Chapter 3

I drove to The Grand Bistro.

As soon as I arrived, I saw Victor, holding Leo's hand, with his arm wrapped around Scarlett.

A picture-perfect family of three. It was hard not to envy them.

But the sight felt like a knife twisting in my eyes.

All these years with Scarlett, even though her work often kept her away, our relationship felt strong.

So, I never doubted a single word she said.

She said she was busy, and I believed her.

She often went on business trips to London, claiming she had many collaborations there, and I believed that too.

But now I knew: she was actually hiding from me, giving birth to Leo!

And I, like a fool, thought she was genuinely working.

My chest tightened, a suffocating pain gripping me.

I managed to pull out my phone, snapped a photo of their family, and sent it to Scarlett.

Twenty minutes later, Scarlett called me back.

"Alex, please, let me explain! It's just a scene we're filming!"

Her voice was laced with panic.

She sounded terrified that I would be angry.

If Leo hadn't transferred to my class today, I would never have suspected her.

She was such a master manipulator; she had me completely fooled into thinking she loved me.

"Scarlett, I saw everything."

My voice was hoarse.

"No, really, it's just a scene. We're filming a family dinner scene today."

It was utterly laughable.

Even now, with everything laid bare, she was still lying to me.

"Leo showed me your family pictures. And photos of just you and him."

"He said you're his mom, and Victor's his dad."

The words tore at me, my voice trembling.

"Scarlett, let's get a divorce."

As I said it, I suddenly remembered we were never legally married.

She had claimed that as a rising star, she had to maintain a single image. She said her agency would drop her if they found out.

I believed her.

But now I knew why she didn't want to legally marry me.

Because she was already legally married to Victor.

And I was the other man, the home-wrecker.

I didn't even have the right to ask you for a divorce.

"My bad, I forgot. You never legally married me."

My voice caught in my throat.

"I don't have the right to ask you for a divorce."

The sting of betrayal from the one you love most... it was a brutal taste.