Chapter 1 Hubby spends more than half the year in Mexico expanding business. I'm used to it, but I still miss him like crazy. After applying for business trips over and over, I finally got the chance to visit clients in Mexico! Before leaving, my boss sent me a photo. [This is the wife and kids of Mr. Hayes, the client you're visiting this time. Remember to bring age-appropriate gifts for them.] In the photo, a woman was smiling sweetly, holding a child with each hand. [Got it covered!] After landing in this foreign country, I headed straight to the hotel, wanting to drop off my luggage quickly and surprise my husband. But I froze the moment I reached the lobby… Walking toward me was exactly that woman from the photo, with those same two kids beside her, but… why the hell was my husband there too? My colleague frantically poked my arm: What are you spacing out for! That's Mr. Hayes right there-go say hi!" The second she spotted me, this woman dropped Lincoln's hand and marched straight over: Are you Sophia Carter here for the project meeting? What a coincidence running into you early! I'm Vivian Reed, Lincoln's wife." She knew exactly who I was, and had the balls to introduce herself as Lincoln's wife right to my face. How the hell does a homewrecker get this shameless?! Thinking about my supervisor suddenly letting me on this project, it hit me-did she set this whole thing up for me to find out? incoln's smile died the second he saw me. He carefully set down the little girl he'd been holding and took her hand, then awkwardly stuck his other and out toward me. Nice to meet you." ¡eriously? Acting like we're total strangers??! bit my lip so hard it hurt, staring at his cold-ass expression like I was seeing a ghost. After high school, Lincoln confessed to me in front of the entire school, then we went to the same college and got married right after graduation. Ten years together, and his passion had gradually faded. I thought it was just love turning into whatever. Never thought he had a whole secret wife and kids-that son was six years old, born the exact same year we got married. So all those "exhausting" trips between countries-was he doing it for me, or for this perfect little family in Mexico? When I didn't take his hand, Lincoln gave me this look like I'd pissed him off: "Is this your company's idea of professional conduct?" Seeing this, Vivian smiled and grabbed Lincoln's hand to cool him down: "Miss Carter is probably keeping her distance because she sees you're a married man. Very classy-I actually respect girls with boundaries like that." Her words sounded supportive, but they made me bite the inside of my cheek so hard I couldn't even fake a smile. Lincoln pretended not to know me while Vivian kept pissing on her territory. So what the hell was I supposed to be? My colleague looked ready to shit himself and pressed down on my back, making us both bow: "Mr. and Mrs. Hayes, I'm so sorry-she just got off the plane and feels like crap. Please don't hold it against us." "Keeping distance is totally right! Everyone knows you and Mr. Hayes are deeply in love-like that power couple everyone won't shut up about." I wanted to tear into Lincoln, but that fury completely died when my colleague made me bow. Right-Lincoln was Mr. Hayes who everyone had to kiss ass to, while I was just some nobody employee begging her boss for international projects. "Sorry, we're here for this partnership. Zero disrespect intended." After apologizing, I bowed again, my eyes burning as I watched Lincoln and Vivian's joined hands. Vivian hooked her arm through Lincoln's all lovey-dovey: "It's fine. I heard about your skills-that's why I had you assigned to this. But my husband and I need to head home now. Rain check on the project talk?" She'd never met me but knew everything about me. So my Mexico trip eventually was her doing. Thinking about our whole department pulling all-nighters with raccoon eyes, and my best friend counting on this project to finally get promoted. I didn't say anything else, just forced this fake-ass smile and nodded. 'Hope you have a great evening." Lincoln opened his mouth like he wanted to say something, but the kids and Vivian grabbed his hands. He immediately spun around grinning, scooped up one of the kids, and walked off with Vivian. Back at the hotel, staring at my dead phone screen, I felt completely lost. I couldn't wrap my head around why Lincoln wouldn't even give me a explanation. kept calling and calling. He seemed to hang up a few times, then got pissed and blocked me. staring at my phone screen, I sat there until dawn before finally getting a text from Lincoln. Babe, you know I'm crazy about you. The kids and Vivian were accidents. Just bail on this project-I'll explain everything when I get back.] Be good, don't cause drama.] Don't cause drama. What the fuck counted as causing drama? I couldn't even ask for an explanation without being too much? I wiped away the tears and numbly hit redial. All I got was the busy signal of being blocked. For him, I'd agreed to be childfree even though I'd always been obsessed with kids. But he went and had kids with someone else and couldn't even bother giving me a reason. If the first kid was an accident, what about the second one? Another accident? Ten years together, and he thought he could brush me off with "don't cause drama"? What was I to him anyway?