After I finished feeding the kids, I swallowed the nausea in my throat and made an excuse to wash the bottle so I could slip out of the bedroom.

I clicked into Evie's profile.

She hadn't shown her full face, but her background picture was a balcony shot. In the corner, there was a cartoon bear rug, and along the edge of it was a faint red wine stain.

My breath caught in my throat.

I had just bought that rug last month, and the pothos beside her foot was the same one I had repotted three days ago. That was my balcony.

My grip loosened, and my phone nearly slipped out of my hand.

I stared at the screen, my eyes fixed on that photo, as my heartbeat spiraled out of control. My lips trembled, my throat tightened, and my vision began to darken.

Just as I was about to tap her profile picture and send her a private message, another notification popped up.

"The kids get to call him Dad, and that should be his honor. He doesn't need to know whether they're his biological children or not."

It was still Evie, her tone light, as if everything she said were perfectly reasonable.

The group chat exploded once more.

"She's fearless!"

"I love a crazy married woman like you. Send a full-body shot."

"Give us the details and the whole story! We need a recording of this!"

I stared at the screen as the corner of my mouth twitched.

No one thought this was wrong, and no one felt ashamed. They were excited, like a pack of starving coyotes tearing into a piece of bloody meat, and I was the man who was being flayed alive without even realizing it.

My fingers shook as I prepared to type.

Just then, she sent another message.

"But it's fine. Soon, I'll be able to run away with the children's real father and live happily ever after. After all, that sucker is about to die."

For a split second, the words didn't register. When it finally clicked that the sucker was me, it felt as if my brain had been struck by a bolt of lightning.

She wanted me dead? She and that man were waiting for me to die so they could run off together?

I clenched my teeth so hard that my vision went red.

This wasn't just infidelity anymore. This was her practically announcing my murder.

Yet, the people in the group chat were still laughing.

"Oh, my God, this is insane! I love this plot."

"Girl, you have to live-stream it when you inherit everything."

"Damn! It's one thing to cuck the guy, but killing him is brutal…"

I stood frozen in the kitchen, my body ice-cold, while my brain felt like it was on fire. I tried to calm myself down and kept repeating under my breath, "Stay calm. Let's not jump to conclusions."

But the more I tried to steady myself, the more chaotic my thoughts became.

A while ago, Evelyn suddenly told me that she wanted to take out a life insurance plan for me, saying it was about "family responsibility."

Back then, I even thought she was being considerate, so I signed the papers without reading them.

Now that I thought about it again, I realized they were critical illness and accidental death policies, and Evelyn was listed as the sole beneficiary.

My head buzzed.

Recently, she had suddenly become obsessed with fitness. She went on morning runs, worked on her abs, and posted healthy meals every day.

She used to get winded just climbing stairs, and she wouldn't even touch detox tea. Now, she showed off her figure, filmed videos, and checked in at the gym more punctually than I showed up to work.

She adored our daughters and would choose outfits and buy tons of snacks for them. But whenever the girls called me "Dad" in front of outsiders, her face would darken.

"Don't call him 'Dad' when we're out and about," she said.

I was confused back then, but she smiled and brushed it off. Only now did I feel a chill run down my spine.

Her smile hadn't been the same as before for a long time. The way she smiled at me now was like an actress going by a script.

My throat was parched, my breathing heavy.

I started frantically digging through the drawers until I found the girls' hair ties. I pulled a few strands of hair from them and carefully put them into a sealed plastic bag.

I had to test them. Even if there was only a shred of possibility, I had to find out the truth.

I had just hidden the hair when the bedroom door suddenly opened.

Evelyn walked into the living room with her usual smile and went to get some water.

As she tipped the jug, she said casually, "Thanks for taking care of everything, honey. I love you. I've got a surprise planned for our anniversary next week. You have to be there this time, okay?"

I froze.

Our anniversary? A surprise?

I sneered inwardly. I couldn't believe she still had the nerve to bring that up. Still, I wanted to see what trick she was planning to pull.

…

For the next few days, I barely slept, my eyes glued to that group chat. Evelyn was far too active in the chat, popping up almost every two hours like clockwork.

Every time she came online, she posted a picture. They were graphic and provocative. The variety of locations was terrifying.

She posted photos of hotel sheets, mirror reflections, bathtub bubbles, outdoor benches, and the back seat of a car.

One image after another appeared on the screen.

Sometimes, she posted her legs. Sometimes, it was her back. Sometimes, nearly the entire lower half of her body was in the frame.

Although her face was obscured in every photo, I knew her too well. I could recognize her figure, her lines, and the mole on her lower back even with my eyes closed.

Below the posts, the comments from the group chat members were relentless and crude.

"Baby, can I meet you tonight?"

"I haven't been able to forget that sexy waist of yours for three days."

"Send a voice message. I want to hear your voice."

"Damn, you're perfect! This is exciting."

I stared at the screen, my teeth grinding together as my knuckles turned white.

Those animals treated her like a plaything, and she was enjoying it.

My blood boiled. I wanted nothing more than to rip that entire group out by the roots.

Meanwhile, Evelyn was like an actress who played her role to perfection. One moment she was lying next to me, calling me "honey", and the next she was on the screen, enticing other men.

She lived a double life, wild and unrestrained.

…

Three days later, I received the paternity test results.

My hands trembled as I flipped through the pages one by one. When I saw the conclusion printed on the final line, I slowly let out a long breath.

I didn't make a fuss. I only felt as if the boulder that had been pressing against my chest had finally been lifted.

Just as I was about to confront her, my phone suddenly rang.

It was Evelyn.

I tried my best to keep my voice calm as I answered the call, "Hello?"

A soft chuckle came from the other end. "Honey, I'm having dinner with my friends tonight, so I'll be home a little late."

I stared at the ceiling, unable to utter a word.

Evelyn's tone was light and completely devoid of guilt.

I forced myself to ask, "Why does your voice sound so strange?"

She paused for a moment, then laughed and brushed it off. "It's nothing. The office is cold, and the air-conditioning got to me."

I didn't respond.

She didn't press me either. After a few more perfunctory remarks, she hung up.

I stared at the disconnected call and sneered.

According to her phone location, she was clearly heading in the opposite direction from her office. She couldn't even be bothered to make the lie convincing.

She was certain I wouldn't check, certain I'd believe her, and certain I'd keep playing the role of a supportive fool.

And sure enough, I had believed her for all these years.

But things were different now.

I was the one who knew the truth. If I struck first, she had no one to blame but herself.

I dialed a number and said, "Michael, I need a favor."

…

On the day of our anniversary, Evelyn got up early. She did her makeup, styled her hair, tried on clothes, and even sprayed on perfume.

I sat on the edge of the bed and watched as she checked herself in the mirror, a single thought running through my mind.

She should just stop because her act wasn't the least bit convincing.

"How do I look?" she asked, glancing back at me with a wink. "I booked us a resort in the mountains. The view is beautiful, the food is good, and the atmosphere is perfect. You're going to love it."

I nodded with a fake smile and kept playing dumb.

We drove halfway up the mountain to a resort tucked deep in the woods.

The servers looked as if they had rehearsed everything in advance. They greeted us, led the way, and opened the private room with movements so smooth they seemed almost mechanical.

The table Evelyn had chosen was lavishly set with lobster, steak, red wine, and even roses arranged into the shape of a heart.

"To our anniversary," she said, raising her glass to me with a smile.

Smiling, I raised mine but didn't let the glasses touch.

Evelyn didn't seem to mind. She took a sip on her own and began pouring her heart out about how grateful she was.

"You really are the perfect husband. You hand over your entire paycheck, take care of all the chores, and you're so devoted to the kids. You know, all my friends say they're so jealous I married such a good man."

I listened without saying a word.

She kept smiling, piling food onto my plate with an over-the-top eagerness. Meanwhile, I just knocked back my wine, glass after glass, until the alcohol seared my throat.

She kept talking, almost as if she were performing for an audience.

"You've worked so hard these past few years, and I've always remembered that."

I continued to stay silent, and I hadn't even picked up my utensils.

Evelyn's smile slowly began to fade.

At last, her face darkened, and she slammed her palm against the table with a loud crack.

"I've been sitting here, forcing myself to compliment you, and you're just sitting there with that pathetic look on your face. Who the hell do you think you're looking at?"

I lifted my head and stared at Evelyn, my gaze cold enough to freeze over.

She was finally dropping the act.

I was about to lay my cards on the table, but before I could get the words out, I suddenly felt something off with my body.

My chest felt tight, my head spun, and my limbs went weak. I couldn't even force my jaw open.

I gripped the edge of the table, my face turning ashen.

Evelyn stared at me and smiled. Only this time, the smile had changed. It was cold, vicious, and twisted with a hint of satisfaction.

"What's wrong?" she asked. "Starting to feel off?"

She leaned in, lowering her voice into a whisper. "Too late. The bottle you were drinking from was high-proof liquor I picked out myself. At this point, even if you want to fight back, I'm afraid it's a little too late."

After saying that, she clapped her hands. The door to the private room opened, and a man walked in with contempt written all over his face.

Evelyn threw herself at him, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him.

My eyes widened, but my body wouldn't move. I didn't even have the strength to curse at them. They lost themselves in the kiss for a moment before each grabbed an arm and dragged me out.

I was hauled into the car. Evelyn started the engine, placed my hand on the steering wheel, and secured my foot to the gas pedal with a rope.

Numbness had taken over my entire body. I could only manage a broken, wheezing whisper. "W-What… are you doing?"

Evelyn laughed as she started the car, grinning so widely that her gums showed. "What do you think? I'm sending my dear husband to his death, of course!"

I stared at her, my voice trembling. "This hotel has security cameras. If you think you can kill someone and no one will find out… you're wrong."

She turned to look at me and burst into hysterical laughter. "Security cameras? Honey, this hotel belongs to my boyfriend. The cameras were turned off a long time ago."

Her man leaned against the car window and whistled, then added lazily, "Relax. We're professionals."

My heart dropped.

I knew Evelyn was ruthless, but I never imagined she'd actually go this far.

The car was already in gear, the wheel was pointed straight ahead, and the hood of the car shot toward the winding mountain road.

I fought desperately with the steering wheel, but my foot was tied in place, and the whole car tore downhill.

The speedometer quickly climbed to 100 miles an hour, and outside the window, the trees and cliff blurred together.

Finally, it all clicked.

Evelyn had asked me to dinner today so she could set me up to die. She had gotten me drunk so she could make it look as if I had driven under the influence.

She had chosen this place because once an accident happened here, there might not even be anything left of me to recover.

What she wanted was a perfect accident.

I used the last of my strength, but I still couldn't break free. A sharp turn appeared ahead, and right beyond it was a cliff hundreds of feet high.

In another 30 seconds, the car would fly off the road and crash into the valley.

Boom!

A violent impact rang out, and in an instant, flames erupted along the edge of the cliff.

I stood by the guardrail and watched the car disintegrate into a heap of scrap metal below.

A car that had been waiting drove up from the foot of the mountain. I yanked open the passenger door and slid inside. The person who picked me up was Michael Hayes, a former classmate I had called for backup earlier.

"Your wife is something else," he said, tossing a thick folder into my lap.

The pages were densely packed with information, and every line was alarming. I only managed to skim past a few pages before I felt my blood boil.

But from now on, I wouldn't be the one losing sleep.

…

That night, I kept monitoring the group chat.

Evelyn was in an excellent mood and was posting live photo updates of her date with that man. They went to a restaurant, a cinema, and then a park.

They kissed and touched each other without a care, posting one photo after another.

Although neither of them revealed their faces, the group still got worked up.

"I've already booked a room. Tonight, I'm going to make sure he can't get out of bed."

Evelyn posted a photo of a hotel key card. Then, as if by accident, she let her coat slip to reveal the provocative outfit underneath.

The sight of her bare skin and legs sent the group members into an immediate frenzy.

"She's incredible!"

"Damn, I can't handle this! That's enough for me today."

"You little tease! I can satisfy you, too, so make sure you come to me next time."

I tamped down my anger and scrolled through the group chat mechanically until a lucky draw popped up.

After Evelyn posted the key card, she stopped dishing out live updates, but the lucky draws in the group kept going.

I didn't think much of it and casually clicked on one.

"Congratulations! You're the lucky winner! Now, share a shocking secret with the group!"

I paused for a moment before bursting into laughter.

Then, I began to type. "I have a secret of my own, but I'm afraid someone in here is going to lose their mind when they hear it."

The group members, eager for more drama, chimed in immediately.

"Let's hear it! Don't keep us waiting!"

"It'd better be good! The bar is set pretty high now!"

Because of Evelyn, the group's appetite for drama had been raised quite a bit, and every one of them was howling with anticipation.

My fingers hovered over the keyboard for a moment before I slowly wrote, "I tricked a virgin into giving me two biological daughters."

The moment the message went out, the group went silent for three full seconds.