Chapter <b>3 </b>


    I stood there, my limbs frozen, watching my husband kiss another woman with such deep passion.]]


    Ss finally lifted his head, his face a mask of utter disgust as he looked at me.]]


    “Charlotte, I don’t know how you became so selfish and cruel. Reba has just been through a massive trauma, emotionally unstable. Can’t you show her even a little bit ofpassion?“]


    I covered my face to hide the tears. What could I possibly say now? Would he even believe me? No.]


    Reba’s feigned weakness was a weapon<i>, </i>and it hadpletely conquered the golden boy.


    Ss grabbed me by the arm and threw me out of the bedroom.]


    “Get out. And don’t you dare go near Reba ever again.”


    With that, the door mmed shut.]


    she’s


    Clutching my hip where I had hit the railing, listening to the soft, gentle voices from inside, I slowly made my way back to the guest room.


    .1


    Lying in bed, I pulled out the written promise Ss had given me just one month ago.]]


    He had promised that if he ever had any involvement with another woman, he would leave with nothing and be punished by never seeing me again.[]


    My best friend was texting me, her usual words offort.[]


    “Your Ss would never cheat on you. He’s just overflowing with sympathy, trying to save a damsel in distress.“]


    “In all your years of marriage, has he ever even looked at another woman? You say jump, and your Ss asks how high. He’d practically tie himself to your hip if he could.“[]


    At the same time<b>, </b><b>a </b>message from the private investigator came through.]


    <b>My </b>hand trembled as I took a deep breath and opened it.[]


    I couldn’t believe he had found so much in just three days.[]


    And I never would have imagined that Ss, the man who gave me all his love, was ying the role of a savior in apletely different world.


    Reba’s mother was hospitalized, and there was Ss<b>, </b>at her <b>side</b><b>, </b>expertly helping the old woman drink water, while Reba looked on with eyes full of gratitude<b>.</b><b>[] </b>


    Ss was with Reba back in her hometown<b>, </b>fixing her house<b>, </b>wearing a straw hat on adder<b>, </b>bending down to take a <b>piece </b>of fruit she offered him.]


    Ss sat at a dinner table with a group of elderly people<b>, </b>Reba beside him, blushing shyly.[]


    And I finally knew that all those days Ss said he was on business trips, he was actually helping a “poor little girl“.[]


    On my birthday, he took Reba to France, just to “broaden her horizons“.[]


    And there they were, two smiling figures standing side–by–side in front of the Eiffel Tower.


    He was gone for a week. He forgot my birthday.[]


    None of the photos proved he was cheating, but the sweetness in every single one was palpable.[]


    Each one was a new stab to my heart, leaving it raw and bleeding.[]


    My best friend’sst message came through.


    “Don’t just bottle it up. Ss would be heartbroken if he knew. Once Reba is safe, he’ll exin everything.”


    “Honestly, Ss has spoiled you rotten<b>, </b>made you all paranoid. Next time I see that whipped husband of yours, I’m going to give him a piece of my mind.“[]


    in


    Der


    I couldn’t hold back the grief and rage any longer. Like a madwoman, I picked up a chair and started smashing everything the room.


    The bookshelf, theputer, the tea set…]


    I didn’t stop until I waspletely exhausted, copsing to the floor in gut wrenching sobs.]


    In that moment, I didn’t know if I was crying for my own blindness, or for Ss’s betrayal.


    Reba’s scars were a mockery of me, a knife that was slowly ying me alive, forcing me to wake up from the dream of a perfect love, one painful cut at a time.]


    Maybe I should have walked away a month ago.]


    Then I wouldn’t have to bear this kind of nder.


    ??


    I sat on the floor all night. As the first star of dawn appeared in the sky, I finished drafting the divorce papers.[]


    I ced the divorce agreement on the dining table, then went to the master bedroom for onest look.


    Ss was holding Reba tightly, both fully clothed. They seemed to be asleep, yet not.


    I wiped my tears onest time, turned, and made a phone call.]


    “Professor, is that spot for the secret R&D project in Indonesia still avable<b>? </b>I’d like to sign up<b>.</b><b>” </b>


    An ecstatic voice immediately answered on the other end.


    “Yes, yes! Charlotte, I’ve been waiting for <b>you </b>to call! Otherwise, your Ss would have had my hide!”