Chapter 4

Saying those words aloud felt incredibly ridiculous. Such an unscientific claim, yet it cast a heavy shadow over my heart.

"Harold, the Chief of Medicine position has a five-year term, and Julian's time is up."

"Over the past five years, the hospital has suffered continuous losses under his management. If we enforce the performance guarantee clause in his contract, will the penalty be enough to bankrupt him?"

Harold paused, asking gently, "Audrey, are you okay?"

No. I wasn't. My heart felt like it was being shredded piece by piece.

But I refuse to tolerate even a speck of dirt in my relationships. If it's ruined, I will crush it to dust.

"Harold, find me the best divorce lawyer in the country. I want Julian to leave with absolutely nothing. I know it's going to be hard."

In our social circle, prenuptial agreements are standard. But I hadn't made Julian sign one. I genuinely believed he wasn't with me for money, and that he would never betray me.

How naive I was.

Soon after, I received a text from Julian on Snapchat.

"I was just angry earlier, don't take it to heart. Leo has pneumonia, so I have to stay at the hospital tonight."

"I really want to come home, but he's only four and won't let go of my hand. I don't have the heart to leave him."

I typed back quickly: "I don't care."

"Come pack your things tomorrow and get out of my house."

He replied with a question mark.

"Audrey, do you have to push me this far? Are you really trying to force me into another woman's arms? Fine, you win!"

I paused, then replied.

"On our wedding day, I told you that if you ever betrayed me, you would end up with nothing. Do you remember?"

At our wedding, he had gently lifted my veil, his eyes shining like a starry night as he made a solemn promise: "I will never betray you, unless I die."

But now, my screen showed only a cold red exclamation mark. He had blocked me.

However, a friend request immediately popped up on Snapchat. It was Chloe.

She sent me a video.

In the video, Julian was sitting by a hospital bed, tenderly reading a picture book to a four-year-old boy. He was incredibly patient, and the boy was listening intently.

It was a perfect picture of fatherly love.

I replied: "What are you trying to prove?"

Chloe replied instantly: "Mrs. Sterling, don't you think Leo looks exactly like Julian? Look closely."

"He doesn't."

I only believe hard evidence, not her pathetic mind games.

The next day was the annual hospital board and medical conference. As a major shareholder, I was scheduled to speak.

Harold handed me the investigation file as soon as I arrived.

As I flipped through the documents, my hands began to tremble uncontrollably.

Chloe had met Julian years ago at a cosplay convention near our university, where she was dressed as a sexy maid. That was when she got his contact details. Over the years, she had constantly sent him revealing photos of herself. Julian occasionally liked them.

She repeatedly boasted in their chats about how easily she got pregnant.

And during the very week Julian and I were preparing for our wedding, there was a record of them booking a hotel room together.

After the twins, Leo and Liam, were born, Julian had been wire-transferring $5,000 to Chloe every single month.

Until two weeks ago, when he brought her into our home. Under the guise of a maid.

My mind was a chaotic mess, but my voice remained eerily calm.

"Harold, is Julian speaking at the conference right now?"

"Yes. The Medical Association, along with directors and experts from the top fifty hospitals in the country, are all in attendance. It's even being livestreamed on YouTube."

"Good. Let's crash it."

I walked straight toward the main auditorium.

Inside, Julian was sitting in the front row, looking smug and successful. Next to him was Chloe, wearing a white lab coat, pretending to be a doctor.

Their fingers were tightly intertwined. Chloe whispered in his ear, "Julian, you're the most amazing Chief of Medicine. You're my hero."

Some people in the back rows gasped, realizing they were witnessing something scandalous.

But Julian didn't care. He smirked, his lips brushing against her cheek as if by accident. "You're very professional, too. No one even noticed you're posing as a doctor."

Then, he spotted me standing in the shadows near the stage, his eyes filled with blatant provocation.

I curled my lips into a smile and calmly walked up to the stage.

"Before I begin my speech, I would like everyone to appreciate the heroic deeds of our esteemed Chief, Julian, over the years."

Without hesitation, I pressed the play button.

The giant screen behind me began scrolling through Chloe's revealing cosplay photos, followed by their chat logs, hotel booking receipts, and years of monthly wire transfers.

Finally, the screen froze on a live feed of the two of them sitting together in the front row.

Julian slumped back in his seat, his face completely drained of color. Chloe's makeup was ruined from sudden tears, though a glint of triumph lingered in her eyes.