Chapter 0001

My husband, Lucas Holmes, lived with me and my parents.

Initially, I had an affection for his younger brother, Lester Holmes, but because of an incident at a class reunion, he exploited my vulnerability and slept with me while I was intoxicated.

This matter became widely known.

My dad had no option but to arrange my marriage to Lucas. However, the condition was that he had to adopt our family name. Lucas came from his father's previous marriage, and ever since his father divorced and remarried, their relationship wasn't very close.

My family was quite well-off, and I had been my parents' pride since I was a child. For him to become our family's son-in-law, Lucas’ father naturally couldn't be happier.

That was how we got married.

However, I was not happy about it because I liked his younger brother.

Due to my lingering dissatisfaction, I constantly targeted him. At night, I made him sleep on the floor and never allowed him on the bed.

During meals, my brother and I mocked and oppressed him, not allowing him to eat in peace.

When I was at gatherings with friends and it rained, even if he kindly came to offer me an umbrella, I would still scold him.

In short, if I didn't scold him, I wouldn't find inner satisfaction.

In short, he was a peculiar person. It was as if he had no temper at all. No matter how my family and I mistreated and oppressed him, he never got angry, always maintaining a gentle demeanor.

As for his looks, he was quite good-looking. But back in our school days, he was extremely shy, struggled with his studies, and had to repeat grades. He became the sort of person that made others shake their heads in disapproval.

However, his younger brother was different; he was charismatic, good-looking, and excelled academically. He was a prominent figure at school.

Thinking about how the budding flame of love between his younger brother and me was extinguished by him, I couldn't help but feel unhappy. In the middle of the night, I got out of bed, kicked him awake as he slept on the floor, and told him I was thirsty.

He was efficient, promptly getting up to fetch me some water.

He was considerate too, remembering to bring me a glass of warm water as autumn approached.

However, when I recalled that night at a class reunion when he took advantage of my vulnerability, I felt a surge of anger. I raised my hand and splashed the entire glass of water onto his face.

Even in that situation, he didn't get angry, silently heading to the bathroom.

As I watched his tall, silent figure, a hint of guilt arose in my heart.

However, when I remembered that he had ruined my lifetime of happiness, my guilt vanished.

And so, for three years, I continued to oppress and mistreat him.

However, over three years, many things happened. For example, my family went bankrupt, I started to have feelings for him, and then... he proposed a divorce.

When he gave me the divorce papers, he mentioned that his true love had returned to him.

I admitted, at that moment, I felt deeply uneasy. My heart felt like it was clenched by a giant hand, making it hard to breathe. However, I was raised with a strong sense of pride from a young age, and I didn't show a hint of sadness or loss in front of him. I swiftly signed my name on the divorce agreement.

After signing, his calm voice suddenly sounded beside me, "Do you need me to send a driver for you?"

I was momentarily stunned before realizing it.

This mansion I had lived in for over twenty years no longer belonged to my family. My family had gone bankrupt, and all our assets were liquidated.

And he, the son-in-law we had once underestimated, who employed cunning tactics to marry me, had quietly started a company and was now doing very well. He had bought over this mansion.

However, I had no right to blame him or ask for a share of his wealth because he had earned it through years of perseverance and hard work, without using a single cent from our family.

He watched me quietly, without rushing me.

However, it was his gentleness that reminded me of my past actions towards him.

I couldn't help but feel ashamed.

After all, in such a situation where I was down and he had prospered, he should have taken the opportunity to repay me for the humiliations I had suffered in the past.

However, he didn't.

He remained as gentle as ever.

I quickly said, "No need, I can go back on my own."

After that, I rushed out in a panic.

I heard his faint inquiry from behind, "Did you come to see me tonight for any particular reason?"

"None," I replied without turning my head and hurriedly left the courtyard.

It started raining outside, and I clenched the gift in my hand. Today marked our third wedding anniversary. I had never treated him well before, but after realizing that I had developed feelings for him, I wanted to celebrate such an occasion with him.

However, what awaited me was a divorce agreement.

I laughed at myself, letting the pouring rain drench me, leaving me in a sorry state.

On the following day, I became sick and was unable to leave my bed. I heard a loud commotion outside, so I mustered what little strength I had left to investigate. To my dismay, I found my father perched on a dilapidated wall, expressing his desire to end his life.

We were currently living in an old residential building, the surroundings were dirty and chaotic, but the rent was very cheap. My mom cried bitterly, saying that if he jumped, she would jump too, and none of us would live.

With a splitting headache, I tried to persuade my dad, saying that it was just bankruptcy, and as long as we were alive, there was still hope.

My dad suddenly stared at me intensely, and his piercing gaze sent a shiver down my spine. Then he said, "Go and ask Lucas for help, he's our son-in-law, he'll definitely help us."

My mom quickly added, "Yes, even though we weren't very nice to him in the past, he'll surely lend a helping hand for your sake, so please go and ask him."

I forced a bitter smile; my parents didn't know that I had already been dumped by that man. I reluctantly agreed to go and ask him. Before leaving, my mom used the little money we had left to buy me some clothes: a deep V-neck dress and sexy pointed-toe heels. She also had someone do a beautiful makeover and style my hair.

As I gazed at my reflection in the mirror, a hint of self-mockery crept across my lips. This didn't seem like a plea, but more like a seduction.

However, even if I were to stand before that man completely nude now, he probably wouldn't spare me a second glance.

I still couldn't comprehend why he slept with me that night during the class reunion. Did he also get too drunk and mistake me for someone else?

Pushing aside these tangled thoughts, I decided to make a token effort to appease my parents and went to ask for Lucas’ help. I found out he was currently at his office, so I went there despite my current appearance.

Meanwhile, my parents waited downstairs, wearing hopeful expressions. Seeing them like that, I didn't know what to say, and a sense of bitterness washed over me.

When I arrived at his office floor, many people cast peculiar glances my way, and the air was thick with unpleasant gossip and mockery. I pretended not to hear and straightened my posture as I walked directly into the man's office.

However, the moment I laid eyes on him, I became nervous, and my posture slumped slightly. At that moment, he was seated in his chair, exuding an air of nobility, and he smiled as he looked at me.

I fidgeted with my fingers, ashamedly explaining the purpose of my visit.

His gaze suddenly grew more intense, and he smiled as he asked, "Why do you think I should help you?"

Realizing that begging wouldn't likely succeed, I chuckled and said, "Well, then, let's just pretend I never came."

Indeed, considering how we treated him in the past, it was already a relief that he hadn't sought revenge on our family, let alone the idea of him helping us. How could I have the audacity to come and ask him for help? The more I thought about it, the more embarrassed I felt.

I wanted to escape, but he stopped me and said, "Tell me, what do you have to offer in exchange for my help? If I find it worthwhile, I might consider helping you."

I froze, unable to come up with anything to offer him. My body? Well, if he had any desire for me, after three years of marriage and countless nights together, he had plenty of opportunities. Yet in those three years, he hadn't touched me once.

I lowered my head, feeling ashamed, and said, "Just forget that I came here today."

However, the man suddenly walked towards me. He was tall, towering over me. He leaned in close to my ear and chuckled softly, "Since you’re dressed like this, why are you pretending to be modest?"

My whole body froze, overwhelmed with embarrassment, and I wished I could escape immediately. He then hooked his arm around my waist, a sly smile playing on his lips as he said, "In our three years of marriage, I've been sleeping on the floor all those years. It's been a while since I've slept with you. How about... you use your body to persuade me?"