After Husband's Affair: One Night with Mysterious Tycoon

On their wedding anniversary, William cheated.

Sophia stared at the photo on her phone.

A young, beautiful woman nestled against a tall, handsome man, her smile radiant and sweet.

The man was her husband. The woman was not her.

He'd taken his mistress skiing. The media had captured them together, plastering the photos everywhere.

The world cheered for the happy lovers, while she—the real wife—remained unseen.

A tear fell onto the screen, blurring her vision.

She set down her phone and stood. One by one, she dumped the carefully prepared, stone-cold dishes into the trash.

Cold food was unfit to eat. A tainted man was unfit to keep.

William did not come home until an hour before their anniversary ended.

He slipped off his suit jacket, his handsome face faintly tired. He paused when he saw Sophia sitting on the sofa. A flicker of warmth crossed his eyes as he approached.

“Didn’t I say I’d be late? You shouldn’t have waited up.”

He sat beside her as naturally as ever, reaching to pull her into his arms—only for her to pull away. Her expression was icy.

William seemed to sense something. He smiled. “You saw the news and got upset? The media just makes things up.”

His gaze remained gentle, no trace of guilt. A coldness settled deep in her chest. She didn’t want to argue.

If she hadn’t received the anonymous video, she might have believed him. In it, his so-called colleague Delta Hughes walked into a hotel arm in arm with him. He didn’t leave until morning.

What else could a man and woman do alone in a hotel all night? Was she supposed to lie to herself?

“I’m not upset,” Sophia said flatly. “There’s a new villa development in Tranquil Bay I like. I need your signature for the payment.”

As she spoke, his phone lit up. His attention shifted instantly. He stared at his screen right in front of her, speaking casually. “Have my assistant handle that. It’s nothing.”

Once, he would have dealt with anything concerning her personally. Now he didn’t ask, didn’t care.

Sophia watched him coldly, watched him smile as he messaged another woman. She held out the document. “Better to keep it official. Otherwise people might say I’m abusing my position.”

She flipped to the signature page and handed him a pen. William kept his eyes on his messages. He signed without even glancing at the contract—either trusting her blindly, or not caring at all.

The scent of unfamiliar perfume lingered on him, sharp and painful.

“Did you forget something today?” she asked quietly.

“What?” He frowned. “You mean Delta? We’re just—”

His phone rang. Tenderness softened his features. He ignored Sophia completely and answered the call as he walked upstairs.

Ten years of her youth. Worth less than a few months with someone new. Was their love always this fragile? Or did it simply expire fast?

A bitter smile touched Sophia’s lips. She closed the document.

The title page read clearly: Divorce Agreement.

She had given up everything for him, certain he would never let her down. Reality had slapped her hard.

From his ragged beginnings to his company on the verge of going public—what had she earned? A stomach damaged by investor dinners. A reputation as a gold-digger, hidden behind a secret marriage.

She had been stupid. The boy who once held her while she cried in their cold rental apartment was gone, eaten away by money and desire.

The divorce agreement was her real anniversary gift.

She ran her fingers over a second document, her smile turning cold. Calming her emotions, she sent the papers out.

She valued loyalty, but she was no fool. She would not walk away with nothing. What was hers, she would keep.

After receiving confirmation, she poured a glass of red wine. She only needed thirty days. Once the divorce was final, she and William would be over. Clean break.

That night, Sophia slept in the guest room. She left the next morning before he woke.

At the office, William’s assistant Nolan Smith approached at once.

“Mrs. Howard…”

“At work, call me Ms. Percy. Or Sophia.”

Nolan froze. He was one of the few who knew about their marriage. “Did you and Mr. Howard fight?”

“No,” she said. “What do you need?”

“You didn’t come with him? The nine o’clock board meeting is about the AI team—critical for Ascend Global Group’s expansion.”

“I didn’t,” she said. “Call him directly.” She nodded and headed for the elevator.

After reviewing her files, she took them to the conference room. She could live without the man, but not without the AI team she had built from nothing.

Five minutes before nine, William entered. His charcoal suit accentuated his tall frame. His handsome face was cold, his gaze fixed on Sophia.

Their marriage was secret. In public, they showed no affection. He always kept his distance.

She used to bring him meals, remind him to dress warmly, enduring office gossip. She hadn’t cared. She’d even been touched when he held her privately and said she’d suffered in silence.

Now she thought she’d been foolish.

She ignored his stare and focused on her documents. Only when the room went quiet and anxious eyes turned to her did she look up.

She smiled politely, meeting his cold gaze steadily. “Mr. Howard, did you have something to say?”

Gone was the softness between them, only distance left. His face darkened. He looked away and started the meeting.

His voice held obvious anger. She found it ridiculous. Did he still expect her to be obedient?

After the meeting, Sophia was called to the CEO’s office.

“Still angry?” William sat behind his desk, looking at her in her sharp professional suit. The desk between them felt endless.

Sophia no longer smiled. She was completely indifferent. “No. Rumors are rumors. No need to be upset over them.”

“What is that attitude?” Anger flashed across his face. He stood and strode toward her.

Before he could touch her, the door burst open.

Delta swept in like a butterfly. She wrapped her arm through William’s, smiling sweetly. “William, I got here right when your meeting ended!”

William tensed, noticing the faint mockery on Sophia’s face. He froze.

Sophia spoke calmly. “If you have no other instructions, I’ll go.”

They carried on like this right in front of her. She didn’t care to imagine what they did behind closed doors. And he dared to be angry with her? Not worth it.

She said nothing more and turned to leave.

William’s face hardened. His eyes turned sharp, his voice low and dangerous.

“Sophia!”