Chapter 1 Birthday Surprise
Cecilia Bradshaw received evidence of her husband cheating and watched the video on a loop.
Kolton Thompson was never this excited or unrelenting when they had
sex.
J
In the video, a woman knocked on the door of Kolton’s hotel room at 11
- pm. Kolton opened the door in his bathrobe. The woman left three hours later.
The time stamp showed it happened yesterday. The third day of Kolton’s business trip.
Maybe Kolton hired a hooker to pass the lonely night.
He was always libidinous. In the two years of their marriage, Cecilia rarely had a peaceful night.
Did hiring a hooker count as cheating?
From what her parents taught Cecilia about marriage, it didn’t. Still, the thought didn’t make Cecilia feel better.
Cecilia put down her phone and stared at the melting cake.
Kolton wasn’t a romantic man and never celebrated Cecilia’s birthday for her. But today was Kolton’s birthday. Knowing Kolton didn’t like cream, Cecilia learned how to make an ice cream one.
The weather was cold as it was fall. But after the long wait, the cake was melting. The decorative tiger looked ridiculous as it almost fell down.
Cecilia didn’t have the leisure to think whether she should just eat the
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cake or call Kolton to ask when he was coming home. The video filled her mind. Cecilia didn’t even notice Kolton’s car had entered the yard.
The door opened.
Kolton’s familiar footsteps were getting more and more clear.
Cecilia looked in the direction as Kolton emerged from the dim–lit
corridor.
Kolton had long dark brown eyes, a straight nose, and thin lips. Wrapped in the custom–made black suits, the man looked like an aristocrat.
Cecilia had seen this beautiful face every day for two years. But the sight of Kolton still made her heart skip a beat every time.
Kolton was a handsome man with a strong build. He was competent and his family was influential. Frankly, Cecilia couldn’t find any flaw in Kolton even if she nitpicked.
Inevitably, she fell in love with Kolton at first sight. It was when they met for their marriage contract.
Because she loved Kolton, Cecilia agreed to stay a secret. She gave up her dream to be the Mrs. Thompson that no one knew about. Her life became rotated around Kolton like a good wife, just like what Jasmin Pearson, her mom, had done.
Did Kolton return her feelings… Cecilia remembered one thing. Two years ago, her family nearly went bankrupt over a failed investment. Garrett Bradshaw, her dad, planned to marry Cecilia to an old man for his money. Kolton came forward and saved Cecilia by agreeing to fulfill the marriage contract.
So…Kolton must like her too.
The video was sent by an unknown number and the faces in it were
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blurry. Cecilia convinced herself that it was a misunderstanding.
And it was Kolton’s birthday… She’d ask him about it tomorrow.
“You said six pm when I called.” Cecilia got up and greeted Kolton, catching his black suit jacket. A strong whiff of perfume surprised Cecilia.
She paused and looked at Kolton.
“Occupied by work,” Kolton said curtly and frowned as he noticed the cake on the table.
“Happy birthday!” Pushing her doubts aside, Cecilia was back to her good wife’s role. Her two dimples showed as she beamed at Kolton with bright
eyes.
Kolton remained as indifferent as ever as if he didn’t hear her. He
loosened his tie with one slender hand, his tanned chest looming. “I need something to sober up.”
Besides perfume, he was reek of alcohol.
As ordered, Cecilia got up and headed to the kitchen. “Take a bath. I’ve prepared it.”
She turned around when there was no reply. Kolton was already upstairs.
It wasn’t the first time he ignored her. At first, Cecilia was upset. Later, she got used to it.
Jasmin told her that men were all like this. So, gradually, Cecilia had believed it was acceptable.
Maybe it was the video. This time, Cecilia had the urge to shout at Kolton. It took her a while to push the anger down.
She made soup and repaired the cake, trying to make it look less awful.
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In her mind, Kolton ignored her happy birthday because he was drunk and not feeling well.
He’d taste the cake when he felt better.
After salvaging the cake, the soup was ready. Cecilia picked up her phone to call Kolton.
Once she clicked it open, a piece of news popped up.
“CEO of NimbusCore Group throws a lavish birthday for his VP. Are they a couple?”
Cecilia’s heart sank a little and she started reading.
There were photos.
Kolton’s first two buttons were open and his hand was holding another woman’s hand as they cut a six–layer cake.
The fine print underneath the photo stated that the woman was Iris Velasquez, VP of NimbusCore Group.
According to the resource, Kolton planned this party personally. It was his surprise to Iris.
The tens of thousands of employees all received a bonus on this big day.
Iris and Kolton shared the same birthday. At the party, they exchanged gifts and sang the birthday song together.
So, Kolton was busy planning a party.
When Cecilia called him this afternoon, he said he was busy at work.
Meaning, that when Cecilia tried her hardest to surprise Kolton on his birthday, Kolton was trying his best to give Iris a surprise.
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The present he gave Iris was a piece of jewelry of an international brand. It cost at least six figures.
Iris gave Kolton a tie and fed him the cake.
Kolton’s usually blank face looked gentle as he looked at Iris fondly.
From these photos, Cecilia recognized Iris. She was the woman who entered Kolton’s hotel room.
Same wavy long hair and same hourglass figure.
Cecilia started thinking.
Kolton went on business trips frequently, leaving home from two days to a week.
During the trips, he never answered Cecilia’s calls or returned her texts.
Was it because he was with Iris?
When Cecilia tossed and turned, missing Kolton, he was in bed with another woman?
So, the video wasn’t a misunderstanding.
As if she had been struck by lightning, Cecilia froze, all colors leaving her face.
She was scared to think how long Kolton had been with Iris. All these times, she had been kept in the dark like a fool!
On their wedding day, Kolton said he wanted a full–time housewife. That was why Cecilia gave up her dream.
Because of a few words slipping out from him, Cecilia had been trapped in this house for two years. But now, she finally figured out that Kolton liked strong women like Iris.
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Cecilia couldn’t lie to herself anymore. Every time she found something was off, Jasmin would tell her to bear with it. Cecilia had tolerated many things, but cheating wouldn’t be one of them!
“Pack a suitcase for me,” Kolton said coldly from upstairs. He came down, looking less unapproachable in a dark gray housecoat, his hair no longer combed back.
Looking tired, Kolton sat down next to Cecilia and drank the soup without a word. He didn’t even bother to spare Cecilia a glance.
Cecilia’s phone was on the table with its screen on. The photo of Iris feeding Kolton the cake was in plain sight.
Kolton glanced at it and continued drinking the soup. Clearly, he wasn’t going to explain.
“Is throwing a birthday party for your employee a part of your job?” Cecilia couldn’t stand the silence and asked angrily.
It was the first time she questioned Kolton in their marriage.
Frowning, Kolton looked at Cecilia, his expression complex. “Of course.”
“You never told me your VP was a woman. She works side by side with you every day.” Cecilia grew angrier over Kolton’s nonchalant attitude.
“No need.” Kolton gulped down the soup and got up, returning upstairs.
Cecilia blew up because of Kolton’s indifference. At that moment, she forgot Jasmin’s lessons about a good wife. She got up and stood in Kolton’s way. “No need?! What does that mean? You’re my husband. The party. The present. They all come from our money. I have the right to know and decide…”
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