I've been married to Shawn Ford for three years, and he's humiliated and insulted me throughout. When he's with his friend, he brags, "The woman my Uncle Cameron can't have is licking my boots. I want to laugh whenever I see her sucking up to me."

It wouldn't ever occur to him that I'm frequently in his uncle's bed, covered in hickeys and love bites he leaves on my body.

......

Shawn Ford was back from his travels, and he'd brought me a gift, which was a rare occurrence. I looked at the velvet box but didn't take it.

"Are you stunned? You don't have to be that touched by me giving you a little trinket like this, do you?" He looked at me mockingly. He carelessly threw the box onto the table.

My assistant, Marissa Smith, quickly picked up the box and held it before me. "Why are you just sitting there, Luna? Open it and see what's inside!"

I couldn't be bothered to lift a finger, but I was curious to see what Shawn was up to this time. I lazily opened the box to see a custom-made necklace inside.

The name engraved on it wasn't mine, though. It was for Heather Shaw, a celebrity. I supposed he had better tastes this time.

Marissa leaned closer with a bright smile. "The packaging looks so fancy. Let me see what's inside!"

I didn't hide the necklace, so she clearly saw Heather's name on the necklace. Her smile froze, and she parted her lips awkwardly. "Uh… I still have some work to do."

I waved a hand and dismissed her, looking uncaring. Shawn, on the other hand, looked a little angry at my indifference.

"Is that how you're going to react to me kindly getting you a gift, Luna?" he snarled.

Man, it looked like I'd been so deeply in love with him in the past that he'd gotten the wrong idea about the current me. I was about to say something to brush him off when his phone rang.

He didn't bother hiding from me to answer the call—Heather's voice rang out in the room. She said, "You took the gift meant for me and gave it to Luna, Shawnie. What should we do?"

Shawn faltered before starting to flirt with her. "Weren't you the one who packed my things, babe?"

She giggled coquettishly. "Oh, you found me out. I did it on purpose. She won't get mad at me, will she?"

Shawn glanced at me before saying patiently, "This means nothing. She won't get mad even if I bring you home with me."

I raised an eyebrow, thinking that he was right. I wouldn't have gotten mad in the past because I humbled myself too much in my love for him. Now, I wouldn't get angry because I no longer felt anything for him.

Shawn was still living in the past, though.

Heather huffed. "Hurry up and come back, okay? I miss you already."

Shawn made a sound of acknowledgment and promised to buy her a new Hermès bag. An eerie silence descended upon the room after he hung up.

Perhaps my seemingly obedient appearance awakened his conscience. He came close to me and held my hand. "I'll buy you a new necklace, Lulu. One that's from the brand you usually wear."

I chuckled and retorted. "You might as well just transfer the money to me. Ms. Shaw will probably get mad at you if she hears about this."

He scowled and released me, leaning over me with his hands propped on the table. "I've never realized how materialistic you are, Luna. I can offer you money and gifts, but you can't demand them from me. Do you understand that?"

I almost let out a derisive laugh. He was willing to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars—millions, even—to buy his mistress bags and luxury goods, but he was unwilling to transfer 20 thousand dollars to me.

I couldn't believe how pathetic this marriage had made me. Why else would he be so scornful and disdainful of me?

I retracted my phone and looked through my messages, my expression icy. When he saw that I wasn't responding to his words, he rapped his knuckles on the table and said in a warning tone, "You're not a teenager, so stop pulling the jealous act. I don't have time to waste on you."

He turned to leave but stopped at the door. "Oh, right. Uncle Cameron is back—stay away from him. After all, you're my woman. I'm the only one who can see you."

After that, he hurried off to be with Heather.

Meanwhile, I read a text that his Uncle Cameron had just sent to me. I laughed.

Shawn and I met in college. At the time, my parents had suddenly passed away after an accident, and I'd fainted by the track. He was the one who'd carried me for half an hour under the scorching sun to get to the infirmary.

I'd lost my family and didn't have many friends, so I followed him around like a lost puppy for three years. Everyone knew I liked him, including himself. He'd never responded to my feelings, though.

But on the day of our graduation, he'd suddenly come to me and pinned me to the wall. His voice was seductive as he said, "I agree to be your boyfriend, Lulu."

I'd thrown my arms around him without hesitation. As he kissed me, he said, "Let's get married tomorrow. I'll be your family from now on. I'll care for you on your parents' behalf."

…

I'd naively fallen for his promise. It had trapped me for two years. Despite him giving me the cold shoulder and having multiple affairs during that period, I would forgive him as long as he coaxed me a little.

I would numbly defend my family and my shaky marriage. But everything changed when I coincidentally heard him bragging to his friends about me.

"The woman my Uncle Cameron desperately longs for is licking my boots. I want to laugh whenever I see her try so hard to win me over. I would never have gotten together with someone as poor and plain as her, if not for the fact that I know Uncle Cameron likes her," he said.

His friends had laughed and jeered. "Man, you've got to seriously hate your uncle to do something like this. You're getting on his nerves at the cost of your own sanity!"

Shawn had looked at them and sneered. "I'm taking away everything he wants. I would rather destroy the things he covets than let him have them."

I no longer remembered the details of that day. All I knew was that I didn't cry. My heart had already been stabbed countless times over the past two years, and the remnants of my love for him had seeped out of the wounds, leaving me empty.

I was pulled out of my reverie when Cameron gave me a video call. He was only four years older than Shawn; he leaned against the door leading to his lounge.

From this angle, I could see a bra sticking out from underneath his pillow. It was pink, which looked particularly amorous against his black sheets.

It was the color Shawn hated most, yet I'd worn it when getting into Cameron's bed. I asked, "Why is my underwear in your lounge?"

Cameron's hair was slicked back with gel, and his broad shoulders held up his suit nicely. A few strands of his fringe fell into his eyes, and his voice was sexy as hell as he said, "I've had it with me this whole time. I've been using it to satisfy my desires during my business trip."

His words were blunt and explicit. Despite this fling having gone on for six months, I still couldn't help blushing.

He was known as an ice god at Alden College; all the female students there considered him the manliest of men. At the time, Shawn was all I could see, so I'd been disdainful of their outrageous praise of Cameron.

It was only after I'd ended up in bed with him that I realized he wasn't icy at all. He was most definitely manly, though.

"I want to kiss you. I want to see you right now," he said.

He was five years older than me and had been doing his master's when I was a freshman.

"You were interested in my shirt stays, right? I have it on now. You're the only one who can see what it's like."

His words made my throat itch. He could easily turn me on and seduce me.

…

I went to Cameron's company, which produced films. He had made a name for himself in the entertainment industry.

I didn't hide my presence from anyone as I headed straight to his office. There was a faint smell of gardenias in the air—I'd casually mentioned that I liked the smell the last time I saw him. I didn't expect him to take it to heart.

As I pondered this, a fiery body plastered itself to me from behind. Cameron buried his face against my neck and sniffed me.

"You wouldn't have come to me if I hadn't texted you, would you?" he asked, his chest vibrating as he spoke.

I placed my hand over Cameron's and said, "We should avoid each other in the near future."

He was taken aback. Then, he cautiously nuzzled against me. "Why? Have I done something wrong?"

Would anyone expect Cameron, known for being ruthless and decisive, to speak to someone so humbly?

I grabbed his tie and pulled him to me, leaning close to his ear as I said breathily, "Don't you know that my husband is back from his travels?"

He snorted. "So what? Have you heard anyone say anything about you coming here to see me? I'm more capable than him—we don't have to sneak around like this. Divorce him and be with me. I'll treat you well for the rest of my life. How about it?"

It was a familiar promise. Two years ago, Shawn had told me the same thing. The only difference was that Shawn had been faking it, and Cameron was probably sincere.

I didn't need it, though. A lifetime was too long; all hearts were at risk of changing, no matter how sincere they were at this moment. I could enjoy the fruits of Cameron's sincerity, but I couldn't believe it.

I pried his hand off mine and stepped on his expensive leather shoes with the tip of my heels. "You've crossed the line, Uncle Cameron."

He watched me, his eyes unreadable. "Why aren't you leaving him when he treats you like dirt? Do you still love him?"

This was his first time taking such a tone with me. It was cold, domineering, and forceful. I only wanted to laugh, though. He was so jealous.

"Is he worthy of my love? I just think that I'd be going too easy on him with a simple divorce. I can't let him go without making him pay for what he's done," I said.

Cameron seemed to be relieved. "Let me know if you need my help."

I placed my hands on his shoulders. "I want you to help me now."

His breathing grew heavier. Then, he easily carried me to his lounge. Things soon got hot and steamy in the small room.

He lowered his head to bite my bra strap before dragging it down. His eyes were dark and unfathomable as he looked at me. "What am I going to do with you? It's what I get for liking you, isn't it? It's alright, though—I'll try to get you to make things official with me."

…

When I got home, I saw Shawn sitting on the couch, his expression ugly. I ignored him and turned to head upstairs.

"Stop right there." He looked at me.

I turned and saw the dark circles underneath his eyes. I didn't know what he wanted, so I asked, "What?"

He tugged his hair and showed me his call records. "I called you so many times last night. Why didn't you answer any of them? You've never acted like this in the past. Where were you?"

He seemed mad that I'd stayed out all night, but what gave him the right?

I didn't want to waste my breath on him, so I said flippantly, "I was talking business with someone and put my phone on silent."

He scanned me doubtfully. Then, he softened his tone, perhaps because he noticed I was still wearing the same clothes. "Why did you have to go to Morningstar for business?"

Morningstar Films was Cameron's company. I was surprised Shawn knew where I'd been.

"One of my celebrities wanted to terminate a contract but was afraid of the paparazzi catching them, so they asked me to go in their stead. You know it's only work, right?"

He narrowed his eyes. "I've long since told you to stop working. It's not like I can't put food on the table."

I only found his words mocking. He had a net worth of millions of dollars, yet he wasn't even willing to give me 20 thousand dollars. The food he put on the table was barely enough for me to survive.

I was sleepy, so I brushed him off. "We'll see."

I turned to leave, but he grabbed my wrist. "My friend's wife cheated on him."

I raised an eyebrow. "What does that have to do with me?"

He tightened his grip, but I didn't make a sound despite the pain. "She cheated on him with his uncle."

My, what an exciting story.

Shawn's voice turned icy. "Say you can't do this job, Luna. I want to see you quit by next week."