Chapter 1: Betrayed by Infidelity
Her husband, David, had been unfaithful after three years of marriage, and Alice had just discovered the truth ten minutes ago.
It was a Saturday, a day meant for rest, but due to an issue at her studio, she had to go there and take care of things. She left her husband, David, who was sound asleep, and drove to the studio. However, just two minutes out the door, she realized that she had left her manuscript at home. She quickly turned back to retrieve it.
But as she opened the front door to go inside, she heard David’s voice from the bedroom:
“The b***h is gone. When are you coming over?”
Alice froze. Who was David talking to? And who was the "b***h" he referred to?
"Ugh... I’ll be there in a bit. Do you miss me that much?"
He had put the call on speakerphone, and when Alice heard the woman's voice, her face went pale.
It was Sara’s voice, one of her studio members. Sara was known for her sultriness and for constantly flirting with men. David had only visited her studio once—when did they get together?
Anger and panic surged through Alice as she nearly stormed in to confront the two of them. But her rational nature kicked in, and she turned around, leaving quietly, gently closing the door behind her.
By the time Alice realized what had happened, she had already driven away.
Fuming with rage, Alice called her best friend Valentina. “David, that bastard, is cheating on me! And it’s Sara! I’m going to divorce him—help me figure out how to minimize my losses!”
Valentina, a lawyer specializing in divorce cases, was stunned. “What? Is David cheating? I warned you about Sara when you hired her for the studio, but you wouldn’t listen.”
Valentina paused for a moment. “If it’s true, gather evidence—audio, video, anything you can.”
Alice responded, "Order me a camera online. David even brought Sara home... just thinking about them together on that bed makes me sick!" Hearing the way David spoke on the phone, it was clear they had been involved for a while.
“Alright, don’t get too upset. Where are you? I’ll come to keep you company.”
“No, I need some time alone.”
By the time Alice hung up, she had already arrived at the hotel where she frequently worked, having booked a long-term suite for business purposes.
After handing the valet the car keys, she stormed into the elevator, her fury still boiling. As the doors began to close, a man and a woman entered.
Despite her emotions, Alice’s professional instincts kicked in, and she couldn’t help but assess them. The man was handsome, and the woman beautiful, though Alice felt a mismatch. The man’s striking looks were unforgettable, while the woman’s appearance seemed more understated.
As soon as they entered, the woman casually said to the man, “Can’t you stay with me? I rarely get to see you.”
The man replied coolly, “There are other guests.”
Alice raised an eyebrow, scanning him once more. What a waste, such a handsome man, with such a perfect figure, reduced to a gigolo.
They were headed to the 31st floor, and Alice intentionally lingered behind, standing by the elevator doors. She took a cigarette from her pocket, lit it, and put it between her lips.
Moments later, the man turned back, and when he saw her still standing there, he gave her a faint glance.
Alice held the cigarette between her fingers, smirking, and said, “How much for you?”
Since David had cheated, there was no reason for her to stay faithful.
“What?”
Lucas squinted, his gaze turning towards the bold woman before him.
Alice let out a disdainful laugh. “Isn’t he just a gigolo? Are you worried I can't afford the price? I’ll give you a hundred thousand to spend the day with me. How about that?”
Lucas’s eyes darkened, a flicker of anger flashing beneath the surface. But instead of reacting harshly, he smirked and took a step forward, closing the distance between them. His handsome gaze met hers, his voice smooth as he spoke softly, “I’ll offer you a million to spend the day with me. What do you think?”
“Fine.”
Alice smirked. Without hesitation, she extinguished her cigarette and threw her arms around his neck, kissing him passionately.
David had betrayed her, and Alice no longer cared to hold on to anything for him. Besides, this gigolo in front of her—whether in looks, presence, or allure—was leagues above David. And more importantly, he was offering her a million. What could be better than that?
Alice hadn’t been intimate with David for a long time, and though she didn’t know if his infidelity had anything to do with that, she was beyond caring now.
A sharp intake of breath.
“Focus,” Lucas murmured, biting her shoulder, then pressing himself deeper into her.
His skill in bed was impeccable. Alice, aroused and lost at the moment, clung to his shoulders, leaning into him. As the intensity reached its peak, she couldn’t help but let out a couple of soft cries.
Afterward, Alice lay on the bed, motionless, while Lucas went to the bathroom for a shower. When he returned, she was propped up against the headboard, smoking lazily.
She looked effortlessly seductive as she inhaled.
“Hey, what’s your name? Which establishment do you work for? I’ll be sure to ask for you next time.”
Alice glanced at him, eyes half-closed, her voice dripping with indifference.
Lucas raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips. “You don’t know who I am?”
“Why should I? Are you famous?”
She countered, though she did think he looked somewhat familiar, her face-blindness making it hard to place him. She had only seen him once or twice before.
Lucas didn’t answer. Instead, he loosened the towel around his waist and stepped toward her. “Don’t know me? Then we’ll keep going until you do.”
—
That night, Alice stood alone before the grand floor-to-ceiling windows of her room, her hair cascading in waves, a cigarette between her fingers. She gazed coldly at the city below.
She had married David out of love, but the love had long since faded during their three years of marriage.
When she first discovered David’s infidelity, she wasn’t saddened, but filled with rage. He had fallen for another woman and was asking for a divorce. He knew about her obsession with cleanliness, yet he brought another woman into their home, and worse, he had seduced one of her own studio staff!
She admitted that she no longer loved David, which was why she had slept with Lucas. But that didn’t mean she was ready to divorce David peacefully. Until she discovered his betrayal, she hadn’t considered being unfaithful.
She took a deep breath, releasing the anger within her, and turned to pour herself a drink. But as she reached for the bottle, her eyes caught a note left on the bedside table: “Come find me tomorrow.”
She stared at the note for a moment, then crumpled it up without a second thought, tossing it in the trash. She could hardly remember what the man looked like—he hadn’t left his name or number, so how could she possibly find him?
After filling her glass, Alice sank onto the carpet, tilting her head back to drink. As she did, her eyes caught an advertisement on the building across the street through the window. The man on the billboard was impeccably dressed in a suit and tie, his hair neatly styled, his posture straight and commanding. Though the distance was considerable, she could still make out the sharpness in his profile and the intensity in his eyes, as deep and piercing as an abyss.
A sharp pang tugged at Alice’s heart, and her expression soured. She couldn’t help but think of the man she had just been with.
That man… was Lucas?
No wonder he looked so familiar!