At the charity dinner, Caleb took me to the event fully dressed up and I clung to his arm, basking in the attention we naturally attracted as a couple. His secretary, however, showed up uninvited, crossing the line as she boldly took Caleb's arm as if she belonged by his side.
Caleb swiftly shook her off and reprimanded her loudly with a cold and irritated expression. "How shameless can you be? My wife is right here!"
In the eyes of everyone present, it seemed like he was standing up for me, protecting our marriage. Nevertheless, despite the display, I could not bring myself to feel any happiness.
The reason was that the paparazzi had already captured photos of him kissing this very secretary in the car.
——
Tonight's charity dinner was a significant event, grand in scale, with influential capitalists from various industries in attendance. Normally, my husband, Caleb Martin and I were expected to attend these high-society events together, as we were known as the perfect model couple in the business world. And tonight was no exception.
I had carefully dressed for the occasion, wearing around my neck the extravagant, sky-high-priced necklace that Caleb had recently purchased for me at an auction. The necklace was understated yet undeniably eye-catching, commanding attention wherever I went.
When Caleb saw me for the first time that evening, his eyes lit up with unmistakable admiration. He walked up to me with a grin and kissed me gently on the cheek.
"My wife is indeed beautiful, especially tonight. You're bound to be the most dazzling presence here," he whispered, his voice warm yet full of pride.
As I arrived at the banquet hall, I immediately held Caleb's hand and entered the banquet hall. Hand in hand, we immediately drew everyone's attention.
"Mrs. Martin looks absolutely stunning this evening! That dress is from the latest collection, isn't it? Simply gorgeous!"
"If I'm not mistaken, Mrs. Martin is also wearing the new necklace Mr. Martin bid on for her. Mr. Martin clearly adores his wife!"
"Oh, have you noticed? Mr. Martin has been watching Mrs. Martin like a hawk ever since they walked in. They are such a loving couple. Geez, I'm so envious!"
I smiled graciously, accustomed to these flattering remarks from our social circles, but despite my composed exterior, my heart could not help but feel a tinge of sweetness. I subconsciously glanced at Caleb and as if on cue, he met my gaze with a look of adoration.
Just as I was savoring the scene, a figure darted out from the crowd, moving with unsettling speed and before I could process what was happening, she slipped her hand around Caleb's arm.
Before I could recognize her, Caleb harshly yanked his arm free and shoved her aside without hesitation, his face darkening with a cold fury." How shameless can you be? My wife is right here!"
The crowd had begun to stir by this point, though no one spoke. Eyes darted between the three of us and the air became thick with anticipation, as though they were watching a good showbefore their very eyes.
"Oh, Mr. Martin, I'm so sorry! I mistook you for my boyfriend. Your back looks so much like his and I didn't realize it in time." She bent forward slightly, giving those around us a clear view of her low neckline and ample cleavage, her tone still playful as if it were all just an innocent mistake.
Turning her gaze to me, she added, "Ma'am, I'm sure you don't mind, do you? After all, I am Mr. Martin's secretary and there's absolutely nothing going on between us." Her eyes locked onto mine with a chilling lack of remorse and if anything, there was a glint of provocation behind her words.
I felt a surge of annoyance rising within me and I was about to lash out, but before I could even open my mouth, Caleb intervened, his voice sharp and cutting. "Alright, Scarlett Myers. I don't care whatever your reason is, guess I'll just drop it for today. But there won't be a next time."
As she turned to leave, something caught the corner of my eyes, a flash of light reflecting off the necklace she wore. It gleamed for just a moment but long enough for me to take a closer look and in that instant, a familiar recognition dawned.
"Mr. Martin is really something, isn't he? So calm and composed, handling everything so well without making a scene," someone from the crowd murmured.
"Yes, Mrs. Martin is so lucky," another chimed in. "Mr. Martin himself stepped in and put an end to the flirting before it could cause any real trouble."
As the realization dawned on the others that it was nothing more than a misunderstanding, their expressions softened into pity, though it did little to curb their curiosity.
Normally, I might have smiled politely, but not this time. I did not care about their flattery or empty words. My mind was entirely focused on what I had just seen. Without looking at anyone else, I turned to Caleb with a cold expression.
"That necklace. The one that the secretary was wearing just now… wasn't that the same one you gave me last time? The one I told you I didn't like because I thought the design was not my style? How on earth did it end up on her?"
Chapter 2I spent the entire night sulking, unable to shake the bitterness gnawing at my heart. Even though Caleb tried to explain it away, claiming that the necklace he gave Scarlett was part of the company's employee benefits, I refused to let him off so easily.
"Then you shouldn't give away something so personal." To me, gifting a necklace was an intimate gesture, far too private to be dismissed as a mere work perk.
"Nora, dear, please don't be upset. I wasn't thinking clearly. You know, I'm a man, sometimes I can be insensitive, but I swear I didn't mean anything by it. It won't happen again in the future." His apology sounded sincere and laced with regret.
However, his words did not ease the tight knot in my chest. I did not want to say anything else and did not feel like prolonging the conversation. I could not shake off the unease and sleep did not come easy that night.
Morning arrived far too soon and I woke up with a pounding headache, my temples throbbing with every beat of my heart. Rubbing my temples, I slowly got out of bed and opened the door.
As I glanced downstairs, I was met with an unwelcome sight. Scarlett and Caleb sitting together on the sofa. They were not sitting too close, though, just facing each other. However, something about the scene felt... off. Irritating, even.
Caleb noticed me coming down and stood up with a gentle smile on his face. "Nora, you're awake. Quick, come down. I know you were upset yesterday, so I asked Scarlett to come over early this morning to apologize in person."
I cast a cold, indifferent glance at Scarlett. Her expression had not changed from last night. There was no guilt, no regret. If anything, her eyes still carried that same subtle hint of provocation.
I slowly made my way downstairs, taking my time as I approached them. I sat next to Caleb, picked up the coffee from the table and took a sip before finally speaking, my tone as calm as the surface of still water.
"It's just a necklace," I said. "I don't want it, after all. There's no need to make a fuss over something so trivial. If Miss Myers likes it, then she can have it. I won't stand in the way."
"You are so kind and generous, Ma'am, but this necklace wasn't a gift. It's a reward from Mr. Martin. Even if you don't want it, it still holds great value to me."
"I told you to apologize. Why are you talking too much to my wife?" His face darkened slightly, a flicker of annoyance crossing his features.
"I deeply apologize, Mrs. Martin. I misunderstood. I'll be more careful in the future," she said, but her words were dripping with insincerity. It did not sound like an apology at all. If anything, she seemed more like someone flaunting their power.
"Alright, you've apologized. You can leave now," Caleb said, once again speaking before I had the chance.
The first time, I let it go, but now, his insistence on cutting me off made me wonder if my husband was protecting her, indulging her insolence. Perhaps he was worried that I might actually hold her accountable.
I remained silent, my eyes following Scarlett as she left. Not a single word passed my lips.
Once we were alone, Caleb took my hand and pulled me into his arms, his voice gentle yet firm. "Nora, my dear, please calm down. I promise you, this was the last time. There won't be another mistake. I won't do something like this ever again."
I could feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat as I rested against his chest, but no matter how hard I tried, I could not quiet the turmoil inside. A woman's intuition was a powerful thing and mine screamed that something was not right. My heart told me that things were far from as simple as he wanted me to believe.
And indeed, a woman's intuition was terrifying. After that day, I secretly hired a professional paparazzi to follow Caleb, to track his movements and see what he was really up to. Within just a few days, I had my answer. I got a stack of photos, each one more damning than the last.
I flipped through the pictures. They showed the two of them together again and again. Going to a hotel together could be brushed off as a social event, even a business trip. But kissing in the car? What was that? Personal service?
Even though I desperately wanted to make excuses for Caleb, convincing myself that there had to be some misunderstanding, all my defenses crumbled the moment I saw the photo of them kissing. My heart was quickly overwhelmed by waves of grievance and sadness that I could no longer suppress.
The paparazzi did not just stop at the photos. They dug deeper, uncovering more about the relationship between Caleb Martin and Scarlett Myers. To my shock, I discovered that they had a history stretching all the way back to high school. For three years, they had been inseparable, a young couple deeply in love.
Their love story came to a tragic end during their senior year. Caleb's mother disapproved Scarlett's modest family background, so she decided that Scarlett Myerswas not good enough for her son. She tore them apart and Scarlett was devastated. She left the city in search of a new life.
For years, she lived in another city, only returning recently when she could not find stable work. That was when she reached out to Caleb. Instead of helping her find a decent job somewhere else, he gave her a position as his personal secretary.
As I read this information, a deeper sadness washed over me. Caleb had never once mentioned to me that he had a first love.
If all she wanted was a job, he could have easily found her a position in another company, away from us. But no, my husband brought her to his side, into our lives, which felt like a clear sign that his connection with her had not faded.
I could not stop the memories from flooding back to our wedding day when Caleb Martin knelt down on one knee. His eyes were glistening with emotion as he slipped the ring onto my finger. His voice trembled as he vowed that I was the only woman he would ever love for the rest of his life.
Yet, here we were and the man I trusted the most had let me down.
I was not going to sit by and tolerate this betrayal. That night, as soon as Caleb walked into the house, I threw the stack of disgusting photos right before his face. The pictures were scattered across the floor in a disordered mess and the shot of him and Scarlett kissing lay glaringly on top.
"Give me an explanation." Even though I knew the truth was laid bare before me, I still stubbornly held on to a shred of hope that he might offer me an explanation that could make sense of it all.
Caleb's face was immediately filled with guilt. He stood in silence for a moment, as though carefully considering his words, before finally speaking. "It's not what you think, Nora. She and I were just high school classmates. She came to me for help finding a job. I needed a secretary at the time, so I let her take the position."
"Is that so? But my high school classmates and I don't kiss in cars," I said, my voice dripping with icy sarcasm.
"It was an accident. She said her seatbelt was stuck, so I helped her and then she kissed me out of nowhere. I pushed her away right after, I swear! My dear, please, you have to believe me!"
It was obvious that Caleb was flustered. His hands grabbed both my arms, his grip firm, his eyes desperate, as if he thought he could convince me through sheer force of will.
"You're panicking, Caleb. Why didn't you ever tell me you were in love with her back in high school?" I shook off his grip away and took a step back.
"I… I was afraid you would mind and be mad at me," he confessed, stepping closer to me, pulling me into his arms again, holding me tightly as if that could erase the doubt and pain between us.
Rationally, I knew I should have pushed him away, accused him, demanded more answers, but I did not. After all, this was the man I loved and he had given me an explanation.
"Nora, if you're still upset, then you can hit me until you're feeling better," Caleb said suddenly, grabbing my hand and pressing it against his own face.
"Fire her tomorrow," I said. "Find her another job, anywhere, anything. I don't care as long as she's not working with you anymore."
"But… she's a woman and she doesn't have any family around to help her. As an old classmate, I feel responsible for her." I could see a flicker of hesitation crossed Caleb's face.
"You can help her. Who said you can't?" I replied, my patience wearing thin. "I'm not telling you to abandon her. Just find her another jobsomewhere else, but not in your company."
"Okay, I'll find a suitable position for her," he promised, but there was a clear avoidance in his tone as though he were sidestepping the urgency of my request.
"She leaves tomorrow," I insisted, my unease growing once more. However, no matter how much I pressed, Caleb continued to dodge, trying to push off the matter until later.
When his cell phone rang unexpectedly, Caleb pulled it out and glanced at the screen, the contact name flashing. It was from Miss Myers. I watched as a wave of uneasiness swept across his face, deepening with every second.
"Caleb, I had a car accident and I'm at the hospital right now..." Scarlett's soft, trembling voice drifted through the phone. She had not even finished her sentence, but before she could, Caleb was already on his feet, rushing toward the door.
I could still hear his frantic voice as he hurried out: "How did this happen? Are you hurt? Is it serious? Which hospital? I'll be there right away!"
My husband did not even glance back at me, his wife. The door clicked shut behind him and I was left alone, staring blankly at the space he had just occupied. The words he had said to me only moments ago now felt hollow and meaningless. His gentleness was nothing more than a cruel joke.
A bitter laugh escaped my lips as I realized something painfully clear. A man's subconscious reaction revealed his true feelings more than any words ever could. His action made it painfully obvious who held more weight in his heart.
Chapter 3As soon as Caleb stormed out of the house, I did not waste a moment. I followed swiftly behind, driving to the hospital with a racing heart.
I did not even know why I was going. It might be the desire to see with my own eyes just how much sympathy and care Caleb had for another woman. Perhaps I needed that undeniable proof to finally give up on him, to let go of whatever was left between us.
When I arrived at the hospital, I hesitated just outside the door of the ward. From this spot, I could hear their voices clearly.
"The injury isn't too serious. You should be able to leave the hospital in a few days. Just make sure you get plenty of rest. I'll arrange for someone to take care of you in the meantime," Caleb said softly.
"You'll come to see me again, won't you? I don't believe you don't know how I feel about you." Scarlett's voice was soft but laced with sadness.
"Once you're better, I'll help you find a better job. But you need to stop this, Scarlett Myers. I'm married now."
"No matter how good the job is, without you, my life will still feel empty... meaningless." Scarlett's reply was thick with tears, her sorrow evident.
Okay, I had heard enough.
Without hesitating any longer, I pushed open the door and stepped inside. The ward was far too luxurious for an ordinary secretary. This place had to have been specially arranged by Caleb. There was no other way she could afford it on her own.
The moment Caleb saw me standing there, his expression changed in an instant. Panic washed over his face and he quickly walked toward me, grabbing my hand.
"Why are you here? Scarlett was in a car accident and she had no family to care for her. As an old classmate, I came to check on her."
Another excuse, another carefully crafted line. It might work once, but it felt too obvious when he kept repeating it.
I calmly pulled my hand from his grasp, my voice steady but cold as I said, "Go wait for me in the car. I'd like to have a word with Miss Myers."
Caleb did not move. He stood there for a moment, hesitant.
"What? Are you afraid I'll kill her and eat her alive?" I asked, arching an eyebrow.
There was nothing left for him to say. Caleb finally turned and left the ward.
There were only two of us left in the wardnow, the sterile hospital air thick with tension. I pulled the chair beside her bed and sat down slowly, locking eyes with Scarlett as her once pitiful expression melted away. It was instantly replaced by an air of smug arrogance.
"I'm afraid Mrs. Hayes doesn't know that Caleb and I have loved each other since high school."
"Whether I know or not is not important at all. That was the past, long before now. I am Caleb's wife and if you were paying attention, you would have heard him clearly reject you just now. I suggest you refrain from meddling in our marriage any further."
I paused for a moment, letting my words settle in the air before continuing, "Or perhaps... Miss Myers enjoys playing the role of a mistress?"
Scarlett's expression darkened instantly, the proud gleam in her eyes flickering away as my words hit home. I watched her composure slip as she let out a small laugh. "So what? You must have heard this saying that the one who isn't loved is the real mistress. I only had to pull a few strings to make Caleb leave you behind. He still loves me the most."
She sat up straighter, puffing out her chest like a peacock on display. "I am Caleb's eternal first love. No matter what you do, he'll never forget me."
I stood up, towering over her as I looked at her. "Miss Myers, you're even willing to hurt yourself just to get his attention. I guess you must not value your life much."
With that, I reached over and swiftly pulled the IV needle from the back of her hand, ignoring her pained gasp as I turned and walked out of the ward.
Opening the door, I slipped into the back seat where Caleb sat in the driver's seat.
"Dear, I swear there's nothing between us anymore. I was young and foolish back then. I didn't know what love really was. Back in high school, it was just... it was just for fun," Caleb explained to me as soon as I closed the car door.
"When I was young, I played plenty of games too. But none of my ex-girlfriends ever came crawling back into my life."
I met Caleb's eyes in the rearview mirror, holding his gaze.
"Nora, I swear I realize how badly I messed up. I'll fire her tomorrow, immediately. You'll never see her again and neither will I."
"Just forget it. I'm tired. Just drive." I did not want to hear any more of his explanations, though I could feel the confusion swirling inside me. I had no idea how to confront Caleb or how to truly handle this situation.
I could not fully disregard what Caleb had done with Scarlett, yet at the same time, I was not ready to let our relationship fractured beyond repair. I needed space to breathe, to process. So, for now, I chose to run away from the harsh reality.
If only I had not loved him so deeply, perhaps I would have left him behind without a second thought, without this suffocating hesitation. But the truth was, I loved Caleb too much. He was not just a man to me. For me, he had always been the pulse of my youth.
Caleb and I had met back in university, a time filled with carefree moments and youthful adventures. During a mountain climbing trip organized by the campus, an incident occurred. I encountered a snake and my legs went weak with fear. I stood frozen in place, trembling uncontrollably, unable to move.
Our classmates were just as worried, but none of them dared to step forward and help me. No one was willing to take the risk. Only Caleb stepped forward without hesitation when he passed by. In doing so, he had bitten himself.
Fortunately, the bite was not from a poisonous snake. From that day on, I began to notice Caleb everywhere, watching him quietly and learning just how exceptional he was. We gradually became friends and with every interaction, the seeds of my secret love for him began to take root in my heart.
By the time we reached our junior year of college, my life took a devastating turn. My mother fell gravely ill and passed away, leaving me utterly lost and broken.
That period of my life was shrouded in darkness and I wandered through it in a daze. Only Caleb, the one friend who truly saw through my façade, stood by my side during that time. He cared for me, helped me through those bleak days and became the light that guided me out of the abyss.
In my senior year, I could no longer hide how I felt, so I confessed my love to him. To my amazement, Caleb returned my feelings and from that moment on, we were together as a couple. He never knew, though, how much I had been panicking inside. I had no ex-boyfriends and no past love to compare to. He was my first love, my only love.
Now, as I sat in the car, staring at his back as he drove, those memories came flooding back, shaking me to my core.
Just as the car started moving, there was a sudden jolt, followed by a harsh brake. The force of it threw me forward and my forehead hit the back of the front seat with a sharp pain. Before I could even raise my head to see what had caused the stop, I saw Caleb already out of the car, rushing toward something.
I followed him out and my eyes landed on Scarlett, who was crouching on the ground. Caleb was beside her, shouting, "Scarlett, why didn't you stay in the ward? Why did you run out here? Are you trying to throw your life away?"
Perhaps, even he did not realize it, but there was no trace of anger in his tone.His voice was soft, full of concern.
"Caleb, the bracelet you gave me... it fell off. It was the first gift you ever gave me and I've always kept it safe. I must have lost it during the car accident. I need to find it... I can't lose it."
Scarlett raised her head, looking up at him with tear-filled eyes. Her voice sounded weak and pitiful.
"It's just a bracelet, Scarlett. If it's gone, then let it be. Just leave it," Caleb replied, helping her up with gentle hands.
"No! That's the first thing you gave me. It's all I have left. If I don't find it, I won't be able to live with myself," Scarlett said as she pulled away from Caleb's hand, wanting to run away.
And then it happened. I saw Caleb's expression soften and saw the tenderness in his eyes as he pulled her into his arms. He stroked her head softly, his voice soothing. "It's okay. Stop it, I'll give you another gift."
In that moment, when I watchedthe two of them locked in an embrace, something shattered inside me. I realized that I could no longer believe in Caleb's promises, not even the one about loving me forever.
Tears welled up in my eyes, but I quickly wiped them away. I opened the door and climbed into the driver's seat. I pressed my foot down hard on the accelerator and sped away, leaving Caleb and Scarlett behind.