The next day happened to be Jonah's birthday. Augustin and I both took the day off to stay home.

Jonah spotted me and pulled a long face, looking like he was still chewing on last night's grudge. He didn't say a word at breakfast, which suited me fine because I wasn't in the mood to talk to him either.

When the meal was nearly over, Jonah finally couldn't help himself and asked, "Clarice, what are you getting for my birthday tonight?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Sephine's ears practically perked up.

Every year on Jonah's birthday, I'd not only shower him with gifts, but also lavish her with something extravagant.

"Oh, I've got a surprise for you both. You'll see soon enough."

Jonah's face lit up with a grin, and Sephine glowed with expectation.

Deep down, I snickered. I hoped they'd keep smiling when they saw what I had in store.

By six that evening, the house started filling up with guests. They were Jonah's friends, college buddies, and Sephine's lover, Callum Vance, among them.

I gave the chef final instructions to make sure the spread and everything were just right.

Dinner kicked off at seven.

Halfway through, I pulled Jonah aside to grab some wine from the storage room. Like in my past life, I told him Sephine had been cheating on him.

"No way, Clarice! Don't make stuff up!"

Looking at the way he gaped at me, I raised my voice on purpose so everyone in the hall could hear. "Sephine's been cheating on you right under your nose and brought another man into your bed! Understood?"

Like in my past life, Jonah refused to believe a word I said.

He fell silent for a moment before grabbing Sephine's arm as she arrived to call us for dinner. "Clarice says you're cheating on me. Is that true?"

Sephine shot him a confused look before tears welled up in her eyes. "What are you saying, Jonah? We've been married for years, and you should know me better than anyone!"

"So you're not cheating on me?" Jonah asked skeptically.

She raised a hand and vowed. "I swear on my life that if I ever cheated on you, I'll be struck down where I stand!"

Her words were enough to dispel all Jonah's doubts. Just like in my past life, I watched as a couple of sniffles and a pathetic vow from Sephine were enough to win all of his loyalty.

Meanwhile, I'd been branded a liar because of two random pairs of men's boxers that weren't Augustin's, regardless of how much I tried to fight back.

But in this life, I was never going to let Sephine easily off the hook.

I stepped forward and said with a cold laugh, "Sephine, you cheated on Jonah, so how do you have the nerve to swear you're innocent?"

When Sephine saw me approach, her eyes brimmed with tears. "You're Jonah's sister, so after marrying him, I've always done what you asked and respected you. Why would you try to slander my name?"

"Slander? How am I slandering you?" I'd witnessed everything with my own eyes, and her calling this slander was laughable.

Sephine drew a sharp breath as if mentally making up her mind to say more. "Clarice, must you do that?

"I never wanted to say this… but since you insist on slandering me, I have no choice…"

Jonah's eyes widened, curiosity written all over his face. The guests who'd come for his birthday drew closer at the commotion, including Augustin.

Sephine shot him a glance and turned to me. Then, after pressing her lips together, she murmured, "I was going to pretend I know nothing and not say a word since we're family. But I don't know what I did to have Clarice try to ruin my name.

"You cheated on Augustin and pinned it on me. And just because I come from nothing, you've always believed I'm not good enough for Jonah and want us divorced.

"But I've done everything right and have been loyal to Jonah from day one. You can't frame me with your own filth, just because you look down on me!"

She stood there looking so pitiful, while Jonah and the guests looked visibly shocked.

As for Augustin, he stared at me, dumbfounded. "Clarice… seriously?"

All eyes drifted between me and Augustin, hungry for drama.

Jonah pulled the crying Sephine to his side and reassuringly said, "It's okay. I know you didn't do anything. Don't worry, I promise to make this right."

Then, he turned to me and shot me a glare. "Clarice, not only did you sleep around behind Augustin's back, but you also tried to frame Sephine!"

I fixed him with an icy stare. "Me? Frame her? Open your damn eyes and check the red marks still blooming on her neck!"

Jonah stiffened, realizing why Sephine had worn turtlenecks these days. Before she could react, he yanked the collar down.

And there they were—faint red marks mapping her neck.

"I'm allergic to mango… It's an allergic reaction from when I brushed against some a few days ago," Sephine quickly explained under Jonah's stare.

To convince him, she rolled up her sleeve and showed more red allergic blotches across her skin.

With patchy red rashes bloomed across her skin, she sniffed and murmured, "Honey, you know I'm allergic to mangoes. The meds made me photosensitive, so I had to wear turtlenecks and get myself all covered up."

Jonah's anger melted away at her explanation, while Sephine turned to me with wounded eyes like she'd been wronged.

"Clarice, it looks like you won't rest until I'm proven guilty. In that case, I'll have to show proof."

Guests of the birthday party trailed behind her to the upper floor, eager for the show. Like in my past life, she stormed into my bedroom and flung open my closet to reveal two pairs of men's boxers.

"Here it is! This is proof that Clarice's been sneaking her lover in! After they had their last affair in the house, I saw him run out half-dressed and leave these behind!

"I wasn't going to say anything, but I can't hold it in any longer!"

She grabbed the two pairs of black boxers in my room and looked perfectly heartbroken.

Noticing the pairs of black boxers, Jonah pointed a finger at me and lashed out. "The proof's right here, so how can you still deny it? Clarice, I know you hate Sephine. You've always been scowling since the day we married.

"But I never thought you'd go this far to cheat in the house and blame her for it!"

I almost laughed hearing the same line in my past life, and sure enough, this time I did.

Jonah frowned. "How dare you laugh?"

He turned on Augustin next. "Augustin, why aren't you saying anything? Clarice's cheating on you. Aren't you mad?"

Sephine shot me a quick, provocative look that basically screamed, "You're doomed!"

They looked forward to seeing Augustin turn around and slap me. After all, no one could ever tolerate cheating.

Under their expectant gazes, Augustin awkwardly cleared his throat. "Those are mine, Sephine. Is there a problem?"

Sephine was dumbfounded. "B-But you don't even wear black."

"How are you so clear about what color my husband's boxers should be?" I asked.

"I-I-I…" Sephine stammered and failed to get a single coherent sentence out.

Just then, a startled voice sounded from the next room. "What is this?"