Found His Affair Through a Smart Scale

On the day of my fifth wedding anniversary with Ethan Wright, I discovered he was cheating through the smart body composition scale at our house.

The scale's app showed a new guest record: weight 99 pounds, body fat percentage 18%.

Meanwhile, my weight had long soared to 132 pounds, a side effect of years on fertility drugs.

I held my phone, watching Ethan sitting on the couch, sending a voice message to his "good buddy," Chelsea Miller.

"Bro, I weighed myself at your place today, and I've lost more weight. You definitely need to treat me to a feast to fatten me up."

Chelsea's voice leaked from the earpiece.

Ethan chuckled, responding, "Alright, I'll take you out for a nice meal tomorrow."

I calmly took a screenshot, then canceled the 30 million dollar transfer scheduled for his company the next day.

Since he liked playing charity, let him swallow the bitter fruit of bankruptcy himself.

"Ava Sterling, these pajamas are really comfy. You don't mind if I borrow them for a night, do you?"

Chelsea, draped in my silk pajamas, boldly leaned on Ethan's shoulder.

I'd paid twenty thousand dollars for those pajamas, custom-made in Italy.

The tag hadn't even been cut off the collar yet.

Now, they hung loosely on Chelsea, the collar wide open, revealing a lot of her fair skin.

Ethan sat on the sofa, a glass of red wine in his hand.

He frowned and nudged Chelsea slightly to the side, but the gesture was clearly half-hearted.

"Chelsea's pipes burst at her place, nowhere to stay, so I told her to crash here for a night."

He looked up at me.

His tone was a statement of fact, not a request for discussion.

I stood in the entryway, still holding the medical report I'd just picked up from the hospital.

"Take them off," I said, looking at Chelsea.

Chelsea paused, then dramatically covered her mouth.

"Oh, Ava, you're not actually mad, are you?"

She shrank closer to Ethan.

"I just treat your husband like my brother usually, so I didn't think too much of it."

"If you mind, Ava, I'll take them off right now."

She started to unbutton the pajamas, but her movements were incredibly slow.

Ethan instantly pressed her hand down.

"Ava, what the hell is wrong with you?"

He stood up, looking down at me.

"It's just a piece of clothing. Chelsea's a girl; what do you expect her to wear if she takes them off now?"

I tossed my bag onto the entryway cabinet.

"Anything. Just not mine."

I walked over, staring at Chelsea's innocent face.

"Those pajamas cost twenty-two thousand. Take them off now, and I'll throw them away like trash."

"If you don't, then transfer the money."

Chelsea's eyes instantly welled up.

She bit her lower lip, looking at Ethan for help.

"Ethan, did I make Ava unhappy?"

"I told you I shouldn't have come, but you insisted."

"I'll leave then. I'll just sleep under a bridge."

Ethan's face darkened completely.

He pulled Chelsea behind him, shielding her.

"Ava Sterling, do you have to cause such a scene over a piece of clothing?"

"Chelsea's my best friend. What's wrong with me helping her when she's in trouble?"

"You used to be so understanding; now you've become so petty."

I looked at his self-righteous face and suddenly found it amusing.

Five years of marriage, I'd been with him from nothing to his company going public.

I'd developed endocrine disorders and my body had changed because of fertility drugs.

Yet, he thought I'd become petty.

"Ethan, I saw the record on the body composition scale."

My voice was calm.

Ethan's gaze flickered.

But he quickly straightened his posture.

"What body composition scale? I don't know what you're talking about."

"Chelsea came over this afternoon to pick up some files and weighed herself. That's all."

"Are you even monitoring me now?"

Chelsea poked her head out from behind him.

"Ava, you don't actually think there's anything between Ethan and me, do you?"

"Come on, we're pure buddies, like he's my male best friend."

"You're just too insecure."

She sized me up, her gaze lingering on my waist for two seconds.

It was an utterly contemptuous look.

I ignored her, turning to walk towards the bedroom.

"Replace this sofa tomorrow."

I stopped, without looking back.

"It's been touched by trash; I find it repulsive."

Behind me, the sound of a glass shattering echoed.

"Ava Sterling, don't push it too far!"

Ethan's voice boomed in the living room.

I closed the bedroom door and locked it.

I pulled out my phone and dialed Mark, my assistant.

"Send me the financial assessment report for Wright Industries by 9 AM tomorrow."

"Also, cancel all supplementary cards I issued to Ethan from my accounts."

Mark's respectful voice came from the other end.

"Understood, Ms. Sterling. Should I notify Mr. Wright?"

"No need."

I looked at my slightly drawn face in the mirror.

"He'll find out soon enough."

"Ethan, was Ava really angry last night?"

Chelsea sat in the passenger seat, biting her straw and sneaking glances at me in the back.

Today she was wearing a loose men's hoodie.

I recognized it instantly as the limited-edition one Ethan had bought last month.

Ethan steered with one hand, glancing at me in the rearview mirror.

"That's just how she is. She'll get over it in a couple of days."

"We're going to that trendy brunch spot. Didn't you say you were craving smoked steak salad?"

His tone was indulgent, completely ignoring me in the backseat.

Today was Wright Industries' annual gala.

As Ethan's legal wife, I was supposed to attend.

But he'd insisted on picking up Chelsea first, using the excuse that it was "on the way."

"Ava, that dress looks pretty on you, but it makes your stomach look a little big."

Chelsea turned around, smiling at me.

"Unlike me, I just can't gain weight no matter how much I eat. It's so annoying."

She purposely puffed out her flat stomach.

I looked down at the financial report on my phone, not bothering to look up.

"Is that so? That's good then."

"After all, besides eating, you don't seem to have any other talents."

Chelsea's smile froze.

She looked at Ethan, feigning hurt.

"Ethan, look at Ava, how can she talk like that?"

Ethan slammed on the brakes.

"Ava Sterling, are you looking for a fight today?"

"Chelsea was just trying to give you a compliment. Why are you being so sarcastic?"

I looked up, meeting his angry gaze.

"I'm merely stating facts."

"If she feels wronged, she can get out of the car."

Ethan took a deep breath, seemingly trying to suppress his rage.

"Fine, I won't argue with you."

The car restarted, and the interior fell silent.

The gala was a glittering affair.

As soon as I walked into the ballroom, several familiar wives surrounded me.

"Mrs. Wright, I hear your company is securing a big investment recently?"

"Mr. Wright is truly promising."

I responded politely, but my peripheral vision caught Ethan leading Chelsea towards the circle of core investors.

Chelsea clung to Ethan's arm, beaming brightly, almost excessively.

Anyone who didn't know better would think she was the president's wife of Wright Industries.

"Who's that?" one of the wives asked, following my gaze.

"Mr. Wright's assistant? She looks new."

I took a sip of champagne.

"Just someone who doesn't know her place."

Halfway through the gala, it was time for the charity auction.

I had mentioned a blue diamond necklace to Ethan once before, something I'd taken a liking to.

As soon as the auctioneer presented the necklace, Ethan raised his paddle.

"Fifty thousand."

A wave of appreciative murmurs went through the crowd.

"Mr. Wright is so devoted to his wife!"

"Mrs. Sterling is truly blessed."

I looked at the necklace on the stage, but my heart felt nothing.

Ultimately, Ethan won the necklace for eighty thousand dollars.

He walked down the stage with the gift box, heading straight for me.

I was about to reach out.

But he brushed past my shoulder, walking towards Chelsea, who stood behind me.

"Try it on."

He handed the necklace to Chelsea, his voice soft.

All eyes in the room instantly focused on that corner.

The air seemed to freeze.

Chelsea covered her mouth, a look of feigned surprise on her face.

"Ethan, this is too precious, I can't accept it."

"Just take it," Ethan said, pressing the necklace into her hand.

"You helped me follow up on that big project recently. This is a well-deserved reward."

Chelsea's face flushed, and she put on the necklace in front of everyone.

She then turned, purposely walking up to me.

"Ava, isn't it beautiful?"

She touched the blue diamond on her neck, smiling like a victor.

I looked at the necklace around her neck, which was originally meant for me.

My smartwatch on my wrist suddenly vibrated.

It was a message from Mark, my assistant.

"Ms. Sterling, the account Mr. Wright used to pay for the auction item just now was your mother's medical emergency fund account."

I stared at the line of text on the screen.

"Why is that necklace on your neck?"

I looked up at Chelsea.

Chelsea froze for a moment, then her smile grew even wider.

"Ava Sterling, Ethan said I helped him secure an investment, and this was his special reward for me."

"You wouldn't try to snatch this away too, would you?"

"A thirty-million-dollar shortfall. How do you plan to cover it?"

I slammed the financial report onto Ethan's desk.

Papers scattered, falling to the floor.

Ethan didn't even look up.

He was focused on peeling an orange for Chelsea, who sat on the sofa.

"The company's cash flow was tight, so I temporarily diverted some money from the foundation in your name."

He placed the peeled orange on Chelsea's plate, then pulled a tissue to wipe his hands.

His tone was as flat as if discussing the weather.

"That's the life-saving money for my mother's heart surgery next month."

I stared into his eyes, my voice like ice.

That foundation was established before our marriage, specifically to deal with my mother's potentially worsening condition at any time.

Only Ethan and I knew the password.

Ethan finally looked up.

He irritably tugged at his tie.

"Ava Sterling, can you stop always making such a fuss?"

"Your mother's surgery isn't until next month, is it? As soon as this batch of payments comes in, I'll put the money back immediately."

Chelsea, eating her orange, mumbled an interruption.

"That's right, Ava. Ethan's doing this for the company's good too."

"I worked so hard to get that project through my connections. If the funding stops, all the initial investment will be wasted."

She pulled a wet wipe to clean her mouth, then walked up to me.

"Ava, you're also part of the company. You can't just stand by and watch Ethan's hard work be ruined, can you?"

"Besides, your mother's illness isn't new. A few days' delay won't kill her."

I looked at Chelsea's self-important face.

I raised my hand and slapped her hard.

A crisp smack echoed clearly in the office.

Chelsea stumbled, clutching her face, looking at me in disbelief.

"You hit me?"

Ethan abruptly stood up and pushed me away.

"Ava Sterling, are you crazy!"

He tenderly cupped Chelsea's face, checking her for injuries.

"Chelsea, are you okay?"

Turning his head, he glared at me, his eyes bloodshot with fury.

"How dare you hit her? Diverting the funds was my idea, what does it have to do with her?"

I was pushed, hitting the edge of the office desk, a sharp pain shot through my waist.

But I straightened up, coldly looking at the despicable pair.

"How dare I?"

I sneered.

"Because she used my mother's life-saving money to fill the hole in her shell company."

"Ethan, do you really think I don't know what her so-called 'big project' is?"

I pulled a document from my bag and threw it directly at Ethan's face.

"A shell company with only ten thousand dollars in registered capital, and you poured thirty million into it."

"The money went in, but it vanished without a trace."

"Are you running a business, or a charity?"

Ethan's face changed.

He glanced down at the documents on the floor, his eyes showing a hint of panic.

But he quickly recomposed himself.

"You don't understand business. This is called early-stage investment."

"Chelsea has wide connections; this money will double quickly."

I looked at his stubborn refusal to admit his mistake, losing even the energy to be angry.

"Fine, I don't understand."

I nodded.

"But do you understand that misappropriating funds for a specific purpose is considered embezzlement?"

"If I call the police, how many years do you think you'd spend behind bars?"

Ethan froze.

He hadn't seemed to expect me to say such a thing.

"Ava Sterling, are you threatening me?"

He gritted his teeth, glaring at me.

"For thirty million, you're going to send your husband to jail?"

Chelsea, hiding behind Ethan, added fuel to the fire.

"Ethan, I told you Ava doesn't love you at all; she only cares about money."

"Look at how aggressive she is now, not an ounce of a good wife in her."

I looked at Chelsea.

"Shut up."

I pulled out my phone and activated the recording function.

"Ava Sterling, your mother's surgery can be delayed by half a month, she won't die."

Ethan pointed a finger at my nose, completely dropping his pretense.

"But if Chelsea's project fails, she'll be ruined."

"I used this money. What can you do about it?"

I pressed save.

Putting my phone back in my bag.

"Ethan Wright, remember what you said today."

I turned and walked towards the door.

"I hope you won't be begging me on your knees later."

"Ava Sterling, Ethan's gaming all night with me, so he won't be coming home."

Chelsea's triumphant laugh came through the phone.

In the background, there was deafening club music, mixed with the cheers of men and women.

I sat on a cold corridor bench in the city hospital.

In my hand, I clutched the diagnostic report I'd just received.

Hippocampal atrophy, early-stage Alzheimer's.

Commonly known as irreversible memory loss.

The doctor said I would slowly forget everyone, forget my way home, until I became a shell of a person, unable to even feed myself.

"Put him on the phone."

My voice was calm, without any fluctuation.

Chelsea clicked her tongue on the other end of the line.

"Ava, you're checking up on him too much."

"Ethan finally got a chance to relax; do you have to ruin the fun?"

"Hey, Ethan, Ava Sterling insists on talking to you."

A rustling sound came from the other end.

Followed by Ethan's impatient voice.

"What now?"

"Did the house catch fire or the sky fall? Why call at this hour?"

I took a deep breath, trying to make my voice sound normal.

"Ethan, I'm at City Hospital."

"I got my check-up report today, the doctor said..."

"Alright, alright, another check-up report."

Ethan cut me off directly.

"You just want to say your endocrine system is out of whack again, and you need to buy some expensive imported medicine, don't you?"

"Ava Sterling, can't you try a new trick?"

"It's Chelsea's dog's birthday today; everyone's in high spirits. Don't be a downer."

My knuckles, gripping the phone, turned white.

"Ethan, I'm sick. Very seriously."

"That's your problem."

Ethan's voice was as cold as a stranger's.

"If you're really about to die, just call 911. What's the point of calling me? I'm not a doctor."

"Don't call again. It's annoying."

Beep, beep, beep.

The call ended.

I looked at the darkened phone screen.

Suddenly, I felt a sense of release.

I folded the diagnostic report neatly and put it in my bag.

Stepping out of the hospital, a torrential rain poured down outside.

I didn't open my umbrella, letting the rain soak me completely.

Back home, I walked straight into the study.

I opened the safe and took out the divorce papers I had already prepared.

On the line for the wife, I signed my name.

Then, I called Mr. Davis, my lawyer.

"Mr. Davis, all the materials I asked you to prepare can be submitted now."

"Yes, all of them."

"Including the ledgers detailing Wright Industries' suspected tax evasion, and the evidence of Ethan Wright's fund misappropriation."

After hanging up, I placed the divorce papers on the coffee table in the living room.

Beside it, I placed the men's hoodie Chelsea had left behind.

Having done all this, I pulled my suitcase and walked out of the villa I had lived in for five years.

The night was deep.

I sat in a taxi heading to the airport, watching the neon lights outside speed past.

My phone suddenly vibrated violently.

It was Ethan's assistant calling.

I pressed the answer button.

"Madam, where are you?"

Mark's voice sounded full of panic.

"Mr. Wright drank too much at the club just now, got into a fight, and was hit in the head with a bottle. He's currently in emergency care..."

"What? Madam, what did you say?"

Mark swallowed, relaying the message to Ethan.

"Mr. Wright, Madam was in a serious car accident on Oceanview Road just now. Also... all your assets were frozen ten minutes ago."

Ethan's weak and shocked voice came from the other end of the line.

"What did you say?"