My husband’s childhood friend has “autumn melancholy,” becoming depressed and suicidal every fall. He took three months off work to stay with her overseas.

He always said, “Sarah, she’s pitiful. Don’t worry, I’ll be back soon.”

I got used to him disappearing for three months every year until a business trip to Eldravia, where I saw a five-year-old girl with him.

“Daddy, why do you only stay with Mommy and me for three months each year? I want you with us longer.”

My husband hugged her and held his childhood sweetheart’s hand. “Daddy’s situation is special, Lindsay. Be good. When you turn 18, I’ll take you home to meet your grandparents.”

I quietly prepared to leave, pretending to know nothing. When autumn turned to winter, my husband called, saying, “Isabella’s doing better. I’ll be back tomorrow.”

I looked at the coffin and the prepared letter, smiling coldly. “Alright, I’ll be waiting for you.”

——

One early autumn afternoon in Varinthia, I froze in shock as I saw my husband, Matt, feeding pigeons with a little girl.

“Daddy, why do you only stay with Mommy and me for three months each year? I want more time with you.”

My mind went blank. Where did Matt get this child? Maybe I heard wrong, or perhaps he cared for Isabella’s daughter so much that he treated her like his own and the little girl simply called him Daddy.

Isabella leaned on Matt’s shoulder and said softly, “Matt, I’ve been with you for seven years without a title and Lindsay is already five. Do you really want us to wait another 13 years?”

Matt sighed. “I have no choice, Isabella. Our families have been tied by marriage for generations, so I had to marry Sarah. She’s only my wife in name. If she finds out about you, the Thornton Family might hurt you.”

He paused, his voice firm. “Don’t worry. When Lindsay turns 18, she’ll have the right to inherit the Garner Family estate. By then, everything will be settled and Sarah won’t be able to stop it.”

Isabella nodded and touched her belly. “Alright. But you can’t have children with her, or Lindsay and this baby will be treated badly.”

Matt gently touched Isabella’s still-flat belly. “Don’t worry. Lindsay and this son are all I need.”

He whispered, “I’ve been secretly giving Sarah medicine so she can’t get pregnant. Our family’s feud with the Thornton Family should end with me.”

Something in me snapped. So that’s why. I’d been married for six years and never conceived. The doctor said I was healthy, yet I still couldn’t get pregnant.

Sienna had comforted me kindly, saying, “Don’t worry. Having a child takes time and fate.”

So he was the reason. Anger replaced my shock and pain. My hands trembled as I grabbed my phone.

“Auntie, Matt cheated on me. I’m following the Thornton Family’s rules. Please make a coffin big enough for three.”

The next afternoon, I “accidentally” went to Solmere, their favorite spot. When Matt saw me, his smile vanished and panic filled his face.

“Sarah? What are you doing here?”

I smiled and took his arm. “I was in Varinthia for work and thought I’d surprise you since you’re here too.”

Matt forced a smile. “It really is a surprise…”

At that moment, a timid voice called out, “Hubby…”

Isabella walked over holding two ice creams. When she saw me, she stopped and went pale.

I looked at her with a teasing smile. “Who did you just call ‘Hubby’?”

Isabella trembled, quickly shook her head and avoided my eyes. “No, Mrs. Thornton, you misheard. I was calling Mr. Garner.” She was so nervous she almost gave herself away.

I smiled faintly at her flushed face. “Miss Manning, you seem well. Looks like your ‘autumn melancholy’ has improved.”

Isabella forced a smile. “The weather’s been good lately… I’m feeling a bit better.”

Just then, the little girl ran over, hugged Matt’s legs and called out brightly, “Daddy!”

The word “Daddy” froze the air. Matt’s face went pale as he quickly bent down to the girl. “Lindsay, that’s wrong. You should call me ‘godfather,’ not ‘Daddy.’”

The little girl pouted, ready to speak, but Isabella quickly shoved the ice cream into her mouth. “Go eat over there! Don’t interrupt while we’re talking to Auntie!”

The girl frowned and complained, “Mom, I don’t like vanilla. That’s Daddy’s favorite!”

Isabella’s face went pale and she quickly handed her a chocolate ice cream. “Here, go eat over there…”

“Stop,” I said calmly.

They froze, Isabella trembling slightly. I stepped forward, took off my necklace and handed it to the little girl.

“This is our first meeting, so I’ll give this to you as a gift.”

The girl stared at the necklace curiously and said, “This looks like a bullet.”

“You’ve got a good eye,” I said calmly. “It is a bullet. Someone once tried to rob your godfather and I took that bullet for him before removing it myself.”

The girl’s eyes widened in awe. “Wow, Auntie, you’re amazing! You even stopped a bullet!”

Matt frowned, his voice tense. “Sarah, that necklace is our keepsake. It means a lot. Isn’t it inappropriate to give it to a child?”

I smiled at him. “Why not? Since she calls you ‘godfather,’ I’m her ‘godmother.’ It’s only right to give my goddaughter a gift.”

I looked at Isabella, whose face had gone pale. “Isn’t that right, Miss Manning?”

Isabella’s lips trembled as she forced a shaky smile. Then the little girl dug through her small bag, pulled out a bracelet and handed it to me. “Auntie, this is for you!”

My eyes widened and my expression darkened. It was a jade bracelet with a gold plaque engraved with the Thornton Family’s secret emblem.

It was part of my mother’s dowry, passed down through generations of Thornton women. It went missing last year and even after searching and reporting it, I couldn’t find it. Turns out, he stole it and gave it to his illegitimate daughter.

When Matt saw the bracelet, his face changed. “Sarah, listen! It’s just a replica, not the one you lost! I only had it copied because I liked the design for the child to play with…”

He glared at Lindsay and said sharply, “Lindsay, take it back! It’s worthless. Auntie wouldn’t want it!”

He tried to grab the bracelet, but I was faster and took it first. “No, I like it very much,” I said.

Seeing their faces go pale, I added calmly, “My mom’s bracelet is gone, so this fine imitation will do as a reminder.”

I looked it over and laughed softly. “The jade color is close, but the carving and details are blurry. A good imitation is still just an imitation.”

Matt relaxed a little and sighed. “Yeah, it’s nothing compared to yours.”

Isabella winced, pressed a hand to her forehead and leaned toward Matt. “Matt, I feel dizzy… so uncomfortable…”

I coldly watched her poor act, my face expressionless, while Matt grew increasingly anxious. He pushed me aside and carried Isabella, glaring at me. “I’m taking her to rest! She’s unwell. You don’t need to come!”

I watched them disappear around the corner, frozen in place. Looking down at the bracelet in my hand, I wondered how much Matt had been hiding from me all these years.

I took out my phone and called the Ferguson Group in Eldravia. “Harry, it’s me. Get me the best private investigator…”

After finishing everything and signing the company order, I went home. That evening, Matt video-called, saw I was home and sighed in relief.

“Sarah, Isabella’s illness came back and I can’t leave... I’m sorry you have to spend your birthday alone again.”

I smiled gently. “It’s okay. I understand her condition is serious.”

He said quickly, as if offering a treasure, “I sent you a gift. It should arrive soon. You’ll like it.”

I glanced at the trash can filled with 999 roses and a black truffle cake, same as every year, nothing new.

I ended the call, saying I was tired. Then the private investigator texted me a photo of Matt and his family setting off fireworks for their “seventh anniversary.”

A wave of nausea hit me. Was I the other woman? They’d been together seven years and I’d been married to him for six; six birthdays spent alone.

“Sarah, Isabella’s autumn melancholy is serious. She’s an orphan. If I don’t help her, no one will.”

“Sarah, you’re so kind. Please forgive her. She’s a special case, okay?”

He lied to me for six years, living with Isabella all that time. I’d been such a fool.