Chapter 1

Everyone in Boston knew Caleb loved me more than life itself.

He was even willing to turn against the whole world just to protect me.

But the very day after I accepted his proposal, I overheard him laughing with his friends.

"Caleb is the man," Zach chuckled. "He keeps his main girl happy at home while having fun on the side!"

"That college girl is posting all over social media about the apartment you bought her," another friend said. "Aren't you worried Meredith will find out?"

Caleb blew a lazy ring of smoke into the air.

"Why should I care?" he sneered. "She is just some divorced, second-hand baggage. Who else would want her besides me?"

1

I threw the VIP room door open with a loud bang.

Caleb froze the moment he saw me.

I pretended nothing was wrong and sat down beside him, naturally taking the cigarette from his fingers.

"I told you to cut down on smoking, but you never listen," I said, keeping my voice sweet.

Caleb quickly put out the cigarette and smiled. "Yes, yes, whatever my beautiful wife says."

His reaction only made me more certain that his conversation with his friends was real. It was not a joke.

Caleb was a heavy smoker, and I absolutely hated the smell of smoke.

I had begged him to quit so many times, but he always made excuses. Once, he even lost his temper with me over it.

He was willing to fight for me, but he would never give up smoking for me.

I smiled and looked at him. "What were you guys talking about? I could hear your laughter from outside."

A flash of panic crossed Caleb's eyes, but I caught it.

Zach cleared his throat. "We were just saying how lucky Caleb is. He must have saved a kingdom in his past life to marry someone as perfect as you, Meredith."

I turned my gaze back to Caleb. "Is that so?"

His eyelids fluttered as he pulled me into his arms. "Of course. Everyone is jealous of me since you accepted my proposal yesterday. I really hit the jackpot."

A wave of nausea washed over me.

He was calling me second-hand baggage a minute ago, yet now he was whispering sweet, greasy words without blinking.

It was a shame he was not an actor.

The rest of the dinner tasted like cardboard.

His cruel words kept echoing in my mind.

Caleb and I had known each other since we were kids.

When he was five, I was already ten.

Every day, he would pick a wildflower and wait for me in the alley outside my school.

The moment he saw me walk out, he would run up to me and look up. "Meredith, will you marry me when I grow up?"

I would laugh and ruffle his hair. "I cannot marry you, silly. You are way too small."

"Then wait until I grow up. You have to marry me then."

Caleb had repeated that promise for twenty years.

Even when I married another man, Caleb still declared to the world that he would remain single for my sake.

Suddenly, Caleb's phone buzzed on the table. He glanced at the screen and immediately flipped it face down.

He looked at my face to check my reaction, then stretched lazily and got up to go to the restroom.

I quietly followed him and stood outside the door.

Caleb's voice was hushed. "Did I not tell you? You can only call me when I say so. Do not contact me on your own!"

After a long silence, his harsh tone softened. "I get it. I will find an excuse to come over. Just wait for me."

I pushed the restroom door open, and Caleb almost dropped his phone in surprise.

"Meredith? What are you doing here?"

My heart sank.

But I kept the smile on my face. "Just checking to see if you were sneaking a smoke in here."

Caleb visibly relaxed and stepped closer. "No, I promise. Smelling is believing."

With that, he leaned in and bit my lower lip gently.

I pushed him away without making it obvious.

Caleb settled for a soft kiss on my forehead. "Sweetheart, there is an emergency at the office. I have to go handle it, so I cannot drive you home."

"I can take a―"

Before I could even finish my sentence, Caleb was already grabbing his coat in a rush.

I hailed a taxi, but I did not go home. I had the driver follow Caleb's car.

Eventually, Caleb drove into Oakridge Estates, an upscale gated community.

I stared blankly at the grand entrance.

I could not believe that the sweet boy I grew up with had become a master of playing two women at once.

Out of all those glowing windows, I wondered which one was lighting up Caleb and his other girl.