Chapter 1
I was standing at the doorway holding a basket of vegetables when I saw a well–dressed woman sitting on the sofa.
She glanced at me, then turned to ask my husband, “Who’s she? The housekeeper we hired?”
Without even looking up, he said, “Yeah.”
I glanced down at my bleached, threadbare jeans and smiled.
Three years of marriage, and in his eyes, I wasn’t even worthy of being called his wife.
I did not argue. That night, I packed up and left, leaving him a parting gift.
My name is Jane Mackey.
Just like my name suggests, I’m simple and unremarkable.
I come from the countryside. No degree, no background, no family connections.
People say the only reason I got close to Collin Whelan, the CEO of Hallaway Group, was because of my beauty.
I never really believed that, even if I did feel a little insecure.
Because I knew there were tons of pretty girls around him who were way more attractive than me.
Sometimes I would just watch his handsome face in silence, hoping maybe I meant something different to him.
On our third wedding anniversary, Collin took me out to a fancy
restaurant.
Even after all this time, I was still not used to the rich lifestyle. I wore the most expensive dress I had, feeling a little nervous.
He ordered a bottle of Lafite. Right after taking one sip, his phone rang.
His whole face suddenly lit up.
“Hey, Jean…” he said in the softest voice I had ever heard. “Okay, I’ll be there right away!”
That was when I finally realized at they had still been in touch all along.
Jean Harshaw was Collin’s ex–wife.
I poured myself a glass of wine and took a big sip.
Collin looked over, surprised. “I thought you didn’t drink.”
I smiled. “It’s such a good wine, I figured I should at least try it.”
He nodded, then quickly stood up. “I’ve got something to take care of. When you’re done eating, just grab a taxi home. I’ll cover the bill.”
Then he left.
I sat there for a while, feeling everyone’s eyes on me like needles.
There was still plenty of red wine left, so I poured glass after glass. It was expensive, sure, but it just tasted bitter to me. It was really
disgusting.
That night, I dragged myself home, exhausted.
The moment I opened the door to the villa, I caught the strong scent of fancy women’s perfume.
There was a stranger sitting on the leather couch I always used.
She was wearing a beige designer suit, her chestnut curls glowing softly under the light.
She was stunning–elegant and graceful–the kind of beauty I always admired from afar.
Ronan Whelan was lying in her lap, and she was gently combing his hair with her slender fingers.
My husband Collin sat beside her, eyes so soft they looked like they could cry.
He had never looked at me like that.
The sparkling chandelier above almost felt blinding–it hurt to look at.
They looked like a real family, while I just felt like someone who had walked into the wrong house.
Yet, deep down, I knew the truth. They were a family.
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