Beneath Your Fur

I’m Serena Anson—a pathetic joke of a woman betrayed by her husband yet again.

I glance at the passenger seat, where a stack of photos lies scattered: my husband, Taylor Walter, wrapped around another woman, kissing her like she’s the air he breathes.

Our marriage began with a drunken one-night stand, and now he repays me by fucking his mistress.

Countless nights, I’ve cried myself to sleep. I loved him—still love him—but he’s never seen it. To him, I’m just the villain who ruined his happiness.

The truth? That night at the bar, I was drowning in the worst day of my life. I didn’t even remember how I ended up in Taylor’s bed. But when the media stormed in the next morning, his parents forced us to marry. Their family’s stocks would’ve crashed otherwise.

I agreed. My parents were dead; I needed the money. But I swear, I never knew he had someone else.

Taylor’s revenge started the day we wed. Even when I got pregnant a month later, it never stopped. The only mercy? He adores our daughter, Millie.

That’s why I endure this.

As long as Millie is happy.

I close my eyes, shoving the darkness down as our gated villa comes into view. I can’t let my daughter see her father for what he is. Taylor knows I’ll never break that illusion.

Gathering the photos, I step out and walk to my usual spot in the garden—the corner where I burn evidence of his affairs. The flames devour his and his mistress’s faces, but my heart doesn’t ache like it used to.

The love I once had for that man is ash now.

Inside, only the housekeeper, Maria, and Millie’s tiny shoes greet me. Taylor’s absence is a relief.

"Serena, your husband isn’t home yet," Maria confirms softly. I nod.

"Where’s Millie?" I toe off my heels, glancing toward her room.

"Asleep. But she kept asking when Mr. Walter would be back." Maria’s voice is heavy with pity. She knows Taylor’s barely here.

"You can leave for the night. Thank you." I don’t explain. There’s no point airing wounds that’ve long gone numb.

All I want is my bed.

But first, I tiptoe into Millie’s room. Her peaceful face, the rise and fall of her chest—it’s enough to make my lips curve. My greatest gift. No matter how broken my marriage is, she makes me strong.

Leaving Millie's room, I changed into my nightclothes and collapsed onto the soft bed. Exhaustion weighed heavily on me - as a doctor, I'd worked a full shift today. Within moments, I fell into a deep sleep.

I don't know how much time had passed when feather-light kisses on my shoulder startled me awake. I groaned and turned over in bed. Those shameless lips that disturbed my peaceful sleep moved to my neck. Opening my eyes, I saw my husband.

Maybe his cock had just been inside another woman's pussy moments before. At this thought, I immediately pushed him away.

"Get off me. I'm not your whore. You should know better."

Instead of getting angry, he just sneered coldly, "Yet it was your whorish behavior that forced me to marry you. What right do you have to say such things?"

My heart shattered again. Though I'd explained countless times that night six years ago was just an accident, he never believed me. I shook my head - there was no point explaining anymore.

I couldn't bear to look at that face that caused me so much pain. As I got up to leave, he grabbed me and threw me back on the bed, quickly straddling me.

"Let me go!" I screamed, slapping at his arms in fury.

He immediately pinned my hands above my head, sneering, "Let you go? No! I'll never do that. I'll keep you by my side in despair forever."

With that, his lips crashed down on mine. When I opened my mouth to protest, he seized the opportunity to thrust his tongue inside, exploring every inch of my mouth.

Against my will, my body began responding to him, a moan escaping my lips. But then Taylor's phone rang. Images of his infidelity flashed through my mind again. I struggled desperately, but he still wouldn't release me. "Taylor...please. No...don't." Tears streamed down my face - I realized it had been so long since I'd cried in front of him.

I thought my heart had grown numb to the pain.

Taylor stopped suddenly, fixing me with those cold blue eyes devoid of any emotion, as if I truly were just a whore to him. He seemed shocked by my resistance.

Six years. I'd thought having a child might soften our relationship. But I realized my mental state had only been deteriorating. I needed to make a change.

"Taylor, let's get a divorce," I said calmly, meeting his gaze.

"What?" His eyes narrowed to slits.

I lowered my head, clenching my trembling fists. "This isn't working, Taylor. Let's divorce."

His mouth fell open. He stared at me for several seconds before running a hand through his hair and letting out a mocking laugh. "You think I'd let you go? Hmm? You think you can end this so easily? After you ruined my life?" he spat through gritted teeth.

I closed my eyes and said coolly, "What do I need to endure for you to agree to divorce?"

"There will be no divorce, Serena!" he roared, punching the wall. His chest heaved violently, his face and neck flushed red, his eyes filled with fury.

This was the first time I'd seen him so violent. Why? Wasn't he completely in control of his life now? Before, he'd had to obey his father because he wasn't in charge of the corporation. But now as CEO, he was doing better than his father ever had.

He...could just discard me now.

"Why?! You hate me! For Millie's sake, we should stop this war!" I screamed.

Suddenly, he grabbed the lampshade and smashed it at my feet, shattering it instantly. I jumped in fright. Taylor's chest rose and fell rapidly. Not wanting to provoke him further, I tried to leave the room.

But when I opened the door, Millie stood there rubbing her eyes, wearing pink pajamas - clearly woken by our fighting.

"Sweetheart..." I walked over and picked her up.

Gently moving her small hands from her eyes, she looked at me sleepily. "Mommy, Daddy...fighting?"

My mouth fell open. Before I could respond, Taylor appeared beside me, wrapping an arm around my waist. He kissed Millie's cheek and stroked her hair.

"Of course not. Mommy and Daddy weren't fighting, princess," Taylor said in a tender voice that rang clearly in my ears. When was the last time I'd heard him speak to me with that softness? It sounded absurd, but I began regretting the day I married him all over again.

"How about we go back to your room, darling? I'll sing you to sleep."

She shook her head. "Millie wants to sleep with Mommy and Daddy..."

Taylor took her from my arms, distracting her from the messy bedroom. "Of course! Whatever the princess wants. Let's go!"

My eyes followed them as Taylor carried Millie to our bed and tucked her in. He looked at me expectantly. I had no choice - I couldn't let my daughter think we were fighting. I climbed in beside Millie while Taylor took the other side, his gaze boring into me the entire time.

"Mommy, sing..." Millie murmured. Smiling, I began stroking her hair and softly singing. I could feel Taylor's eyes on me but ignored him completely.

I thought it was over. But when Millie finally fell asleep, I felt Taylor's piercing stare once more.

Meeting his gaze, I saw his eyes gleaming dangerously. His jaw clenched, his expression growing darker.

"Never mention divorce again, Serena. I'll never let you escape this miserable life."

"You're destined to suffer with me. You're mine."