Chapter 1

My husband Ethan suddenly books a vasectomy. I thought he was trying to show his resolve, to get a quick divorce from me, since I had always wanted children.

It turned out he did it because his mistress hates the feel of condoms.

Right before they put him under, he unlocks his phone and hands it to me. It's the first time he's ever done it.

"The password is 020801. Buy whatever you want or dig out whatever you want."

Then he looks at me.

"But when I wake up, I expect the divorce papers signed. Oh wait, I might still need the phone before the surgery."

Then he snaps his phone back and calls someone. When he speaks again, his voice is so gentle that I have never heard before.

"Don't worry. It'll be really quick. You know the passwords to all my cards and safe. If anyone gives you trouble while I'm still under surgery, use the money. Consider it your backup."

When he says "anyone," his eyes flick toward me.

Of course. Three years ago, when I first found out Ethan was cheating on me, I went after the other woman like I'd lost my mind.

I followed him. I took pictures. I chased down every lead I could find.

But aside from the tuition payments he made to a poor girl every semester, I have never got any clue.

And I finally understand why it was so difficult to find any record of his cheating all these years.

All because the poor girl is the other woman.

When he finally ends his sweet talk with that girl, he looks at me impatiently and says, "Olivia, it's been three years. Maybe you're not tired of this, but I am. When I wake up, let me go. Can you do that?"

The nurses start wheeling him toward pre-op. I take the phone from his hand without a word.

He doesn’t know I’ve decided to let him go. After all, just last week, he even had someone ram into me to force me to sign the divorce agreement, leaving me in the ICU for several days.

I'm tired of this game.

Before I step out of the surgery room, I contact my lawyer consulting for divorce issue.

But Ethan figures I’m still trying to track the info about his mistress. He turns to his assistant and gives the order.

"I want eyes on Olivia at all times when I’m in hospital. And suspend her as Executive Director for now."

His eyes turn cold.

"Don't think I don't know what you're planning. You should never mess up with somebody."

A nurse comes over with the surgical checklist.

"Mr. Blackwell, I need to confirm your pre-op information one last time. When was the last time you had anything to eat or drink?"

Ethan opens his mouth, but I answer first.

"No food for eight hours. No liquids for three."

"Any medication allergies?"

"Penicillin. It gave him a rash once."

The nurse goes through a few more questions.

I answer every one of them.

Ethan keeps staring at me, his expression growing darker with every answer.

The nurse gives me an awkward smile. "Your wife really knows your medical history, Mr. Blackwell."

"Wife?"

Ethan gives a cold laugh.

"Not for much longer. Knowing every detail of my life isn't going to change that."

If this had happened a few years ago, I would have lost my mind trying to figure out why I fall short compared to his mistress?

Now, I just stand there and say nothing.

A little while later, the surgery begins.

The second I walk out of the hospital, my friend Mason texts me: [Olivia, I heard Ethan actually handed you his phone and told you to dig out whatever you want? He finally decides to let you know about the woman’s identity?]

Yeah, Ethan just doesn't care enough to hide it anymore.

Then another Mason’s text comes through.

[So are we still digging? Chloe Hayes should be back in Boston by now.]

Chloe Hayes is the woman Ethan has spent three years protecting.

She's a finance major. He paid for her entire degree, sent her overseas for two years, then brought her back and got her an internship at Blackwell Group.

He thinks he's been careful.

I type back.

[No. Just stop.]