After dropping the big news of my pregnancy on my husband, Maxwell Ford, who loves me to the moon and back, I expect him to burst into tears out of elation.

But I don't expect him to harbor a slightly guilty look.

"I'm sorry, Val. I'm still not ready to become a father just yet. Can we only work on having another child after a few more years?"

Although I can't bear to part with my unborn baby, I still go through a medical abortion obediently.

Three years later, I accidentally witness Maxwell holding another woman's hand as they pick up a little girl from kindergarten.

With a wide smile on his face, Maxwell picks up the girl and says, "It's your third birthday today, sweetheart! Why don't I give you the position as the only heiress to my company as your birthday gift?"

As I stare at the family of three walking away from me, I feel as though I've been plunged into an icy abyss.

It turns out that Maxwell is lying about not being ready to become a father. He just doesn't like the child that I bear…

My husband, Maxwell Ford, came home that evening.

The moment he noticed my eyes that were red and swollen from crying, he didn't even stop to change into his slippers.

He strode over, pulled me into his arms, and asked in a voice thick with concern, "What happened? Who made you upset, Val? Tell me, and I'll take care of them for you."

I had just managed to calm down, but his words set me off again. Tears began to stream down my face uncontrollably.

In our social circles, everyone knew that the CEO of Ford Group, Maxwell Ford, was a complete simp for his wife.

Shortly after we married, he replaced his entire staff of secretaries and assistants with men and called me to check in on FaceTime whenever he was out for business dinners.

When an old friend tried to set Maxwell up with other women, he mercilessly cut ties and never talked to him again. That spoke volumes about how much he loved me.

Seeing me cry, he frowned and carefully wiped my tears away. "What's wrong, Val? Could you please tell me? It hurts to see you cry this way."

I saw the concern in his eyes, my accusations hovering on the tip of my tongue. But in the end, all I did was shake my head and slowly say, "It's nothing. I just watched a tragic movie today, and it really got to me."

Maxwell visibly relaxed and adoringly tapped the tip of my tongue. "God, you scared the hell out of me!

"I'm guessing you haven't eaten yet, have you? Shall I cook dinner for you tonight?"

I gently nodded and let him carry me over to the dining table. Then, I watched as he skillfully slipped on an apron, heated the pan, and started cooking.

Still, my mind kept drifting back to what I had witnessed that afternoon.

Maxwell had lifted a young girl into his arms and laughed as he said, "It's your third birthday, sweetheart. For your gift, I'm making you the sole heir to Ford Group. Would you like that?"

Three years old… If I hadn't had that abortion, my child would have been three years old this year, too.

Just as bitterness began to rise in my chest, a phone rang in the kitchen. Maxwell picked it up, and his tone took on a stern edge in a way I had never heard before.

"Didn't I tell you not to call me after work?"

Even through the glass, I could clearly hear a woman's voice on the other end of the line.

"I'm sorry, Maxwell. I know I shouldn't bother you while you're with your wife, but Lena keeps throwing a tantrum for her daddy to blow out the birthday candles with her. She won't stop crying, so I had no choice but to call you.

"I know how important your wife is to you, but you've never spent a single birthday with Lena. Could you just—"

I couldn't hear the rest because Maxwell hung up, turned off the stove, and walked out of the kitchen.

"I'm sorry, Val," he said, looking genuinely apologetic. "Something urgent just came up at the office. I have to head in."

My heart went cold, and my throat felt tight. It took me a long time to finally ask, "Do you really have to go?"

"Yes."

He grabbed his suit jacket and hastily slipped on his shoes. Just before heading out, he didn't forget to remind me.

"Grab a snack for now. I'll be back really soon to finish cooking for you."

As his footsteps faded away, I curled up in the dining chair and held myself tight. My tears couldn't help but spill all over again.

I didn't know how much time had passed before I received a message from Maxwell on my phone.

"Things at the office are a little complicated, Val. I probably won't make it home tonight, so don't wait up for me.

"I ordered dinner for you from your favorite restaurant. Eat something and try to turn in early tonight."

I blankly read the message over and over, feeling like I could barely breathe.

I couldn't believe that Maxwell left me to be with another woman and her child. The man, who supposedly loved me so much, had changed and built a second family behind my back.

Heartbroken, I picked up my phone with shaking hands and dialed Mom's number. "Mom, I've decided to work at the Beryllian branch."

Mom had never approved of my decision to stop working after getting married. She had more than once mentioned that I should manage our operations in Beryllia.

But back then, I was so drowned in Maxwell's romantic lies that I believed our happiness would last a lifetime. I didn't want to be apart from him, so I turned her down without a second thought.

I never imagined that in less than three years of marriage, the happiness would vanish like a mirage.

"Fine then, Maxwell. I'm done with you."

…

Maxwell never came home that night.

After sitting in silence until dawn, I headed over to the visa center to start my application. It would take five days to process.

I thought about the weather in Beryllia and decided to head to a nearby mall to pick up some warmer clothes.

The moment I stepped inside, I spotted a familiar silhouette.

Maxwell was bent over, helping a young girl try on a pair of shoes. Standing beside him was the woman I had seen at the kindergarten gates yesterday afternoon.

When our eyes met, Maxwell's expression flickered with panic. His hands froze in mid-air.

But in just two seconds, he regained his usual gentle composure and stood up to walk toward me. "What a coincidence, Val. Are you here shopping, too?"

He stepped aside and pointed at the woman to introduce her. "This is Maya Bennett, my secretary. I brought her here to pick out a gift for a client."

I chuckled. "I didn't realize you started hiring female secretaries again."

His expression stiffened for a split second, while Maya flashed a smile and extended her hand to me. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Ford. Mr. Ford talks about you all the time.

"I'm new at the company. When Mr. Ford found out I was a single mother, he promoted me to secretary so I'd have a higher salary to raise my daughter.

"I'm incredibly grateful to him and the company. I'll work my hardest to repay his kindness."

I didn't shake her hand. Instead, my gaze fell on the diamond ring on her finger—identical to the one I was wearing.

For a moment, it felt so absurd that I almost laughed.

When we got married, Maxwell had specially commissioned a world-renowned designer to design my diamond ring. He had affectionately told me then that a one-of-a-kind woman like me deserved a one-of-a-kind love.

As it turned out, the ring had never been one of a kind, and I was never the only woman by his side.

I looked away, ready to leave, when the young girl suddenly threw herself at Maxwell's leg and sweetly chirped, "Daddy!"

My heart skipped a beat. Maya quickly intervened. "Lena, I told you that you just can't call anyone daddy, didn't I? Call him Mr. Ford."

She emphasized the words "Mr. Ford" pointedly, as if she was intentionally reminding me of something.

Lena glanced at me and reluctantly corrected herself, "Mr. Ford."

Then, she continued with a playful pout, "Mr. Ford, the prize for that family contest over there is a Berry Bear. I really want it, so could you join the race with Mommy and me?"

Just then, a group of socialites from our social circle, who knew both Maxwell and me, walked by. When they heard Lena's request, they couldn't help but laugh.

"I'm afraid the girl's going to be disappointed. Everyone knows how much Mr. Ford adores his wife, so there's no way he'd join some family event with another woman and her daughter."

Even though their voices weren't loud, everyone present heard them.

Maya took Lena's hand and looked at me apologetically. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Ford. Lena has never had a father figure join her at the kindergarten's family events, and the other kids tease her. That's why she bluntly asked Mr. Ford to go with her.

"I hope you don't mind."

When I heard Maya's words, I instinctively looked at Maxwell. As expected, I caught a flash of guilt in his eyes.

He brushed me off with a casual reassurance, saying, "It's rare that the kid asks for something, Val. I'll just play with her for a bit, and don't overthink it."

Then, he skillfully picked Lena up. "Let's go, kiddo. Let's win that Berry Bear."

Maya followed him and cast a meaningful glance back at me. As the trio walked toward the family activity area, laughing and chatting, they looked exactly like a family of three from behind.

The socialites who had been standing next to me walked away, smiling awkwardly.

Just before they left, the looks they gave me shifted from envy to pity and ridicule. I knew that from this moment on, the idea that Maxwell loved me more than anything became the biggest joke in our circle.

I gritted my teeth hard, and my heart felt like it was being torn apart. The pain ripped through my limbs until I started shaking uncontrollably.

…

Maxwell came with me on our way home. Noticing my dark expression, he couldn't help feeling compelled to explain.

"Ms. Bennett is a single mom. Raising a kid alone isn't easy, so as her boss, I've been looking out for her a little. I made her my secretary because she'll earn more to provide better for her daughter.

"If you're not happy about it, Val, I'll have her transferred away from me right now."

I didn't reply. Instead, I looked out at the city lights blurring past the window and suddenly asked, "Maxwell, do you remember the vows you made when we got married?

"You said you'd never lie to me, or you'd spend the rest of your life alone and miserable."

A flash of guilt crossed his face, but he quickly grabbed my hand and affectionately said, "Of course I remember. Don't worry, Val. I'll keep my word."

Suddenly, the whole thing felt incredibly pointless. I pulled my hand away and closed my eyes. "I'm tired.

I was done playing along with his gentle, devoted act.

After getting home, I texted my lawyer, Lex Graham. "Mr. Graham, please draft a set of divorce papers for me."

Lex was efficient. He sent the draft to me the next morning.

I was about to head downstairs with the printed divorce papers, but a second later, I froze at the top of the stairs.

In the living room, Maya was crouched by a suitcase, packing clothes for Maxwell with the practiced grace of the lady of the house. He sat on a rug, reading a story to Lean. Whatever he said must have been funny, because she giggled and burrowed into his arms.

The warm, intimate scene was a piercing sight, and I almost felt like an intruder.

"You're awake."

Maxwell was the first to spot me. He smiled and walked up to meet me at the stairs. "I made your favorite mini meat pies with gravy this morning. Come down and try them."

When he noticed the papers in my hand and was about to ask what they were, Maya suddenly shrieked. He immediately left me at the stairs and bolted downstairs.

He could barely hide the thick concern in his voice as he asked, "What happened?"

She lifted a white shirt and embarrassingly said, "I'm so sorry, Mr. Ford. I noticed that this shirt was a little wrinkled and tried to iron it, but I think I ruined it."

Maxwell let out a breath of relief. "It's just a shirt. Everything's fine as long as you're not hurt."

He took the ruined shirt and tossed it into the trash can, while I stood rooted to the spot and fought with everything I had to keep the tears from falling.

That was the shirt Maxwell had worn when we registered our marriage. Back then, he had carefully tucked it away, promising to keep it as a lifelong memento.

Now, just three years later, he had tossed it into the trash can.

After calming myself, I walked down the stairs and pointed at Maya and Lena before asking, "Why are they here?"

Before Maxwell could answer, Maya beat him to it.

"I'm sorry to disturb, Mrs. Ford. Mr. Ford had a last-minute business trip this morning, and I rushed over to help him pack. There's no one at home to keep an eye on my daughter, so I had no choice but to bring her along.

"Unlike you, I don't have nannies or housekeepers to help out. I have to manage everything myself, so I hope you can understand."