Chapter 3

After discarding my breakfast in the trash, I opened the app on my phone.

Dashiell had been careless.

He'd forgotten that when we bought the dash cam for safety reasons, we specifically chose a smart model.

All I needed to do was download the app to my phone, and I could monitor everything happening in the car in real-time.

Less than twenty minutes later, I heard the sound of the door reopening.

Melody's voice trailed up at the end, like a sparrow holding its head high, unmistakable.

She complained softly, "Old man, you don't let a girl rest."

Immediately followed by a yelp of pain.

Melody laughed, her voice shaking, "I'm sorry, You are not old, not old at all."

"Mr. Belmont is even more impressive than the young guys."

"Let me catch a break today."

Amid giggles, the car quickly merged onto the highway.

Bored, Melody started sharing amusing stories from her life.

She was already Dashiell's secretary, after all.

When discussing colleagues, her tone dripped with contempt and recklessness.

Until the topic turned to me.

"Dashiell, if you don't like Ivy, why don't you divorce her?"

A deathly silence fell over the car.

Dashiell's voice rang out coldly, "You've crossed a line."

Melody immediately fell silent.After a long silence, she pleaded coyly, "Dashiell, don't be mad."

"I was just jealous."

Dashiell replied, "Naughty little temptress, you deserve to be punished."

I had to restrain myself countless times from smashing my phone on the ground.

Ten minutes later, Melody's cough could be heard.

She mumbled quietly, "It's not like I can get pregnant anyway."

Dashiell said, "We'll have one in the future."

I felt as if I'd been struck by lightning.

My gaze slowly drifted from my phone to the photo album on the table, a family portrait taken at my daughter's one-month celebration.

There was a message written on the back.

Just as he often promised me, Dashiell's handwriting was clear and strong.

"For the rest of our lives, Daddy will only have Isadora as his little angel."

Now, he was enthusiastically discussing having another child with someone else.

I felt my heart being squeezed tight.

Finally, unable to hold back, I furiously grabbed the photo and hurled it across the room.

Then I crouched on the floor, silently weeping.

I thought bitterly: Dashiell, those who break their vows will face karma!

To make up for Melody's Valentine's Day,

Dashiell delegated all his company affairs to his subordinates and began taking her on a road trip.Forest.

Beach.

Hills.

I watched the scenery through the car's dashboard camera, reminiscing about the countless family trips Dashiell had promised but always postponed due to work. The irony wasn't lost on me.

All boundaries seemed to vanish when it came to Melody.

And I? I felt like the punchline of a cruel joke.

Even as he gallivanted around with Melody, Dashiell didn't forget to message me. My phone kept buzzing incessantly:

"Darling, this supplier is such a pain. Balding and short-tempered, what a nightmare."

"I'm exhausted. Could you give me a massage when I get home?"

"Darling, I need to work hard to make money. I'm aiming to get you a new car this year."

...

I scrolled through the messages with cold detachment.

Dashiell's fabrications were quite convincing.

His social media posts showed no trace of his deception.

I managed a bitter smile.

For years, everyone had called him the perfect, doting husband.

He took pride in that image.

He'd spun his lies so well, he'd even convinced himself.

While Dashiell was out gallivanting, I made a trip back to my hometown.

Since giving birth, my health hadn't been the best.

My parents, retired from their government jobs, had both the means and the time to take on the responsibility of caring for my child.

When I knocked on the door, I found Dad playing with Isadora.The baby girl sat in the stroller, giggling with glee.

Her tender little face was so adorable.

My heart suddenly found peace.

Mom seemed delighted to see me back, commenting that I'd lost weight while wiping her hands, saying she'd go to the kitchen to stew some meat and nourish me properly.

I sat on the couch, holding my daughter.