Chapter 3

3.

I never thought Silas would cheat. I used to wake up from nightmares about it, shaking for days.

But now that it was real, I didn't crumble like I expected.

Silas never had close female friends. His whole world seemed to revolve around me.

His wallpaper was me. My name was engraved on his ring. His desk was covered in my photos.

That's why I knew something was off the moment Tessa appeared.

He said she was a student he had sponsored and that she was a genius he had to hire.

At first, she only texted him about work late at night. Silas would reply with short, cold messages.

Then, he started staying up late, glued to his phone. When I caught him, he didn't even look guilty.

He said it was business. And in a way, it was.

They were planning their little office hookups. I saw the records on Tessa's social media, which she had set to be visible only to me.

My first reaction was denial. Silas couldn't be that trashy.

When I confronted him, he claimed Tessa's boyfriend had the same profile picture as him.

After that, the posts stopped. But other things happened.

Wrong food deliveries, packages sent to the wrong address, and mocking texts.

I wasn't stupid. I just didn't want to face the fact that twenty years was ending like this.

I lied to myself over and over again to keep his secrets safe. But this time, I couldn't do it anymore.

My mom texted me. My flight was in three days.

Four days before the wedding, Silas acted perfectly normal. He skipped work to take me to a holistic wellness clinic.

He talked about the wedding and our future the whole way there.

Since the engagement, we had been trying for a baby. He said I was too frail and needed to prepare my body.

The specialist finished my check-up. Silas stepped out to take a call.

The doctor sat back down and looked at me seriously.

"Ms. Vance, there's something you should know. I don't know what Mr. Sterling is thinking."

"He asked me privately to add certain additives to your supplements. They act as a long-term contraceptive. If you keep taking them, you might never be able to conceive."

I dug my nails into my palms. I looked at Silas's silhouette through the glass, feeling a chill go through my bones.

He turned around and blew me a kiss. He looked so concerned as he mouthed, "You okay, babe?"

I looked away. "I'm fine."

My eyes burned. I turned to the doctor. "I understand. Thank you."

He had planned it all. He never wanted a child with me.

My heart was already dead, but seeing his true face again still made it ache.

Twenty years is a long time. It's half a lifetime.

I realized I didn't know this man at all. I didn't know what was real and what was a lie.

He walked back in and draped his coat over my shoulders.

"See? I told you to dress warmer. What would you do without me, Elara?"

He took my hands and rubbed them to keep me warm. I used to wonder the same thing.

I pulled my hands away and stood up to get my medicine.

Silas, you're the one who's forcing me to leave.

With one day left, I went to the office to resign. I lied to HR and said Silas already knew.

On my way out, Tessa blocked my path. She shoved a piece of paper into my hand.

It was a lab report. She was two months pregnant.

She smirked at my pale face. "I'm pregnant. Do you think he'll let me keep it?"

How poetic. He gave me birth control and gave his mistress a baby.

I forced myself to stay calm. "A mistress's child rarely has a happy ending."

Tessa's face twisted. "Elara! You think you're so secure in that Sterling wife position? Silas loves me!"

I laughed, but before I could reply, she suddenly looked fragile and teary.

"Elara, I don't know what I did wrong. Why are you saying such mean things to me?"

Silas appeared and pulled me into his arms. He didn't even let her finish. He started screaming at her.

"Tessa! Are you focusing on gossip instead of work again? I saw how you were looking at Elara! Apologize!"

Tessa apologized through tears and ran off. Silas spent the next hour apologizing to me.

But I noticed his eyes darting toward her office every five seconds.

That night, the bed was empty. I got up and heard him on the balcony.

He was whispering into the phone. "Stop being mad, okay? That was all for show. You know I love you."

"I promise, we'll keep the baby. Satisfied now?"

I felt like I was drowning. I stood there, frozen, before crawling back into bed.

Silas came back a few minutes later. He tucked me in and fell fast asleep.

The next morning, I left with nothing. I texted my mom and sent a breakup text to Silas.

Then, I turned off my phone and boarded the plane.