Chapter 1

Chapter 1

At my daughter's birthday party, she stood before the candles and made a wish in German.

"I wish that Auntie Linnette could be my mommy this year."

My husband, Desmond, chuckled and ruffled her hair.

"You'll get your wish very soon, sweetheart."

I stood frozen in place. The cake in my hand slipped, crashing onto the floor in a messy heap of frosting and sponge.

Desmond looked at me with feigned concern. "Honey, what's wrong?"

I shook my head quickly, forcing a tight smile. "My hand just slipped. That's all."

Only I knew the truth. I had panicked because I understood every word of that German wish.

Desmond seemed to have forgotten a crucial detail about my past. I grew up in Berlin and only moved back to the States for college.

Back when we were dating, he even took German classes just to get closer to me.

I was the one who painstakingly taught our daughter, Lila, how to speak the language.

Desmond grabbed a towel to clean the mess on the floor. He then sliced a fresh piece of cake and held it up to my mouth.

"It's okay. Since you're so clumsy today, let me feed you."

This time, I didn't lean in. I took a step back, my skin crawling.

"I'm not hungry anymore."

Lila stuffed a huge forkful of cake into her mouth, her cheeks bulging like a squirrel's.

"I'm still here, you know! Stop showing off your love in front of me."

Lila was seven years old. She still had her baby fat, and her features were a mirror image of Desmond's―refined and striking.

Desmond pulled me into his arms right in front of her, raising an eyebrow playfully.

"Loving my wife is a full-time job. You better get used to it, kiddo."

Lila set her plate down and ran over, burying her face in my waist.

"No way! It's my birthday. Mommy belongs to me today."

She hugged me tightly, but I didn't reach down to stroke her hair like I usually did.

Lila sensed something was off. She looked up at me, her eyes brimming with calculated tears.

"Mommy, why aren't you hugging me back?"

"Are you and Daddy teaming up to bully me now?"

Desmond let out a soft laugh. I looked down at my daughter, my voice flat and cold.

"I was just wondering something. My husband and daughter seem to love me so much, but I wonder if they have someone they like even more."

Lila froze. The room went silent.

"Mommy, what kind of crazy talk is that?"

The smile vanished from Desmond's face. When he looked at me again, his eyes were filled with a terrifyingly deep, fake devotion.

He took my hand, rubbing my knuckles gently.

"Exactly. Lila and I love you more than anyone. Why would you even think that?"

I silently pulled my hand away from his grasp.

They were still trying to play me for a fool.

They had clearly forgotten that the thing I loathe most in this world is a lie.

When we got married, I told him straight out. If I ever caught him in a lie, I would leave and never look back.

He had sworn in front of everyone we knew that he would be faithful to me forever.

After all, if I left, I would go back to Germany. He would never see me again.

But now, I had no idea how long he had been cheating. Even the daughter I cherished was rooting for the other woman.

Five years of devotion and parenting had gone down the drain in a single sentence.

I thought I would scream. I thought I would break down and tear the house apart.

Surprisingly, I was calm. I was already calculating my next move.

I pushed Lila away from me, my movements sharp.

"I'm tired. You two finish the party yourselves."