Chapter 1
Every wedding anniversary, Simon Sterling would drag home some new woman–always with the same bullshit line about me ‘showing her the ropes.”
On our tenth anniversary, he arrived at the dinner party with a prostitute dressed in a bunny
outfit
“She doesn’t have anything proper to wear, Simon said, like it was no big deal. “Give her your wedding dress–and that jewelry set I got you. Oh, and the shoes?” He glanced at my feet. “Yours’ll work. Oh, and she’s young, doesn’t know much. Make sure you show her the ropes, especially when it comes to the bedroom.”
Everyone waited for me to break, hungry for some fresh humiliation, but I didn’t disappoint. Once again, I announced I wanted a divorce.
Simon burst into laughter, the sound sharp and mocking. “Vivian Sutton, how many times have you said that? I’m tired of it–more tired than I am of your moaning in bed!”
“If you really go through with the divorce, I’ll give you ten million dollars.”
The room erupted into laughter. The message was clear: everyone thought I was bluffing, playing some desperate game I didn’t know how to win.
But what they didn’t know was that this was the hundredth time I’d threatened divorce–and the only time I actually meant it.
All eyes were on me, even the prostitute Simon brought along. She cupped a manicured hand over her mouth, giggling as if she was part of the joke.
“Place your bets, someone called out. “I say she won’t even make it out the front door before she changes her mind.”
“A hundred thousand she stays!”
“I’m in for thirty!”
Betting on whether I’d really leave had become a running gag at every anniversary. Some people resented me when they lost, and the winners didn’t care for me much either.
I let out a quiet laugh and shook my head, cursing myself for being so spineless. Ten years, and only now did I finally decide to leave Simon.
“I’m betting she leaves, a deep voice came from somewhere in the crowd. People tried to talk him out of it, but I couldn’t see who it was.
“Simon, I’ll mail the divorce papers to your office. Make sure you sign them.”
I’d said “divorce” hundreds of times, but this was the first time I mentioned the paperwork.
Simon straightened, cigarette ash falling to the floor.
15.01
Ignoring him, I knelt to undo my heels and placed them by the girl’s feet.
Her name was Lily Winters–barely in her twenties, stunningly pretty.
“These shoes pinch a little, but you’ll get used to them.”
“As for the dress and jewelry, Zoe will bring them up to you.”
“If you’re confused, don’t worry. There’ve been nine girls before you. They all live on the third floor, your room’s at the end of the hall. Ask them anything you need to know.”
After ten years of marriage, Simon had a harem fit for a king–tall, short, curvy, slim, innocent, sultry, cold, bubbly. Every type imaginable, meticulously collected.
Gossip swirled that he wasn’t just keeping mistresses–he was curating his own personal court of beauties, right under my roof.
But I was done. I didn’t have it in me to be one of them anymore.
Dusting off the back of my heels, I stood up and walked barefoot toward the door.
But I hadn’t even reached it before a rough hand yanked me back.
“Vivian, if you’re leaving, don’t take a single thing that I bought for you with my money,” Simon sneered. “What on you wasn’t paid for by me?”
For a moment, my bare feet felt numb against the icy marble, even my breath trembling.
“You want me to take off my clothes?”
Simon raised an eyebrow, eyes glinting with cold amusement. He looked at me as though he could see right through me.
“Your family went bankrupt, remember? Your mother threw you into my bed, didn’t she? However you came, that’s how you’ll leave.”
“Or maybe you’ve changed your mind? Fine by me. Get on your knees and put the shoes on her, and I’ll forgive you.”
Behind Simon, his friends roared with laughter.
When Simon and I first got together, Sutton & Co. collapsed. My father jumped from a building and survived as a vegetable. My mother, desperate for the Sterling family’s help, drugged both Simon and me, then spun the story to force the Sterlings into responsibility.
That night marked the beginning of my humiliation–and the end of whatever love Simon and I had once shared.
He was bullied into marrying me. On our wedding night, he brought another woman home just to humiliate me. Did everything he could in front of me, made me hand him the condoms. I spent the night on my knees, scrubbing the mess.
That was my life for ten years–bending, breaking, swallowing every last shred of pride.
213
15.015
I couldn’t do it anymore.
“I’ll take it off.”
Before anyone in the room could react, I was already unfastening my wrap.
It was the dead of winter outside, but inside the banquet hall, the heat was stifling.
3/3
