Wyatt’s dark eyes flashed with desire, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he growled under his breath, “You’re playing your fire. You know Sloan’s just down the hall.”

Carol grabbed his hand, guiding it beneath the lace while her lips curled into a smirk. “Isn’t that what makes it even more exciting? You say no, but your body tells a different story.”

Her words were cut off when Wyatt’s mouth crashed against hers.

Fabric tore as Wyatt pulled at the flimsy lace, leaving it in shreds on the floor. Their moans echoed through the empty house.

Sloan stood in the shadows, her heart shattering into pieces. She had known—somewhere deep down, she had always known about them—but seeing it with her own eyes was an entirely different kind of pain.

Their sounds of pleasure stabbed at her like knives, each one cutting deeper until blood pooled in her chest, squeezing her heart.

She sank to the floor, pressing her forehead to her knees to stifle her sobs.

Six years of devotion—gone in an instant.

Carol had always flaunted her connection with Wyatt, always challenged Sloan with that smug look. Sloan had ignored it, convinced that Wyatt loved her more. She had done everything for him, molding herself into the perfect partner, meeting his every need.

Wyatt had made her feel like the luckiest woman alive.

But this? This was a loss she couldn’t recover from.

At some point, Sloan picked herself up from the floor and returned to the bedroom. She grabbed the carefully wrapped gift she had prepared earlier that day and tossed it into the trash.

Anything tainted should’ve been thrown away long ago. From now on, she would start purging every trace of him from her life.

***

Maybe it was the wild night they’d had—because by morning, the house was swarming with staff. The maids were whispering among themselves, eyeing the closed study door with knowing glances.

When Sloan approached, they scattered, nervously trying to divert her attention.

Ignoring them, Sloan pushed open the door.

Inside, Wyatt and Carol were curled up on the couch together.

Their clothes were intact, suggesting they’d cleaned up and fallen asleep afterward.

Wyatt’s eyes flew open. He bolted upright, barking at the staff, “Get out!”

Then he turned toward Sloan, his face softening into that practiced look of concern. “Babe, don’t get the wrong idea. Carol is my sister. Her foot was hurting, so I gave her some massage. We must’ve fallen asleep afterward.”

The head maid stepped forward, backing him up. “It’s true, Miss Sloan. I brought the ointment myself. Mr. Wyatt was exhausted from work—he must’ve dozed off.”

Sloan’s gaze hardened as it swept over the maid.

So they all knew.

Everyone in this house had known for a long time—and yet they’d all lied to her.

Her stomach twisted with disgust. She rushed to the bathroom and threw up until her throat burned. Her reflection in the mirror was ghostly pale, stripped of the grace and poise she had once taken pride in.

Wyatt’s eyes widened in panic as he rushed toward Sloan, gently patting her back while calling for a doctor.

It wasn’t until the private doctor arrived and confirmed it was just normal morning sickness that Wyatt finally relaxed. But the sweat beading on his forehead and soaking the back of his shirt made it clear how shaken he was.

Anyone who didn’t know better would have thought he was madly in love with her.

But Sloan felt nothing but cold emptiness. The happiness she once treasured had dissolved into bitterness and pain.

It was at that moment she finally understood the truth: people only let you see what they want you to see.

Love was no different.

Even the love she’d once been so proud of had been nothing more than an elaborate act from Wyatt.

Wyatt was still talking, trying to explain himself. When he noticed her obvious disinterest, he suddenly smiled as if he had a surprise in store. “Baby, don’t be upset. I’m taking you somewhere special.”

His tone was light, hinting at excitement.

Sloan wanted to refuse, but the very air in the house felt tainted, making her nauseous.

Soon, they pulled up to a quiet shopping district.

Wyatt helped her out of the car with his usual careful attention, as if nothing had happened the night before.

Sloan pulled her hand away from his grip and looked around, avoiding his face.

Her gaze landed on a perfume shop. She froze.

It was Wyatt’s favorite brand — particularly the rose scent. Because he liked it so much, Sloan had swapped all her perfumes for rose-scented ones.

But he had once said, “Baby, I actually prefer the cooler, fresher scent you used to wear.”

At the time, Sloan had felt a surge of warmth, thinking it was because he truly loved her.

But after Carol entered the picture, everything made sense.

Sloan had seen a post on Carol’s social media — a live photo of a man burying his face in her neck like a lovesick puppy. He was holding a bottle of that exact rose perfume.

Sloan had even left a sincere comment: “Wishing you and your boyfriend a lifetime of happiness.”

Looking back now, she realized how pathetic she had been.

Wyatt noticed her lingering gaze on the shop and immediately said, “Baby, you used to love this brand, right? We’ve got time — let’s go take a look!”

Sloan’s lips curled into a faint smirk. “Used to. Not anymore.”

Wyatt hesitated for a second, then quickly recovered. “That’s okay, baby. Just tell me what you like now — I’ll buy you anything you want.”

There was a time when such sugary words would have made Sloan’s heart race.

But now they only made her stomach churn.

Especially after last night.

Sloan’s voice was flat. “No need. I’m pregnant, so I can’t wear perfume anyway. And you said before that this scent didn’t suit me, right? No point in forcing it.”

Neither of them spoke on the way to the bridal shop.

As soon as they walked in, a smiling sales assistant greeted them. “You must be the future Mrs. Grant. You’re stunning!”

Wyatt’s smile brightened. “Baby, our wedding is just around the corner. Your custom dress is ready and the necklace I ordered for you has arrived too. You’re going to love it.”

Wyatt kept rambling on about the wedding preparation.

Sloan watched him, taking in the warmth in his eyes and the easy charm in his smile. A sudden ache tightened her chest. If she hadn’t seen what happened last night with her own eyes, would he still be lying to her? After all, Wyatt was a masterful liar.

For years, she had molded herself to fit his tastes, pushing aside her own needs just to keep him happy. Even when doubt crept in, she buried it beneath blind faith in his love.

Wyatt took the necklace from the box and carefully fastened it around her neck. The cool weight of the chain against her skin felt heavier than it should.

When Sloan didn’t say anything, her gaze fixed blankly on the dress and necklace, Wyatt assumed she was too overwhelmed to speak. He took her hand, his voice tender. “Baby, meeting you was the best thing that ever happened to me. I’m so lucky we’re about to start our life together.”

His sudden confession caught her off guard. Her heart, which had been dead for so long, trembled for a moment.

She had waited six years for this. Sloan picked up the dress and walked toward the dressing room.

Just as she was about to close the door, she spotted a familiar figure through the gap.

Carol.

Her eyes were red, as if she had been crying. Wyatt gently wiped her tears away and pressed a tender kiss to her cheek. They whispered to each other, their bodies close.

A sales assistant approached with a velvet jewelry box.

Inside was a ruby necklace — Sloan’s favorite gemstone. But the one Carol held was larger and brighter than the one Wyatt had given Sloan.

A dazzling, brilliant red — sharp and cutting, like a dagger piercing Sloan’s heart.

Compared to Carol’s necklace, the one around Sloan’s neck felt cheap and meaningless.

Much like her relationship with Wyatt—polished and perfect on the surface, but rotting underneath.

Sloan gripped the necklace, the sharp edges of the ruby cutting into her palm until blood trickled between her fingers.

Carol, now wearing the necklace, seemed noticeably happier.

Still, she pouted and murmured, “Are you really going to marry Sloan? You don’t even love her... You only feel sorry for her.”

Wyatt denied it immediately, “That’s nonsense. You better go now. Sloan is in fitting room. I don’t want her to see us together.”

Carol scoffed. “Fine. If you’re really going to marry her, then I guess we’re done. After the wedding, don’t come crawling back to me!”

She turned to leave.

Wyatt instantly panicked and grabbed her hand, pulling her back into his arms.

His tone was soft, coaxing. “You know you’re the only one I love. Mom and Dad would never let us get married. We’re lucky they hadn’t caught us. I need to focus with Sloan now because she’s the key of this alliance. I swear I’ll divorce her as soon as we get the trust fund. Just be patient and trust me, okay?”

In that moment, Sloan felt like a knife had pierced her chest, her entire body trembling uncontrollably.

When the Tanner Family had tracked her down years ago, there was already another girl in the house—a fraud who had taken her place. The only reason they took her back was because her relationship with Wyatt would benefit the Tanner Family’s business.

At the time, her mother had fallen seriously ill and was hospitalized. The medical bills were astronomical and despite working multiple part-time jobs around the clock, she was still drowning in debt. That’s why she agreed to return to the Tanner Family.

She hadn’t expected that not only did the Tanner Family see her as nothing more than a bargaining chip, but even the man she’d loved for six years had been using her all along.