Chapter 1

The day I confirmed I was pregnant, I went to Hugh’s company. Standing outside the conference room, separated by a glass wall, I couldn’t help but call him.

But I saw the female secretary beside him pick up her phone and hang up at once. Then she smoothly unlocked the screen and started typing.

A message from “Husband” popped up: [In a meeting. Don’t call unless it’s important.]

I stared at the message for a long time. When I looked up, the woman was gently fixing his crooked tie in front of everyone.

I typed calmly: [Okay. Should you come out, or should I go in?]

——

When our eyes met, the woman hid her panic and whispered something in Hugh’s ear. The gesture wasn’t inappropriate, but she looked slightly wronged.

When the man saw me, he frowned instinctively, patted her shoulder to comfort her and then walked toward me.

“What is it?” His voice was cold, clearly annoyed at being interrupted at work.

The tie he was wearing wasn’t one I gave him, nor one he bought himself. I’d heard it was a thank-you gift from his secretary at the annual party. What I didn’t know was that she was a young, pretty newcomer.

I glanced at the woman still in the meeting room. “Why didn’t you let her come out with you?”

He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. “I asked her to hang up and send the message. Luna just graduated; she’s impulsive but meant no harm. Don’t scare her.”

In five years of marriage, I’d rarely heard him talk this much outside business settings and now he was doing it to protect a woman who knew his phone password before his wife.

The happiness I’d felt on the way here was gone. I scoffed. “Hugh, do you think I’m blind?” I stood and stepped closer, searching his eyes. “Let her out.”

Before he could refuse, a petite woman stepped in front of me. “Miss Hansen, I’m right here.”

Her delicate face carried stubborn arrogance. “You may not understand how important this meeting is to Mr. Montgomery. To you, I hung up on the president’s wife. To him, it could stain the company’s reputation. Though I’m just a lowly employee, it’s my duty to protect his work. If you have a problem, take it up with me. This has nothing to do with Mr. Montgomery.”

Seeing Hugh’s admiring look, I suddenly felt ridiculous. Over the years, many women had surrounded him, deliberately or not, self-important and eager to please him with money and favors.

I had watched them all and tested them. I never knew he liked this type of “chosen” working woman.

“Coming at you? Fine.” I glanced at her name tag, pretending to be serious. “Luna, is it? You’re fired.” Her arrogance collapsed instantly.

“What right do you have to fire me? This is Mr. Montgomery’s company. I work for him and I’ve done nothing wrong!”

I sneered. “Because I’m his wife and the company’s second-largest shareholder.”

Tears instantly filled Luna’s eyes.