Marrying the Big Shot After Getting Cheated On by My Ex

CHAPTER 4

Yann's jaw was clenched tight, his face stern as he helped me upstairs. I was disheartened, head bowed in self-mockery. Maybe he did just walk me home, nothing more.

But as I fumbled with my keys, hands shaking too much to get the door open, he suddenly pressed me against it, lowering his head to kiss me fiercely. I didn't know why, but it felt less like a kiss happened between two people who fell for each other at first sight, and more like an avalanche of pent-up emotions, erupting after years of suppression.

His kiss was heated and passionate, as if he wanted to meld me into his very being. I could hear his heart pounding against my chest, a wild, unrestrained rhythm. I responded wordlessly, meeting his fervor with my own. After a long, possessive kiss, Yann abruptly pulled away, chest heaving. Avoiding my eyes, he leaned against the wall, gasping for breath.

"Yelena..."

I was a little dizzy, but not completely drunk. My steps were unsteady, eyes half-closed, as I tilted my head back to look at him. He was tall, even taller than Leo, with a narrow waist and long legs. He had sword-like brows and bright, starry eyes. His expression was a mixture of excitement and restraint, his entire being radiating a captivating masculine aura.

He was affected by me.

I placed a hand on the wall behind him, caging him in the small space between us. "Yann, are you having second thoughts?" I asked, rising on my toes to kiss the lips that had just been suctioned red by me.

His breath hitched. He took the keys from my hand, unlocked the door, then swept me up in his arms and strode into the bedroom.

*****

I woke to bright daylight streaming through the window. Yann was already gone. He has good physical strength. After a night of passionate entanglement, I was utterly exhausted, sleeping from yesterday afternoon well into the next day.

I dragged my sore body out of bed and walked out of the bedroom, greeted by the enticing aroma of food. A clay pot simmered on the stove, filled with fragrant bone broth. On the table sat a thermal lunchbox containing light and refreshing dishes, all my favorites. The kitchen was spotless, but there were signs it had been used. It must have been difficult for him to prepare such an elaborate meal in my sparsely equipped kitchen.

I sat down and filled a bowl with soup. My empty stomach, still recovering from last night's indulgence, was awakened by the warm food. The steam rising from the soup seemed to all go into my eyes, making them moist and uncomfortable. As I lowered my head to take a sip, tears fell into the bowl.

Leo always used to complain about my clumsiness and how I didn't understand how to be a good wife. He dared to blame his philandering entirely on my failings as a woman. Yet, after a single night, I felt a sense of being cherished and cared for that I had never experienced in six years of marriage.

After another day of rest at home, I felt rejuvenated and ready to deal with some important matters. As the club's top racer and a board member, I had dedicated years of my life to it. Now that my marriage was over, I didn't want anything more to do with Leo, so I decided to resign and formally hand over all my responsibilities.

I changed my clothes and returned to the club. As I pushed open the door to the private room, I found Leo and his cronies gathered inside. The atmosphere turned icy the moment they saw me.

After a moment of tense silence, someone chuckled. "Well, well, Leo, look who's back. I told you..."

Another chimed in, attempting to smooth things over, "Now that she's back, let's just forget about it. Yelena was hospitalized for so long; it couldn't have been easy for her, right, Leo?"

Leo's face was grim, his eyes filled with mockery. He sneered at me. "Yelena, don't you think it's a little too late for regrets?"

From the moment I decided to give up, to the divorce, and now this, in just two short days, seeing him again filled me with a strange sense of detachment as if we were strangers. Was this the man I had loved for six years? Suddenly, he seemed repulsive and ridiculous. I wondered what had possessed me to hold on for so long.

"Leo, I'm here to resign. Effective immediately, I am no longer an employee of the club and will no longer hold any position here." I placed a notebook on the table in front of him. "All the work details are in this notebook. Please arrange for someone to take over. If you have any questions, you can call me, but I will only answer questions related to the handover."

Leo's face darkened. His voice was slow and cold. "Your racing contract is for ten years. Have you read the penalty clause for breach of contract?"

My expression remained unchanged. "I have. But the contract also states that the penalty for breach of contract only applies if the club has not violated industry rules and competitive order."

Leo's brow furrowed imperceptibly. Just then, someone glanced at their phone and exclaimed, "Leo, it is about the last race... The organizer issued an apology on Twitter! They corrected the list of winners and... and they've banned Claire from competing for three years!"