###Chapter 2

As soon as I got home, Dawson video-called me.

“Wife, I’ve already asked my assistant to get the marriage certificate reissued. And look—I got you a gift!”

He held up a sapphire necklace to the camera.

“I know how much you love sapphires. This one was hard to win—it’s a new piece by an internationally renowned jewelry designer. Do you like it?”

A bitter smile tugged at my lips.

He’d clearly forgotten that before becoming a full-time housewife, I was a seasoned jewelry appraiser with a sharp eye.

On the TV behind me, the news was broadcasting a story. [The CEO of the Patterson Group had just outbid everyone at auction to reward Elise Perkins—the woman who bore him a son—with a royal heirloom once worn by a princess.]

And the necklace he gave me? It was a promotional freebie from the auction he attended for Elise.

This shallow display of false affection and hollow generosity made my throat tighten, and tears spilled from my eyes before I could stop them.

“...Mm. I like it.”

“Maxine, what’s wrong? Please don’t be like this. If something is bothering you, tell me—your husband will fix it!” His voice was full of panic.

“It’s nothing. Maybe I caught a cold,” I muttered. “You should get back to work.”

Without waiting for a reply, I ended the call.

I collapsed onto the bed. Exhausted and devastated, I curled into myself and eventually drifted off.

But sleep didn’t bring peace. It brought nightmares.

In my dreams, my mother’s devout prayers tangled with Dawson’s sweet lies.

“As long as Maxine can have a child, I, Czarina, am willing to go vegetarian for the rest of my life.”

“Maxine, you are the love of my life. I’ll never let you down.”

A sharp pain in my belly jolted me awake. Outside the door, I heard the voice of Dawson’s friend, Bruce.

“If you’ve always loved Elise, then why did you get involved with Maxine?”

Dawson’s voice was casual, even amused as he responded, “Because Elise was being forced by her parents to go overseas back then.”

“And I had needs, didn’t I? Maxine was a Catholic and still a virgin when I confessed to her. I like a challenge—and at least I didn’t have to worry about her sleeping around and bringing back STDs.”

“But she wanted to be a mother, so I told her I was infertile. It also saved me the trouble of wearing a condom—those ruin the experience anyway.”

Bruce’s tone turned cold with reproach. “You strung her along for nine years. Now you’re turning around and marrying someone else? You stole her best years!”

“Well, Elise came back—and she gave me a child.” Dawson scoffed.

“Maxine is just a nobody from an ordinary family. I let her live like royalty for years. Isn’t that compensation enough?”

“I’m marrying Elise in a few days. Just make sure she doesn’t find out anything before then.”

Bruce pressed, “If you’re marrying someone else, why not let Maxine go?”

There was a pause, and then Dawson faltered.

“...Because—” He trailed off, suddenly unsure.

Wasn’t this the perfect chance to finally let me go?

After a long silence, he muttered, “Because Maxine... is the best toy I’ve ever had.”

Bruce, clearly disgusted, gave up trying to reason with him. “Suit yourself. Just don’t regret it later.”

Soon, their voices faded.

I stared blankly at the ceiling, my heart numb from the pain.

Some time later, Dawson entered, his body still damp from the shower, a towel wrapped around his waist.

The visible hickey on his neck, like a mark deliberately left by Elise on purpose, burned into my eyes like fire.

I clenched my teeth and turned away so he wouldn’t see my tears.

Seeing I was awake, he rushed to my side.

“You’re awake, Maxine? I ended the business trip early just to come back to you.”

The hand he wrapped around my waist trembled slightly, like he feared I might vanish if he loosened his grip.

“I got so worried when you hung up on me. Are you sick?”

###Chapter 3

One moment he was calling me his favorite "plaything," and the next, his eyes were red with false concern.

'Dawson, the Oscars owe you a golden statue!'

I pulled my hand away and put some space between us.

“I must’ve caught a cold these past few days. I just feel... drained.”

He gently brushed my hair, concern written all over his face, then clasped the sapphire necklace around my neck. His tone was casual—too casual.

“Maxine, I’ll need to go on another business trip soon. This time it’ll be over a month. I really don’t want to leave you.”

Over a month? That’s more than enough time to throw a wedding—and go on a honeymoon around the world.

Even though my heart was shattered, I still clung to hope like a fool. I reached for his hand.

“Dawson... I’ve been feeling uneasy lately. Could you stay? Just this once—don’t go?”

He cupped my face with tenderness, his voice soothing.

“This is a major project, sweetheart. I have to go make money to support you. Be good and wait for me at home, okay?”

Looking at his feigned helplessness, I clenched my fist, nails digging into my trembling palms.

Finally, I nodded, heart numb and cold.

“...Then go.”

Relieved, he leaned in and pinned me gently to the pillow, his lips brushing my cheek.

“Baby, how about we try again tonight? Maybe I’ll finally give you a child...”

But his words ripped open wounds in my already tattered heart.

I instinctively pushed him away. “Dawson, let’s wait until you’re back. I’m not feeling well today.”

He stroked my pale cheek, seemingly convinced. Then he kissed my hair.

“Alright. Rest early.”

Maybe he was too worn out from serving Elise, because the moment he lay down, he started snoring.

I turned and picked up the phone by his bedside.

He’d always said he had nothing to hide, that he didn’t even need a password.

Now I knew the truth—his phone had dual systems.

I typed in Elise’s birthday, and the system switched instantly.

Right there on the home screen was a wedding photo of Dawson and Elise kissing beneath the Eiffel Tower.

My breath hitched.

With trembling hands, I opened their chat. The first thing I saw was Elise holding their baby, beaming.

[Our son is so cute! He looks just like you. He’s going to be such a little heartbreaker.]

Every message burned through me like acid.

[You fly to see me all the time. Aren’t you afraid Maxine will find out?]

[She believes everything I say. Don’t worry. She’s too stupid to ever figure it out.]

Scrolling up, I found even more.

Elise had sent him private, explicit photos.

She was naked, heavily pregnant, wearing nothing but a sheer thong. Her legs were parted, and she was teasing her well-maintained body with delicate fingers.

[Hubby, the doctor says the baby’s almost due. He says I’ll have an easier delivery if the father stays... active.]

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I looked at the timestamp.

It was two months ago—on my birthday.

That night, Dawson had gotten a sudden “work call.” His expression had changed in a heartbeat, and in his rush to leave, he’d knocked over a chair, cutting the birthday song short.

“Sorry, baby. There’s an emergency overseas. I’ll make it up to you with an even more romantic celebration when I get back.”

He’d kissed me goodbye, and left me standing there, stunned.

Now I finally understood. He had spent most of the year abroad.

His so-called business trips were just excuses to be with his mistress, pampering her through her pregnancy.

Even on my birthday—he couldn’t wait one more night to be by her side.

My fingers, pale with fury, nearly crushed the phone.

Taking a deep breath, I opened the photo album.

Hundreds of gigabytes of photos and videos documented every moment of Elise’s pregnancy—right up to the birth.

Dawson, who never lifted a finger at home, was seen preparing fancy, nutritious meals for her every single day.

He had skipped important meetings just to take her to prenatal appointments.

When she threw up from morning sickness, his obsessive cleanliness didn’t stop him from catching her vomit with his bare hands.

He even bought a castle in Tuscany, just so she could rest and recover in luxury.

He treated her like a princess.

And me? He wouldn’t even give me a child—because in his eyes, only Elise was worthy of bearing his heir.

I slowly set the phone down, my expression blank.

My hands trembled as I placed them on my belly.

Baby... were you just as disappointed in your father as I was?

Is that why you didn’t want to be born into this cruel home?

If so... maybe it’s better that you left.

###Chapter 4

I climbed out of bed and opened the drawer.

With trembling hands, I tore the pathetic fake marriage certificate into shreds.

Then I dug out the wedding photos buried at the bottom of the suitcase—those shameful lies we once posed for—and threw them straight into the trash.

Letting out a deep breath, I slid under the covers. Just as I was about to sleep, Dawson's phone rang.

He jolted awake, quickly switching it to silent.

“Maxine, did I wake you?”

He gave my right shoulder a gentle shake. Seeing that my breathing was steady, he quietly answered the call.

“Your son misses you. Come keep us company.”

Elise's sugary voice cut through the silence like a blade.

Dawson glanced at me, then lowered his voice.

“I miss you two as well. I'm coming now.”

“You ripped my panties earlier today—don't forget to bring me a new pair, okay?”

After hanging up, Dawson stroked my face with mock tenderness, then got dressed and left.

I followed his car in secret.

Eventually, he pulled into the private healthcare center owned by the Patterson family.

As I slipped through the gates, two passing staff members chatted excitedly.

“President Patterson is so devoted to his fiancée. This entire facility was built just for her postnatal care.”

“Right? Miss Perkins must've saved the galaxy in her past life to deserve a man like him.”

Inside the lavish private villa, Elise threw herself into Dawson's arms.

She looked radiant—glowing skin, perfect makeup, not a trace of fatigue from childbirth. Dozens of professionals, nannies, and attendants fluttered around her like she was royalty.

Dawson playfully tapped her nose.

“I called Victoria's Secret and instructed them to prepare 365 pairs of panties so you can wear a new style every day.”

She squealed with delight and kissed him.

“These are unreleased limited editions! You actually got them in advance? Dawson, you're the best!”

Then her gaze drifted toward the floor-to-ceiling window—and landed directly on me, standing in the garden.

In the blink of an eye, she collapsed against his chest like jelly.

“Hubby, I'm so full of milk. The baby can't finish it all. I'm so swollen, and it hurts... The doctor said if I don't get relief soon, I might get a fever...”

Dawson hesitated, brows furrowed. “Elise... You just gave birth. We already... earlier today. I'm afraid you won't be able to handle it. I don't want to see you suffer.”

She grabbed his head and pushed it toward her chest.

“Dummy. I'm willing to suffer for you. Don't you want to help me try on those new panties?”

His eyes darkened instantly with lust.

Dawson pinned her against the wall, kissing and biting, his hands grabbing wildly. Their breath quickened, rising to a fevered pitch.

When he was with me, he was always gentle. I thought that meant he cherished me.

Only now did I realize his so-called tenderness was nothing but pity.

This was the real Dawson—a man unhinged with desire for the woman he truly loved.

Even when Elise begged him to stop, he didn't. He kept going—again and again.

I couldn't watch anymore.

I fled back to the car, heart pounding, and stomach churning.

Back home, I wiped my pathetic tears away.

I took off the sapphire necklace he had just given me and gathered every item connected to Dawson—letters, photos, souvenirs, and tossed them all into a metal barrel.

Then I struck a match.

The love I once carved into my bones went up in flames.

Just as the fire crackled, an email notification lit up my screen—it was from Elise.

[Did you enjoy watching our little love performance? You've spent years clinging to Dawson like a desperate stray, without an ounce of dignity.]

[He says you're more boring than a piece of wood. He never once felt satisfied with you. But with me? He can't get enough.]

I let her mockery wash over me.

And yet, I downloaded every vile, humiliating video she attached—one by one.