Chapter 1
Lyla Kim felt a cold shiver run down her spine.
She gripped the doorframe tightly, struggling to keep herself upright as her chest tightened and her breathing became ragged.
Her eyes remained fixed on the scene before her.
No.
This couldn't be real.
Perhaps her eyes were playing tricks on her.
She rubbed them repeatedly, but the scene before her remained unchanged.
Kane Miller—her husband—was standing intimately with Evelyn.
Her own stepsister.
A broken sob escaped Lyla's lips.
The sound immediately caught their attention.
Kane's body stiffened.
He slowly turned around.
The moment their eyes met, Lyla's heart shattered.
She had expected shock.
She had expected denial.
Most of all, she had expected him to rush toward her and explain that there was some kind of misunderstanding.
But Kane said nothing.
He simply lowered his head.
He couldn't even look her in the eyes.
That single gesture was enough.
There was no misunderstanding.
There was only betrayal.
Lyla walked toward him slowly, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Kane..."
Her voice trembled.
"Tell me this isn't true."
Silence.
Kane remained motionless.
His silence was louder than any confession.
Lyla's palm suddenly struck his face.
Slap!
The sound echoed through the room.
She slapped him again.
And again.
Tears blurred her vision as years of pain, sacrifice, and disappointment erupted all at once.
"You bastard!"
Slap!
"I gave you everything!"
Slap!
"I sacrificed my career for you!"
Slap!
"I stood beside you when everyone else abandoned you!"
Kane didn't fight back.
He simply stood there, allowing her to hit him.
But his silence only made Lyla's heart ache more.
Just as she raised her hand again, Evelyn suddenly rushed forward.
"Please, stop beating him!"
Lyla's hand froze in midair.
Evelyn positioned herself between them, protecting Kane.
Then, with tears streaming down her face, she cried,
"If you're angry, beat me instead!"
Her words immediately attracted the attention of the guests outside.
Within minutes, the quiet garden was filled with people.
Today was supposed to be Kane Miller's celebration.
After years of hard work, Kane had finally become the president of Miller Corporation.
Lyla should have been the happiest woman there.
After all, she had helped him get there.
She had sacrificed her career.
She had spent countless sleepless nights supporting him.
She had secretly used her own resources and connections to help him overcome one obstacle after another.
She had stood behind him when no one believed in him.
She had foolishly believed that once Kane succeeded, the two of them would finally have the life they had dreamed of.
Yet today, on the very day he achieved everything he wanted...
He had given her the cruelest betrayal imaginable.
Her husband was having an affair with her stepsister.
Evelyn suddenly wrapped her arms tightly around Kane, sobbing against his chest.
The guests stared in disbelief.
"Why is she hugging her sister's husband?"
"Isn't Lyla Kane's wife?"
"What exactly is going on?"
"Could it be that..."
Whispers spread throughout the garden.
Evelyn's sobs grew louder as she clung desperately to Kane.
"Please, Lyla... please don't blame him."
Her voice trembled as tears streamed down her cheeks.
"Kane and I... we didn't mean for this to happen. We tried to stay away from each other, but we couldn't."
She buried her face against Kane's chest, sobbing uncontrollably.
"We love each other."
The words struck Lyla like a knife.
She stared at them in disbelief.
Then Evelyn suddenly covered her stomach with trembling hands.
"And... I'm pregnant."
The entire garden fell silent.
