“Professor Anya, I’ve made up my mind. I’m joining your pharmaceutical research institute to continue my studies.” Professor Anya chuckled. “Does your husband, who adores you so much, really support you going abroad to pursue your academic research?” “This is my decision. It has nothing to do with him.” “Alright then. When can you arrive?” “In a week.” “Perfect. I’ll look forward to your arrival.” “Oh, Professor Anya, that memory-erasing potion you developed earlier, is it still missing a test subject?” Professor Anya’s voice sharpened. “Are you implying…?” “Please mail a dose to me. I’ll test it myself.” It was nine-thirty in the morning when I made that call. I pulled the duvet tighter around myself, leaning against the headboard. The spot beside me in bed was empty. From the guest room next door, faint, intimate sounds drifted through. “…Missed me?” “I only get to see you once a month. Time just drags on forever.” “Heh,” a man scoffed. “Then how about I really ‘take care’ of you today?” “Keep your voice down. Don’t wake Chloe.” “It’s fine. She slept late last night; she won’t be up for a while.” “Mmm-hmm, you’re bad…” I knew that girl’s voice intimately. Her name was Mia, a young woman I’d personally sponsored through university for four years. On the first day of every month, she would visit the house. I’d give her the month’s living expenses, checking in on her studies and general well-being. Each time, she’d stay in the guest room right next to the master bedroom. I had even helped her secure a graduate school advisor and an internship. I just never imagined this girl’s ambition wasn’t about self-reliance, but directly stealing my husband. If that’s how it was, then she could have him. I’d already changed my name to Nyx. My new documents were already processed. Nyx. Hidden. Gone. One act of betrayal, and it’s over. For good. I would disappear from his world forever, then drink the memory-erasing potion and forget him completely. The intimate sounds from the guest room finally ceased. I lay back down, pretending to still be asleep. A few minutes later, the mattress beside me dipped slightly. Then, a heavy arm draped across my waist. Suppressing the surge of nausea, I pushed his arm away. Blake stirred, feigning sleepiness, his voice a low rumble. “Babe, are you awake?” The endearment ‘Babe’ on his lips made my stomach churn. “Yeah. Come on, get up. You’ll be late for work.” Blake rolled over and pulled me close from behind, pressing a kiss to my shoulder. “So tired, let’s sleep a little longer, babe.” I just wanted to sneer. After all that ‘effort’ last night, no wonder he’s exhausted. I teased, “What’s wrong, didn’t sleep well last night?” Blake nodded emphatically. “Last night, I dreamed a dark force stole you away. I fought through hell and high water all night to get you back, and I still woke up drained.” “No ‘dark force’ will ever take me.” But I will leave. And I absolutely won’t give you a chance to find me. Blake glanced at his watch. “You’re right, it’s getting late. Time to get up.” He quickly showered and dressed, then knelt by the bed, kissing me. “My lazy little bug, don’t sleep anymore. Get up and get ready. I’ll make you breakfast.” After Blake left, I vigorously brushed my teeth. The thought of his lips, fresh from Mia’s, touching mine, was utterly repulsive. When I went downstairs, two people were already seated at the dining table. Blake was at the head of the table, Mia perched innocently to his left. She wore a bright yellow dress, looking sweet and naive. Seeing me, she chirped, “Chloe, you’re up!” I simply hummed in response. Mia giggled, “Blake’s already made breakfast. Come eat!” I took my seat at the table. Blake gently blew on my oatmeal, then placed it in front of me. “Babe, careful, it’s hot.” Mia, beside him, said enviously, “I’m so jealous of you, Chloe. Blake treats you so wonderfully.” My smile was brittle, cold. “Oh, your ‘brother-in-law’ takes very good care of you too, doesn’t he?” Didn’t he just ‘take care’ of her all night? Right up until this morning. Blake chuckled softly. “It’s different. I dote on you because you’re my wife, the woman I love most in this life.” “And Mia? Why do you ‘dote’ on her?” “Because you sponsor her! You said she’s like your little sister, so she’s like my little sister too.” “Is that so?” I snatched my bowl of oatmeal back from his hand. “No need to blow on it. It’ll cool down on its own.” Blake sensed my change in attitude. He took my hand in his, kissed my palm, and asked, “What’s wrong? Unhappy so early in the morning? Is breakfast not to your liking? What do you want? I’ll make something else.” I pulled my hand away. “Blake, do you love me?” “Of course,” Blake said. “Everyone knows how much I love you.” “Then do you think a man can truly love two women at the same time?” Blake’s brow furrowed slightly. “True love is only for one person. There’s no room for any impurity.” I told him gravely, “If you ever change your mind, please tell me directly. I’ll step aside and let you be together. But please, don’t lie to me. My feelings are precious, and they cannot tolerate any impurity.” Blake laughed. “Don’t worry, I’ll only love you for this entire lifetime. No other woman can ever replace you.” “What if one does?” “Impossible.” I said, “If I ever find out you lied to me, I’ll leave you and forget you forever.” Blake smiled. “That day will never come. And I won’t ever give you a chance to leave me.” Saying this, Blake tried to embrace me again. At this point, I recoiled from his touch. He still carried that cloying, sweet scent. The kind that lingered after a night of intimacy. I stood up. “I’ll go get a spoon.” Blake immediately stood up. “I’ll get it for you.” “No need, I can do it myself.” I went to the kitchen and turned on the faucet. The rushing water masked my quiet sobs. It wasn’t that I was weak; it was just that the man he used to be was too perfect. So perfect that whenever I remembered the days he loved me so passionately, a wave of bitter ache washed over me. Growing up in an orphanage, I’d faced relentless bullying and dismissive glances from everyone, hardening my heart to steel. I never planned on dating or getting married, I’d rather be drowned in drinks by sleazy clients than ever ask for help. But then, Blake appeared. He rescued me from a group of truly disgusting clients. “This woman,” he’d declared, “is with me.” At first, I thought he was just like the others, only interested in my looks, and would take advantage of me once we left the private room. But Blake did nothing. He just gently told me, “Go home, get some good sleep. Forget all the unpleasant things from today. Tomorrow is a new day.” After that, he started appearing in my life frequently. Sometimes at my company for business discussions, or a chance encounter at a coffee shop. He was always a gentleman, polite, but everyone could see he was interested in me. Once we were together, he practically put me on a pedestal. No matter how much he might have wanted to, he never touched me before marriage. He said, “Before we get married, you still have a chance to change your mind. I won’t force you. I want you to become my wife willingly.” His parents, however, opposed our marriage. I didn’t want to affect his relationship with his family, so I cried and broke up with him. But Blake just held my hand firmly. “It’s okay, don’t cry. I’ll take you away.” He started his own business from scratch, even as his parents tried to sabotage him, forcing him to conform to their will. He endured it all, nearly ruining his liver in the process from the stress and drinking. Later, we were involved in a car accident. In a split second of pure terror, Blake shoved me clear, taking the full impact as the truck slammed into his car, sending it careening off the road. The car violently flipped and then caught fire. Blake was burned within an inch of his life, falling into a coma. He only showed a flicker of response when I spoke to him by his bedside. It was then that Blake’s parents finally understood how deeply their son loved me. They finally relented, giving their blessing to our marriage. This hard-won marriage, I treasured. This man, who loved me to the bone, I treasured even more. But I never expected that only three years into our marriage, his heart had strayed, his eyes wandering to another woman. “Babe, are you okay? What took you so long?” “I’m fine.” I wiped a tear from my face, turned off the faucet, and picked up the spoon to leave the kitchen. But my hand trembled, and the spoon clattered to the floor. As I bent down to pick it up, I accidentally saw a secret hidden beneath the dining table – Mia, wearing the high heels I’d bought her, was gently rubbing her foot against Blake’s calf, slowly moving up to his knee, his thigh, and then further inward… A clearly defined hand with prominent knuckles caught her ankle, playfully holding it. “Being naughty again?” “What’s there to be scared of? Chloe hasn’t come back yet.” “Be a good girl, don’t cause trouble in front of Chloe. We can go out later…” I deliberately made a loud noise, and the two of them immediately stopped. I returned to my seat, and they both acted as if nothing had happened. Blake put some vegetables on my plate. “Babe, eat more greens, they’re good for you.” Mia still looked like an innocent little sister, watching me with an admiring gaze. “I wish I could find a man like Blake someday.” I said coldly, “You will.” Mia didn’t catch my underlying meaning and continued to flatter. “No way, Blake is the best man in the world. I’m not that lucky.” “You are,” I stated. Just then, my phone rang. “Hello, Ms. Chloe, you have a delivery.” This time, Blake was faster than me. He rushed to the door, intercepted the envelope, and opened it. He looked at the sender. “Southwing International Department… Babe, did you buy a flight ticket? Where are you going? Why didn’t I know?” “It’s just a gift I redeemed with points,” I said. Blake patted his chest, letting out a sigh of relief. “You scared me to death! I thought you were leaving me.” I pulled the envelope from his hand, holding it firmly. “You haven’t betrayed me, so why would I leave you?” Blake smiled. “You’re right. You’re the only one in my heart.” Once, hearing that, I would have been deeply moved. But now, my heart was utterly still. “Babe, what gift did you redeem? Let me see.” I refused. “Nothing, just a small commemorative coin.” “Southwing is making commemorative coins now?” “Mm-hm.” I retreated to my bedroom and opened the envelope. Inside lay a plane ticket to London, scheduled for one week from now. I had bought it under the name Nyx. At the same time, my phone displayed international package tracking information – Professor Anya’s memory-erasing potion would also arrive in about a week. Seven days from now, I would completely leave him. Downstairs, Blake’s voice called out, “Babe, are you feeling unwell?” “Didn’t sleep well last night, feeling a bit tired. Want to sleep a little more.” “Okay, then you rest well. Mia has class this afternoon, so I’ll drop her off at school on my way to the office.” I responded, “Okay.” I didn’t sleep. Instead, I went to the second-floor window and looked outside. Mia was clinging to Blake’s arm like a cheerful little rabbit, and Blake opened the passenger door for her. After Mia sneaked a kiss on his cheek, he immediately cupped the back of her head and kissed her back. From her cheek, his lips slowly slid to hers. And then lower… I didn’t watch the rest of the scene. They both got into the car. I could only see the car rocking and shaking. When it finally stopped, I checked the time on my phone. One hour and forty minutes. It seemed they were very compatible in that regard. After indulging all night, they were still insatiable. He had barely left, and they were already doing it again in the car. When the car finally drove away, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. I began to sort my clothes. Professor Anya told me that after taking the memory-erasing potion, I would forget everything from my past, with no possibility of retrieval. After organizing my clothes, I categorized them and wrote notes for each pile, along with all my toiletries and habits. Finally, I went to a jewelry store. I took off my wedding ring and handed it to the clerk. The clerk took it, looking slightly uneasy. “Ma’am, are you looking to replace this ring with a different style? I see it’s a wedding ring, a matching set. Does your husband also need his replaced?” “No,” I said. “Melt it down for me.” “Excuse me?” “I said, melt it down.” “Alright…” Half an hour later, I walked out of the store with a small red velvet box. When I arrived home, I ran into Blake, rushing out of the house in a panic. The house was filled with people: police officers, bodyguards, and house staff. Blake’s eyes were red. The moment he saw me, he wrapped me in a tight embrace. “Babe, where did you go? You scared me to death…” He held me so tightly I could barely breathe. Finally, a police officer chuckled and said, “Mr. Blake can finally relax. Your wife is back.” A house staff member added, “Ma’am, Mr. Blake came home, didn’t see you, and then saw all your clothes neatly packed away. He thought you’d left for good! He was absolutely out of his mind with worry.” “That’s right, ma’am. Mr. Blake just told us to contact the best private detectives, and said if we couldn’t find you, we’d all be fired.” Blake held me as if I were a rare and precious treasure. “Babe, where did you go? Are you hurt? Are you hungry or cold?” I gently pushed him away, creating a slight distance. “I just went out for a walk.” “But your phone wasn’t reachable.” I pulled my black-screened phone from my pocket to show him. “The battery died, that’s all.” “Then what about all those clothes you packed in the house?” “Those clothes are old styles,” I said. “I was planning to donate them.” Blake finally let out a heavy sigh of relief. “As long as you’re not leaving. Babe, promise me you’ll never leave me, okay? I’d really go insane.” The drama finally subsided. As the police left, one of them chuckled and said to me, “I’ve handled plenty of missing person cases in my time, but I’ve never seen a man so utterly devoted as Mr. Blake. You’ve got a good one, ma’am. Cherish him and try not to worry him so much in the future.” Blake stood protectively in front of me, looking slightly annoyed that anyone would criticize me. “Chloe was just out shopping. Worrying about her is my problem, not her fault.” The officer laughed wryly. “Alright, alright. As long as your wife is safe, that’s what matters. You two just live your lives well.” I apologized to the police and saw them out. Blake clung to my side almost the entire time, not leaving me for a second. He spotted the jewelry box in my hand, and his eyes lit up. “Babe, did you buy new jewelry?” “This is for you,” I said. “For me?” “Yes. Your birthday is in a week. It’s your birthday gift.” “Thank you, Babe! Can I open it and see?” “Open it on your birthday,” I replied. A week from now would be Blake’s thirtieth birthday. My flight was scheduled to depart at 5 AM that very morning. By the time he woke up, opened that jewelry box, and saw the small, melted chunk of platinum and the single, solitary diamond inside, I would have already taken the memory-erasing potion and flown out of the country. Our story began with this ring, so let it end with this ring. Over the next few days, Blake, as if terrified I might disappear again, pushed all his work aside and spent every day at home with me. He cooked for me, watched TV with me, or we’d go for walks in the park together. I had a strange illusion that we truly had returned to the beginning of our relationship. So in love, so loyal, with only each other in our eyes and hearts. But a constant stream of messages on my phone shattered all that beauty. [Mia: Chloe, I saw you that day.] [Mia: I know you saw what happened between me and Blake in the car. What you don’t know is, we’ve been together since you first started sponsoring me four years ago.] [Mia: I’ve been his woman since I was eighteen. I don’t want to always just call him ‘brother-in-law’.] [Mia: Chloe, you gave me money for my education, you opened up a wider world for me, and you led me to the best man in the world.] [Mia: He can’t bear to leave me, just you wait and see.] After that, there was a video. The video was long, one hour and forty minutes. Seeing the duration, I already knew what it contained. While Blake went to buy me water, I clicked on the video. Inside the cramped car, Blake’s face was a mask of raw desire. He pinned Mia against the seatback, moving relentlessly, ignoring her cries and pleas to stop. Mia traced circles on his chest with her finger, seductively asking, “Are we being fair to Chloe, doing this?” Blake just chuckled. “Sex and love can be separate for men, I truly love her, but I genuinely can’t stay away from your body.” “So I’ll be nameless and status-less forever?” “Aside from a formal title, I can give you anything you want.” “What if I want a child?” Blake pondered for a moment, then said, “Then we won’t use protection today. It’ll be more comfortable.” I couldn’t watch anymore. I closed the video. Blake returned with a bottle of water. “Babe, here you go. I specifically asked the owner to warm it up. Cold drinks aren’t good for girls.” I took the water; it was indeed warm, even slightly hot to the touch. Blake then cradled my face in his warm large hands, his brow slightly furrowed. “Why is your face so cold? You look a bit pale too. Babe, are you feeling unwell?” I turned my head, avoiding his touch. “No, I just scrolled past a video that made me feel a bit upset.” “In the future, if you see a video that makes you uncomfortable, just swipe past it. Don’t watch.” “Yeah, I won’t watch. Never again.” That evening, Blake took me to the beach. The area was bustling with people. Blake kept me close, circling me with his arm, as if afraid someone might bump into me. The next second, a dazzling firework exploded in the sky. Then came a second, and a third. Countless fireworks exploded, painting the entire night sky in a riot of color. “Wow, is some mega-rich guy proposing tonight? It’s breathtaking!” “So many fireworks, he must have bought out all the fireworks in the entire city of H!” “It’s so romantic! If a man was willing to put on a fireworks show like this for me, I’d marry him in a heartbeat!” I smiled faintly at that remark. Young girls were indeed easily swayed, a fireworks show could make their hearts flutter and easily make them pledge a lifetime. But I wasn’t that easily fooled. Blake said, sex and love could be separate for men. But for me, they couldn’t. Even if Blake claimed to love me, betrayal was betrayal. I could never forgive it. “Babe, look—” Blake pointed to a firework that had just burst in the night sky, urging me to see it. It was an English letter. H. Followed by Y, and then C. HYC, Blake’s initials. Then, a big pink heart. After that, came L, C, J. LCJ, Chloe’s initials. Blake whispered in my ear, “Babe, I’ll love you forever. We’ll be together always, until we’re old and gray, okay?” Before I could reply, Blake knelt down before me on one knee. In front of everyone, he shouted, “Blake loves Chloe! For one lifetime, for all lifetimes, my heart will never change!” A round of applause immediately erupted. Mixed with gasps and exclamations from young women. One girl even boldly asked, “Handsome, are you proposing to your girlfriend?” Blake smiled and denied it. “We’ve been married for four years.” “Is it your wife’s birthday today then? Or your anniversary?” “Neither.” “Then why such a grand display?” Blake looked at me, his gaze burning with intensity. “I just want my wife to know how much, how incredibly much, I love her. She hasn’t been very happy lately, and I want to make her smile again.” Another wave of admiration rippled through the crowd. I received envious glances from everyone. But only I knew the truth— My husband had been unfaithful for four years. He had held another woman’s hand, kissed another woman’s lips. In these four years, how many times they’d been tangled up together was beyond count. A little girl handed me a glow stick. “Big sister, this is for you. I hope you and big brother stay together forever.” I asked Blake, “Did you arrange for the child too?” Blake said, “No, I don’t think so. She must have been touched by our love, thinking our relationship is beautiful.” I returned the glow stick to the little girl. “Thank you, but I can’t accept your gift, little one.” The child didn’t understand, tilting her head and asking, “Why not?” Because the big brother and big sister’s love wasn’t beautiful at all. It was choked with lies, betrayal, and deceit. Such a relationship shouldn’t be aspired to by innocent children. It didn’t deserve it. Blake consoled the little girl. “Big brother will buy big sister a glow stick. Thank you, now go find your mom and dad.” The little girl said, “Big brother, you really should have a little sister with big sister! Big sister is so pretty, your daughter would be beautiful too.” Blake chuckled. “Alright, big brother will try his best.” Returning to my side, Blake said, half-jokingly, “Babe, should we have a daughter?” “You want a child that much?” I asked. “I actually prefer our life as just the two of us, but don’t most girls hope to have a child with the man they love?” “That’s Mi—” I almost blurted out Mia’s name. Truth be told, I really wanted to confront Blake right then and there: what was his relationship with Mia? Would he continue their physical relationship? Would the three of us somehow always coexist? But in my peripheral vision, I saw the hickey on Blake’s neck. Mia had left it days ago. And it still hadn’t faded. I averted my gaze, unwilling to look anymore, unwilling to ask. It had come to this. I didn’t want to act like a furious shrew, arguing with my unfaithful husband on the street, full of resentment. I had my pride. If he couldn’t change, then I would. Drink the memory-erasing potion, move to a city where no one knew me, and completely start a new life. Blake asked me, “Babe, what were you saying just now? Mi…?” I shook my head. “I was saying, many girls think that way, but I don’t.” “You don’t want to have a child with me?” “No.” “Is it because you’re afraid of the pain, or your body changing? Don’t worry, Babe. No matter how you change, I’ll still love you.” “Let’s go back.” “Are you angry? I’m sorry, Babe, I said the wrong thing. If you don’t want children, then we won’t have any. We can be child-free, just the two of us, always.” My footsteps faltered. He’s right. I won’t have a child with him, but someone else will. The hour and forty minutes he spent with Mia in the car… perhaps Mia was already carrying his child. “Babe, what’s wrong…?” Ring! Ring! His phone rang. Blake glanced at it, picking it up with a hint of annoyance. “Didn’t I say not to call me for these few days? I’m with my wife…” The person on the other end said something, and Blake’s eyes flickered. “Alright, I’ll be right over.” Hanging up, Blake turned to me. “Babe, something urgent came up at work. Can I call a car to take you home?” “I’ll call my own car,” I said. “Work is important, you go.” “My clever Babe. Alright, I’m off then. Text me when you get home so I know you’re safe.” Blake sped away in his car. I did call a car. But I didn’t go home. I told the driver, “Follow that car ahead.” Blake’s car stopped in front of a hospital. Mia practically threw herself into his arms, crying. Blake held her, comforting her, even taking off his suit jacket and draping it over her shoulders. Then, he knelt down, placing his ear against Mia’s lower abdomen. Mia shyly slapped him, her mouth moving, saying something in a coquettish tone. My taxi happened to pass by them, and I clearly heard Mia’s words. She said, “The baby’s only a month old, what could you possibly hear?” So, Mia really was pregnant. No wonder he had been so distracted when he left. The driver asked me, “Miss, should we stop here too?” “Stop, but don’t open the door yet. I’ll pay you double.” The taxi’s windows had privacy tinting. I could see out, but Blake and Mia couldn’t see in. I watched Blake, overjoyed, lift Mia into his arms, spinning her around gleefully outside the hospital, oblivious to their surroundings. Mia laughed happily, shouting, “Husband, put me down! Be careful with the baby!” She was already calling him “Husband.” Just a few days ago, it was “brother-in-law.” Blake carefully set Mia down. She wrapped her arms around his neck and asked, “Do you want a boy or a girl?” “A girl,” Blake said. “I met a little girl at the beach today, she was incredibly cute.” Mia pouted in dissatisfaction. “I saw! You set off fireworks for Chloe at the beach, with both your initials and a big heart in the middle.” “Are you jealous?” “Mm-hmm, I want that too.” “Shhh, it’s not convenient here in H City. Chloe might see.” “Then let’s go to another city, okay? Just to celebrate me being pregnant with our baby.” “But Chloe…” “You said you’d give me anything except a formal title. You won’t even splurge on fireworks?” Blake was clearly in a good mood. After a moment’s hesitation, he agreed. “We might get photographed by the media in the country. I’ll take you to the Maldives for a vacation.” “Yes! You’re the best, Husband!” Under the moonlight, Blake cupped Mia’s face and kissed her passionately. Honk! Honk! An ear-piercing car horn blared from behind. The driver reminded me, “Miss, the car behind us is urging us to move.” I averted my gaze. “Let’s go.” The driver slowly started the car. In the rearview mirror, Blake and Mia’s figures gradually shrank, until they finally disappeared from sight. Buzz— My phone vibrated again, a new message. Mia had sent a picture. It was a prenatal checkup report. Clearly written on it: Embryo four weeks, threatened miscarriage. [Mia: Chloe, I’m pregnant with Blake’s baby.] [Mia: But he was too rough in the car that day. I bled today, and the doctor said there are signs of a threatened miscarriage.] [Mia: The doctor said the baby felt secure after seeing its daddy. Now it’s healthy and firmly in my womb, it will be born in eight months.] [Mia: That taxi that just passed by, were you inside?]
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