Sarah's POV

Ms. Harlow suddenly gripped my shoulder, forcing me down with unyielding pressure.

My knees slammed against the hard tiles, the dull thud sending a sharp sting shooting up my legs.

“On your knees,” she hissed close to my ear, her voice cold and unforgiving. “Apologize to Mr. Adrian. Now.”

The boutique erupted in chuckles, my colleagues trying to hold back laughter, and people passing by stopped to stare, giggling.

My face instantly turned bright red from the heat of shame. I stared at the floor, my throat feeling tight and dry.

I was a mother, a wife, and a human being, but here, I was being treated like a dog. My throat tightened as the words forced their way out.

“I… I’m sorry, Mr. Adrian…”

They barely made it past my lips.

“Thats enough.”

His voice was quiet, but it carried a weight that cut clean through the room. Ms. Harlow’s hand went rigid on my shoulder, then slipped away at once.

“It’s fine.” He turned to Ms. Harlow, the look in his eyes saying far more than words ever could.

I lifted my gaze, just enough to catch his dangerously handsome face. There was no anger there, only a sharp edge of annoyance, and it wasn’t directed at me.

“No one’s getting fired. You may go, Ms. Harlow,” he said calmly.

Ms. Harlow blinked rapidly, as if she’d just been struck. “Yes… of course, sir. Thank you… you’re too kind.”

She stepped back at once, hurriedly smoothing down her expensive dress, though her hands trembled enough to betray her composure. For a fleeting second, her gaze dropped to me—sharp, venomous, filled with undisguised hatred.

“Take care of him,” she snapped.

Then, without waiting for a response, she turned and fled to her office.

I pushed myself upright on unsteady legs, my body still trembling. I tried to straighten my uniform, but my fingers fumbled uselessly, refusing to cooperate. My heart pounded hard against my ribs, each beat loud in my ears.

“I… I’m so sorry,” I said again, my head bowed as the words scraped out of my dry throat.

“Do you really have memory problems?”

The question made me flinch. I glanced up and shook my head quickly. “No… no, sir. I just–” My voice faltered. “I’m not feeling very well today.”

“Then why are you working if you are sick?”

“It just started,” I said, nervously scratching the back of my head.

He didn't speak for a beat. He simply stood there, watching me.

“Call me Adrian,” he said finally.

The words caught me off guard, sending my thoughts into a brief spiral. Why would a man like him want me to use his first name?

“Oh… okay,” I breathed.

Suddenly, Penelope, my colleague pushed her way in, a bright, practiced smile already in place as she smoothed her hair.

“Hi, Mr. Adrian,” she said sweetly, her voice coated in honey. “I can help you with anything you need. Sarah is a bit slow today.”

Mr. Adrian didn’t even glance at her. His attention stayed firmly on me.

“As you can see,” he said, voice edged with ice, “I already have someone assisting me.”

Penelope’s smile faltered, slipping out of place. Her eyes shifted to me sharply.

“Don’t keep your children waiting, Sarah,” she snapped, loud enough for nearby ears to catch. “Help Mr. Adrian and then go home to your husband. He’s waiting, isn’t he?”

Her words landed hard, knocking the breath out of me for a moment. It reminded me of the card, and the lie I was living.

She gave me a dismissive once-over, turned sharply on her heel, and walked away.

Mr. Adrian flicked his wrist. The huge guy stepped forward, picked up my things, and handed them to me without a word.

“Thank you,” I whispered to the guy, holding my bag tight against my chest like a shield.

Mr. Adrian's gaze lingered, the silence thick between us, till he finally asked, “You are married?” Voice softer now, laced with curiosity.

I waited a second, then nodded. “Ye... yes, sir. Sorry, Mr. Adrian.”

"And children?”

I thought of Ethan and Lily, my chest tightening with a quiet ache.

“Yes,” I said softly.

He nodded slowly. “Oh. Okay.”

Then, he stepped back, giving me space. “Go home to them. I’ll find someone else to attend to me. You look like you need to rest.”

He started to walk past me, then paused, just long enough for his hand to brush lightly against my shoulder.

The contact was brief, but it sent a sharp, electric jolt through me, unexpected and unsettling. My pulse jumped, my breath catching as though something had shifted before I could understand it.

I stood there, rooted in place, feeling oddly frozen. Then the memory of the black card flashed in my mind again—the name SEAN MILLER in gold letters, the woman called Valerie, and her vacation. The pain returned so sharply it stole my breath.

I didn’t hesitate. I turned and walked straight out of Lumière House.

Outside, the world felt gray and cold as I made my way home, my eyes fixed on the cracked sidewalk. I didn’t notice the shops or the people passing by. Every step felt endless, as though my body was moving while my spirit dragged behind

Could it be another Sean? I asked myself over and over. Is it possible there is another man with the same name and the same bank code?

Questions flared in my head like a wildfire, with no water to put them out. I was so lost in thought that I didn’t realize where I was going.

HONK!

A sharp blast of a car horn shattered through my daze, right beside my ear. I gasped, stumbling back in panic as I realized I’d stepped into the middle of a busy road without even noticing.

“Crazy bitch!” a man yelled, pushing his car door wide open and leaning out. He looked at me like I was a piece of trash. “Maybe hitting your skull off would’ve been better for the world!"

“I’m so sorry!” I called out, my voice lost in the wind as I clutched my bag tightly and ran toward the sidewalk, my heart hammering in my throat.

“Sorry to yourself!” he snapped from the car, slamming the door shut before speeding off without another glance.

I stood on the sidewalk for minutes, shaking, and watched his car disappear down the road.

I got home a few minutes later. The dim hallway always carried the smell of old grease mixed with harsh cleaning chemicals. I walked to Flat 24 and knocked softly, my hand feeling weak against the door.

The door open opened almost immediately

Ethan was there first, throwing his small arms around my waist, bouncing with pure excitement. Lily stood just behind him, her little face lighting up like a bulb the moment she saw me.

“Hey Mom,” Ethan grinned, “how was work today?”

I carried Lily and felt her small arms around my neck. She pecked my cheek and my heart broke into a million pieces just looking at my kids. They deserved the whole world, yet I couldn't even give them a proper meal.

“It was good, Eth,” I murmured, forcing a smile. “Is Dad home?”

“Yeah, Mom, he got home not too long ago,” Ethan said, taking my heavy bag from me, already trying to act like the man of the house as he led the way into the sitting room.

“Just stay with Lily, I need to freshen up. I'll be with you guys shortly,” I told him, grabbed my bag back and walked toward the bedroom.

The room was a total mess—clothes scattered across the bed, the sheets crumpled and half-hanging off the side. And there was Sean, standing over a large, expensive-looking suitcase made of dark leather with silver buckles. I’d never seen it before in my life.

“You’re back,” he said without looking at me. He slammed the suitcase shut and locked it in one quick motion.

“Yeah.”

I stood by the door, watching him, waiting, holding onto a tiny bit of hope. Praying he wouldn’t give me any reason to confirm my fears.

Sean had a tired expression on his face as he sighed loudly and rubbed his forehead like he was in pain.

“Sarah… work is really tough right now. I have to travel tomorrow for a business trip,” he said, still avoiding my eyes as he fumbled with his phone.

“I don’t know how long I’ll be gone, but I’ll let you know when I can.” His voice sounded just too calm for someone sharing stressful news.

Suddenly, Valerie’s happy words came back to my head; Just shopping for our vacation tomorrow...

She was going on a vacation tomorrow. And now Sean was saying he's going on a ‘business trip' the same tomorrow, my mind raced.

So it was him.

It was my Sean after all.

Sarah's POV

Later that night, after a dinner that was barely enough for all of us, I sat on the edge of the bed in the kids’ room. The room was small, and the walls were old and peeling.

Ethan and Lily crawled under their thin blankets, their bodies curling close to each other for warmth. I leaned back against the wall, and watched them settle in.

Ethan didn’t pull his blanket all the way up. Instead, he turned and looked at me, his eyes too serious for a child his age. “Mom, you don’t look happy,” he said, reaching out a small hand. “Why?”

The question hit me like a physical blow. I felt a lump of hot coal in my throat as I gripped the edge of the old mattress so hard my fingers hurt. “Why do you say so, Eth?” I asked, forcing a calm tone.

Lily shifted closer to me, her small face tilted up as she studied me closely. “You couldn’t eat at the table, Mom,” she said in her tiny voice. “You just stared at your plate like you were scared of it.”

I stayed silent, while Ethan nodded slowly, like he was putting pieces together and said. “And you were fumbling with your food.”

He was only a child, but he saw everything.

Lily reached out and held my hand. Her fingers were warm, while mine were shaking. I pulled my hand back gently and forced a sharp, fake smile.

“You see,” I said quickly, “Mommy was just meditating on something important.”

I felt my eyes brim with tears. “And trust me, Mommy is really happy, okay?” I muttered, staring at the floor. But they didn’t look convinced. Worry sat plainly on their little faces.

“Listen, Eth,” I said slowly, my voice barely above a whisper, “I have to go now. Put Lily to sleep if you can. Be a good big brother, okay?”

He nodded, though his eyes stayed on me.

I leaned down and kissed them both on the forehead, stood up, and turned toward the door.

“Goodnight, Mom,” Ethan and Lily said at the same time.

“Good night,” I replied softly, switched off their light and stepped out.

The moment I shut the door behind me, my body gave up. I burst into tears, slamming my hands over my mouth so the sound would not reach them. My back hit the door and I slid down to the floor, sobbing silently. My whole body was shaking. How could I explain to these children that their home was about to break into pieces? How could I tell them their world was cracking right under their feet?

Then, Ethan’s voice drifted through the door. “And the dragon said, the sky is blue in the day and dark in the night…” He was telling Lily a bedtime story, the same one I used to tell him when he was smaller.

I pressed my forehead against the door and let the last of the tears fall. Then I lifted my hands and wiped my face slowly, once, then again, until my skin felt tight and dry. I drew in a deep breath through my nose and held it there, forcing my chest to steady as I pushed myself up, and stepped away from the door.

I walked into my bedroom. Sean was already on the bed, lying on his side, his back facing me. He looked peaceful, but my mind was screaming.

Five years ago, when I was pregnant with Lily, life felt different. He used to put Ethan to sleep himself. He used to wait for me so we could fall asleep together, his hand wrapped around mine. Not until he blamed my signature for his failed contract. He said my signature wasn’t found in the system, that it was my fault we were poor. No clear reason. No explanation. Just blame.

Could it all have been lies? Did he get that contract? The thought hurt so badly that I forced myself to speak.

“Sean,” I called out, staring at his still back. “So tell me… what is the business trip really about?” I asked, but the room remained silent. Only the sound of the wind outside filled the room. “Sean!” I called out again, moving closer to the bed but he didn’t move.

My heart started racing like a drum. I moved to the side of the bed, touched his shoulder, and realized he was deeply asleep. He was snoring lightly with his phone clutched tightly in his right hand, even in sleep.

I stared at his handsome face, pain and anger twisting inside me. Valerie Shawn’s perfect smile, and the black card filled my mind. I rose slowly and went to the wardrobe.

I opened it silently, searched through the pockets of his old coats with trembling fingers until I found his debit card. My heart began to ache again. It had the same name and the same code Valerie used to pay for the dresses at the boutique. I placed it aside and began searching the lower wardrobe. I moved files and papers, but they were mostly old bills and irrelevant documents.

Then, I saw his heavy metal file box, tucked away in the back. I tried to lift the lid, but it was locked with a code I didn't even know. That was the moment I knew there might be evidence of his lies and deceit inside it.

I had been with Sean for seven years, seven years of my life, and I never imagined I would become a spy in my own home, searching for evidence of my husband’s lies.

I glanced at him to be sure he was still asleep, then carried the box to the floor, sat down, and began testing codes. I tried his birthday, the kids' birthdays, and some other codes but it still wouldn't open.

Sean suddenly turned on the bed, his body shifting under the sheets. I froze and stared at him for a few seconds. I stood up slowly, my heart slamming against my ribs, reached for the light-switch and turned it off immediately.

I sat in the dark, my breath coming in short, scared gasps, waited for minutes until I heard his steady snoring again.

Then I turned on my phone, dimmed the light, and tried more codes.

Finally, I typed 7780, his debit card code and it opened. My hands trembled so badly I almost dropped the phone.

I looked at Sean again, and he was still deeply asleep.

I began going through the files. At first, they were unknown business papers. But as I kept looking, I saw papers for houses, cars, and lands worth millions of dollars, all in his name. Then, I saw hard copy photos of him in expensive hotels, drinking wine in clubs, and wearing suits that cost more than our apartment. I flipped through them until I reached the last one, and there it was. A picture of him and Valerie, the same elegant lady who came to Lumière House, standing in front of a private jet. My heartbeat dropped instantly. I increased my phone brightness just a little and looked closely at the photo.

The Sean in the picture looked like a billionaire. He looked much more real than the poor Sean laying in my bed. Tears began dropping from my eyes. They fell onto the photo, making it wet. I immediately slipped the picture into my clothes and kept looking.

At the bottom of the box was a familiar file: VANT APEX GROUP.

My hands shook as I opened it carefully. I felt like I was going to faint, the words blurring before my eyes.

It stated that I, Sarah Miller, agreed to transfer my rightful ownership and position as CEO of Vant Apex Group to Mr. Sean Miller, my husband. My signature sat neatly at the bottom. I did sign it, but I remembered that day, he had told me my signature was needed... nothing serious, just for support, because I was his wife to help him get a contract. And then told me it was a "failed contract" later that week, blaming my signature for it.

The truth hit me like a train as I continued reading through the file. I saw the name, Vesper Vant, my late mother's best friend before she traveled out.

She had sent me the invitation to become CEO of her company, Apex group, five years ago, knowing I'd be the perfect fit.

The terms were clear: a 10-year trial period, and if I did well, the position would be mine fully. But Sean had intercepted it, and tricked me into signing away my rightful place.

He'd stolen my future. He'd stolen my children's future. He'd been living as a billionaire for five years, while I slaved away at Lumière House, my feet aching from standing all day. The pain of betrayal cut deep – Vesper had trusted me with this chance, and I'd let Sean take it all away.

I felt like the room was closing in on me then the worst thing happened. I heard a sound from the bed.

“Sarah…” Sean’s voice was deep and clear in the quiet room. I looked up, frozen. Sean was sitting up on the bed, staring straight at me in the dim light of my phone.

Sarah's POV

"What are you doing on the floor?" Sean asked quietly, his voice hitting me like a cold splash of water.

I swallowed hard, my mouth dry and useless. Behind me, the metal file box sat open, papers spread like a crime scene... proof of his double life.

"I...I couldn't sleep," I said, forcing the words out of my throat, my hands twisted together. "I am....I..I keep thinking about how life's been unfair to us."

He remained silent, his gaze drifting through the room, the dark shadows, the open wardrobe, the floor near my feet. It landed on my hands, clenched into tight fists. For one terrifying second, I was sure he'd spotted the gold seal on the Vant Apex Group file... and heard my heart screaming the truth.

Then, instinct took over. I had to hide it.

I moved quickly, leaning forward as if my legs had truly given out. My knee struck the box, nudging it into the wardrobe's shadows while I coughed loudly to cover the sound. As I shifted, I swept a stack of files under the curtain, hiding them from view.

Sean swung his legs off the bed and stood up. He instantly clicked the light on-harsh yellow light hitting my eyes, making me wince. My breath caught in my chest as he stood tall, staring down at me, face unreadable. Not angry, not soft... just alert. Like a man yanked from a dream he wasn't ready to leave.

"You have to be strong Sarah, okay?" he said, sounding concerned. But his tone didn't match his eyes... cold and searching.

"I told you, I can't sleep," I repeated, keeping my voice low and small.

He took a step closer to me. Then another, floorboards creaking beneath him. My heart pounded harder with each step. I braced myself, waiting for him to spot the file peeking from under the curtain, waiting for everything to blow up.

But he didn't look down. Instead, he reached out his hand toward me. "Come on," he said. "Get up off the floor."

I stared at his hand like it was a trap. I didn't want to take it. Every instinct in my soul screamed at me to run, to scream, to push him away... but I couldn't. Not now. Not when suspicion was hanging in the air like thick smoke.

I placed my trembling hand in his. His fingers closed around mine firmly, too firmly as he pulled me to my feet with a sudden strength that reminded me how much power he had always held over me. He guided me toward the bed, his grip never loosening.

"You scared me," he said as he sat me down on the mattress. "I woke up and you weren't here."

I said nothing. I couldn't trust my voice.

He sat beside me, turning to face me. For a long moment, he just looked, his eyes tracing my face, catching on my tight jaw and the tears I was fighting back. Then his expression shifted, softened... or maybe he just made it look that way.

"You've been worrying too much, Sarah," he murmured, raising his hand to my face. His thumb brushed lightly beneath my eye, wiping away a stray tear. "I told you, everything will be okay."

Before I could move or pull away, he leaned in and kissed me.

It wasn't a rough kiss, that was the part that frightened me the most. It was slow and deliberate. His hands felt warm as they rested on my back, pulling my tired body closer to his. I felt frozen, and stayed rigid while he deepened the kiss, acting as if his touch could erase the five years of lies.

His fingers slid down to the hem of my clothes, tugging gently at the fabric.

"Sean," I whispered, turning my face away so he couldn't reach my lips.

He paused. His forehead rested against mine, his breath warm on my skin as he asked, "What's wrong?"

I forced myself to breathe. I had to play the part. "I don't feel well," I said quickly. "My head hurts so much. I think... I think I'm coming down with something. I feel a fever starting."

He studied me again. For a second, I saw a flicker of suspicion in his eyes, like he was trying to see through my mask.

"I've just been thinking," I added. I let my voice tremble on purpose. "About money. About how we will pay for medicine if I get worse. The kids need so much, Sean. The rent is almost due, and the fridge is empty."

That did it. The mention of money acted like a cold wind. He pulled back immediately. His face hardened, the 'softness' vanishing in a second.

"I told you," he said sharply, standing up and walking away from the bed. "I'm broke."

The word 'broke' felt like acid in my ears. I knew he had millions, if not billions. I'd seen the papers.

"I don't have anything to give you right now," he continued, pacing the room. "Maybe after this trip... if things go well, I might have a little money then."

'A little!' He was talking about a few dollars while he carried a black card that could buy the whole street.

I looked up at him. Disgust twisted deep in my stomach, making me want to throw up again. Tears burned my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. He noticed the wetness in my eyes anyway.

"Hey," he said, his voice dropping again, into that fake, calm tone. "Why are you crying now?"

I shook my head and looked at the wall. "I'm just tired, Sean. I'm just so tired."

He sighed, sounding annoyed that I was being difficult. He came back to the bed and sat beside me. "You worry too much, Sarah. I keep telling you, things will change. You just have to trust me."

'Trust.' The word echoed painfully in my mind. How could he say that word?

He kissed my forehead once, like he was sealing a lie. "I have to get back to bed," he murmured. "Big day tomorrow." He lay back down, turned his back to me, and within minutes, his breathing slowed, steady and even. He was asleep.

I didn't sleep. I couldn't.

I sat there, staring at the back of his head. My body was buzzing with a mix of fear and pure rage. Very carefully, I stood up without making a sound, and moved back to the wardrobe like a ghost.

My hands moved fast now, fueled by panic. I returned every single file to its exact position, and made sure they were in the same order I found them. I wiped the box with my sleeve to remove any marks. I closed it, locked it, and slid it back into the dark corner where it belonged. I checked the floor for any stray papers, checked the bed, and checked the wardrobe. When I was done, there was no sign I had ever touched anything.

Only then, did I lie back down. But even then, my eyes stayed open.

Morning came much too fast. I woke to the sound of running water in the bathroom. Sean was already in the shower. I lay perfectly still, heart pounding against the mattress.

He hummed a happy song, zipped his bag, fastened his watch... sounding like a man with a clear conscience as he stepped out of the bathroom, dressed in a crisp shirt, looking confident. He went straight to the wardrobe.

I watched him through my eyelashes, pretending to be half-asleep. He knelt down. My breath stopped in my lungs.

He pulled out the metal box and placed it on the floor in the middle of the room.

What is he doing? my mind screamed.

He frowned as he unlocked it, flipping through the files slowly, his fingers moving with deliberate care. The papers I had carefully put back only hours ago lay exposed beneath his hands. He said nothing.

Then he straightened and turned toward the bed.

"Sarah." His voice was sharp enough to cut. I opened my eyes and met his stare.

"Did you touch this box?" he asked, his gaze locked onto mine.

I stayed perfectly still. The room seemed to hold its breath with me. Did he notice something was missing? Was he counting the files?

My hand slid instinctively toward my stomach under the blanket. My fingers brushed against the fabric of my nightshirt. Then, I felt it. The thin, sharp edge of a photograph. My heart dropped into my stomach as the realization slammed into me.

The photo. I'd slipped it into my clothes last night to get a clear view of it, and in the panic to put the files back, I'd left it on me.

My pulse roared in my ears as Sean stared at me, waiting for an answer.

Had he already noticed the photo was gone? Or was he about to find out? I couldn't tell. And that terrified me most.