Even on holidays.

I knew it was Lily sending those. He pampered her.

She had free rein with his phone.

Don't think I, his wife, was jealous.

Any woman would want a man to adore them like that, right?

Today's message was different. It looked like it was actually from him.

I replied: [Yep, celebrating you coming home.]

My heart felt like a still, cold pond.

Giving up on someone is surprisingly easy.

You just take a deep breath, and life keeps going.

"Oh," I added in another message. "Buy me a bag."

"To calm my nerves. I went through all that rooftop drama for a reason."

"I want that limited edition Hermes bag."

"If you don't get it, I'm showing up at your office and causing a scene."

He wasn't afraid of me being hurt.

He was terrified of me embarrassing him at work.

The bag was $120,000.

I didn't ask for too much. My life felt worth just that much to him.

If I pushed too hard, he might just cut me off again.

That evening, I picked up the kids from daycare.

Seeing my son and daughter. They were my anchor, the reason I'd endured for over two years.

I could handle anything for them.

There was a knock at the door.

It was the bag. Delivered already. Technology makes things so convenient.

I didn't hesitate. I called a second-hand luxury store right away.

The bag was brand new, still warm from the delivery.

They offered me $118,000.

I had the money deposited straight into my mom's account.

I didn't ask him why he didn't come home that night.

Complaining about him would have made me seem childish.

It would have been disrespectful to the money.

I played with the kids for a while.

My daughter asked if Daddy was coming home.

"Daddy's very busy," I told them. "All the money we spend, Daddy works very hard for it."

"So we have to let him stay out at night," I continued. "We have to let him miss you growing up."

"But I promise," I said, hugging them tight. "Mommy will always be here for you. Always."

Before bed, I sent him a message.

[Good night, Husband.]

Wherever you are, in whoever's bed, I hope you sleep well.

Our whole family depends on you.

Two.

My husband's phone sent me a video.

His cheeks were flushed, his eyes closed, lying in a woman's arms.

You couldn't see her face, but I knew it was Lily Taylor.

Everyone else called her Lily. Only I knew her as 'Sān Nī'—Little Lily.

I first found out he was cheating when she sent me a video of her kissing him.

To this day, I don't understand how someone records a kissing video while actually kissing. Doesn't multitasking like that kill the romance?

I'll admit, she was beautiful. Long legs, a high nose, sharp chin, big eyes, full lips. Prettier than any doll I had as a kid.

The first time I met her, she looked at me with open hostility. I knew instantly she was sleeping with my husband.

That's why she felt brave enough to challenge me.

I tried talking to my husband. Could he just fire her?

He looked at me like I was crazy. "What are you thinking?" he said.

"She hasn't done anything wrong. I'd fire you before I fired her."

Maybe she figured I was a threat.

She started provoking me openly.

That very night, she sent me a photo of her and my husband holding hands.