Chapter 1

After six years of marriage, my husband, Michael, once again refused to meet me, using work as his excuse.

I understood how hard he worked, so I made a special trip to New York to surprise him.

But I never expected that when I walked into a flower shop, I would see my husband's wedding photo with another woman.

...

The clerk confirmed with me again and again, "Are you sure you want these flowers sent to Michael Carter? The professor who teaches at the university?"

I nodded, happily imagining the surprise on Michael's face when he received the flowers.

But the clerk suddenly shrieked, "That's our boss's husband's name. What is your relationship with him?"

"Don't tell me you're another one of his obsessed admirers?"

After saying that, the clerk proudly pointed at the wall. Hanging there, plain as day, was a framed wedding photo.

"Look how in love he is with our boss. Stop trying so hard to destroy their family!"

The moment I saw the photo clearly, it felt as if I had been thrown into an ice cellar. For a long time, I could not say a word.

The man in the photo was Michael. The woman leaning against him wore a white wedding dress, her face glowing with happiness.

While I stood there in a daze, the clerk turned and went to a corner to make a phone call.

A little while later, a woman pushing a stroller opened the door and walked in.

Her complexion was rosy, but her expression was unusually wary.

"So you're the one trying to send flowers and seduce my husband?"

Her appraising gaze was full of contempt.

"Ever since my husband became a tenured professor, I've lost count of how many women like you I've had to deal with!"

She looked so natural, as if she were Michael's real wife.

Everything hit me at once, so hard that for a moment I could not bring myself to believe it.

I forced down the enormous shock in my chest, dug my nails hard into my palm, and struggled to keep myself calm.

"Ma'am, you've misunderstood."

"I'm only here to ask Professor Carter for some research materials."

At some point, a few passersby had gathered around us.

After hearing what I said, they joked,

"Vivian, don't be so angry. Professor Carter dotes on you so much. He wouldn't even look twice at another woman!"

Only then did the woman breathe a sigh of relief. She warmly pulled me over and had me sit down on a chair.

"Don't blame me. It's all because my husband is too outstanding. Women are always trying to seduce him, so I can't help getting a little nervous."

She lowered her head and kissed the baby boy in her arms.

There was a showy note in her voice. "This is my husband's and my child. What do you think? Cute, isn't he?"

I had to admit, the child looked a lot like Michael.

Back then, he chose to stay at the university to teach, while I was assigned by the CIA to a covert station overseas. I was shut away there for six years.

For six years, I endured all the danger and loneliness alone, risking my life in exchange for medal after medal. And what waited for me in the end was my husband keeping another family outside our marriage.

He had even had children with her.

Just then, a middle-aged woman walked in from outside.

"Well, Vivian, Professor Carter finally let you out?"

Vivian smiled playfully.

"Linda, you have to keep it a secret for me."

"If Michael finds out I went out by myself, he'll worry himself sick again!"

Linda laughed along with her.

"Oh my god, your husband is seriously the most devoted man I've ever seen in New York."

"Even when you're having steak at a restaurant, he cuts it into bite-sized pieces and feeds it to you. Whenever you go out, he's terrified something might happen to you. He worries like crazy."

Listening to them, a sharp ache tore through my chest, and my face turned faintly pale.

Vivian handed me a cookie with a smile.

"Have something to tide you over. You came all this way. You must be starving."

"I baked these cookies myself. Michael loves them, but he worries my hands will get tired, so he won't let me make too many."

How ironic those words sounded to me.

I had thought my husband only knew how to bury his head in research, careless and clumsy about daily life. It turned out he had given all his tenderness and consideration to his second family in New York.