I swallowed my drink in one go. I never suspected Jack of cheating on me. Having him with another woman in bed stabbed me in the heart like a dagger.

"I don't think so. He loved you so much. He wasn't the type to cheat. Maybe there is a misunderstanding," Zara stated.

Cold laughter. "I saw it with my own eyes. How could that be a misunderstanding?"

The room was silent.

Drinking as if there was no tomorrow, I was watching, Zara snatched the glass from my hand. "Even if he cheated, you can't punish yourself by getting drunk. What are you going to do now?" "I'm getting a divorce. Just seeing him with that woman makes me sick."

Gazing into the defiance in my bloodshot eyes, Zara experienced a pang of sorrow. "Don't think of it now. You need to rest. When you're thinking clearly enough, figure out what to do next. I'll take you home."

I shook my head once more. "No. I don't want to go home."

Returning to that house would be only to relive the disgusting images of Jack's betrayal. Each memory made me feel sick.

Seeing my hesitation, Zara did not pressure me. "I'll arrange a hotel room for you."

Having booked a room, Zara took me to the hotel entrance. "Do you absolutely not want me to take you up?"

I shook my head. "No, you go rest. I will be fine."

I gestured with the room card and went into the hotel.

Watching me walk firmly, Zara at last relaxed and drove away after I was inside the hotel safely. She was unaware of the fact that I, while drunk, appeared sober but was utterly in a mess from within.

I walked into the elevator, swiped my card, and the elevator began moving upward.

The doors opened soon with a ding.

My legs almost gave way when I stepped out onto the carpet. I leaned against the wall, massaging my thudding temples as I searched for room 8919.

The liquor was getting to me, and I could see blurry.

Room 8919 stretched out before me, and I slid the card into the door. When there was no beep, I glared and was about to push the door open when it swung open by itself.

I tensed up. Before I could budge, a big hand yanked me into the dark room.

The door clanged shut behind me, eliminating the hallway illumination. I was jammed up against the door, a male's warm mouth in my ear, causing chills to rush through me. The scent of pine filled my nostrils, but before I could recognize it, his warm lips were on mine.

"Mmph!" Seeing what was happening, I struggled.

Lyon was strong, and with the liquor sapping my strength, my hands were limp, almost inviting as I shoved against his chest. Lyon's hands stroked my body, and they left a trail of fire, my body reacting more to his touch.

I tried to push him away, but he easily caught my wrists and held them over my head.

"Let- Mmph! Let me go."

He stopped kissing me and laughed. "No need to play hard to get."

His fingers traced down my collar, the cold pressure making me shiver. His warmth dissipated seemed to melt me, and my legs turned weak.

Darkness heightened my senses. I felt Lyon unbuckling my clothes, my mouth dry, my last shred of sense warning me that I was overdoing it.

"Let me go!" I employed every bit of strength I possessed to push him, but he simply threw me over onto the bed.

The bed was soft, so I didn't hurt, but the shock spun my head around. I tried to get up, but Lyon pinned me down. Then my clothes were yanked off and we were practically naked.

He shoved at me, ready. His authoritative presence made my hairs stand up on end. I shoved back against his chest, biting my lips hard to keep myself calm and cool.

"Mister, I think I entered the wrong room. Please let me go." My voice shook with tension.

"Tsk!" Lyon's voice was impatient, icy. "Still playing?"

He was about to stand up and throw himself out when the room light came on suddenly. I had accidentally knocked over the table in the struggle and switched on the light in the process.

The light caught Lyon by surprise. He was taken aback to find the scared woman beneath him.

I, at the sight of Lyon, saw my face whiten. The horror sobered me immediately. I couldn't believe it—the man who almost attacked me was Jack's uncle, Lyon Summer!

"Uncle Lyon."

I had always been careful around Lyon. He was the youngest son of Richard Monroe and Marie Thorne, indulged by them and renowned for his mercurial, cold nature. Even strangers avoided crossing him. When I married Jack, he had warned me to keep away from Lyon.

"Shut up!" Lyon's face was black, his eyes glacial, as he considered whether he should shut me up for good.

Then, his eyes shifted to my bare chest, darkening. He turned around, standing from the bed. "Get dressed and get out!"

When Lyon stood up, I caught him where I shouldn't, and my face burned with embarrassment.

When Lyon noticed my flushing face, his face became even more scowling. "Still not leaving?"

I wasn't concerned with my embarrassment as I quickly dressed and left without looking back.

After going out, I double-checked the room number and knew my mistake—it was not Room 8919, but Room 8916!

I had gone into the wrong room and nearly slept with my husband's uncle. The realization worsened my headache. I should have let Zara take me up. Alas, regrets now were too late.

When I had departed, Lyon placed a call with a frown on his face. "Delete all of the surveillance footage from the Empire Skyview Hotel tonight!"

He hung up the phone and looked at the messy bed and sheets and picked up a cigarette, his frustration growing.

He had almost slept with his nephew's wife. What a disaster!

I was thinking for ages when I got back, before finally sending a message to Lyon, someone whose number I had had for three years but never called. Sofia: [Uncle Lyon. Can we pretend tonight never happened? I was really drunk and went to the wrong room.]

I waited for ages, but nothing came back from Lyon. Frowning, I sent another message.

Sofia: [?]

The instant I clicked, a red exclamation point came up: [You are no longer friends with this user. Please send a friend request to continue chatting.] I clamped my lip. Lyon had unfriended me. He obviously didn't want to speak about this anymore. Glad, at last I had a semblance of peace.

I returned home, it was already past 6:00 a.m.

The instant I entered, I caught sight of Jack lying on the sofa. He turned around from the sound of the door opening, his sleep-deprived eyes. "Where were you last night? I called you dozens of times. Why did you not pick up?"

Jack stood up and walked towards me quickly, with his hand raised to grasp mine, but I pushed him off.

He stood there, ready to say something, but I got in first, my voice cold. "You can stay out all night, but I can't?"

I had always been kind. We had only ever fought a handful of times in our eight years together. This was the first time I had ever addressed him in such a cold manner.

Jack knew something was amiss and saw my red, puffy eyes. His face darkened, and his fist formed at his side. "You know, don't you?"

His tone was even, devoid of guilt or panic, as if he had been waiting for this day to arrive.

Seeing his remorseless face, my long-held anger finally boiled over. I swung my bag at him, my eyes blazing with rage, like a lunatic.

Everything good that we had, every joyful moment, was ruined at once the moment I caught him in bed with another woman. They could never be assembled together again.

"Jack Monroe, why did you do something so nasty for?! You could divorce me if you didn't love me anymore. Why did you have to hurt me like this?"

I had believed no one could ever come between us. But reality was harsh, and it woke me up to the lies he had told me, and turned my love for him into laughter. Sensing my red, tear-filled eyes, Jack's heart stung. He embraced me with all his might and grasped my hand. "Sofia, I'm sorry."

I shoved him away, wanting to laugh but all that would come was tears. "Don't touch me with your dirty hands!

"Is it so hard to be faithful?

"Since I've been married, I've had plenty of wonderful men come my way, and some have even asked me out. But I've never crossed the line. If I can do it, why can't you?!"

Jack clenched his fists when he saw the anger and frustration in my eyes.

"Sofia, I love only you. It was an accident with her."

His apology came out so flimsy that I could not help but laugh and feel sick at the same time.

"So you're telling me that I can sleep with some other guy and then say it was an accident? That I might have cheated on you physically, but my heart is still yours?"

A flash of ruthlessness crossed Jack's eyes. "If you dare, I'll murder you and that man together in bed."

Seeing his icy glare, I experienced a chill in my heart. If he knew that betrayal was unacceptable, why did he keep on betraying me?

I took a deep breath and spoke leisurely. "Do you recall what I said to you when you were proposing?"

I had informed him that if ever he would betray me, I would not forgive him but would leave him.

Jack's expression changed. "I will not let you go!"

I wiped my tears, my face a mix of ridicule and contempt. "Whether you want it or not, I've made up my mind. I'm divorcing you. You do not deserve forgiveness." With that, I ignored his reaction and proceeded upstairs.

Jack looked at my back, his eyes dark.

In the bedroom, I went straight into the bathroom to shower, unable to stand the smell of alcohol on me. When I was applying body wash, I noticed red welts on my chest and stopped. Lyon's hands roaming over my body came into my mind, and I wrinkled my face. I scrubbed marks hard until the skin around them was red, trying to erase his touch. I got out of my shower to see Jack sitting on the bed, his head in his hands, looking very thoughtful. I scowled and decided to ignore him. We were going to be divorced anyway.

Jack looked up and saw me coming out in just a towel. My wet hair poured water, my freshly washed face red like an opening rose with a seductive fragrance. The towel clung barely to my hips, and my pale, long legs were visible. His breath was taken away, his eyes locked on me.

I didn't know about Jack's response. I stepped to the closet to grab my pajamas when a pair of arms hugged me from behind.

"Sofia." Jack's voice was husky, heavy with unbridled hunger.

Jack had been thinking about how to get me to come back downstairs after I went out. The only idea he could think of was to get a child from me. He came up to try and talk to me about it, planning to approach me slowly. He lost his head seeing me when I came out of the shower.

When I was a kid, things like that used to make me angry, but today I just felt nauseated. I spun away from him, pushing him off, my eyes full of disgust. "Don't touch me. I feel dirty."

The hurt flashed in Jack's eyes. He put my hands in his, his expression stern. "Didn't you always want to have a baby? Let's do it now, okay?"

I shook him off his matter-of-fact attitude. "That was before. I might have a child one day, but it will not be yours."

His words enraged Jack. He pushed me onto the bed and pinned me down. "Say that again!"

His eyes were ablaze with rage, but I didn't care. "No matter how many times I tell you. I'm sickened by you. I'd die before I had your child."

As soon as I'd spoken, Jack passionately kissed me.

I froze for a second, then fought wildly. The mere thought of Jack kissing another woman last night was enough to make me ill with anger and revulsion. "Let go!"

My fight was useless against Jack, who held me firmly around the waist.

While I fought, my towel unraveled, and I was exposed. His eyes became dark, and he felt a flash of lust.

Our bodies were pressed hard together, and at once I could see the change in Jack. He was infuriated, so I bit him hard, tasting blood in our mouths.

Instead of letting me go, Jack's other hand crept underneath my towel. I wasn't covered underneath, having just taken a shower. I hardened and struggled even more frantically. "Jack, let me go!"

Jack ignored me, his hands stroking my sensitive places. "Sofia, you need me too, don't you?"

I tried harder and was desperate now. With Jack in position, I closed my eyes despairingly. "Jack, don't make me hate you."

Jack halted in his tracks. Observing me with despair and anguish, as if he were a fragile porcelain doll about to shatter, made him halt. He so desperately wanted me, but there was a voice in his head warning him that if he took me then, it would be the end of us.

He gazed at me, his arm around my waist tightening. He let me go after a couple of tense moments and stood up from the bed, leaving in haste.

The door slammed hard with a loud bang, startling me. I wrapped the blanket tightly around me.

Jack did not come home for the next few days.

I phoned him several times to discuss the divorce, but he didn't pick up.

The weekend was here.

I was in the living room, emailing out job applications when I heard the front door open. Jack came in, his face gaunt.

We stood and stared at each other in silence before I finally broke it, closing down my laptop and standing up slowly. "Now that you're home, let's talk about the divorce."

Jack scowled. "I told you, I won't divorce you. I'm here to remind you that we have to go to the family dinner tonight."

The Monroes hosted a monthly dinner, and since we were married, Jack and I had attended together. The family wasn't kind to me, often treating me poorly. I put up with it because I believed Jack loved me.

After I caught him with someone else, however, I could no longer deny it to myself.

"I don't want to go. Go yourself."

Jack's expression grew impatient. "Sofia, how long are you going to continue doing that?"

He had been ignoring my calls and texts, expecting me to cool down, but I wasn't different.

"I'm not doing anything. I just want a divorce."

When Jack learned the word "divorce," his patience wore thin. He glared at me like I was unreasonable.

"Divorce? You've never had a job since we got married. How would you provide for yourself? Which company would hire you? And what about your dad's excessive medical bills? Can you afford those?" Sofia, you are no longer in high school. You are 28. Be an adult.

"I'm the CEO of Monroe Group. I'm tempted all the time. Sometimes it's hard to resist, but those women will never take your place as my wife. What else do you want?"

Jack couldn't understand why I didn't know that he still loved me, even though he couldn't promise to be with me for the rest of my life.

Watching Jack's superior air, I couldn't reconcile this man with the shy boy who had once blushed when professing love and promising to never hurt me. Maybe this was his true nature—selfish, proud, and superior.

"If maturity is accepting your adultery, then I'm sorry, I cannot do that. Find someone else. Here are the divorce papers I've had drawn up. Sign them when you can." Jack glared at the papers, sneering as he read the section on asset division. "Quite the appetite you have, asking for half my assets. Do you really think that's practical?" "I deserve it. Why not?"

Jack laughed, his tone mocking. "Look at this house. Did you buy it here? I've been paying your father's doctor bills for years. If we tally things up, you owe me. Should I have my lawyer do the math?"

Seeing his sour face, I couldn't help but think I ever loved this man. He had so hid his real self that, prior to catching him cheating, I thought he was an awesome guy.

"Don't forget, were it not for me issuing you that patent, you would not be the CEO of the Monroe Group. And you were the one who instructed me to stay home once we were wed. If I had continued to work on my research, I would have earned far more than what you've given me."

Jack, unflinching, replied, "Who would believe you about the patent now?

"I don't wish to quarrel about money, but if you're set on getting a divorce, we'll have to negotiate. Sofia, if you can just forget the divorce, my money is your money to spend."

"Jack, you're horrible!"

Because he wouldn't divorce, I would have to sue. I began to depart, but he restrained me. "Change clothes. We're attending the family dinner."

"I said I'm not going. Tell them I'm sick."

Jack grabbed my wrist. "Sofia, I'm getting tired of waiting. Don't make me cancel your father's medical expenses."

"You wouldn't do that!"

Jack took out his phone and dialed his secretary. "Cancel my father-in-law's medical payment for next month-"

Furious, I grabbed his phone and ended the call. "You're walking a line, Jack."

"Crossing the line?" Jack's eyes were full of contempt as he dragged me in. "You owe everything you have to me. Do you think it's you who are crossing the line? Get changed, or I have a few ways of making you do as you're told."