Six Years of Secret Marriage, I Left My Cheating Husband

###Chapter 4

I climbed out of bed and opened the drawer.

With trembling hands, I tore the pathetic fake marriage certificate into shreds.

Then I dug out the wedding photos buried at the bottom of the suitcase—those shameful lies we once posed for—and threw them straight into the trash.

Letting out a deep breath, I slid under the covers. Just as I was about to sleep, Dawson's phone rang.

He jolted awake, quickly switching it to silent.

“Maxine, did I wake you?”

He gave my right shoulder a gentle shake. Seeing that my breathing was steady, he quietly answered the call.

“Your son misses you. Come keep us company.”

Elise's sugary voice cut through the silence like a blade.

Dawson glanced at me, then lowered his voice.

“I miss you two as well. I'm coming now.”

“You ripped my panties earlier today—don't forget to bring me a new pair, okay?”

After hanging up, Dawson stroked my face with mock tenderness, then got dressed and left.

I followed his car in secret.

Eventually, he pulled into the private healthcare center owned by the Patterson family.

As I slipped through the gates, two passing staff members chatted excitedly.

“President Patterson is so devoted to his fiancée. This entire facility was built just for her postnatal care.”

“Right? Miss Perkins must've saved the galaxy in her past life to deserve a man like him.”

Inside the lavish private villa, Elise threw herself into Dawson's arms.

She looked radiant—glowing skin, perfect makeup, not a trace of fatigue from childbirth. Dozens of professionals, nannies, and attendants fluttered around her like she was royalty.

Dawson playfully tapped her nose.

“I called Victoria's Secret and instructed them to prepare 365 pairs of panties so you can wear a new style every day.”

She squealed with delight and kissed him.

“These are unreleased limited editions! You actually got them in advance? Dawson, you're the best!”

Then her gaze drifted toward the floor-to-ceiling window—and landed directly on me, standing in the garden.

In the blink of an eye, she collapsed against his chest like jelly.

“Hubby, I'm so full of milk. The baby can't finish it all. I'm so swollen, and it hurts... The doctor said if I don't get relief soon, I might get a fever...”

Dawson hesitated, brows furrowed. “Elise... You just gave birth. We already... earlier today. I'm afraid you won't be able to handle it. I don't want to see you suffer.”

She grabbed his head and pushed it toward her chest.

“Dummy. I'm willing to suffer for you. Don't you want to help me try on those new panties?”

His eyes darkened instantly with lust.

Dawson pinned her against the wall, kissing and biting, his hands grabbing wildly. Their breath quickened, rising to a fevered pitch.

When he was with me, he was always gentle. I thought that meant he cherished me.

Only now did I realize his so-called tenderness was nothing but pity.

This was the real Dawson—a man unhinged with desire for the woman he truly loved.

Even when Elise begged him to stop, he didn't. He kept going—again and again.

I couldn't watch anymore.

I fled back to the car, heart pounding, and stomach churning.

Back home, I wiped my pathetic tears away.

I took off the sapphire necklace he had just given me and gathered every item connected to Dawson—letters, photos, souvenirs, and tossed them all into a metal barrel.

Then I struck a match.

The love I once carved into my bones went up in flames.

Just as the fire crackled, an email notification lit up my screen—it was from Elise.

[Did you enjoy watching our little love performance? You've spent years clinging to Dawson like a desperate stray, without an ounce of dignity.]

[He says you're more boring than a piece of wood. He never once felt satisfied with you. But with me? He can't get enough.]

I let her mockery wash over me.

And yet, I downloaded every vile, humiliating video she attached—one by one.