As luck would have it, I ran into Chase at the hospital entrance.

His car had broken down, and his tie had gotten oil on it. I gave him one of my own designs. It was originally meant for Ethan, but I didn't need it anymore.

Chase offered to drive me home, but that was when Ethan showed up. His face darkened as he pulled me behind him and glared at Chase.

"I can take care of my own wife without help from outsiders. Mind your own business."

Chase's tone turned cold. "She was in the hospital for three days before you showed up. Don't you think you sound ridiculous saying that?"

Chase turned to look at me, his expression softening. He thanked Chase and left.

"Were you with him this whole time? Cindy, instead of coming home, you're out here meeting other men? Do you even remember what day it is?"

Ethan's accusation made him sound like the victim. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "What are you talking about? You didn't even ask why I was in the hospital and just assumed the worst about me?

"Today's only the second time I've met Chase, and I have to listen to you insult me like this. Ethan, do you think you've been fair to me after all these years together? After everything we've been through, don't you trust me at all?"

My heart, which had finally settled, erupted again.

My tearful accusations left Ethan momentarily at a loss. He put his arm around my waist. "As soon as I got back from my business trip and found you weren't home, I asked the driver and came straight to the hospital.

"How are you feeling? Any better?

"Don't be upset. I was just worried, that's all. I got jealous. Today's the company anniversary. How can we celebrate without you?"

The business trip excuse again. I was sick of hearing that exact excuse. Kimberly's social media had been active these past few days. They'd clearly gone to a mountain resort together.

I pushed his hand away. "I'm fine. Just tired. I'll be okay after some rest. And I remember the company celebration, so let's head over now."

Every word I exchanged with Ethan drained me. Even my insides ached. I simply stopped looking at him.

When we arrived at the Shaw Group anniversary celebration, Ethan told me where to find my gown and left. I changed and came back downstairs, only to run into Kimberly at the staircase.

She wore a red velvet gown. With her beautiful face and stunning figure, she turned heads everywhere she went.

I had no intention of interacting with her, so I stepped aside to let her pass first. But she walked straight toward me. When she got close, an odd smile crossed her face.

Before I could react, she suddenly grabbed my hand and cried out as she fell backward. Fortunately, Ethan appeared just in time and steadied her.

"Cindy! Have you lost your mind? Why did you push Ms. Jones? Do you realize you almost killed two people?"

Ethan's furious voice startled me again. Kimberly clutched his arm with an innocent expression. "I'm fine, Ethan. I lost my balance on my own. It's not Ms. Sutton's fault."

"Kimmy, you're too kind. I saw everything!"

Ethan sighed. He walked over and lowered his voice. "Go apologize to Ms. Jones. Her father owns a famous vineyard in Valeria. Ms. Jones is our honored guest."

Looking at his domineering expression, I swallowed every explanation, every protest. Only hurt remained.

I walked over slowly and said each word carefully. "I'm sorry, Ms. Jones."

Kimberly placed a protective hand over her stomach. "Thank goodness Ethan was here this time. Next time, Ms. Sutton, you should be more careful."

That smile crossed her face again. My instincts told me that tonight's celebration was going to be trouble.

Ethan and Kimberly stood together on stage, giving their speech. They looked perfect together.

Every year before this, I'd stood beside Ethan. He used to say he'd get nervous without me by his side.

This year, he used my hospital discharge and poor health as an excuse to let Kimberly replace me. It all seemed so natural.

I sat in a corner of the banquet hall, watching a crowd gather around them with compliments. I didn't understand why Ethan had even bothered bringing me here.

Suddenly, the group fawning over Kimberly turned to look at me, then turned back to whisper among themselves.

"That's Mr. Shaw's wife? Shaw Group is such a massive enterprise. How did he end up marrying some country bumpkin?"

"That dress she's wearing is from last year's collection, isn't it? Don't you have the same one? Is she wearing secondhand?"

"Kimmy and Mr. Shaw are so much better matched. Even his tie matches the color of Kimmy's gown!"

…

Listening to them made me feel sick, so I fled into the bathroom. I'd just washed my hands and started to calm down when Kimberly walked in with her entourage.

She washed her hands leisurely, applied hand cream, then lifted her eyes to look at me. "Cindy, you've held Ethan back for ten years. You can't give him anything. I'm going to make you pay for that.

"I'm going to be Mrs. Shaw. The legitimate one."

Then suddenly, as if she couldn't breathe, she ran outside screaming for help. I stood there stunned, unable to move.

Soon, people rushed in and shoved me outside. I saw Kimberly half-collapsed in Ethan's arms, gasping for air like she'd nearly died.

Ethan's eyes were red, like a rabid animal. "Cindy, have you lost your mind? Kimmy told you she's allergic to figs, and you still forced her to use your hand cream!

"If she hadn't been carrying allergy medication, you would have killed her!"

My head exploded. I could barely force words from my throat. "I... I didn't..."

Someone snatched my purse and dumped everything onto the floor. To my horror, there really was a fig-scented hand cream among my things.

"Still denying it? You actually hurt Kimmy. You're just jealous she's better than you at everything!"

The woman speaking was the same one who'd pushed me out. She must have planted the hand cream in my bag.

I had no way to defend myself. I looked at Ethan desperately. "Don't you believe me either? Based on everything you know about me, do you really think I'd do something like this?"

Ethan's expression finally softened slightly. Then Kimberly coughed and stood up, walking toward me. "Ms. Sutton, I already forgave you for pushing me on the stairs. I even told Ethan it was my fault, not yours. Why do you still have it out for me?

"Just now, I explained over and over that I'm allergic to your hand cream, but you insisted on rubbing it on my hands. Do you really hate me that much..."

She sounded so wronged. The veins in Ethan's forehead bulged, and his fury had reached its peak.

"Cindy! You've humiliated the entire Shaw family! You owe Ms. Jones an explanation right now!"

My own anger flared up. Just as I was about to rush forward and explain, someone stuck out their foot and tripped me. I lost my balance and fell toward Kimberly.

Ethan caught Kimberly quickly, but shoved me away hard.

I'd never felt violent cramping like this before. Pain ripped through my lower abdomen before something warm gushed from between my legs.

Someone cried out, "She's bleeding!"

Ethan looked like he'd been struck by lightning. He dropped to his knees and asked frantically, "You... You're pregnant?"