
When My Ex-husband Learned of My Death
Chapter 1
Everyone around me seemed to think I had hit the jackpot. They all said that Daniel Evans was a picture of a perfect husband, saying that marrying him was the greatest blessing a woman could ask for.
The day I found out I was pregnant was also the day I ran into Daniel's professor at the hospital. The old professor's face was crinkling with delight upon hearing of my pregnancy as he promised to shower the upcoming arrival with a generous gift.
A bittersweet smile played on my lips as I politely asked him to keep this news from Daniel for a little while longer. He readily agreed, assuming I was planning a surprise for my husband.
What Daniel did not know, what no one knew, was that I already held a heavy secret close to my heart, the truth about his affair with the very girl I had been financially supporting.
Recently, the hospital where Daniel worked had been swamped due to major inspections. Despite the long hours and heavy workload, the moment he stepped through the door that evening, the very first thing my husband did was tousling my tousle hair with the same tenderness as usual. He reached out and gently patted my head as I sat on the sofa, absorbed in the television program.
Without a moment of pause, he shed his tie and slipped on an apron, disappearing into the kitchen to start preparing dinner. I turned my head, watching his busy figure with a mixture of emotions swirling within me.
Yes, our friends all knew Daniel Evans as a loving husband who gave his wife the best treatment in the world.
Even though two years had passed since our wedding vows, the sweet reminder of our love remained etched on his phone and our picture together was proudly displayed as his Instagram profile picture.
Since I had allergies to cigarettes, Daniel not only kicked the smoking habit himself, but he even went so far as to politely intervene when his friends were about to light up at social gatherings.
No matter how fancy or important the meal was, he never forgot to let me know. A quick call would come through, updating me on his whereabouts. Also, as an extra thoughtful touch, he would often swing by a bakery on his way home, bringing my favorite egg tarts to brighten my evening.
This attentiveness often made him the target of playful teasing from his friends, who affectionately nicknamed him "The Househusband".
Even within the hospital walls, whispers of Daniel's devotion reached his colleagues' ears. Everyone knew him as a man deeply devoted to his wife. A man who always prioritized a home-cooked meal and quality time with his wife, regardless of his workload.
However, this man who showered me with such love... who could have guessed that behind this facade, he had an affair with another woman behind my back for a long time?
After dinner, we settled onto the sofa, the warm glow of the television filling the room. Daniel wrapped an arm around me as his other hand reached for mine and gently rubbed his thumb across it in a familiar gesture.
Yet, my mind could not shake the image from his friend Harris Green's Instagram post that afternoon.
It seemed like just another group of friends celebrating some gaming victory, nothing out of the ordinary. As someone who did not share their interest in games, I would not have given it a second glance normally.
However, perhaps it was the mere mention of Daniel's name within that circle that sparked a curiosity within me. With a click, I found myself in the picture, zooming in for a closer look.
There, amidst the unfamiliar username tagged in the post and faces I did not recognize, a familiar Instagram account stood out.
It was not until that second that I finally realized that Daniel had a secret account that was completely hidden from my knowledge.
Stifling the storm of emotions churning within me, I turned to Daniel and asked with a voice as steady as I could, "Can you teach me how to play Mobile Legends?"
Upon hearing my question, Daniel tore his gaze away from the TV and looked at me with a smile. "Yeah, sure. Why not? But I thought you weren't interested in games?"
"I saw Harris's post on Instagram today. It looked like you guys were having fun playing and I just got a little curious."
I stared at Danie as I studied his face. The mention of Harris's circle of friends caused a flicker of surprise in his eyes, though he quickly recovered his composure.
With practiced ease, he unlocked his phone and logged into the game.
The first game stretched on for over ten minutes. While Daniel patiently tried to guide me through the unfamiliar world of the game, he also found himself barking out instructions to his teammates on the other end.
Despite the chaos, our team managed to secure a victory. Yet, a nagging doubt gnawed at me. The account Daniel logged in with was a mere level 19, a stark contrast to the experienced player he appeared to be.
Even the opposing team could not help but call him out on the public chat channel, accusing him of "smurfing" and disguising himself as a beginner to troll new players.
It was boring, so I tossed my phone carelessly onto the sofa before standing up to leave, ignoring Daniel's voice calling after me, asking if something was wrong.