The Girl Selling My Necklace Was His Mistress

My husband accidentally canceled the order for the luxury necklace I'd been dreaming about.

I had no choice but to try my luck on a secondhand marketplace, and incredibly, I found a girl selling one.

You've got great taste. This necklace is a limited editiononly one exists, and my boyfriend managed to snag it!

"I'll tell you a secretI didn't actually like it that much, but my boyfriend's stalker wanted it, which really pissed me off!"

"So my boyfriend canceled that stalker's order to make me happy, then rushed to buy it for me."

My heart sank. I clicked on the girl's profile picture.

In the photo, a man and woman had their fingers interlaced.

And the scar on the man's hand was identical to my husband's.

The computer screen reflected my pale face.

My palms began to sweat. I wanted to ask more, but my fingers trembled too much to press the keyboard.

Could it be a coincidence?

The image of Ethan's guilt-ridden face flashed through my mind again.

"Charlotte, I really didn't mean it. My finger slipped and hit cancel."

"Next time I'll definitely buy you something more expensive and better!"

I steadied myself and sent a message.

"Hey, I see we live close to each other. Let's add each other on SnapChat and meet up for an in-person transaction!"

She readily agreed. Soon I met her at a nearby caf.

Just as I'd imagined, the girl sitting across from me was young and beautiful, with an innocent charm in her eyes that spoke of someone untouched by the world's harshness.

The caf was warm. She took off her coat, and a hand warmer fell from her body.

She picked it up and smiled at me sheepishly.

"It's all my boyfriend's fault. He said it was cold today and insisted on putting this on me."

"Being with him, I'm turning into such a baby."

"When it gets cold, he nags me to dress warmer. During my period, he makes me hot milk. My friends tease me that I'm like a little kid."

She complained in a murmur, but pride filled every corner of her eyes and brows.

I tried to comfort myself, trembling inside.

It couldn't be Ethan.

My Ethan looked down on those clingy, fussy men.

He always said he was meant for big things, that a mature woman shouldn't bother him with trivial matters.

So when I had cramps so bad I nearly fainted, I could only take a taxi to the hospital myself.

So when I got too drunk to walk after entertaining clients, I just called a rideshare.

So the man she described who took care of her every little need absolutely couldn't be Ethan.

"Charlotte, are you okay?"

The girl across from me waved her hand in front of my eyes, puzzled.

I snapped back to reality and smiled apologetically.

"It's nothing. I'm just checking the necklace for any issues."

The girl happily took out the necklace and placed it in front of me.

"I heard this necklace's design was inspired by some painter's work. There's only one. My boyfriend's stalker waited forever to get it."

"I was originally going to throw this necklace away rather than let that bitch have it, but it's fate that I can sell it to you instead."

I took the necklace and silently traced the iris flower on it, my eyes stinging.

This necklace's inspiration came from my late mother's painting, which was why I'd been longing for it.

Ethan knew how important this necklace was to me.

It was an accident.

It had to be an accident.

I told myself this over and over in my mind, but my hands began to shake uncontrollably.

The girl continued talking to herself.

"Charlotte, you don't know how annoying my boyfriend's stalker is. She shamelessly throws herself at him, trying to be a homewrecker."

"She doesn't even look at herselfso ugly, yet still trying to seduce someone."

"Look, this is what my boyfriend sent me. Isn't this bitch disgusting?"

She pulled out her phone to show me. With just one glance, all the blood in my body seemed to freeze.

On her phone was a deliberately uglified photo of me.

And I'd only ever sent this selfie to Ethan.

I stood up abruptly, my face ashen, and threw out a sentence.

"I'm sorry, I don't want to buy it anymore."

I turned, grabbed my bag, and left.

The girl's expression changed.

"Wait, what's your problem? Didn't we already agree?"

She barely managed to chase after me and blocked me at the door.

During the struggle, a delivery bike came straight at us.

Just then, a figure rushed over and pulled the girl aside.

I couldn't dodge in time and was hit square on the foot by the scooter.

I looked up at the person in front of me, enduring the piercing pain.

The heart I'd been holding in suspense finally dropped.

So it really was him.

Ethan anxiously checked whether the girl was hurt.

The girl's face lit up with delight.

"Why did you come?"

Ethan affectionately tapped her nose.

"I was worried about you, little fool. Afraid you'd run into some bad person."

The girl then pointed at me angrily and scolded.

"I really did meet a psycho. We agreed on everything, then suddenly she says she won't buy it."

I watched as Ethan's eyes met mine. His previously smiling expression suddenly froze.

The girl looked at the man beside her suspiciously and pushed him.

"Do you know her?"

Ethan's eyes darted away as he flatly denied it.

"How would I know this kind of woman?"

I was about to speak when he interrupted.

"I'd better take you to the hospital to get checked out. Otherwise I won't feel at ease."

With that, he pulled the girl away in a hurry.

Leaving me sitting alone on the ground.

After a while, a message from him popped up on my phone.

"Charlotte, go home first. I'll explain to you later."

"Trust me, I have my reasons! I love you!"

A piercing pain came from my foot. It turned out he hadn't noticed at all.

I remembered when we first got togetherwhen I got a tiny paper cut, he made such a fuss about going to the hospital.

I forced myself to stand up and called my best friend, Mia. She rushed over immediately without a second word.

At the hospital, it wasn't until the doctor finished bandaging my injured leg that she finally relaxed.

She'd just sat down by the hospital bed when she couldn't help but curse angrily.

"Your foot is so badly injured, and that bastard Ethan is God knows where! I called him over a dozen times and he didn't answer."

"When he shows up, I'm going to give him a piece of my mind!"

I stared vacantly at the ceiling, my eyes dry and stinging.

"Ethan... he's having an affair."

Mia's mouth dropped open in shock, her eyes wide with disbelief.

"What?! He actually dared to cheat?"

"That son of a bitch! All these years, if it weren't for you running the company inside and out, what would he be!"

"Just wait, I'm going to destroy him and that homewrecker."

I stopped her.

"Don't alert them yet. Help me find out who that woman is. We'll slap his face once we've collected enough evidence."

I never fought unprepared battles. Ethan and I were too deeply entangled over the years.

Right now I had no concrete evidence. Acting rashly wouldn't guarantee a complete victory.

Mia patted my hand with a complicated expression.

"Charlotte, don't worry. You've got me."

"I'll make sure that bastard pays the price he deserves!"

It wasn't until evening that Ethan rushed over carrying soup.

"Charlotte, I didn't know your foot was injured. How is it? Is it serious?"

"I brought your favorite chicken soup. Try some."

He brought over the hot soup and even carefully blew on it to cool it before holding it to my lips.

A strong ginger smell made me nauseous.

I'm allergic to ginger. Ethan used to carefully pick out all the ginger from my food.

I turned away and pushed it aside. The soup spilled all over the floor.

His hand froze in midair, his expression stiffening. Then he smiled helplessly.

"Charlotte, you're throwing a tantrum again. You still don't trust me?"

"That girl is the heiress of Summers Corporation. I'm just playing along with her."

"Once we land that big Summers Corporation project, our company can successfully go public and you won't have to work so hard."

"I'm doing this for our future. Be sensible and listen."

That phrase againbe sensible, listen.

He spoke so righteously, his eyes full of disapproval, as if I were making a scene.

Thinking of the photo Mia sent me this afternoon of a naked man and woman in a car, nausea rose in my chest.

I opened my mouth, my voice hoarse.

"Are you sure she's the Summers Corporation heiress?"

Ethan paused, then laughed lightly.

"How could it be false? I had someone investigate long ago."

"Don't worry, I love you most. She's just for fun."

I closed my eyes, unwilling to deal with him anymore.

He didn't get angry. He tucked in my blanket and lay down on the accompanying bed beside me.

I woke up thirsty in the middle of the night to find the bed beside me empty.

I got up and had just stepped out when I heard the sounds of a man and woman panting from the doctor's on-call room across the hall.

Through the door crack, I saw that familiar figure.

The woman's hands clutched tightly around the man's neck.

Ethan was covered in sweat but held the woman's waist tightly, pressing her closer to himself.

With a powerful thrust, the woman let out a muffled moan.

"Baby, why are you being so rough?"

"What if someone hears us?"

Ethan laughed softly.

"You little temptress. Even on duty you can't help seducing people."

"You sent me those photos this afternoonwasn't that you tempting me with your uniform?"

"I've been waiting since this afternoon. How can you not handle it already?"

"Besides, so what if someone hears? Your dad owns this hospital. Who would dare say anything?"

The man thrust forward again mischievously, earning a bashful laugh from the woman.

My heart sank. I realized his rushing over tonight wasn't for me at all.

I recalled the information Mia sent this afternoon. Sophia Summersa nurse at this very hospital.

So he pretended to be worried about me, but what he was really thinking about was another woman's uniform seduction.

How laughable.

My heart felt like it had fallen into an ice cellar, so cold I couldn't breathe.

I tremblingly took out my phone and captured the image of the two people entangled before me.

Then I silently returned to the hospital room. Just as I lay down, a message popped up on my phone.

"See? He loves me. All I have to do is crook my finger and he comes running back to me."

"You filthy bitch, he doesn't love you anymore. If you weren't still somewhat useful, he would've dumped you long ago."

"I'm warning youget lost while you still can. Don't humiliate yourself."

It was Sophia Summers.

She'd seen me.

She'd deliberately called Ethan over.

I coldly looked at the compromising photos she sent, one after another, then downloaded and saved them.

Since the enemy was foolish enough to provide evidence herself, I would gladly accept it.

When I woke up the next morning, the space beside me was still empty.

A message from Ethan lay on my phone.

"Charlotte, something urgent came up at the company. I'm going to handle it. Discharge yourself."

"Be good. I'll bring you a present tonight."

Though I'd expected it, my heart still couldn't help but ache.

I packed up my things alone and prepared to handle the discharge, but at a corridor corner I ran head-on into the man who'd just said he was busy handling company business.

Ethan was coaxing a pouting Sophia Summers with a grin.

"Sweetheart, I lined up early this morning to buy these macarons. Just try one bite."

My brow twitched slightly. I used to love these macarons, but Ethan always said waiting in line was a waste of time.

So he didn't mind wasting timehe just minded wasting time on me.

The woman huffed and threw a tantrum.

"Who knows if you bought them for me or for that bitch? If I hadn't found out, you were even going to buy her a present!"

The man coaxed her gently.

"Of course they're for you. I already told you, I'm just using her. With the company about to go public, once the project succeeds, I'll break up with her immediately."

"The present I was going to give her was just a freebie from when I bought your necklace. You're even jealous of that?"

I couldn't take it anymore and threw my bag at him.

"Ethan, this is what you call playing along?"

The man looked up and met my eyes, a flash of panic in them.

Sophia Summers beside him furrowed her brow and pushed me hard with disgust on her face.

"Why haven't you left yet, you bitch? Still haunting us like a ghost. Who gave you the nerve to hit someone?"

I barely steadied myself and was about to slap her across the face when Ethan reached out and blocked me. The scar on the back of his hand was particularly clear.

That was from when we'd just started our business and landed a big project, then got targeted by competitors for revenge.

He'd blocked a bottle someone smashed at me with his bare hand, leaving that scar.

And now he was using that same hand to block my retaliation against someone else.

Ethan grabbed my hand, impatience on his face.

"Charlotte, that's enough. You're going too far."

"Go home first. Don't make a scene here. We'll talk about it slowly when we get back."

People gradually gathered around, pointing and whispering at us.

"Look at that guythis woman's probably a mistress coming to demand money."

"These days mistresses are so brazen. What is the world coming to?"

I was about to retort when Sophia Summers in front of me pulled out a booklet and threw it at my head.

"She is a mistress. Already divorced my boyfriend, but still won't let go."

I looked at the divorce certificate on the ground, my expression freezing.

Then I laughed.

"I didn't even know I'd been divorced."

Sophia Summers stood with her hands on her hips, looking at me with contempt.

"You old hag, last time you clearly agreed to divorce him, and now you're playing dumb."

Panic flashed in Ethan's eyes. He didn't dare look at me directly.

I picked up the certificate from the ground and saw the pages without an official seal.

Suddenly I understood. Ethan had forged a divorce certificate to deceive her.

I remembered on our wedding registration day, Ethan hadn't slept all night and dragged me to the city hall first thing in the morning.

I'd teased him for being as eager as a child. He held the bright red marriage certificate with reddened eyes and hugged me.

"Charlotte, how fortunate I am to marry you."

"I'll keep this marriage certificate safe. Even when we're old, it'll be buried with us."

And now he'd so easily given it up. Even if it was fake, it was equally disgusting!

I was about to speak with a dark expression when Ethan raised his hand and slapped me.

"Haven't you made enough of a scene? Aren't you embarrassed enough!"

While I was stunned, he pulled Sophia Summers away in a hurry.

Leaving me sitting alone.

I looked at their retreating figures, my chest aching more and more, until I finally passed out.

When I opened my eyes again, I only saw Mia by the hospital bed.

Her eyes were full of anxiety and heartache.

"Charlotte, you... you're pregnant."

"The doctor said you have PCOS. If you lose this one, you might never be able to be a mother again."

My heart clenched. I slowly touched my abdomena life was beginning to grow here.

A message from Ethan popped up on my phone.

"Charlotte, you went too far today, embarrassing Sophia in public and nearly making me lose face."

"I already told you, I'm just playing along. In one week, Summers Corporation will sign the project contract."

"After that I'll break it off with her and come back to you. Let's both calm down for now."

Looking at Ethan's words, waves of nausea churned in my stomach.

How could someone speak of cheating so righteously?

Garbage should be thrown away.

If we're breaking up, we should break up cleanly.

Before I could make a decision, I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my abdomen. I collapsed to the floor, and the medical staff rushed me into the operating room. When I woke up, the doctor told me I had lost the baby due to the trauma from the scooter accident and the emotional distress. My heart shattered, but there was nothing I could do.

Even as I was wheeled out of the operating room, pale-faced, Ethan never sent me another message. His social media was also silent.

Mia handed me her phone with red eyes.

"That bastard! You're here suffering, and he's traveling the world with his mistress."

It wasn't that his social media was silenthe'd chosen to block me.

I silently scrolled through the man's feed. It was all sweet photos of him and Sophia Summers.

They went to the Arctic to see the Northern Lights together, to Bali to watch the sunsetall the places he'd promised to take me.

He'd always told me he had no time, but now he finally had timeto go with another woman.

Looking at the man's genuinely happy smile in the photos, I looked up and smiled reassuringly at Mia.

"Don't worry. Soon it'll be their turn to cry."

After being discharged, I immediately met with a lawyer, then met with someone else.

Summers Corporation was undergoing earth-shattering changes, but the two people still playing outside were completely unaware.

The day before the signing ceremony between Luke Corporation and Summers Corporation, I received a call from Ethan.

"Charlotte, you've calmed down enough by now, haven't you?"

"Although I haven't been with you lately, I've still been thinking of you. I booked you a room at the hot spring resort in the Northside. Go relax."

The Northside was miles away from the signing location. He was worried about me and wanted to send me far away.

As if.

After hanging up, a smile curved my lips.

The next morning, watching the location of my car on his phone move farther and farther away, Ethan finally relaxed and held Sophia Summers's hand, waiting for Summers Corporation's representatives to arrive for the signing.

But even past the appointed time, Summers Corporation's representative still hadn't appeared.

Sophia Summers smiled reassuringly.

"Don't worry. I'll call my dad."

But the line was busy. A bad feeling suddenly welled up in Ethan's heart.

The door opened. Everyone looked up at once. Sophia Summers cried out in shock.

"How is it you?!"