Chapter 1

As I watched my wife, Heather Seymour, on stage with her fingers tightly interlaced with those of her male subordinate, Lucas Mallard, my eyes reddened instantly. There they were, publicly announcing their relationship. My fingernails dug deep into my palms.

I never expected this to be the huge surprise she had in store for me.

Heather had promised that once the company went public, she would have a chubby baby with me to fulfill my parents' wish to have a grandchild and make us all happy.

To get her to keep that promise, I worked overtime like crazy and pushed myself through endless business drinking sessions. There were several times I even drank until I vomited blood.

Just yesterday, after I landed a deal worth hundreds of millions and helped the company go public, Heather smiled and said she'd give me a grand gift at the celebration party. I never expected it to be her going up on stage to announce her relationship with Lucas.

In the banquet hall, my colleagues threw me curious looks, eager to enjoy the show.

"Randall was actually trying to get on stage earlier. Did he really think Ms. Seymour was going to announce her relationship with him? He's truly aiming way too far out of his league!"

"Ms. Seymour and Luke are the perfect match. What does a washed-up old guy like Randall have against Luke, who's young and handsome?"

…

Through all the taunts and ridicule, Heather just watched coldly from the sidelines.

I clenched my fists tightly as a sharp, stabbing pain spread through my heart.

Heather and I had been married for six years, yet she had kept our marriage a secret just to avoid gossip.

At work, she went out of her way to distance herself from me. Not only was she strict with me professionally, but she also made me address her only as "Ms. Seymour" in the office. As a result, everyone naturally assumed I was just a persistent suitor who simply wouldn't leave her alone.

Snapping back to the moment, I drew a deep breath and brought my eyes to Heather. "So, this is the grand gift you have for me?"

"Of course not," Heather said, shaking her head before pulling out a gift box from behind her with a smile and placing it in my hands.

"Here's your real gift."

A flicker of anticipation rose within me as I looked at the gift box in my hands. Giving me a low blow first before actually presenting me with a surprise was Heather's usual trick.

Once, on my birthday, she stood me up to have a candlelit dinner with Lucas. Only after I'd been crushed with disappointment did she rush back to celebrate with me, saying she had done it all just to make the surprise even better.

During our honeymoon, she deliberately took my flight ticket and gave it to Lucas. Only afterward did she send me a message, saying she and Lucas had gone abroad just to scout the location and plan the itinerary for me, and that she had already bought me a new ticket, urging me to hurry over and join her.

I thought that it would be the same this time.