Vanessa laughed through her tears, looking as though she had been handed the greatest gift in the world.
Adrian bent down and murmured something into her ear.
"We're husband and wife in the eyes of the law," he said in a low voice. "Shouldn't we start acting like one? We've been holding back for too long."
She gave his chest a playful shove. "You have no shame."
He chuckled, completely unbothered. Then he slipped an arm beneath her knees, lifted her into his arms, and carried her straight into the villa.
I remained in my car.
It felt as though a dull blade was cutting through my heart. Not enough to end the pain quickly. Just enough to keep tearing through me inch by inch.
...
I don't remember driving home.
One moment I was parked outside the villa. The next, I was standing in my living room.
Later that night, Adrian walked through the front door.
As always, he opened his arms and smiled the moment he saw me.
"My wife," he said fondly as he approached. "Have you been waiting long? You spent all day taking care of our daughter. You must be tired. Come here."
I moved aside before he could embrace me.
A flicker of surprise crossed his face, disappearing so quickly I almost thought I imagined it.
"I went to the county office today," I said. "I registered our daughter."
The smile on his face stiffened.
It lasted only a second.
Then he laughed softly.
"You didn't have to do that. I was going to take care of it myself. We can deal with the paperwork another day."
"It's already done," I replied evenly. "The process wasn't difficult."
For the briefest moment, something sharp flashed across his face.
"I told you I'd handle it."
His voice came out harder than intended.
Then he seemed to catch himself.
He immediately reached for my hand.
"Genn, don't take that the wrong way." His voice turned gentle again. "Things are complicated right now. You just got through your postpartum confinement. You shouldn't be running errands. You should stay home and recover. Let me handle these things. I don't want you overexerting yourself."
So considerate.
So thoughtful.
I lowered my eyes and nodded.
I didn't tell him our daughter had been registered under my surname.
I didn't tell him I had changed her name.
And I certainly didn't tell him that on my way home, I had made a phone call.
To the one man Adrian despised more than anyone.
I had gripped my phone so tightly my fingers hurt.
"I'm still legally unmarried," I had said calmly. "If your offer still stands... marry me in seven days."
Silence filled the line.
Then he quietly answered.
"Yes."
Back in the living room, Adrian exhaled softly and leaned against me as though he were the aggrieved one.
"It's been weeks since your confinement ended," he said gently. "We've barely had any time alone together. Tonight, maybe we could..."
My stomach churned.
Just then, his phone rang.
He glanced at the screen, and I caught it.
A flicker of panic.
Maybe guilt.
He quickly turned away and answered.
A minute later, he hung up and looked at me apologetically.
"Honey, something urgent came up at the company. I need to go. I'm sorry. I'll make it up to you."
He pressed a quick kiss to my forehead and grabbed his coat.
The moment he left, I followed him.
His car never went anywhere near the company.
Instead, it drove directly to the same villa.
Several minutes later, Vanessa emerged from the house.
She walked toward his car with a satisfied smile, her hips swaying as though she had already won.
She slid into the passenger seat.
Not long after, the car began to move.
I stared blankly.
Then, with trembling hands, I opened the listening app on my phone.
Months ago, I had installed it because I worried about Adrian's safety during business events. I was afraid someone might try to harm him.
The irony almost made me laugh.
Instead, it was helping me listen to my husband betray me.
Vanessa's voice came through first.
"Good thing I told you I wasn't feeling well," she said sweetly. "Otherwise, you'd still be at home acting like the perfect husband."
Adrian laughed softly.
"You should rest instead of overthinking. Genn suspects nothing."
He paused.
Then he said casually, "After giving birth, her body changed so much. Her stomach is covered with stretch marks. Honestly, I don't even want to look at it anymore."
I forgot how to breathe.
That body had carried his child.
Vanessa let out a pleased little gasp.
"Then stay with me tonight. Let her sleep alone."
Adrian never answered.
The sounds that followed spoke clearly enough.
A few minutes later, the car door opened.
He carried Vanessa in his arms and brought her inside the villa as though she were something precious.
...
The next morning, I lay in bed pretending to wake up when Adrian walked into the room.
His hair was damp from the shower.
"Genn, wake up." He smiled. "I planned something for today. There's an antique fair in town. You used to love those things, remember? I thought you'd enjoy going."
He bent down and kissed my forehead.
The same gesture I had once mistaken for love.
After a long pause, I got out of bed.
...
We arrived at the fair.
Then Vanessa appeared.
She was dressed entirely in red, wearing a dress with a slit so high that people couldn't help staring.
She approached us carrying a coat.
"Mr. Sterling, your jacket."
Adrian froze.
Then he turned toward her with a frown.
"What are you doing here? I didn't ask you to come."
She glanced at me and lowered her eyes.
"But someone has to take care of you."
Whispers immediately spread among the crowd.
Everyone knew Adrian spoiled me.
Our wedding had been lavish enough to become the talk of the city.
Adrian's arm tightened around my waist.
"That's enough, Vanessa. This isn't appropriate. Go back to the office."
She bit her lip, looked hurt, then hurried away with tears in her eyes.
Adrian looked at me again.
He kissed my forehead once more and helped me into a chair.
But I noticed everything.
The slight tremble in his hands.
The tension in his shoulders.
The way his eyes kept drifting elsewhere.
"I'll be back in a few minutes," he said. "Take your time. Buy whatever catches your eye."
People around us sighed enviously.
"He treats his wife so well."
"She's from the Ashford family. Her life must be perfect."
I ignored them.
My stomach was in knots.
I followed Adrian when he left.
A few minutes later, I stopped outside the women's restroom.
I shouldn't have listened.
But I did.
"Why did you come here dressed like that?" Adrian said, his voice rough and low. "Was this morning not enough for you?"
"You were the one who started it," Vanessa complained flirtatiously. "You shouldn't have thrown me out earlier."
I wanted to disappear.
Adrian chuckled.
"Relax. She's only my wife on paper. Everyone here treats me well because of the Ashford name, not because of me. You know that."
"I am your legal wife." Vanessa's voice trembled. "When can I finally be with you openly?"
"Stop talking nonsense." His voice hardened. "We agreed to keep this secret."
A moment later, his tone softened.
"The gemstone I bought? It's yours. Consider it an apology."
She fell silent for a moment.
Then she spoke again.
"I want a wedding too. One bigger than hers. I want everyone to see it."
The sound that followed made my stomach lurch.
I stumbled away from the restroom and braced myself against the wall.
I thought I might throw up.
So this was the truth.
The man who had given me a grand wedding, publicly adored me, and called me his wife...
had reserved his real love for another woman and the child they shared.
I closed my eyes.
Then I forced myself to breathe.
Six days.
Only six more days.
I took out my phone and called my assistant.
My voice was calm.
"Review every share and project I still hold in Sterling Group. Prepare all transfer documents immediately."
There was a pause.
Then my assistant spoke.
"Miss Vivian... the Cancer Research Project you personally managed..."
I suddenly felt cold.
"It was transferred to Miss Vanessa last month."
