Chapter 1

My evening gown was stained with spilled wine - an unsightly mark that made it inappropriate for hosting. I decided to change before returning to our guests.

As I passed one of the guest rooms, a familiar voice caught my attention.

"Cal, level with me - did you really miss that emergency call the night Mila was born?"

At the mention of my daughter, I froze. Through the gap in the door, I could see Callum reclined on the sofa, slightly buzzed from the party. Mila sat beside him, while several of his friends were scattered around the room.

After a pause, he simply said, "I didn't hear it."

I remembered that night. Callum's work had always been demanding, and there were times when he'd miss calls during important meetings. I couldn't understand why his friend was pressing this point.

I was about to leave when I noticed Callum suddenly sit up straight, his eyes sharpening with clarity.

"You all know, don't you?" he asked cryptically.

The room fell silent, and something in their exchanged glances made me linger.

Callum's voice grew distant, lost in memory. "Sophie was in the hospital that night. She called me crying, begging me to stay with her."

"She was... someone I once loved, so I went."

"She's always been a light sleeper, and I kept my phone on silent when I was with her. That's why I missed Aria's call."

Sophie Blake - his childhood sweetheart.

I'd always known about Sophie. When Callum and I got together, he'd assured me it was just teenage infatuation, swearing he'd never betray my trust. I believed everyone had a past - as long as they remained faithful in the present.

But this... my husband, who claimed to love only me, had chosen to comfort his ex while I was pregnant.

I stood paralyzed, watching as Callum glanced at Mila with pained affection.

"Thank God my little girl was okay. I couldn't have lived with myself otherwise."

"And what about Aria?" one friend asked.

Callum hesitated before hugging Mila closer. "Of course I love her."

But that love, I now realized, wasn't as pure as I'd believed.

Someone else spoke up: "Cal, didn't Sophie say she'd take you back, even with a child, if Aria wasn't in the picture?"

"That night, when you learned about Aria's complications... did you ever hope, even for a moment...?"

The room fell deathly quiet.

I held my breath, waiting to hear if my husband - the man who promised to love me forever - had ever wished, even briefly, for my death to clear the path for his first love.

Callum calmly covered Mila's ears before answering: "Yes... I did. But Aria is my wife now, and I won't betray her."

My heart plummeted. He'd hoped I would die - if only for a moment.

"Sophie's just family now," he continued, smiling. "Mila's beloved aunt. They're even planning to watch the fireworks together tonight, right sweetie?"

Mila nodded eagerly. "Yes! Daddy and I are meeting Aunt Sophie at the beach for fireworks!"

"What about your mom?" someone asked.

Mila tilted her head thoughtfully. "Mommy's jealous of Aunt Sophie, so it's a secret. We can't tell her."

Callum chuckled, kissing her head. "That's my clever girl."

I stood there, numb, as their laughter washed over me. On the night I nearly died bringing our daughter into the world, my husband had been with another woman.

And now that same daughter, my precious Mila, was unknowingly turning the knife in my heart, calling me jealous while helping her father keep secrets.

In that moment, everything felt absurdly surreal.

Chapter 2

That night Mila was born kept replaying in my mind.

We were still a week from the due date. Callum had cleared his schedule, insisting on staying home with me until the baby arrived. He'd been attentive and caring.

That evening, he'd just promised to cook dinner when his phone rang. "Important business," he'd said, promising to return quickly.

I didn't think much of it - I was feeling fine, and our housekeeper was there. I didn't need constant supervision.

After he left, I took my usual evening walk in the backyard. But a loose board in the gazebo gave way. I fell hard, and then there was blood.

The housekeeper rushed me to the hospital. The doctors warned of severe hemorrhaging and complications - my life was at risk.

I had no family except Callum. But his phone kept going to voicemail. He never made it to the hospital that night.

I truly thought I might die on that delivery table.

By some miracle, I survived and gave birth to our beautiful daughter.

When I regained consciousness, Callum was kneeling beside my bed, eyes wet with tears, voice shaking with what I thought was remorse.

"I'll spend my life making this up to you, Aria, and to our Mila," he'd sworn.

Mila - he chose the name himself. It meant "miracle" in some languages, but to him, it meant redemption.

For seven years, he was the perfect husband and father, doting on us both. I believed I'd made the right choice in trusting him.

Until now.

Overhearing their conversation, I realized our perfect love story was nothing but a farce. Even my Mila had betrayed me.

The group continued their discussion, unaware of my presence.

Someone asked Mila, "Aren't you worried about hurting your mom's feelings by being so close to Sophie?"

After a thoughtful pause, my seven-year-old replied: "Why should grown-up problems affect me? I just want everyone to love me. Is that wrong?"

Mila had grown up pampered and slightly spoiled. Whenever I tried to discipline her, Callum would intervene, insisting his "princess" deserved to be cherished and indulged.

No wonder she preferred him - the "perfect father" who never denied her anything. To her, I was probably just the mean mother.

My chest tightened painfully. I stumbled back to our room, still wearing the wine-stained dress, trying to process this reality.

If Mila had been secretly celebrating her birthdays with Sophie all these years, what other moments had they stolen behind my back?

What excuse would they use tonight?

Chapter 3

I didn't have to wait long in the room. Callum soon entered with Mila, their matching features striking - both wearing gentle smiles, eyes full of apparent warmth as they moved to embrace me.

I instinctively stepped back.

Callum's smile faltered for a moment, but he said nothing. Mila's eyes filled with tears. "Mommy, don't you want to hug me?"

Her lips trembled, eyes glistening - the perfect picture of innocence that always melted her father's heart.

Callum immediately knelt beside her, pulling her close. "Of course not, sweetheart. Mommy's dress is stained - she just doesn't want to ruin your beautiful birthday dress."

Mila's tears subsided as she processed this. Then her face lit up with that dazzling smile I once treasured.

"Mommy, Daddy and I have a special surprise for you," she said sweetly. "Even though it's my birthday, we never forget what you went through for me. The gift isn't here yet - we need to go pick it up."

I remembered all the previous birthdays, how they'd always had a "special gift" for me, how I'd been moved to tears each time. Now I realized those gifts were just excuses to meet Sophie.

Looking at Mila - my precious daughter whom I'd have given my life for - I felt hollow. And Callum, who'd sworn never to betray me, had made those vows as fragile as smoke.

I nodded silently, watching them leave hand in hand.

From the balcony, I watched their car disappear. Downstairs, the party was winding down. Callum's friends were leaving, their knowing smirks making it clear - I'd always been their private joke.

Back in our room, I retrieved an old phone from a locked box. After charging it, I powered it on.

Years ago, when Callum and I first started dating, I'd learned about Sophie Blake. His childhood sweetheart, his "pure first love." Young and insecure, I'd created a secret social media account to monitor their relationship. Once convinced of Callum's fidelity, I'd locked the phone away.

Now, opening the app, I saw Sophie's recent post - a grid of photos at the beach. There she was with Mila, surrounded by sparklers, faces pressed together like mother and daughter. In the center photo, all three of them formed a heart against the sunset - the perfect family portrait.

Caption: "Celebrating my favorite little girl's birthday with the people I love most. This must be what pure happiness feels like."

I stared at the photos until my eyes burned. In one, while Mila played with sparklers, two figures embraced in the background. After seven years of marriage, I knew Callum's silhouette anywhere.

The betrayal had always been there.

Steadying myself against the desk, I went to his study. In the safe lay a share transfer agreement.

When we got together, Callum's parents - especially his mother - had violently opposed our relationship. The compromise: they wouldn't interfere, but we couldn't legally marry. So Callum had given me this document as security, compensating for the lack of marital protection with financial guarantee.

Now, I thought, it was time to use it.