Chapter 3

Alex and I met in college. I came from a modest background, while Alex was from a wealthy family. People said I was the ugly duckling that had turned into a swan by marrying him.

Alex had always been charming, polite, and from a prestigious family. He excelled in his studies and was praised by professors. Everyone envied me, but they didn’t know the misery I lived through.

His wealthy family constantly criticized me—my looks, my posture, my lack of class. They always compared me to their precious adopted daughter, Jenny.

I endured all of it for my mother. She had cancer and needed expensive treatment, and only by marrying Alex could I afford to keep her alive.

I put up with the humiliation and gradually became the perfect wife they wanted me to be.

When Alex and I got married, Jenny had just turned eighteen.

On the day of her birthday, I noticed that both Alex and Jenny were absent from the party. I overheard strange noises coming from the bathroom but brushed it off, assuming it was a couple caught up in the excitement of the night.

But in retrospect, I realized it had been Alex and Jenny, sneaking off together.

Soon after our wedding, I became pregnant with Simon.

Simon was a bright, curious little boy. He was fascinated by Alex’s work at the medical research company and had a natural gift for learning.

I was so happy that he had inherited Alex’s intelligence. Aside from Alex helping my mother recover, Simon’s birth was the one thing I was most grateful for.

With Alex’s financial support, my mother was able to enjoy the last few years of her life. She smiled more, and her health improved until she passed away peacefully while I was pregnant.

Alex had always been considerate of me during my pregnancy, staying up late to comfort me and even standing up to his parents when they criticized me.

For a time, I thought I had fallen deeply in love with this man who treated me so tenderly.

But once Simon was born, everything changed. Alex began staying out all night, and he rarely came home.

I can’t even count how many times Alex missed Simon’s birthdays, how many excuses he made, or how many times we fought over his absences.

Simon would celebrate his birthday with just me every year, while Alex was out sleeping with other women.

I knew about the affairs, but for Simon’s sake, I chose to turn a blind eye.

However, Alex didn’t even bother to hide his relationship with Jenny in front of Simon.

That morning, when Alex insisted on taking Simon to school, I thought it was a sign of compromise, a gesture of reconciliation.

But it turned out to be the key to uncovering Alex’s affair with Jenny.

I had swallowed my pride and endured everything for my mother and for Simon.

But now, I had nothing left.

I arrived at Alex’s parents’ house, seething with anger.