1 I was using the new smart fridge my husband had just installed, getting ready to make a shopping list for the weekend. Suddenly, a shared family account he’d forgotten to log out of popped up on the screen. Inside, there was only one unfamiliar user profile. I tapped on it. A list titled “Rose Care Guide” stared back at me. Rose is allergic to seafood. No spicy food. Rose is emotionally volatile. Buy her favorite white chocolate to soothe her. Rose gets cold easily. The thermostat at home must be kept at a constant 78°F. I scrolled down, a cold smile on my face. The last item was a bolded calendar reminder: “Next Wednesday, take Rose to pick out a wedding dress.” Expressionless, I closed the list and dialed his number. “Darling, does your rose prefer a traditional gown or something more contemporary? I’d love to help you brainstorm.” … On the other end of the line, my husband, Chuck Croft, stopped breathing for a second. “Selene, my love, what little joke are you playing now?” His voice, wrapped in the warmth and magnetism I’d known for eight years, was as smooth and steady as ever. “What rose? I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He chuckled, his tone dripping with affection. “The only rose in my life is you.” I clutched the phone, my gaze sweeping over the silent night outside the window as my lips curled into a smirk. “The one from your shared list, of course. The rose who needs to pick out a wedding dress.” His voice on the other end immediately relaxed, a note of understanding in it. “Oh, that! That’s for Henry. He’s getting ready to marry his girlfriend, and he asked me to help him plan the wedding dress shopping.” “You know how he is, always a bit of a mess. I’ll have to give him a piece of my mind later. He can’t just be syncing everything to my account and making my Selene jealous.” The perfect excuse. Henry was his best friend, the best man at our wedding. He was certain I would never doubt him. “That’s just him, always dumping his problems on me. I’m so sorry it made you worry, Selene.” “Is that so?” I asked lightly. “You two must be incredibly close, for him to need someone else’s opinion on a wedding dress.” Chuck ran with it. “Of course, we grew up together. He spoils his girlfriend rotten; I’m almost jealous myself.” “Selene, don’t overthink it. You’re the only one for me. Is your gown for the gala tomorrow night ready? I can have the driver pick it up.” “No need. I have my own arrangements.” I ended the call, tossed my apron aside, and took a complete screenshot of the list. The lock turned. In less than fifteen minutes, Chuck was home. He walked in and wrapped his arms around me from behind, resting his chin gently in the crook of my neck, bringing with him the crisp scent of the night air. “Selene, I was still worried. I canceled my last meeting and rushed back.” He cupped my face, his deep eyes filled with sincerity and tenderness. “Have I been too busy lately, neglecting you? Is that why your mind is racing?” “Your voice sounded off on the phone, and my heart just sank. No business deal is more important than you.” “It’s all my fault. I haven’t been considering your feelings these past few days.” He took all the blame, shouldered all the responsibility, painting me as the paranoid wife, chasing shadows and consumed by jealousy. I stared at the face that had once made me fall so completely, a bitter taste rising in my throat. “No, it’s not you. I think I’ve just been tired lately.” He let out a visible sigh of relief. “You silly girl.” He brushed his fingertip against my nose. “Alright, stop worrying. I’ll go run you a bath.” He slipped off his bespoke suit jacket and tossed it casually onto a chair. As I watched him walk into the bathroom, I reached for the jacket, planning to hang it in the closet. A gold-embossed card fell out of the pocket. I picked it up. It was a collection receipt from a private couture atelier. The name of the custom gown was “Starry Night Rose,” a piece whose materials and craftsmanship came with a staggering price tag. At the very bottom, handwritten, was the recipient’s information. It wasn’t me. Nor was it Henry’s girlfriend. Clutching the thin piece of paper, I called my best friend, Zara. She was a top-tier attorney specializing in divorce cases, with an almost terrifying network of contacts. “Zara, I’m sending you a name and an address. Find out everything you can about her and her connection to Chuck Croft.” For the next few days, Chuck’s attentiveness was almost suffocating. Kisses in the morning, embraces at night, driving me to and from work himself, even starting to research recipes to cook for me. He was playing the part of the perfect, guilt-ridden husband, desperately trying to make amends for a near-misunderstanding. On Thursday afternoon, Chuck’s grandfather called. The old man first asked about how I was doing, then the conversation took a sharp turn. “Selene, you and Chuck have been married for three years now. It’s time you started putting more of your focus on the family.” “A man is at the most critical stage of his career. He needs a supportive wife at home.” “Our Chuck is a capable man, and he adores you. You need to make sure you’re holding down the fort for him.” Every word was a nail wrapped in cotton candy—not fatal, but it pierced the heart. I absentmindedly hummed my agreement until the call ended. Chuck walked in with a bowl of something warm and sat beside me. “Grandfather giving you another lecture?” I nodded. He sighed, pulling me into his arms. “Don’t listen to him. The old man is stuck in the past.” “You just do what you want to do. I’ll support you, no matter what.” The words were beautiful. I curled up in his embrace, the air between us thick with the sour stench of his decaying lies. On Thursday, Zara called back. “I’ve got it all,” her voice was ice. “The woman at that address is named Lila Jiang. Twenty-three years old. She joined Chuck’s company three months ago.” “She has this delicate, otherworldly look. Calls him ‘Chuck’ in this sweet, innocent voice in front of everyone.” “But here’s the kicker. I had someone pull the security footage.” “The day before yesterday, Chuck personally took her to that couture shop. He was there for the measurements, helped her pick the style, the whole nine yards.” An invisible hand squeezed my heart tight. Zara scoffed. “It gets worse.” “I hacked into her private photo album. The password was Chuck’s birthday.” “It’s filled with pictures of them. Intimate, everyday moments.” I hung up and opened the folder of photos Zara had sent. Lila’s album was titled My Knight. The latest post was from two days ago. Mr. Croft said this gown is mine and mine alone, just like him. He’s going to make things official at the family gala next week. The accompanying photo was of a breathtakingly beautiful gown, identical to the one on the collection receipt. The fabric was a one-of-a-kind piece Chuck had recently purchased at a high price from an old master artisan, a piece he’d told me was for my wedding anniversary gift. I scrolled down. On a night when I was falling apart, Mr. C drove across the city just to be with me. He brought my favorite white chocolate and held me all night. He said that from now on, with him here, he would never let me suffer again. The photo was of Chuck’s sleeping profile, his brow slightly furrowed, one hand holding Lila’s tightly. The picture was taken in our marital bed. In the home I had poured my heart and soul into designing, a place filled with our memories. I scrolled down again. My new car from Mr. C! He even had the interior customized in my favorite color! He said it’s my own private pumpkin carriage that will take me to the castle. The photo was a selfie of her in the driver’s seat, showing off the logo on the steering wheel. It was the new car Chuck had brought home last week. The phone slipped from my numb fingers, the screen shattering on the floor. I sank into the sofa, every ounce of strength drained from my body. Eight years. Eight years, from a schoolgirl’s uniform to a white wedding dress. The promises he made, the things he did for me—they were all now a red-hot brand, searing my heart over and over again. He said he loved me, yet he held another woman in our bed. He said he had a meeting, yet he was comforting another woman in the middle of the night. He said I was his only rose, yet he had a wedding dress and a new title ready for someone else. My stomach churned violently. I ran to the bathroom and threw up until I was empty. Why? What did I do wrong? Chuck, how could you do this to me? My heart was torn to shreds, the pain making it impossible to breathe. I leaned against the cold wall, crying until I had no more tears. But then, somewhere in the middle of the sobs, I started to laugh. I stood up and splashed cold water on my face. My pain wouldn’t earn his guilt, and my tears were worthless. Chuck, you want to make things official for her? Fine. I’ll give you the stage. Just then, Chuck pushed the door open. Seeing my state, his expression changed instantly. “Selene, what’s wrong? Why is your face so pale?” He rushed over, pressing the back of his hand to my forehead. I lifted my face, my red, swollen eyes meeting his. “Chuck, I think… I can’t do this anymore.” He froze, a perfectly crafted look of panic and heartbreak appearing on his face. “Where does it hurt? We’re going to the hospital, right now!” He moved to grab his coat. “Don’t.” I grabbed his wrist. “It’s just… my heart. It feels so heavy.” Chuck stopped. He knelt, taking my hands in his, his face a mask of regret. “It’s all my fault. I’ve been so focused on work, I’ve ignored how you feel.” “Selene, listen to me. The business isn’t important. Nothing is important. Only you.” “I’ll clear my schedule tomorrow. Let’s go to Aspen, how about that? I know you’ve always wanted to see the snow.” His words were so earnest, as if all my pain was simply the result of his neglect, not his betrayal. I looked at him and suddenly smiled. “Okay.” “Whatever you say.” The family gala the following week was actually the Croft Corporation’s annual shareholder dinner. The Crofts were an old-money dynasty, and the event was a massive affair held at their sprawling family estate. As the most brilliant heir of the third generation, Chuck was the center of attention. He wore a perfectly tailored black tuxedo, moving through the crowd of elites with an easy smile and confident grace. My mother-in-law, dripping in jewels, stood beside him, her face beaming with pride. His grandfather, the patriarch of the Croft empire, sat in the seat of honor, leaning on a dragon-headed cane, his presence formidable. “Selene, come here.” The old man beckoned to me. I walked over, and he patted the empty seat beside him. “Sit.” “We have important guests tonight. Don’t walk around with such a long face. People will think the Croft family mistreats you.” “Chuck is out there building an empire. You need to learn to be the woman behind him. Be gentler, more considerate.” “And it’s about time we heard some news about that belly of yours!” His words were soft, but they carried an undeniable weight. I lowered my eyes and said nothing. He seemed ready to continue his lecture when Chuck approached with a glass of champagne. “Grandfather, are you lecturing Selene again?” He stood naturally behind me, his hand resting on the back of my chair as he smiled at the old man. “Selene hasn't been feeling well lately. I’ve told her to worry less and rest more.” He was always like this, flawlessly maintaining the facade of the devoted husband in public, giving me the utmost respect. The patriarch grunted and turned to speak to someone else. Chuck leaned down and whispered in my ear. “Don’t listen to him. I like you just the way you are.” I smiled, my gaze drifting over his shoulder to a figure who had no business being here. Lila. She wore a blush-pink slip dress, draped with a white silk shawl. Her long hair was in soft waves, her makeup clean and fresh. She had an expression that was a mixture of timidity and poorly concealed triumph. Her hand rested unconsciously on her lower abdomen. She was standing not far away, beside one of Chuck’s cousins, pretending to be his date for the evening. Chuck’s eyes flickered in her direction. It was only for a second before he looked away. But I saw it clearly—the flash of joy and the certainty of possession in that one glance. Halfway through the evening, it was time for the patriarch’s speech, where he would announce the company’s major plans for the coming year. As the heir, Chuck was called to the stage. He took the microphone and started by reporting on the year’s impressive performance. Then, his tone shifted. His gaze swept across the room, finally landing on me. “I also want to thank my grandfather, my uncles, and most importantly, my wife, Selene Croft.” Every eye in the room turned to me. “However,” he paused. “Tonight, I must also announce a difficult decision.” His eyes finally moved away from mine, becoming cold and unfamiliar. “I, Chuck Croft, will be filing for a divorce from Selene.” The entire hall erupted in murmurs. Guests whispered amongst themselves. “What? A divorce?” “What’s going on? They always seemed so in love.” “My God, announcing a divorce at the family gala? Is he insane?” The patriarch’s face darkened. He tapped his cane on the floor and barked, “Chuck! What is this nonsense!” Chuck ignored him, his voice chillingly calm. “This is not nonsense.” “Selene and I have irreconcilable differences. Our marriage has been over in all but name for a long time.” “For years, she has been consumed by her own career, neglecting the care and support that a husband and a home deserve.” “That is, until I met a girl who is willing to put family first. A girl who is willing to build a home with me.” “And… she is carrying my child. I have to be responsible for her. I have to give her the position she deserves.” He turned, extending his hand in Lila’s direction. “Lila, come up here.” With tears streaming down her face, Lila gathered her dress and, in the dead silence, walked step by step onto the stage. She reached Chuck’s side and he pulled her into a fierce embrace. He bent down and lovingly kissed a tear from the corner of her eye. “I’m sorry, baby. I’m sorry you had to go through this.” Then, he looked up, fixing me with the gaze of a judge passing sentence. “Selene, for the sake of the years we spent together, if you leave quietly now, we can both maintain a shred of dignity.” “I will give you a generous settlement, enough to live comfortably for the rest of your life.” “But if you insist on making a scene, you will be the only one who ends up humiliated.” He had calculated everything. To do this, in this place, in this way, was to nail me to a pillar of shame. He wanted everyone to know that I, Selene, was the barren wife, clinging to a title I didn’t deserve, while he was the victim, a man simply seeking true love and a family. I looked at the hypocritical couple on stage, at the patriarch’s face, which had shifted from rage to deep disappointment. I smiled. And step by step, I walked onto the stage. I took the other microphone from the host’s hand. Every camera, every pair of eyes, instantly focused on me.
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