Chapter 9

The following day, Chelsey woke up with a splitting headache. She clutched at her head as she sat up in bed. She could see that she was in her bed at home but had no idea how she'd gotten there.

Chelsey lifted the sheets to see she was buck-naked. She ran into the bathroom in shock. When she saw the dress she'd worn last night on the floor, she sagged in relief.

Thank God she hadn't stripped while outside. Otherwise, she'd be utterly humiliated.

God, she felt horrible. She couldn't drink anymore.

Chelsey grabbed some pajamas and threw them on. Then, she headed downstairs to see Lucas cooking something in the kitchen.

When their gazes met, Chelsey's eyes were wide with surprise. "What are you doing here?"

Lucas didn't answer her. Instead, he put a bowl on the counter. "Come and drink this."

Chelsey walked over and frowned at the murky liquid. "What's in there?"

"A hangover remedy." Lucas had had the driver get the ingredients and made it himself.

Chelsey would always make this for him when he had a hangover. It was just that it didn't taste as good as the one Chelsey made—he'd tasted it.

Chelsey frowned and held the bowl up to sniff the remedy. Then, she tried a spoonful. It wasn't as bad as she imagined, but it wasn't tasty, either.

Chelsey didn't say anything. She downed the remedy.

Lucas nodded in satisfaction. "You shouldn't go to places like that nightclub anymore. Things are too messed up there."

The nightclub?

That reminded her of something. She remembered now—Sandra had found her a handsome guy as a surprise last night. Where was he?

Chelsey looked around the villa. Nobody else was in the living room or dining room; she even checked the garden.

There wasn't a soul in sight. Had he already left?

When Lucas saw Chelsey muttering to herself as she walked around, seemingly looking for something, he asked, "What are you looking for?"

"A handsome guy."

Her words made his expression go dark. They'd yet to divorce, yet she was already excited to cuckold him.

Lucas gnashed his teeth and said menacingly, "Are you that desperate for men, Chelsey? Fine, then. I'll find you all the men you want. How many do you need?"

He thought Chelsey would refute him and say she wasn't desperate, that she'd only been spouting nonsense last night because she'd been drunk and uninhibited.

To his rage, she didn't do so. In fact, she said happily, "That'd be great! Bring them over right now. I want young, fresh men. It gets lonely staying here alone, so having some people here with me would be nice. The more, the merrier!"

Lucas was about to explode from anger. How shameless could she be? The more, the merrier? How preposterous!

He was contemplating strangling her to death when the doorbell rang.

Chelsey checked the camera to see Shannon standing outside. She looked frail, like she would topple over at any moment. She asked weakly, "Lucas, are you here? Lucas …"

Shannon had come looking for Lucas. Chelsey opened the door for her and sat on the couch, ready to watch the latter's performance.

Shannon walked into the villa. She glanced at Chelsey before heading toward Lucas. "I tried calling you, but you didn't answer. I was worried, so I wanted to try my luck here. I didn't expect you to really be here …"

Tears streamed down her face as she stood there, looking fragile. One's heart would go out to her.

Lucas said distantly, "My phone battery's dead, and I forgot to charge it. You should take care of yourself instead of worrying about me. I'll send you home."

With that, he put an arm around Shannon's shoulder to lead her out.

Shannon gave Chelsey an apologetic look. "I'm sorry for disturbing you guys."

Chelsey didn't want to argue with Lucas over Shannon anymore. Her heart ached terribly, but she said nonchalantly, "It's fine. He was leaving anyway."