Chapter 1

"Sir, today is your wife's birthday. Don't you want to go back to the apartment?" asked the driver of the luxurious SUV.

"I told you not to mention her," snapped the man with black hair, frowning.

"I'm sorry, sir," the driver said, looking troubled, and continued driving back to the company.

Roger Peterson, the CEO of the city's top tech company, grimaced before leaning back in his seat, staring out the window.

He was the pride of his family, nearly perfect, but his talents and good looks were overshadowed by one flaw: the woman who lived under the same roof, the one who ruined his life.

Roger frowned again, thinking about her. He hated her so much that he even cursed her existence, wondering why she didn't just die. Unfortunately for him, he was bound to her forever by some cruel twist of fate.

When they arrived at the company, Roger sighed and got out to head to his office.

After a while, he tried to relax in his chair, closing his eyes for a moment to clear his mind of the day's stress. It wasn't work that had him so wound up.

"Mr. Peterson?"

Roger's frown deepened even with his eyes closed. He hated being interrupted. When he opened his eyes, he saw a ginger-haired man standing next to him.

"It's time to wake up," the man said.

"What do you want, Fabian?" Roger asked, opening his eyes fully.

"You told me to remind you of the time," Fabian replied.

Roger glanced at the clock on his desk; it was 5:15 PM.

"Right, thanks," he said, standing up and straightening his clothes. Satisfied with his appearance, he headed for the door.

"Have my car ready," he told Fabian on the way out. "And hey, did you get--"

"Yes," Fabian interrupted, making a face. "Everything is ready: the car and the gifts you always bring for her."

"Hm... thank you," Roger said, leaving the office with a big smile.

Fabian watched him go and sighed, shaking his head. What his boss was doing didn't sit right with him, but he knew his opinion wouldn't matter.

When Roger arrived at the parking lot, an employee handed him the keys to his luxurious black sports car and the gifts Fabian had bought.

He thanked the employee, placed the items in the car, and set off for his special appointment.

His destination was the most luxurious hotel in the city.

Upon arrival, Roger handed his car over to the valet and, carrying the roses and gift, walked slowly into the hotel.

As usual, several women nearby stared at him and whispered excitedly about how hot and handsome he was, comments that only inflated his ego and made him smile arrogantly.

"Honey."

Roger turned and smiled, seeing a beautiful blonde with long, straight hair and a curvy figure coming toward him. She leaned in to kiss him on the lips.

"Did I make you wait?" he asked Sophia as she approached.

"You know I would always wait for you," she replied, love shining in her emerald eyes.

"I know. I brought you a little gift," he said flirtatiously, handing her the flowers and a black leather box.

"Ah... how thoughtful," Sophia said, taking the flowers and smelling them before opening the box to find a beautiful diamond necklace. "Ah... Roger."

"Only the best for you," he said with a smile.

"You know... I have a little gift for you too," Sophia whispered flirtatiously, pressing her body against his suggestively.

"Hm... interesting," he said amusedly, grabbing her by the waist as they walked toward the elevator to reach their usual room.

The room was one of the most luxurious and expensive suites in the hotel, decorated with romantic touches—candles, flowers, and even a filled bathtub ready for a romantic evening.

"Wow, you've prepared everything," Roger said, taking in the decorations.

"Of course. And by the way, happy anniversary," she said, giving him a passionate kiss.

The kiss quickly grew more intense, and they closed the door as they began tearing each other's clothes off, eager to start their special night.

It was a great night full of passion for them, which promised to last until dawn. But just as the clock struck one in the morning, Roger's phone began to ring.

"Ah... no... don't answer," Sophia complained, trying to pull him into another kiss.

"Wait..." he said, annoyed, pulling away to grab his phone without checking the caller ID.

"What is it?!" he shouted angrily. There was no response, so he glanced at the number. He saw the call was coming from his apartment, so he abruptly separated from Sophia to sit on the bed.

"What the hell do you want?" he asked. In response, he heard tapping on the phone.

"Who is bothering you, honey?" Sophia asked, covering her body with the sheets.

"Nobody," he said, looking at her lovingly before returning to the call. "Stop messing with me. I'm not coming home, so go to sleep and don't call me again."

"That idiot is bothering you again," Sophia complained, frowning.

"Yeah."

"Well, leave it and come back to bed. I'm starting to get cold," she said, taking the phone from him.

Without hanging up, Sophia tossed the phone onto the floor. She then made Roger lie down on the bed and climbed on top of him, picking up where they had left off.

The person on the other end of the line listened as the two started having sex. Silent tears streamed down her face. She didn't hang up until she heard them declare their eternal love for each other.

After ending the call, she wiped her tears and turned off the recorder app she had installed to capture the conversation.

This was the final piece of evidence she needed. Even though she already knew she wasn't loved, hearing them together still hurt deeply. Yet, she found some solace in the fact that Sophia's arrogance had provided proof of Roger's infidelity.

The person who had called Roger was actually the source of his troubles: his legitimate wife.