Chapter 1

For three years of marriage, my wife always refused to let me touch her.

Her excuse was always the same: she was nervous and not ready yet.

Before my birthday, she promised she would prepare a huge surprise for me.

Thinking she was finally ready, I booked a five-star luxury hotel suite and painstakingly decorated it just the way she liked.

Yet, as night fell, she never showed up. Instead, I saw a post on her childhood best friend’s social media.

“In this vast world, the greatest happiness is when two hearts can warm each other.”

The photo showed the two of them tangled in bed in a luxury hotel room.

Looking at the hickeys faintly visible on my wife’s skin, my heart turned to ash, and I decided to step aside to let them enjoy their epic love story.

1

I put down my phone and looked around the room I had carefully decorated, feeling utterly ridiculous.

In our three years of marriage, Kendra had never let me get close to her.

Whenever the mood was right and I wanted to take things further, she always came up with excuses to push me away.

It was either a stomachache, her period, or being too exhausted from work.

When I finally could not take it anymore and asked her what was wrong, she stammered, saying she was just scared and not ready.

Seeing her look so fragile and timid like a little rabbit, my heart had ached for her.

I had wrapped my arms around her and gently comforted her, telling her not to be afraid because I could wait.

Because I loved her, I was willing to wait until the day she gave herself to me willingly.

Before my birthday, Kendra had mysteriously whispered that she was preparing a huge surprise for me.

I had even caught a glimpse of the sexy lingerie she had just bought hidden in the closet, which made my heart race with anticipation.

I thought that long-awaited day had finally arrived.

I booked a room at a five-star hotel in advance, asking the staff to decorate it with her favorite flowers and scented candles.

I even pre-ordered a private dinner crafted by a top chef, all just to celebrate this moment with her.

Trevor’s post felt like a bucket of ice water dumped over my head, freezing me to the bone.

In the picture, Kendra was wearing that exact set of lingerie, draped over Trevor’s chest with a flushed, blissful expression.

The hickeys scattered across her pale skin looked glaringly bright.

My heart felt like it was being squeezed by an iron fist, an agonizing pain radiating through my chest.

I unscrewed the expensive red wine I had prepared for Kendra and chugged it straight from the bottle.

I only hoped the alcohol could numb the excruciating pain inside me.

Right then, Trevor sent me a text message.

“Sorry man, I forgot to hide my post from you. Don’t blame Kendra, I was having a rough day and asked her to come keep me company.”

“We’re just friends, so don’t overthink it.”

What kind of friends sleep in the same bed in skimpy lingerie? He really took me for a complete idiot.

Before I could even reply to his text, Kendra called.

“Babe, I’m so sorry. Trevor wasn’t feeling well today, so I came over to keep him company.”

“I’ll rush back soon to celebrate your birthday, wait for me, okay?”

The two of them coordinated their lies so smoothly, expecting me to just swallow this humiliating pill.

“No need. Just make sure the two of you have a great time.”

I hung up and checked out of the hotel.

When I got back home, the place that once felt cozy and warm now felt covered in frost, devoid of any warmth.

I collapsed weakly onto the couch, feeling as though the blood in my veins had frozen solid.

A short while later, Kendra walked through the front door.

The moment she stepped inside, she pinched her nose.

“Carson, did you drink?”

“You know how much I hate the smell of alcohol!”

Hates the smell of alcohol? Yet, in that photo, I had clearly seen empty wine bottles scattered on the nightstand beside their bed.

I sat up straight and looked at her coldly. “What? Are you done playing around?”

Realizing I was angry, Kendra moved closer and pressed against me. “Babe, didn’t I rush back to celebrate with you? Look, here’s the present I got you.”

She pulled out a car key and handed it to me.

“Haven’t you always wanted a car? Trevor happened to be trading his in, so he sold it to me for cheap. It’s perfect for your daily commute.”

“Is this the big surprise you promised me?”

I let out a bitter, furious laugh.

“Do you think I’m that pathetic? Giving me your lover’s used car as a birthday gift?”

I swung my arm and threw the keys hard against the floor.