NovelTrue+ Chapter 3
« | didn’t have to wait long in the room. Callum soon entered with Mila, their matching features striking-both
wearing gentle smiles, eyes full of apparent warmth as they moved to embrace me.
« | instinctively stepped back.
« Callum’s smile faltered for a moment, but he said nothing. Mila’s eyes filled with tears. “Mommy, don’t you
want to hug me?”
« Her lips trembled, eyes glistening - the perfect picture of innocence that always melted her father's
« heart.
« Callum immediately knelt beside her, pulling her close. “Of course not, sweetheart. Mommy's dress is
stained-she just doesn’t want to ruin your beautiful birthday dress.”
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« Mila’s tears subsided as she processed this. Then her face lit up with that dazzling smile | once
« treasured.
+ “Mommy, Daddy and | have a special surprise for you,” she said sweetly. “Even though it's my birthday, we
never forget what you went through for me. The gift isn’t here yet - we need to go pick it up.”
« | remembered all the previous birthdays, how they'd always had a “special gift” for me, how I'd been moved
to tears each time. Now | realized those gifts were just excuses to meet Sophie.
« Looking at Mila - my precious daughter whom I'd have given my life for - | felt hollow. And Callum, who'd
sworn never to betray me, had made those vows as fragile as smoke.
« | nodded silently, watching them leave hand in hand.
« From the balcony, | watched their car disappear. Downstairs, the party was winding down. Callum’s friends
were leaving, their knowing smirks making it clear - I'd always been their private joke.
» Back in our room, | retrieved an old phone from a locked box. After charging it, | powered it on.
« Years ago, when Callum and | first started dating, I'd learned about Sophie Blake. His childhood sweetheart,
his “pure first love.” Young and insecure, I'd created a secret social media account to monitor their
relationship. Once convinced of Callum'’s fidelity, I'd locked the phone away.
« Wichte
* 65.8%
+ Now, opening the app, | saw Sophie's recent post-a grid of photos at the beach. There she was with Mila,
surrounded by sparklers, faces pressed together like mother and daughter. In the center photo, all three of
them formed a heart against the sunset-the perfect family portrait.
« Caption: “Celebrating my favorite little girl's birthday with the people I love most. This must be what pure
happiness feels like,”
| stared at the photos until my eyes burned. In one, while Mila played with sparklers, two figures embraced in
the background. After seven years of marriage, | knew Callum’s silhouette anywhere.
The betrayal had always been there,
Steadying myself against the desk, | went to his study. In the safe lay a share transfer agreement.
When we got together, Callum’s parents-especially his mother had violently opposed our relationship. The
compromise: they wouldn't interfere, but we couldn't legally marry. So Callum had giventhis document
as security, compensating for the lack of marital protection with financial guarantee.
Now, | thought, it was tto use it.
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