Chapter 1My Jerk Husband Who Begged for Forgiveness, Yet Held Another in His Arms

In the seventh year of my marriage to Hector Smith, I proposed divorce. At that time, Hector was deeply in love with his secretary, Yael Larson. Meanwhile, I reconnected with Zack Cooper, my childhood friend and also my attending physician, after a long separation.

Everyone had said that I was his beloved, his one and only wife. But then he openly bought Yael a top-tier riverside apartment.

Everyone was betting on when we would get divorced. Meanwhile, I was counting down every day, ticking off the remaining items on my bucket list.

That evening, Hector was hosting an important client reception, and I—who usually stayed out of his work matters—slipped on my coat, intending to make an appearance. As I pushed open the heavy door, every eye in the room swung toward me.

Hector and Yael leaned against each other, but a moment later, someone snapped back to reality and continued to tease them, "Mr. Smith and Ms. Larson, you two make such a perfect couple!"

A wry grin flickered across my lips. "Mr. Smith, I'm sorry for interrupting your good time—guess I should toast to you..." Without waiting for Hector to respond, I tilted my head back and downed the drinks in one go. Perhaps I drank a bit too hastily because a sharp pain stabbed through my stomach. I mechanically picked up some food, chewed it without really tasting it, and forced it down my throat.

Yael, standing before me, did bear a resemblance to my twenty-year-old self. She rose to her feet, picked up her glass, and walked toward me. "Mrs. Smith, Mr. Smith and I were just working together. We didn't mean to..."

I gently pushed her glass aside and looked at Hector, whose expression had turned unreadable. I smirked. "Mr. Smith, I shouldn't have interrupted your good time. I hope you won't be upset."

Hector slammed his wine glass down forcefully, a hint of impatience flickering in his eyes. "Why did you have to come here and make a scene instead of talking about it at home?"

Yael sensed Hector's anger and tried to soothe him by patting his back. "Mrs. Smith must have some urgent matter. Maybe we should just call it a night?"

Hector waved his hand dismissively. "Ignore her. Let's continue." With that, he picked up his glass to make another toast.

My stomachache grew worse, and I decided to stop pressing Hector further. I stood up, clutching my stomach, and left, hearing Yael's coquettish chuckle. "Since Mrs. Smith left sensibly, Mr. Smith, are you going home tonight?"