Adam left, and I made my way home, expecting nothing but silence and emptiness.
However, to my surprise, Lucas–who had not set foot in the house for days–was back.
He stood there, holding out a small box.
“For you.”
It was Chanel No. 5.
3
Classic Lucas. After ignoring me for ages, he would toss me a gift like some kind of offering.
Hurt me, then hand me a treat–like training a dog.
I am allergic to perfume, so I have never worn any, but of course, he has never noticed.
“Thanks,” I said, taking it with the same numb routine as always.
Then, his gaze landed on my neck and stopped cold.
“Where did that mark come from?
“You found yourself another man?”
His voice was low and threatening.
I froze for a second before it hit me. Adam must have left the mark when he hugged me.
However, I was confused by Lucas‘ disgusted reaction.
Didn’t you say you won’t care?
And this was from the man who paraded his mistress around in front of me.
If I want to keep Adam out of this, I’ll have to lie.
0.0%
288 iVouchers
peace
16:02 #
Chapter 4
“It’s just a mosquito bite.”
“What kind of mosquito is still around this time of year?”
Lucas’s eyes narrowed dangerously.
“I guess I’ll have to check for myself–see if someone else has had a taste.”
288 ¡Vouchers
Before I could respond, he scooped me up by the waist and threw me straight onto the bed.
Immediately after, he loomed over me like a storm cloud.
His clothes were already a mess, and his breathing was heavy and fast.
“Let me smell if you’ve been around another man.”
a
I had already showered, but the thick scent of Marilyn’s perfume still clung to him.
It made me nauseous.
“No… Don’t… ”
I tried to push him away, but he took it as flirting.
He laughed low in my ear, his voice laced with heat.
“You’re saying no now, but you’ll be begging me to stop in a bit.
“It’s been a month, so I don’t believe you haven’t missed this.”
He got rough.
Suddenly, his phone rang.
“Lucas, I had a nightmare… ”
The mistress‘ sobs snapped him out of it, and he pulled away in a hurry.
After he left, I sat there in silence for a while before picking up my phone and calling Adam.
On the anniversary of our mom’s death, I took my little brother to visit her grave.
24.4 %
16:02
Chapter 4
“Natasha, you should just divorce him. Lucas is a jerk. He doesn’t deserve you!
“I just hate that I’m too young. If I were older, I’d beat him up myself!
“I don’t even want to be the heir anymore. I hate seeing you treated like this!”
288 iVouchers
My brother, John Beragon, was still in middle school, but even he had heard about the hu- miliation I went through at the annual gala.
Ever since our mom passed, it has just been the two of us leaning on each other to survive.
“Don’t talk like that. You are the heir,” I told him, trying to steady both our hearts. “We can’t let those illegitimate leeches steal what’s ours. This isn’t just for me–it’s Mom’s dream too.”
I comforted John.
“But you’ve given up so much, Natasha! You could’ve joined the city swim team–maybe even made it to the Olympics!
“Instead, you’re stuck suffering in a marriage with a man you don’t even love.”
He was not wrong. I had almost forgotten I used to be a top swimmer.
Ten years ago, I saved a boy from drowning.
A lot happened after that, and it all feels like another lifetime now.
“Yeah, I used to put dolphin stickers on my wrist back then. I even wanted a tattoo, but I was too scared Mom would scold me.”
I glanced down and pointed at my wrist.
The stickers are long gone.
However, that exact same dolphin–etched in ink–sits proudly on Marilyn’s wrist.
I remember her flaunting it with a smug little smile.
Ten years ago, Lucas nearly drowned.
Eventually, he was saved by a girl whose face he never saw clearly.
52.4 %
16:03 1
Chapter 4
288 Vouchers
The only things he remembered were the sweet scent of her breath during CPR and the dol- phin on her wrist.
Later on, Lucas even hired a private investigator to track down the girl who saved him.
Turns out, Marilyn is that investigator’s niece.
She had always dreamed of marrying into wealth, so she teamed up with her uncle to fabri- cate the whole rescue story.
To sell the lie completely, she learned how to swim and even tattooed a dolphin on her wrist -just like the one Lucas remembered.
J
88.2 %
16:03
Chapter 5
