Chapter 1
On our third wedding anniversary, Bryant Ferguson paid big money to get me the necklace I’d been eyeing for ages.
Everyone around us said he was head over heels in love with me.
Filled with joy, I was busy preparing a candlelit dinner when a video popped up on my phone. In the video, Bryant put the necklace around another woman’s neck, saying, “Congrats on your fresh start.”
It turned out it wasn’t just our anniversary. It was also the day his first love was finalizing her divorce.
I never in
imagined something like this could happen to me. Though my marriage to Bryant wasn’t born out of a whirlwind romance, he always played the role of the doting husband in public.
I sat at the dining table, staring at the cold steak and the trending topic, [Bryant Spends Millions To Make His Wife’s Happy.]
It all felt like a cruel joke.
At 2 a.m., a sleek black Mercedes finally pulled into the driveway.
I could see him stepping out through the glass door, impeccably dressed in a tailor-made- dark suit, his presence commanding yet elegant.
“Why are you still up?” Bryant turned on the lights, surprised to find me in the dining room. Trying to stand up, I fell back into the chair, my legs numb. “I’m waiting for you.” I replied.
“Missed me?” Bryant gave a casual smile, poured himself a glass of water, and glanced at the untouched dinner with a hint of surprise.
He wanted to play it cool, so I suppressed my feelings, reaching out to him with a smile. “Happy anniversary. You got me a gift?”
“Sorry, I was so busy today. I forgot it.” He paused for a second, realizing what day it was, and tried to ruffle my hair, which I instinctively dodged.
I didn’t know where his hands had been tonight, and the thought disgusted me.
He looked slightly stunned.
Pretending not to notice, I kept smiling “Don’t try to fool me. You specifically bid on my favorite necklace, It’s all over the news! Give it to me.”
“Jane. “Bryant slowly withdrew his hand, his expression unreadable, his voice calm. “I bid
1/2
Chapter 1
that necklace for Steven.”
As the internet says, a buddy is always the best shield.
I struggled to keep my smile. “Is that so?”
“Yeah, you know how he attracts girls. Bryant’s tone and expression were flawless.
While looking at him in the lights, his perfect features made me wonder if I ever knew this
man. And I began to question, was this the first time he lied to me? Or had I been too trusting before? I wouldn’t have doubted his explanation if it hadn’t been for that anonymous video.
Seeing my silence, he patiently tried to comfort me. “I shouldn’t have forgotten such an important day. I’ll make it up to you with a gift tomorrow.”
I insisted. “I only want that necklace.”
I wanted to give him a chance. The video’s angle didn’t show the woman’s face. Maybe it wasn’t as scandalous as it seemed.
Bryant hesitated for a moment, and I looked at him, puzzled. “Can’t you do this for me? Asking Steven to give up one of his flings for your sake shouldn’t be a problem, right?”
After a pause, he finally spoke, “I’ll call tomorrow. It’s not right to forcefully take what someone loves.”
“Is the someone him or her?’ I wondered.
I couldn’t press further. “Okay.”
“Have you been waiting to eat with me?” As Bryant cleared the table, his graceful hands moved over the fine cutlery.
I nodded. “Yeah, it’s our anniversary, after all.”
When I got up to help, he stopped me with a gentle voice. “Just sit. Let me cook some pasta for you.”
“Okay.” While watching him like that, my doubts momentarily faded.