Chapter 4

"I'm a man, it's not appropriate for me. Mom is getting too old for this kind of physical labor. You're the only one who can do it."

Swallowing the rising bile in my throat, I forced myself to walk her through cleaning up and changing.

The second everything was finished, I gripped the rim of the bathroom trash can and dry-heaved violently.

Every single time I had to look at Chloe, an uncontrollable wave of revulsion washed over me.

Exhausted to the bone, I dragged myself to bed and collapsed under the covers.

As usual, Justin lit the soothing lavender diffuser on my nightstand and held my scarred hand as we drifted to sleep.

If Chloe's tragedy had never happened, we would still be everyone's idea of a power couple.

Now, everything was warped beyond recognition.

I fell into a heavy, drugged-like slumber, but jolted awake past midnight.

The space beside me was cold and empty. It was barely half past twelve.

From down the hallway, faint, rhythmic sounds of heavy breathing and muffled moans drifted through the silence.

Justin worked late often, usually sequestering himself in his home office.

Evelyn was a heavy sleeper who never woke before dawn.

And Chloe couldn't even manage basic personal hygiene.

So who on earth was making those sounds?

Holding my breath, I crept barefoot down the corridor toward the half-open door of the private lounge.

The scene before my eyes hit me like a plunge into freezing water.

It was Justin and Chloe!

She was straddling Justin completely naked, her chest heaving as she ground against him, murmuring in a seductive, perfectly articulate voice.

"Did you tell that washed-up hag to carry your baby yet? I'm way too young. If my stomach gets stretched out with stretch marks, you won't enjoy fucking me as much."

Justin held her tight, kissing her bare neck and collarbone hungrily.

"I brought it up. She refused. She even demanded a divorce."

"She hasn't produced an heir yet—what's her rush?"

"You little vixen... you really enjoy watching me service someone else?"

Chloe nestled against his chest, her tone dripping with mock sweetness.

"Of course it hurts, babe. But to give your family an heir, I'm willing to play along a little longer."

Justin kissed her forehead tenderly. "Don't worry. The moment I get her pregnant and secure the estate trust, I'll miraculously 'cure' your condition, kick her to the curb, and marry you properly."

My eyes widened in sheer horror, every muscle in my body shaking violently.

Five years of agonizing penance. Five years of enduring humiliation and being stripped of all human dignity.

Enduring the filth of nursing Chloe day after day... only for it all to be a meticulously staged farce.

And my own husband—the man who claimed to protect me—had conspired with her all along to orchestrate my ruin!

It felt as though my heart had been carved out of my chest with a dull blade. The man sleeping beside me every night had set me up, framed me, and watched me suffer with a smile.

I stumbled silently back to bed, staring at the ceiling until dawn.

Justin slipped back under the covers just before sunrise. Wrapping his arms around me, he whispered into my hair, "I love you, Natalie."

Was it lingering guilt from his clandestine hookup, or just a psychological reflex to keep his cover?

Today was Justin's birthday.

He had initially said he wanted a quiet, low-key gathering at home without inviting the city's elite.

Now, I had other plans.

I woke up at the crack of dawn, sending out formal digital invitations to every prominent business partner and socialite in town, and hired an event crew to lavishly decorate the estate.

When Justin finally came downstairs, I placed a warm bowl of traditional longevity noodles in front of him.

Looking into his eyes with artificial tenderness, I said, "Thank you, Justin. If it weren't for you standing by me all these years, I never would have survived. Your birthday deserves a real celebration. I took the liberty of inviting our friends and partners—they'll be arriving this evening."

Justin paused, then smiled and nodded.

Ever since the malpractice scandal, he had refused to host public birthday parties, claiming he wanted to shield me from the media's invasive cameras.

I had naively thought he was protecting my feelings. In reality, he just wanted privacy to fool around with Chloe beneath my nose.

Before the guests arrived, I helped Chloe into a clean dress. When she stripped down, dark purple hickeys covered her inner thighs and waist.

Feigning innocence, I offered to call the house doctor, but she merely flashed me a childish grin.

"Bug bites! Chloe not scared! Doesn't hurt!"

*A bug?*

Does a bug leave love bites all over your backside?

By five in the afternoon, the grand ballroom was packed with high-society guests and corporate titans.

Justin was in high spirits, basking in the congratulations. Even Evelyn refrained from berating me, remarking under her breath, "Well, looks like you finally managed to do something useful for once."

Amid the clinking of champagne flutes and choruses of "Happy Birthday," I walked up to the podium and picked up the microphone.

"Good evening, everyone. Thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to celebrate my husband's birthday. Tonight, I have a very special surprise prepared for him."

With a calm smile, I clapped my hands twice.

The heavy double doors swung open, and a squad of federal agents marched into the ballroom, heading straight for Justin.

"Justin Vance? You are under arrest for corporate fraud, cross-border smuggling, and money laundering. Please come with us."