When I joined my husband’s department colleagues for an escape room game, a chainsaw-wielding NPC suddenly appeared. Instinctively, my husband, Charles Miller, pulled his young secretary into his arms and shoved me straight toward the NPC.

My stomach slammed into the buzzing chainsaw prop, leaving me breathless with pain.

In the chaos and darkness, his secretary leaned in close and whispered in my ear, “Mr. Miller has a mole on his backside.”

In that instant, I knew Charles was cheating.

I didn’t confront him. Instead, I quietly instructed my lawyer to draft a divorce agreement.

Charles owed his current position entirely to the Dawson family’s power behind him. He only dared to flaunt his betrayal because he thought his wings had grown strong enough.

Well then, I’d break those wings.

When Charles pushed me away, I was completely stunned.

My stomach had hit the NPC’s chainsaw squarely. Luckily it was only a prop, or I would have been gutted on the spot.

Charles clutched Vivian Reed tightly in his arms.

“Don’t be afraid, Vivian. No one can hurt you as long as I’m here.”

In the dim light, I saw Vivian smirking at me with triumph.

“Mr. Miller, I’m so scared. Let’s get out of here!”

The group darted into a nearby passage, quickly disappearing from sight.

Normally I’m afraid of the dark, but strangely I felt calm.

I hurried after them, following the path of their escape, until I found them in another chamber.

I stood silently at the doorway, curious how long it would take Charles to notice that his wife hadn’t followed along.

They were fumbling through puzzles, clumsy as ever, failing to solve a single one for half an hour.

At last Charles seemed to remember me.

He turned and spotted me at the entrance.

“Babe, why are you just standing there? Come in and crack this code—it’s your specialty!”

He reached to pull me closer to the puzzle.

I yanked my arm back. “What did you mean by what you just did?”

“It was too dark, I grabbed the wrong person. Don’t be so petty—it’s just a game.”

“I heard you call her Vivian.”

Charles froze. “Vivian’s young and timid. You’re thirty already, you’re not scared of this silly stuff, are you? It’s all fake anyway.”

I gave a cold laugh and said nothing more.

When we solved the puzzle and entered the next room, the NPC announced that a man and woman must complete a wedding ceremony to proceed.

The group jeered and pushed Charles and Vivian forward.

Charles glanced at me. “Babe, it’s just a game. You don’t mind, right?”

Before I could reply, he had already placed a white veil over Vivian’s head.

In front of their colleagues, they bowed like a newlywed couple. When Charles lifted the veil, both of them smiled as though they were truly in love.

The NPC shouted, “The groom must kiss the bride to unlock the passage!”

Without hesitation, Charles kissed her.

The crowd cheered.

When the passage opened, Charles finally noticed my dark expression.

“Babe, it was just staged—I didn’t really kiss Vivian.”

But I had clearly seen their lips pressed together.

I said nothing, simply following them into the next chamber.

The rest of the game was filled with jump scares.

Vivian clung to Charles the entire time, and he held her tightly, too.

To anyone watching, they looked exactly like a couple in love.

Suddenly another NPC leapt out, making the group scream and scatter.

Someone shoved me against the wall, my elbow slamming painfully, sweat breaking out across my body.

Before I could recover, Vivian leaned in again and whispered softly, “Mr. Miller has a mole on his backside.”

Then she let out a girlish giggle.

My heart plummeted. In that moment, I was certain Charles was having an affair.

As we left the escape room, Vivian whined that she was hungry.

Charles immediately suggested dinner before the next activity.

I had just placed my hand on the passenger-side door when Charles pressed it shut.

“Vivian gets carsick. Let her sit up front.”

“She can ride with David—his car’s empty.”

“No way. I don’t trust her riding with someone else.”

“Babe, it’s just the front seat. Don’t make a fuss. When you’re not around, Vivian always sits beside me anyway.”

I rolled my eyes and climbed into the back seat instead.

“I knew my wife wouldn’t be unreasonable,” he muttered smugly.

Vivian put on a sweet voice. “Sorry, Sophia, I’ve told Mr. Miller plenty of times not to make exceptions for me, but he always takes care of me. He’s truly the best boss in the world.”

Charles grinned. “The best boss in the world—you’re lucky to have me.”

“Of course. My heart and soul will always belong to you.”

My stomach churned so hard I thought I’d vomit.

Flirting shamelessly in front of me—they couldn’t care less who was watching.

If they were this brazen with me present, what would they do if I weren’t there? Probably already have a child together.

When we arrived at the restaurant, I realized it was a Louisiana Cajun seafood place.

My temper flared.

“Charles, you know I can’t eat spicy food.”

Vivian gasped. “Oh, Sophia, I didn’t know you couldn’t eat spicy! I just happened to mention wanting Cajun tonight, and Mr. Miller brought us here.”

“Mr. Miller, if she can’t handle spice, maybe we should pick somewhere else?”

Charles waved her off. “She can just eat less. She’s so fat anyway, skipping a meal won’t kill her.”

Then he smirked at me. “Babe, didn’t you say you were on a diet? You should be thanking me.”

I nearly exploded but held it in—too many employees were watching.

I swallowed my anger. Fine. Let’s see what other “surprises” the night brings.

The heavy, spicy aroma of the broth made me cough uncontrollably.

“Babe, if it’s too much, wait in the car. No need to sit here uncomfortable,” Charles said, as if being thoughtful.

I stood up and left—not to the car, but straight to his. I drove it away.

Then I found a French fine-dining steakhouse, ordered foie gras, truffle, and a tomahawk steak, and savored it slowly.

Money was no issue—I would never go hungry.

Not long after, Charles called.

“You took my car?”

“Yeah. I went out to eat.”

“You could’ve said something! Weren’t you dieting?”

“I weigh less than a hundred pounds. What diet? You’re the one with fatty liver—I only offered to join you. Can’t you understand plain English?”

I hung up. No man was going to ruin my dinner.

Moments later, my assistant David Lee texted: “Ms. Dawson, Charles brought everyone to a karaoke bar in Las Vegas. I’ve sent you the location.”

So Charles had ditched me to keep partying with his secretary.

What he didn’t realize was that I had people in his team reporting back to me.

I savored my steak while David live-streamed the scene from their private karaoke room.

They were playing Truth or Dare when Charles lost.

Asked to choose, he picked Truth.

“Mr. Miller, do you like our Vivian?” asked Vivian’s close friend, Emily Carter.

“You have to tell the truth—no lies allowed!”

Charles gazed at Vivian with affection. “Yes, I do.”

The room erupted in cheers. Emily pushed further.

“Then when will you marry her, Mr. Miller? I’m waiting for my wedding invite!”

Others chimed in.

“Yeah, dump that witch of a wife already!”

“She’s unbearable. At every team dinner she tags along like an outsider. Always complaining—can’t play this, can’t eat that!”

“Exactly. She’s just afraid Vivian will steal you away, so she follows you everywhere.”

“Doesn’t matter. Vivian and Mr. Miller are true love!”

Listening to them mock me, while they collected my company’s paychecks, made my blood boil.

The game went on. This time Vivian lost.

Emily asked, “Truth or Dare?”

“I’ll take Dare.”

“Then French-kiss Mr. Miller!”

Vivian blushed. “That’s too much.”

“What are you afraid of? Sophia isn’t here!”

“Kiss! Kiss!” the group chanted.

Vivian gathered her courage, cupped Charles’s face, and kissed him deeply.

While their lips tangled, I pushed the door open.

The room froze. The cheers died instantly.

But the two of them were so engrossed they didn’t notice.

I grabbed Vivian and slapped her twice across the face.

Charles roared, “What the hell are you doing?!”

I turned and slapped him twice as well. “What do you think?”

Realizing he was in the wrong, he softened his tone.

“Babe, it’s a misunderstanding. We were just playing a game.”

“Oh? Games now include tongue-kissing?”

“We’re all adults. It’s just fun—we didn’t sleep together.”

I laughed bitterly. “So as long as you don’t sleep with her, it’s not cheating?”

“I admit I went too far. You can hit me, I won’t mind. But Vivian did nothing wrong. You need to apologize to her!”

Vivian sobbed while Charles held her tenderly.

“Vivian, I’ll make Sophia apologize. Don’t cry.”

“Sophia, apologize right now!”

“Is she even worthy of it?” I spat.

Vivian wept harder. “Mr. Miller, Sophia must look down on me.”

“She does! You’re a professional woman, while she’s just a housewife leeching off her husband. She has no right to look down on you. She only lucked out by marrying well—otherwise she’s nothing!”

Charles glared at me. “Sophia, are you going to apologize or not?”

“No.”

“Fine! If you won’t apologize, then forget about having kids!”

I froze. For years I had dreamed of a child. But Charles always refused, hiding behind excuses about not liking kids, always using protection.

Now he dared to use my greatest desire as leverage.