Chapter 3

"I'm sorry," I leaned against his shoulder, tears soaking his shirt, "I'm just... so afraid of losing you."

That night he was especially gentle. He heated milk for me, coaxed me to sleep, just like every night for the past three years.

I curled up in his arms, telling myself: Trust him. Trust this man I've loved for three years.

I almost really believed it.

The next morning, Lucas specially got up early to make me breakfast.

"Come home early today, okay?" I saw him to the door, helping him straighten his tie.

"Okay, no overtime today. I'll come home and keep you company." He kissed my forehead. "What do you want for dinner? I'll make it for you."

"I like everything you make."

Watching his retreating figure, I even started to feel guilty: How could I suspect him? He's so good to me.

But there was still some unease in my heart.

So I didn't tell him I was working at his company.

After seeing Lucas off, I drove to the company alone.

I'd just sat down at my desk when Isabella showed up at the office.

She was carrying a lunch box and walked straight through Lucas's office door.

The door wasn't fully closed.

A few minutes later, I picked up an irrelevant document, pretending I needed to deliver something, and walked toward that door.

Through the crack, I saw her straddle Lucas's lap, cup his face in her hands, and give him a long, suffocating kiss.

Lucas's hands immediately gripped her waist tightly, while his other hand expertly explored beneath her skirt.

"Did you miss me?" Isabella gasped as they separated, her lips glistening.

"What do you think?" Lucas's voice was low and husky, his hand still moving under her skirt.

Lucas chuckled softly, leaned close to her ear and said something. Isabella giggled and playfully hit his chest.

In that moment, the vague fear from last night's phone call transformed into a soul-piercing, undeniable agony.

Intense burning pain and nauseating betrayal surged through that invisible bond, crashing violently into my heart and brain.

My legs went weak. I had to grab the wall to keep from collapsing, my stomach churning.

I could barely stand, yet I still raised my phone and recorded everything.

I didn't actually need to witness it myself.

But if I didn't see it with my own eyes, I was afraid I wouldn't give up.

All afternoon, I watched Lucas and Isabella going in and out of the office like an outsider.

They occasionally made eye contact, their gazes lingering. When Isabella handed him documents, her fingers "accidentally" brushed his hand.

And I shattered a cup from the pain of their contact.

During lunch, Isabella entered his office. She didn't come out until half an hour later, her lipstick reapplied, her hair slightly mussed.

The suffocating pain and absurd awareness coming from behind that closed door made me almost vomit.

I didn't even need to look to know what they were doing.

Six o'clock in the evening. Closing time.

I watched them head to the underground parking garage.

Then I got in my car and followed them.

I didn't know what I wanted to see. Perhaps I just wanted an answer.

If he'd fallen in love with someone else, why was he still pretending nothing was wrong? Why wouldn't he divorce me?

After Lucas dropped Isabella off at home, he went to a discreet members-only bar.

I used the card Nathan gave me to get in and sat in the shadows near their private room.

The door was ajar.

I could see seven or eight people sitting inside.

At first, the group discussed work projects.

Later, they started talking about their personal lives.

About kids, about wives... and of course, about mistresses.

"I saw Isabella post on social media something about lovers finally getting together. What's up? Did you finally come around and get Isabella into bed?"

Someone asked.

I couldn't help but prick up my ears.

Lucas said calmly: "You don't understand the situation that day. I had no choice. Isabella was pressuring me. If I didn't take her, she'd resign. You know, Isabella's been with the company so many years, the company can't do without her. Or rather... I can't do without her."

"So Isabella's okay with being a mistress? Lucas, don't screw yourself over later."

"Right. And can your mate accept Isabella's existence? Didn't she notice anything yesterday?"

"It's simple. As long as you keep your distance, even a mate won't detect these things."

So that was it. Apparently they all had experience with this, and had even figured out the effective range of the mate bond.

Lucas set down his glass and spoke:

"Sophie is just a useless Omega. She's not even as pretty as Isabella."

"I'm starting to regret making her my mate. With her status, she's only good enough to be my mistress at best."

"But divorcing now would mean too great a loss."

So he was worried about the loss.

Made sense. Lucas and I were legally married.

Divorce would mean splitting his marital assets.

Lucas's Silver Crest Pack was originally just a small pack, and the businesses under it barely made money.

It was only after marrying me that he suddenly gained many opportunities to partner with Shadow Fang Pack's enterprises.

And Lucas finally had the standing to build connections with the Alphas of more powerful packs.

Because although I'm an Omega, my stepfather and stepbrother are both powerful Alphas, and they dote on me.

I got up and left the bar, walked to the curb, and called my stepbrother Nathan.

"Sophia, what's up? How come you're calling me so late?"

Nathan's voice came through the receiver.

I couldn't hold back. Tears streamed down my face.

"Soph, what's wrong? Are you crying?"

I was sobbing too hard to speak.

Nathan immediately asked where I was.

I gave him an address through my tears. Half an hour later, he appeared in front of me.

"Where's Lucas?"

"He cheated."

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