Chapter 1 A Wife Only on Paper

"I'm tired of hiding like this, Tristan."

A woman's voice drifted from behind the CEO's office door.

"What do you want, then?" a man asked calmly.

Christina Isabelle Beaumont let out a slow breath before wrapping her arms around the man's neck.

"I want to be the only woman by your side."

Tristan Alexander Whitmore smiled faintly.

"Isn't that already the case?"

"But you still have a wife."

He let out a quiet chuckle, as though her concern meant nothing.

"Moana?" he said lightly. "She's only my wife on paper."

A satisfied smile spread across Christina's face.

"So when are you going to divorce her?"

"Soon."

"Really?"

"I only married her because of the condition Uncle Ronald set. Now that I'm the CEO, it's only a matter of time before she disappears from my life."

Christina leaned in and placed a brief kiss on his cheek.

"I knew you never loved her."

"Of course I didn't."

"Then..." She moved her face closer to his. "Promise me that after your divorce, you'll marry me."

Tristan gently brushed a strand of hair behind his secretary's ear.

"I promise."

Outside the office...

The smile on Moana Evangeline Ashcroft's face slowly faded.

The lunch box she had been holding suddenly felt unbearably heavy.

Her hands trembled.

She had never intended to eavesdrop.

But every word that came from her husband's mouth rooted her to the spot.

Today was their third wedding anniversary.

She had spent the entire morning in the kitchen, carefully preparing Tristan's favorite dishes—cream of mushroom soup, a perfectly cooked steak just the way he liked it, and chocolate pudding, a dessert she only made on special occasions.

Even though their marriage had always been cold, Moana still wanted to believe that one day, everything would change.

Earlier that morning, Ronald Whitmore had called her, his voice filled with enthusiasm.

"Moana, today marks your third wedding anniversary. Please bring Tristan lunch. Think of it as a little surprise. I'm sure he'll be happy."

She had simply smiled.

"Of course, Uncle."

She had never been able to refuse the man who had raised her after both of her parents passed away.

It was also because of Ronald that she had agreed to marry Tristan three years ago.

Back then, he had told her that Tristan was a good man who simply had difficulty expressing his feelings.

She believed him.

She willingly entered a marriage without love, hoping that affection would grow with time.

But now...

That hope had shattered into countless pieces.

Laughter echoed from inside the office once again.

"What if your wife catches us?" Christina teased.

Tristan sounded completely unconcerned.

"She's far too obedient."

"She won't get angry?"

"She wouldn't even dare leave me."

Christina laughed softly.

"I almost feel sorry for her."

"There's no need. She's already living a much better life after marrying me."

Those words stole the breath from Moana's lungs.

So...

This whole time, Tristan had thought she was the lucky one?

Yet for the past three years, she had never experienced the warmth of a real marriage.

They slept in the same bedroom, but with their backs turned toward each other.

Tristan always came home late, claiming he was busy with work.

They never shared dinner together.

They never went on vacation.

He never wished her a happy birthday.

Even the wedding ring on his finger spent more time inside his desk drawer than on his hand.

Moana had always comforted herself.

Maybe that was simply the kind of man Tristan was.

But today, she had finally learned the truth.

It wasn't that Tristan was a cold man.

He was only cold toward her.

With another woman...

His voice was gentle.

His gaze was warm.

The affection Moana had longed for all these years had been given to Christina instead.

Without realizing it, her eyes began to burn.

Not because she wanted to cry.

But because she felt so unbelievably foolish.

Three years.

She had spent three years of her life chasing the love of a man who had never intended to give it to her.

The phone inside her handbag vibrated.

The screen displayed a name she knew all too well.

Uncle Ronald.

Moana stared at the name for a long moment before silently declining the call.

For the first time...

She couldn't pretend that everything was fine.

She took a slow, deep breath before letting it out gradually.

Then she tightened her grip on the lunch box.

One step.

Then another.

Her hand reached for the doorknob.

Slowly, she pushed the door open.

Bang!

The office door flew open.

The laughter inside instantly disappeared.

Tristan and Christina turned toward her at the same time.

The color drained from both of their faces.

Christina hurriedly climbed off Tristan's lap.

Her lipstick was slightly smudged.

Tristan's tie hung loose around his collar.

No explanation was necessary.

The scene before her said everything.

The lunch box slipped from Moana's hand.

Its contents spilled across the polished marble floor.

The warm soup spread until it reached Tristan's leather shoes.

No one moved.

Silence filled the room.

Christina swallowed hard.

"M-Mrs. Moana..."

Tristan slowly rose to his feet.

"Moana."

His voice was much quieter than before, as though he were searching for an excuse.

But Moana simply looked at him.

Her expression was calm.

There were no tears.

No anger.

That silence made Tristan feel even more pressured.

"I can explain."

Moana gave him a faint smile.

It was an unfamiliar smile.

One that never reached her eyes.

She looked at Tristan for several seconds before shifting her gaze to Christina.

"So..." she said quietly, "is she the reason you forgot today is our wedding anniversary?"

Tristan said nothing.

Christina wrapped her hand around his arm and lifted her chin confidently.

"Since you've already found out," she said, meeting Moana's gaze without a trace of guilt, "...I suppose there's no reason to keep hiding it anymore."

Moana remained silent.

Her eyes never left Christina.

Christina then curled her lips into a mocking smile.

"Besides, you've known from the very beginning, haven't you? Mr. Tristan has never loved you."

The room fell silent once more.

Then, in a voice that was calm yet unwavering, Moana finally spoke.

"In that case... who would like to explain first?"