Evan Moore is the perfect husband in everyone's eyes.

He gives me a grand wedding and fully supports my career dreams.

When I faced a difficult labor, he stayed by my side, kneeling for a full day and night until he nearly passed out from exhaustion.

Afterward, he held me in his arms, sobbing until his eyes were red and swollen, his voice trembling with fear. "Honey, let’s not have any more kids… It's just too much."

From then on, he spends his days and nights at the monastery, praying devoutly for me and our son, earning the title of the city’s most pious CEO.

But one day, by pure chance, I glimpse the handwritten scriptures he keeps so carefully copied.

And that's when I realize every word, every stroke, is a confession of his undying love… for his first love.

All his tenderness, all his care—it was never truly for me. It was learned for her.

I was nothing more than practice—a stand-in for his so-called true love.

Ever since Evan Moore renounced his worldly pursuits in order to pray for me, I would visit him at the monastery once every month.

However, he wasn't in the meditation chamber today.

As I waited for Evan inside, a breeze blew open his handwritten scripture. I was surprised when I casually skimmed through the words on the pages.

He had always been protective of this handwritten scripture. Every time I asked to see it, he insisted I fast and pray for a week first.

However, it was impossible for me to meet such strict demands when I still had to take care of our son.

I understood Evan's good intentions, so I never pushed it. But now, as the breeze turned the pages, I finally realized that the rows of inked words weren't scriptures at all.

My hands trembled as I picked up the booklet and flipped through its pages.

With a tenderness that spoke of deep affection, Evan had written down every detail of his love for a woman named Jade Spencer.

From preparing hand warmers in the winter, serving gazpacho in the summer, to warm herbal teas for periods—all the care he had once shown me, he had shared with her.

I flipped to the day I had a difficult labor.

Evan wrote, "I can't imagine how heartbroken I would've been if it had been Jade who was in such excruciating pain—the thought alone brought me to tears. Thankfully, it wasn't her.

"Thank goodness our son was born healthy. I can now live without seeing her again, and remain faithful to Jade."

I froze. It turned out that the tears Evan had shed by the delivery bed weren't for me. The reason he had renounced his worldly pursuits wasn't to pray for me as well.

Everything he did was for Jade. All the affection he had for me was never real.

The reason Evan had named our son Jadon Moore wasn't at all because of his gratitude to God—but it was because of her!

All that talk about the most perfect and grand marriage of convenience—they were all merely his lies.

I was nothing more than a pawn in the game of love between him and his first love.

Those once-sweet words had now turned into sharp blades, slicing away at my sanity.

I only wanted to grab hold of Evan and ask him—what did our years together mean? What about our child? Was I not someone with feelings too? Why did he have to toy with me like this?

However, when I found the abbot of the monastery, he told me that Evan had gone home.

Despite knowing that I would visit him on this day every month, he still left. That only meant that whoever he went to see or whatever he went to do mattered more to him.

I recalled the last few hastily written words: "Jade is back."

I stormed out of the monastery, only to realize that I never knew any of Evan's friends despite being married to him for years.

I had no other means of contacting him. We were just like strangers, despite being the closest to each other.

I checked my phone repeatedly, my anger churning within me, over and over, until it eventually turned into a feeling of utter despair. I felt lost and hopeless.

…

As soon as I returned to the villa, I spotted an extra pair of shoes at the door.

Were Evan and his mother, Hannah Green, both in?

Hannah and I had always been in a good relationship. I instinctively wanted to turn to her and cry.

But the moment I walked toward the door, I heard Jade's name.

"Jade suffered a lot, Mom. I'm only transferring half of my assets to her now." Evan sounded impatient, and Hannah sighed in reply.

"It's not that I don't agree with it, but just don't make it so obvious. Cynthia isn't someone you can fool easily. You have to understand—business is business, and feelings are feelings. Don't get yourself confused."

Hannah, who had always showered me with affection, was now talking about how I wasn't easily fooled. She even supported Evan's motion to transfer half of his assets out.

My head was buzzing.

It turned out that the Moores were long aware of Evan and Jade's relationship—I was the only one being kept in the dark.

Marrying me was just a way to expand their family's influence. They didn't oppose his affair—on the contrary, they even helped cover it up, all while feeling proud of themselves.

They were going on about how business was business, and feelings were feelings. Did I really have to be a stepping stone for Evan's career?

Realization dawned on me at that moment. I finally understood why I still felt a distance between us, despite my good relationship with my in-laws.

That was because they had nothing but schemes for me. And all the while, I was foolish enough to let them use me for their plans.

I struggled to cover my mouth, trying to stop my tears from falling.

"Why are you standing here, Mrs. Moore?" one of the household staff exclaimed suddenly, alerting both Hannah and Evan inside.

They walked out of the house, their expressions changing when they saw me.

"Have you heard everything?" Evan asked.

"What's going on with Jade? What about Jadon? Do you even care for me? Why didn't you tell me that you still loved your first love before we got married?" My voice cracked as I couldn't hold myself back, staring at Evan, whom I had been married to for the past five years.

He came over, wanting to hug me for comfort, but the familiar scent of sandalwood now filled me with fear and disgust.

Evan smiled helplessly, seeing me step away. He looked at me as if he were looking at a child throwing a tantrum.

He said, "Don't be so childish, honey. We no longer have anything to do with each other now. I'm giving her shares because she gave up her career for me back then—it's only right that I make it up to her.

"You're my wife—you should be able to understand where I'm coming from. As for Jadon, he's our son, I'll definitely treat him well."

Anger boiled within me. Evan was always like this—no matter how aggrieved I was, he would only think I was throwing a tantrum.

I used to think it was because he had grown indifferent to things from everything he'd experienced. But now I realize he just never loved me.

I took a deep breath and stared straight at Evan. I calmed myself down—I wasn't about to bury my grievances like I usually did. "Fine. Then cut off all contact with her."

He frowned. "No way. We're not having an affair, so there's no need to cut off all contact."

"Then after you're done making up for Jade, you should move out of the monastery," I said.

"That won't do," Evan declined without hesitation. "I have been keeping you and Jadon in my prayers in the monastery, honey. Please don't be unreasonable and make things hard for me, okay?"

He sighed when he saw how my fists were still clenched. "I'll take my leave for now."

"We'll get a divorce then!" Evan was already at the end of the corridor before I could even finish my sentence.

I felt as if a knife had torn my heart apart, seeing his resolute back—I felt hurt and disgusted.

Hannah said, "You should be thankful, Cynthia. It's hard enough to harbor mutual respect in a marriage of convenience. Do you know how many people envy how well Evan has treated you? Jadon is already five—he would be upset if you get a divorce."

She had finally discarded her fake mask of kindness. Her words were sharp despite her gentle tone.

Hannah was even threatening me with Jadon.

No wonder the Moores rushed me to have a child as soon as I married into the family, even going as far as pushing for IVF.

The child whom I had risked my life giving birth to turned out to be nothing more than leverage for them to control me.

The household staff started gossiping after Hannah left.

"Mrs. Moore is really ungrateful. She's lucky enough to marry into the Moore family—she didn't have to do anything but enjoy her life, yet she's still causing so much trouble."

"She can't be compared to Ms. Spencer. After all, Ms. Spencer has her own career and doesn't need to depend on anyone."

"She's just there to look good anyway."

I finally understood why the household staff had always looked at me that way. I felt a lump of bitterness in my throat.

Evan was the one who said that there was no one to take care of the household. That was why I gave up on my career to manage the household matters.

Even if I hadn't married into the Moore family, I would've been able to enjoy my life the same way. But now, everything had been twisted to seem like I was being ungrateful.

I didn't want to explain myself to them. Instead, I fired all of the gossiping household staff.

…

Jadon came back at night. He was calling for Evan as soon as he stepped in.

In the past, Evan would always stay with us on this day—it was the day Jadon anticipated the most.

But because of Jade's return, not only did Evan not stay the night, but he didn't even prepare his monthly gift for Jadon.

Aggrieved, Jadon cried as he asked for Evan. He looked up and asked, "Did Daddy leave because you threw a tantrum again, Mommy?"

My blood ran cold as I stared at his wide eyes. Since when had I turned into the one throwing a tantrum?

I was the one who had been managing the household and tending to Jadon's daily needs. Evan only came back once per month to enjoy himself and play with Jadon. But now, he became a good father who was aggrieved, while I turned into a bad mother who threw tantrums.

Jadon's cries grew louder. I had no choice but to call Evan. However, the one answering the call wasn't him, but a woman.

In the background, I could hear the sounds of running water.

Jade said, "Are you looking for Evan? He's currently in the shower. By the way, you're his current wife, aren't you? I heard that you two are in a marriage of convenience, with no feelings involved."

I couldn't help but tighten my grip on the phone. It was hard for my imagination not to run wild, with how they were both alone, and Evan taking a shower late at night.

After I managed to calm myself down, I said, "Ask him to come back—his son is waiting for him."

Jade burst out laughing from the other end of the line. Her voice was just as Evan had described in his scripture—gentle and easy on the ears.

She said, "You're an adult yourself. You should be aware of what happens between a man and a woman before a shower, right?"

After the call ended, Jade sent me many photos of her and Evan tangled up in bed. His usually cold and distant gaze was burning with desire in her photos.

Her text read: "Mrs. Moore, it's been a while since you and Evan slept together, hasn't it? He's really desperate."

I closed my phone and put Jadon to bed.

I grew determined as I looked at his face and the phone that kept lighting up.

Perhaps Hannah was right—a marriage of convenience was just about appearances. While I could endure it, Jadon couldn't.

He was already starting to blame me. I didn't even want to imagine what kind of child he'd turn out to be if this went on.

…

After sending Jadon to kindergarten, I headed straight to the monastery and cornered Evan.

I said, "Didn't you say that you had nothing to do with your first love? Why didn't you return home last night, then? Didn't you know Jadon has been waiting for you?

"Your heart has been astray for a long time, Evan. Jadon cried all night yesterday—I'm done taking chances with your love. I'm giving you two choices—either I leave with Jadon, or Jade does!"

I never imagined one day I'd become someone who would lose my composure while cornering a man in public. But right now, I stared at Evan with bloodshot eyes, waiting for him to give me an answer.

"Don't force my hand here, Cynthia. Please wait for me outside, I'll go find you once I'm done here." He spoke in a low tone, as if I were someone he was ashamed to be seen with.

I stopped pushing, knowing that I couldn't get an answer now. But I wasn't expecting to bump into Jade as soon as I stepped out.

I had never seen her before, but Evan had described her so vividly in his scripture. Her jet-black hair, fair skin, even the small light brown mole by her brow—it was all exactly the same.

"You're just how I imagined you to be, Mrs. Moore." Jade gave me a once-over before sneering. "Do you want to know why Evan doesn't care even if you bring up your son?"

"Move aside," I said icily. I had nothing to say to a homewrecker who involved themselves in someone else's marriage.

However, Jade's voice came from behind me. "Both Evan and you aren't allergic to cherries, right? But why can't your son have cherries?"