LOVE FOR SALE (English Version)

Chapter 9: Meeting My Husband's Ex-Lover

A vast, manicured lawn greeted Jade, clearly maintained with great care. Trees were surrounded by tiny lights and fairy lights, while marble pathways led toward the party area. In the distance, she could see a fountain and a luxurious gazebo illuminated by elegant outdoor lamps.

Meanwhile, luxurious cars continued to arrive at the spacious parking area, carrying people who, like Vince and Primo, obviously came from wealthy and influential families. Considering her status in the past, she probably would not have even been allowed to enter the gates of this mansion. The security guards would have stopped her at the entrance.

Who would have thought that she would one day be able to attend such an elegant birthday party if Primo had not become her husband?

Jade and Vince had been together for five years, yet not once had he introduced her as his girlfriend. The truth was that their relationship had been a secret from Vince's family and friends. He would always promise her that the right time would come, that someday he would finally reveal the truth about their relationship.

And she had believed him.

She had understood her former boyfriend wholeheartedly, believing that every promise he made was sincere.

Jade clenched her hand into a fist.

She had not realized that Primo had been watching her for quite some time. The next thing she knew, he gently took her left hand and placed it on his right arm.

“Are you okay, Jade? Tell me, are you uncomfortable at gatherings like this?” her husband asked with concern.

Perhaps Primo was worried that she would not enjoy herself. He knew that she was not accustomed to attending such high-society events.

“It’s okay, Primo. I need to get used to events like this. After all, there will come a time when you’ll also be one of the people running Hacienda Villareal,” Jade said, forcing a small smile.

That had always been part of her plan—to convince Primo to claim the shares that rightfully belonged to him from Vince.

Why?

Simple.

She wanted Vince to realize that he was not the only heir. Primo had a right to everything as well. Vince was not the king of Hacienda Villareal.

“That’s what I like about you, Love. You’re always so positive. Let’s go. Maybe we can leave early later. I’d rather spend the entire night holding you than socializing with these people,” Primo said.

And Jade knew that he meant every word.

If she thought about it, they were still in the honeymoon stage of their marriage, and she had to admit—Primo was really good in bed.

He was always gentle with her whenever they were together intimately. Despite his arrogant appearance, he never treated her harshly.

Of course, Jade did not know whether Primo was the same with every woman.

Even before she became his wife, she had known that Vince’s uncle had a reputation for being a womanizer. Vince himself had told her stories about Primo before.

But the Primo, Vince had described was very different from the man standing beside her now.

Why did she feel as though the love her husband offered her was real?

No matter how many times Primo told her that he loved her, she still refused to believe him.

Deep inside her mind and heart, she believed that it was only her body and beauty that Primo desired.

Nothing more.

Nothing less.

“Jade... focus. Don’t be fooled by what you see in Primo. He and Vince share the same blood. He will hurt you too! You’re not here to fall in love. You’re here to take revenge!” Jade screamed inside her mind.

She quickly composed herself.

She convinced both her heart and mind that there would eventually come a time when Primo would grow tired of her. But before that happened, she had to accomplish what she came to do.

She needed to teach Vince a lesson, and she would do it no matter what the cost.

“Let’s go,” Primo said before gently guiding Jade toward the vast garden.

As Jade and Primo entered the wide lawn, they were greeted by a long walkway lined with lanterns on both sides. Elegant floral arrangements decorated every table as well as the buffet tables. Uniformed waiters were scattered throughout the area, ready to assist the guests.

Soft background music from an acoustic band played while the guests mingled and conversed.

Jade also noticed the enormous birthday cake, the elegant small stage prepared for the birthday celebrant, and the throne chair placed at its center.

And Jade knew that on that night, she would not simply witness a lavish birthday celebration.

It was also a gathering of some of the most prominent people in society.

They easily found their designated seats because name cards had been placed on every table. Primo carefully assisted Jade until she was comfortably seated.

Jade took a deep breath.

She could not stop herself from feeling slightly nervous in the unfamiliar surroundings. She knew that at any moment, she would come face-to-face with the woman who should have been in her place.

But she refused to lose.

No one should ever notice that she felt uncomfortable.

Not long after, Jade saw Vince and Monica arriving.

Monica walked confidently while holding her husband's arm. She wore a champagne-colored, floor-length gown with a draped cowl neckline that beautifully emphasized her slender figure.

Jade could not help feeling uncomfortable under the scrutinizing gazes that had been watching her for some time. But that discomfort was nothing compared to the irritation she felt when she saw Vince confidently socializing with everyone, looking almost proud that the woman by his side was someone like Monica—wealthy, sophisticated, and elegant.

No wonder Vince had never been able to reveal their relationship to the public before.

He had never been proud enough to show her off.

Monica was everything Vince and his family had expected.

From a nearby table, Jade could hear the soft conversation of several women who appeared to be in their fifties or older. Their makeup was perfectly applied, though it was obvious that they had made every effort to hide their true age.

“Honestly, Vince and Monica really are the perfect match. They look so good together,” one of them said.

“Yes, of course. I heard they were childhood sweethearts and had been dating for almost two years before they got married. Besides, these days, people don’t really need to date for a long time before getting married, right? I mean, it’s not about how long you’ve been together. Once you realize that someone is the one, then they’re the one—as long as you’re happy!” another woman said dreamily as she watched Monica and Vince.

Jade clenched her fists.

What did the woman mean by two years?

Did that mean that during the five years she had been with Vince, he had already been deceiving her for two years without her knowing?

That bastard!

She had never imagined that Vince had been taking advantage of her trust for that long.

So that was why marrying Monica had been so easy for him.

Now, one thing was clear.

Vince had been deceiving her for two years.

For two years, she had loved a man without realizing that he was nothing but a liar.

Primo frowned.

He gently took Jade’s hand and brought it to his lips, pressing a soft kiss against her fingers.

Perhaps her expression kept changing because of the thoughts running through her mind, and Primo had noticed.

He probably believed that she was merely nervous about being surrounded by prominent and influential people.

Little did Primo know that his own nephew was the reason her mood kept changing.

Jade could not help staring into Primo’s eyes.

They were brown, and there was always something intense and affectionate in the way he looked at her.

She could not help admiring his voice and the way he looked in his black tuxedo.

Jade knew that on that night, Vince and Monica would not be the only people whispered about by the guests.

She and Primo would be the subject of attention as well.

Vince and Monica took their seats at a table not far from theirs.

Jade tried to pull her gaze away from them and instead looked around the entire venue.

Then, a woman caught her attention.

The woman was staring directly at Primo while sipping wine from her glass.

She wore a one-shoulder, floor-length satin gown.

The wine-red color of her dress made her porcelain complexion appear even more radiant. The fabric hugged her body perfectly, emphasizing the beautiful curves of her slender figure.

She looked like a queen as she walked toward them.

Even Jade herself could not deny how elegant the woman was.

“I’m glad you came, Primo!” the woman said in a sweet voice.

Her eyes were slightly heavy, and she seemed completely unconcerned that Jade, Primo’s wife, was standing right in front of her.

Jade could not believe the woman’s behavior.

And she was certain that she was not mistaken.

This was Audrey—Primo’s former lover.

From the looks of it, Audrey had already been drinking even though her own birthday party had barely begun.

“Ah, yeah! Audrey, this is my lovely wife—”

Before Primo could finish introducing Jade, Audrey suddenly leaned toward him.

Primo was still seated when Audrey captured his lips with hers.

Jade froze in her seat.

It felt as though a sharp dagger had been driven straight through her chest because of what Audrey had done.

Was that right?

Was she hurt?

Or...

Was it only her pride that had been wounded?

She was not sure.

Almost immediately, whispers began spreading among the people around them.

What Audrey had done did not escape the watchful eyes of the guests.

Jade knew exactly what Audrey was trying to do.

She wanted to provoke her.

Or perhaps humiliate her the moment Jade lost control of her emotions.

For a moment, Jade felt as though her entire world had stopped.

She boldly stood up and grabbed Audrey by the arm.

Primo also immediately rose from his seat, looking completely shocked.

Jade could see the surprise on her husband’s face at what his former girlfriend had done, as well as the fear that it might start a fight between the two women.

Audrey boldly met Jade’s burning stare.

But Jade refused to back down.

She stared right back at her.

“Excuse me, Miss Audrey, but let me remind you that the lips you’ve been kissing belongs to me! Not everything you can look at is something you’re allowed to touch! That is the last time you will ever kiss my husband. Consider yourself lucky that it’s your birthday today! Otherwise, I would drag you by the hair until you went bald and wipe that bitchy attitude right off your face!”