Chapter 1 Caught in Bed with a Lover

Anthony Taylor cheated on her.

Evelyn Wilson stood outside the hotel room door. Through the gap, she saw him naked, tangled up with another woman. Clothes scattered everywhere and the red marks on their bodies showed how intense things had been.

She numbly raised her hand and called Anthony.

This time, he finally picked up.

"What is it?" The man's impatient voice came through.

Evelyn spoke hoarsely, "Where are you?"

Anthony replied, "I'm working late at the office. If there's nothing urgent, just go to sleep."

"Really?" Evelyn smiled bitterly, her voice sounding like it was being squeezed from her throat. "But half an hour ago, photos of you and Scarlett Miller going in and out of a hotel hit the trending topics."

"Since when did the Taylor Group CEO's office move to a hotel..."

"Evelyn."

Before she could finish, the man coldly cut her off. "Are you ever going to stop? I told you Scarlett and I just have a business relationship. Aren't you tired of being suspicious all the time?"

After saying that, he hung up directly.

Soon, voices could be heard from inside the room.

"Anthony, what if that old woman finds out?" Scarlett lay in his arms, her fingernails slowly drawing circles on his chest.

"So what if she finds out." Anthony sneered. "She spent seven years trying to please everyone in the Taylor family just to secure her position as Mrs. Taylor. Now that she's finally got their approval, she can't bear to leave."

"Besides, her parents are dead. If she leaves the Taylor family, she won't even have a place to stay."

Scarlett covered her mouth and laughed. "She's like a stray dog."

The man frowned but still smiled and held her.

The scene inside was like sharp blades cutting into Evelyn.

Her heart felt like it was being torn apart, and she could barely stand.

"Eve, from now on, I'll be your home."

"I'll love you forever."

"The position of Mrs. Taylor can only be yours in this lifetime."

Past promises came flooding back, making Evelyn unsteady on her feet.

She turned and stumbled out of the hotel.

Actually, Evelyn had suspected Anthony's affair for a while. He came home later and later, and there was the occasional unfamiliar perfume scent on him - all like warnings getting closer and closer.

But Evelyn couldn't let go. She clung to those precious memories from the past.

Until tonight, when Anthony, who was supposed to be on a business trip, was suddenly caught by paparazzi entering and leaving a hotel late at night with a strange woman, spending the night together.

The news was everywhere. Taylor Group's stock was shaking.

Her mother-in-law May called, ordering Evelyn to handle this matter quickly. Following the news, she rushed to the hotel, only to witness her husband's affair firsthand.

Evelyn didn't know how she got home. When she came to her senses, night had already fallen outside.

The dark sky wrapped around the villa from all sides, seeming like it would swallow her up too.

Suddenly, a car engine sounded. Headlights cut through the darkness, bringing Evelyn back to her senses.

She looked up with effort. Following sounds from the entrance, a tall man's figure appeared at the door. He wore a well-tailored suit, broad shoulders and narrow waist, his whole presence noble yet distant.

"Eve."

Anthony looked up, a faint smile spreading across his lips. "Why didn't you turn on the lights?"

Evelyn stared at his expression, suddenly curious how he could talk to her so calmly after betraying her.

"Why aren't you saying anything?" Anthony walked closer, seeming somewhat helpless. "Still mad at me?"

He sat down next to Evelyn, taking her hand and patiently explaining, "I was wrong this afternoon, but we were discussing cooperation details at the time. This project is really important - it could directly affect Taylor Group's development for the next three years. That's why I got a bit anxious."

Discussing contracts in bed - truly extraordinary indeed.

Evelyn sneered inwardly.

Anthony pulled out a ring box from somewhere. Inside was a pink diamond the size of a pigeon egg. "Let me apologize, okay? I specially went to France to bid on this ring for your birthday."

He put it on her finger. "Unfortunately, something came up and I couldn't make it back in time."

"I'm making it up to you today."

"Eve, I love you."

Looking at the diamond ring, Evelyn suddenly recalled her birthday.

At the time, Anthony, who was in France, had called multiple times promising he'd definitely come back for her birthday. Evelyn believed him, turned down her friends' invitations, and waited alone at the villa until late at night.

When the clock struck twelve, she received a video.

In the video, a girl in a light pink dress wore the pink diamond and walked through the streets of France holding Anthony's hand. At the end of the video, the young girl pouted and said, "This ring is ugly and heavy. Only old women would like it."

She casually tossed the ring, and it fell in front of the camera...

Her stomach suddenly churned violently. Evelyn jerked her hand back, unable to hide the disgust in her eyes.

Anthony's expression immediately darkened, suppressed anger in his eyes. "What now?"

Evelyn said flatly, "You've given me diamond rings every year before. I don't want one this year."

She took out two documents she'd prepared in advance, flipping directly to the signature page. "I want a house. Just sign here."

Anthony looked down, only catching the words "property purchase contract" at the beginning before his attention was pulled away by a sudden phone call.

He immediately answered, casually signing the documents.

"You can decide these small matters yourself from now on." After saying that, Anthony hurried aside to take the call.

Evelyn looked up, seeing the smile on his lips - familiar yet strange.

In the past, Anthony always showed this expression when facing her, but at some point, she hadn't seen it in a very long time.

The call ended quickly. Anthony turned back, hurriedly told her "something at the company," and left directly.

As the door opened and closed, the villa fell silent again.

Evelyn sat quietly, unable to hide the ache in her eyes.

The next day, Evelyn came to a café with the divorce agreement and pushed the signed documents to the divorce lawyer.

"He's already signed. Please handle the rest for me. In one month, I want to leave Harbor City."