When My Husband's Ex Returned, He Kicked Me Out of the House

The year Desmond Knight went bankrupt and crashed his car, I knelt in the rain for a day and a night.

I begged my parents to let me marry him.

For six years of marriage, Desmond cherished me, respected me—but he never loved me.

In Desmond’s heart, there was always his ex-girlfriend.

And no matter how hard I tried, in six long years, I never managed to take her place.

Hearing him personally say he didn’t love me, I signed the divorce papers without hesitation and finally gave up on our entanglement.

Desmond, that cold, distant man, suddenly dropped to his knees, just like I had back then—

Begging me to come back.

…

“Leaving again? Didn’t you promise you’d stay and have dinner with me?”

Desmond was already dressed, clearly about to head out.

At my words, he gave me an apologetic look. “Sorry. Something urgent came up at the company. I have to deal with it.”

“Don’t wait up for me. Just eat first.”

As the door closed, I lowered my head, and the last shred of hope inside me crumbled.

I knew exactly who Desmond was going to see.

At the airport—

A reporter lifted a microphone. “Miss Hale, may I ask what brought you back to the country so suddenly this time?”

The camera turned.

“Because of someone,” the woman replied.

She slowly took off her sunglasses, revealing a face I knew all too well.

“We missed each other for many years because of some… circumstances. This time, I came back for him.”

Confidence and a fierce determination lit up her features.

I turned off the TV.

Seraphina Hale—currently one of the hottest rising actresses.

She was also Desmond’s ex-girlfriend.

Near midnight, half-asleep, I heard the sound of the lock turning.

The living room light snapped on. The harsh brightness forced my eyes open, and I instinctively glanced at the clock.

It wasn’t midnight yet. Overjoyed, I jumped up from the couch.

Desmond pinched the bridge of his nose, looking tired. “Didn’t I tell you not to wait up?”

My smile froze.

I had thought he’d rushed back because he remembered what day it was.

I lowered my head in disappointment. “You forgot what today is.”

Desmond paused.

The living room was different tonight—carefully decorated by me.

He hadn’t noticed at all.

In the center of the dining table sat a cake with words piped across it.

It had been sitting there so long the frosting was starting to melt, but the words “Happy Anniversary” were still clearly visible.

Midnight had passed. Yesterday had been our fifth wedding anniversary.

By the time Desmond realized, it was already too late. He sighed. “I’m sorry. I was so busy, it slipped my mind.”

I didn’t call out his lie.

Desmond stepped forward and pulled me into his arms. “Whatever you want, just buy it. I’ll make it up to you later, okay?”

His scent wrapped around me, thick and cloyingly sweet. The perfume made my stomach churn.

Desmond never wore cologne.

I knew exactly whose fragrance it was. Swallowing back the tears, I wondered if he had held her the same way he was holding me now.

Desmond agreed to make up for missing our anniversary.

That evening, he booked a reservation at a hotel restaurant.

I hadn’t expected to see Seraphina so soon.

Success had only made her more striking. Gone was the girl from six years ago; now she was a woman polished by fame and red carpets.

She didn’t look the least bit surprised to see us. She had clearly come here for Desmond.

“Hello, Desmond’s wife.”

Seraphina looked down at me from where she stood, and from her I caught the exact same perfume I had smelled on Desmond that night.

She emphasized the word “wife,” biting down on it, her tone edged with resentment.

Of course. If it weren’t for me, six years ago Desmond never would’ve agreed to marry.

“What are you doing here?” Desmond snapped, frowning.

“What, I’m not allowed?” Seraphina’s tone turned teasing, almost flirtatious, as she sat down beside Desmond right in front of me, not bothering to hide the desire in her eyes. Then she gave me a taunting little smile.