I drove my husband's new Tesla to the airport to pick someone up.

After connecting to Bluetooth, I was about to play a song when a memo suddenly popped up on the central control screen.

The title was "Notes for Taking Care of a Kitten."

"Kitten liked strawberry candy, but not mint.

"Kitten needed to be held when sleeping, or she would cry.

"During the kitten's period, she needed painkillers and hot chocolate prepared in advance."

I read line by line, until the last line was written in bold red.

"Remember! Next month, take the kitten for a prenatal checkup."

I turned off the memo without changing my expression and dialed my husband, Gregory Lopez's number.

"Gregory, what brand of painkillers does your kitten like? I can buy some on the way."

On the other end, Gregory paused for a second.

"Honey, what nonsense are you talking about?"

His voice was still the same calm and gentle tone that I have heard for five years.

"What kitten? I don't understand what you're saying."

He chuckled softly, with a touch of indulgence.

"You've always been my one and only kitten, no?"

I gripped the steering wheel, watching the traffic ahead, and smiled.

"I mean the one in your memo—the kitten who needs a prenatal checkup."

His tone instantly relaxed, as if realizing something.

"Oh, that's Anthony's little cat, she's pregnant.

"His phone broke yesterday, so he borrowed mine to jot things down. I thought he deleted it."

What a perfect excuse.

Anthony was his best friend and also the groomsman at our wedding.

He thought I would definitely believe him.

"That guy is always so careless. I need to tell him not to put everything on my phone, or he'll make you misunderstand."

"Really?" I asked softly. "Anthony treated his cat so well, even remembering the prenatal checkup."

Gregory echoed what I said.

"I know, right? Even I'm jealous.

"Honey, don't overthink. I only love you. What do you want for dinner tonight? I'll prepare it early."

"No need, I have a client dinner tonight."

I hung up, pulled over to the side of the road, and took a photo of that memo.

Within half an hour, Gregory came home.

As soon as he walked in, he hugged me from behind, resting his chin in the curve of my neck, his body still cold from outside.

"Honey, I'm worried. So I rescheduled with the client and came back."

He cupped my face, his eyes full of sincerity and concern.

"Have I been too busy lately and neglected you, making you feel insecure?

"When I sensed you were upset over the phone, my heart ached. You are more important than work.

"It's all my fault."

He blamed himself for everything, shouldered all the responsibility, making me seem like some unreasonable lunatic.

Looking at the face that once made my heart race, bitterness welled up inside me.

"No, maybe I'm just too sensitive."

He let out a visible sigh of relief.

"Silly girl." He brushed my nose with his finger. "Alright, don't think about this anymore. I'm going to cook."

He took off his suit and draped it casually over the sofa.

I looked at his back as he walked into the kitchen, then picked up his jacket to hang it properly.

A folded receipt slipped out of his pocket.

I opened it. It was a receipt from a high-end maternity store.

On the receipt was a long list of products—from imported baby formula to a custom crib—all for a child.

At the very bottom was a handwritten delivery address.

It wasn't our home, and it wasn't Anthony's either.

Clutching the receipt, I called my best friend, Stephanie Garcia.

She was a top private investigator with wild connections.

"Stephanie, I've got an address. Can you check the resident and see if she has any ties to Gregory?"

In the next few days, Gregory treated me with overwhelming sweetness.

Morning kisses, good night hugs, drove me to and from work, and took care of all the housework.

He acted like a husband who was still hurt from being misunderstood, desperate to make amends.

On Wednesday night, my mother-in-law called.

She started by asking how I'd been doing, then quickly changed the subject.

"Catherine, you and Gregory have been married five years now. Why aren't you pregnant yet?

"Men love kids. You need to take this seriously.

"Our Gregory has a successful career and is so loyal to his family. You have to hold on to him tight."

Every word was like a pinprick—not enough to kill, but sharp enough to hurt.

I brushed her off and hung up.

Gregory walked out of the kitchen with a plate of cut fruit and sat beside me.

"My mom pushed you for a baby again?"

I nodded.

He sighed and pulled me into his arms.

"Forget what she says. We'll let things happen naturally.

"Whether you have a child or not, I'll always love you."

He said it so sweetly.

Lying against him, all I smelled was the stench of rotten lies.

On Friday, Stephanie called.

"Got it."

Her voice was cold.

"The one living there is Emily Watson, twenty-two years old. She just joined Gregory's company two months ago.

"She looks innocent, talks sweet, and knows how to play the game.

"Most importantly, I found an appointment at a private maternity hospital.

"The appointment was made by Gregory. The pregnant woman was Emily."

My chest hurt so bad I could hardly breathe.

Stephanie sneered.

"There's worse.

"I hacked her Instagram. She set it to be visible only to certain people.

"It's full of her and Gregory's love life."

I hung up and opened the screenshots she sent.

Emily's account name was Spoilt Kitten.

The newest post was from three days ago.

"Mr. L said I'm his most precious treasure. He wants to give me and the baby a home.

"Next month at the family dinner, he'll give me a surprise."

The picture showed a luxury jewelry box with a diamond necklace I had never seen before.

The brand was the same one Gregory told me last week he'd bought as a small gift for an important female client.

I scrolled down.

"My stomach hurt so bad during my period. Mr. L came at midnight with hot chocolate and painkillers, then held me all night.

"He said he would never let me suffer again."

The picture showed Gregory's side profile, sound asleep, with his hand resting on Emily's waist.

The location was our guest bedroom.

The one I had prepared for him when he came home late and didn't want to disturb me.

I scrolled further.

"Mr. L has such good taste. This white Tesla is gorgeous! He said it's the stroller for our baby."

The picture showed her sitting in the passenger seat, making a peace sign at the center screen.

On the screen was the same memo I had seen.

The phone slipped from my trembling hand and crashed to the floor.

I curled up on the sofa, all the strength in my body drained in an instant.

Ten years, ten years from school uniform to wedding dress.

The sweet words he told me and the things he did for me turned into knives, hurting me again and again in my mind.

He said he loved me, yet he held another woman in our home.

He said he was busy with work, yet he went out at midnight to bring hot chocolate to another woman.

He said children would come naturally, yet he had already made someone else pregnant.

I felt so sick that I rushed to the bathroom and threw up until nothing was left but acid.

Why?

What did I do wrong?

Gregory, how could you do this to me?

My heart felt like it was being torn apart and it hurt so much that I couldn't breathe.

I crouched on the floor and cried bitterly.

But after a long while, I suddenly laughed.

I stood up and wiped away my tears.

The pain couldn't hurt him, and my tears were worthless.

Gregory, don't you want a family?

Fine, then let me help you this time.

Just then, Gregory opened the door and came in. Seeing me like this, his face changed.

"Honey, what's wrong? You look so pale."

He hurried over and reached out to feel my forehead.

I lifted my head and looked at him with red eyes.

"Gregory, I think... I'm sick."

He froze, his face showing just the right amount of worry and heartache.

"Where do you feel uncomfortable? Let's go to the hospital right now!"

He spoke as he started to grab his car keys.

"No need." I held his hand. "It's just... my heart hurts."

Gregory stopped moving.

He crouched down and held my hand, his face filled with guilt.

"It's all my fault. I've been so focused on work that I didn't take care of you.

"Honey, listen to me. Work isn't important. Nothing is important. Your health is the most important.

"Tomorrow I'll take time off. Let's go to the Maldives for a vacation, okay? Haven't you always wanted to go?"

As if all my suffering was only because of his neglect, and not his betrayal.

I looked at him and suddenly smiled.

"Alright.

"I'll do as you say."

Next month's family dinner was my mother-in-law's sixtieth birthday.

The Lopez family was well-known in town, and this birthday banquet was held in grand style, with the entire top-floor ballroom of a hotel reserved.

As the most outstanding son, Gregory was naturally the center of attention.

He wore a custom white suit, standing tall, moving gracefully among the guests.

My mother-in-law stood beside him, covered in diamonds, unable to hide the smile on her face.

"Catherine, come here," she called, waving me over.

I walked over, and she pulled me aside, lowering her voice.

"Everyone here today is important, so don't give me a deadpan look.

"Otherwise, they'll think the Lopez family treats you badly.

"Also, you'd better get pregnant soon!

"I'm telling you, Gregory is excellent, and there are plenty of young girls out there dying to have his child!

"If you can't bear one, then stop hogging the spot and let someone else take your place!"

Her words were vicious and mean.

I looked at her expressionlessly and said nothing.

She was about to say something when Gregory came over.

"Mom, what are you saying to Catherine?"

He put his arm around my waist naturally and smiled at my mother-in-law.

"Catherine isn't feeling well today. I told her not to talk too much and to rest more."

He was always like this, always protecting me and giving me the greatest respect in front of others.

My mother-in-law curled her lips and turned away to greet other guests.

Gregory lowered his head and kissed me on the forehead.

"Don't mind my mom. She's sharp-tongued but soft-hearted."

I smiled faintly, but my eyes looked past his shoulder and landed on a familiar figure.

Emily wore a light pink maternity dress with a white Chanel coat draped elegantly over her shoulders.

She had long hair, delicate makeup, and a shy but happy smile on her face.

Her hand rested unconsciously on her stomach.

She was standing nearby, next to one of Gregory's friends, looking like his guest's date.

Gregory's gaze also landed on her.

Just for a second—then he looked away.

But I could clearly see the tenderness and love in his eyes.

The birthday party was halfway through and it was time to present gifts.

As a son, Gregory was naturally the first.

He walked onto the stage and picked up the microphone.

"Today is my mother's sixtieth birthday. As her son, I didn't prepare anything too special."

He paused, scanning the hall, finally setting his eyes on me.

"I just want to tell you that you'll be a grandmother soon."

The whole room fell silent for a moment, then erupted into thunderous applause and congratulations.

"Congratulations, Mr. Lopez!"

"Mrs. Lopez is so lucky!"

My mother-in-law covered her mouth in surprise, her eyes instantly turning red.

She hurried onto the stage, clutching Gregory's hand in excitement.

"Gregory! You... you mean it? Catherine, she's..."

She whipped her head toward me, her eyes filled with a kind of eagerness and joy I had never seen.

I stood there frozen, like an outsider.

Among the crowd, Emily stood with her hand on her belly, her lips curved in a proud smile.

Gregory didn't answer his mother's question.

He only smiled, holding the microphone, and went on.

"This child didn't come easily.

"So today, using my mother's birthday banquet, I want to announce something else."

His gaze finally left my face, turning cold and absolute.

"I, Gregory, will be dissolving my marriage with Ms. Catherine Davis."

The room erupted into chaos.

Guests whispered to each other.

"What? Divorce?"

"So the child isn't hers?"

"My God, did he just announce divorce in public?"

Even my mother-in-law's face changed. She grabbed Gregory's arm in panic.

"Gregory! What nonsense are you saying?"

Gregory shook her off, his voice as cold as ice.

"I'm not talking nonsense.

"Catherine and I are incompatible. Our relationship fell apart a long time ago.

"Over the years, she refused to bear children for various excuses. I have repeatedly tolerated her because of our long-standing relationship as husband and wife.

"Until I met a girl who was willing to give me everything and bear my child."

He turned around and stretched out his hand towards Emily.

"Emmy, come here."

Emily had tears on her face. In the dead silence, she lifted the hem of her gown and walked slowly onto the stage.

She walked to Gregory, and he pulled her tightly into his arms.

Gregory lowered his head and tenderly kissed the tears from the corner of her eyes.

"I'm sorry, baby, for letting you suffer."

Then he raised his head, looking at me like a judge.

"Catherine, for old times' sake, please leave now so we can part ways amicably.

"I'll give you enough money to live comfortably for the rest of your life.

"But if you insist on making a scene, the only one who'll look bad in the end will be you."

He had planned it all.

In this kind of setting, with this kind of timing, he pushed me straight into hell.

He wanted everyone to know that I, Catherine, couldn't give him a child, yet clung shamelessly to the position of Mrs. Lopez.

While he was just an innocent man pursuing true love and longing for a family.

I looked at the perfect couple on stage, then at my mother-in-law's face down below, changing from joy, to shock, and then finally to disgust.

I smiled.

Step by step, I too walked onto the stage.

I took another microphone from the emcee.

In an instant, every flash in the hall turned toward me.

Gregory's expression darkened.

"Catherine, what are you trying to do? Haven't you embarrassed yourself enough?"

Emily hid in his arms, trembling like a frightened little rabbit.

"Catherine, I know you hate me... but love can't be forced.

"I beg you, please let us be. The child is innocent."

She acted with great emotion and looked very pitiful.

I looked at her and smiled slightly.

"Ms. Watson, don't rush to call me by my first name.

"Legally speaking, I, Catherine, am still Gregory's rightful wife.

"Our divorce papers haven't been signed. Which makes you an adulteress.

"And the child in your belly? A bastard."

Emily's face turned pale in an instant.

A flash of fury passed through Gregory's eyes. He stepped forward, trying to snatch the microphone from my hand.

I stepped back, avoiding him.

"Gregory, just now you said I can't have children?"

My voice flowed clearly through the microphone, spreading to every corner of the hall.

"You said that because you wanted a child, you chose divorce, and chose Ms. Watson?"

"Yes." Gregory gritted his teeth. "What man doesn't want his own child?

"If you can't give it to me, there are naturally others who can!"

"Well said." I nodded, then turned, looking at the big screen behind us.

A moment ago, it had been looping through photos of my mother-in-law in her finest attire.

I pressed the remote in my hand.

The images on the screen instantly changed.

A medical report I had prepared long ago appeared clearly in front of everyone.