Five years into their marriage, Hunter was just as devoted as he had promised in their vows. He spoiled her with love, whether it was in their personal life or at work. He made sure she never faced any hardships and to the outside world, they were the picture-perfect couple everyone envied.
But then, Hunter cheated.
It happened about two weeks ago, though the memory was still seared into Evelyn’s mind. She had walked past a streetlight and seen Hunter with Jennifer Clay, kissing her passionately in the middle of the street. It played over and over, like a scene from a nightmare she couldn’t wake up from.
Before that day, she’d never imagined that Hunter could betray her. But once she uncovered the truth, she couldn’t deny it—the so-called “deep love” they had was nothing but a cruel joke. The man who once promised to love her forever, who adored her every moment, was no longer the man she married. He was dead to her.
They had signed a marital property agreement when they read their vows. If either of them cheated, the betrayed spouse would get half of everything. For the past two weeks, Evelyn had been gathering evidence of his affair and, with the help of her best friend, planning an “accident” that would allow her to fake her death and disappear forever. She couldn’t bear the thought of living with the man who had betrayed her and she was determined to make him pay.
As Evelyn walked out of the law office, she headed toward the parking lot to her car when a horn honked nearby. She turned and a familiar car stopped in front of her.
It was Hunter, his smile gentle and his voice as sweet as honey. “Evening, Mrs. Fairchild, may I have the honor of taking you out for dinner?”
Her colleagues, who were walking with her, laughed lightly. “Oh, look at that. The ruthless businessman everyone talks about—the one and only Mr. Fairchild—acting all sweet in front of us for his lovely soulmate.”
Hunter waved off their comments with a smile, nodding to them politely. “I’m flattered. Remind me to treat you meal another time.”
Evelyn didn’t respond. She opened the door and slid into the car.
“Let’s go,” she said flatly.
Hunter leaned over and gently buckled her seatbelt for her, “As you wish, my dear.”
The car pulled away, but the atmosphere inside was heavy with unspoken words and emotions that simmered beneath the surface. Evelyn’s gaze was fixed on the road ahead—cold and unyielding. The warmth her eyes once radiated was gone, replaced by the icy resolve of someone who had been deeply betrayed.
Even at the restaurant, she stayed quiet. Her head was bowed, her eyes fixed on the bowl in front of her, refusing to glance at Hunter or utter a single word. The tension in the air was palpable.
Suddenly, Hunter rose from his seat.
“Wait here. I’ll be right back,” he said before walking away.
A few minutes later, he returned, pushing a dessert cart with a cake adorned with lit candles. Soft music played in the background—the familiar tune of a birthday song filling the room.
“Happy birthday, Evelyn,” Hunter said, his face glowing with a broad smile.
He pulled out a stunning limited-edition necklace, one Evelyn had admired for months. His eyes sparkled with hope as he held it out to her. Evelyn had mentioned loving it the first time she saw it, but at the time, he hadn’t bought it for her, claiming it had sold out. But the next day, Evelyn saw it wrapped around Jennifer’s neck in a selfie. She realized that wasn’t that he couldn't get it—it was that he care more for Jennifer.
Evelyn stared at him, her face devoid of excitement or joy, only filled with an overwhelming sense of disappointment. The gift, the cake, the words—nothing touched her. Her face remained unreadable. Inside, she was filled with nothing but bitterness.
Hunter noticed Evelyn's lack of enthusiasm and reached across the table, gently taking her hand in his. His grip was soft, almost apologetic, as his voice dropped into a tender tone. “I’m sorry, honey. I didn’t mean to miss your birthday. I’ve been busy with work, but I shouldn’t use it as an excuse. You must be upset and I understand. But please, don’t hate me. It breaks my heart to see you sad and it would shatter me a thousand times more if you hated me.”
Evelyn didn’t respond immediately, her face calm and unreadable. She had no intention of confronting him—not now. His words, dripping with contrition, didn’t sway her. She knew the truth and it stood like an unyielding wall between them.
The reason he had forgotten her birthday wasn’t because of work. It was because Jennifer had been sick that day and Hunter had spent the evening at the hospital with her. On her birthday, he had chosen Jennifer.
“I’m not upset,” Evelyn said at last, her tone even, betraying nothing of the storm beneath.
Hunter’s brow, creased with worry, softened at her response. Relief washed over his face and he smiled, leaning forward as if her words had lifted a great weight from him.
“You’re the best woman in the world, Evelyn,” he said, his sincerity almost convincing. His thumb lightly brushed the back of her hand. “I’m so lucky to have you as my wife.”
Evelyn’s face remained composed, her faint smile carefully measured. But inside, she felt a sharp, bitter twist of irony. If he truly believed that, how could he betray their marriage so easily?
