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Chapter_1
As night fell, I finally allowed myself to relax after putting Ava to bed. I grabbed my phone, scrolling mindlessly through TikTok when a live street fashion broadcast caught my attention.
I straightened up, my focus now completely on the screen. But just as quickly, the host switched the camera angle. My heart raced. My palms felt clammy as I stared at my phone. I quickly checked the time—this was a live broadcast happening right here, in the same city.
Without thinking, I exited TikTok and dialed Matthew.
He was supposed to be on a three-day business trip in Canta, yet there he was, just moments ago, on the live stream—with another woman in his arms. I held my breath as the phone rang, my anxiety growing with each passing second. Finally, the screen flashed, and Matthew’s face appeared, looking slightly shaken as he answered the call.
“Hey, honey!” he greeted, his usual warm smile lighting up the screen.
“Where are you?” I demanded, my voice tight as my eyes quickly scanned his surroundings. He was standing in what looked like a restaurant corridor, dressed in a white shirt and tie. But the figure from the live broadcast? She wore a gray windbreaker.
“I’m having dinner with a client. I stepped out to answer your call. What’s up? Is everything okay? Did Ava go to sleep?”
“Are you in Canta?” I bypassed his questions, my voice sharper than intended.
“Of course. Why? Is something wrong?” He raised an eyebrow, his gaze now serious, his curiosity evident.
“Oh! It’s… nothing,” I muttered, trying to act casual. I paused, my thoughts swirling before asking, “When are you coming home?”
“Soon… I’ll wrap things up here and come back as soon as I can. Do you miss me?” His smile softened as he spoke, affectionate as always. “Go to bed early. It’s getting late, and I still have some things to finish up. Bye!”
He blew me a kiss before hanging up.
I sat there, staring at my phone, stunned. Annoyed at myself for feeling suspicious. Matthew was an incredible husband—handsome, loving, and always supportive. He’d been nothing but devoted, even when we first met, long before his success.
Though Matthew came from an ordinary family with a sickly younger sister, I chose him out of all my admirers for his good looks. Together, we built a business from the ground up, with me handling the clients and him managing the sourcing. The stress was overwhelming, and I almost suffered from gastric bleeding, but we persevered, and our company flourished.
When I got pregnant, I decided to step back, leaving the business in Matthew’s hands while I focused on our home and raising Ava.
Ava had just turned four, and our little family was living a comfortable, happy life. People envied us—an ideal family. Matthew, always feeling guilty about us not having a wedding ceremony, had promised to make up for it in every way possible.
How could someone like him cheat?
I pursed my lips, realizing how silly I was being. I must have watched one too many dramas. Still, when I lay down in bed, my mind kept drifting back to the figure in the TikTok live.
The windbreaker the woman wore… it looked so familiar. I’d ironed it for him before his trip. It was his.
Confused, I pushed the thought aside, trying to focus on the present.
The next day, Matthew returned early, bringing home a bag full of Ava’s favorite treats. He hugged both of us, the warmth of the moment comforting me, even though the strange feeling in the pit of my stomach hadn’t disappeared.
In the kitchen, I hurried to prepare his favorite dishes as a little reward for his return. Matthew glanced over at me as we sat down to eat. He made a casual comment, “There’s a strong smell of oil here. Why don’t you go take a shower?”
I took a moment to sniff the air before grinning proudly. “That’s the smell of good food. Don’t you like it?”
He chuckled and ruffled my hair affectionately. Then, with a smile, he popped a piece of food into my mouth and gave Ava a piece too. “All right, my sweethearts. Let’s eat!”
After dinner, I tucked Ava into bed and then took a shower. When I returned, I sidled up to Matthew, teasing him, “Do I still smell like oil?”
Matthew smiled mischievously, pulling me toward him. “I’ve missed you so much, sweetheart.”
He kissed me with such intensity that I barely had time to react before he pulled me toward the bed. He was unusually eager tonight.
Later, as I lay watching him walk toward the bathroom, I noticed something strange—his phone, sitting on the bedside table, had just received a WhatsApp message. The screen flashed, and without thinking, my eyes darted to it.
I froze.
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