Chapter 1 Valentine's Day Becomes a Nightmare

Three days of relentless work didn't spare me from the surgeries that followed, but I reached out to my boss, seeking a break to head home early. Tomorrow was Valentine's Day, and I needed to carve out time to pick out a special gift for my husband.

Seeing me choose a men's watch valued at around thirty thousand dollars, the saleswoman quipped, "Oh, you must love your boyfriend very much. I can tell."

"Actually, I'm buying a watch for my husband. We've been married for two years," I corrected with a smile.

Surprised, the saleswoman remarked, "You look so young."

Grateful for the comment, I swiftly made my way home with the elegantly wrapped present. Driving back, I couldn't resist stealing glances at the gift box, envisioning Leo's reaction. Perhaps this time, his excitement would shine through, setting the stage for a romantic evening.

Leo had been distant for months, likely due to my demanding job. Despite the lack of affection, his support and kindness hadn't gone unnoticed, leaving me torn between gratitude and guilt.

Pulling up to our driveway, I noticed Leo's SUV with a red sports car parked right behind it, occupying my usual spot. Furrowing my brow, I found an alternative place to park.

Determined not to let anything mar the evening, I clutched the gift box and headed for the door, keys in hand. Keeping my early return under wraps was my way of surprising him.

Sneaking into the living room, I caught groans emanating from the bedroom.

"Oh, come on, Leo! Faster!" A feminine voice echoed.

"No prob, Babe. God, you feel incredible!" Leo's voice responded.

I felt a wave of dizziness wash over me as I struggled to comprehend what I was hearing. Drawing from years of rigorous surgical training, I tried to remain composed, though the situation felt like a living nightmare.

Peeking through the partially open door, I witnessed the unsettling scene.

"Oh, no, Leo! Slow down a bit," the woman pleaded.

"Don't you want it in a rough way?" My husband's tone was aggressive as he thrust vigorously. "Answer my question, you slut!"

The woman, lost in ecstasy, cried out in pleasure, her eyes rolling back.

My feet felt rooted to the ground as if encased in cement. Confusion engulfed me, rendering me incapable of summoning anger or jealousy.

This wasn't the Leo I knew—my genteel, courteous husband had never uttered such coarse words, and the sight of him engaged in such crude behavior shattered my perception of him.

Over our two years of marriage, Leo had never even embraced me after sex—no hugs, no gentle kisses, no moments of tenderness. Yet here he was, pouring out his all to a stranger.

If someone had told me a whole century had gone by, I'd have bought it in a heartbeat. Leo's words hit me like a ton of bricks, making me feel like I was in the worst spot ever. All the efforts I'd put in since our wedding felt utterly pointless.

"Hey, Babe, Valentine's Day's on the horizon. Got us a spot at a restaurant and a hotel. When are you done with work? I'll swing by to pick you up." Leo nuzzled into her chest, the sounds of her breasts being sucked reaching my ears.

Giggles escaped the woman as she tugged his hair playfully, drawing his face up for a deep, lengthy kiss.

"Remember, you've still got a wifey," she reminded with scorn in her voice, mentioning me in passing.

"You mean, Hailey? Oh please, Elisa, don't talk about her now. She's a mood killer. Oh, Sweetheart, just thinking about you is getting me all fired up. Ready for another round?" Leo said with a lustful smile.

Their jabs were aimed at painting me as a spouse who couldn't please her man.

"So, when's the divorce happening? My dad lined up some great catches for me, and I turned them all down for you," the woman named Elisa asked.

"Oh, Babe." Leo was visibly touched. However, the moment he brought me up, his tone soured, "Marriage to Hailey was the worst mistake I've ever made. She's 28 and still just a medical intern, a complete failure."

"Your judgment wasn't on point back then," Elisa commented.

"My father mentioned she was very close to Mr. Aesthete, and I thought there might be some inheritance in it for me. That was why I married her," Leo explained.

"Well, that explains it." Elisa flipped him over, showing her dominance. "My family's well-off, but compared to the Aesthete family, we're small fry. If you snag some of their inheritance, we'll be shooting up the social ladder." She positioned herself above him, letting out a groan, inquiring while moving her hips, "When's Mr. Aesthete kicking the bucket?"

Leo thrust upwards, his tone matching his rough movements. "That old fuck owes his life to my father. My father's as irritating as Hailey. Does his principle outweigh his son's happiness? Ridiculous! I've always known that he never really cared about me."

Elisa was rendered speechless as Leo's movements grew more intense. The sounds of their pleasure echoed through what was once my sanctuary. I couldn't bear to witness this torment any longer. My heart broke, tears streaming down my face. The realization that Leo never truly loved me, especially as he brought his lover into our home to desecrate our bed, was crushing.

What hurt more was his anticipation of Mr. Aesthete's demise. While no one understood the significance of Mr. Aesthete to me, everyone knew the respect and care I had for him, as well as Leo's father, who was a doctor too. How could Leo speak so harshly about him?

I tried to grab my phone to capture this disgraceful moment, but it was dead, out of battery. Fuming and trembling, I left the house.

Sitting in the car, I realized I had no destination in mind. Charging my phone, I checked Leo's Instagram for Elisa but found nothing. While scrolling, I noticed he had only shared our wedding pictures and a few date nights.

He had mentioned he wasn't active on social media, so we never followed each other. Then it hit me. I switched to another account and found all kinds of hashtags without even searching, such as #MorningWithElisa, #SeineRiverDate, #CouplesKissChallenge, #NightOfPassion, etc.

It was evident—Leo had blocked me on his social media, only showing me the facade he wanted. He hadn't bothered to keep things discreet. How foolish of me to believe he was working late when he was with another woman.

Tears flowing, I rested my head on the steering wheel. A knock on the window startled me. Looking up, I saw the woman from the bedroom, smiling at me through the glass.

My mind raced. How could this be happening?

She gestured for me to lower the window. I could even catch Leo's scent on her when she touched her lips and asked, "Ma'am, do you need help?"

"What?" I muttered.

"You look unwell," Elisa said, flashing a shameless smile, revealing kiss marks on her neck. "Can I help you with something?"

In a numb voice, I replied, "Just leave, now."