“The car accident and the 'fake' death you requested are in progress. Everything will be ready in ten days.”

The message pinged on Evelyn's phone and as she glanced down to read it, a male voice interrupted her thoughts.

“Have you really thought this through? You’ll be up for partner by the beginning of next year. Sure you won’t stay?”

Evelyn sat across from a senior partner at the law firm, her gaze fixed on her phone as the conversation continued. She took a few seconds to compose herself before looking up and speaking firmly.

“Thank you for the offer but I’ve made up my mind. I want resign.”

The senior partner raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. “Do you have issues with the firm? You've worked here for so many years, Langhorne. If you have any concerns, you can bring them to HR. They'll find you a solution—you don't have to quit.”

Without hesitation, Evelyn met his gaze and smiled slightly. “Not at all. It’s been great working with the firm. It’s just I… I’m leaving for personal reasons.”

Seeing her unwavering resolve, he didn’t press further. “Well, since you've made up your mind, we'll start the process as soon as possible. In the meantime, you should wrap up your work and hand it over to me before your departure.”

After leaving the head’s office, Evelyn opened her phone and booked a flight out of Balmore in ten days.

A few colleagues walked up to her as she walked toward the exit.

“Leaving already?” asked Gina Barnes, her coworker, with a teasing grin.

“Yeah, I’m done for the day,” Evelyn replied, trying to sound casual.

“Must be nice going home early and back to a perfect family like yours,” Katherine Jansen added with a sigh. “I, on the other hand, have to go back to that mess of a house with my crazy, cramped family. Just thinking about it makes me stuffed.”

Delores, another coworker, jumped in. “Who wouldn’t want to rush home if your husband is Hunter Fairchild, the richest, most eligible bachelor in Balmore?" The jealousy was impossible to miss in her tone. “He proposed with twelve helicopters, made the whole city go crazy. It’s been the talk of the town for ages.”

“Exactly,” another colleague agreed. “Can you imagine? Not only marrying into a wealthy family but also getting the most loyal, loving husband in Balmore. No one can top our little Mrs. Fairchild right here.”

As Evelyn listened to her colleagues talk about her relationship with Hunter, she simply smiled, but the coldness in her eyes betrayed the false warmth of her expression.

Hunter Fairchild—CEO of Fairchild Horizon Ventures, a titan of the business world whose every decision could shake the very foundations of Balmore’s corporate landscape. He was her husband. Next month, they would celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary.

Before meeting Hunter, Evelyn had never imagined herself getting married. She was born into a wealthy family, but at the age of three, her father’s company went bankrupt and her mother abandoned her to live abroad. From then on, she had seen the true nature of love and marriage—a tragic cycle that could never truly escape heartache. So, she focused on her studies and went on to attend one of the top universities in the country.

She never expected the attention she’d receive from so many suitors during her time at university and Hunter was just one among them.

Evelyn was proud and aloof, indifferent to all the attention. Most of the men were fleeting, their interest quickly fading after she rejected them. But Hunter was different—he stayed despite everything.

He’d quietly accompany her to the library after she turned him down, bringing her coffee when she was buried in her books. He drove through a snowstorm to take her to the hospital when she got sick, nearly getting into an accident in the process.

When she was afraid of marriage and unwilling to settle down, he told her he was happy to stay by her side forever, just as long as she let him. He wasn’t asking for a lifetime of marriage—just a lifetime of love.

The year they graduated, Evelyn was sent with a senior lawyer to a remote village to handle a case. On the way there, a landslide blocked the road. Stranded and helpless, Hunter appeared out of nowhere, risking his life to find her among the wreckage. In that moment, Evelyn saw fear, panic and a whirlwind of emotions in his eyes—emotions she had never seen in him before.

Once her injury healed, Hunter orchestrated a proposal that shocked the entire city. That day, he didn’t just propose—he swept her off her feet in a grand gesture that made Evelyn finally drop her guard and agree to marry him.

Five years into their marriage, Hunter was just as devoted as he had promised in their vows. He spoiled her with love, whether it was in their personal life or at work. He made sure she never faced any hardships and to the outside world, they were the picture-perfect couple everyone envied.

But then, Hunter cheated.

It happened about two weeks ago, though the memory was still seared into Evelyn’s mind. She had walked past a streetlight and seen Hunter with Jennifer Clay, kissing her passionately in the middle of the street. It played over and over, like a scene from a nightmare she couldn’t wake up from. 

Before that day, she’d never imagined that Hunter could betray her. But once she uncovered the truth, she couldn’t deny it—the so-called “deep love” they had was nothing but a cruel joke. The man who once promised to love her forever, who adored her every moment, was no longer the man she married. He was dead to her.

They had signed a marital property agreement when they read their vows. If either of them cheated, the betrayed spouse would get half of everything. For the past two weeks, Evelyn had been gathering evidence of his affair and, with the help of her best friend, planning an “accident” that would allow her to fake her death and disappear forever. She couldn’t bear the thought of living with the man who had betrayed her and she was determined to make him pay.

As Evelyn walked out of the law office, she headed toward the parking lot to her car when a horn honked nearby. She turned and a familiar car stopped in front of her.

It was Hunter, his smile gentle and his voice as sweet as honey. “Evening, Mrs. Fairchild, may I have the honor of taking you out for dinner?”

Her colleagues, who were walking with her, laughed lightly. “Oh, look at that. The ruthless businessman everyone talks about—the one and only Mr. Fairchild—acting all sweet in front of us for his lovely soulmate.”

Hunter waved off their comments with a smile, nodding to them politely. “I’m flattered. Remind me to treat you meal another time.”

Evelyn didn’t respond. She opened the door and slid into the car.

“Let’s go,” she said flatly.

Hunter leaned over and gently buckled her seatbelt for her, “As you wish, my dear.”

The car pulled away, but the atmosphere inside was heavy with unspoken words and emotions that simmered beneath the surface. Evelyn’s gaze was fixed on the road ahead—cold and unyielding. The warmth her eyes once radiated was gone, replaced by the icy resolve of someone who had been deeply betrayed.

Even at the restaurant, she stayed quiet. Her head was bowed, her eyes fixed on the bowl in front of her, refusing to glance at Hunter or utter a single word. The tension in the air was palpable.

Suddenly, Hunter rose from his seat.

“Wait here. I’ll be right back,” he said before walking away.

A few minutes later, he returned, pushing a dessert cart with a cake adorned with lit candles. Soft music played in the background—the familiar tune of a birthday song filling the room.

“Happy birthday, Evelyn,” Hunter said, his face glowing with a broad smile.

He pulled out a stunning limited-edition necklace, one Evelyn had admired for months. His eyes sparkled with hope as he held it out to her. Evelyn had mentioned loving it the first time she saw it, but at the time, he hadn’t bought it for her, claiming it had sold out.  But the next day, Evelyn saw it wrapped around Jennifer’s neck in a selfie. She realized that wasn’t that he couldn't get it—it was that he care more for Jennifer.

Evelyn stared at him, her face devoid of excitement or joy, only filled with an overwhelming sense of disappointment. The gift, the cake, the words—nothing touched her. Her face remained unreadable. Inside, she was filled with nothing but bitterness.

Hunter noticed Evelyn's lack of enthusiasm and reached across the table, gently taking her hand in his. His grip was soft, almost apologetic, as his voice dropped into a tender tone. “I’m sorry, honey. I didn’t mean to miss your birthday. I’ve been busy with work, but I shouldn’t use it as an excuse. You must be upset and I understand. But please, don’t hate me. It breaks my heart to see you sad and it would shatter me a thousand times more if you hated me.”

Evelyn didn’t respond immediately, her face calm and unreadable. She had no intention of confronting him—not now. His words, dripping with contrition, didn’t sway her. She knew the truth and it stood like an unyielding wall between them.

The reason he had forgotten her birthday wasn’t because of work. It was because Jennifer had been sick that day and Hunter had spent the evening at the hospital with her. On her birthday, he had chosen Jennifer.

“I’m not upset,” Evelyn said at last, her tone even, betraying nothing of the storm beneath.

Hunter’s brow, creased with worry, softened at her response. Relief washed over his face and he smiled, leaning forward as if her words had lifted a great weight from him.

“You’re the best woman in the world, Evelyn,” he said, his sincerity almost convincing. His thumb lightly brushed the back of her hand. “I’m so lucky to have you as my wife.”

Evelyn’s face remained composed, her faint smile carefully measured. But inside, she felt a sharp, bitter twist of irony. If he truly believed that, how could he betray their marriage so easily?

“Evie, I promise, from now on, I’ll never forget your birthday again,” Hunter said softly, his tone filled with regret.

Evelyn looked at him, her lips pressed into a faint smile, but her thoughts betrayed her composure. Evelyn looked at him, her lips curving into a faint, almost imperceptible smile. On the surface, her expression appeared composed, serene even, but her thoughts simmered beneath the mask she wore.

“Hunter,” her mind whispered coldly, “there won’t be a next time for us. From the moment you betrayed me—betrayed our marriage—I decided I could never forgive you.”

When they arrived home, Margaux Fairchild, Hunter’s mother, was there to greet them at the door.

“Evie, Hunter, you're just getting home? Where have you been?”  greeted Margaux Fairchild, Hunter's mother, warmly as they arrived at the house.

“I took Evie out for dinner,” Hunter said smoothly, slipping right into his role as the loving husband.

Margaux’s eyes landed on the necklace around Evelyn’s neck and a pleased smile spread across her face. “That’s great, son. You two look so sweet together. It makes me so happy to see you getting along like this.”

“You must be worn out after such a long day. Go on upstairs and get some rest," she added with a gentle wave.

“Exactly. Evie’s probably wiped out after working all day. I’ll head up now, Mom.”

“Of course! I’ll have her bring it right to your room,” Margaux said with a nod, her voice filled with motherly concern.

Evelyn stayed quiet the whole time, letting the mother-son duo chat. Her face was calm, not showing even a hint of emotion. When they finally reached their bedroom, the moment Margaux’s approving gaze was no longer on her, a cold bitterness settled over her.

For years, Evelyn had believed in the bond she shared with Margaux. Even though Margaux was well aware that Evelyn came from a humble, almost struggling background, she had never looked down on her. Margaux had always treated her with kindness, never making her feel unworthy or out of place. Their relationship had seemed genuine—a connection built on mutual respect and care that Evelyn had treasured deeply.

But it turned out to be nothing like she had imagined. The feelings she thought were mutual were, in truth, entirely one-sided.

Last week, Evelyn had overheard a conversation between Hunter and Margaux outside the study door. It was the kind of revelation that shattered illusions.

“You get yourself a graceful, understanding wife at home and a sweet little gem outside. Good,” Margaux’s voice had been casual, as though she were discussing something as trivial as weekend plans.

“Just make sure to play it good. Don’t let Evie find out,” she added with a light laugh.

The memory cut through Evelyn like a knife, leaving her with nothing but the chilling realization that her bond with Margaux had never been mutual.

“What’s wrong, Evie? Is something bothering you?” Hunter’s voice pulled her back to the present.

“No,” she replied, her tone neutral and distant.

Hunter moved closer, wrapping his arms around her waist. His touch, once comforting, now made her skin crawl. “Evelyn,” he murmured, his voice dripping with an intimacy that sickened her.

Evelyn turned to face him, her expression composed, but the look in his eyes—familiar and filled with desire—made her stomach churn. “I’m tired,” she said curtly, cutting off whatever intention he had.

Hunter seemed to take the hint. He rested his head on her shoulder and sighed. “Alright, then, I won’t push. Let’s take a bath together instead.”

“You go ahead. I have some work to finish,” she replied evenly.

“Okay,” he relented, pressing a kiss to her forehead before heading into the bathroom.

Hunter spent an unusually long time in the bathroom and when he finally emerged, there was a hurried urgency in his demeanor.

“Something came up at the office. I need to head out for a bit. Don’t wait up for me—just get some rest.”

Without waiting for her response, Hunter grabbed his keys and left in a rush.

Evelyn watched from the window as his car disappeared from the driveway. Then, without hesitation, she grabbed her own keys and followed him.

Half an hour later, Evelyn arrived at a villa—one of Hunter’s properties. From the shadows, she watched as Hunter greeted Jennifer at the door. The two embraced, their lips meeting in a passionate kiss that made Evelyn’s stomach turn.

She pulled out her phone and recorded the scene, her face devoid of emotion as she documented the betrayal. The irony of it all was almost laughable.

Evelyn stayed parked outside the villa for two hours, but Hunter didn’t come out. Instead, her phone buzzed with a notification. It was a post from Jennifer’s social media account.

The caption read: [When you meet the right person, you’ll fall in love with them over and over again.]

Accompanying the post were three photos—a faceless couple sharing an intimate kiss in bed, a luxurious bubble bath for two and a limited-edition bracelet Evelyn recognized all too well.

Jennifer was a minor celebrity and the post quickly garnered attention. Comments flooded in, praising the supposed romance:

[Wow, so happy for you! Your boyfriend’s so sweet!]

[Can we get the details on what happened before and after the bubble bath?]

[You’re new here? We’ve seen her in bubble baths one so many time. It’s their favourite!]