"Of course, it's real!" Casey jumped in. He rolled his eyes, his face, a mirror of Tommy's, showing irritation and impatience. "Dad went out of his way to buy this for you. Instead of thanking him, you're questioning him? What kind of woman does that? You should know better."

"How dare you speak to your mom like that?" Realizing Casey was getting carried away, Tommy quickly stopped him from further scolding Eugene.

He then gently asked her, "Why are you asking this all of a sudden? I bought this bracelet at the auction as your birthday gift. Of course it's real, sweetheart. How could I give you a fake?"

"Really?" Eugene's lips curled into a contemptuous smile. If it weren't for what just happened, she might have believed him.

But it didn't matter anymore. Soon, she would forget everything, forget this hypocritical and disgusting man.

Tommy grew uneasy at Eugene's expression and cautiously probed, "Honey, have I been too busy lately? Are you upset?"

"Tommy, do you remember the promise you made me?" she asked.

Eugene and Tommy had been college classmates. Back then, she was the campus beauty, admired by countless men, including Tommy.

But Eugene came from a single-parent family. After her father cheated and abandoned her mother, she grew up with deep insecurities and a lack of trust in others.

She resisted anyone who tried to get close to her. One by one, her admirers gave up, except for Tommy, who persevered.

Eventually, she was moved by his persistence and gave him a single condition, "Don't lie to me. Even if you stop loving me, don't lie."

The young Tommy had readily agreed and even swore an oath, "If I break this promise, may I never die a peaceful death."

Never die a peaceful death. Eugene smirked bitterly. She wondered if the God would ever punish a heartless man like him.

The seriousness in Eugene's demeanor caught Tommy off guard. She had stood by him for more than ten years, enduring countless hardships. During his toughest times, on a social event, she drank too much and got herself into the hospital to help him secure deals at business banquets.

At just 17 or 18 years old, Eugene had been in so much pain that she couldn't even straighten her back. Yet she still kept reassuring him that everything would be fine.

Tommy knew he owed Eugene too much. That was why he worked himself to the bone, building his business empire and achieving the success they now enjoyed, presenting it as proof of his love.

He gave her a satisfactory answer to this relationship. Tommy knew that Eugene had been drawn to him initially because of his sincerity and affection.

But now? He swallowed hard, his heart pounding with unease. Could it be that Eugene had found out?

No, impossible. He had hidden everything too well. And even if she had, so what?

Francine was his first love. Back then, she came from a wealthy family and looked down on him, leading to their breakup. She had always been the regret of his youth.

Now that the Dubois Family had fallen from grace and Francine had returned to the country, what was wrong with sending her a small gift as a friend? It didn't mean anything.

Of course, these were thoughts he kept to himself. If Eugene knew, she would no doubt curse him to his face.

For now, he forced a smile that mirrored his usual demeanor, "Of course, I remember. I've never lied to you, Eugene. This bracelet is real and so is my love for you."

Eugene stared at him quietly for a long moment and, strangely enough, she felt a slight pang in her heart.

Yes, if she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, the way he used his WhatsApp to shower Francine with daily attention over the past ten years, she might have believed him.

If it hadn't been for the intimate photos Francine sent her, Eugene might have been deceived by him yet again.

Her phone buzzed incessantly with messages from Francine, the sound uncomfortably sharp in the silent car. It was aggravating.

Tommy, noticing her agitation, asked with concern, "What's wrong?"

She asked, "Tommy, what would you do if someone tried to drive a wedge between us?"

Before Eugene even finished her sentence, Tommy frowned. "Who's bothering my wife? Tell me and I'll handle them right now!"

"What if it's Francine?" At the mention of that name, Eugene saw him stiffen for a moment, his entire demeanor faltering. "How do you know about her? Are you spying on me?"

"I'm not ..." Before Eugene could explain, Tommy suddenly erupted, "Eugene, what's happened to you? Francine is just a friend! So what if I care about her? Why are you blowing this out of proportion?"

"I thought you were different from those paranoid housewives who nag and fret over nothing. But now, it seems you've become just like them! With you acting like this, what personal space do I even have anymore?" His angry outburst made it seem like Eugene was unjustly accusing him.

But all she had done was ask a question. And yet he was already defensive.

Staring at the raging Tommy, Eugene was at a loss for words. How could she respond?

The man who once professed to love her deeply now stood before her, angrily dismissing her as if she meant nothing. The realization stung, leaving her feeling utterly pitiful.

In the heavy silence that followed, tears began streaming down her face. One by one, they fell onto the leather car seat.

Tommy, seeing her break down, fumbled awkwardly, "I …I'm sorry. I was too worked up just now. Eugene, please don't cry …" He spoke softly, coaxing her in the same soothing tone he'd used during past quarrels.

But this time, Eugene couldn't stop herself. Images of the photos and messages Francine had sent played over and over in her mind.

Why? Why couldn't over ten years of love outweigh someone who had only reappeared for a few days? She tried to understand, but she just couldn't.

She cried, "Tommy, you've changed. You don't love me anymore. I … I want to leave … sob …" Her tearful accusation softened Tommy's heart.

He pulled her into his arms and patted her shoulder, trying to console her, "How could I not love you, Eugene? Don't say such nonsense. I love you the most."

Just then, Tommy's phone buzzed. The name flashing on the screen froze him in mid-action.

Eugene didn't even need to look up to know who it was. Watching the hesitance flicker across his face, she wiped away her tears, "Answer it."

Inside, she made a quiet vow, this would be the last time she allowed herself to be hurt by him.

Tommy glanced at his phone and made a feeble excuse, "It's just a work call. Eugene, stay in the car and wait for me." With that, he opened the car door and stepped out.

Through the window, Eugene could see the faint smile tugging at his lips as he answered the call.

Five minutes later, he climbed back into the car, "Eugene, something came up at the office. I need to head back. I'll take Casey with me. We might be back late, so don't wait for us to have dinner."

Eugene found it somewhat amusing. In the past, whenever Tommy lied, his face would flush red. Now, he could do it without so much as blinking. Perhaps deceiving her had simply become second nature to him.

Casually, she asked, "Can't it wait? Isn't today a company holiday? Why would you ..."

"Eugene." Tommy's expression suddenly turned cold. "I don't like it when you act this way."

After speaking, he let out a heavy sigh and gently took Eugene's hand in his, "Be good. Go back home, okay?"

Eugene wanted to refuse. She desperately wanted to confront this woman named Francine, to see what spell she had cast over this man and his son.

But the thought of doing so suddenly felt pointless. It was already over. Dwelling on such meaningless matters would only add to her frustration.

Just as she began to withdraw her hand, Tommy grabbed her wrist tightly, "Eugene, where's our wedding ring?"

Eugene flinched slightly, suddenly remembering that she had already sold it. She responded flatly, "I left it at home."

Tommy frowned, as if he wanted to asked her further. But his phone rang again, the insistent vibration signaling Francine's urgency. This time, he let it slide, brushing off his curiosity.

Before leaving, he reminded her to wear her wedding ring and drove her home, only to rush off again in his car. Watching his taillights disappear, Eugene's gaze dimmed.

That night, Tommy and Casey didn't come home. Eugene didn't care where they went or what they did.

Instead, she spent the evening quietly sorting through the belongings in the house, separating out her own things.

She contacted a real estate agent she had previously reached out to and purchased an apartment in a small town far away from where they currently lived.

Slowly, she began moving her things out. Fearful that Tommy might notice, she deliberately left some items behind.

Despite everything, a decade of shared life had left a complicated tangle of emotions between them. She knew Tommy's possessiveness all too well. If he discovered her plan to leave, he might just have a change of heart and try to stop her.

The very thought sent shivers down her spine. But it wasn't Tommy's actions that broke her heart the most. What truly left her disillusioned was the behavior of her only child, her son.

The boy she had carried in her womb for ten months was the sole result of her and Tommy's union. Back when she was pregnant, Tommy was in the middle of building his career.

Accompanying him to endless business events, she unexpectedly began feeling sick and found out she was already two months along.

The doctor warned her that due to her weak constitution and frequent drinking during early pregnancy, there was a risk of preterm labor.

Tommy, concerned, had even suggested they terminate the pregnancy. But Eugene insisted on keeping the child.

The doctor's predictions were correct, Casey was born prematurely, frail and frequently ill. To take better care of him, Eugene gave up her career and became a full-time mother. She spent every day researching ways to strengthen his body, treating him as the center of her world and protecting him as he grew up.

But all it took was one meeting with Francine for Casey to change completely. The boy who had once clung to her began rejecting her entirely. He scorned her rules, spoke to her with contempt and insulted her at every turn.

Time and again, Eugene convinced herself to be patient. This was her child, after all and she believed a mother's love should be unconditional. But no matter how much tolerance and leniency she offered, the father and son duo only became more unkind, more unreasonable.

The more she thought about it, the more disappointed she became. Her life was an utter failure. A cheating husband and a son who no longer loved her, what reason was there to stay in such a household?

Finally, Eugene contacted her lawyer to draft a divorce agreement, granting custody of Casey to Tommy. She instructed the lawyer to deliver the documents as soon as she completed her hypnosis treatment.

With all these arrangements made, Eugene finally enjoyed her first peaceful sleep in a long time.

For the next few days, Tommy remained occupied, keeping Casey with him constantly.