Chapter 1

At my husband Damien Shaw’s birthday party, he kissed his assistant right in front of me.

I didn't cry. I didn't make a scene. I even thoughtfully turned on the air conditioning for him.

He was beaming, showing off to a dozen of his buddies.

"You gotta find a wife who's both chill and devoted," he boasted. "I just mentioned an open marriage, and she was totally on board. But she loves me so much, she's never brought another guy home."

Everyone nodded, but a knowing smirk played on their lips.

Damien had no idea that I'd actually been on dates with every single one of those guys.

Just last night, the professor sitting in the corner kept pressing me:

"Sister, when are you finally going to make this official?"

Damien's words cast a subtle hush over the private dining room.

Everyone exchanged mocking glances, a silent understanding passing between them.

My phone, however, wouldn't stop vibrating.

Every single message was an invitation from one of Damien’s friends to meet up again.

I silenced my phone and ignored them all.

The first time I found lipstick on Damien’s shirt collar, I cried, screamed, broke things, and threw tantrums.

I even pathetically begged him to cut ties with those other women.

But he just gave me a cold look. "Everyone believes in open marriages now. It's totally normal for couples to do their own thing."

"If you're unhappy, you can go find someone else too."

He said it, but he was dead certain I'd never betray him.

And to be fair, I couldn't bring myself to casually hook up with others.

Not until he got serious with Chloe Green.

Chloe was my most trusted assistant.

When her parents were in a car accident, I paid their medical bills.

When she couldn't afford rent, I let her stay in my empty apartment for free.

I treated her like a friend, but Damien was sleeping in the same bed with her.

After that, I snapped.

Every time Damien spent time with Chloe, I'd flirt with one of his friends.

Especially the one in the corner, Julian Hayes, the youngest professor at a prestigious university.

He was young, handsome, amazing in bed, and, crucially, richer than me.

He wanted nothing from me, just constantly whispered in my ear, trying to convince me to leave Damien, that "old man," and make him my official partner.

Last night, he clung to me, wanting me again and again. But then, at the most crucial moment, he'd stop, purposely trying to force me to agree to his proposal.

My phone vibrated again, a message from Julian.

*Sister, Damien treats you like this, and you're still not planning to leave him?*

*Divorce that old man, and I'll take you to the biggest manor in Germany for our wedding. Everything the Hayes family owns will be your dowry.*