Chapter 1My Wife's "Dead" Husband Is on Vacation While I Pay His Debts

He “died a hero” and left her drowning in debt — so I married her.

I streamed day and night, worked until I was coughing up blood to pay it off.

Then my chat dropped a screenshot: her “dead” husband was overseas on vacation — with her.

I stormed home. She smiled into the phone: “Honey, that idiot wired another $200k.”

My mind went completely blank. I fought with all my might to steady my phone and aimed it at her blissful face.

You think you can make me raise another man's child? I will make your names dirt.

Watching Scarlett's blissful expression as she looked at the man on the screen, I clenched my fists so hard my knuckles turned white.

In my phone's live stream chat, the comments were still scrolling wildly.

"Holy crap! Host, look! Scarlett's smile is so sweet, but it's not meant for you!"

"Isn't that the 'late husband' from the photos? Didn't he die serving the nation?!"

"Host! Go in there! Catch them red-handed! Destroy these two pathetic cheats and ruin their lives!"

I gritted my teeth, wanting nothing more than to kick the door down and expose their dirty secrets.

But my feet felt like they were filled with lead. I stood frozen at the door, forcing myself to hold back.

Scarlett had betrayed me.

But I still wanted to hear her explain it herself.

We'd been married for five years, and she had always been the most perfect wife in my heart: gentle, kind, strong.

Her husband had "died for the nation," and she'd been raising Angle all by herself, burdened with massive debts, never once complaining.

All my friends told me I'd hit the jackpot, marrying such a loyal and devoted woman.

I couldn't just let it go without getting a clear answer!

I took a deep breath, opened SnapChat, and tentatively sent her a message.

"Honey, my live stream finished early today. I'm at the grocery store downstairs. What do you and Angle want for dinner?"

On the other end of the video call, Scarlett's face instantly went stark white.

She frantically waved at the man on the screen.

"Hang up! Quick! Ryan's back!"

The man frowned, looking annoyed. "What's the rush? I haven't even talked to my baby girl yet!"

Scarlett pressed a hand to her chest, a flicker of panic crossing her face as she lowered her voice.

"There will be plenty of chances later. If he finds out, everything's over!"

With a dark expression, the man's screen went dark.

Scarlett only then quickly sent me a voice message.

"Honey! You're back! Angle and I were just watching cartoons; we both fell asleep and lost track of time. I missed you so much when you weren't home!"

Her voice was soft and sweet, with the slight huskiness of someone who'd just woken up.

The viewers in my live stream heard it too.

"I'm gonna puke. Her acting? Even the Oscars would owe her an award!"

"Host, how can you stand for this? You're being utterly cuckolded!"

"She's so good at lying, it's definitely not her first time!"

My heart felt like a massive wad of wet cotton had been shoved inside it, choking me, making it impossible to breathe.

I forced myself to suppress the disgust and replied in a normal tone.

"Really? Your voice sounds pretty energetic, though."

Scarlett's expression flickered.

She quickly ran to Angle's room, picked up sleeping Angle, snapped a picture, and sent it to me.

In the photo, Angle was rubbing her sleepy eyes, looking bewildered.

Scarlett immediately followed up with a voice message, a hint of playful blame in her tone.

"Oh, you! Angle was just being fussy, so of course I had to be a little more awake!"

She was sure I wouldn't suspect a thing.

And just like always, she petulantly rattled off a long list of groceries.

She finished with: "Honey, you worked hard today! I'll make you something delicious to make up for it when you get back!"

"She's guilty, absolutely guilty!"

"I just want to jump through the screen and slap her! She's such a faker!"

I gripped my phone tightly. Through the crack in the door, I watched her put Angle down, her face instantly turning cold and calculating.

A towering rage boiled within me, fueled by the humiliation of being fooled.

What was I, after five years of marriage?

A tool to earn money and pay off debts? An idiot helping raise another man's wife and child?

I haphazardly typed 'Okay' as a reply, forced my contorted expression back into place, and pulled out my keys.

The comments were all urging me not to end the live stream; they wanted to see me tear that scumbag apart.

I knew they just wanted a show.

But a flicker of vengeful satisfaction made me, against my better judgment, listen to them.

Before opening the door, I thought of a million ways to confront Scarlett.

But I never expected that as soon as I walked in, her eyes were red-rimmed, and she was pointing a finger at me.

"This is all your fault!"

I was used to her occasional tantrums. I instinctively stepped forward, reaching out to wipe her tears.

"What's wrong?"

She looked up and handed me her phone. On the screen was an email.

"Angle got into that incredibly prestigious private school in the UK! But we have to pay a five hundred thousand dollar deposit first!"

"You have to take care of it!"