Chapter 1

On the day of my fifth wedding anniversary with Ethan Wright, I discovered he was cheating through the smart body composition scale at our house.

The scale's app showed a new guest record: weight 99 pounds, body fat percentage 18%.

Meanwhile, my weight had long soared to 132 pounds, a side effect of years on fertility drugs.

I held my phone, watching Ethan sitting on the couch, sending a voice message to his "good buddy," Chelsea Miller.

"Bro, I weighed myself at your place today, and I've lost more weight. You definitely need to treat me to a feast to fatten me up."

Chelsea's voice leaked from the earpiece.

Ethan chuckled, responding, "Alright, I'll take you out for a nice meal tomorrow."

I calmly took a screenshot, then canceled the 30 million dollar transfer scheduled for his company the next day.

Since he liked playing charity, let him swallow the bitter fruit of bankruptcy himself.

"Ava Sterling, these pajamas are really comfy. You don't mind if I borrow them for a night, do you?"

Chelsea, draped in my silk pajamas, boldly leaned on Ethan's shoulder.

I'd paid twenty thousand dollars for those pajamas, custom-made in Italy.

The tag hadn't even been cut off the collar yet.

Now, they hung loosely on Chelsea, the collar wide open, revealing a lot of her fair skin.

Ethan sat on the sofa, a glass of red wine in his hand.

He frowned and nudged Chelsea slightly to the side, but the gesture was clearly half-hearted.

"Chelsea's pipes burst at her place, nowhere to stay, so I told her to crash here for a night."

He looked up at me.

His tone was a statement of fact, not a request for discussion.

I stood in the entryway, still holding the medical report I'd just picked up from the hospital.

"Take them off," I said, looking at Chelsea.

Chelsea paused, then dramatically covered her mouth.

"Oh, Ava, you're not actually mad, are you?"

She shrank closer to Ethan.

"I just treat your husband like my brother usually, so I didn't think too much of it."

"If you mind, Ava, I'll take them off right now."

She started to unbutton the pajamas, but her movements were incredibly slow.

Ethan instantly pressed her hand down.

"Ava, what the hell is wrong with you?"

He stood up, looking down at me.

"It's just a piece of clothing. Chelsea's a girl; what do you expect her to wear if she takes them off now?"

I tossed my bag onto the entryway cabinet.

"Anything. Just not mine."

I walked over, staring at Chelsea's innocent face.

"Those pajamas cost twenty-two thousand. Take them off now, and I'll throw them away like trash."

"If you don't, then transfer the money."

Chelsea's eyes instantly welled up.

She bit her lower lip, looking at Ethan for help.

"Ethan, did I make Ava unhappy?"

"I told you I shouldn't have come, but you insisted."

"I'll leave then. I'll just sleep under a bridge."

Ethan's face darkened completely.

He pulled Chelsea behind him, shielding her.

"Ava Sterling, do you have to cause such a scene over a piece of clothing?"

"Chelsea's my best friend. What's wrong with me helping her when she's in trouble?"

"You used to be so understanding; now you've become so petty."

I looked at his self-righteous face and suddenly found it amusing.

Five years of marriage, I'd been with him from nothing to his company going public.

I'd developed endocrine disorders and my body had changed because of fertility drugs.

Yet, he thought I'd become petty.

"Ethan, I saw the record on the body composition scale."

My voice was calm.

Ethan's gaze flickered.

But he quickly straightened his posture.

"What body composition scale? I don't know what you're talking about."

"Chelsea came over this afternoon to pick up some files and weighed herself. That's all."

"Are you even monitoring me now?"

Chelsea poked her head out from behind him.

"Ava, you don't actually think there's anything between Ethan and me, do you?"

"Come on, we're pure buddies, like he's my male best friend."

"You're just too insecure."

She sized me up, her gaze lingering on my waist for two seconds.

It was an utterly contemptuous look.

I ignored her, turning to walk towards the bedroom.

"Replace this sofa tomorrow."

I stopped, without looking back.

"It's been touched by trash; I find it repulsive."

Behind me, the sound of a glass shattering echoed.

"Ava Sterling, don't push it too far!"

Ethan's voice boomed in the living room.

I closed the bedroom door and locked it.

I pulled out my phone and dialed Mark, my assistant.

"Send me the financial assessment report for Wright Industries by 9 AM tomorrow."

"Also, cancel all supplementary cards I issued to Ethan from my accounts."

Mark's respectful voice came from the other end.

"Understood, Ms. Sterling. Should I notify Mr. Wright?"

"No need."

I looked at my slightly drawn face in the mirror.

"He'll find out soon enough."