Chapter 1

That morning, I noticed our housekeeper's lip was split.

Then my husband Ryan leaned over to kiss me.

I smiled and dodged playfully, but caught sight of the cluster of red marks across his collarbone.

Suddenly, my mind went blank as realization struck.

Those weren't just marks - they were hickeys and scratch marks...

The man I'd been married to for seven years was having an affair.

I kept smiling as I saw him off to work, kept smiling as I closed the door behind him.

Only when I turned away did my heart plummet into darkness.

After Ryan left, I felt my world spinning.

Outside, the sun blazed bright, but my heart felt gripped by an iron fist, leaving me gasping for air.

From the living room came the sound of Emma, our housekeeper, humming as she cleaned.

Before, I might have found it pleasant. But now, all I could think about was her split lip and the marks on Ryan's neck.

My phone chimed.

Opening it, I saw messages from Ryan:

*Babe, made it to work!* ?

*Want anything special for dinner?*

*I'll grab it on my way home* ?

*Why aren't you responding, honey?*

*Earth to wifey - please leave a message after the beep!*

*Beep...*

I didn't want to suspect, but those marks on his neck kept flashing through my mind.

That evening when he was working late, I called him. As usual, he picked up instantly.

"Autumn?"

I made a small sound of acknowledgment.

His voice floated through the night air, carrying the crisp chill of late fall - seductive yet unsettling.

Tender and intimate.

"Missing me?"

I was about to nod when I heard it - faint but unmistakable. A woman's muffled whimpers coming through the phone.

Intermittent, breathless sounds of pleasure.

My chest tightened. "Where are you?"

He caught the edge in my voice, concern entering his tone: "Still at the office working. What's wrong? Did you forget your meds again?"

After a pause, I asked: "Can you come home instead?"

"I can't leave right now, baby. Be good, okay? I'll head back as soon as I finish up here."

"Okay, get back to work then." I fought to keep my voice steady.

"Sweet dreams, love. Don't wait up for me..."

He was lying to me.

How considerate of him to juggle his mistress while fielding his wife's check-in call.

I hung up without responding.

Silent tears rolled down my face.

Chapter 2

Ryan didn't get home until midnight.

As we lay in bed, he reached for my hand.

I turned away quietly, slowly slipping my hand from his grasp.

Just as I was drifting off, his phone buzzed in the dark silence.

"Autumn..." I kept my eyes closed, pretending not to hear.

He fumbled for his phone in the darkness and answered.

"I told you not to call when I'm home..."

"But the power's out, and I'm scared," a girl's voice whined sweetly, playing the damsel in distress.

He hesitated before waking me. "There's an emergency at the office. I need to go in. Get some rest."

Half-asleep, I only managed a soft "Mm."

He bent down and softly kissed my forehead.

Then he smoothly dressed and left the bedroom.

Soon, the house fell silent.

I opened my eyes and went to the window.

His familiar Mercedes sped away into the night, disappearing into the darkness, leaving only the fading sound of the engine.

Ryan returned home at dawn.

He brought me lilies and breakfast from his office cafeteria.

"You're back?"

He leaned casually against the wall, wrapping an arm around my waist and tenderly brushed my hair. "Was worried you'd forget your meds. Came back to keep you company. Did you sleep well?"

I nodded, quietly sipping my water.

"It was so late, I crashed at the office to avoid waking you," he explained.

I didn't call out his lie.

After he left, I threw the lilies and breakfast in the trash.

The elderly woman collecting recyclables called out, "Such fresh flowers - why throw them away? What a waste!"

I nodded with a slight smile. "Yes, what a waste."

Chapter 3

When Emma came to clean, I noticed the glow of satisfaction radiating from her entire being.

She smiled at me in greeting.

I nodded back with my usual smile.

The moment I turned away and closed the door, my heart sank to new depths.

My husband was having an affair with our housekeeper.

It had been going on for at least a year.

And I'd been completely blind to it.

After my hospital check-up, instead of going home, I went to Ryan's office.

Not to see him - but to visit the parking garage.

Using the spare key, I opened his car and checked the dash cam.

The playback screen was clean.

Only this morning's footage remained, not yet deleted.

On his way to work, Ryan took a phone call.

It was his college friend and secretary, Chris.

"Mr. CEO, I've sent Emma's monthly allowance."

"Good. Her power was out last night - have someone check on that."

"Sure thing. By the way, she wants that pearl necklace you were going to give Autumn. Should I...?"

Ryan's voice turned cold. "Tell her she can have anything else, but not Autumn's things. Give her that sapphire necklace we got at auction and transfer her an extra hundred grand as compensation. And warn her - if she's going to play housekeeper, she needs to do it properly. No more slip-ups in front of Autumn."

Chris sighed. "Man, who puts their mistress in their house as the housekeeper?"

Ryan was quiet for a moment before saying softly, "Autumn's sick. She needs someone to look after her."

"Emma's been pretty good... and it's exciting having her in the house."

"Watch yourself," Chris warned. "You know Autumn's still sick, and you're fooling around at home? If she finds out, you're dead."

"Don't worry. She'll never know."

Sitting in the car, watching Ryan's casual smile in the footage, I felt my heart shatter.

So everyone knew about him and Emma.

They were all putting on a show for me.

Their conversation continued, but I couldn't bear to listen anymore.

My whole body had gone numb with cold.

Before leaving, I hid a voice recorder in Ryan's car.