00:00On my six-year-old daughter's birthday, I saw my husband's car, Rolls-Royce shaking in a steady rhythm.
00:05The secretary's face was pressed against the car window, her red lips slightly parted, her eyes glazed,
00:10her hands braced against the roof, and I forced a smile and was about to take my daughter away.
00:14Mommy, that's daddy's car! Didn't daddy say he couldn't come? Is this my birthday surprise?
00:19The next second, a woman's leg in torn stockings slipped out of the car.
00:23Honey, daddy bought you a present. You have to wait until tonight's birthday party to see it.
00:27When my husband noticed me, he only gave a careless smile.
00:30Don't be mad, sweetheart. I'll make it up to you tonight.
00:33I smiled. Then I silently sent out the video I had just recorded.
00:36The day I took our daughter Lily for her checkup, Julian came to pick us up.
00:39He had been away on a business trip for days. The moment he saw us, he pulled me and Lily
00:42into his arms.
00:43I smelled unfamiliar perfume on him. Lily hugged his neck and asked for attention.
00:47I smiled and watched them play. Then I got into the car, saw a woman sitting in the backseat.
00:51Hi, Mrs. Ashford. I'm Sophie Whitfield, the new executive assistant at Ashford Group.
00:55I looked at Julian. She's on the way. I'm just giving her a ride.
00:58But Julian was the CEO of Ashford Group. Since when did he personally drive a young assistant home?
01:03Sophie gave me an apologetic smile. Please don't minder stand. I wanted to apologize.
01:07Inside the bag was the exact hand cream I always used.
01:10I was on the business trip with Mr. Ashfield and forgot to bring mine.
01:14His was in the car, so I accidentally used it all. This is a new one. I hope you don't
01:18mind.
01:19I did not take it right away. Panic flashed across Sophie's face,
01:22and she instinctively looked at Julian. Julian's voice softened.
01:25Take it.
01:25But there was no room for refusal, so I took the bag and set it aside.
01:28Lily sat in her car seat and watched Sophie curiously.
01:31Then she saw the candy in Sophie's hand. Her eyes lit up.
01:34Sophie was about to unwrap it for her.
01:36She just came from the dentist. She can't have candy.
01:38It's high-end organic candy. It's totally safe.
01:41Organic candy is still candy.
01:43Julian frowned while driving.
01:44Claire, she was just being kind.
01:46I stopped talking.
01:47Lily listens to mommy. Lily won't eat it.
01:50Sophie's hand froze, then slowly pulled back.
01:52Car stopped in front of a run-down apartment building.
01:54Julian clearly knew the way.
01:56Sophie got out and apologized again.
01:57I only nodded.
01:58On the way home, Julian's voice became warm again.
02:00Don't be upset. She's young and just graduated.
02:03She wants to do everything perfectly.
02:04When she gets stubborn, she won't even listen to me.
02:07There was a smile in his eyes.
02:08She has a real spark.
02:09When we reached our building's garage,
02:11Julian suddenly leaned over and kissed my cheek.
02:13I did not pull away.
02:14Mommy, Miss Sophia smells really nice.
02:17She smells like daddy.
02:18Julian's smile froze.
02:20I laughed softly, pretending not to care.
02:23Daddy's car always smells like daddy.
02:25What does that have to do with Miss Sophie?
02:26Lily blinked.
02:27She did not understand.
02:28I got out and carried her inside.
02:29When I looked back at Julian, his face had turned cold.
02:32If raising Lily is too much for you, I can hire a professional.
02:35She is the jewel of the Ashford family.
02:36Don't let your negligence tarnish her.
02:38From the day I married into the Ashford family,
02:40I knew Julian would never belong to me alone.
02:42He had mistresses.
02:43He had one-night stands.
02:44The year Lily was born, I made a scene over one of them.
02:47That was the first time I saw him truly angry.
02:49Claire, remember this.
02:50Everything I gave you, I can take back whenever I want.
02:52I thought of Lily, so I swallowed it.
02:54After that, I learned to behave.
02:56No matter how many women Julian had outside,
02:58he always came home.
02:59Sometimes Julian was so gentle
03:00that I almost believed I still mattered.
03:02I told myself I was his wife.
03:04Other women could come and go,
03:05but I was the one he married.
03:06I was the one at home with his daughter.
03:08I thought that made me different.
03:09Then Sophie showed up.
03:10Julian didn't keep her outside like the others.
03:12He brought her into my marriage.
03:13After putting Lily to sleep,
03:15I went back to the master bedroom.
03:16Julian stood by the balcony,
03:17looking at his phone with a faint smile.
03:19Alright, you've had a long few days.
03:21Get some rest.
03:22His voice was too gentle for a subordinate.
03:24I thought of Sophie's pretty face from that afternoon.
03:26Then I walked past him and went into the bathroom.
03:29Halfway through my shower,
03:31a hot body pressed against my back.
03:32His voice came from above my head.
03:34Did you miss me these past few days?
03:36I stepped aside and wrapped myself in a towel.
03:38I'm tired today.
03:39As I turned to leave,
03:40Julian grabbed my wrist.
03:41He raised an eyebrow, amused.
03:42I've been saving it all for you.
03:43Keep pushing me away,
03:44and I may have to share it with someone else.
03:46He always liked saying things like that in bed.
03:48He always thought I would enjoy it.
03:50When I pushed him away again,
03:51the smile in his eyes only deepened.
03:53Are you mad?
03:53There's nothing between her and me.
03:55She just reminds me of you a little.
03:57If you don't like it,
03:58I'll be more careful.
03:59Come on,
04:00be good.
04:01Julian,
04:02please,
04:03don't touch me.
04:04His face darkened at once.
04:06Claire,
04:06while I'm still willing to coax you,
04:09don't push your luck.
04:10So he picked me up and threw me onto the bed.
04:12There was no gentleness left.
04:13In the dark,
04:14his voice was cold.
04:16If you want this marriage to work,
04:18stop making trouble.
04:19My whole body went stiff.
04:21After a long time,
04:22tears slid down in silence.
04:24The next morning,
04:25Lily ran over and kissed my face.
04:27Mommy,
04:28Daddy is taking me to the amusement park today.
04:30I was surprised.
04:31Julian hated crowded places.
04:33He had never taken Lily to an amusement park himself,
04:35but he only leaned against the doorframe
04:36and smiled at her.
04:37Let's go,
04:37my little princess.
04:38After they left,
04:39I went to the hospital.
04:40What happened last night made me uneasy.
04:42When the test results came out,
04:43I froze.
04:43Congratulations,
04:44you're four weeks pregnant.
04:46The embryo is not stable yet,
04:47so no sex during the first trimester.
04:50I sat in the car with the report in my hands,
04:52and I cried until I could not breathe.
04:54During the two years,
04:55I loved Julian the most.
04:56I believed a child could tie his heart to me,
04:58so I became pregnant with Lily.
05:00For a while,
05:00it seemed to work.
05:01Julian came home more often.
05:02He spoiled me,
05:03cared for me,
05:04and treated me like the girl he had once chased in college.
05:06Then Lily was born.
05:07I was terrified and in pain in the delivery room.
05:10Julian disappeared.
05:11Later,
05:11I found out why.
05:12That same day,
05:12he had finally won over a college girl he had been chasing for months.
05:15While I was born,
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