Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph

Chapter 37 Heartbeats in Public

I pushed open the door and immediately saw Vivian's photo. My head buzzed, and I couldn't even hear my phone ringing. I walked in like a zombie.

A huge wedding photo of Vivian and Arthur dominated the living room wall. Vivian was clinging to Arthur, smiling brightly, but it just made me feel worse. The photo wasn't recent; Arthur's hair was much longer in it. He'd cut his hair at least two months ago.

Thinking about what I found in the study earlier, a bold guess hit me, and my heart raced.

The apartment's layout matched Arthur's, so I easily found the study and pushed the door open.

The study was massive, big enough for a party. It was more like a combo of a study and a master bedroom.

The bed was huge and looked super comfy. The pink sheets and duvet were pretty tempting.

The bookshelf that used to be against the wall was turned ninety degrees, connecting this room with Arthur's study. It wasn't just a bookshelf; it was a hidden door. How did I never notice? Was I really that clueless? I couldn't believe Arthur went to such lengths to cheat.

The design was clever. When they got tired of reading, they could just roll onto the bed.

Arthur kept calling me. I finally answered after stepping into his study through the hidden door.

"Emily, I took the wrong key. It's not the right one. Maybe you can come another day to get your things," Arthur sounded nervous.

"Arthur, this door design is really brilliant!" I mocked.

"You went in?" Arthur sounded shocked.

"I may be stupid, fooled by you for so long, but at least I can read numbers on a key." I angrily hung up.

Even though we were done, the anger still burned. I didn't hate being deceived; I hated myself for being so blind to their affair happening right under my nose. Arthur used to mean a lot to me. I believed everything he said. He told me not to enter the study, so I never did.

I was so naive and stupid. While he was off having fun, I was cooking and doing laundry for him, playing the nanny. The more I thought about it, the angrier I got.

Stepping out of the study into what used to be my home, I saw the furnishings had changed completely. No trace of me was left.

A cat's meow came from the balcony. I followed the sound and found a dirty, thin cat in a pile of clutter. It looked up at me pitifully.

Arthur and Vivian hadn't taken care of

used to be very close to me. As soon as I squatted down, it struggled to walk towards me, moving slowly

I heard the door lock turn, and soon Arthur was standing in front of

steal your things?" I mocked, glancing

looked uneasy and stayed

has Scruffy been hungry? You

said, "Vivian doesn't like

sneered, "Of course, she likes you,

anyway. Also, I've gathered all your things." He dragged a big bag out

bag and found it was just a bag of trash. It had broken pieces of our wedding photo and some of my toiletries, most of which were already broken. This bag of trash was the only memento of my marriage with Arthur. I laughed in anger. "So I should be grateful you didn't throw

to come get them. If you don't

in the bag, dirty as if pulled from a garbage can. Besides the dirty Scruffy, there

with you. You two have worked so hard to have an affair; if I didn't let you be together, I'd almost be a

out holding Scruffy. Arthur

and looked at him like he was an idiot. "Are you blind? Didn't you

had something he couldn't

are you upset that I married a good guy? That I didn't fall apart

stared at me and said, "Emily, do you really think Ethan will fall for

uneasy. I knew Ethan had reasons beyond love for marrying me. But Arthur's tone was full of disdain. He didn't think highly of me, so he thought Ethan wouldn't either. Maybe in his mind, I was just

now on, we'll live our own lives. You don't

with the cat in my arms. The home that once felt warm now made me feel sick to stay in for even

minute," Arthur

out with two pairs of knitted slippers. "These slippers were made by my mom for you. You know

while doing farm work. I was touched. Although I hadn't interacted much with her, I believed she was a simple and genuine person. So when I got the slippers, I couldn't bear to wear them.

were a gift from your mom to her daughter-in-law. Now that we have nothing to do with each other, it's not appropriate for me to keep

truth. He said he would come

expect Ethan to arrive so quickly. When I left the neighborhood, he was already

into the car, Ethan glanced at the cat in my

"It's actually very cute.

a faint smile. "Then take it home and