A Decade of Lies

Even after a full decade of marriage, my husband Rudolf and I were as deeply in love as the day we wed—an enviable couple in the eyes of all. On the day of our anniversary, I saw him lifting a little boy into his arms right outside the entrance of our neighborhood. "Daddy! Can you take me to the amusement park this time?" The boy's words were enough to stop me dead in my tracks. I instinctively hid around a corner. "Of course! I'll even take you on a trip." Rudolf smiled warmly and kissed the boy on the forehead. In that instant, something seemed to have been set off in my head, as if years of trust had been shattered at that one moment. Daddy? Upon closer examination, I realized that the boy's features were remarkably similar to Rudolf's. No one could deny they were blood-related. "Your dad's busy with work, sweetheart. Don't cling to him too much," said a beautiful woman standing next to the boy. The cruel moment before me made it clear. The man who swore he would love me forever had been cheating all along. Chapter 1 Even after a full decade of marriage, my husband Rudolf and I were as deeply in love as the day we wed—an enviable couple in the eyes of all. On our anniversary, he said he had to go on a business trip. He left after showering me with gifts. A few minutes later, I noticed he had forgotten his briefcase. I grabbed it and chased after him, only to find him at the entrance of our neighborhood, lifting a little boy into his arms. "Daddy, can you accompany me to the amusement park this time?" The boy's words were enough to make me freeze as I swallowed the words I wanted to say. Instead, I instinctively hid around the corner. "Of course. I'll even take you on a trip." Rudolf smiled warmly and kissed the boy on the forehead. In that instant, something seemed to have exploded in my head, as if years of trust had been shattered at that one moment. Daddy? I looked closely and realized that the boy's features were practically the same as Rudolf's. No one could deny they were blood-related. A beautiful woman, standing next to the boy, said gently, "Your dad's busy with work, sweetheart. Don't cling to him too much," When Rudolf and that woman's eyes met, they were seemingly able to communicate with each other with just a look—they didn't have to say a word. I clutched my chest, which had suddenly spasmed with pain. I felt as though an invisible hand was squeezing the life out of me, and breathing became difficult. I told myself to calm down, but I couldn't stop myself from trembling. The cruel moment before me made it clear. The man who swore he would love me forever had been cheating all along. Rudolf and I were childhood sweethearts. I had stood by him through thick and thin. Not long after our wedding, I was kidnapped by one of his enemies. During my escape, I was stabbed in the abdomen. I survived, but the injury damaged my uterus, leaving me unable to have any children. Rudolf had fallen to his knees before me back then, eyes red and swollen as he said, "As long as you're alive! You're all I need in my life. I don't need any kids!" I could still hear the tremor in his voice, but reality had shattered his vow. He didn't love me anymore! He had betrayed me! I staggered backward, my heart feeling like it was being torn into countless pieces. The pain etched deep into my bones. I feared that if I confronted him out of recklessness right now, I would lose whatever dignity I had. I would be mocked and tossed aside. So, I didn't dare to watch any longer. I turned and fled. I immediately contacted a private investigator to look into what happened. I wanted solid proof. For the past decade, Rudolf had been away for almost two weeks every month on business trips. I had never questioned it, but now I realized those trips must have been spent with that woman and their son. Ten years… And I hadn't doubted him even once. I had trusted him completely. Now, reality had just dropped a bomb on me, mocking my stupidity. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, he would still be deceiving me. Tears streamed down my face as I sat by the tall window, staring blankly at the message he had sent me. [Honey, I love you. Did you miss me today?] I didn't want to reply. The message existed, but how much of the sentiment was genuine? During his trips, he would always send me these texts to affirm his love. But now I knew they were just part of his good husband act. Soon, my phone rang with that familiar ringtone. Seeing "Husband" on the screen, I felt an overwhelming wave of irony. "Honey, why didn't you reply? Are you feeling unwell? Do you want me to come back to accompany you?" His anxious voice came through the moment I picked up numbly. "I was in the shower and didn't see your message. Focus on your work. Come back when you're done." I lied. I didn't want to see him right now. Rudolf exhaled audibly, relieved, then said gently, "Alright, get some rest. I'll bring you a gift when I come back." I hummed in recognition. Just as I was about to hang up, a woman's tender voice came through the receiver on his end. "Darling, I want it already. Take off your clothes now…" Chapter 2 Even though the voice was faint, I heard it clearly. The call then abruptly ended. My fingers turned white as I gripped my phone tightly, but it couldn't stop the desolation I was feeling. Rudolf and that woman were in each other's arms right now! I didn't have to see it to picture it in my mind. I didn't even have the bravery to imagine it any further! Just then, the private investigator I hired sent me the photos. My hands trembled as I scrolled through them. There were countless shots of Rudolf with that woman and their child, as if they were a loving family. I had been holding myself together until now, but my mind finally crumbled. I screamed in agony as I sobbed. The pain was so immense that I felt like my heart was crushed; I was barely breathing. It consumed my entire being, sending me collapsing to the floor. I curled and trembled. Soon, I couldn't make any sound anymore. Only ragged gasps scraped through my throat, as if I were on the verge of dying. For a moment, I thought maybe Rudolf had done this just to give the Gray family an heir. But that didn't seem like it. It was clear that there was love between him and that woman—and he was the one who had pursued it. I lifted my head to stare at the wedding photo on the wall. My gaze shifted from pain to hollowness, from disappointment to despair. In the end, ten years of marriage were over. We had no children to keep us together, and the Gray family was a powerful household. As the president of Gray Group, how could Rudolf avoid having an heir? Even if he refused, the elders in his family would pressure him. Maybe this was something that was bound to happen sooner or later. But the wound in my heart was deep. We grew up together, after all. Everyone said the two of us were meant to be together forever. When he was six, he got into a fight. I helped treat his wounds and took the blame. I was scolded, but I didn't defend myself. When he was sixteen, he fell down the stairs and was badly injured. I rushed into the ward, sobbing and threatening to die with him. When he was eighteen and his enemies were after him, I stepped in and took the slash that was meant for him, leaving a scar across my chest. When he was twenty, he secretly delivered food to earn money for my engagement ring, keeping his family in the dark. He said to me, "Lia, marry me. I'll love you for the rest of my life." Years of feelings had moved me, and my heart beat only for him. So, I agreed to marry. But after my injury left me unable to have children, the elders in the Gray family began to look at me with disdain. Rudolf stood his ground and stood outside the family gates in protest for three days and three nights, begging them to let him marry me. "I love her. I'm marrying her. If you don't agree, I'll give up my right to inherit the Gray family's fortune." It was only after seeing his determination that they finally gave in. The entirety of South City had witnessed our love. On our wedding day, he swore on God, "Lia, I'll never betray you, and I'll never hurt you." And yet, in the end, he did both. Suddenly, I felt so, so tired… I lay on the floor the whole night, my mind never stopped resting. When morning came, I made my decision. I called my father, Midas Medina. "Dad, Medina Group is expanding its business in Lumiere City lately, right? I want to go there for a while, to learn and see how things work." My father sounded puzzled, his tone turning stern. "Lia, did you and Rudolf fight? Why else would you want to go so far away to Lumiere City?" He was sharp, already sensing something was wrong. But I couldn't tell him the truth yet. "I'll explain after I get there." The Medinas and the Grays had been close for generations, with business ties strengthened by our marriage. I didn't want the Medinas to suffer because of me. "…Alright." He didn't press further and agreed. After hanging up, I deleted every photo of Rudolf and me from my phone. I had already seen the purest form of love. I could no longer accept anything tainted. I could give up everything for love… But I would never stand for my lover's unfaithfulness. Chapter 3 I had already drafted the divorce papers, but I didn't know how to bring them up with Rudolf. After all, you couldn't just cut off so many years of feelings like they were nothing. When I stepped out of the house, I saw a familiar figure by my car—someone so familiar that I couldn't possibly mistake him for someone else. Rudolf looked tired, leaning against the wall while talking on the phone. I froze for a moment. According to the investigator's report, today was his son's birthday. He should've been celebrating with his son, so why was he back here? Perhaps the way I stared at him inquisitively was too obvious, he glanced up with a faint frown. But when his eyes landed on me, the dreariness in them cleared instantly. "I've missed you so much." He quickly walked over to me and pulled me into his arms. His body was strong and warm, but right now it felt foreign, and I wanted to push away. "Yesterday, you sounded off on the phone, so I flew back overnight to come see you. Are you feeling unwell?" His tone was sincere. It didn't sound like he was lying. Even now, I still couldn't understand it. How could a man who once loved me so deeply feel no qualms about having a child with another woman? My emotions were surging inside of me, and I almost confronted him for quite a few times, but I forced them down each time. In the end, I answered calmly, "I'm fine, actually. I'm doing great. I missed you too, to be honest. I'm glad you came back." He smiled in satisfaction and handed me a box. "This is for you." I glanced at it and pretended to be happy as I took it. Over the years, he had given me countless gifts, but none of them had ever truly moved me. I would cherish them either way because I loved him. Now that I had decided not to love him anymore, the gifts meant nothing. I opened the box and saw it was a bracelet. I forced a smile and was about to say something when I caught sight of a red dress in the distance from the corner of my eye. It was Vivian Vargas. She was half-hidden behind a tree, though I still spotted her. Or perhaps, she wanted me to. She lifted her phone and made a call. A second later, Rudolf's phone rang. He looked down, a flicker of panic in his eyes before he masked it. "Honey, there's something urgent at the company. I have to go take care of it." I wasn't blind. As he answered, I saw Vivian's name as I quickly glanced at the screen. I swallowed the bitter taste in my mouth, took a deep breath, and said, "Go ahead. Work is more important." There was guilt on his face. "I'll make it up to you when I'm done." He kissed my cheek before leaving. Once he was gone, Vivian walked toward me with quick, confident steps. There was provocation in her gaze. I studied her. She was beautiful and seductive; the tight red dress she was wearing showed off every curve. She was the type of woman men liked. "Ms. Amelia. I'm Vivian Vargas, a friend of Mr. Rudolf," she said with a smile. "Just a friend?" I asked in return. Her smile widened, but she didn't answer directly. Instead, she asked, "Then what do you think our relationship is?" I didn't bother replying; my expression remained cold as I walked past her. I might be angry, but it wasn't worth it to fight with another woman over a man who didn't have the value. "You already know, don't you?" Vivian hurried forward to block my path. I frowned in silence. "Since you know about me and Sean, you shouldn't be this calm." She looked at me in disbelief, as if she were unhappy with how I reacted. Perhaps she wanted me to scream and throw a fit like a madwoman. I kept my temper in check and asked coolly, "What do you want?" She smirked as she folded her arms. "How about seeing a performance?" Chapter 4 At the hospital. I stood numbly at the doorway of the ward, watching the scene unfolding inside as pain spread through me. I bit my lip and suppressed the grief with everything I had, refusing to make a sound. Rudolf's son was having his blood drawn, his face pale with tears rolling down as he cried pitifully. Rudolf paced back and forth, his face dark with fury, yelling at the row of doctors in front of him. "You can't even figure out what's wrong with my son? What kind of doctors are you? If anything happens to him, you can forget about continuing to operate your hospital!" One of the doctors stuttered a reply. "We have a preliminary diagnosis, but we can't confirm it. We need to run blood tests first." Rudolf wasn't listening, and he exploded again. "Obviously! But by the time you get your results, it'll be too late! He's in pain right now! Find a way to stop it!" The doctor nodded quickly. "Yes, yes, we'll prescribe something right away." The doctors started to diagnose the boy for a while before heading off to prepare the medicine. "Rudolf, you're making such a big scene… What if Ms. Amelia finds out?" Vivian asked, her eyes red, a worried look on her face. "I can't help it. I get anxious when my son is sick," Rudolf said, looking somewhat exhausted and helpless. "Why don't you send us away once he gets better?" Vivian suddenly suggested. "No. I can't bear to leave Sean," Rudolf refused immediately. "But… What about Ms. Amelia?" Vivian frowned at him, puzzled. Rudolf became even more frustrated as he rubbed his temples, eyes full of conflict. "I love her too, and I'll only ever love her. But I can't be without an heir. You must help me keep this from her. I don't want her to get hurt." He paused, then looked at Vivian seriously. "You're Sean's mother. I won't mistreat you." "I understand," Vivian said gently. Then she let out a long sigh. "When Sean gets sick, he just wants to see you. I had no choice but to bother you when you're with Ms. Amelia." She went to Sean's side and took his hand. Instantly, he stopped crying. Rudolf let out a sigh of relief. "I don't blame you. Sean is our son. I haven't taken good enough care of him. I failed both of you." He stepped up behind her, wrapping his arms around her and resting his head on her shoulder. "I know you wanted to leave so I could be with her, but I can't bear to see you and our boy suffer. I want to see you both whenever I can." Vivian smiled gently. "I know. I want to see you too." She raised her hand to smooth the furrow from his brow, then leaned in and pressed her lips to his. The sight of them together was like knives, stabbing into my chest again and again. My lips trembled as I tried to hold back the crushing grief. My nails dug deep into my palms. No matter how hard I tried to suppress it, the pain was digging into my bones. My eyes felt empty, carrying nothing but despair. Once again, I ran away like a fool. Outside, rain poured. I didn't bother to shield myself. I walked straight into it, letting the water soak me through, as if it could wash the pain away. When I got home, drenched from head to toe, the maid gasped. She quickly grabbed a towel and put it over my shoulders. "Madam, what happened? Should I call Mr. Rudolf? He'd be heartbroken if he saw you like this." I let out a cold laugh. Even the maid believed Rudolf loved me deeply. No one knew that his love carried lies. Or maybe… He did love me. He simply shared that love with another woman. Chapter 5 "No need to bother Rudolf. I'll just take a hot shower," I said with a hoarse voice, shaking my head. I then went upstairs without another glance at the maid and shut myself in my room. Sitting on the bathroom floor, I finally broke down and sobbed loudly, letting out screams of gut-wrenching pain I couldn't hold back. I thought I was immune after seeing the photos of Rudolf with Vivian and their child, Sean. But seeing them together in person as a family ripped the wound wide open, torturing me repeatedly. No matter how strong I tried to be, I was fragile at this moment. I wanted to ask Rudolf—why was the man who once swore eternal love to me also the same man who had a child with someone else? But what would asking him do to undo his betrayal? No. Asking him wouldn't do anything. After a long time, when my tears finally ran dry, I changed clothes and lay on the bed. At that moment, my face hardened. I felt like nothing could scare me anymore. The next day, I went to the office. Work kept me busy until nightfall. Rudolf sent me countless messages during this time. I didn't read them, didn't reply. That evening, when I got home, I planned to pack my things and leave. But the moment I opened the door, I heard the sound of a child's laughter. Vivian was standing right in front of me. She was wearing a maid's uniform, her face bare. In the living room, a little boy was playing noisily, leaving the place a mess. Rudolf appeared from behind Vivian when she saw me coming home. Smiling, he gestured toward her. "Lia, this is the maid my mother sent to help take care of the boy." My brows furrowed tightly, my lips pressing tight. Even breathing was taking effort. How dare he…? How dare he bring the two of them into our home so openly? Noticing my expression, Rudolf quickly explained, "Honey, I sent you a message this afternoon, but maybe you missed it. My mother brought this boy from the orphanage. She said it was destiny that brought him to us, and suggested we adopt him." I gave a cold laugh. I had already cried out all my grief. What remained was only anger. Because he was treating me like a fool! "Rudolf, are you doing this on purpose? Are you trying to mock me because I can't have children?" His expression shifted. Clearly, he didn't expect such a sharp reaction. His explanation came out flustered. "No, it's not like that. Please don't be mad. It's just that… The Gray family can't be without an heir. The elders have been pressuring me, so I agreed to my mother's request. If you really don't like it, I'll send him away immediately," Rudolf said. Everyone knew Rudolf adored me. He never forced me into anything I disliked. It was as if they all believed that, as long as I refused it, he would send the boy away. None of them knew the truth that the boy was his biological son. It was obvious that his love for me was fake, and it made me feel disgusted. When I stayed silent, he grew anxious. "It's my fault, honey. I'll send the boy away tomorrow." I could see the frustration on his face, yet he was still being patient with me. "Don't be angry. You've had a long day at work. Get some rest upstairs." I sneered. This was just him trying to brush me off so he could get the boy to stay one more day. He would then think of a way so he could make the boy stay permanently. I was about to speak when the boy suddenly burst into tears, running over to kick my leg. "You're a bad person! You're bullying my dad! I don't like you!" Rudolf's face changed instantly. He rushed over to pull Sean away. "Sean, stop doing that! No… Shut up!" The boy then looked at Rudolf with reproachful eyes, his crying sharp and piercing. "Ah… Daddy, why are you together with her? Don't you want me anymore?"