Chapter 1

1

On our wedding anniversary, my husband abandoned me on a mountain to go find his childhood sweetheart.

I was so terrified that I suffered a medical emergency and nearly died on the operating table.

The moment the surgery ended, I called Silas Sterling to demand a divorce.

But on the other end of the line, I heard the sobbing voice of his little muse, Janessa Thatcher.

"It's all my fault. Please don't be mad at Silas, Vianna."

Silas spent a long time comforting her before turning his frustration on me, accusing me of being unreasonable and making a scene.

I didn't argue. I just hung up and walked away without looking back.

...

The moment I was discharged and walked into our house, I saw Silas sitting on the living room sofa.

Janessa was sitting right next to him, holding a bowl of popcorn.

They were watching the latest romance drama. Janessa was so giddy that she clung to Silas's arm, burying herself in his chest with a wide, smitten grin.

Seeing me, Silas immediately pushed Janessa's hand away.

He stood up and looked me up and down. "So, you finally decided to come home?"

Silas hadn't contacted me once over the past few days. It was clear he had no idea I had been hospitalized or that I had lost our child.

He probably thought I was just throwing a tantrum.

But if he had cared even a little, he would have known what I had been through.

Silas didn't ask a single question. He just sat back down and gave an order. "Now that you're back, go make dinner. Janessa is eating with us tonight."

Janessa stuck her tongue out at me playfully. "Thanks in advance, Vianna!"

I glanced at her.

She was always clinging to Silas like this.

And Silas would always offer the same flimsy excuse whenever I got angry.

"She's just like a sister to me. She's innocent and doesn't mean any harm. Stop targeting her."

I took a deep breath and pulled a folder from my bag, handing it to him. "Find some time to sign these divorce papers."

Silas looked down at the document but didn't take it. He just scoffed. "You want a divorce over that little thing? Can you stop being so petty? You know I only left to save Janessa."

Hearing her name, Janessa immediately started sobbing. "I'm so sorry, Vianna. It's my fault. My depression flared up, so I called Silas. Blame me if you want, but please don't leave him."

Depression. It was always depression.

If she actually had it, I wouldn't have said a word.

But she didn't. It was just a tool to manipulate Silas's sympathy, and he fell for it every single time.

Silas, seemingly afraid that Janessa would be triggered by my mood, turned to her. "Janessa, you should head home first."

Janessa wanted to stay, but she had no excuse left. "Silas, don't forget you promised to take me to the amusement park tomorrow."

Silas didn't answer. He just waved her away.

Janessa shot me a subtle, triumphant glare before leaving.

Once she was gone, Silas leaned back on the sofa.

"Janessa's gone, so stop acting out. I promise I won't leave you behind like that again."

I looked at him. He looked so indifferent, as if abandoning me on a mountain in the middle of nowhere was no big deal.

Realizing communication was impossible, I threw the papers onto his lap. "Silas, I have nothing left to say to you. Just sign it."

Silas ignored the papers and tossed them aside.

He reached out and pulled me onto the sofa. I lost my balance and tumbled down beside him.

The scent of perfume hit me instantly.

It was a cloyingly sweet feminine scent―the one Janessa always wore.

My stomach churned. I tried to pull away, but Silas pulled me into his arms.

"Honey, stop being mad. I was wrong for missing our anniversary. I'll make it up to you tomorrow."

Hearing him call me "honey" made me daze for a second.

When we first got married, he loved clinging to me and calling me that constantly.

Now, I couldn't even remember the last time he had used that word.

I was about to speak when I noticed a faint mark on his neck.

It was a hickey. The shade of the smudge matched the bright, bold lipstick Janessa loved to wear.

The perfume had been nauseating enough, but seeing this mark―knowing what they had done in my own home―made me want to vomit.

I wrenched myself out of his grip. "Stop being disgusting. Didn't you already promise to spend tomorrow with Janessa?"

Silas frowned. "Why are you always acting like a bitter housewife? No wonder my mother likes Janessa more than you."

I let out a cold laugh.

His mother indeed despised me. She thought I was a small-town girl who wasn't sophisticated enough for their family.

She was convinced I only married Silas for his money.

She even told me to my face that she wished Janessa were her daughter-in-law instead.

Silas seemed to guess what I was thinking and sighed impatiently. "Look, Vianna, I don't have the patience to coddle you. My mom promised that once you give her a grandson, she'll finally accept you."

"A grandson? Oh, I guess I forgot to tell you."

I looked at Silas, my face completely blank.

"Silas, I lost the baby."