Part 2The Smart Speaker That Exposed My Husband's Second Love

Emma's efficiency was astonishing. In just half an hour, my phone vibrated.

A link, with a comment: "The year's best white lotus actress in her prime, the evidence chain is so complete I almost feel bad charging you full price. Enjoy."

I clicked on it. It was Aria's social media account, set to public.

The latest post was a close-up of her wrist, wearing that all-too-familiar J bracelet, with the caption: "The moon races towards you, Mr. C."

My "little moonbeam" nickname, my J bracelet, had now become another woman's trophies.

I scrolled down expressionlessly.

One photo's background was our study at home. Aria was smiling innocently with her face cupped in her hands, behind her was my rare architectural atlas I had bought from Italy. "Absorbing knowledge in Mr. C's study, I feel like I'm becoming smarter too!"

In another photo, she was holding a pen, writing and drawing on a blueprint. That was the 30th birthday gift I gave James, a limited edition collaboration. "The pen Mr. C gave me works so well, he said my hands deserve the best pen."

There was another one at our favorite private kitchen, with dishes I loved to order. "Secret base with Mr. C, he says I'm the only harbor where he can completely relax."

Every photo, every word, was like a precise scalpel, cutting into my softest memories one by one.

Until I scrolled to a post from three days ago.

In the photo, Aria was holding a printed design draft, smiling triumphantly.

The caption read: "Mr. C stayed up all night helping me revise this. He said I'm the most talented designer he's ever seen, and I'll definitely win the 'Skyline Center' project. Fighting!"

"Skyline Center".

That was the project our "Dreamscape" had poured all our hearts into, preparing for a full six months. It was the most important milestone in my career.

I suddenly stood up from the sofa, grabbed my car keys, and rushed out the door.

The company was empty late at night. I unlocked it with my fingerprint and went straight to James's office.

His computer was still on the screensaver, our wedding photo where he was smiling tenderly and affectionately.

I felt a wave of nausea.

I hit the keyboard, the screen lit up, and a password input box popped up. I tried my birthday, error. Tried our wedding anniversary, still error.

I laughed coldly and entered Aria's birthday.

"Welcome."

The desktop was clean and tidy. I immediately spotted that encrypted folder. I clicked on it, inside was the final proposal for "Skyline Center", every detail crystallizing months of hard work from me and the team.

And next to it, there lay another folder, named with just one letter - A.

I opened it. The proposal inside was almost identical to ours, with only minor adjustments to a few key load-bearing structures and design highlights, avoiding core patents while retaining the essence of the plan.

The name signed on the proposal: Aria.

He not only cheated but was about to steal my life's work, our company's future, to pave a golden path for his mistress.

A violent churning in my stomach, I gripped the cold desk tightly to keep from collapsing.

So, jealousy and betrayal could truly distort a man to this extent.