At the party the night before our anniversary, my best friend Regina Larson teased Oliver Gilbert in French, right there in front of everyone.

"What man doesn't stray? Mr. Gilbert's kept himself to Melanie Henson alone all these years. Don't tell me it's because he can't perform?"

Oliver, tenderly holding a bite of cake to my lips, raised an eyebrow and answered in a careless drawl.

"Whether I can perform or not, haven't you already found out for yourself? Do you really need to ask me?"

The room went hot. The friends who understood French went wide-eyed and couldn't hold back their gasps.

Oliver frowned slightly and cut it all off at once.

"None of this reaches Melanie. She's a bit of a purist about these things. If she found out, she'd divorce me for sure."

Everyone laughed and agreed, pushing their glasses toward him, making him drink a few extra as punishment.

Oliver had gastritis. His doctor had told him not to drink too much.

I reflexively pushed all the glasses away from him, but he caught my hand.

"Today's a good day. A little drinking gets the mood going. Tonight, once Melanie's asleep, we can try a few other positions."

"Melanie would never wait on me like that. She's stiff as a board in bed."

Listening to Oliver flirt with Regina without a shred of shame, the filth coming out of his mouth turned my stomach so fast I nearly threw up.

What Oliver didn't know was that I'd grown up in France. My adoptive parents raised me to adulthood, and only then did I come back to live here.

Without thinking, I took the bottle away and slammed the cake in his hand to the floor. I tilted my head to catch his reaction, but by then his eyes held nothing but Regina's smooth, full thigh.

A few days ago I'd found proof of their affair. Oliver had hidden it for ten years, and it was a key card he'd carelessly dropped that finally gave him away.

After I fell apart, I chose to hold it in and say nothing, quietly reaching out to the adoptive parents I hadn't seen in ten years, asking them to forge me a new identity.

The whole city was looking forward to our tenth wedding anniversary three days from now. But no one knew I'd signed with the French division of the classified national institute, leaving in three days.

1

"Everyone, come look at the diamond ring on my hand."

"Pity it's so small. Hardly worth wearing."

Regina suddenly rose to show off the ten-carat diamond on her finger, her eyes brimming with triumph.

The ring caught the light and dazzled everyone in the room, and they all crowded forward to admire it.

I looked down at the one-carat ring on my own finger. Similar style, but the stones were worlds apart in size.

There was already a clear groove where the band sat, the ring worn so small I couldn't even get it off anymore.

I remembered three months ago, when Oliver and I attended the global jewelry auction. He'd promised he would buy that ten-carat piece for me, but just before the bidding, something came up and he left ahead of me.

Now that prized piece had somehow ended up on Regina's finger, and the envious voices around me pulled me back to reality.

"No way, ten carats and she still calls it small! Not like my husband, who thinks even one carat's too pricey."

"Such a gorgeous ring, who gave it to you? Regina, you're so lucky!"

Regina pressed her hand to her cheek, tilting her head, and said lightly, "From the person who loves me most, of course."

She noticed the complicated look on my face and my silence. She walked briskly over and took my hand.

"Melanie, your ring's so much like mine, but how is the diamond so tiny you can barely see it? Isn't Oliver supposed to spoil you more than anyone?"

I stayed silent and quietly yanked the ring off, not noticing that my hand had already started to bleed.

Once it was off I dropped it into the trash and looked for Oliver's reaction, but he was busy confirming the details of Regina's new jewelry with his assistant.

She looked me up and down with disdain, then threw back her head and laughed.

The moment she noticed the necklace at my throat, she said nothing and yanked hard on the chain, reaching to snatch it away.

I wouldn't let go, and we pulled against each other until the chain had scored bloody welts into my neck.

"Regina, careful!" Afraid she might fall, Oliver steadied her by the small of her back, his face full of worry for her.

In the end my necklace snapped, and blood began to seep from my neck.

In the chaos I was shoved to the ground, and Regina took the chance to pour a nearby glass of liquor onto my gown, all while acting like it was an accident.

I was a wreck. Burning with anger, I got up meaning to teach Regina a lesson, but the people around me thought I was making a scene.

"It's not a big deal, is it? Do you really need to blow up like this?"

"Regina's your best friend, isn't she? Is that any way to treat a best friend? Regina, I genuinely feel sorry for you, having to deal with someone this hot-tempered."

The jeering around me set my nerves on edge. I decided to go out alone and sort myself out.

The moment I stepped out the door I heard Oliver's voice.

"Regina, don't fight over cheap junk like that anymore. Look, your hand's rubbed red. I just ordered you a whole new set of jewelry."

"If you're upset, I'll make Melanie apologize to you…"

That necklace was the one he'd made for me by hand on our fifth anniversary. I wanted it back, but the door was locked, and my bag had been thrown out after me.

I stood at the door wiping the liquor off myself, an endless ache inside me. Outside the party hall, passersby were talking about Oliver's and my perfect marriage, sighing over how much they envied us.

I gave a bitter little laugh. The truth was, I'd found out about Oliver's betrayal just yesterday.

I'd wanted to surprise him at the end of his workday, and I'd hidden behind the curtains in his company office.

What I hadn't expected was the sound of heavy breathing. Through the curtain, I saw Oliver and Regina.

Two naked bodies pressed tight together, Regina's rose-red lingerie beaded with sweat.

They left streak after streak on the curtain, and by then Oliver was only five centimeters from me.

The setting sun traced their outlines. They stayed tangled together for six hours, until midnight.

No one knows how I got through those six hours. I only remember that after the despair broke me, there was nothing but endless numbness.

The moment I left that building, I declared in my heart that Oliver and I were completely finished.

My tears fell without my meaning them to, and the ring of my phone suddenly broke through my thoughts.

"Ms. Henson, the documents you submitted to the classified institute have been approved. In three days, someone will come to escort you."

"Your superiors have already notified your family. You may take your time to say your goodbyes."

At the mention of family, the hand holding the phone began to tremble.

My family. Once, Oliver and Regina counted as my family too.

But they had cheated, become the people who wounded me most deeply, and so they no longer counted as my family either.

“Mel, are you sure you want to do this? Your father and I are worried about you...”

My adoptive parents spoke at the same time, and I could hear the worry in their voices.

“Yes. This time I'll be taking a new identity.” My tone was flat. “From now on, there is no more Melanie Henson.”

“What!”

“Can you really let go of Oliver Gilbert? And Regina, she's your best friend.”

I paused, then let out a bitter little laugh.

“They're together. I walked in on them in the middle of it.”

The line went dead silent. After a string of sighs, they told me to keep my chin up.

“We'll handle everything on this end for you. In three days, we'll come get you.”

After I hung up, I let out a long breath. Every trace of information was erased, my marriage to Oliver Gilbert dissolved, and I felt lighter than I ever had.

The wind bit through me. I got up to leave, but my heel turned under me and I went down, unable to stand.

The compact mirror shattered across the ground, and in the scattered glass I saw the reflection of Oliver Gilbert and Regina Larson.

I turned and realized the door of the private room had been left open a crack on purpose, wide enough to see the two of them pressed together.

Regina glanced over and noticed me, and the necklace slid down to her feet, where she crushed it under her heel, dead center.

Oliver was like a man entranced, thinking of nothing but pulling her in for a kiss.

“Mr. Gilbert, Miss Henson is gone. She's not at the entrance either.”

The assistant reported it quietly at his side. Oliver waved a hand, unbothered. “It's fine. She won't actually leave me.”

I left my bag and shoes right there and walked home barefoot, limping, wind and rain lashing me the whole way until I was soaked through.

At least it was dark by the time I finally made it. The moment I pushed the door open, party poppers and fireworks went off together. The room was decked out in lavish decoration, and at the center of the round table sat a ten-tier fondant cake.

“Welcome home, Regina! Happy tenth anniversary! Wishing Regina and Oliver a sweet and happy life together!” The staff had gathered as one, their faces full of joy.

The lights came on, and the festive mood dropped into dead silence. Soaked to the skin, I stood barefoot in the doorway, greeted by a celebration that was not for me.

Every one of the staff went wide-eyed. The housekeeper stammered, “Miss Henson, you're finally home. We were rehearsing this year's April Fools' skit. Sorry to bother you, we'll clear everything away right now.”

The celebration was whisked away in no time. I stood in the doorway, teeth clenched, watching it all. So everyone in this house had been lying to me.

Looking at the huge wedding photo in the hall, all I felt was the mockery of it. In a fit of fury I picked up the antique vase beside me and hurled it at the wall.

The glass burst apart in an instant. I walked across the glass-strewn floor, took down the photo, and carefully tore out my half. From now on I would never appear in the same frame as Oliver Gilbert again.

I picked up a lighter, ready to burn the photo to nothing.

“A heartless traitor. I never want to see him again.”

“Never see who again? Where are you going?”

Oliver's breathing was slightly ragged as he watched my expression with care.

“I was tied up talking business the whole time. Why did you come home ahead of me?”

He pulled me into his arms, his hands settling at my waist.

“Don't worry, Mel. From now on, wherever you are, that's where I'll be. I want to be with you forever.”

I pushed his hands away, the corners of my mouth curving up, and asked lightly,:

“And if I disappeared?”

Oliver gripped my hand, his face set.

“Then I'd disappear with you. Mel, you're the only reason I have to keep living.”

I didn't answer. I just stared at the kiss mark on his neck.

Oliver, your words will come true in three days.

He looked at the wreckage of the house, knowing he hadn't taken good care of me.“Mel, I'm sorry I let you come home alone today. I'll never let you leave me again.”

After fussing over me and getting me dressed up, he took me to the most famous upscale restaurant in the city.

The moment we walked in, the servers came forward eagerly to greet us.“Will it be the usual today, starting with Ms. Larson's favorite dishes?”

Oliver cleared his throat and waved it off.“Bring out one of everything on the menu. And change the music to Mel's favorite, something soft.”

Watching Oliver put on his composed act, I only found it funny.

“Guess what surprise I've got for you, Mel.”

Lights suddenly flickered across the pitch-black sky, and countless drones spelled out my name.

“Ten years went by so fast. We'll definitely have another ten!”

Oliver held my hand and said it tenderly.

I didn't respond. Just as I was settling in to eat in peace, a flung glass came out of nowhere and splashed across the hem of my dress.

“I'm sorry, Mel, are you all right!”

Regina swept in wearing a lavish vintage gown, spilling out apologies that couldn't hide the smirk tugging at her lips.

"Melanie, I'm so sorry, it just slipped."

As if that wasn't enough, she tipped the last of the red wine "by accident" right over my head.

The alcohol ran into my eyes, and I doubled over on the floor, crying out from the sting. Oliver didn't react at all. His eyes held nothing but delight at Regina's sudden appearance.

"Regina, what are you doing here? You've got wine all over your hands, quick, wipe it off."

Watching her look grow smugger by the second, fury flared through me. I grabbed the wineglass, smashed it to the floor, and swung my hand across her face.

She hit the ground in an instant, cheek red and swelling.

"So sorry. I bumped into you by accident. You're okay, aren't you?"

Broken glass drove into her hand, and Regina shrieked with the pain.

"Melanie Henson, you're insane!"

Oliver couldn't sit still another second. He hauled Regina up and rounded on me. "Melanie, how could you raise a hand to Regina? She only knows you like your wine and was joking around with you."

He had someone fetch a bandage at once and wrapped the cut, the ache in his eyes practically brimming over.

"I shouldn't have joked. I thought Melanie wouldn't mind."

Regina nestled against him, all pitiful and fragile. I wiped the wine away and forced my eyes open, and met the faint disgust in Oliver's gaze.

"Wasn't this a surprise for me? Regina, why are you even here?"

Regina choked on it, at a loss, and it was Oliver who smoothed it over for her.

"Regina wanted to give you her blessing too. She's your best friend, after all."

"The greatest blessing she can give me is leaving right now. Thank you."

I glared at her, and though it clearly galled her, she had no choice but to stand and go.

The dinner was ruined, the air a little awkward, and though Oliver stayed there with me, his mind was on someone else.

A ringtone cut through the tension, and the sullen frown he'd been wearing smoothed away in an instant.

Even as he angled the phone away, I caught the pinned contact at the top: "baby Regina."

He tapped out a text on the sly, and at last a smile curved his mouth.

Just as I'd expected, he turned to me with an apologetic face.

"Melanie, I'm really sorry. I had your tenth-anniversary gift all ready, and I meant for us to open it together, but something's just come up at the company..."

Fine, I'd play along with his little act. I only nodded, all understanding. "It's fine. Go take care of work."

He left in a rush, and I got up at once and followed quietly behind.

He didn't stop until he reached the luxury car down in the garage, where Regina had already been waiting a good while.

"What took you so long? Is Melanie Henson really that fascinating?" Regina rolled her eyes, impatient.

Oliver said nothing. One kiss was all it took to settle her.

She curled into his arms. "Go on, then. How are you going to make it up to me? That slap hurt like hell."

Oliver stroked her cheek gently. "It's all my fault. I don't know what got into Melanie today, going off like that."

"Don't worry. Anything you want, except the seat of Gilbert matriarch, and I'll give it to you."

Oliver popped the trunk right away and pulled out the couture gift he'd prepared.

When she finally broke into a smile, he leaned in close. "That's my surprise. So what did you get for me?"

Regina slid onto his lap and let her whole weight fall against him, the bow at her chest already pulled loose.

"That, of course, you'll have to unwrap yourself. I promise you'll be more than satisfied."

Oliver lost himself completely and buried his face against her chest, and then the light inside the car dimmed.

Their moans reached my ears, and I was sick to my stomach right there on the spot.

My heart hurt as if a thousand needles had run it through. That luxury car was my birthday gift to Oliver, and now it had become the stage for their passion.

I forced down the storm surging inside me. Three more days and it would be over.

Once I was calm, I called the dealership's sales department and put the car in my name. Oliver no longer deserved the right to use this gift.

After I recorded the proof of the two of them cheating, I braved the cold wind and went home. I built up a fire in the back garden and burned every gift Oliver had ever given me.

The wedding dress in the cabinet, the one I'd kept for ten years, I looked at for a long while. Then my heart sank, and I gathered it up and flung it into the flames.

Late that night I was sleeping deeply when Oliver burst through the door.

His face was all worry. "Melanie, I finally found you!"

It was three in the morning by then. They'd tangled together for another six hours. Watching Oliver overdo his little performance, I found it utterly laughable.