The Secret Husband's Payback

My wife, a radiant pop star, stood on stage next to her indie darling, River Stone. I was in the front row, proud of her success, despite our marriage being a secret. Then the words echoed through the arena, crushing my chest: "We're expecting a baby." My world imploded. I confronted her backstage, my voice shaking, but her eyes were cold, a stranger's. "It's for River's career, Ethan. Just for show." A brutal, casual lie. Devastation consumed me, a physical blow. In my rage and pain, I leaked our secret marriage certificate. Her career imploded. River couldn't handle the hate and died. But Sera blamed me for everything. For River. For her ruined kingdom. Her revenge was absolute: the fire. My mom, my dad, Chloe, my little sister. The heat, the smoke, then nothing. My first life ended in flames, my family gone, all because of her betrayal and my desperate act. Why did she betray me with such cold calculation? Why did she value image and another man's fleeting dream over our seven years, over our vows, over our very lives? The injustice burned, the pain of losing them all was unbearable. I couldn't fathom how someone I loved could be so monstrous, so casually cruel. Then, I woke up. Sunlight streamed through the window. My phone buzzed: "Zenith Music Awards - 7 PM." Today. The day they died. But I was alive. I knew what was coming. This time, I wouldn't just survive. This time, I'd make them pay.