On our wedding night, I learned that he had another family.

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On our wedding night, right after we had sex, Landon Bennett held me close and suddenly said,

There's something I need to tell you.

Legally, I already have a wife.

I can't go with you to get the marriage license tomorrow, but besides that piece of paper, whatever you want, I can give it to you.

My mind went blank.

"You... you're married? Why haven't you mentioned it once in all these years?"

He got up to get dressed, the love bite I'd left on his neck still visible.

"Chloe, I love you the most. After all, we have ten years together."

"She... she's someone my family pushed on me years ago. A duty I can't just walk away from."

I sank back into the tangled sheets. The "happy wedding" banner on the wall felt like a slap.

Maybe the expression on my face was too devastated.

Landon sighed, took my hand, and placed our wedding rings together.

"Chloe, look, it's really no different."

"The ceremony, the ring, everyone knows you as my wife. That's what matters.. Everyone knows you're my rightful Mrs. Bennett."

"As for her... just pretend she doesn't exist."

He turned to me, meeting my reddened eyes.

His voice softened a bit,

"Come on, don't throw a tantrum."

"Our Chloe is the most understanding, right?"

I pulled my hand away.

"We're done."

He let go, lighting a cigarette. "I don't accept that."

"Then divorce her."

Landon stared at me for a long time.

"Chloe, I'll be honest with you."

"Summer and I got married seven years ago. She's been good to my family all this time. I have no grounds to leave her."

Seven years ago?

That was right after we graduated from college.

We'd already been dating for three years.

Back then, he hid it from me and married someone else?

I felt sick, rushing to the bathroom to dry heave.

"You're overreacting,"

Landon followed, gently patting my back.

"She and I have never had any real physical relationship. It's a formality, a family obligation."

"The person I love most is still you."

I turned to look at him.

His brows were furrowed with concern.

It was the look I'd loved for the past ten years.

But right now, it made me feel utterly disgusted.

"Overreacting? You lied to me for seven years!"

Landon frowned, a hint of irritation in his eyes.

"You're making it sound so ugly. We started dating first, and I hid the marriage from you."

"You did nothing wrong, so no need for guilt."

"Besides, we're just missing that piece of paper. In my heart, you're my wife."

With that, he reached out soothingly to touch my hair.

"Don't touch me!"

I swatted his hand away.

His hand froze in mid-air.

In ten years, we'd never fought.

I used to think that was proof of our love.

Now I realized it was all a long, seamless lie!

"We both need to cool off," he said, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Think about what you're throwing away, Chloe. Ten years, our future, your parents' hopes... all for a piece of paper?"

The door slammed shut.

I started dry heaving uncontrollably again, tears and anger choking me.

After crying it out, I pulled myself together.

I got up from the floor and started packing my bags.

I'd moved in full of excitement, and now I was leaving in total disarray.

My phone suddenly chimed.

It was from Landon's mom.

She'd posted on social media.

[Such a dutiful child.]

The photo showed their home, with a table full of home-cooked food.

It wasn't mine.

Before, my first thought would have been that Landon had sent it over in my name to improve our relationship.

I might have even rewarded him when I saw him.

But now I understood.

Her "dutiful child" wasn't me.

I was just the 'mistress' d kept for seven years.

I wandered the empty streets with my suitcase past midnight.

My dad called.

"Chloe, I heard from Landon that you two... had a little spat?"

Hearing Dad's voice made me want to cry. "Dad, I..."

"You know how good he's been to you. We've seen it all these years."

How good?

He'd chosen me over his wealthy family's approval after graduation, traded a penthouse for a damp basement without a single complaint.

Like when I'd work late into the night, he was in the early stages of starting his business, but he'd always show up downstairs on time, with warm takeout in hand.

He'd never bring his work stress home, always walking through the door with a smile.

Those details, those seemingly ordinary acts of care and protection that seeped into every corner of our life.

His love was real.

But so was the fact that he'd married someone else.

"Chloe? You listening?"

Dad cut in before I could speak.

"Your mother needs bypass surgery next month. The doctor says she must avoid anystress. It's critical. Please, for her sake, keep things calm. Work it out with Landon"

Everything I wanted to say died in my throat.

How could I tell him that his daughter was a mistress?

The call ended.

I couldn't hold it in anymore, squatting on the empty street, sobbing loudly.

Crying for that ten years of seemingly perfect love.

Crying for Mom's life hanging by a thread.

Crying for the luxurious cage Landon had built for me with his decade of affection.

The rain started at some point.

From a fine drizzle to a downpour...

I was soaked, shivering, when an umbrella appeared overhead.

It was Landon.

He pulled me into a tight hug, his hands trembling.

"Come home with me..."

"Chloe, I posted that on my mom's phone just to make you mad. I didn't mean to break up..."

He took my suitcase and bundled me into his car.

"Don't worry, I'll handle it. I'll divorce Summer."

"We'll live our lives together properly."

"Chloe, your dad told me about your mom's situation..."

I stayed silent.

Just staring blankly at him.

The unfamiliar perfume on him, the unfamiliar lipstick shade on his collar...

All traces of another woman.

I closed my eyes, feeling exhausted.

But Landon didn't notice anything off, still rambling about getting the best medical team for my mom.

I leaned my head against the car window.

Too tired to even respond.

For the next half month, to avoid Landon, I used the excuse of taking care of Mom and stayed at the hospital the whole time.

Landon didn't get angry. Instead, he perfectly fulfilled his promises.

He pulled strings to bring in top experts for consultations, creating the most comprehensive treatment plan for my mom's heart bypass surgery.

He even pushed aside his work to stay with me overnight at the hospital.

"Landon, with you looking after Chloe, I have nothing to worry about," Mom told him, squeezing my hand.

He held my hand, his gaze sincere.

"Mom, I'll take good care of Chloe for a lifetime."

Seeing Mom's genuine look, I lowered my eyes and nodded.

But only I knew how heavy my heart felt.

Everything was normal at first.

The change happened one afternoon.

Landon got called away for an urgent matter at the company, so I went to the room alone.

Pushing open the door, I saw that the caregiver for Mom had changed.

I'd seen that face in the photo on Landon's mom's social media.

Summer.

"...My husband is a good man, just too kind-hearted," she was saying to my mother.

"This woman has been clinging to him for years. He says he can't cut her off without hurting her. It's... difficult for me. I took this job to distract myself."

Mom listened, her face showing sympathy.

I stood at the door, my blood freezing in an instant.

"Chloe's here?"

Mom saw me and smiled,

"This caregiver Summer has had a tough life. I say, those mistresses are really shameless..."

I forced a stiff smile and said:

"Mom, I brought some warm milk. Try it."

Then I turned to Summer,

"Can you step out for a moment? I have something to ask you."

At the end of the hallway.

"Were those words meant for my mom to hear?"

The gentleness on Summer's face faded, her lips curling into a faint smirk:

"I was just talking about my family matter, what's the problem?"

"Keep my parents out of our issues."

I kept my voice low, trying to reason,

"We're both victims here. If there's something, we can talk..."

"Victims?"

"Chloe," she interrupted me, "you've been the mistress for seven years, and you're acting all righteous?"

"Talk with me?"

"You think Landon will really divorce me for you? He's just stringing you along."

"Even your mom says you're shameless! Chloe, do you have the guts to tell your mom about being the damn mistress?"

I clenched my fists, wanting to argue, wanting to hit her.

But I forced myself to hold back.

Because this was a hospitalI couldn't make a scene, couldn't upset Mom.

But she wouldn't let up:

"Oh, I get it. You're afraid it'll affect your mom's surgery, right?"

"But even without saying anything, I doubt she'll make it through."

"After all, she's old, not in great healthmaybe she won't even last until the operation..."

The taut string in my mind snapped with a "pop."

When I came to my senses, my palm was stinging hot.

I'd slapped her hard across the face.

Summer yelped, covering her cheek.

"What are you doing?!"

Landon's voice suddenly boomed.

He rushed over in quick strides, pulling Summer behind him and grabbing my wrist with force.

"Chloe! How could you hit someone?"

Summer immediately hid behind him, tears flowing instantly, her voice trembling:

"Landon... I was just seeing that your aunt was alone and kindly came to help, chat with her..."

"I don't know why Ms. Hayes got so angry and just hit me..."

She cried, looking like I'd bullied her

Completely different from the sharp-tongued way she'd spoken to me earlier.

"Ask her what she said!"

I was shaking with anger, trying to wrench free from Landon's grip.

Landon's brows were knitted tightly.

He looked at Summer's swollen cheek.

Then at my agitated state, his eyes filled with disappointment and frustration:

"She's always been so gentlewhat could she have said?"

"Even if she said something, you shouldn't have resorted to violence!"

"Chloe, when did you become so unreasonable, hitting people over a disagreement?"

"I'm unreasonable?"

I almost laughed, but tears welled up uncontrollably.

"Landon, the shameless one is you! If it weren't for you two-timing, she and I wouldn't..."

"Enough!"

He cut me off, putting an arm around Summer's shoulders.

"I'll take her home first."

"You cool down and think about your own issues."

He left with Summer, without glancing back at me.

Soon, I understood what he meant by "cool down."

That same evening.

The hospital notified us that the original expert medical team had been temporarily reassigned to other urgent cases.

Right after, ugly rumors started spreading in the ward area.

About me, about "knowingly being the mistress," about "entangling a married man"...

Mom somehow heard them, her face turning ashen, clutching her chest and gasping for airshe was rushed into the ER.

But the medical team had already been pulled away.

Dad was sweating profusely, grabbing me and asking:

"Chloe, what on earth is going on?"

"Why did the doctors suddenly leave when everything was fine?"

"Your mom's condition is criticalshe needs surgery right away!"

My hands shook so much I could barely hold the phone, dialing Landon's number over and over.

No one answered.

I had no choice but to call Summer's phone.

Finally, it connected.

"Hello?"

"Put Landon on!"

My voice was hoarse.

There was a pause, then Landon's cold voice came through:

"Figured it out?"

"Send the medical team back! Please..."

My nails dug into my palm.

"Sure."

His tone was calm:

"Come to Riverside Apartments and apologize to Summer."

"If she's satisfied, the team goes back."

Riverside Apartments was his other place.

I went.

Because I couldn't just watch Mom... die.

In the apartment.

Summer sat on the sofa, no trace left on her cheek.

Landon stood by the window, his back to me.

"I'm not trying to make things hard for youI have my dignity too."

"Getting slapped for no reasonI at least deserve an apology, right?"

Summer said softly, but her eyes were full of provocation.

I looked at her, then at Landon's back.

"I'm sorry."

I said.

"Can't hear you."

She blinked.

"I'm sorry!"

I raised my voice.

"Just words aren't enough."

She sighed, as if it was difficult.

"How about this: kneel and say it. Slap yourself until I'm satisfied, and we'll call it even."

"Landon, what do you think?"

Landon didn't speak, just silently turned aroundhe was condoning his wife's bullying of me.

I closed my eyes.

My knees hit the cold floor with a thud.

I raised my hand and slapped my own face hard.

One slap after another.

The sounds crisp.

My face quickly burned with heat.

"Is that enough?"

I looked up at them:

"Can you send the medical team back now?"

"I'll do whatever you wantjust Mom can't wait anymore..."

Summer glanced at Landon, about to say something.

Suddenly, my phone rang like crazy.

It was Dad.

I was terrified, answering with trembling hands.

"Chloe..."

"Mom... Mom's gone... Just now... her heart stopped... they couldn't save her..."

The phone slipped from my hand, smashing on the ground.

I collapsed there, unmoving, not even tears coming.

Everything went black.

Landon seemed to sense something was wrong and turned around.

He saw my state, paused for a moment, then strode over quickly:

"Chloe? What's wrong?"

"Did something happen with Mom?"

"Don't be scaredI've already arranged everything. Mom won't have any issues."

"You've been so good to mehow could I really abandon her? I just wanted to teach you a lesson..."

He crouched down, trying to touch me.

I slowly, excruciatingly slowly, lifted my head to look at him.

Looking at this face I'd loved for ten years, now utterly unfamiliar.

A lesson?

But...

I heard my own voice, eerily calm:

"Landon, my mom is dead..."