I had been married to Sean Cadwell for seven years and he treated me like a treasure. Even though I couldn't get pregnant, he was always considerate of my delicate health. He suggested we adopt a child instead of having our own.

Sean even volunteered to get a vasectomy to show his commitment. Still, I know the truth—his mistress was already six months pregnant. So, I resolutely aborted our child.

I met my fiery end, vanishing into smoke before his despairing gaze. At that time, I could see Sean holding my ashes and crying bitterly.

***

Now, I'm gripping a pregnancy test in my hand, overwhelmed with despair. This child came at the wrong time.

I saw Sean's car slowly pull into the driveway from outside the bedroom window. Panic-stricken, I shoved the test deep into a drawer. I wiped my face randomly and pretended to be calm.

Sean loosened his tie and looked utterly exhausted as soon as he walked in. Yet, he managed a weak smile and pulled me into his arms. "Honey, I've missed you so much. Let me recharge."

Sean's company was on the brink of going public. Logically, this should have been his busiest time, but he still came home before 8 PM every night to spend more time with me.

Everyone said he was the perfect husband. Completely devoted and under my thumb.

Until today, I thought the same.

"Honey, didn't the doctor say you were in poor health? I was thinking, maybe we could adopt a child sometime soon. What do you think?"

Sean's words interrupted my thoughts. My hands trembled slightly. "Do you really want a child that much?"

"No, it's not that. I'd love to have a child with you, but your health matters more to me. Besides, you won't feel lonely when I'm not around if we adopt the little one."

My heart sank as I looked at the sincerity in his eyes. If it weren't for the photos his mistress sent me today, I would never have known that he already had a child with someone else.

That woman was six months pregnant now, but he had already decided to bring the child back and let me raise it.

How ridiculous was that? He wanted me to raise the child he had with his mistress, but he made it sound so noble. Our marriage was completely beyond repair.

I lay in bed at night. Listening to Sean's steady breathing beside me, it felt like we were worlds apart.

We had been so in love for seven years. I never thought it would end like this.

I never imagined Sean would cheat on me and so, predictably, the other woman was his secretary.

I quietly got out of bed and turned on my phone, placing an order for a "fake death plan." This agency could help me stage an accident and let everyone think I was dead.

I knew Sean would never divorce me and he wouldn't let me go easily.

This man had always been like this. He would rather destroy what he couldn't get. So, I wanted to die completely in front of him.

The agency responded that the preparations would take three days, following which I could pretend to die and leave.

I tossed and turned all night.

Sean kissed me on the forehead as usual when he woke up. He gently tucked the blanket around me. Later, he thoughtfully reminded the housekeeper to prepare my breakfast.

Once I heard his car drive away, I finally opened my eyes. My phone lit up and a photo from Sean's secretary came. That's when I learned the truth.

He would wake up early every morning to drive her to work.

The photo showed them in the car I had personally decorated, locked in a passionate kiss.

A wave of nausea hit me. I dashed to the bathroom and threw up my guts.

Hearing the commotion, the housekeeper hurried over. "Madam, are you alright?" She was quite worried when she saw my pale face.

As I blurted out, "I'm fine," my voice cracked and tears instantly clouded my vision.

The housekeeper worriedly pressed for more details, but I made an excuse about feeling unwell. Then I curled up alone in bed again.

My father also cheated on my mother when she was pregnant with me. I knew all too well how miserable it was to grow up in such an environment.

I once told Sean that if he ever betrayed me, I would disappear from his world forever. I never thought those words would come true.

I whispered, stroking my belly as tears soaked the pillowcase. "Baby, Mommy's so sorry."

The next day, at the grand opening of Sean's company's new product. The lights were dazzling and the crowd was full of celebrities.

He brought me along, dressed to the nines. His arm was around my waist as he whispered sweet nothings in my ear throughout the evening.

To outsiders, we looked like the perfect couple—loving and desirable.

I overheard someone mention the million-dollar price tag of my dress. Every woman was shooting me envious glances.

Below the stage, reporters bombarded us with rapid-fire questions. "Mr. Cadwell, I've heard that you and your wife are inseparable. What's your secret to such a great marriage?"

Sean smiled and looked at me affectionately. "Loving her is my lifelong love. Protecting her and giving her happiness is the secret."

I forced a stiff smile, playing along with his act.

When it was time for the onstage speech, I excused myself to retouch my makeup backstage. As I passed the dressing room, I faintly heard Sean's voice coming from a corner.

"Babe, did you get the black cat outfit I bought for you? Put it on later. I'll come to you as soon as the event is over."

"Okay. Wait for me, Babe."

The intimacy in his tone hit me like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing my remaining love.

I turned to look, only to see Sean's back. His phone screen was lit up and the chat avatar showed it was his secretary, Yelena Jacob. My blood pressure spiked as I slammed my makeup compact shut.

Sean turned and saw me, his expression filled with alarm. He stammered in explanation, "Honey, don't misunderstand. I just talked to the orphanage director about visiting the kids after the press conference."

I sneered at him. "Really? Is 'babe' how you address the director now?"

The air grew thick with tension. The staff around us began stealing glances, making the atmosphere unbearably awkward. In the end, I used the excuse of not feeling well and left on my own.

I had yet to go far when Sean pulled up in his car. He handed me a huge bunch of roses from the backseat. "Honey, I'm so sorry. I messed up and said something stupid. This is my apology gift. Please forgive me just this once."

Ignoring my protests, Sean jumped out of the car and shoved me into the backseat. I turned away, not bothering to call him out on his flimsy excuse.

Just as I was about to reach home, my phone was flooded with messages.

"Don't fool yourself into thinking he loves you just because he picked you. He and the child are the ones who truly matter to him."

"We've been having an affair for three years. You should know how long it's been since he touched you, right?"

"He said you're boring in bed—nothing like me. I drive him wild."

"You have no idea, but we've been renting a hotel room near the company for ages and he comes to see me almost every day after work."

The last message came with a drawer full of condom pictures.

No wonder he got off work at eight every day. From six to eight o'clock, two hours every day. He sneaked out to meet his mistress for a secret rendezvous.

No wonder he had rarely shared a bed with me since three years ago. I only thought he was busy with work, but he found me boring.

When images of Sean passionately kissing and holding Yelena came to me, I couldn't help but puke. I smeared Sean all over, but he didn't get mad. Instead, he patted my back with concern.

There wasn't a hint of disgust on his face. He just knelt there, quietly cleaning up the mess I made.

He truly didn't care about how messy I looked, but it was also true that he found me dull in bed.

I pretended to be sick and shut my eyes as tears threatened to spill over. Sean was so distressed. He kept wiping my face.

Once I finally calmed myself down, I opened my eyes to see his face full of worry. I suddenly felt confused about what Sean was thinking.

He would ditch an important press conference because he was angry with me. He would also take away his mistress's right to be a mother and give the child to me. Still, at the same time, he was also hiding his affair with another woman, fathering children with her.

For a while, I thought the man before me was a stranger.

I crept into his study while Sean slumbered peacefully. I remembered the housekeeper once mentioned that Sean kept something there.

At the bottom of a drawer, I found a stack of hotel records and intimate photos that shattered my heart. In the photos, Sean and Yelena hugged each other with dazzling smiles. The hotel records spanned several months—each date like a dagger stabbing my heart.

After crying until my tears dried, I lay back on the bed. I looked at Sean, who was still calling me in his sleep. I suddenly realized that sharing a bed and dreaming different dreams were nothing more than this.

Because of yesterday's conflict, Sean spent the following day with me instead of going to the company.

He asked the housekeeper to make soup while he stood in the kitchen, watching cooking videos.

My health had been extremely frail since I fell seriously ill three years ago. That's why Sean hired professionals to care for me and never let me go near the kitchen.

Even the housekeeper couldn't help but tease. "Mr. Cadwell truly loves his wife. It's rare to see a successful man personally cooking like this and if Madam has a child in the future, I bet Mr. Cadwell would make a great father, too."

Hearing this, Sean turned to look at me. "Nicki's body is fragile. Pregnancy would take too much of a toll on her. I can't bear to let her suffer. For her, I'd rather never have children."

As if to prove his sincerity, he pulled out his phone and asked his secretary to schedule a vasectomy for him. Half an hour later, he handed me the confirmation message with the appointment details.

I stared blankly at this man, who seemed so deeply devoted.

Almost as if he couldn't wait, he took me to the hospital that afternoon. He kept comforting me along the way. As though certain I'd feel touched and guilty over his sacrifice.

"Nicki, don't worry. I only want you. Children don't matter." Sean held my cold hand with his warm hand.

I forced a faint smile. I never realized the man I had loved for seven years could act so convincingly. Perhaps even he didn't know that he already had two children.

At 3 PM, we arrived at the hospital. The doctor later conducted the pre-operative examination for his procedure.