On my wedding day, my childhood sweetheart Heather refused my ring. She fled in her wedding dress and drove off with Julian. The shock killed my mother, who was already ill. Only Serena, another childhood friend, stayed with me. She pulled me from despair, and we later married. For seven years, we were deeply in love. When she became pregnant, I was overjoyed. But on New Year’s Eve, I saw a message on her phone: “What if Tim learns the baby is Julian’s?” Serena replied calmly, “He won’t. After the birth, I’ll leave Julian and love Tim as compensation.” I stood trembling. Seven years—all a lie. She never loved me. If that’s true, I’ll walk away and let them be. 1 Not long after I placed the phone back where I found it, Serena emerged from the bathroom. I lay in bed, pretending to watch TV. A cloud of her perfume drifted over me. She looked at me, her eyes full of affection, and trailed a silky hand across my chest. "Tim," she whispered, her voice a seductive purr. "It must have been hard for you, having to wait all these weeks." As her lips, red and lush, descended toward mine, I pushed her away. Serena stared, utterly shocked. "Tim, what's wrong?" In all our years of marriage, it was the first time I had ever rejected her advances. "I just don't want to hurt the baby," I said, my voice flat. Her expression softened slightly. "I asked the doctor. The baby is stable now. As long as we're gentle, it's perfectly fine." She moved closer again, her cheeks flushed, an irresistible invitation. Her eyes were pools of liquid tenderness. The old me would have been lost in them, completely undone. But now, all I felt was the biting cold of an arctic sea, utterly devoid of warmth. This was my wife, the woman I loved, and she was carrying another man's child. The thought was a blade twisting in my gut. I pushed her away a second time. "Not tonight. I'm exhausted." She didn't press the issue. "You must be tired from work. Let's just get some sleep, then." She switched off the TV and the lights, then curled up beside me, her arm wrapped around my waist. It was her favorite way to sleep. Within minutes, she was breathing softly. But my mind was a raging storm. I didn't sleep a wink. Later, in the dead of night, once I was sure she was sound asleep, I slipped out of bed and went to the study. I opened her laptop. It was the first time I had done so in seven years. It didn't take long to find the hidden folder. I clicked it open. Inside were thousands of photos. Tokyo, Paris, Istanbul… In every picture, Julian and Serena were wrapped in a blissful embrace, their faces glowing with a happiness I had never seen. I scrolled to the very last photo. The date stamp was three days ago. The location: a maternity clinic in Hong Kong. Julian was pressing his face against Serena's gently swelling stomach, tears of joy streaming down his cheeks. Behind them, a sign on the wall was stark and clear. "Congratulations, You're Going to Be a Dad!" Staring at the photo, my heart plunged into a black abyss. That day, Serena had told me she was going to Hong Kong to meet a client. I’d offered to go with her, worried about her traveling while pregnant. She had laughed it off, explaining that the client was a woman with a peculiar dislike for strange men. My presence, she’d said, would almost certainly kill the deal. I believed her. Only now did I realize there was no female client. It was a prenatal check-up with Julian. I closed the laptop and walked out onto the balcony. I chain-smoked until the sky began to bleed with the gray light of dawn. My decision was made. This picture-perfect marriage was over. And I was done with Serena. 2 The next morning, as Serena was putting on her makeup, she reminded me. "Tim, don't forget it's New Year's Eve." "My parents have been planning this family dinner for weeks." "We can't be late." I sat on the sofa, silent. As she was about to leave, she kissed my forehead. "I've got a few things to wrap up at the office. You can meet me there this afternoon, and we'll go to my parents' house together." "Oh, and I have a surprise for you. Keep an eye out for it." After she left, I started packing. Around noon, her "surprise" arrived. A brand-new Patek Philippe watch and a lavish, custom-catered lunch from a five-star hotel. "My man deserves to be spoiled by me." It was a line she had used countless times over the past seven years. Staring at the exquisite watch nestled in its box, a bitter acid churned in my stomach. I looked up at the huge wedding portrait on the wall. In the photo, Serena was nestled in my arms, her face a mask of pure happiness. But deep in her eyes, there was always a shadow of sorrow she could never quite hide. I used to think it was just the bittersweet sentimentality of becoming a wife. Now I knew the truth. It was the sadness of not being able to marry the man she truly loved. I took a deep breath, forcing my emotions down, and called a lawyer friend to draw up divorce papers. I had booked a flight out of the country for that day, but I rescheduled it for the next. I had promised Serena I would join her for New Year's Eve dinner at her parents' house. A man should always keep his word. My mother taught me that. The thought of my mother felt like an invisible hand squeezing my heart, a dull, relentless ache. My father died in a car crash when I was too young to remember. My mother never abandoned me, raising me all on her own. No matter how hard life got, she never once considered remarrying. She had promised to love my father, and only him, for the rest of her life. In the afternoon, I arrived at the Sterling Corporation building. As soon as I walked through the doors, the familiar whispers started. "Look, Tim's here to see Ms. Sterling." "They're so in love." "Of course they are. A magazine once named them one of Seacrest City's top ten most enviable couples." "They were childhood friends, you know. That's why their marriage is still so strong after seven years." "Now that she's pregnant, he's probably even more protective. He'll be visiting all the time." "They're such a good-looking couple. Their baby is going to be gorgeous." "A family of three. That's true happiness." "Man, some guys have all the luck. Why couldn't I be Tim?" "Check out his watch. That's the new Patek. It must be worth over a hundred grand." "Definitely a gift from Ms. Sterling. I heard she buys him a new one every year." "Tim must have saved the galaxy in a past life to marry a woman like her." "Well, Tim's family was well-off too. His mother was a powerhouse businesswoman in this city before she passed." "Such a shame she died so young. They say the shock of what happened literally killed her. If she were still alive, the Sterling Corporation wouldn't be the top dog in this city." … I stopped outside the CEO's office. I could hear Serena's voice, sharp with irritation. "I distinctly ordered two watches. One standard edition, and one limited edition." "The standard one arrived, but now you're telling me the limited edition is delayed?" "Is this how you do business?" "I don't want excuses. If that watch isn't here within the hour, you can expect a formal complaint!" So, she had bought two watches. I waited a few minutes before pushing the door open. The moment she saw me, the harsh lines on her face melted into a radiant smile. "Tim, you're here!" "Just give me a minute, I have a few more documents to sign." I told her there was no rush and sat on the sofa, scrolling through social media, waiting. Serena was stunning when she was focused on her work. For a fleeting moment, she reminded me of my mother. They were both titans of the business world, after all. Less than half an hour later, a notification popped up on my phone. It was a new post from Julian. Four photos, all close-ups of him wearing a watch. A very expensive, very exclusive watch. The caption read: "The best birthday gift I've ever received." "They say the new year is better than the old. I say having you is better than everything!" 3 Comments were already flooding in. "Isn't that the new Patek?" "Oh my god, that's the limited edition! It's worth over three million dollars!" "I'm so jealous!" "I don't even have to guess who sent it." "Say no more. Just wishing you two soulmates all the best." I scrolled through the entire thread. There was no comment from Serena. I glanced up. She was still engrossed in her work, her phone lying untouched beside her. It dawned on me. Julian must have blocked her from seeing that post. A bitter taste filled my mouth. In all the years I'd known her, I'd never seen Serena that angry. And it was all over a watch… Finally, she finished her work, and we drove to her parents' house. On the way, I closed my eyes, feigning sleep. Serena's phone rang. She glanced at me, and seeing my eyes closed, she answered, her voice low. The call was on her Bluetooth earpiece. "Serena, thank you for the watch. It's incredible." The voice was faint, but I was close enough to hear every word. A small smile played on Serena's lips. "It's only three million. Not that expensive." "As long as you like it." Julian sounded genuinely moved. "You've given me so many gifts over the years. Each one more extravagant than the last. I feel... uneasy. If Tim found out, he would be so hurt. I don't want to be the reason for trouble between you two." Serena laughed softly. "Don't worry, he'll never know. Besides, I bought him a watch too. Just… not as valuable as yours." Julian's voice dropped to a whisper. "Serena, can you… can you be with me tonight?" She hesitated for a few seconds before replying, her voice laced with apology. "I'm sorry, Julian. It's New Year's Eve. I promised my parents I'd bring Tim over to celebrate with them." "Alright. Well, happy New Year's Eve, then." The deep disappointment in his voice was palpable. A look of pain flickered in Serena's eyes. "Julian," she said softly, "I promise I'll spend your birthday with you next year. And our daughter… she'll be with you too." As she spoke, Serena lovingly caressed her stomach. The sight made my eyes burn. I felt a muscle in my eyebrow twitch uncontrollably. Suddenly, I heard Julian cry out through the earpiece, followed by a heavy thud. "Julian, what happened?" Serena cried out, alarmed. "I slipped… I fell in the snow. I think I'm hurt." "Is it bad?" "No… not too bad." "Tell me where you are. I'm coming right now!" "No, Serena, don't," Julian said, his voice theatrically weak. "I can get a cab to the hospital. Don't let a little thing like this ruin your family's holiday." Serena's brow furrowed. "Tell me where you are!" she commanded, her tone leaving no room for argument. Once she had the address, she hung up, pulled the car over to the side of the road, and shook me awake. "Tim, my assistant just called. There's an emergency meeting I have to get back for." "I'm so sorry. I have to go." "Can you get a cab from here? Or I can have our driver come pick you up." I looked out the window. It was pitch black, and heavy snow was falling. We were far from the city. On New Year's Eve, in this weather, there wouldn't be a single cab or bus in sight. I didn't want to get out, but she practically pushed me from the car. Serena slammed her foot on the gas, and the car shot forward, leaving me behind without a second thought. She was so worried about Julian, she didn't even bother with a better lie. I pulled out my phone. The signal was barely there; the rideshare app wouldn't even load. With no other choice, I pulled my coat tighter and began to walk, trudging through the deepening snow, one painful step at a time. Over two hours later, frozen and shivering, I finally reached her parents' villa. Through the wrought iron fence, I could see the house ablaze with light, bursts of laughter drifting out into the cold night. A servant saw me and rushed to open the gate. "Mr. Tim, you're so late!" I didn't explain. "Is Serena here yet?" "The mistress arrived a while ago, sir. With Mr. Julian." The servant spoke cautiously. He knew the old story—how Julian had stolen Heather on my wedding day, how my mother had died from the shock. The scandal had rocked the city. He was trying not to upset me. A bitter smile touched my lips. Even a servant knew to be discreet, but Serena couldn't care less about my feelings. 4 When I entered the living room, Julian and Serena were sitting side-by-side on the sofa, laughing intimately. The moment they saw me, they sprang apart. "Tim, you're finally here!" Serena rushed over. "I was so worried! Why didn't you answer when the driver called?" "My phone died," I said calmly. In the sub-zero temperatures, the battery hadn't stood a chance. "Oh, Tim, I'm so sorry. This is all my fault." Guilt washed over her face as she took in my snow-covered clothes. She led me to the sofa. Her parents came over, fussing over me and scolding their daughter for leaving me stranded. Julian sat to the side, looking profoundly awkward. I glanced at him. There was a small bruise on his forehead. Meanwhile, I had been freezing in a blizzard for over two hours. I couldn't feel my legs. Dinner was a lavish spread of all my favorite dishes. It was clear my in-laws had gone to great lengths to welcome me. Serena stayed close by my side, and the family cheerfully discussed names for the baby. I don't remember the taste of the food, nor do I remember what names they chose. I only remember the furious, possessive jealousy in Julian's eyes. After dinner, I went to rest in the guest room. Suddenly, the door flew open and Julian stormed in. He kicked me hard in my injured leg. Pain exploded through my body, and I collapsed to the floor, writhing. He loomed over me, his face a twisted mask of rage. "Tim, there's something you need to know," he sneered. "That baby in Serena's belly? It's not yours. It's mine!" "So you have no right to discuss its name! You're nothing but a pathetic cripple, a waste of space!" "Eight years ago, I took the woman you loved most right from under your nose, and you didn't do a damn thing!" "And today, you're still the same useless trash." "Heather was mine, and Serena is mine too! You will always be nothing but a pathetic joke!" "Oh, and one more thing." "Eight years ago, your mother didn't have to die." "After she was admitted to the hospital, someone pulled a few strings and had one of her life-saving medications switched." His words struck me like a bolt of lightning. My entire body seized. "Who was it?" My mother's death was a wound that had never healed. I struggled to my feet, desperate for an answer, but Julian suddenly grabbed a fruit knife from the coffee table, reversed the blade, and plunged it into his own shoulder. I froze, stunned. Why would he do that? A piercing scream ripped through the air as Serena burst into the room. Julian clutched his shoulder, crying out, "Tim, no! Please don't hurt me! I didn't mean to take Heather from you all those years ago! Please, forgive me!" Blood streamed through his fingers, staining the brand-new, multi-million-dollar watch on his wrist. Serena's face went purple with rage. She slapped me across the face, the crack echoing in the silent room. "Tim, what the hell are you doing? Are you insane?" "Julian came in here to check on you because you weren't feeling well, and you attack him with a knife over something that happened years ago?" The way my in-laws looked at me changed completely. They could never have imagined that the gentle, mild-mannered man they knew could be capable of such violence. Julian, playing the victim perfectly, whimpered, "Serena, don't blame Tim. It's my fault. I shouldn't have called you, and I shouldn't have fallen. It's my fault he had to walk so far in the snow. And it's true, I ruined his wedding eight years ago. I deserve this. I'm the one to blame." Tears of sympathy welled in Serena's eyes. "No, Julian, you did nothing wrong. Heather left him because she never loved him. It had nothing to do with you! And tonight, I came to get you because I wanted to. You're not to blame for that either." I didn't hear a word she said. My eyes, bloodshot and burning, were locked on Julian. All I wanted was the answer. Who killed my mother? Shielded by Serena, he shot me a look of pure, triumphant provocation. I lunged at him like a madman, but my in-laws grabbed me, holding me back. Serena, at the end of her patience, ordered the servants to throw me out of the house. "Tim, if it weren't for our years of marriage, I would have called the police! Go home and cool off! If you ever pull a stunt like this again, we're getting a divorce!" The moment the heavy villa gates slammed shut, my heart turned to ash. Without a moment's hesitation, I turned and walked away, disappearing into the dark, swirling snow.
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