Chapter 1

The first time I caught Derek Hayes cheating, he cried, swore on everything, and begged for my forgiveness.

I caved, but what waited for me was his second affair.

That time, he dragged my family into it, playing the victim, and I had no choice but to let it go.

By the third time I caught him, Derek didn't even bother to put on an act.

He just smirked, completely at ease, "If you don't like it, go find someone yourself!"

So, I found a young male model and didn't come home all night.

Derek finally panicked.

It was the night of my fifth wedding anniversary with Derek. I walked into the house and saw a woman's purse on the living room sofa. Derek was nowhere in sight.

My gut told me Derek was cheating again.

I headed straight upstairs, and Mrs. Davis, our housekeeper, scurried after me.

"Mrs. Wallace! Mrs. Wallace! Mr. Hayes is in a meeting upstairs!"

I kicked open the study door. Sure enough, Derek, supposedly "in a meeting," was standing at the desk.

But beneath him was another woman, Amber Reed, his secretary.

The air hung heavy with a sickening, messy scent.

"What are you doing back so early?"

Derek touched his nose, his voice sharp, slowly moving away from Amber.

I was so enraged I laughed. "Do you even know what day it is?"

Before Derek could speak, Amber, clearly annoyed by my interruption, cut in, "What's wrong, sis? Isn't it just your wedding anniversary today? Mr. Hayes remembers! He even had me prepare a gift."

She pulled down her bodycon skirt, which Derek had wrinkled, and swayed her hips as she walked towards me.

With a flick of her hand through her long hair, she took off the necklace from her neck and dangled it in front of me.

"Look, it's Van Cleef & Arpels' new collection, costs a fortune!"

I snatched the necklace from her hand. While she was rolling her eyes and admiring her nails, I slapped her across the face.

"How dare you hit me!"

"I'll take the necklace. And that slap? It's to tell you, don't just take what's not yours!"

"Serena Wallace! What are you doing?!" Derek rushed forward, shielding Amber behind him, squeezing my wrist until it bruised.

He looked at me and then, unexpectedly, smiled.

"We were just having some fun. Is that really worth this kind of outburst?"

"I provide for you every month, food, clothes… what more could you possibly want?"

"If you don't like it, go find someone yourself!"

I wrenched my hand free and slapped him again, leaving his face ashen.

"Fine! I will! And I don't need your reminder!"

Downstairs, Mrs. Davis nervously approached me.

"Mrs. Wallace, Mr. Hayes truly cares about you. Look at this table, it's all for your anniversary…"

On the dining table, a perfectly cooked Wellington beef, Bordeaux red wine, and candles flickering gently.

Everything felt like a cruel joke.

Without hesitation, I grabbed Amber's purse and swept everything off the table.

The crashing and shattering sounds were the perfect soundtrack for this anniversary.