[My husband said I was being ridiculous for asking for divorce. Three years later, he knelt and begged me to come back. Too bad I was already engaged… to his best friend.] For five years, Scarlett Langley was the ultimate "model wife." She was graceful, silent, and endlessly "sensible"—exactly as her husband, Yardley Flynn, demanded. While Yardley showered his first love with every ounce of tenderness, he expected Scarlett to be independent and undemanding. On the day of their daughter’s one-month celebration, the string finally snapped. When Scarlett finally asked for a divorce, he mocked her in front of everyone. He thought she was bluffing. Until she left. For good. Three years later, she returned as a famous architect, while he was the one losing control. He begged. He knelt. He broke. But by then, she was already walking toward another man in a white wedding gown.

Chapter 1"Honey, the baby is a month old today. Can you come pick us up?" Scarlett Langley cradled her swaddled daughter, her calm tone betraying a cautious hope.On the other end of the line, Yardley Flynn's voice was steady and devoid of emotion. "Something came up. I'll have the driver pick you and the baby up and bring you home."Yardley had been absent for the birth and her entire postpartum recovery period, always claiming to be tied up with work. Now, as she finished her postpartum recovery, he still couldn't be there.A lump formed in Scarlett's throat, and she fought hard to keep the tears at bay."...All right, I understand.""Scarlett, you've always been independent. I know you can handle a minor thing like having a baby on your own. Keep it up. You're the best mom."With that, Yardley hung up.His tone, like a boss encouraging a subordinate, sent a sharp pang through her chest.Just then, Yardley's good friend Harbour Quinn called. "Scarlett, something came up tonight. I'm so sorry, but I won't be able to make it to the christening party at the Starlight Hotel. Congratulations on the baby boy!"Christening party? Baby boy?Scarlett was completely bewildered. Before she could ask any questions, Harbour had already ended the call.Her phone chimed with a message notification. Harbour had transferred thousands of dollars as a gift, but less than a minute later, he quickly retracted the payment.[Sorry, Scarlett. My mistake. It wasn't your baby.]Harbour quickly sent a voice note apologizing, followed by a dozen apologetic emojis.But beneath that flurry of groveling emojis, Scarlett sensed something was terribly wrong. A horrifying suspicion instantly took root in her mind.At eleven o'clock that morning, Scarlett, dressed in a black puffer jacket and wearing a hat and a medical mask, arrived promptly at the entrance of the grand ballroom at Bay City's Starlight Hotel.The entrance was bustling with people coming and going. A massive poster of a baby stood by the doors, reading: Caleb Croft's Christening Party. The guests milling about were complete strangers to Scarlett.Assuming it was a false alarm, she let out a breath of relief and turned to leave.But right at that moment, a familiar voice drifted from behind her. "You just finished your postpartum recovery. Be good and let me hold the baby. Just wait, I've prepared an incredibly grand gift for his christening."Scarlett's footsteps faltered. She whipped around and saw, not far in the distance, a man taking a plump, fair baby from a woman's arms. That man was none other than her husband, Yardley, who had been missing in action for a whole month!The blood in Scarlett's veins ran cold. She stared in absolute disbelief.The woman's sweet, delicate voice floated over. "Yardley, you're so good to Caleb and me. You stayed by my side my entire pregnancy, cooked all sorts of delicious meals for me, and even waited outside the delivery room the whole time I was in labor. You even took care of me during my postpartum recovery period. When Julian comes back from abroad, he'll be so grateful for how you've looked after us.""You're my cousin, and Julian is my best buddy. With him away, taking care of you is the least I can do."It felt as if someone had fired a bullet straight through her chest. Scarlett stood frozen in place, a suffocating wave of despair crashing over her. A bone-deep chill swept through her body, leaving her numb from head to toe.So, for nearly a year, Yardley hadn't been buried in work at all. He had been busy playing house with his best friend's wife—his cousin, Sylvia Stetson?The two of them, laughing and chatting with the baby in his arms, walked into the ballroom.Her phone chimed again. Scarlett opened it numbly and saw a text from Yardley:[Keep it up, be a strong mom. Once I wrap things up tonight, I promise I'll be home tomorrow.]Staring at those words, and contrasting them with the tender devotion he had just shown his cousin, a wave of bitter irony washed over Scarlett.Her finger brushed the screen, scrolling up through his previous messages. They flashed past her eyes one by one.[I can't believe you finished the design drafts for Bay City's Zenith Tower on schedule while eight months pregnant. You're amazing, keep it up.][Five months already? You've had such an easy pregnancy. Not whiny like other women at all. I'm proud of you.][Seeing you walk so briskly every day with no morning sickness, a heavier workload shouldn't be a problem. You've got this. I only trust you to oversee the designs.]...In reality, throughout her entire pregnancy, Scarlett had endured every grueling symptom in the book—the morning sickness, the swollen ankles, the spikes in blood pressure and blood sugar, the fainting spells. She had suffered through it all.It was Yardley's constant words of encouragement and praise that had given her the strength to grit her teeth and push through. From conception to delivery, she hadn't taken more than two days off. She had sometimes doubted him, feeling his attitude was too much like a boss and entirely lacking the tender care a husband should provide.But that was simply the dynamic she and Yardley had always shared, and she was used to it. He was like that with everyone, or so she had thought.Until just now. Until she saw with her own eyes how gently he took the baby from another woman's arms, heard his soft, caring whispers, and watched him carefully support the woman's waist, terrified she might trip.Only then did it dawn on her that he was fully capable of being tender and devoted. He just didn't want to waste that devotion on her.Realizing this, Scarlett's chest ached with an unbearable agony, as if her heart had been ripped out.She moved on autopilot, following the flow of guests into the ballroom. She needed to see for herself exactly what kind of surprise her husband had secretly prepared for another man's wife and child.Inside the ballroom.Scarlett's gaze was fixed unwaveringly on Yardley. He looked radiant, holding a wine glass as he guided Sylvia from table to table, offering toasts."My buddy Julian is currently overseas on a classified infrastructure project. It'll be a year before he's back. For today's christening party, I'll be drinking on his behalf.""Sylvia just finished her postpartum recovery. She can't have alcohol or cold drinks. So, whatever you toast to her, I'll drink."...Scarlett suddenly found the orange juice in her mouth tasting icy and bitter, a frigid emptiness hollowing out her chest.Having worked alongside Yardley for years, she knew that at every business dinner, he would not hesitate to push her forward, bragging that she could drink anyone under the table. She had never seen him drink so heavily, accepting every glass offered, and she had certainly never imagined he would willingly take a drink to protect someone else.Watching his face flush with warmth, Scarlett felt an overwhelming wave of bitterness and irony.Unable to take it anymore, she was just about to step forward when the emcee suddenly announced loudly from the stage, "Today is baby Caleb's christening party. As the baby's family, Mr. Flynn will present him with a generous gift. Let's give him a round of applause!"Yardley and Sylvia were already standing before the crowd, cradling Caleb. In front of everyone, he opened a long gift box, revealing a gleaming solid golden locket encrusted with red rubies.Seeing that heirloom locket, the blood in Scarlett's veins froze instantly. She darted to the front, her eyes wide as she stared intently at the locket for a few seconds. An explosive fury instantly surged within her!Yardley's cheerful voice rang out. "This heirloom locket has been passed down through my wife's family for generations. It carries wonderful blessings and extraordinary value. Now, I'm gifting this golden locket to little Caleb, wishing him a long, healthy, and brilliant life!"Hearing Yardley confirm it himself, Scarlett's world plunged into total darkness.That was the locket her mother had given her for her unborn baby when she was six months pregnant. Afraid of losing it at home, she had locked it in the safe at Yardley's company. Yet now, without even asking her, he was giving her heirloom locket to Sylvia's son.Meanwhile, he hadn't even laid eyes on his own biological daughter once, from pregnancy to birth, let alone gotten her a gift.Pushed past her breaking point, Scarlett finally spoke up, her voice ringing clear. "Did you ask me for permission before giving that away?"Scarlett's sudden interjection silenced the entire room in an instant. Every gaze in the ballroom snapped toward her.Standing on the stage, Yardley recognized Scarlett. A brief flicker of panic crossed his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. He strode over and, before she could react, grabbed her arm and dragged her out of the hall.He spoke in a low voice, barely concealing his suppressed impatience. "Scarlett, what are you doing here?"Scarlett furiously ripped off her mask, ready to curse him out, but when she opened her mouth, her voice came out as a strained, choked sob. "What? Am I not supposed to be here?""If you want to throw a tantrum, at least consider the setting!" Yardley warned quietly, anger simmering beneath his tone. "Yelling like that just now, were you deliberately trying to embarrass me?"Scarlett yanked her arm free, staring at him in sheer disbelief. "Yardley, that golden locket was a gift from my mother for our daughter. What gave you the right to give it away without asking me?"Yardley's expression darkened. "Scarlett, you've always been sensible. Is it really necessary to make a scene here?"The word "sensible" sent Scarlett's fury skyrocketing. She struggled to keep her fury in check."You gave away my family's heirloom to your so-called nephew without a word? Yardley, who's embarrassing who here?"Yardley quickly glanced around and lowered his voice even further. "It's just a golden locket. I was short on time and couldn't get a custom one made, so I thought I'd just give them that for now. Sylvia and Julian aren't strangers. Do you really need to make such a big deal out of this?"Scarlett's gaze turned exceptionally icy. "Yardley, that's not just some ordinary locket. That is my family's heirloom."She pressed a hand tightly against her chest, her voice dropping to a terrifyingly low pitch. "If you don't return it to my daughter, I will make you pay."She had a condition where intense anger caused sharp chest pains. Right now, her chest was seizing up in spasms, and the incision from her C-section throbbed as if it were being torn open.Unable to stand, Scarlett's face went deathly pale, and she instinctively hunched over.Noticing something was wrong, a flash of concern crossed Yardley's face. He was just about to reach out and help her when a slender hand suddenly grabbed his arm."Yardley, what's going on? Is Scarlett upset that you gave the locket to my baby?"Sylvia then turned to Scarlett, gasping as she covered her mouth in shock. "Oh my god, Scarlett, you look so haggard after having a baby! I almost didn't recognize you!"Scarlett slowly lifted her gaze to look at Sylvia. She was standing next to Yardley in an haute couture gown, showcasing stunning curves and a radiant smile. She didn't look like someone who had just given birth at all.Before Scarlett could speak, Sylvia stepped forward and tightly gripped her arm. "Scarlett, don't be mad at Yardley. He originally meant to bring the locket home for your daughter, but I saw it and loved it so much that he decided to give it to my son.""It's just a golden locket. If you like it that much, I'll go to a jewelry store later and buy you one in return. How does that sound?"Her long nails dug sharply into Scarlett's skin. Wincing in pain, Scarlett forcefully shook her off. She hadn't expected Sylvia to use the momentum to throw herself to the ground, immediately letting out a sharp cry."Scarlett, what the hell are you doing? Sylvia just finished her postpartum recovery!" Yardley roared.Without another word, he hurried over to help Sylvia up, glaring at Scarlett with absolute fury.Scarlett lifted her bruised arm where Sylvia had pinched her. Clutching her aching stomach, she met Yardley's gaze with bloodshot eyes. "She just finished her postpartum recovery, but didn't I just finish mine too?"Yardley's voice was as cold as a blade. "You're different from her. You're much stronger."Scarlett's face lost all its color. Gritting her teeth, she forced herself to stand upright. Before Yardley could react, she raised her hand and slapped him hard across the face, her eyes brimming with a surging hatred. "You're different from other husbands, too. You're an absolute piece of trash."She had completely lost the energy to argue. Five years of endurance and a suffocating marriage—she was entirely done with it all right in this moment!She turned and marched back into the hall without looking back, heading straight for the nanny holding the baby wearing her locket. Her gaze was piercing, completely devoid of warmth.The nanny, startled, took a step back, her voice trembling. "What... what are you doing?""Taking back what belongs to me."Scarlett stepped forward, yanked the golden locket off the baby, and shoved it into her pocket."Scarlett, you..." Yardley chased after her into the hall. Seeing Scarlett looking like a porcupine bristling with sudden thorns, he opened his mouth to reprimand her.But Scarlett suddenly spun around, fixing him with a hateful glare. "Let's get a divorce. I'll be waiting for you at City Hall tomorrow morning."Yardley froze in his tracks. The anger in his eyes morphed into shock, filled with profound disbelief.Chapter 2"Honey, the baby is a month old today. Can you come pick us up?" Scarlett Langley cradled her swaddled daughter, her calm tone betraying a cautious hope.On the other end of the line, Yardley Flynn's voice was steady and devoid of emotion. "Something came up. I'll have the driver pick you and the baby up and bring you home."Yardley had been absent for the birth and her entire postpartum recovery period, always claiming to be tied up with work. Now, as she finished her postpartum recovery, he still couldn't be there.A lump formed in Scarlett's throat, and she fought hard to keep the tears at bay."...All right, I understand.""Scarlett, you've always been independent. I know you can handle a minor thing like having a baby on your own. Keep it up. You're the best mom."With that, Yardley hung up.His tone, like a boss encouraging a subordinate, sent a sharp pang through her chest.Just then, Yardley's good friend Harbour Quinn called. "Scarlett, something came up tonight. I'm so sorry, but I won't be able to make it to the christening party at the Starlight Hotel. Congratulations on the baby boy!"Christening party? Baby boy?Scarlett was completely bewildered. Before she could ask any questions, Harbour had already ended the call.Her phone chimed with a message notification. Harbour had transferred thousands of dollars as a gift, but less than a minute later, he quickly retracted the payment.[Sorry, Scarlett. My mistake. It wasn't your baby.]Harbour quickly sent a voice note apologizing, followed by a dozen apologetic emojis.But beneath that flurry of groveling emojis, Scarlett sensed something was terribly wrong. A horrifying suspicion instantly took root in her mind.At eleven o'clock that morning, Scarlett, dressed in a black puffer jacket and wearing a hat and a medical mask, arrived promptly at the entrance of the grand ballroom at Bay City's Starlight Hotel.The entrance was bustling with people coming and going. A massive poster of a baby stood by the doors, reading: Caleb Croft's Christening Party. The guests milling about were complete strangers to Scarlett.Assuming it was a false alarm, she let out a breath of relief and turned to leave.But right at that moment, a familiar voice drifted from behind her. "You just finished your postpartum recovery. Be good and let me hold the baby. Just wait, I've prepared an incredibly grand gift for his christening."Scarlett's footsteps faltered. She whipped around and saw, not far in the distance, a man taking a plump, fair baby from a woman's arms. That man was none other than her husband, Yardley, who had been missing in action for a whole month!The blood in Scarlett's veins ran cold. She stared in absolute disbelief.The woman's sweet, delicate voice floated over. "Yardley, you're so good to Caleb and me. You stayed by my side my entire pregnancy, cooked all sorts of delicious meals for me, and even waited outside the delivery room the whole time I was in labor. You even took care of me during my postpartum recovery period. When Julian comes back from abroad, he'll be so grateful for how you've looked after us.""You're my cousin, and Julian is my best buddy. With him away, taking care of you is the least I can do."It felt as if someone had fired a bullet straight through her chest. Scarlett stood frozen in place, a suffocating wave of despair crashing over her. A bone-deep chill swept through her body, leaving her numb from head to toe.So, for nearly a year, Yardley hadn't been buried in work at all. He had been busy playing house with his best friend's wife—his cousin, Sylvia Stetson?The two of them, laughing and chatting with the baby in his arms, walked into the ballroom.Her phone chimed again. Scarlett opened it numbly and saw a text from Yardley:[Keep it up, be a strong mom. Once I wrap things up tonight, I promise I'll be home tomorrow.]Staring at those words, and contrasting them with the tender devotion he had just shown his cousin, a wave of bitter irony washed over Scarlett.Her finger brushed the screen, scrolling up through his previous messages. They flashed past her eyes one by one.[I can't believe you finished the design drafts for Bay City's Zenith Tower on schedule while eight months pregnant. You're amazing, keep it up.][Five months already? You've had such an easy pregnancy. Not whiny like other women at all. I'm proud of you.][Seeing you walk so briskly every day with no morning sickness, a heavier workload shouldn't be a problem. You've got this. I only trust you to oversee the designs.]...In reality, throughout her entire pregnancy, Scarlett had endured every grueling symptom in the book—the morning sickness, the swollen ankles, the spikes in blood pressure and blood sugar, the fainting spells. She had suffered through it all.It was Yardley's constant words of encouragement and praise that had given her the strength to grit her teeth and push through. From conception to delivery, she hadn't taken more than two days off. She had sometimes doubted him, feeling his attitude was too much like a boss and entirely lacking the tender care a husband should provide.But that was simply the dynamic she and Yardley had always shared, and she was used to it. He was like that with everyone, or so she had thought.Until just now. Until she saw with her own eyes how gently he took the baby from another woman's arms, heard his soft, caring whispers, and watched him carefully support the woman's waist, terrified she might trip.Only then did it dawn on her that he was fully capable of being tender and devoted. He just didn't want to waste that devotion on her.Realizing this, Scarlett's chest ached with an unbearable agony, as if her heart had been ripped out.She moved on autopilot, following the flow of guests into the ballroom. She needed to see for herself exactly what kind of surprise her husband had secretly prepared for another man's wife and child.Inside the ballroom.Scarlett's gaze was fixed unwaveringly on Yardley. He looked radiant, holding a wine glass as he guided Sylvia from table to table, offering toasts."My buddy Julian is currently overseas on a classified infrastructure project. It'll be a year before he's back. For today's christening party, I'll be drinking on his behalf.""Sylvia just finished her postpartum recovery. She can't have alcohol or cold drinks. So, whatever you toast to her, I'll drink."...Scarlett suddenly found the orange juice in her mouth tasting icy and bitter, a frigid emptiness hollowing out her chest.Having worked alongside Yardley for years, she knew that at every business dinner, he would not hesitate to push her forward, bragging that she could drink anyone under the table. She had never seen him drink so heavily, accepting every glass offered, and she had certainly never imagined he would willingly take a drink to protect someone else.Watching his face flush with warmth, Scarlett felt an overwhelming wave of bitterness and irony.Unable to take it anymore, she was just about to step forward when the emcee suddenly announced loudly from the stage, "Today is baby Caleb's christening party. As the baby's family, Mr. Flynn will present him with a generous gift. Let's give him a round of applause!"Yardley and Sylvia were already standing before the crowd, cradling Caleb. In front of everyone, he opened a long gift box, revealing a gleaming solid golden locket encrusted with red rubies.Seeing that heirloom locket, the blood in Scarlett's veins froze instantly. She darted to the front, her eyes wide as she stared intently at the locket for a few seconds. An explosive fury instantly surged within her!Yardley's cheerful voice rang out. "This heirloom locket has been passed down through my wife's family for generations. It carries wonderful blessings and extraordinary value. Now, I'm gifting this golden locket to little Caleb, wishing him a long, healthy, and brilliant life!"Hearing Yardley confirm it himself, Scarlett's world plunged into total darkness.That was the locket her mother had given her for her unborn baby when she was six months pregnant. Afraid of losing it at home, she had locked it in the safe at Yardley's company. Yet now, without even asking her, he was giving her heirloom locket to Sylvia's son.Meanwhile, he hadn't even laid eyes on his own biological daughter once, from pregnancy to birth, let alone gotten her a gift.Pushed past her breaking point, Scarlett finally spoke up, her voice ringing clear. "Did you ask me for permission before giving that away?"Scarlett's sudden interjection silenced the entire room in an instant. Every gaze in the ballroom snapped toward her.Standing on the stage, Yardley recognized Scarlett. A brief flicker of panic crossed his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. He strode over and, before she could react, grabbed her arm and dragged her out of the hall.He spoke in a low voice, barely concealing his suppressed impatience. "Scarlett, what are you doing here?"Scarlett furiously ripped off her mask, ready to curse him out, but when she opened her mouth, her voice came out as a strained, choked sob. "What? Am I not supposed to be here?""If you want to throw a tantrum, at least consider the setting!" Yardley warned quietly, anger simmering beneath his tone. "Yelling like that just now, were you deliberately trying to embarrass me?"Scarlett yanked her arm free, staring at him in sheer disbelief. "Yardley, that golden locket was a gift from my mother for our daughter. What gave you the right to give it away without asking me?"Yardley's expression darkened. "Scarlett, you've always been sensible. Is it really necessary to make a scene here?"The word "sensible" sent Scarlett's fury skyrocketing. She struggled to keep her fury in check."You gave away my family's heirloom to your so-called nephew without a word? Yardley, who's embarrassing who here?"Yardley quickly glanced around and lowered his voice even further. "It's just a golden locket. I was short on time and couldn't get a custom one made, so I thought I'd just give them that for now. Sylvia and Julian aren't strangers. Do you really need to make such a big deal out of this?"Scarlett's gaze turned exceptionally icy. "Yardley, that's not just some ordinary locket. That is my family's heirloom."She pressed a hand tightly against her chest, her voice dropping to a terrifyingly low pitch. "If you don't return it to my daughter, I will make you pay."She had a condition where intense anger caused sharp chest pains. Right now, her chest was seizing up in spasms, and the incision from her C-section throbbed as if it were being torn open.Unable to stand, Scarlett's face went deathly pale, and she instinctively hunched over.Noticing something was wrong, a flash of concern crossed Yardley's face. He was just about to reach out and help her when a slender hand suddenly grabbed his arm."Yardley, what's going on? Is Scarlett upset that you gave the locket to my baby?"Sylvia then turned to Scarlett, gasping as she covered her mouth in shock. "Oh my god, Scarlett, you look so haggard after having a baby! I almost didn't recognize you!"Scarlett slowly lifted her gaze to look at Sylvia. She was standing next to Yardley in an haute couture gown, showcasing stunning curves and a radiant smile. She didn't look like someone who had just given birth at all.Before Scarlett could speak, Sylvia stepped forward and tightly gripped her arm. "Scarlett, don't be mad at Yardley. He originally meant to bring the locket home for your daughter, but I saw it and loved it so much that he decided to give it to my son.""It's just a golden locket. If you like it that much, I'll go to a jewelry store later and buy you one in return. How does that sound?"Her long nails dug sharply into Scarlett's skin. Wincing in pain, Scarlett forcefully shook her off. She hadn't expected Sylvia to use the momentum to throw herself to the ground, immediately letting out a sharp cry."Scarlett, what the hell are you doing? Sylvia just finished her postpartum recovery!" Yardley roared.Without another word, he hurried over to help Sylvia up, glaring at Scarlett with absolute fury.Scarlett lifted her bruised arm where Sylvia had pinched her. Clutching her aching stomach, she met Yardley's gaze with bloodshot eyes. "She just finished her postpartum recovery, but didn't I just finish mine too?"Yardley's voice was as cold as a blade. "You're different from her. You're much stronger."Scarlett's face lost all its color. Gritting her teeth, she forced herself to stand upright. Before Yardley could react, she raised her hand and slapped him hard across the face, her eyes brimming with a surging hatred. "You're different from other husbands, too. You're an absolute piece of trash."She had completely lost the energy to argue. Five years of endurance and a suffocating marriage—she was entirely done with it all right in this moment!She turned and marched back into the hall without looking back, heading straight for the nanny holding the baby wearing her locket. Her gaze was piercing, completely devoid of warmth.The nanny, startled, took a step back, her voice trembling. "What... what are you doing?""Taking back what belongs to me."Scarlett stepped forward, yanked the golden locket off the baby, and shoved it into her pocket."Scarlett, you..." Yardley chased after her into the hall. Seeing Scarlett looking like a porcupine bristling with sudden thorns, he opened his mouth to reprimand her.But Scarlett suddenly spun around, fixing him with a hateful glare. "Let's get a divorce. I'll be waiting for you at City Hall tomorrow morning."Yardley froze in his tracks. The anger in his eyes morphed into shock, filled with profound disbelief.Chapter 3"Honey, the baby is a month old today. Can you come pick us up?" Scarlett Langley cradled her swaddled daughter, her calm tone betraying a cautious hope.On the other end of the line, Yardley Flynn's voice was steady and devoid of emotion. "Something came up. I'll have the driver pick you and the baby up and bring you home."Yardley had been absent for the birth and her entire postpartum recovery period, always claiming to be tied up with work. Now, as she finished her postpartum recovery, he still couldn't be there.A lump formed in Scarlett's throat, and she fought hard to keep the tears at bay."...All right, I understand.""Scarlett, you've always been independent. I know you can handle a minor thing like having a baby on your own. Keep it up. You're the best mom."With that, Yardley hung up.His tone, like a boss encouraging a subordinate, sent a sharp pang through her chest.Just then, Yardley's good friend Harbour Quinn called. "Scarlett, something came up tonight. I'm so sorry, but I won't be able to make it to the christening party at the Starlight Hotel. Congratulations on the baby boy!"Christening party? Baby boy?Scarlett was completely bewildered. Before she could ask any questions, Harbour had already ended the call.Her phone chimed with a message notification. Harbour had transferred thousands of dollars as a gift, but less than a minute later, he quickly retracted the payment.[Sorry, Scarlett. My mistake. It wasn't your baby.]Harbour quickly sent a voice note apologizing, followed by a dozen apologetic emojis.But beneath that flurry of groveling emojis, Scarlett sensed something was terribly wrong. A horrifying suspicion instantly took root in her mind.At eleven o'clock that morning, Scarlett, dressed in a black puffer jacket and wearing a hat and a medical mask, arrived promptly at the entrance of the grand ballroom at Bay City's Starlight Hotel.The entrance was bustling with people coming and going. A massive poster of a baby stood by the doors, reading: Caleb Croft's Christening Party. The guests milling about were complete strangers to Scarlett.Assuming it was a false alarm, she let out a breath of relief and turned to leave.But right at that moment, a familiar voice drifted from behind her. "You just finished your postpartum recovery. Be good and let me hold the baby. Just wait, I've prepared an incredibly grand gift for his christening."Scarlett's footsteps faltered. She whipped around and saw, not far in the distance, a man taking a plump, fair baby from a woman's arms. That man was none other than her husband, Yardley, who had been missing in action for a whole month!The blood in Scarlett's veins ran cold. She stared in absolute disbelief.The woman's sweet, delicate voice floated over. "Yardley, you're so good to Caleb and me. You stayed by my side my entire pregnancy, cooked all sorts of delicious meals for me, and even waited outside the delivery room the whole time I was in labor. You even took care of me during my postpartum recovery period. When Julian comes back from abroad, he'll be so grateful for how you've looked after us.""You're my cousin, and Julian is my best buddy. With him away, taking care of you is the least I can do."It felt as if someone had fired a bullet straight through her chest. Scarlett stood frozen in place, a suffocating wave of despair crashing over her. A bone-deep chill swept through her body, leaving her numb from head to toe.So, for nearly a year, Yardley hadn't been buried in work at all. He had been busy playing house with his best friend's wife—his cousin, Sylvia Stetson?The two of them, laughing and chatting with the baby in his arms, walked into the ballroom.Her phone chimed again. Scarlett opened it numbly and saw a text from Yardley:[Keep it up, be a strong mom. Once I wrap things up tonight, I promise I'll be home tomorrow.]Staring at those words, and contrasting them with the tender devotion he had just shown his cousin, a wave of bitter irony washed over Scarlett.Her finger brushed the screen, scrolling up through his previous messages. They flashed past her eyes one by one.[I can't believe you finished the design drafts for Bay City's Zenith Tower on schedule while eight months pregnant. You're amazing, keep it up.][Five months already? You've had such an easy pregnancy. Not whiny like other women at all. I'm proud of you.][Seeing you walk so briskly every day with no morning sickness, a heavier workload shouldn't be a problem. You've got this. I only trust you to oversee the designs.]...In reality, throughout her entire pregnancy, Scarlett had endured every grueling symptom in the book—the morning sickness, the swollen ankles, the spikes in blood pressure and blood sugar, the fainting spells. She had suffered through it all.It was Yardley's constant words of encouragement and praise that had given her the strength to grit her teeth and push through. From conception to delivery, she hadn't taken more than two days off. She had sometimes doubted him, feeling his attitude was too much like a boss and entirely lacking the tender care a husband should provide.But that was simply the dynamic she and Yardley had always shared, and she was used to it. He was like that with everyone, or so she had thought.Until just now. Until she saw with her own eyes how gently he took the baby from another woman's arms, heard his soft, caring whispers, and watched him carefully support the woman's waist, terrified she might trip.Only then did it dawn on her that he was fully capable of being tender and devoted. He just didn't want to waste that devotion on her.Realizing this, Scarlett's chest ached with an unbearable agony, as if her heart had been ripped out.She moved on autopilot, following the flow of guests into the ballroom. She needed to see for herself exactly what kind of surprise her husband had secretly prepared for another man's wife and child.Inside the ballroom.Scarlett's gaze was fixed unwaveringly on Yardley. He looked radiant, holding a wine glass as he guided Sylvia from table to table, offering toasts."My buddy Julian is currently overseas on a classified infrastructure project. It'll be a year before he's back. For today's christening party, I'll be drinking on his behalf.""Sylvia just finished her postpartum recovery. She can't have alcohol or cold drinks. So, whatever you toast to her, I'll drink."...Scarlett suddenly found the orange juice in her mouth tasting icy and bitter, a frigid emptiness hollowing out her chest.Having worked alongside Yardley for years, she knew that at every business dinner, he would not hesitate to push her forward, bragging that she could drink anyone under the table. She had never seen him drink so heavily, accepting every glass offered, and she had certainly never imagined he would willingly take a drink to protect someone else.Watching his face flush with warmth, Scarlett felt an overwhelming wave of bitterness and irony.Unable to take it anymore, she was just about to step forward when the emcee suddenly announced loudly from the stage, "Today is baby Caleb's christening party. As the baby's family, Mr. Flynn will present him with a generous gift. Let's give him a round of applause!"Yardley and Sylvia were already standing before the crowd, cradling Caleb. In front of everyone, he opened a long gift box, revealing a gleaming solid golden locket encrusted with red rubies.Seeing that heirloom locket, the blood in Scarlett's veins froze instantly. She darted to the front, her eyes wide as she stared intently at the locket for a few seconds. An explosive fury instantly surged within her!Yardley's cheerful voice rang out. "This heirloom locket has been passed down through my wife's family for generations. It carries wonderful blessings and extraordinary value. Now, I'm gifting this golden locket to little Caleb, wishing him a long, healthy, and brilliant life!"Hearing Yardley confirm it himself, Scarlett's world plunged into total darkness.That was the locket her mother had given her for her unborn baby when she was six months pregnant. Afraid of losing it at home, she had locked it in the safe at Yardley's company. Yet now, without even asking her, he was giving her heirloom locket to Sylvia's son.Meanwhile, he hadn't even laid eyes on his own biological daughter once, from pregnancy to birth, let alone gotten her a gift.Pushed past her breaking point, Scarlett finally spoke up, her voice ringing clear. "Did you ask me for permission before giving that away?"Scarlett's sudden interjection silenced the entire room in an instant. Every gaze in the ballroom snapped toward her.Standing on the stage, Yardley recognized Scarlett. A brief flicker of panic crossed his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. He strode over and, before she could react, grabbed her arm and dragged her out of the hall.He spoke in a low voice, barely concealing his suppressed impatience. "Scarlett, what are you doing here?"Scarlett furiously ripped off her mask, ready to curse him out, but when she opened her mouth, her voice came out as a strained, choked sob. "What? Am I not supposed to be here?""If you want to throw a tantrum, at least consider the setting!" Yardley warned quietly, anger simmering beneath his tone. "Yelling like that just now, were you deliberately trying to embarrass me?"Scarlett yanked her arm free, staring at him in sheer disbelief. "Yardley, that golden locket was a gift from my mother for our daughter. What gave you the right to give it away without asking me?"Yardley's expression darkened. "Scarlett, you've always been sensible. Is it really necessary to make a scene here?"The word "sensible" sent Scarlett's fury skyrocketing. She struggled to keep her fury in check."You gave away my family's heirloom to your so-called nephew without a word? Yardley, who's embarrassing who here?"Yardley quickly glanced around and lowered his voice even further. "It's just a golden locket. I was short on time and couldn't get a custom one made, so I thought I'd just give them that for now. Sylvia and Julian aren't strangers. Do you really need to make such a big deal out of this?"Scarlett's gaze turned exceptionally icy. "Yardley, that's not just some ordinary locket. That is my family's heirloom."She pressed a hand tightly against her chest, her voice dropping to a terrifyingly low pitch. "If you don't return it to my daughter, I will make you pay."She had a condition where intense anger caused sharp chest pains. Right now, her chest was seizing up in spasms, and the incision from her C-section throbbed as if it were being torn open.Unable to stand, Scarlett's face went deathly pale, and she instinctively hunched over.Noticing something was wrong, a flash of concern crossed Yardley's face. He was just about to reach out and help her when a slender hand suddenly grabbed his arm."Yardley, what's going on? Is Scarlett upset that you gave the locket to my baby?"Sylvia then turned to Scarlett, gasping as she covered her mouth in shock. "Oh my god, Scarlett, you look so haggard after having a baby! I almost didn't recognize you!"Scarlett slowly lifted her gaze to look at Sylvia. She was standing next to Yardley in an haute couture gown, showcasing stunning curves and a radiant smile. She didn't look like someone who had just given birth at all.Before Scarlett could speak, Sylvia stepped forward and tightly gripped her arm. "Scarlett, don't be mad at Yardley. He originally meant to bring the locket home for your daughter, but I saw it and loved it so much that he decided to give it to my son.""It's just a golden locket. If you like it that much, I'll go to a jewelry store later and buy you one in return. How does that sound?"Her long nails dug sharply into Scarlett's skin. Wincing in pain, Scarlett forcefully shook her off. She hadn't expected Sylvia to use the momentum to throw herself to the ground, immediately letting out a sharp cry."Scarlett, what the hell are you doing? Sylvia just finished her postpartum recovery!" Yardley roared.Without another word, he hurried over to help Sylvia up, glaring at Scarlett with absolute fury.Scarlett lifted her bruised arm where Sylvia had pinched her. Clutching her aching stomach, she met Yardley's gaze with bloodshot eyes. "She just finished her postpartum recovery, but didn't I just finish mine too?"Yardley's voice was as cold as a blade. "You're different from her. You're much stronger."Scarlett's face lost all its color. Gritting her teeth, she forced herself to stand upright. Before Yardley could react, she raised her hand and slapped him hard across the face, her eyes brimming with a surging hatred. "You're different from other husbands, too. You're an absolute piece of trash."She had completely lost the energy to argue. Five years of endurance and a suffocating marriage—she was entirely done with it all right in this moment!She turned and marched back into the hall without looking back, heading straight for the nanny holding the baby wearing her locket. Her gaze was piercing, completely devoid of warmth.The nanny, startled, took a step back, her voice trembling. "What... what are you doing?""Taking back what belongs to me."Scarlett stepped forward, yanked the golden locket off the baby, and shoved it into her pocket."Scarlett, you..." Yardley chased after her into the hall. Seeing Scarlett looking like a porcupine bristling with sudden thorns, he opened his mouth to reprimand her.But Scarlett suddenly spun around, fixing him with a hateful glare. "Let's get a divorce. I'll be waiting for you at City Hall tomorrow morning."Yardley froze in his tracks. The anger in his eyes morphed into shock, filled with profound disbelief.