Chapter 1
Five years into her marriage, Geraldine Stanton suddenly received an invitation to a child’s birthday party.
The message came from a mutual friend she shared with her husband, Oliver Houghton. A minute later, it was withdrawn.
But Geraldine had already seen it.
And the name listed as the child’s father made her hands tremble.
That person shared the same name as Oliver.
People in the world share names all the time. Even so, with unease tightening in her chest, Geraldine went to the birthday venue the next day.
At the lively party, Oliver lifted a little girl high into the air. She laughed brightly as she made a wish. “My birthday wish is that Daddy
- can spend more time with Mommy and me.”
The woman beside her kissed the girl’s cheek and looked at the man with tenderness. “I wish the same. I hope the three of us will always be happy together.”
Geraldine’s mind went blank. Shock spread through her body, leaving her numb.
Names could coincidentally be the same, but she had known him for 12 years and been married to him for five. How could she possibly fail
0.00%
14:25
Chapter 1
288 Vouchers
to recognize her own husband?
Even among the guests, she spotted several familiar faces.
She stood there, staring blankly at the sweet family of three. Her eyes burned red, yet she lacked the courage to step forward and question them.
In the end, she turned and left.
The city streets were bustling and bright, but her heart felt cold to the
core.
Geraldine remembered the third year of their marriage. She had always insisted on being child–free, yet that day she said to him with excitement, “Oliver, let’s have a baby.”
She thought he would be happy or at least surprised.
Instead, he fell silent for a moment, then pulled her tightly into his
arms.
“Gerrie, the company’s prospects are good right now. Let’s wait two more years, okay?”
She felt disappointed back then, but didn’t think much of it. She believed he was sincerely planning for their future.
Now reality slapped her hard across the face.
Only at this moment did Geraldine truly understand how ridiculous her love had been.
They met in high school, rivals fighting for first place in the rankings.
19.01%
Chapter 1
288 Vouchers
Later, they were admitted to the same university, and Oliver pursued her for a full year.
After that, his affection toward her never seemed restrained.
He was distant to everyone else, but toward her, he poured out all his tenderness.
In her sophomore year, she had early morning classes all winter. Every day, her breakfast was something he had warmed against his chest before handing it to her.
In her junior year, she was misdiagnosed with leukemia. He climbed thousands of stone steps to a church, dropping to his knees with every step, praying for her and bringing back an amulet for her safety.
In her senior year, she fell off the stage while dancing at the grand theater. He stayed by her bedside for three days and nights without sleep.
When she finally woke up, weak and pale, he cried uncontrollably.
“Gerrie, let’s get married, I can’t live without you.”
It wasn’t until much later that Geraldine learned the truth. Back then, the doctors had warned that she was at serious risk of ending up in a vegetative state.
Yet Oliver knelt before her parents, sobbing as he swore, “Even if Gerrie becomes a vegetable, I’ll still marry her. She’ll be my wife for the rest of my life.”
So after graduation, they got married.
37.84%
14:26
Chapter 1
288 Vouchers
Later, Oliver fully took over the family business and steadily secured his position as CEO.
Surrounded by his seemingly flawless devotion, even she, who had once been determined to remain child–free, began to want a child with
him.
She never imagined he would change.
Geraldine took out her phone and called Oliver.
After a brief wait, the call connected. Faint noise and laughter could be heard in the background.
His voice was gentle. “Gerrie, why are you calling me all of a
sudden?”
Geraldine stood across the street, watching Oliver walk out of the banquet hall.
His tall figure stood out effortlessly in the crowd, impossible to ignore.
“Oliver, where are you right now?”
On the phone, he chuckled softly. “I just finished a meeting. I’m at the market picking out a gift for you. Do you miss me?”
His voice dropped lower. “Gerrie, I miss you too. I want you.”
Watching him lie so smoothly, Geraldine felt a sharp pain stab her heart. Tears spilled out uncontrollably.
Thinking back, Oliver had gone on business trips every month or two, each lasting half a month.
59.49%
1426
Chapter 1
288 Vouchers
Now she realized how blindly she had trusted him. She had never once checked how many of those trips were real and how many were lies.
She swallowed her sobs and took a deep breath. “What time will you be back tomorrow? I’ll pick you up.”
From a distance, she saw a flicker of tension cross his face, quickly replaced by a smile. “No need, Gerrie. You don’t have to come.”
Before Geraldine could respond, the little girl ran out of the banquet hall and toward him. “Daddy, I—”
Before she could finish, Oliver rushed over and covered her mouth. Then he said into the phone, “Gerrie, it’s too noisy here. I’ll call you
later when I’m back.”
He hurriedly said goodbye and hung up.
Listening to the dead tone, Geraldine watched him lift the little girl into his arms, kiss her forehead, and carry her back into the banquet hall.
What a devoted father.
She looked away with a bitter smile. Realizing she had been kept in the dark for so many years, she felt utterly hollow.
She took out her phone and made another call.
When the call connected, her voice was hoarse.
“Ms. Bennett, I’m willing to participate in the confidential closed
78.43%
14 26 D 1426
Chapter 1
training program. Please arrange for me to go abroad as soon as possible. Is that oka
