Chapter 1 The night of my business trip, Charleston exploded with fireworks. I was about to hit record and send Derek a video when my screen caught something that made my blood run cold. There he was-my husband-holding some woman close, looking at her with total adoration as she said to him: "If you actually love me, Derek, then show me." I couldn't move. Just watched him give her that smile-the one I thought was mine-before he murmured "I will" and kissed her. The crowd pushed me back, but I stayed locked on them. Then it hit me-the text he'd sent barely an hour ago. [Babe, I'm so jealous you get to see this. Make sure you record it for me?] Seven years together. Three years married. I genuinely thought we'd make it. Thought we'd be different, you know? Beat that whole seven-year curse everyone warns you about. Turns out we're just as basic as every other couple who couldn't make it work. I swiped the tears off my face and lifted my phone again, hands shaking. You want a fucking video, Derek? Fine. You'll get one-fireworks and your cheating ass, all documented. Every. Single. Second. The night of my business trip. Fireworks exploded across the Charleston sky. I was watching the show, about to record a video to share with Derek, when my camera accidentally caught a familiar figure. Derek had a woman pulled into his arms, looking down at her with total adoration as she said to him: "Derek, if you love me, then prove it with action." My expression froze. I watched as Derek smiled at her, all soft and tender, said "okay," and then kissed her right on the lips. The crowd pushed me back a few yards, and my mind flashed to what Derek had told me just an hour ago. "Babe, I really wish I could see this fireworks show too. Make sure you record it for me, okay?" My hands were shaking as I stared at the couple on my screen. Without even thinking, I dialed Derek's number. 16-19 0.06 Chapter 1 The crowd kept surging around me like waves. I hung back several yards, just watching as Derek pulled out his phone. The screen's glow illuminated his face, and I saw his entire body go rigid. The girl next to him immediately wrapped herself around his arm. "Who's calling?" Her eyes dropped to his screen, and just like that, she let go of him, clearly upset. "Derek!" You promised you'd be with me tonight!" Tears started pooling in her eyes as she stared at him. "You said you'd spend my birthday with me. That was my only birthday wish. You gave me your word." She looked like she was about to cry, and honestly, even from where I stood, my heart ached for her. My fingers went cold despite the humid night air, and I watched Derek pause for maybe two seconds before he hit decline. Then he cupped her face gently, pressed a kiss to her forehead, and whispered: I know, I know. I'm here, baby. Don't be upset." He smiled at her warmly, soothing her hurt feelings. Then he glanced back down at his phone and started typing away. A moment later, my phone buzzed in my hand with his messages. Babe, I'm stuck at the office.] Emergency project just dropped. Let me wrap this up and I'll call you back, okay?] 'd never questioned us before. Not even once. Derek traveled constantly for work, but he always kept me in the loop about everything. very client dinner, every networking event-he'd tell me who'd be there, how well he knew them, all the details. le made me feel completely safe and secure. Never gave me a single reason to worry or overthink. his was the same man who'd always been absolutely perfect. And now here he was, holding another woman close, whispering promises to her, while simultaneously texting me lies: Babe, please don't be upset with me. This literally came out of nowhere-I didn't even have a chance to give you a heads up.] I promise, I know I messed up.J Another notification lit up my screen. Venmo. Derek had just sent me $500 with a note attached: [Please forgive me wifey~ I love you~] 16.10 Dear Hubby Your Diggest Mistake? Thinking I'd Bea Instead of Burn 0.2% Chapter 1 A sharp, stabbing pain tore through my chest. The hurt almost knocked me off my feet, but someone caught me just in time-my best friend's panicked voice broke through the fog and yanked me back to the present moment. I looked down at his messages again, still desperately searching for some kind of reasonable explanation. My trembling fingers started typing on their own. [Derek, where are you right now?] [Derek.] my vision blurred with tears as my hands shook, forcing out the words: [You remember promising me you'd never lie to me, right?] My best friend Maddie watched me completely break down, sobbing so hard I could barely breathe. The second I looked up, she followed my gaze and spotted them in the distance. She went still for a split second, then totally exploded. "Wait-is that fucking Derek?" "That's Derek Hartley!" That piece of shit!" She was absolutely livid, already moving to storm over there and rip into both of them. I'm gonna tear him apart!" But I grabbed her wrist and yanked her back hard. She whipped around, confused as hell, but I just shook my head, tears streaming down my face. Across the crowd, I saw Derek's yebrows pinch together, watched hesitation flash across his face before he slipped his phone back in his pocket. My heart dropped like a stone. Don't. Please don't." ears fell onto her hand as I held on tighter, my eyes burning and red. Just... don't" watched the girl slide her arms around Derek's neck right as the fireworks exploded overhead, pulling him into a kiss beneath all hat light and color. t felt like someone had reached into my chest and was crushing my heart in their fist. could barely breathe. But somehow I managed to choke out: I need to know." Whatever composure I'd been clinging to completely shattered. "I need to know how far this has gone." I have to know." 'I need to see who the hell I lost him to." 16:19 Dear Hubby, Your Biggest Mistake? Thinking I'd Beg Instead of Burn Chapter 1 Derek and I had been married three years. Together for seven. Everyone always says when you hit that seven-year mark-whether you're dating or married-there's this wall. The seven-year itch. Some couples just can't make it over that hump. I really thought we'd be different. I genuinely believed Derek and I would beat the odds. Guess we're just as basic as everyone else. I tailed Derek from the fireworks all the way until he finally left. The whole time, I watched him constantly pull out his phone, thumbs flying across the screen. Meanwhile, my own phone wouldn't stop buzzing with message after message from him. Chapter 7