Leaving the county office felt like walking through a dream. My daughter's new birth certificate rested in my bag, carrying my surname instead of Adrian's.

My phone rang.

Adrian.

I stared at his name before answering.

"Sweetheart, I'm tied up with meetings today, so I'll be home late," he said warmly. "Give our little princess a kiss for me. Don't wait up, okay? I miss both of you already."

His voice was gentle and affectionate, exactly as it had always been.

How could someone lie so effortlessly?

Adrian had always seemed like the perfect husband. He called whenever he worked late, constantly updated me during business trips, and never came home without pulling me into his arms first.

Now every memory felt tainted.

I remembered a charity banquet years ago when a socialite publicly mocked my background. The next morning, news spread that her family's company had collapsed after losing its investors.

When I asked Adrian about it, he had smiled.

"My wife isn't someone people can humiliate without consequences."

At the time, I thought it was love.

I remembered casually mentioning a limited-edition handbag I had admired online. The very next day, Adrian canceled his meetings, flew overseas, and returned carrying that exact bag.

"If this makes you smile, then the trip was worth it," he had said, kissing my forehead.

I used to think I was the luckiest woman alive.

Now I wondered whether every grand gesture had simply been his way of easing his guilt.

I sat behind the steering wheel, unable to insert the key because my hands wouldn't stop shaking.

While he was taking another woman and their son home from school, he had been telling me that he missed me.

How many times had he left their house only to come home and hold me?

People had warned me about men like Adrian.

"Power changes them," they said. "The richer they become, the more women they'll have."

I always laughed.

Adrian had given me no reason to doubt him.

Which made this betrayal impossible to understand.

Especially because the other woman was Vanessa.

Years ago, she had worked for the Sterling family as a nanny. I still remembered her entering Adrian's study in a revealing dress while carrying coffee.

The mug smashed against the wall.

Adrian's expression turned cold.

"Save those pathetic tricks for someone else. You're fired."

Then he wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me close.

"You'll never have to worry," he said. "You're the only woman I'll ever love."

Vanessa had fallen to her knees, crying and begging for another chance.

Adrian never looked at her.

"My wife is all I need."

She left that same day.

So when she reappeared months later as his executive assistant, I questioned him.

He had cupped my face and sighed.

"After losing her job, her relatives tried forcing her to marry an old widower. She's threatening to end her life. Keeping her close is the safest option. I'm only doing this so she can't hurt you."

I believed him.

I believed every word.

But their son was six years old.

That meant Adrian hadn't merely kept Vanessa close.

He had been living another life for six years.

I wiped away my tears.

I needed proof.

I hired a private investigator.

Half an hour later, my phone chimed.

A live location and a video arrived.

Adrian wasn't at the office.

The footage showed him leaving a kindergarten after what appeared to be a parent-teacher conference. His fingers were intertwined with Vanessa's while a little boy skipped happily beside them.

Then Adrian lifted the child into his arms.

He was smiling.

Not politely.

Not out of obligation.

The smile was warm, relaxed, and full of affection.

For some reason, it hurt more than the marriage record.

I followed them from a distance.

Eventually, they entered an upscale villa community.

Adrian parked in front of a house and opened the trunk.

Inside was a large box filled with toys.

The little boy squealed and ran into the yard.

Vanessa laughed.

"You spoil him too much."

Adrian chuckled.

"He's my son. If I don't spoil him, who will?"

Pride filled his voice.

Then he reached out and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear before leaning down and kissing her.

It wasn't a casual kiss.

It was slow and intimate.

When they separated, Vanessa rested her head against his shoulder.

"Thank you for getting James into the city's best private school," she said softly. "When I found out I was pregnant, I never intended to tell you. I didn't want to complicate things between you and Vivian."

Adrian smiled.

"Don't say that again."

His voice was impossibly gentle.

"She'll never find out the truth."

He paused.

"And even if she does... what can she possibly do?"

My fingers tightened around the steering wheel.

Then he looked into Vanessa's eyes.

"You are my legal wife. You and our son deserve the best. Taking care of both of you is my responsibility."

Legal wife.

The words echoed in my mind.

If Vanessa was his wife...

Then who was I?

The woman he introduced proudly at banquets?

The wife whose hand he never let go of in public?

For seven years, I believed I was the love of Adrian Sterling's life.

Standing outside that villa, I finally realized that I had never been his wife at all.

I had simply been the woman he chose to deceive.

Vanessa laughed through her tears, looking as though she had been handed the greatest gift in the world.

Adrian bent down and murmured something into her ear.

"We're husband and wife in the eyes of the law," he said in a low voice. "Shouldn't we start acting like one? We've been holding back for too long."

She gave his chest a playful shove. "You have no shame."

He chuckled, completely unbothered. Then he slipped an arm beneath her knees, lifted her into his arms, and carried her straight into the villa.

I remained in my car.

It felt as though a dull blade was cutting through my heart. Not enough to end the pain quickly. Just enough to keep tearing through me inch by inch.

...

I don't remember driving home.

One moment I was parked outside the villa. The next, I was standing in my living room.

Later that night, Adrian walked through the front door.

As always, he opened his arms and smiled the moment he saw me.

"My wife," he said fondly as he approached. "Have you been waiting long? You spent all day taking care of our daughter. You must be tired. Come here."

I moved aside before he could embrace me.

A flicker of surprise crossed his face, disappearing so quickly I almost thought I imagined it.

"I went to the county office today," I said. "I registered our daughter."

The smile on his face stiffened.

It lasted only a second.

Then he laughed softly.

"You didn't have to do that. I was going to take care of it myself. We can deal with the paperwork another day."

"It's already done," I replied evenly. "The process wasn't difficult."

For the briefest moment, something sharp flashed across his face.

"I told you I'd handle it."

His voice came out harder than intended.

Then he seemed to catch himself.

He immediately reached for my hand.

"Genn, don't take that the wrong way." His voice turned gentle again. "Things are complicated right now. You just got through your postpartum confinement. You shouldn't be running errands. You should stay home and recover. Let me handle these things. I don't want you overexerting yourself."

So considerate.

So thoughtful.

I lowered my eyes and nodded.

I didn't tell him our daughter had been registered under my surname.

I didn't tell him I had changed her name.

And I certainly didn't tell him that on my way home, I had made a phone call.

To the one man Adrian despised more than anyone.

I had gripped my phone so tightly my fingers hurt.

"I'm still legally unmarried," I had said calmly. "If your offer still stands... marry me in seven days."

Silence filled the line.

Then he quietly answered.

"Yes."

Back in the living room, Adrian exhaled softly and leaned against me as though he were the aggrieved one.

"It's been weeks since your confinement ended," he said gently. "We've barely had any time alone together. Tonight, maybe we could..."

My stomach churned.

Just then, his phone rang.

He glanced at the screen, and I caught it.

A flicker of panic.

Maybe guilt.

He quickly turned away and answered.

A minute later, he hung up and looked at me apologetically.

"Honey, something urgent came up at the company. I need to go. I'm sorry. I'll make it up to you."

He pressed a quick kiss to my forehead and grabbed his coat.

The moment he left, I followed him.

His car never went anywhere near the company.

Instead, it drove directly to the same villa.

Several minutes later, Vanessa emerged from the house.

She walked toward his car with a satisfied smile, her hips swaying as though she had already won.

She slid into the passenger seat.

Not long after, the car began to move.

I stared blankly.

Then, with trembling hands, I opened the listening app on my phone.

Months ago, I had installed it because I worried about Adrian's safety during business events. I was afraid someone might try to harm him.

The irony almost made me laugh.

Instead, it was helping me listen to my husband betray me.

Vanessa's voice came through first.

"Good thing I told you I wasn't feeling well," she said sweetly. "Otherwise, you'd still be at home acting like the perfect husband."

Adrian laughed softly.

"You should rest instead of overthinking. Genn suspects nothing."

He paused.

Then he said casually, "After giving birth, her body changed so much. Her stomach is covered with stretch marks. Honestly, I don't even want to look at it anymore."

I forgot how to breathe.

That body had carried his child.

Vanessa let out a pleased little gasp.

"Then stay with me tonight. Let her sleep alone."

Adrian never answered.

The sounds that followed spoke clearly enough.

A few minutes later, the car door opened.

He carried Vanessa in his arms and brought her inside the villa as though she were something precious.

...

The next morning, I lay in bed pretending to wake up when Adrian walked into the room.

His hair was damp from the shower.

"Genn, wake up." He smiled. "I planned something for today. There's an antique fair in town. You used to love those things, remember? I thought you'd enjoy going."

He bent down and kissed my forehead.

The same gesture I had once mistaken for love.

After a long pause, I got out of bed.

...

We arrived at the fair.

Then Vanessa appeared.

She was dressed entirely in red, wearing a dress with a slit so high that people couldn't help staring.

She approached us carrying a coat.

"Mr. Sterling, your jacket."

Adrian froze.

Then he turned toward her with a frown.

"What are you doing here? I didn't ask you to come."

She glanced at me and lowered her eyes.

"But someone has to take care of you."

Whispers immediately spread among the crowd.

Everyone knew Adrian spoiled me.

Our wedding had been lavish enough to become the talk of the city.

Adrian's arm tightened around my waist.

"That's enough, Vanessa. This isn't appropriate. Go back to the office."

She bit her lip, looked hurt, then hurried away with tears in her eyes.

Adrian looked at me again.

He kissed my forehead once more and helped me into a chair.

But I noticed everything.

The slight tremble in his hands.

The tension in his shoulders.

The way his eyes kept drifting elsewhere.

"I'll be back in a few minutes," he said. "Take your time. Buy whatever catches your eye."

People around us sighed enviously.

"He treats his wife so well."

"She's from the Ashford family. Her life must be perfect."

I ignored them.

My stomach was in knots.

I followed Adrian when he left.

A few minutes later, I stopped outside the women's restroom.

I shouldn't have listened.

But I did.

"Why did you come here dressed like that?" Adrian said, his voice rough and low. "Was this morning not enough for you?"

"You were the one who started it," Vanessa complained flirtatiously. "You shouldn't have thrown me out earlier."

I wanted to disappear.

Adrian chuckled.

"Relax. She's only my wife on paper. Everyone here treats me well because of the Ashford name, not because of me. You know that."

"I am your legal wife." Vanessa's voice trembled. "When can I finally be with you openly?"

"Stop talking nonsense." His voice hardened. "We agreed to keep this secret."

A moment later, his tone softened.

"The gemstone I bought? It's yours. Consider it an apology."

She fell silent for a moment.

Then she spoke again.

"I want a wedding too. One bigger than hers. I want everyone to see it."

The sound that followed made my stomach lurch.

I stumbled away from the restroom and braced myself against the wall.

I thought I might throw up.

So this was the truth.

The man who had given me a grand wedding, publicly adored me, and called me his wife...

had reserved his real love for another woman and the child they shared.

I closed my eyes.

Then I forced myself to breathe.

Six days.

Only six more days.

I took out my phone and called my assistant.

My voice was calm.

"Review every share and project I still hold in Sterling Group. Prepare all transfer documents immediately."

There was a pause.

Then my assistant spoke.

"Miss Vivian... the Cancer Research Project you personally managed..."

I suddenly felt cold.

"It was transferred to Miss Vanessa last month."

The Cancer Research Project had always been my father's greatest dream.

He had dedicated his entire life to helping people, and this project was supposed to lead to treatments that could genuinely save lives.

Even during my pregnancy, I had continued overseeing it. I worked right up until my due date, unwilling to let years of effort stall. It was only shortly before giving birth, when the project had finally begun progressing smoothly, that I permitted myself to step back and rest.

The moment I arrived at the company, my assistant practically ran toward me.

She was pale and drenched in sweat.

"Miss Vivian, Mr. Sterling transferred everything to Miss Vanessa," she said breathlessly. "Every department, every document, every approval. We have no idea what they're doing in there."

I drew in a slow breath.

"It's all right," I said as calmly as I could. "Take me to the president's office. I know the password to Adrian's computer."

I had barely taken two steps when someone stepped into my path.

Vanessa.

"Miss Vivian, please wait."

Her chin was lifted confidently. Her lips were slightly swollen, and faint marks stained her neck. She looked like a woman who believed she had already won.

"The president didn't authorize anyone to enter his office," she said coolly. "You can't go inside."

"Move."

I met her eyes without blinking.

"That project belongs to me. I've managed it from the beginning. I have every right to inspect it."

Her expression darkened.

"You ignored it throughout your pregnancy and now you suddenly want to take credit for it?" she snapped.

I stared at her.

"Do you really think you can claim something you've never worked for? Months of research don't magically become yours because someone handed you an office."

She couldn't refute that.

Instead, frustration overtook her.

She looked less like an executive and more like a child having a tantrum.

At that moment, Adrian appeared.

He looked surprised to see me.

"Genn?" he said hurriedly. "Why are you here already? I thought you'd wait for me."

I almost laughed.

Or maybe cried.

You were too busy playing husband somewhere else. Why pretend to care about me now?

Without a word, I handed him a stack of documents.

"Take a look."

He frowned and accepted them.

"Every original sample has been replaced. The imported materials we approved have all been switched with cheaper substitutes. Someone changed the suppliers and pocketed the money."

Adrian's brows knitted together.

Even he could immediately tell something was wrong.

Vanessa's face turned white.

"This has nothing to do with President Sterling," she blurted out. "I... I only wanted more money for my son. I didn't expect things to become this serious. I'm sorry, Miss Vivian."

I looked at her coldly.

"Sorry?"

I almost laughed.

"You're committing fraud. An apology isn't going to fix this. I'm reporting it."

I had barely finished speaking when a small body suddenly crashed into me.

The impact wasn't strong.

But I had given birth only a month ago.

My body was still recovering.

The collision sent a sharp pain through my abdomen.

A pained sound escaped my lips before I could stop it.

For a second, my vision blurred.

Silence descended across the office.

Adrian rushed toward me immediately.

"Genn!"

His expression changed completely.

"Look at me. Are you hurt? Does your stomach hurt? Tell me."

His hands hovered near me, wanting to help yet somehow never quite touching me.

Meanwhile, Vanessa hurried over and pulled the little boy behind her.

She wrapped her arms around him protectively.

"James, that wasn't nice," she said softly.

But there was no anger in her voice.

"You shouldn't push people. Apologize to Auntie."

Auntie.

She actually called me Auntie.

Then she looked at me with moist eyes.

"Miss Vivian, please don't blame him. He's only trying to protect his mother."

Protect.

The word almost made me laugh.

Before I could say anything, Adrian spoke.

"Genn, don't be upset with him. He's only a child. He doesn't understand adult issues."

Then he turned toward Vanessa.

"Take James downstairs. I'll talk to Vivian. He didn't mean anything."

Didn't mean anything?

I looked directly at him.

"Talk about what exactly?"

My voice was frighteningly calm.

"Are you going to explain why he called me a bad woman?"

I paused.

"Or are you going to explain why he called you Dad?"

The entire office seemed to stop breathing.

Adrian stiffened.

Only for a second.

Then he smiled.

"You're thinking too much," he said lightly. "Children sometimes call people Dad when they're close to them. It doesn't mean anything."

I stared at him.

Really?

I couldn't bear another second of their performance.

I turned around and headed toward the elevator.

Adrian followed after me.

"Vivian, why are you making such a big issue out of this?" he said impatiently. "He's six years old. Are you seriously upset with a six-year-old child?"

I stopped.

Then I slowly turned around.

Six years old.

And already capable of looking at me with hatred.

Who had taught him that?

Who made him believe I was his enemy?

Children don't invent those feelings by themselves.

They learn them.

I tightened my fingers into fists.

"They're taught," I said quietly.

Adrian frowned.

"What exactly are you trying to imply?"

His voice hardened.

"That he's my son? Vivian, don't be ridiculous. I have only one child."

He looked directly at me.

"Our daughter."

He said it naturally.

Effortlessly.

Even now, he was still lying.

A strange laugh escaped me.

It didn't even sound like my own.

"Then tell me something."

I looked him straight in the eye.

"What's our daughter's name?"

He froze.

I watched his expression carefully.

"You haven't even given her a name, have you?"

He opened his mouth.

No answer came.

I suddenly remembered a note I had discovered months ago.

He had scribbled down a single sentence.

I hope my child grows up strong, fearless, and impossible to break.

Underneath it was a name.

The name that was supposed to belong to our child.

Instead, it belonged to Vanessa's son.

I looked at him steadily.

"Her name is Charlotte."

He swallowed.

Something unreadable flashed through his eyes.

Then, as always, his expression softened.

"Charlotte," he repeated with a smile. "That's a beautiful name. Warm and bright."

His gaze settled on me.

"Just like you. I hope she always becomes the light of your life."

He lifted his hand, intending to touch my hair.

I took a step back.

His hand paused awkwardly in midair.

Then he lowered it.

"I'll be leaving on a business trip for a few days," he said, as though nothing had happened. "When I return, we'll sit down and talk properly. I'll explain everything."

I looked at him for several long seconds.

Then I nodded.

"Of course," I said evenly. "Your work is important."

I didn't give him another chance to speak.

I turned around and walked away.