Chapter 1

Paxton and I went from high school sweethearts to husband and wife.

I stood by him when he had nothing, enduring every hardship.

We were so broke that we could only watch our first child suffer from leukemia, unable to afford the treatment that could have saved him.

Five years later, I finally got pregnant again.

Paxton had also become a rising star in the business world.

Just when I thought my life was turning around, I received two text messages: “I have my eyes on Paxton.”

“Name your price to walk away, and I will pay it.”

It turned out that Lindsey Frost, the spoiled heiress of the Frost family, had fallen for Paxton at a gala.

Once my mind was clear, I signed her check the next day: “Fifty million dollars to buy out my ten years with Paxton.”

1

That night, Paxton came home late.

He tossed his suit jacket onto the sofa in front of me. “Babe, get this dry-cleaned. I need it tomorrow.”

When I reached into the inner pocket, my fingers brushed against something silky.

It was a pair of lace lingerie.

It carried a sharp, pungent scent, clearly worn.

The air froze in an instant.

Yet, there was not a trace of panic on Paxton’s face.

He waved his hand casually. “A new intern at the office is young and reckless.”

“She likes playing pranks and shoved it in my pocket. Do not take it to heart.”

Tears burned my eyes.

I stared at him fiercely.

This was the man I had loved from age seventeen to twenty-seven, the man who promised to cherish me forever.

Now, he was looking right into my eyes and lying for another woman.

“Is that so?” My voice shook with unshed tears. “Since when did you become so approachable, Paxton?”

“Since when does a random intern dare to pull a stunt like this with you?”

At my questioning, Paxton’s brows furrowed deeply.

A flicker of annoyance crossed his eyes, and his tone darkened. “I work myself to the bone out there every day, and I do not come home just to deal with your attitude.”

“What is wrong with you lately, Summer? Are you hitting early menopause?”

Unable to take it anymore, I grabbed the glass next to me and shattered it against the floor.

“Stop lying!” Tears finally poured down my cheeks. “The Frost family’s little princess already texted me.”

“Paxton, do you even know that I am pregnant?”

I closed my eyes after saying that.

The face of our first child flashed in my mind.

Pale, frail, lying in a sterile hospital bed without even the strength to cry.

Because we were poor, we watched helplessly as leukemia drained the life out of him.

I thought that agonizing helplessness was a wound Paxton and I shared forever.

Even though my body was ruined after that delivery, making it nearly impossible to conceive again, I still endured years of painful IVF treatments.

I wanted to heal our broken family.

Yet Paxton had already had a change of heart.

His expression finally cracked.

A flash of panic washed over his face, but he quickly masked it with composure.

“Babe, do not be mad. I swear I never did anything to betray you.”

“The Frost family is our biggest investor, and Lindsey is just a spoiled brat who loves pulling jokes.”

“Do not worry. I will reprimand her tomorrow and make sure she never does it again.”

Right then, Paxton’s phone buzzed on the table.

The caller ID read “Baby.”

The moment the call connected, a sweet, cloying voice came through: “Paxton, I miss you…”

Paxton hung up instantly, pretending nothing happened. “Babe, there is an emergency at the office. I have to head back.”

“You are pregnant, so just get some rest.”

Without another glance at me, he grabbed his keys and rushed out.

The moment the door slammed shut, my knees buckled.

All the sorrow I had suppressed for so long broke through the dam.

After crying for what felt like hours, I pulled up the text from that unknown number.

I sent a friend request.

“Miss Frost, let us meet up and talk about Paxton.”