When Nanette Wood arrived at the Jewel Club, everyone there had already enjoyed several rounds of drinks. The spacious private room was buzzing with laughter and chatter.Sterling Hanson, who was seated at the main table, wore a calm expression. Due to the alcohol, a faint flush adorned his cheeks. He had loosened a couple of buttons on his exquisite shirt, leaving the collar slightly open in a relaxed manner.His usually icy gaze softened as he glanced down at the woman beside him.After a moment, his eyes seemed to carry a hint of amusement as they swept over Nanette. They radiated an endless chill."Sterling, could you peel the shrimp for me?"With a slightly indulgent look, Sterling accepted the shrimp that Isla Lynch handed him with his long, slender fingers.Nanette's gaze involuntarily drifted to him. She had never seen him peel shrimp so delicately before. Although she was Sterling's wife of three years, she only saw him a few times each year.Taking a deep breath, Nanet
The man's strong arms wrapped around Nanette as he pulled her into the house, pressing her firmly against the door.Before Nanette could react, his lips crashed onto hers, and he relentlessly ravaged her lips. His fiery kisses greedily trailed down to her neck, as if he aimed to unleash all the pent-up anger within him.His warm hands tore at her collar, and he gazed at her collarbone for a few seconds before his lips descended again. He gave her no chance to breathe.He was so fast and fierce that Nanette found herself completely defenseless against him.Sterling kissed her with urgency. The smell of smoke and alcohol on him overwhelmed her, leaving her no escape. Before she could process what was happening, she became lost in the chaos of desire. The air was thick with the smell of liquor.Gradually, she softened, abandoning the resistance she had felt moments earlier.The sudden pain jolted Nanette back to reality, and she gasped out the words, "Sterling, you're hurting me."
Although what happened last night was normal for them, Nanette still had her dignity. She could not expose her wounds in front of a mistress!Enduring the pain, she straightened her back and walked with composure."I'm sorry for the interruption, Nanette. I've been experiencing severe abdominal pain, so I booked an appointment with you early this morning. I didn't expect you to be on leave at the last minute. I must've caused you trouble."Isla's sweet, soft voice carried an undertone of restraint. Her brows were furrowed together, and her small face appeared pitiful."I'm a gynecologist, so abdominal pain should..."Before Nanette could finish, Harley scoffed. "What a delicate little lady. To think Mr. Hanson would personally bring her here for period cramps."Isla's face flushed instantly the moment she heard Harley's words. As she looked down, she could not resist glancing at Sterling. Her embarrassment was evident."Nanette, please don't misunderstand. I went to bring breakf
Sterling answered her with disdain, "Go take a shower. You smell like disinfectant.""I'm injured, so I can't shower."Nanette refused to hide the truth from him. Why should she bear everything alone?Sterling glanced at her coolly, the corners of his eyes holding a meaningful glint.Nanette bit her lip. Disregarding everything else, she slowly began to unbutton her clothes in front of him."Are you trying to seduce me? I didn't drink today, so I won't touch you."His throat bobbed as he watched her movements, but he still continued to make cutting remarks that dripped with sarcasm.Nanette remained silent. Her gaze was cold as she focused on him, and she continued to undress. There was no hint of shyness or unease on her face; instead, she radiated determination and resolve.Once she was left in only her underwear, she suddenly spoke up, "Open your eyes and take a clear look at me, Sterling!"Her pale body stood before him, the bruises on her fair skin glaringly visible.The
Ever since Sterling began to hate Nanette, he would wire money to her every time they ended up in bed. He was quite generous, and it was certainly quite a sum for her family.Nanette's family struggled financially. Her father fell into a vegetative state three years earlier due to a car accident, and her brother had cerebral palsy. Hence, both of them required her mother's care.Naturally, the weight of her family's burdens fell onto her shoulders, and at that time, she was still taking her master's in medicine.Nanette clearly remembered the night after her father's accident when the hospital pressed her for payment again. The exorbitant medical fees made it hard for her to breathe, but she could not give up on her father.After all, he had given Nanette profound and sincere paternal love when she was growing up.That night, while she was squatting at the hospital entrance and crying in despair, Sterling appeared. She could never forget the sight of him standing before her.The
After hanging up the phone, Nanette leaned back on the couch in a daze. After the divorce, she would not have to see Sterling again, and he would likely forget about her soon enough.During their three years in high school and seven years in university, a total of ten years, he never once noticed her. Even when they happened to meet face-to-face, his gaze would never linger on her.Looking back now, she realized they simply happened to be in the right place at the right time that night.In that chaotic situation, Sterling had been ready to step back at any moment while she found herself sinking deeper. In the end, it was all because she got too greedy and wanted everything! While lost in her thoughts, Nanette heard voices at the front door. After listening for a moment, she discovered someone was fixing the hallway lights.An older woman commented, "The youths of today are quite impressive, huh? They're even paying out of their own pockets to fix the lights. Our property manageme
Upon hearing Harley's words, Nanette followed her gaze and saw Sterling, whom she had seen on the television this afternoon, standing next to a beaming Isla. The pendant around Isla's neck sparkled, reflecting the fireworks and streetlights.Isla came from a well-off family. Her stepfather ran a publicly listed company, and her mother, Willa Costa, was a former movie star.Willa and Ivanka were good friends. In a sense, Isla and Sterling were childhood friends, though they had gone many years without seeing each other. Isla had a bit of fame in the entertainment industry and often posted vague posts on social media without showing her face. Nanette had long since grown accustomed to her subtle bragging.At that moment, Sterling casually glanced over with a smile on his face, showing no signs of unease or guilt.A sudden chill swept through Nanette, causing her to tremble slightly as she quickly picked up her phone to check Isla's Instagram. When she saw the photos and captions in Isla
Nanette frowned. "Sterling, what's the point of this? Is it really worth it to mistreat the woman you love just because of someone you despise?"Sterling lowered his gaze to light a cigarette, then looked up again. His cold eyes drifted toward her. "Encouraging your husband to divorce and remarry? You must be the first wife to ever say such words. How considerate of you!"He took a deep drag from the cigarette and slowly exhaled, the smoke curling lazily around him. Although he appeared indifferent, the half-squint of his fox-like eyes grew sharper and more menacing. His chiseled features seemed especially unapproachable when he was emotionless, and now was no exception.Seeing that he was impervious to reason, Nanette took a deep breath. "If you have nothing to say, please leave. And I've already signed the divorce papers, so I would appreciate it if you could sign them promptly, Mr. Hanson."With that, she turned to head back to the bedroom. After she took a couple of steps, St