You Want Open Marriage? Fine. Your Rival Is Next in Line.

Chapter 2

Following Charles into the car, the warm air enveloped me instantly. He didn't rush to start the engine but took out a tube of ointment from the glove compartment. He took my wrist and gently applied it to the reddened area where I had been grabbed.

His voice was low, tinged with self‑reproach. "Sorry, I was a step too late getting the medication," he said.

I looked at his downcast eyes, and the irritation that Daniel had stirred in me miraculously subsided. "It's not your fault. I didn't dodge in time," I said softly.

Charles looked up, his deep eyes fixed on me. "Clara, you are Mrs. Moore now. When you're in trouble, you can always hide behind me," he said.

My nose inexplicably tingled, and I nodded slightly.

Four months earlier, I had left the divorce papers on the table and walked out of that house with my luggage. That night, it was pouring rain; I was drenched on the street and couldn't even get a taxi.

Then Charles's car pulled up in front of me. He held an umbrella, shielding me from the rain, and said, "Clara Carroll, come with me."

We had known each other for many years. He was Daniel's business rival and also my former high school classmate.

I had always thought he disliked me. Until that night, he took me back to his villa, made me some ginger coffee, and then produced a marriage agreement, asking if I would be his wife.

He said he needed a wife in name only to deal with his family's pressure to get married. I agreed, in order to completely put an end to Daniel's harassment.

But unexpectedly, a month after the marriage, I found out I was pregnant. The child was Charles's. That night, I had drunk too much and mistook him for Daniel... and he didn't push me away.

My thoughts were interrupted by the vibration of my phone; an unfamiliar number flashed on the screen. I declined the call directly. Soon, a text message popped up.

Daniel: Clara, I know you're only pretending with Charles to get back at me. That child must be mine; we were actively trying to conceive a month before our divorce. I'll give you time to cool down, but I will never allow my child to call someone else "dad".

Looking at the words on the screen, I only found it laughable. Daniel was still the same, always so self‑righteous. I unhesitatingly blocked that number as well.

Meanwhile, in the Garcia Group CEO's office, Daniel hurled his phone to the floor, yanking his tie loose, his chest heaving. The office door was pushed open, and his curvy assistant Jane Fisher walked in carrying a cup of coffee.

"Daniel, why are you losing your temper like this?" she asked, pressing against him coyly.

But he shoved her aside. "Get out," he said.

Jane froze in place, her face darkening. "Daniel, didn't you say I looked best in this dress?" she protested.

"I said get out!" Daniel slammed his hand on the desk, his eyes burning red. "If it weren't for you, how could I have been so blind as to propose an open marriage to Clara? How could she have walked away without a second thought?"

Jane gritted her teeth, a glint of malice in her eyes, but she could only retreat, looking aggrieved. Daniel collapsed into his swivel chair, burying his face in his hands.

"Clara..." he whispered.