After discovering I was pregnant, Hunter began working tirelessly to provide for both me and the baby. Watching him exhaust himself broke my heart, so I decided to secretly set up a tarot reading booth at a local market under a pseudonym.

To my surprise, Hunter appeared at my booth one day, seeking a reading. He gave me my birth details, asking me to predict the fate of the child I was carrying. At first, I thought he was just being overly concerned for our future, so I assured him that our child was destined for a life of good fortune.

But his next move left me speechless. He handed me the birth details of another woman—his childhood friend, Elodie—and asked, "Can you switch our child's fate with this woman's unborn child? Make sure she never finds out."

I hesitantly calculated. Elodie's child was destined not to survive beyond three months after birth.

As usual, Hunter was waiting right on time at the factory gates, holding a rose to greet me after my shift. "Violet, how's the little one today?" he asked softly, gently caressing my belly as he handed me the rose.

Some colleagues glanced our way with envy, and I overheard snippets of their conversations. "Hunter's such a romantic, always greeting his wife with a rose," one remarked. "Violet, you're so lucky to have such a good man," another added.

I forced a bitter smile, choosing not to join the conversation. If I hadn't stumbled upon Hunter at the tarot stall, I might have believed I was the luckiest woman in the world. But things had unfolded differently, and I knew Hunter's heart was elsewhere. He was willing to alter our child's fate for someone else.

Hunter lingered a moment longer, pulling a small charm from his pocket and slipping it into a pouch, smiling as he handed it to me. "I got this from the cathedral today," he said. "The pastor said it would keep you and the baby safe."

I fought back tears as I held the pouch. "That must have been difficult to obtain," I managed to say.

He smiled warmly, hanging it from my waist. "The pastor just asked me to copy a prayer daily for a month as a sign of sincerity. Anything for you and the baby is worth it."

I laughed at myself inwardly. "You really put your heart into it."

He went on with more sweet talk, but I knew the truth. The charm wasn't from any cathedral—it was one I had prepared for him at the stall as a test to see if he truly intended to swap our child's fate with Elodie's.

I still had hope initially. After six years together, surely he wouldn't be so indifferent to our child? But reality hit me hard—he had done it and intended to keep me in the dark forever.

When I returned home, I found symbols hung around our room—exactly what I had advised him to do. Before I could say anything, he eagerly explained. "Didn't you mention feeling unwell during the pregnancy? I asked the pastor for more symbols to see if they’d help."

More lies. Watching him lie with such sincerity made me wonder how many times he had deceived me this way.

My heart twisted painfully, making it hard to breathe. I feigned indifference, saying, "Weren’t you someone who never believed in these things?"

My fists clenched, a single thought echoing in my mind. Hunter, if you would just admit everything, say you were wrong—that it was a momentary lapse—I might believe you, and there could be a chance for us.

A guilty look flickered across his face before he returned to normal. He knelt before me, lifting my hand for a lingering kiss, apparently sincere. "Violet, it pains me to see you upset. For you, I'm willing to believe in things I never did before. Even the smallest possibility is worth exploring."

Heartfelt words, all for me—always for my sake.

Tears streamed down my face. Hunter leaned down, gently kissing away the tears, holding me lovingly. "See, you're crying over something so small. You'll always be such a child."

Too many times, I had been moved to tears by his actions, and he naturally assumed this was another. But he was wrong; these tears were for sorrow, as I'd decided to leave him.

I wiped my tears away, forcing a smile. "I won't cry so easily next time."

Especially not because of you, Hunter. I won't shed another tear for you.

I sent Hunter on an errand, making a specific trip to the city's clinic for an abortion.

After the examination, the doctor warned me repeatedly, "Violet, it will be extremely difficult for you to conceive again. Once this procedure is done, having another child might be nearly impossible. Are you sure you want to sign?"

Without hesitation, I decisively signed the form. My father never cared about whether or not a child would be brought into the world, so what was the point in bringing one into existence?

The procedure was swift, and afterward, I tucked away the clinic record. Near the train station, I unexpectedly ran into Hunter, who had told me he couldn't come home today because of a college event.

Turns out we both lied.

Yet, his lie was to accompany Elodie to a charming chapel in the countryside. He held her close, their pace leisurely, appearing every bit the perfect couple. Elodie whispered something to him, and pretending to be annoyed, he crossed his arms and gave her a sidelong glance.

Moments later, he laughed, pinching her cheek and bending down to say, "Hop on, I'll carry you."

Elodie joyfully kissed his cheek as she climbed onto his back. "Hunter, I love you!"

Their exchange was like a sharp, cold blade, cutting through the little bit of indifference I had managed to build. I had never seen him so animated.

In my presence, Hunter never got angry or showed emotion, always the perfect husband. No request of mine was ever denied; the more gentle he was, the more brutal it felt. Because he never pretended to be angry with me, nor did he ever say, "I love you."

As if punishing myself, I quietly followed them. The silver bracelet on Elodie's wrist caught my eye like a splinter.

When I was pregnant, Hunter had stayed up all night at home, crafting that very bracelet, telling me it was for me and the baby. A charm to lock in fortune and ensure peace.

I was ecstatic, whispering every night to the baby, "Your dad loves you, loves us."

But before the bracelet was finished, Hunter told me it had been stolen at college. Now I saw clearly, the engraving read "ju" for Elodie.

From the very start, it was meant for her.

Leaving the chapel, he carried a stack of books while Elodie wore a new pendant at her waist. This was the charm he had spent a month acquiring, full of sincerity.

Pain gripped my chest as lie after lie, stained in betrayal, unraveled. I had promised myself not to shed another tear for him, yet I couldn't stop the tears from welling up.

Choosing not to watch their happiness any longer, I turned to leave, only to overhear Elodie say, "We need to make sure the fate swap for our child goes smoothly, Hunter. Our baby must be destined for prosperity."

She choked on her sobs, and Hunter comforted her, "Don't worry, our child will grow up safe and healthy."

"Thank goodness Violet's child's fate is good. I guess it's her repayment for all the unconditional love I've given her over these years."

My heart trembled as I gently touched my flat belly.

All the kindness over the years had been nothing more than a transaction, never genuine love.

Six years, and finally, I saw through Hunter Silva, the man admired by all, the one who spouted sweet words.