Gazing into the iciness of Jack's eyes, I was aware of how blind I had been to fall in love with a man like him.

My eyes seared with unshed tears, but I would not allow him to witness any weakness in front of him. I wrenched my hand loose, took a deep breath, and climbed the stairs. My sole thought was to find a job as quickly as possible so that I could move out and divorce Jack.

I chose an outfit at random, pinned up my hair with a hairpin, and went back downstairs. I was not the type to primp and prim. I had dressed up for the Monroes' parties before in the hopes of impressing. Now, I did not bother.

Jack glanced up at the sound of my footsteps.

I wore a form-fitting white gown, my waist so small it seemed as if it could be encircled with one hand. My hair was tied back with a jade hairpin, revealing my neck, as fragile as it was. I was unbelievably beautiful. The grace that I exuded was precisely as it had been when we first met. But my eyes' warmth was now devoid of any semblance of warmth.

"Let's go," I said to him.

We walked to the Monroe residence in silence.

As we pulled up and were preparing to get out of the vehicle, a black Range Rover sped up and stopped abruptly in front of us.

As soon as he recognized whose vehicle it was, Jack's expression darkened. It was Lyon's vehicle, someone he disliked and feared.

Lyon was known to be wild and unpredictable. He had passed up the chance to assume control of the Monroe Group when Richard had offered him the company, choosing instead to start his own company from scratch. Everybody had said he would fail, but five years down the line, his company was several times more valuable than the Monroe Group.

Jack hated Lyon, partly because he was jealous. A remark Jack made about Lyon once reached Lyon, and in retaliation, Lyon refused to do business with the Monroe Group, costing them millions.

Lyon rarely attended family dinners, and Jack had been trying to avoid him.

My luck was not running high today—we bumped into each other at the door.

He did not notice my stiffened expression when I saw Lyon emerge from his car.

Jack opened the car door and said, "Uncle Lyon."

Lyon glanced at him indifferently, their eyes momentarily locking with the passenger seat before he nodded and went inside.

I breathed a deep sigh. When Lyon faced my direction, I was holding my breath for fear that he would say something inappropriate. He was known to be volatile and do whatever he pleased. Fortunately, he said nothing.

I thought I needed to talk with him privately afterward.

Jack and I went into the living room, and it was already filled with people. Richard and Marie, the family heads, were talking to Lyon. He was that kind of person who naturally drew attention to himself when he was in a crowd of people.

Jack scowled as he followed my eyes to Lyon. "Why are you staring at my uncle?"

I tore my eyes away and replied icily, "None of your business."

His coldness irritated Jack. "Sofia, you know I don't like you looking at other men."

Ever since we began dating, Jack had been extremely controlling, never allowing me to talk to other men. I used to think this was a sign of his love, but now it seemed absurd.

I mocked. "And I don't like you sleeping with other women, but you seem to enjoy it just fine."

Jack clenched his teeth and said, "This is a family dinner. We'll talk about this later."

"If you don't want me to bring it up, then stay out of my business," I retorted.

Jack did not want to cause a scene now because it would affect the Monroe Group and his professional image before Richard, who still had all the company shares.

As we talked, Marie cried out, "Sofia, Jack, you're here! Come sit down!"

I breathed deeply, pretending to smile as I approached them. I might despise the Monroes, but I had common decency.

"Hello, Grandpa, Grandma," I greeted with a smile.

Marie, who had been nagging Lyon to settle down and get married, smiled at the sight of the couple. "Sit down, please."

She faced Lyon with a note of annoyance. "See Jack. He's managing the company well and has a nice wife. They'll have children soon. And you? Almost 30 and still single. If you don't bring a girlfriend next time, don't bother coming!"

Lyon gazed at the couple with a smile. "She is beautiful."

He only wondered how that petite frame would endure giving birth to offspring.

I frowned, uncomfortable with how Lyon was gazing at me.

Jack, also, noticed the inappropriate way Lyon looked at me. It was not an elder's look but a man's look on a woman. His fist was clenched, and his body tensed.

Marie sighed. "My point is, when do I meet a daughter-in-law?"

"Depends. If I meet someone I like, maybe I'll bring her home tomorrow," Lyon replied nonchalantly.

"You're too picky! I've got a good one for you. Date's tomorrow, don't ruin it."

"Then you'll probably have to apologize to another old friend tomorrow."

Frustrated, Marie cried out, "You're going to drive me crazy!"

Lyon turned to Jack. "Jack's been married for years. Why don't you push him to have kids instead of pressuring me?"

Marie nodded, aware that Lyon would not listen. She turned to me and Jack, softening her expression. "Sofia, you and Jack have been married for a few years now. When are you going to have children?"

I had raised my head to say something, but Jack grasped my hand and smiled. "Grandma, we're trying our best!"

I tried to pull away my hand, but it was too tight on me.

If he did not want to leave me alone, then I was not going to make it easy for him too. I glanced at Marie. "Grandma, I am on the lookout for a job right now, so children might have to wait."

The room fell silent.

Jack's grip around my hand increased in pain, and I winced.

Lyon glanced at Jack's hand around me, noticing the prominent veins, then away with unconcern.

Anne Monroe, Jack's aunt, sneered. "Sofia, don't accuse me of being candid. You've been married years. How come you don't have a baby yet? If it wasn't for Jack being adamant about marrying you, would your family have ever married into the Monroes?

"You should be grateful. If you do not want Jack's baby, there are other women who would. If it is done by someone else, you will be the fool."

Also, Anne thought, "Who is to say whether Sofia is fertile or not?"

She spoke like she was being helpful, but her glance at me was permeated with a sense of superiority.

Marie frowned at Anne, disapprovingly. "Anne, stop."

Anne clamped her lips shut but did not speak.

Marie smiled at me warmly. "Sofia, you and Jack are young. If you don't want children yet, that's fine. Just don't work too hard. Our family is not poor. You can work if you want to, but don't overwork yourself."

I nodded. "I understand, Grandma."

And with that, the awkward moment was past, and the room was warm again.

Seeing the spotlight dwindle, Jack pulled me out of the living room. By the time we reached the gazebo in the back, he released me. "Sofia, lost your mind or what? Want everyone to know you guys had a fight?"

I massaged my aching hand and said, "I was just telling the truth."

"Honest?" Jack scowled. "Should I call your dad then?"

Harrison Lanka was ill and could not handle stress. I was divorcing Jack before I gave him the news in a gentle manner.

I narrowed my eyes at Jack. "You wouldn't dare!" I exclaimed. "You were the one who cheated. What right do you have to be so self-righteous?"

Jack clenched his fists, a momentary look of guilt on his face before it was replaced by impatience. "I swore it would not happen again. If you do not want to speak to Pete, I will fire her. What else do you want?" I felt as though there was a communication breakdown between us and turned away. "I do not want to fight with you here."

When Jack saw my red-rimmed eyes, he relaxed. "Sofia, I swear I know I did something wrong. Just don't mention divorce, and I'll do anything to make it right. I love you. I can't lose you."

It was ridiculous. How could he claim to love me when he was with another woman? Just the thought of him and her filled me with nausea.

"I will never forgive you."

Betrayal was my bottom line. I couldn't just pretend as if nothing had occurred or reconcile with him.

Jack knew me well enough to know that he had to wait patiently. He believed that I still cared for him. Otherwise, I would have made a scene when I found out. As long as he didn't divorce me, I would end up forgiving him.

"Okay, we don't talk about it now. If you don't want children yet, we'll wait two years from now. Because you want to work, I'll tell my secretary to get you working at the Monroe Group."

I laughed at his scheme, a contemptuous sheen in my eyes. "Jack, do you treat me like a puppet for you to pull strings on?"

Hurt by my expression, Jack frowned. "How am I dominating you? You don't want children anymore, so I agreed to wait for two years. You wish to earn your keep, so I'll provide. What more do you need?"

"End the games. I don't want children because I want to divorce you. I want to work to get away from you."

Jack glared at my stubborn face, angry. From the day we were married, I had been a canary in his cage. He could not let me go.

"As long as I don't agree, this marriage will never end. Even if you tell a lawyer that I cheated, do you have proof?"

Jack's commanding voice and overbearing attitude repelled me, quivering with fury. I at last understood how selfish and revolting he was. I had wasted eight years of the best years of my life, from 18 to 26—loving this man.

"You make me sick, Jack!"

Seeing the naked distaste in my eyes, Jack grasped my chin to force me to look at him. "Sofia, I know you're angry, but I don't want to hear you say those words again."

His Sofia should love him forever. He couldn't stand for me to look at him with so much contempt.

I slapped his hand away. "Don't touch me! You're dirty."

"Filthy?" Jack sneered, advancing and shoving me against the pillar of the gazebo, kissing me fiercely. I would have to desist from talking if I did not wish him to shut me up in another way. I attempted to move away. Jack's warm lips traced a path on my cheek, and I trembled at the touch. "Let go of me, Jack!"

"Alright, as long as you never say anything that hurts me."

"Never!"

"Then, I'll shut you up my way."

He grasped my chin, kissing me firmly. Just as his lips were about to meet mine, a soft cough echoed behind us.

"Jack, am I interrupting something?"