When I woke up, Jasper was pleading for my forgiveness, tears streaming down his face as he admitted he was wrong.

He trod carefully, terrified I might leave him.

I had always been uncompromising—once betrayed, I never looked back.

But with Jasper, I hesitated.

In my mind, two versions of him were battling it out: the Jasper from my childhood and the Jasper standing before me now. In the end, I relented.

“Cut ties with her completely, Jasper. You only get this one chance.”

Jasper nodded eagerly and deleted every trace of Molly’s contact information right in front of me.

But now, staring at this photo was like a slap to my face—a loud, humiliating one.

Jasper lied to me again.

Those hickeys on her neck painted a vivid picture of their passion from the night before.

I took a deep breath and dialed a number I hadn’t called in a long time.

“Professor Thomas, you mentioned six months ago that I could apply for an overseas exchange program. Is that opportunity still available?”

“The program from six months ago has already ended,” James Thomas replied. “But if you’re interested, there’s another option. You could go to Ashford for a three-year intensive program. But Selena, didn’t you say you were planning to start a family and wanted to put your design work on hold?”

In our second year of marriage, both families began pressuring us to have a child.

I didn’t want kids, and Jasper took on the burden of their expectations for years to protect me.

Six months ago, when James told me about an incredible opportunity to study under a top designer abroad, I couldn’t wait to share the news with Jasper.

However, when I saw the troubled look on his face as he dealt with our parents’ nagging about having a baby, I let the idea go, deciding to try for a child instead.

We spent six months preparing, only to be met with disappointment.

Jasper, trying to shield me from guilt, kept insisting it was his issue.

But now, Molly was pregnant.

I licked my dry lips and replied, "I’m not planning to have a child anymore. Let’s just leave it to fate."

Soon, James sent the application form to my email.

Just as I finished filling it out, Jasper came home.

He was carrying an enormous bouquet of roses and an expensive necklace. I recognized it as a new release from a luxury brand. But after a brief glance, I tossed it into the drawer without a word.

Jasper stood there, awkward and unsure of what to do.

“Selena, are you still angry? Tell me, what can I do to make it up to you? Whatever it is, I’ll do it.”

I turned away and scooped up Snowball, the silver-shaded cat stretched out on the sofa.

Jasper brought him home two months ago.

I had always loved cats, but Jasper didn’t, so we never had one.

The day he brought Snowball home, I’d been in a terrible mood from the stress of trying to conceive. The sight of the cat instantly lifted my spirits.

Jasper, seeing how much joy Snowball brought me, decided the cat was a blessing. He took over all the duties - from feeding time to litter box cleaning.

“Selena, how about we go out to sea? You’ve always wanted to see the ocean, right? We can take a cruise, and at night, we’ll watch the stars from the deck. I know it’s hard to forget what happened yesterday, but I’ll do my best to make it up to you. Selena, I swear, I’m still the Jasper you love, and that will never change.”

I looked at the man kneeling on the floor, swearing his devotion, and felt a hollow emptiness in my chest. Before I knew it, I found myself nodding.

Jasper lit up instantly, the gloom from before disappearing as he rushed off to book tickets and plan the trip.

Perhaps because I chose to stay quiet, Molly grew bolder.

She sent me a picture of a corgi.

“Dear Selena, this is a gift Mr. Brook bought to cheer me up. I adore dogs, so I won’t let you have this one. Oh, by the way, how’s that cat? I’m allergic to cat fur, so I couldn’t keep it even though it was a gift from Mr. Brook. He said you liked it, so he let you keep it instead.”

“Selena, what do you think? In a fight between a cat and a dog, who would win?”

My blood ran cold, and my mind went blank.

So, Snowball wasn’t something Jasper picked out just for me. He simply brought the cat home because Molly didn’t want it.

Snowball let out a wail and leaped to the floor. Looking down, I noticed a few strands of fur clinging to my hand.

Jasper had already booked the tickets, along with a luxurious suite with a king-size bed.

I glanced at the dates. It was set for the third of next month—seven days from now.

If my application went through, that would also be the day I left for Ashford.

That evening, Jasper thoughtfully brought me a glass of milk, as he often did.

His eyes glimmered with desire, but the sight made my stomach churn. I reached out, and my hand accidentally knocked the glass over.

The white liquid soaked the sheets, but Jasper was quick to check on me, his voice full of concern.

“Selena, are you okay? Did it burn you?”

My eyes reddened, and my throat felt dry.

“I’m fine.”

Jasper let out a relieved sigh and patiently cleaned up the mess.

Watching him move back and forth, his figure flickering in and out of the room, I felt a strange sense of disconnect.

“Jasper. Oh Jasper, which version is the real you?” I thought.

Once the sheets were replaced, he looked visibly tired.

Just then, his phone rang.

He glanced at the screen and, with a composed expression, said it was a work matter that needed his attention.

“Get some rest,” he added before heading to the study.

I nodded, feeling a wave of relief.

I couldn’t bear to be close to him anymore.

As Jasper disappeared into the study, I lay awake.

Unable to sleep, I decided to look for a book to read.

But as I opened the door to the study, I heard Jasper’s voice coming from inside.

"Don’t worry, I won’t let Selena get pregnant before your baby is born."

"Every night, she drinks the milk I’ve laced with powdered contraceptives. She doesn’t even notice."

"Are you still upset? How about I take you to the ocean? We can watch the stars on the deck later."

Contraceptive pills?

That nightly glass of milk was laced with contraceptives.

I stumbled back to the bedroom, trembling uncontrollably.

Desperate to calm myself, I busied my hands—organizing the vanity and rearranging the closet.

But when I saw the red lace lingerie hanging in the wardrobe, I broke down completely.

I never wear anything like that. If it wasn’t mine, then it had to be hers—Molly Fox.

Her name was like a thorn, lodged deep in my heart, impossible to remove.

Suddenly, my phone chimed.

My application got approved.

I was to report to Ashford on the third of next month.

I clenched my fists, shutting my eyes to regain my composure.

An hour later, the mattress dipped slightly as Jasper slid into bed. He wrapped his arms around me from behind, just like he always did.

My body stiffened, and in the darkness, I spoke.

“Jasper, have you cut ties with Molly Fox?”

The man behind me froze.

The next second, he said, “Of course I’ve cut ties. Selena, I would never lie to you.”

My heart sank deeper. At some point, Jasper had changed, becoming someone I could barely recognize.

I turned to face him in the dim light, staring straight into his eyes. With a resolute tone, I said, “Jasper, don’t lie to me. If I caught you lying, I’d never forgive you. I’ll leave you for good.”

Jasper froze, then looked at me with what seemed like genuine sincerity. “Selena, I swear, I would never lie to you. Losing you is a price I can’t afford to pay.”

We stared at each other for a long time. His eyes were clear, betraying no hint of guilt.

After a moment, I closed my eyes and suppressed the bitterness welling up inside me.

The third arrived quickly. Jasper took me up to the deck, where we stood in the breeze.

Someone approached him, trying to strike up a conversation, but he gently pulled me into his arms.

“Sorry, I’m married. I love my wife deeply, and she’s the only one I’ll ever be devoted to.”

The woman looked at me with admiration, gushing about how lucky I was to have such a handsome, wealthy, and loyal husband.

I forced a smile but caught sight of a familiar figure in white out of the corner of my eye.

That evening, Jasper and I sat on the deck, looking at the stars.

His phone kept buzzing. I watched the furrow in his brow deepen and asked softly, “Is it something urgent?”

Jasper turned off his phone and shook his head. “No, my time is all yours, Selena. I’ve changed. Really, you have to believe me.”

I smiled faintly and murmured an “okay,” but I didn’t say I believed him.

Jasper seemed agitated, his lips pressed tightly together, and his brows furrowed deeply.

I stayed silent.

Finally, he spoke.

“Selena, I have some work to handle. Would you mind staying here for a bit to watch the stars on your own?”

“Is it urgent?”

“Yes.”

Clearly, someone was waiting for him with urgency.

“Alright, go ahead.”

Jasper pressed a kiss to my forehead and gently ruffled my hair.

“My Selena is so wonderful—kind and understanding. Be good; I’ll be back soon. Stay wrapped in the blanket so you don’t catch a cold.”

As soon as Jasper left, my mood soured, and I quietly followed him.

He slipped into the room next to mine, hurriedly shutting the door behind him.

Before long, I heard muffled voices from inside.

“Honey, I’m so jealous. You spent the whole day with her. I don’t care. Tonight, you have to stay with me.”

“Not tonight. I promise I’ll take you out next time, just the two of us. For now, let me see our baby.”

Listening to the intimacy in their conversation, I turned away and called over a staff member.

“Is the small boat I requested ready?”

“It’s ready, ma’am. You can depart anytime.”

I stepped off the cruise ship and onto the waiting boat.

As we set off, my phone buzzed relentlessly.

“Dear Selena, you must have seen us by now. Do you finally believe that Jasper loves me?”

“To make me happy during my pregnancy, he’s been lacing your nightly milk with contraceptives. He promised me that once I’ve given birth, he’ll divorce you and marry me.”

“What’s so special about being childhood sweethearts? You still can’t compete with fate.”

The attached photo showed Jasper tenderly cradling Molly’s face, his lips pressed to hers in a gentle kiss.

I turned off the screen and handed my phone to the staff member.

“Please give this to the man I came with and tell him that Selena Long doesn’t want him anymore.”

As the staff member stared in stunned silence, my boat pulled away, leaving the cruise ship behind.