On our sixth wedding anniversary, my cheeks burn as I dodge my husband, Ethan Grant, leaning in for a hungry kiss. I push him toward the nightstand for a rubber.

What he doesn't know is that I've tucked a surprise in there, a positive pregnancy test. I can already see it, the way his whole face will light up the second he finds it.

But the moment his hand goes for the drawer, his phone goes off.

His best friend, Henry Miller, comes on the line in Danish. "Mr. Grant, how was last night? That new love couch our company rolled out is treating you okay?"

Ethan lets out a low laugh and answers in Danish, "The massage feature's great. Saves me from having to rub Sandy's back myself."

He still has me pulled tight against him, but his eyes look straight through me, like he's seeing someone else.

"This stays between us. If my wife ever finds out I slept with her sister, I'm done."

It feels like someone just put a knife through my chest. What they don't know is that I minored in Danish in college, so I catch every single word.

I force myself to stay calm, but the arms I have looped around Ethan's neck won't stop shaking. At that moment, I stop hesitating and decide I'll take the offer from that international research project.

Three days from now, I'll be gone from Ethan's world for good.

Ethan Grant noticed my arms fall away from his neck and leaned in to plant a gentle kiss on the tip of my nose.

"Sweetheart, what are you zoning out about? Is my face not doing it for you anymore?"

He looked at me with the same soft eyes as always, and it just felt ridiculous.

Minutes ago, he'd been on the phone, reliving what it was like to sleep with my younger sister, Sandy Searle. Now he was right back to playing the perfect, devoted husband.

How long had he been polishing this act? I was too scared to even think about it.

I tucked my face into the crook of his neck to hide the bitter curl of my mouth. "Nothing. I was just wondering what you two were talking about."

Ethan gave me a fond little smile. "I was talking business with Henry. He's been trading with Denmark lately, so he's gotten used to speaking Danish."

He must've been too busy fooling around with Sandy to remember that Danish had been my minor in college.

The air around me seemed to thin out all of a sudden.

I pushed him back, my voice eerily calm. "Go on, finish your call. I'm thirsty. I'll grab some water."

Before Ethan could say a word, I headed downstairs.

As I passed the living room, I caught the maids whispering to each other.

"The gift Mr. Grant bought Mrs. Grant just came in. I heard it cost hundreds of millions of dollars."

"The storage room's already packed with gifts. She hasn't even finished opening them. Mr. Grant really spoils her."

Back then, that kind of talk would've made me feel like the luckiest woman alive, convinced I'd married the best man I could ever ask for.

Now, all I could do was focus on not letting the pain show. No one had a clue how wild that man everyone praised for "spoiling his wife" really was behind my back.

Yesterday, I slipped into Ethan's study to drop off the anniversary gift I'd bought him. He kept so many company files in there that I was hardly ever allowed inside.

But this time, I found Sandy's pearl earring, tucked into the seam of the new couch. It gleamed so brightly it hurt to look at it.

At that moment, I knew my marriage to Ethan was over.

My phone buzzed, breaking my train of thought. Tyler Carter, my advisor, was calling.

"Aria, I saw you accepted the research offer. You gave up your career for Ethan, and I'm glad you're finally coming back. Someone will pick you up in three days. Take a little time to say goodbye to your family."

My family?

I almost snapped the phone in half.

Mom and Dad had died in a car crash six years ago. Since then, Ethan and Sandy had been my only family. But now that they'd betrayed me, they weren't my family anymore.

I drew in a deep breath, my voice barely more than a whisper. "Professor Carter, that won't be necessary. Please apply for the highest security clearance and erase every record tied to my identity."

Tyler's voice went sharp with shock. "Why? Once your records are gone, Aria Searle won't exist anymore. Ethan's going to lose his mind when he can't find you."

I let out a bitter laugh. "He won't. He already betrayed me."

Heat prickled behind my eyes.

After I left pharmacy school, I'd done nothing but brew hangover cures for Ethan. I lost myself and got nothing in return.

Only silence came through the line until Tyler finally sighed.

"I knew something was off when you suddenly accepted the offer. I just didn't expect this. I'll make sure your clearance goes through. Just prepare yourself to leave in three days."

I closed my eyes, feeling lighter than I had in years. With the security protocol in place, I didn't have to rack my brain over how to get rid of the title "Mrs. Grant".

"Thank you, Professor Carter."

Right as the last word left my lips, a voice I knew all too well rumbled behind me and made me jump.

"Sweetheart, who's the one who got betrayed?"

I turned to Ethan. His eyes had gone sharp with suspicion.

I held on to my usual gentle smile as I said, "A friend was filling me in on some office gossip. Apparently, a CEO cheated on his wife, and now she's talking about divorce."

If he were set on putting on a show, I'd play my part all the way to the final curtain.

Ethan studied my face, his gaze roaming as if he were looking for a tell. When he didn't find one, his shoulders finally loosened.

He slid an arm around my waist and kissed my forehead. "That guy's an idiot. He doesn't get that the woman waiting up with the light on every night is the one who actually loves him.

"If it were me, I'd rather die than cheat on you."

I met his deep eyes and let out a quiet laugh. "But what if it actually happened? What if—"

Ethan cut me off right away. "Aria, we're not doing hypotheticals. I, Ethan Grant, swear on every bit of wealth and success I'll ever have that I will never betray you."

I shook my head, swallowing the sting in my chest like it was nothing. "Of course. I was just saying."

Ethan went quiet, brushing my cheek with his rough stubble. I could feel how rattled he was.

It didn't make sense. He was sleeping with Sandy, but he still had this stubborn need to keep his claim on me.

"If I ever break my word, then I deserve to lose you forever. You're my angel and my whole life. Aria, without you, I'd be living in hell."

I didn't say a word as I gently eased out of his arms.

I'd be gone in three days, and the consequence he'd sworn to would finally come due.

That was when Ethan's assistant, Nathan Hayes, called from the doorway. "Mr. Grant, everything's ready."

Ethan nodded, then gave me a small, unreadable smile. "Come on. I've got a surprise for you."

He took my hand and led me out to the terrace, then suddenly covered my eyes. He leaned in and whispered in my ear, "Get ready for your surprise. Five, four, three…"

The moment the countdown ended, he pulled his hands away from my eyes.

I froze, completely stunned by what I saw.

The harbor beyond the terrace was washed in light as dozens of LED balloons drifted upward, slowly gathering into the shape of a glowing "six".

Ethan slipped his arms around me from behind, his voice soft with emotion. "Sweetheart, even after six years of marriage, every day with you still feels just as perfect as the day I first met you."

The lights in the sky were dazzling, but something inside me quietly sank.

Six years had passed. I'd gone from the Searles' precious daughter to a Grant by marriage, folded into a life of money and shine.

Six years had changed me a lot. It was long enough for love to rot into betrayal and for vows to turn into lies.

Ethan turned me to face him, looking at me as if I were his entire world. "We'll have countless six-year stretches together, and I'll give you my best in every single one."

He leaned in slowly to kiss me.

If I hadn't found Sandy's pearl earring tucked in the love couch, I probably would've fallen for that look forever.

His phone started ringing right before he reached me. He frowned, clearly annoyed at the interruption.

Perfect. Now I didn't have to figure out how to dodge his kiss.

"Damn it. I said I didn't want anyone bothering me tonight. Let's see who actually has the guts to ignore that!"

But as soon as Ethan saw who was calling, his expression flipped. The name "My Little Pearl" flashed across the screen.

I didn't need a second guess. It was Sandy.

Ethan cleared his throat, tilted the phone away from me, and started tapping at the screen in a rush.

I could see panic and longing in his eyes. Sure enough, he turned back to me a second later with that practiced, guilty look.

"What is it?" I asked calmly, even though my nails were biting into my palms.

I already knew the truth. I just wanted to see which one of us he'd pick.

Ethan slipped his phone into his pocket, apology all over his face. "Sweetheart, something urgent came up at work. I have to take care of it."

"Right now?"

"I'm sorry. I know tonight is important, but I can't put this off. Why don't you go rest in the bedroom? I'll be back soon."

I nodded meekly. "I understand. Work comes first."

Ethan visibly relaxed at my answer. He gave me a quick hug and headed out. His car pulled away from the estate, its taillights disappearing into the dark.

I headed for the driveway. I was going to see for myself just how "urgent" this really was.

I tailed Ethan's car until he pulled into a private club for the upper crust, then I eased in and parked at the curb.

Thankfully, the guard at the gate recognized my car. He just dipped his head in respect and let me pass without a word.

I stayed in the car, watching quietly through the windshield.

As soon as Ethan opened his door, Sandy burst out of the club in a ridiculously short skirt and threw herself into his arms, clinging to him like a cat in heat.

"Honey, that LED balloon show just now made me so jealous."

Ethan patted her back, his voice dripping with indulgence. "Didn't I throw you that water projection show for your birthday a few days ago? Wasn't that enough for you, Little Pearl?

"Just behave and don't let Aria find out about us, and you won't miss out on anything she gets."

My chest tightened so hard it felt like I couldn't breathe. That lavish water projection show from a few days earlier flashed through my mind.

That night, Ethan had told me he needed to "deal with" an employee who'd leaked confidential information. He never came home.

I'd been up all night, sick with worry about him.

Now I finally got it. The thing he was "dealing with" was actually sharing Sandy's bed.

Sandy let out a light, teasing laugh as her fingers traced slow circles on his chest beneath his shirt. "So, I'm not allowed to be jealous now, huh, Mr. CEO? Figures. What am I even supposed to do with you?

"You're still my man. I've got something special lined up for you tonight."

She leaned in and whispered something in his ear. His eyes darkened with hunger.

Right there in front of everyone, Ethan scooped her up and carried her straight into the club. She breathed out a sultry moan before he kissed her into silence.

Once the elevator doors slid shut, they headed straight for the presidential suite on the top floor.

I stayed in the car, staring after them until they were gone.

That was the moment our six-year marriage finally fell apart. I thought I was past feeling anything, but the tears still came uncontrollably.

When we'd first gotten married, Ethan promised we'd spend every anniversary together. Now, one call from Sandy was all it took for him to forget.

I'd lost in every way that mattered. I took a long breath, forcing the pain in my chest back under control.

I just had to hang on for three more days. After that, I'd finally be free of all this.

…

It was 2:00 am when I finally returned to the estate. I went straight past the master bedroom and into the guest room, locking the door behind me.

Around 3:30 am, Ethan came storming down the hall, shouting my name, his voice slipping further off the rails with every word.

"Aria? Aria! Damn it! Where did she go? What good are any of you if you can't even keep track of one person?"

The butler, Arthur Page, answered in a shaky voice. "Mr. Grant, Mrs. Grant's car isn't in the driveway. She may have gone out."

"Find her! I don't care what it takes. Turn this city upside down if you have to!"

His footsteps drew closer. I killed the light, dove under the covers, and pretended I'd just been jolted awake by the noise.

The door flew open with a bang.

The second Ethan saw me, his anger melted into relief. "Oh God, Aria, you scared me half to death. I almost lost it looking for you!"

He rushed over and pulled me into a tight hug. I could feel his heart racing against my chest.

I patted his back gently. "What's wrong?"

Ethan kissed my crown, his voice threaded with fear. "It's nothing. I just couldn't find you, and I freaked out. Why weren't you in our bedroom?"

"I couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd try a different room."

I'd lived with lies for so long they came out of me without effort.

Relief flashed across Ethan's face. "Don't ever do that again. I can't handle not knowing where you are. You know I'd do anything for you."

If he really meant it, he wouldn't be with Sandy at all.

I closed my eyes and smirked, more determined than ever.

…

The next morning, I put together a small, elegant gift box. Inside, I laid my wedding ring, my prenatal test results, and the divorce papers I had signed in the middle of the night.

I closed the lid, tied the ribbon, and handed it to Ethan. "Ethan, this is my anniversary present for you."

He took the box, a little surprised. "Can I open it now?"

"No. Open it in two days. It'll be more special then."

He nodded and carefully set the box in the safe. "Whatever it is, I'm going to love it."

Great. Just what I wanted to hear.

In two days, I'd be gone from Ethan's life for good. By then, that "gift" would've told him the whole truth.

The words had barely left his mouth when the doorbell rang.

He opened the door to find Sandy standing there, tears streaming her face, looking heartbreakingly fragile.