My Anniversary Gift Was His Mistress and the Sharks Waiting Below

With only three days left until our wedding anniversary, my husband—who had always hated the beach—suddenly suggested a cruise.

I frowned, staring at the text message on my phone, feeling something wasn’t right. I called him immediately and got straight to the point.

“You hate the beach, don’t you? Why the sudden interest in a cruise?”

On the other end, Aron Howard paused for a moment before answering casually.

“What? Wasn’t it you who kept pestering me to go? Now that I’m taking you, you’re questioning my motives? If you don’t want to go, I’ll cancel. Stop nagging me about it.”

My doubts faded and I quickly agreed.

But the next moment, my phone buzzed with a video clip.

Inside a casino booth, someone shouted over the noise.

“I’ll bet ten million that in three days, on the cruise ship, Aron will kneel and propose to Melly Kinsey—while Laura Walters faints from crying!”

——

My fingers trembled as I clutched the phone, struggling to process what I was hearing.

Another voice laughed.

“Aron, what do you think of this bet? Three days from now, you propose to Melly in front of Laura. Can’t wait to see her reaction!”

“The stakes... how about making six-months-pregnant Laura put on a swimsuit show for us in the ocean?”

“Hahaha, I like that!”

“I’m in. I’ll bet twenty million!”

One after another, the voices placed their bets.

Through the haze of smoke in the video, I spotted that familiar figure.

“Alright, I’ll bet...”

I didn’t hear the rest.

Snapping my phone shut, I sank into the hospital chair, unable to believe it—Aron had betrayed me.

Melly? Her name is Melly?

My stomach twisted. Just then, another video arrived.

In the same private room, someone teased Aron.

“Bro, you’ve been flying to Canada every week for two years just to see Melly. Doesn’t Laura suspect anything? And isn’t Melly crazy possessive? Aren’t you afraid Laura will notice the marks she leaves on you?”

Aron exhaled a puff of smoke, a smirk tugging at his lips.

“That’s exactly why I got Laura pregnant. I don’t have to touch her for a year—how could she possibly find out? Once she gives me the heir, I’ll get a vasectomy. Nothing beats going bare.”

When the video ended, I covered my mouth and rushed to vomit.

It hit me all at once: a man I had been married to for three years might already be rotten to the core.

Dragging myself back to the villa, I sat in the living room for what felt like forever. Eventually, Aron came home reeking of alcohol.

He wrapped his arms around me from behind, his body drenched in the stench of cheap perfume.

“Laura, did the baby give you trouble today? I’ve arranged a cruise for our anniversary. You’ve always wanted to see the beach, right? Are you excited?”

His voice brushed against my ear and my whole body went stiff as their bet replayed in my mind.

“Three years and you’re still so shy?” he teased softly, slipping a bag of pastries into my hands before heading toward the bathroom.

The sound of running water echoed as I opened the pastry box.

Cakes new release—mango flavored. But I’m severely allergic to mango.

Three years and he still hadn’t remembered.

I tossed the pastries into the trash and no longer hesitated. Rising, I pulled out a black box from the back of the wardrobe.

Inside was the agreement Grandpa Howard had left me before his death.

After signing it, I dialed Attorney Frederic’s number.

“Mr. Frederic, I’ve changed my mind. I’ve signed the agreement and sent you a photo. But... could we wait three days before making it public?”