On the night of our eighth anniversary, Primrose Archival slept with her male assistant.
After it happened, she looked at me with reddened eyes and whispered, “Honey, I was set up. He’s already been fired.”
To prove her innocence, she held a knife to her abdomen and slashed herself.
I had no choice but to forgive her.
But two years later, that same male assistant, Gideon Cortez, sat across from me in a café, tossing photo after photo onto the table, each one more intimate than the last.
“On Thanksgiving, she told you to go on a business trip, didn’t she? In truth, she spent the holiday with me and our child.”
“And your birthday? She said there was a company crisis and she couldn’t make it back. That night, we had a candlelit dinner and then stayed in a couple’s themed suite.”
“And on your tenth anniversary? We went to the hot springs. Used up two whole boxes of condoms.”
“You really think she still loves you? Wake up. She’s addicted to my body. Our kid is nearly a year old now…”
I nearly clawed my palms raw. She hadn’t just betrayed me. She’d given him a child.
I couldn’t take it anymore. I demanded a divorce.
But Primrose’s eyes turned red as she snapped, “Carson, we are not getting divorced. The only way out is if one of us dies!”
“If we don’t divorce, I can bring Gideon’s son over, and you can raise him. Since you're child-free by choice, wouldn’t it be nice to skip the labor pains?”
I laughed coldly. She had the nerve to cheat, and now wanted me to raise their kid.
I turned away and called my sister overseas. “Sis, get me a fake identity. Best if I can fake my death and disappear.”
“Once unfaithful, always unfaithful. I want to vanish from her world, completely.”
——
On the other end, my sister stayed silent for three seconds before replying, “Don’t worry, leave it to me.”
“That woman Primrose dares to hurt my brother? I’ll show her the true meaning of death.”
My sister was a mercenary, untethered by borders. Even if she killed someone, no country could touch her.
Realizing what she intended, I hesitated and quickly stopped her.
“Sis, she’s not worth dirtying your hands.”
“Just prepare my new identity. Give me seven days. I’ll settle everything here and come find you.”
Right after I hung up, I heard cautious footsteps behind me, slow, hesitant.
I turned around. Primrose was standing there, lips slightly parted, but unsure what to say.
“Carson, have you thought it over?”
I gave her a cold stare. “Thought over what?”
She looked briefly dazed, then answered seriously, “You forgot? Yesterday, I suggested bringing Gideon’s son here so we could raise him together.”
“The child’s not even a year old yet and doesn’t recognize anyone. If you raise him for the next two years, he’ll think you’re his real father…”
Hearing her calmly plan such madness, I let out a cold, bitter laugh.
This twisted plan of hers exploded in my face.
She didn’t just cheat, and now she wanted to parade their illegitimate child in front of me and expected me to raise him.
What made her think I’d ever agree to such madness?
“Absolutely not.”
I spat out those words coldly, watching the color drain from her face, inch by inch.
“Carson…”
Her voice trembled as she grabbed my arm, eyes reddened.
“I know this is unfair to you, but it was all an accident. I never meant to betray you.”
“But the child is innocent, I have to take responsibility for her.”
Her eyes pleaded with me, full of desperation and fake devotion.
And just like that, memories from two years ago came flooding back.
That night marked our eighth wedding anniversary. I had waited at the restaurant until they closed.
It wasn’t until 3 a.m. that a video finally came through, sent from an anonymous account.
