Chapter 3

When I got home, Marcus was nowhere to be seen.

Which was perfect. I had hired a crew of technicians to install hidden cameras in every corner of the house.

It was late evening when Marcus finally strolled in.

With a warm, charming smile on his face, he handed me a bouquet of fresh roses.

"Sophia, honey, I got these for you on my way home."

In the past, Marcus would bring me flowers almost every day.

Whenever I worked late, he would cook my favorite meals. He handled all the domestic chores so I could focus entirely on my career.

In my eyes, he had been the perfect husband. I never would have guessed that he was secretly plotting to ruin my life and reputation.

I stared at the roses, frozen. Seeing my hesitation, his eyes filled with rehearsed worry.

"Sophia, are you too stressed out? Vivian told me your company is going through a rough patch."

Vivian? How cozy. I snapped back to reality. It turned out the signs were always there; I was just too busy to notice.

Why did he always offer to pick me up from work but "coincidentally" have Vivian in the passenger seat?

Why did Vivian always "happen" to show up at our dinner dates?

Why did Vivian’s face light up with adoration every time she talked about my husband?

My eyes narrowed slightly. I stared at him, trying to find a single shred of guilt behind his flawless acting. But there was none. Instead, he stepped closer and took my hand.

"Sophia, you’ve worked so hard all these years. Why don't you let me help you shoulder some of the burden?"

I sneered inwardly.

Over the years, he had repeatedly dropped hints about wanting me to fund a startup for him. I had always politely declined because I knew he lacked any real business acumen.

But this time, I let my expression crumble into fake despair. "Marcus, I think the company is really going under this time."

A flash of absolute glee crossed his eyes before he quickly masked it with a gentle, comforting look.

"It’s okay, Sophia. You’ve done amazing to get this far. You still have me!"

Depend on you? I’d rather go bankrupt and sleep on the streets, I thought bitterly.

Before marrying me, he had a mediocre, low-paying job.

The moment we got married, he quit and hadn't worked a day since, living entirely off my credit cards.

And yet, he had the audacity to cheat on me and plot to steal my hard-earned money. Honestly, I would have gotten a better return on investment if I had hired a male model.

The anger bubbled up inside me. Oh, I was going to destroy them both.

I let out a shaky sigh.

"Marcus, didn't you always want to start your own business?"

"I’ve been thinking. Instead of fighting this battle alone, maybe I should fund your startup so you can support me."

His face lit up with pure joy. "Are you serious? You’re willing to invest in me?"

I looked at him, my eyes shining with fake sincerity.

"Marcus, I know you’ve saved up some money over the years. Why don't you use your savings to get the company started first? Once things settle down on my end, I’ll inject more capital."

The moment he heard he had to use his own money, his face fell. His voice turned sharp and defensive.

"What are you talking about?!"