The CEO's Ex-wife Has Multiple Identities

Three years into her marriage, Anna Hendrick found herself, for the first time, opening Ethan Smith's study computer.

Had it not been for the urgent need to transfer a document, she might never have stumbled upon the cryptic spreadsheet that awaited her.

Ethan's computer files were meticulously labeled, each one clearly related to company projects. All, except for one peculiar folder:

BD.

Driven by an irresistible curiosity, Anna double-clicked the folder.

Inside, a single Excel spreadsheet was titled simply: "Revenge."

Anna, raised in a single-parent household with her mother often hospitalized, considered marrying the son of the publicly listed Smith Group to be a significant stroke of luck.

Her initial encounter with Ethan Smith felt straight out of a romantic drama, and their relationship progressed in much the same way.

When Ethan was involved in a car accident and the driver fled the scene, it was Anna who rushed him to the hospital, effectively saving his life.

Then, seemingly out of the blue, Ethan appeared at her university gates one day.

It was Valentine's Day, and he presented her with a breathtaking bouquet of 999 pink roses, declaring his love.

That year, with flower prices soaring due to the holiday, such an extravagant display would have cost a small fortune, creating a campus-wide sensation.

Anna treasured the bouquet, placing it beside her bed, even though it ultimately landed her in the hospital.

Anna was allergic to pollen.

She had never disclosed this allergy to Ethan, which resulted in him consistently gifting her bouquets of pink roses on every date.

Before even finishing her degree, Anna married Ethan, embracing the role of a stay-at-home wife.

Ethan, consumed by his work, needed a partner who could wholeheartedly manage the household.

Her mother-in-law had emphasized that Ethan suffered from stomach issues and that home-cooked meals were far healthier. She insisted a nanny could never replace a wife, and that a wife's true purpose was managing the home, taking care of the children, and so on.

During the day, Anna devoted herself to cooking, laundry, and housework, and at night, she spent time with Ethan.

Their interactions, however, remained limited.

The spreadsheet now open on the screen felt like a window into Ethan's hidden world. With a click, a series of photos appeared.

The spreadsheet was simply laid out with only two columns, minimal text, and primarily consisted of photos.

The top of the left column was labeled "BD," matching the folder name.

Anna couldn't decipher the meaning of the characters, no matter how much she pondered them.

Thankfully, the letters in the right column were easily recognizable-

AH-

Anna Hendrick.

The hand gripping the mouse trembled slightly.

Both columns recorded the date and time alongside the corresponding photos.

The photographs in the BD column all featured the same girl.

In the first photo, the girl was surrounded by a massive bouquet of vibrant pink roses, clearly numbering at least 999. In the second, she seemed to be flaunting a dazzling diamond necklace, while still clutching a bouquet of pink roses. In the third, she proudly displayed an Hermès bag, her smile radiant, a bouquet of pink roses adorning the dining table.

Her mind flooded with images of pink roses, Anna shifted her gaze to the column on the right.

The photos here were all of herself.

In the first photo, Anna, too, stood before a large bouquet of pink roses, identical to the one held by the girl in the left column.

In the second photo, she wore the same diamond necklace, accompanied by the same pink roses.

In the third photo, she carried the same Hermès bag, a bouquet of pink roses nearby.

The fourth, fifth, and sixth photos continued the pattern...

...until the girl in the left photo embraced a pink rose, a pink diamond ring sparkling on her left ring finger. On the very same day, Ethan had proposed to Anna, presenting her with a pink diamond ring attached to a pink rose. The chart ended there.

Anna silently shut down the computer, a chilling realization dawning on her.

She had always believed that Ethan favored pink roses, explaining his constant gifts of them.

Even though Ethan never wore anything pink himself, she felt as though she had unlocked a hidden secret, and was excited for days.

So...

...it was the girl in the chart who adored pink roses.

That night, sleep eluded Anna.

Ethan wouldn't be home, he was engaged in an all-night project discussion with the British team. He had assured her that it wouldn't interfere with their hospital appointment tomorrow. Anna had been experiencing a persistent dull ache in her lower abdomen for days, and he had arranged an appointment with a specialist for the following morning at nine.

Tonight's discovery felt profoundly significant.

Even if Ethan's pursuit of her was driven by a desire for revenge against another woman, that was all in the past, before their marriage.

Since their marriage, Ethan had not been particularly warm, but neither had he been cruel. He consistently provided her with household allowance and pocket money each month.

He also thoughtfully gifted her presents for holidays and birthdays. This year, she had received a pink Burberry suit, despite her distaste for the color.

As the president of the Smith Group, he was constantly surrounded by beautiful women, yet Ethan had remained untouched by scandal throughout their three years of marriage.

Only once did a gossip blog post a photo of him with a popular young actress, but Anna swiftly issued a public relations denial, and the post vanished overnight.

Anna tossed and turned, desperately trying to quiet her racing thoughts.

Ethan wasn't cheating; perhaps he simply didn't love her as deeply as she had imagined.

Her mother had often said that marriage was a compromise, and if one found love within it, it should be cherished.

Anna cherished her marriage deeply.

She loved Ethan.

She had loved him for a full decade, since the age of thirteen.

But Ethan remained unaware, and still didn't know.

Retrieving her phone, Anna unlocked a password-protected private photo album, one she hadn't opened since her wedding day.

The album contained a single photograph, seemingly taken in a cafeteria, its drab setting and lighting evoking the atmosphere of a prison.

The subject was a young girl, perhaps a teenager, with braces adorning her teeth and a voluminous, unfashionable perm of gray hair.

While few would likely recognize the girl as Anna, they would undoubtedly recognize the spirited young man in the background corner: Ethan Smith.

This was the only photo of Anna and Ethan together-

-if it could even be considered a photo *together*.

Anna finally drifted off to sleep just before dawn, only to be jolted awake by her alarm less than three hours later.

Sporting dark circles under her eyes, she stood at the entrance of the City Central Hospital, waiting for Ethan. The early spring morning air was still crisp, causing her nose to run.

At 8:59, Anna received a message from Ethan: "The company has an urgent project, and I have to go on a business trip to New Jersey. I can't accompany you. You can go in by yourself. I've already spoken to the experts, and I'll be home tonight."

Anna tightened her coat around herself and entered the hospital. When she emerged, she clutched a B-ultrasound report in her hand.

It stated that she was two months pregnant, but experiencing a threatened miscarriage.

This was Anna's first pregnancy, their first child together.

Anna gently touched her belly, her face illuminated with joy beyond description.

Although the doctor had assured her that the threatened miscarriage wasn't critical, precautions were necessary to protect the fetus.

She took out her cell phone, eager to share the news with Ethan.

The call connected after several rings, and Anna felt a surge of excitement and nervousness.

Ethan... should be happy, right?

Before last night, Anna wouldn't have hesitated for a second.

Finally, the call connected.

"Hello, husband, I..."

"I'm in a meeting, don't bother me if you have nothing important to say."

The phone disconnected abruptly, leaving only the monotonous dial tone echoing in Anna's ear.

The cool breeze seemed to seep into her heart, leaving it feeling hollow. Anna lowered the phone, and a news alert flashed across the screen.

Anna's heart lurched as news broke of the Smith Group's heir making a grand gesture at FY's new product launch, showering a beautiful woman with extravagant gifts.

The Smith Group... only Ethan Smith held that title. And the FY launch, showcasing their prestigious new line, was happening in their very own New York City.

A shiver ran down Anna's spine as her fingers trembled, instinctively clicking on the article. The accompanying photo confirmed her fear: it was Ethan.

He possessed an effortless grace, his tall frame and long legs perfectly accentuated by the tailored suit. He was the kind of man who always looked effortlessly captivating in photographs.

Normally, any glimpse of Ethan would hold Anna captive, her gaze lingering on his image.

He was breathtaking.

But today, she abruptly closed the page, a knot forming in her stomach.

Almost involuntarily, she navigated to her X and spotted a new post from Riley Gilbert, Ethan's classmate from their school days.

"FY's iconic pink diamond necklace, one of only ten in the world, now adorns Becca!"

The picture offered only a glimpse of the neck, the dazzling pink diamond necklace sparkling against the skin.

With a heavy heart, Anna tucked away the ultrasound report and hailed a taxi home, a persistent ache pulsing in her lower abdomen.

Reaching her apartment, she realized she'd forgotten groceries. Reluctantly, she ventured out again, carefully selecting Ethan's favorite ingredients. Upon returning, she busied herself washing, prepping, and cooking, her efforts stretching late into the evening.

Around nine o'clock, Ethan finally arrived home.

"I forgot to mention, I had a prior engagement tonight and already ate dinner," he announced, his voice even and his handsome face unreadable.

Anna silently accepted the suit from his outstretched hand.

In their three years of marriage, this was the first time she had seen him return from a social event with his hair untouched by hairspray, appearing almost freshly showered.

The suit carried no scent of alcohol, only a faint, unfamiliar perfume. It wasn't the same suit he wore in the news.

Suppressing her questions, Anna moved to retrieve his pajamas. Suddenly, Ethan's arms encircled her waist from behind.

The clean, minty fragrance of her hair filled his senses. Through the thin silk of her pajamas, Anna felt the increasing boldness of his touch.

As a stay-at-home wife, Anna rarely made public appearances. On the infrequent occasions when Ethan brought her to Smith family gatherings, he maintained a polite distance.

But in the privacy of their bedroom, the dynamic shifted dramatically.

Ethan's desires were strong. His physical prowess and technique were undeniable, and he possessed a devastatingly handsome face, especially his perfectly sculpted smile, capable of disarming anyone.

Under normal circumstances, Anna would have offered no resistance, willingly complying with his desires.

However, recent events, coupled with her delicate condition, left her feeling emotionally and physically drained.

"Honey, my stomach is feeling a little off. Could we skip tonight..."

The words were barely out of her mouth when Ethan swept her off her feet and deposited her onto the expansive bed.

"I'm pregnant..."

Before she could finish the word, his weight pressed her down, his mouth claiming hers in a possessive kiss.

He continued kissing her as he impatiently unbuttoned his shirt and released his belt, his eyes burning with a fierce intensity as he gazed down at her.

Sensing the unusual resistance from the usually compliant Anna Hendrick, a flicker of surprise crossed his face. He swiftly used his belt to bind her wrists to the bedposts.

"Just perform your wifely duties," he murmured, silencing any protest with another passionate kiss.

Anna was lost to the night, driven into a dazed oblivion.

When she finally awoke, the room was shrouded in darkness. A discomforting ache in her abdomen and lower body prompted her to head to the bathroom to freshen up. As she did, she overheard Ethan speaking on the phone in the living room.

"Ethan, Becca is completely wasted, you need to get over here ASAP!"

In this moment, Anna found herself oddly grateful for Riley's booming voice.

In the dim light of the living room, Ethan's tall, lean figure stood out sharply. The shadows accentuated the sharp angles of his face, and his dark eyes seemed to absorb the surrounding darkness.

Anna was surprised to see him holding a cigarette.

To her knowledge, Ethan didn't smoke, or at least, not at home.

"I'm not trying to stir things up, but how long are you and Becca going to keep this up? Now that she's back, isn't it time to reconcile?" Riley's voice, amplified by the quiet of the night, resonated clearly.

Anna heard every word, her breath catching in her throat.

"Riley..." Ethan's tone was sharp, his gaze intense. "I'm married."

A wave of relief washed over Anna, like a shot of adrenaline to the heart.

"So what if you're married? Divorces happen all the time! That old hag who can't even support herself if you divorced her is nothing compared to Becca."

"But I don't *want* a divorce."

"Why not?"

"Because I can't bear to."

Anna's eyes began to well with tears, and she fought the urge to cry out.

Ethan's words moved her more profoundly than any expensive gift he had ever given.

Three years of marriage had the power to soften even the coldest heart, and Anna had never believed herself to be lacking in any way.

She diligently took care of the house, cooking and cleaning without complaint.

She also made sure Ethan was satisfied in bed.

Anna felt that her efforts had not been in vain. Ethan's feelings for her were stronger than she had imagined. This phone call was proof.

The knot in her stomach loosened. She turned to return to the bedroom. Eavesdropping was wrong, and now, unnecessary.

She loved Ethan.

And Ethan loved her, too.

"Of course I can't bear to lose such a hardworking maid!"

Anna's feet froze.

"Even though I don't need the money, it's different when someone puts in the effort. It feels good."

"And Anna is different from Becca. She's not particularly talented. No education, no job, just a housewife who spends her days in the kitchen. My grandfather likes her, my mother finds her easy to control, and my whole family is happy with the situation. Why would I get a divorce?"

"She's perfect as a stay-at-home wife. I don't have to give her much, just a little affection now and then to keep her in line."

Riley seemed to finally understand. "Oh, I get it. But Becca..."

"Send me the address. I'll be right there."

Ethan hung up and rushed out the door.

Anna remained pressed against the wall, not daring to move until she heard the click of the door closing.

Then, she broke down.

Tears poured forth like a broken dam, blurring her vision. A wave of nausea rose in her throat, and a sharp pain stabbed through her abdomen.

She sank to the floor, clutching her stomach, sweat beading on her forehead. A warm liquid trickled down her legs.

It was blood.

Darkness enveloped her...

When she opened her eyes again, she was lying in a hospital bed.

A nurse was the only other person in the sterile, quiet room.

"Excuse me, can I ask..." Anna's voice was raspy.

"Ms. Anna, you had a miscarriage."

The sterile white walls of the hospital room became Anna's prison for a month, each night a torment of dreams.

In those fragile illusions, Ethan was a devoted figure, perpetually at her bedside, his face lit with a smile as he listened for the phantom stirrings of their unborn child.

Each awakening was a brutal return to reality, marked by the scalding tracks of tears.

The baby...

...was gone.

And Ethan? He remained conspicuously absent.

His excuse was a business trip, a convenient alibi. Instead, he dispatched Oscar Paul, his assistant, with two deliveries: pink roses, their fragrance a cruel mockery, and payment for her medical expenses.

Anna wrestled with the urge to gift the flowers to the nurses, but the words caught in her throat. She'd rather endure the constant sneezing.

The physical toll of the abortion, at only two months, was minimal. But the instinct to cradle her belly, a newly formed habit, persisted.

The thought of the extinguished life within sparked a familiar ache behind her eyes.

Her first child.

The union of her flesh and blood with the man she had poured a decade of love into.

Vanished...just like that.

Anna's nightly grief stalled her recovery, but the hospital, as hospitals do, needed the bed. The eviction notice was inevitable.

Amidst the sterile emptiness of her packing, a stranger materialized in the doorway.

A woman sculpted with delicate features and framed by meticulous makeup, adorned in a Barbie-pink velvet halter dress and a statement necklace –

A necklace Anna recognized all too well: the limited-edition pink diamond piece from FY, the one Riley Gilbert had so ostentatiously paraded on social media.

"Hello, I'm Becca Drew, Ethan's classmate from high school."

The woman's introduction hung in the air, prompting a bitter reflection on the name: Becca Drew...BD. An undeniable connection.

Seeing Becca extend a manicured hand, Anna forced herself to reciprocate the handshake.

"Hello, I'm Anna, Ethan Smith's wife. You can call me Mrs. Smith."

Becca's practiced smile flickered, betraying a momentary loss of composure.

But her poise was quickly regained, her expression smoothing back into place. "I came to offer my sincere apologies."

Becca lowered her gaze, striking a pose of contrived remorse that seemed almost rehearsed. "I had no idea you were in the hospital because... you were pregnant. If I had known, I would never have let Ethan accompany me to the FY press conference. And then I drank too much that night; it's really all Riley's fault, she insisted on calling Ethan. I certainly didn't expect him to actually come and get me...and that it would lead to...this. It's all my fault..."

Becca, oozing contrition, presented Anna with a fruit basket. "This is a small gesture of apology...please accept it. I'll feel awful if you don't."

Anna couldn't suppress a bitter laugh at the performance unfolding before her. "Why wouldn't I accept a five-hundred-dollar fruit basket? You're hardly offering me *the* necklace as compensation."

Becca's carefully constructed facade showed a hairline crack. She cleared her throat. "I heard you're being discharged today?"

"Yes."

"Perhaps...it would be better if you stayed a little longer. Seeing you will only upset Ethan, reminding him of our...your loss. He's been so distraught this past month, and I've been trying my best to support him. We even took a trip abroad...yachts, fishing, sunrises, sunsets..."

Watching Becca's carefully crafted display of elation, Anna couldn't care less whether the details were true or embellished.

"Yes, my husband is a generous man, devoted to his friends. He's always taken such good care of his high school acquaintances, treating them to yacht trips every week. He even gifted my best friend a ten-million-dollar diamond necklace once!" Anna hated lies, but if a few pointed words could shatter the composure of a mistress, she was more than willing to indulge.

Becca's fists clenched almost imperceptibly. "If you're so understanding, I'm relieved..."

She turned to leave, then paused at the doorway, pivoting back. "Oh, one more thing. Ethan won't be able to pick you up from the hospital. He's utterly exhausted and is catching up on sleep... at my place."

With that final, pointed barb, Becca vanished.

Anna felt a strange detachment, a hollowness devoid of anger, replaced by a profound sense of disillusionment.

She contacted Oscar, confirming that Ethan was, in fact, at the office.

Becca had lied.

Refusing to accept the mistress's warped narrative, Anna resolved to seek the truth from Ethan himself.

Before leaving the hospital, she made a detour to the Traditional Medicine Department, collecting a fresh supply of herbs.

Ethan suffered from a sensitive stomach, and his mother had a deep-seated distrust of tablets. Anna had always personally brewed his remedies, knowing the precise dosages, proportions, and simmering times by heart.

The family's stock was dwindling. If not for the recent tragedy, Anna would have replenished it long ago.

Clutching the heavy bag of the medicine, Anna arrived at the Smith Group headquarters.

The receptionist recognized her from previous meal deliveries to Ethan - a time when she was mistaken for a nanny.

"Miss Anna, President Smith is in a meeting. You can leave the medicine with Assistant Oscar; he's in the assistant's office."

"Okay."

Anna refrained from correcting the receptionist, from clarifying that she wasn't "Miss Anna," but "Mrs. Smith."

Reaching the executive floor, Anna bypassed Oscar's office, heading directly for the general manager's door.

The frosted glass wasn't fully closed. Through the narrow gap, Anna saw Ethan and Riley standing inside.

"Ethan, you claim you can't bear to let go of your wife, yet you had the heart to murder your own child..."

Anna, her hand raised to knock, froze, petrified in place.

"Becca had nothing to do with it..."

"Whether she returns or not, I can never have a child with Anna."

"Why?"

"Human energy is finite. A child would change her. Besides, right now, it's just Grandpa's appreciation and Mom's approval. Once a baby arrives, it won't be so simple." Ethan casually exhaled a plume of cigarette smoke, his calculated smile striking Anna with the force of a physical blow.

"And...I knew she was pregnant. So I deliberately...wasn't careful, damaging her uterus. The doctor says she can't have any more children."

His voice, coolly detached, made the admission with chilling ease.

On the other side of the door, Anna was already slick with cold sweat.

"Ethan, if you've treated that shrew so harshly, who will carry on the Smith family name? It will have to be my best friend!"

Ethan offered no response to Riley's suggestive remark.

Finishing his cigarette and his conversation with Riley, he began to leave the office. He spotted something Riley didn't notice.

A bag of herbs.

Emerald Nursing Home.

Anna had practically fled here, running from Ethan's office, from Ethan's company, unable to endure another moment.

She felt consumed by nausea.

His every word was a vile poison.

This was the man she had loved for a decade.

He'd pursued and married her out of spite, as revenge against another woman.

He'd murdered their child with his own hands, again, for another woman.

Ten years of devotion, three years of marriage-a complete and utter sham.

Anna furiously wiped away her tears and walked into the nursing home.

Since her marriage to Ethan, her mother had been moved here from the hospital.

Her mother, whose health had always been fragile, had succumbed to Alzheimer's during a global pandemic.

Even though she no longer recognized her, there were things she needed to confess.

Her mother's greatest wish was to see her happily married.

So Anna had to tell her mother...

...she was a failure as a daughter.

That evening, Anna left the nursing home and went to a nearby law firm.

As darkness descended, the lights of New York City flickered to life, illuminating the vibrant pulse of the city. When Ethan arrived home, he found

the lights were off. He flipped them on, illuminating the medicine and a bouquet of pink roses in his hands.

In the silent, empty house, there was no hot, fragrant meal.

And no Anna Hendrick.