Chapter 1
My husband and I both cheated on each other.
The difference was that he was the one who initiated it, while I was forced into it.
On the night his affair with the so-called innocent girl was exposed, he got me drunk, stripped me naked, and sent me to a stranger's bed, forcing me into humiliating poses just so he could take photos of my 'infidelity'.
Our cheating photos were leaked one after another. This was used to divert and offset the public's criticism toward the so-called innocent girl.
A massive wave of disgust pressed on my stomach until I violently retched. My entire body was covered in red marks. I had no idea how many times that stranger touched me or what he did to me...
My husband, Linus Larkspur, seeing my devastated expression, and watching me mechanically scrub my skin until it was swollen, red, and bleeding, could only explain helplessly, "I had no other choice. Isabelle was raised strictly and couldn't handle being called a mistress. She would have broken down."
The internet was flooded with curses and insults.
My only family, my grandpa, was triggered into a heart attack and was rushed into emergency treatment in a hospital in New York.
To protect myself, I had to protect his mistress.
As he wished, I clarified everything under the media spotlight.
"Neither of us is cheating. Mr. Larkspur and I broke up a long time ago."
Seeing how obedient I was, Linus's heart seemed to soften a little.
He was standing in the shadows, having already sent Isabelle to a safe place hours earlier.
He made me a promise, "This is the only time, I swear. This all happened so suddenly, I just…"
I looked at him, my voice catching in my throat, "How did these marks get on my body?"
The question was stuck in my chest, suffocating me. I felt so dirty.
Some looked like bruises from being grabbed, others like they were from kisses…
It felt like I'd been through a sick, revolting s****l encounter.
I had no idea who'd done it.
Having been pampered my whole life, I'd never endured anything like this before.
Linus froze. It took him a long moment to realize what I was asking.
He hurried to explain, "Don't be scared. Those red marks are from me, no one dared touch you for real. We only took the photos."
I dug my nails so hard into my palms they hurt.
"If I were your mistress, would you protect me by making Isabelle take those explicit photos? Would you agree to that?"
Linus looked away, avoiding my eyes. "I don't know. She's not like you."
Right. Whether I was his mistress or his wife…
I would never be his first choice.
A tear rolled down my cheek as I pushed him out the door.
Disgusting.
Linus and I had grown up together, childhood sweethearts from equally wealthy families. We were once seen as the perfect couple, blessed by almost everyone. For a while after we married, we really did have a happy life.
Until he started cheating.
He never made it public.
He only ever confided in me privately about it.
"We'll keep it all secret. It'll never affect your status, and no one will look down on you."
In our social circle, everyone knew love and romance weren't that important.
I really did love him once. I'd been angry. I'd made a fuss.
I'd even thought about doing what those young girls do, slitting my wrists, making a huge scene, taking him down with me.
But then I remembered the way I'd been raised, and I let it go.
I chose to turn a blind eye.
I never imagined my compromise would only let them hurt me even more.
Grandpa must have been so heartbroken to end up in the hospital like this.
Linus only remembered that Isabelle couldn't handle being hurt, but he forgot that this old man who'd doted on him like a real grandson had a weak heart, and was even less able to take the shock.
I squeezed my hands tightly.
I allowed myself just a few seconds to grieve, then forced myself to be strong again.
It's just a divorce.
It's not like it's the end of the world.
