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.

"Happy birthday, Nicky! I love you! You’re the only woman I’ll ever love in this lifetime!"

Tristan pushed a cart forward, topped with a massive three-tiered cake. Resting at the very top was a car key.

"A new car, just for you. I had it shipped in from overseas."

"Wow, the latest one! Do you know how much that costs?"

"I’m so jealous! I couldn’t even get on the waitlist!"

Lisa clenched her jaw in frustration, forcing a smile. "Mr. Ford is so generous to Miss Snow."

"Miss Evans, no need to be envious. Maybe your boyfriend will get you one too," Tristan replied casually.

Lisa’s eyes lit up at his words. "Really?"

The others might not have understood their exchange, but Nicole did. She knew this car wasn’t just for her—Tristan had bought the exact same one for Lisa.

So much for being the love of his life. It was all lies.

"I’m tired," Nicole said abruptly. She couldn’t keep pretending any longer. Without another glance at the party or the gifts, she turned and headed upstairs.

Murmurs followed her departure, some guests commenting on her behavior.

"She’s so spoiled. She doesn’t even care about Mr. Ford’s effort."

But Tristan only smiled, brushing off the remarks. "My wife is tired and needs her rest. Don’t you dare say a word about her. I’ll spoil her as much as I want."

Nicole went to the furthest corner of the second floor, into the home theater. She tried watching a movie, but her mind was in chaos.

The noise from the party downstairs lingered for a long time.

Feeling thirsty, she decided to head down for a drink.

As she passed by the master bedroom, muffled sounds of passion stopped her in her tracks.

For a moment, it felt like lightning had struck her. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

Step by step, she moved toward the door. Her legs felt like they were made of lead, each step heavier than the last.

When she reached the doorway, she froze, staring at the scene inside.

On their bed, the silhouettes of two entangled bodies moved shamelessly. Her body began to tremble uncontrollably.

"You naughty thing," Tristan murmured between breaths. "You’re so bold, teasing me here. What if Nicky sees us?"

"That’s exactly what I want!" Lisa replied provocatively. "I want her to see. I want her to know that you’re mine!"

Lisa’s seduction chipped away at Tristan’s restraint, bit by bit, until it completely crumbled.

"This is thrilling! But no matter what, Nicky can never find out about us! Do whatever you want but provoking her is off-limits!"

"Why? Tristan, can’t you just divorce her and be with me?"

Tristan froze, his movements halting as his expression darkened. He fixed Lisa with a cold stare.

"Lisa, you’ve crossed the line tonight. Do you realize the things you said to her could cause problems? And let me be clear—I will never divorce her. She will always be my wife. You’d better remember your place."

Lisa pouted, her voice softening. "I understand, but it hurts, you know? You invited me here just to watch how much attention you lavish on her, how good you are to her?"

"Enough. I’ll make it up to you, alright?"

The two continued their entanglement, completely oblivious to Nicole standing outside the door.

A sharp pain stabbed through her heart as she gripped it tightly, bending over and gasping for air until the suffocating feeling eased slightly.

But the tears came anyway—hot, relentless, and uncontrollable.

She leaned against the wall for support, step by step making her way downstairs.

The fireworks were still going, painting the night sky with bursts of color. The display had lasted for three hours now.

Nicole stood in the yard, watching for what felt like an eternity, until finally, Lisa and Tristan emerged from the house, one after the other. Lisa’s steps were unsteady.

When Tristan spotted Nicole standing outside, he rushed over, wrapping her cold body in his arms and draping his jacket over her shoulders.

"Why are you down here again? Weren’t you tired? Where did you go earlier? I couldn’t find you and was so worried."

Nicole quietly pushed him away, her eyes frosty. "What about you? Where were you just now?"

"I was looking for you. I looked everywhere for so long."

"And what if one day, you can’t find me anymore?"

Tristan’s heart skipped a beat. "Don’t say that, Nicky. You know I can’t live without you."

"Tristan, if you ever betray me, I will disappear from your life forever. Do you understand?"

"I swear!" Tristan raised his hand solemnly, his expression earnest. "I will never betray you, not ever. I swear on these fireworks that I will only love Nicole Snow for the rest of my life!"

As Nicole watched Tristan’s serious demeanor, her mind wandered back to their first year together.

That New Year’s Eve, the fireworks were just as dazzling.

They had spent an unforgettable night atop a mountain, watching the sky light up.

That night, Tristan shouted into the sky, "Tristan Ford will love Nicole Snow forever, for a lifetime! No, for the next lifetime, and the one after that!"

She still remembered how he’d pushed himself to exhaustion for his career, to the point of damaging his liver.

When she donated part of her liver to him, they were wheeled into the operating room side by side. Tristan’s eyes were red and swollen with tears.

"Nicky, I’ll never let you down. I love you so much.”

They held hands tightly, refusing to let go, until the doctors had to forcefully separate them.