On My Birthday, I Caught My Boyfriend Cheating

During the five years Herbert Harding and I were in a long-distance relationship, he never once came to see me.

It wasn't until my twenty-sixth birthday that I finally worked up the courage to text him.

"Today's my birthday. I miss you so much. Could you come and spend it with me?"

I waited for what felt like forever, but he didn't answer, so I sent another message.

"Are you busy? Am I bothering you?"

Hours passed before he finally replied.

Just a few cold words.

【In a meeting. Can't talk.】

So I ordered myself a cake and went to the restaurant, only to find Herbert—the man who claimed he was too busy to come see me—sitting right there.

A girl was sitting across from him. I recognized her. It was Maxine Finley, the new intern at his company.

"Mr. Harding, I was using your phone this morning and saw it's Barbara's birthday today. Are you sure you don't need to be with her?"

Herbert smiled, his expression softening with affection.

"I didn't like the idea of you traveling alone for work. It's just a birthday. Missing one birthday won't change anything."

The girl smiled sweetly and asked playfully. "So that means I'm more important than she is?"

Herbert didn't say a word. He just nodded.

The cake box slipped from my hands and hit the floor.