Chapter 1

On our wedding anniversary, I discovered my husband—who claimed to be entertaining a client—was actually in bed with his junior college sweetheart.

They were tangled up in our bedroom, making love without a care in the world. Overwhelmed by nausea, I ran out into the street, only to be struck down by a speeding car.

In death, I watched the mistress take my place, enjoying everything I had ever owned.

Not only did my husband feel zero remorse, but he also pampered her like a queen.

Consumed by fury, I suddenly gasped for breath and opened my eyes. I was back to the morning of our anniversary.

This time, I calmly did my makeup, set up my camera, and hit the live button.

"Catching my cheating husband LIVE! Drop some gifts and grab your popcorn, guys!"

I was right back on the morning of our wedding anniversary.

In my past life, I had booked a restaurant a week in advance and spent hours learning how to make beef bourguignon, his absolute favorite.

At three in the afternoon, I texted him on SnapChat: "Tonight at seven. Our usual spot. See you there."

He didn't reply.

It wasn't until five o'clock that he finally sent a voice note:

"I'm so sorry, babe. An urgent client came up. I'll try my best to hurry over, but eat first. Don't wait for me."

Like an idiot, I replied, "It's fine, work comes first. I'll wait for you until nine."

At nine o'clock, I drove to our new suburban townhouse.

That was when I heard them from our master bedroom—the sweet giggles of his college junior, Chloe, mixed with Ryan's deep, husky voice.

And then came the words that carved straight into my bones: "She's nowhere near as wild as you."

I couldn't remember how I stumbled out of that house. All I remembered was the screech of burning tires.

And that text message sitting in Ryan's outbox.

It read: "Baby, tonight at our usual spot. Miss you."

Timestamp: 4:20 PM.

Right after I told him, "Tonight at seven, our usual spot,"

he turned around and invited his "baby" to their very own "usual spot."

I remembered Chloe.

She had crushed on him back in college. Later, she studied abroad in Europe, and when she returned last year, she immediately joined Ryan's tech firm as his executive assistant.

At a company gala Ryan brought me to, Chloe had been there too.

She had smiled warmly, calling me "Nora" with false sweetness, but the look in her eyes whenever she glanced at Ryan was dripping with undisguised adoration.

Back then, I just brushed it off as innocent admiration from a younger colleague. I didn't think twice.

Later, though, Ryan started bringing her up constantly.

"Chloe's really sharp. She takes a ton of stress off my shoulders."

"Chloe stayed up all night helping me prep the pitch deck. I really should treat her to dinner."

And I, like a clueless fool, had said, "You definitely should thank her properly."

Looking back now, using "work" as an excuse was just their sick way of sneaking around right under my nose.

I unlocked my phone, opened my contacts, and found Maya.

She ran a digital media agency specializing in women's empowerment and relationship content.

"Hello? Nora? Calling this early? Did hell freeze over?" Maya's voice was full of playful banter. "Doesn't the pampered housewife sleep in until noon every day?"

"Maya," I said, my voice hoarse. "I need a favor."

Maya's tone shifted instantly.

"What happened? Did Ryan piss you off again?"

"Worse than that." I took a deep breath. "I'm going live."

"You hate being on camera! You wouldn't even let us shoot a clip of you at our annual party," Maya said, confused.

"I'm livestreaming myself catching a cheater." I spoke each word with deadly calm.

Dead silence stretched over the line for three seconds before Maya lowered her voice.

"Nora, what did you just say? Say that again. Ryan... he's cheating on you?"

"Yes." I walked over to the vanity and sat down. "And today is our anniversary. He arranged to meet Chloe at their special place."

"What a piece of shit!" Maya cursed through her teeth. "Isn't Chloe his little assistant from college?"

"That scumbag! Where are you? I'm coming over right now!"

"Don't come here," I cut her off. "I need your team to prep a production-level livestream."

"I need hidden cameras, crystal-clear 4K video, crisp audio, and preferably multi-angle coverage."

"I also need a rock-solid tech team managing the stream in real-time, making sure nobody can report it or shut it down."

"Most importantly, I want viral traffic."

"I want this stream trending number one on Twitter."

I looked at my reflection in the mirror, my lips curling into a cold smirk.

"The title will be... 'Anniversary Surprise: Let's See What My Husband Got Me.'"

"Nora..." Maya's voice cracked a bit. "Are you sure about this? Airing all your dirty laundry in public... it's brutal. People will talk."

"We could take the legal route. Gather proof quietly, get a killer divorce lawyer, strip him of every dime..."

"Strip him of every dime?" I let out a soft laugh. "Maya, it's not just about the money."

"I want him ruined. I want both of them dragged through the mud so hard they'll never show their faces again."

"I can make my own money. But this rage? I have to unleash it."

"Deal. I've got the crew and gear ready to roll."

"Hang tight. I'll bring the team and the rigs to your place in two hours."

"No," I countered. "Not my house. We meet outside."

"Fine. Nine o'clock at the coffee shop right below my office."

"See you there."

I hung up. The countdown had begun.

Ryan, you love playing with schedules and time management, don't you? Let's play.