly, "What do you know? He told me he never had feelings for his wife anyway. He only married her so she'd invest in his company.

"And get this. His wife doesn't even know that the precious daughter she adores calls me Mom."

No wonder Eloise had stopped listening to me lately. I'd told her not to exercise too strenuously as she was born premature and had a congenital heart condition.

I worried about her constantly, but she'd started looking at me with disgust.

"Mom, you're so overdramatic. Don't do this, don't do that. No wonder Dad says you're boring. Ms. Linsell is way better. I wish she were my mom instead."

As I thought about all of this, tears streamed down my face. The irony was almost unbearable. The child I'd nearly died bringing into this world and the man I loved were both treating me like this.

The cramping in my lower abdomen intensified. The after-effects from the hemorrhaging during my premature delivery had been getting worse. The pain became so severe that everything went black and I collapsed.

When I woke up, scalding water splashed across my face. The burning pain crashed over me like a tidal wave and I screamed.

Karen, John, and Eloise stood in front of me. Karen held a steaming kettle with a satisfied smile on her face. Her eyes were gleaming with triumph.

"Mrs. Garpin, you're finally awake. I thought about using cold water, but since you're on your period and not feeling well, I figured hot water would be better. Glad it did the trick."

John stood beside her. His expression was cold and empty.

My face was already red and swollen from the scalding water. A small moan escaped my lips.

"It hurts. It hurts so much."

Karen laughed at the sight and handed the kettle to Eloise with a sweet smile.

"Ellie, your mom is still talking in her sleep. She hasn't fully woken up yet. Take this hot water and splash some more on her."

Eloise immediately grabbed the kettle and threw the water at me. My thin nightgown offered no protection against the boiling water. My skin got scalded again, and I screamed.

"Stop! Ellie, stop!"

Karen laughed at my miserable state. "Oh, you're awake now, Mrs. Garpin. I guess the hot water really does work."

I knew she was doing this on purpose. I struggled to get up, but every movement felt like walking on knives. The pain tore through me.

I looked at John desperately. "John, that was boiling water. I'm in so much pain. Please take me to the hospital."

Karen's expression instantly shifted to fake concern. "Mrs. Garpin, I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. I shouldn't have done that to wake you up. I was just so worried about you."

John frowned at me coldly the moment he heard Karen's pitiful tone. "Enough. You just got splashed with a little hot water. Karen was worried about you.

"Besides, it didn't kill you. How bad could it be?"

Eloise hugged Karen and looked at me with disgust. "Exactly. Dad's right. It was just a little hot water. Mom, stop getting in the way of Ms. Linsell's home visit."

Home visit? What a load of garbage. This was cheating, plain and simple.

How ridiculous. If I hadn't stumbled across that forum post and discovered everything, they probably would have fooled me for the rest of my life.

I couldn't hold it in anymore. I used every ounce of strength I had left to scream at John and Karen.

"Stop pretending! John, how dare you bring your mistress into my face? Do you have any shame? Any conscience at all?"

I lunged forward, wanting to slap Karen across the face. The next second, John kicked me to the ground. The crushing pain in my lower abdomen left me unable to even crawl.

John stood protectively in front of Karen and stared down at me coldly.

"Enough, Emma. You know the truth now, so just shut up about it. You can still be Mrs. Garpin. What's the point of making a scene?

"Listen. I've kept you as the only woman in my life for all these years. That should more than repay what you invested back then. Stop being ungrateful."

I froze where I lay, staring at him in disbelief. My whole body trembled.

I was the ungrateful one? My eyes turned red, and tears streamed down my face.

Karen acted like she'd been frightened. Her face was the picture of fragility as she looked at John. "John, this is my fault. I insisted on coming over and disturbing you all. I'm so sorry, Mrs. Garpin. I'm so sorry."

When Eloise saw Karen crying, she flew into a rage. She rushed over and shoved me to the ground.

"You're a terrible mother! All you do is bully Ms. Linsell! You're disgusting!"

I had no strength left. Eloise's push sent me stumbling, and my head slammed against the corner of the wall.

My heart had finally shattered completely. Clutching the wound on my forehead, I struggled to my feet and pulled out my phone to call for help so I could get out of here.