After sitting in the lounge for a while, Nicole started to feel drowsy. She turned off the lights, hoping to catch some rest. Just then, a few people walked over to the water cooler nearby.

"Life’s really getting sweeter, isn’t it?" one of them remarked.

"Right? A little overtime at the office, and we walk away with a thousand bucks in hush money. Mr. Ford’s really getting generous."

"All this just to keep Nicole Snow in the dark while he fools around with that starlet? Why not just get a divorce?"

"Watch what you’re saying! Mr. Ford made it clear that Miss Snow must never find out about his affairs. Don’t get reckless. Besides, what’s wrong with us getting paid? It’s been two years, and I’ve made quite a bit from this."

Their conversation ended as they walked away, leaving Nicole trembling on the sofa.

So, everyone in the company knew. They all knew Tristan was seeing another woman.

Everyone, except her. For two years, she’d been the only fool left in the dark.

Rising in the darkness, Nicole felt like a ghost as she shuffled toward the conference room.

The room was empty—everyone had already left. They must have assumed she’d fallen asleep and wouldn’t come looking, so they all cleared out.

But the projector was still on, and so were the lights.

Nicole had planned to seek Tristan. But just as she was about to leave, the projector buzzed softly, and a message popped up on the screen.

"Where did you go? Come back quickly. I want more."

"So needy? Didn’t I just satisfy you? I'm in the restroom. I’ll be quick."

"I can’t help it, I miss you. I can’t go a second without you. How about I wear that camisole again? I know how much you love it."

"You little tease. I’ll make it worth your while. Nicole’s asleep anyway. I’ll be back soon and make you beg for more."

Their messages flashed across the screen, forcing their filth into her vision.

The vulgar words made her stomach churn.

Nicole couldn’t believe it. How could the man she had loved for ten years stoop so low?

She remembered the first time he’d been intimate with her. He’d only kissed her gently, and his face had turned red all the way to his neck.

The moment he removed her clothes, Tristan trembled slightly.

Under the dim yellow light, he stroked her cheek, his voice thick with emotion.

"Nicky, I love you so much. I finally have you. It feels like a dream."

And yet, in just two short years, Lisa had completely transformed him into this.

The most infuriating part? He never behaved like this at home.

Rage swelled in Nicole’s heart as her nails dug into her palms. The sharp pain was unmistakable, yet she hardly noticed.

She walked to the office door, peering through the slats of the blinds. Inside, two undressed bodies entwined, their movements frantic and unrestrained.

They were on the desk, papers and objects scattered across the floor, neither of them caring. Lost in their passion, they continued as if the world outside didn’t exist.

Watching the scene unfold with her own eyes, Nicole couldn’t stop herself. She fled to the restroom and vomited violently.

She had no idea how long she stayed there, retching until her emotions began to settle.

By the time she emerged, Tristan and Lisa had finished.

Tristan’s hair was disheveled, his face flushed—undeniable signs of what had just occurred.

The moment he saw Nicole, he panicked.

"Where did you go? I couldn’t find you, and I was so worried!"

"Worried about me?"

Nicole’s gaze landed on the love marks on his neck. With a cold laugh, she said, "Worried about what? That I might wander off and see something I shouldn’t?"

Tristan’s expression shifted instantly. He quickly shook his head. "What are you talking about? There’s nothing for you to see. I just finished a meeting, and I’m exhausted. Let’s go back to bed."

"Weren’t you in the mood for intimacy earlier? Let’s go to your office."

Nicole grabbed his arm, pulling him toward the office.

Tristan froze, fear flashing across his face.

"No, not tonight. I’m exhausted. If you want, I’ll make it up to you tomorrow, okay? I’m really too tired today."

Tristan was still pretending.

Nicole’s hand twitched, itching to slap him across the face.

But in the end, the slap never landed. She forced herself to swallow the searing pain in her heart and nodded stiffly.

"Fine. Let’s go back."

It didn’t matter anymore. None of it mattered to her now.

As soon as Tristan got home, he headed straight for the shower. Forgetting to grab his pajamas, he called Nicole to bring them to him.

The moment she pushed the door open, his well-built frame came into view.

But what caught her attention even more were the red marks scattered across his body.

Clearly feeling uneasy, Tristan quickly said, "Just leave them here, Nicky. You should head out."

Nicole gave him a cold glance, raising an eyebrow as she asked indifferently, "What happened to you?"

"Nothing.”

Seeing that she had noticed, Tristan panicked.

"I don’t know what it is—maybe an allergic reaction," he added, trying to shift the conversation. "By the way, Nicky, tomorrow’s your birthday. I’ve invited a lot of people to celebrate. You must be tired, so get some rest."

Nicole had almost forgotten that tomorrow was her birthday.

In the ten years they’d been together, he had always planned surprises for her birthday.

Every year, the gifts were more thoughtful and more extravagant than the last.

But what Nicole had wanted was never those things.

She walked out without another word and lay back in bed, closing her eyes but sleep wouldn’t come.

When she opened her eyes in the middle of the night, she saw Tristan sitting up, grinning at his phone. That smile gave everything away.

Pain clenched her heart, but she repeated silently to herself:

“Soon. Very soon, all of this will be over.”

The next morning, before Nicole was fully awake, Tristan leaned down and kissed her forehead affectionately, his voice soft and tender as he woke her.

"Come on, sleepyhead, time to get up!"

He had a row of dresses and high heels brought in for her to choose from. Even the maids, seeing this, couldn’t help but look on with envy.

"Sir, you’re so good to your wife!"

"Of course I am! She’s my wife. Who else would I spoil if not her?"

Nicole smiled faintly, but her eyes brimmed with mockery.

"Happy birthday, darling. Take a look, what do you want to wear today?"

Nicole casually picked a few outfits, and Tristan immediately instructed the staff to take the rest away.

When she stepped out, dressed and ready, she overheard Tristan telling one of the maids, "Send the rest of these clothes to the Willow Manor."

Willow Manor? Nicole remembered that house. They had bought it in their second year of marriage—a villa not far from home—but they’d never lived there.

A sense of unease crept over her, but she didn’t ask any questions.

For Nicole’s birthday party, Tristan had spent the entire day running around. From decorating the house to overseeing the pastries in the kitchen, he handled every detail personally.

He wouldn’t let Nicole lift a finger, insisting that as the birthday girl, her only job was to relax and enjoy herself.

If she didn’t already know about his affair, she might have believed she was the luckiest woman in the world.

As night fell, guests began to arrive one after another.

"Mr. Ford, you’re ridiculously devoted to Miss Snow! Birthdays, Valentine’s Day, anniversaries—every occasion is a grand event. Aren’t you tired of spoiling her so much?"

"Seriously, attending all your parties throughout the year is practically a full-time job! And they’re all for her. You must really love her, huh?"

Tristan held his wine glass under the glow of the crystal chandelier, his smile brimming with pride as he basked in their compliments.

"So, what if I spoil her? Nicky is the only woman I’ll ever love in this lifetime. There will be just as many parties in the years to come. Are you all coming or not?"

"Of course, we’ll come! With Mr. Ford setting such an example of devotion, we’ve got a lot to learn!"

Nicole sat expressionless on the sofa, watching Tristan chat and laugh with the guests. Her eyes glimmered with mockery.

He was truly impressive—lies rolled off his tongue so effortlessly. In the past, such words would have left her deeply moved.

Suddenly, the room stirred as Lisa made her entrance. The buzz of excitement spread quickly.

Nicole’s face darkened.

As expected, Tristan had invited her.

Seeing her, Tristan couldn’t hide his excitement. He walked over and pretended to have a polite small talk with Lisa.

But the way his hands fidgeted and the unspoken emotions flickering in his eyes didn’t escape Nicole’s notice.

"Miss Snow, happy birthday," Lisa said as she handed over a gift. "This is for you. I hope you like it."

"How thoughtful of you, Miss Evans." Nicole took the gift, though her expression remained far from warm.

"Why is Lisa Evans here?"

A few guests exchanged surprised glances.

"Exactly. She’s just an actress. What’s she doing at an event like this?"

"Careful what you say. Actress or not, did you notice the diamond necklace she’s wearing?"

"My God, how could someone like her afford something so expensive?"

Nicole’s gaze shifted to Lisa’s neck, and she noticed the exquisite necklace.

She recognized it instantly.

It was the same necklace Tristan had gifted her in their second year of marriage. He’d told her it was one of only two in the world and had bought it especially for her.

Now, the second necklace was around Lisa’s neck.

A sharp, unexpected pain struck her heart as she gripped the gift in her hand more tightly.

"Are you all talking about this necklace?" Lisa asked with a provocative smile, casting a glance at Nicole. "I heard Miss Snow has one too?"

"Yes," Nicole replied coldly, her voice steady. "Who gave this one to you, Miss Evans?"

"My boyfriend gave it to me," Lisa said smugly. "He loves me very much. He even flew overseas a few days before my birthday to bid on it just for me."

She deliberately looked at Tristan as she spoke, her words dripping with provocation.

Tristan’s expression darkened, but Lisa didn’t seem to care.

Nicole took a deep breath, forcing herself to remain calm.

"I didn’t expect Miss Evans to already have a boyfriend.”

"Of course. We’ve been together for two years, and we’re deeply in love. Probably even more in love than you and your husband," Lisa replied, her voice laced with provocation.

"Does Miss Snow want to know who my boyfriend is?"

Nicole raised an eyebrow, deliberately playing along. "I’m quite curious, Miss Evans. Do you dare to tell me who he is?”

Feeling displeased, Lisa nearly blurted out, "My boyfriend is Tristan—"

"That’s enough."

Tristan’s face darkened as his gaze landed on the necklace Lisa was wearing.

"Miss Evans, today is my wife’s birthday. We’re not interested in who your boyfriend is."

"Mr. Ford, I was just wondering who’s more devoted—my boyfriend to me, or you to Miss Snow?" Lisa said, unwilling to back down but not daring to say more outright.

"Of course, I love Nicky the most," Tristan said without a moment's hesitation. "There isn’t anyone in the world who loves her more than I do."

His quick response made Lisa’s face pale with anger, her expression twitching with frustration.

Nicole glanced up at Tristan, her face calm but her stomach churning with disgust. His words made her nauseous; she felt as if she might vomit.

"Nicky, are you alright?" Tristan asked, noticing her discomfort and quickly moving to support her.

Nicole pushed him away. "I’m just a little tired."

"Why don’t I help you upstairs after we look at the gifts?"

He clapped his hands, signaling the butler, who promptly began the fireworks display outside.

Fireworks exploded one after another over the yard, their bright sparks scattering across the night sky and illuminating everything below.

The vibrant colors intertwined, creating a dazzling visual feast that left the guests in awe.

"Wow, this is incredible! Miss Snow is so lucky to have Mr. Ford," someone exclaimed.

"True love, right? Remember when Mr. Ford had liver issues? Miss Snow donated part of hers without hesitation. It’s only fair that he treats her so well!"

"This is so romantic. I’m honestly dying of envy."

The crackling sound of fireworks and the murmurs of admiration blended together, but for Nicole, it felt suffocating.

Every second she stayed, every glance at Tristan’s fake, perfect smile, made her heart ache and her body feel heavier.