"Explain to me why this thing is in your pants pocket? And don’t even try to say this is my underwear because I don’t own anything like this!" Ashley shouted before Gio could say anything.

A flash of shock crossed Gio’s eyes when he saw the familiar underwear. Of course, because it was one of the gifts he gave Joy last month after she introduced him to a big client.

Thanks to Joy, that client was very confident in working with Gio’s company and gave him a big tender.

Gio’s mind raced to find an excuse, but all he could do was deny it.

"I don’t know! Are you trying to accuse me of cheating now?" Gio shouted in a high tone.

Ashley scoffed, then pulled out her phone and showed Gio a photo. It was a picture of the gift box with a post-it note containing sweet, naughty words with Joy’s name on it.

This time, Gio couldn’t dodge anymore. He swallowed the bitter lump in his throat, feeling guilt fill his heart as he saw Ashley’s pale and depressed face.

But Gio didn’t want to admit it so easily. "Why do you always think negatively? Do you think those words always have naughty and negative meanings? Joy has helped my company grow a lot!

She’s young, and you know how young people nowadays like to use edgy words to joke or show closeness!"

Ashley couldn’t hold back her laughter, though it sounded hollow. "So now, words like 'hotty nasty girl' and 'unforgettable hot night' show how close you are to her? How close? And what about the manners you mentioned earlier? Where are your and your slut’s manners, actually?"

A hard slap hit Ashley’s cheek. She froze, and so did Gio, the perpetrator. Tears welled up in Ashley’s eyes. All this time, Gio had never hit her, and now he had turned violent since meeting Joy!

Ashley still wanted to believe all of Gio’s lies, at least until he slapped her. But now, the pain from that slap made Ashley realize something was definitely wrong. Gio looked nervous, and he slapped Ashley to cover up his anxiety.

Because everything Ashley said was true. Even though she didn’t understand why Gio didn’t just admit to the affair.

"I didn’t mean to slap you. Why do you keep cornering me? Why don’t you understand what I’m saying?" Gio shouted loudly, still trying to cover his guilt.

Ashley took a deep breath, closing her eyes to hold back the tears. "I wasn’t trying to corner you. I was just asking, and you impulsively slapped me. Are you getting tired of me? Because I’m not as brilliant as Joy, who can help boost your career?" Ashley replied softly.

"Does paying back that slut give you the right to slap me? Have you forgotten that I’ve been your wife for four years, and you’re the one who forbade me from helping you at the company? You’re not being fair if you blame me for a situation you created yourself!"

Gio took a deep breath, feeling suffocated. "You’re misunderstanding again! What contribution could you make to my company? For your information, Joy’s family background is extraordinary! Something you don’t have, you know? Why would I need your help at the company if you don’t have skills like Joy?"

For the umpteenth time in the past two days, Gio hurt Ashley’s feelings again. Even though she already knew, it still hurt more when Gio said it himself.

How could Gio become so calculative now?

"No. You used to say you didn’t want me to help with your work because you wanted a wife who welcomed you home. A wife who would be your stress reliever, not someone who would also stress over business.

You said providing for us was your job! I followed your wishes because I loved you! You don’t even know without trying, and I swear I could do way better than that tramp.

And here you are, constantly spouting nonsense!" Ashley no longer wanted to hold back the feelings she had long suppressed.

Gio glared angrily. "Then what’s your response to me? Leaving the house a mess and coming home in the morning?

Even though you’re just at home, you can’t even give me children!" Gio shouted, equally upset.

Ashley’s lips trembled, wanting to reveal that she had just had a miscarriage. Gio's accusations were baseless, but the tightness in her chest made it impossible for Ashley to say a word.

"Enough! I hate starting the day with a fight. Reflect on your mistakes!" Gio snapped before storming off.

After Gio left, Ashley ran to the bedroom and cried her heart out. In just one day, her calm and somewhat boring life had turned into a tragedy.

The husband she thought she could rely on, a life partner to share joys and sorrows with, and who understood her the most, had now become someone she no longer recognized.

But above all, what Ashley regretted the most was losing her baby. If only she hadn’t found that black lace underwear. If only she hadn’t been driven by anger and gone to Gio’s office.

If only she had taken care of herself, none of this would have happened! At least if Gio was cheating, Ashley would have found some solace in their child’s presence.

"I’m sorry, my child..." Ashley sobbed. How unfortunate, in a situation where Gio should have been her main support system, he instead left her. Blaming and cornering her non-stop.

For over an hour, Ashley cried like there was no tomorrow until she was exhausted and fell asleep. When she woke up, it was already evening. There was no sign of Gio being home. Ashley glanced at her phone and found no messages or notifications from Gio.

Oddly enough, she felt relieved. The strange solitude and silence after crying her heart out gave Ashley a sense of peace. She suddenly imagined a different scenario.

What if the baby hadn’t miscarried and she had carried it to term safely? Could Ashley have turned a blind eye to Gio’s infidelity? What about the child Joy was carrying? Would her child have to compete for a father’s love?

"No. My child deserves a good life, with enough love. Not with a cheating father!" Ashley declared with determination.

The will to live, which had dimmed, now began to burn brightly again. In the dark room, Ashley’s mind lit up.

"But I won’t accept losing my child. You will pay, Georgio Miller! Like very soon!”