What a small world.

As Elaine Johnson was checking in at the hotel front desk, she happened to bump into Jasper Carter's young mistress —a girl who looked like an innocent college student.

She was dressed in a simple white cotton dress, pure and demure, with a shy, sweet smile.

"Hello, here's your room key. You'll be staying in the executive suite on the top floor," the receptionist said.

"Thank you, miss," the girl replied softly, taking the key.

Just then, her phone rang.

Elaine overheard her speaking bashfully to the person on the other end: "Mr. Carter, I... I'm already here. When will you be coming?"

Her tone was soft, a little nervous, filled with affectionate anticipation.

A moment later, Elaine heard her add, "Mhm, I'll wait for you. No rush. Please drive carefully, Mr. Carter."

The girl's voice was so sweet and tender, it could have melted anyone's heart.

Elaine could not help thinking that her husband had good taste — the girl was young and beautiful, gentle and thoughtful, the kind of woman any man would find hard to resist.

Maybe she had stared at the girl for just a moment too long.

The girl caught her eye and seemed a bit taken aback, her eyebrows knitting in a frown, her face taking on a look of annoyance. Clearly, she did not appreciate being gawked at.

Elaine Johnson mused that the girl's sweetness seemed to be reserved solely for Jasper Carter.

"Ms. Johnson, your room is ready. It's on the 52nd floor."

Elaine accepted the room key from the front desk clerk, noticing the girl also shot her a quick look.

It turned out that they were both staying on the 52nd floor.

Elaine was about to head off when she spun around and nearly crashed into Jasper, who had just shown up. He looked just as taken aback to see her there.

Elaine had thought about acting like she did not know him. She wanted to keep things less awkward in public.

Jasper stepped in her way and said, "Mrs. Carter, what brings you here?"

Elaine regarded him, weighing her words.

It was not like she could have admitted she was there to have an affair, too.

Jasper asked, "Since when have you dropped by for a surprise visit?"

Elaine laughed, trying to play it cool. "Mr. Carter, don't worry, it's purely coincidental. I'm not here to play detective."

Five years of marriage had taken them from college sweethearts to barely tolerating each other's presence.

She was not about to lose her cool like she did that first time she caught wind of Jasper's not-so-secret fling with his secretary. She wanted no more scenes, no more hysteria.

Whenever Elaine got into a spat with him, he would tell her to take a good look in the mirror. Then, with a dismissive air, he would say, "Elaine, it's a real turn-off when you look like a total harpy. "

However, Jasper was not buying her story. He stood there, hands in his pockets, towering over her with an air of arrogance. "Come on, it's not like you haven't pulled this kind of stunt before. What's the point in denying it?"

"Well, I didn't do it tonight," Elaine said.

She glanced at the girl beside him, swallowing the sharp pain in her chest, and said calmly, "She's pretty, the girl."

Jasper paused, a smirk playing on his lips after a moment. "Yeah, I suppose she's prettier than you."

Elaine had always thought her heart was fortified, untouchable, but Jasper's words still managed to cut deep.

Unable to stay calm, she said, "I'm just curious how long you'll stay entertained this time around."

With his arm casually draped around the waist of the slender girl beside him, Jasper said, "Definitely longer than the time I wasted on you.

"Mrs. Carter, why put yourself through this? It's downright pitiful," he said, his words sharp as needles, his lips curled in a faint, mocking smile, utterly indifferent to her feelings.

Elaine had not really reacted yet.

Jasper's new flame looked a bit shell-shocked, rapidly blinking as she took in the scene.

The young girl's face was on the verge of tears, oblivious to the fact that she was the other woman. She held the man's hand, her voice trembling as she said, "Mr. Carter, I...I didn't realize you had... I should go."

Elaine had seen her fair share of delicate, helpless girls who played the innocent act, but ones as heartbreakingly pitiful as her? Those were rare.

She stood with her arms folded, watching them, a smirk playing on her lips.

Jasper caught her eye, paused, and calmly said, "No need to worry. Mrs. Carter is quite understanding."

He looked at her for confirmation. "Isn't that right?"

Elaine's reply was laced with sarcasm, "Mr. Carter, since when do I have a say in your matters?"

Jasper's smile was sharp, his tone biting as he said, "Elaine, you're finally getting the picture."

Elaine's role as a wife felt like a cruel joke.

Yet, she could not quite bring herself to laugh.

She still could not fathom how Jasper's feelings had turned so distant, so fast.

Once upon a time, a single tear from her would have Jasper beside himself with concern.

However, Jasper was not about to waste any more time. He turned to the girl and said, "Come on, let's go upstairs."

Before leaving, he threw a parting shot over his shoulder. "Mrs. Carter, enjoy yourself. Have a good time."

Elaine's retort was swift. "Oh, I plan to. I'm here for a room too."

Jasper halted, giving her a long, penetrating look. "Really? Seems like you're in for some good fortune, too."

The conversation took a turn. "You can't just grab the first thing coming your way when starving. You've got to be picky."

Elaine could not read whether Jasper bought her story, but his nonchalant shrug sent a chill through her.

He seemed utterly indifferent.

It might have meant he did not love her anymore.

However, Elaine was not ready to throw in the towel just yet. "Jasper, do you really not care at all?"

He paused, then replied dismissively, "Yeah, whatever makes you happy."

Her heart felt like it was being squeezed in a vice grip. Elaine was gasping for air, feeling the life being crushed out of her.

Jasper wrapped his arm around Lucy Chapman, and they disappeared into the elevator, heading upstairs.

Elaine's fingers were white-knuckled, her eyes burned with unshed tears. Then, her phone broke the silence.

The man's voice was a deep, pleasing baritone, tinged with a cool, magnetic edge.

"Elaine, the room number," he said, all business.

She bit her lip and replied, "5208."

Then, she said, "Come over."

She had not lied to Jasper—she had plans of her own.

She had not been ready before that, but her resolve was ironclad.

Riding the elevator up, Elaine realized the top floor was the 52nd floor. A memory flashed—Lucy's room card, number 5209.

Right next door.

Elaine swiped her card and stepped into her room.

The executive suite was spacious and flooded with light, and the view from the floor-to-ceiling windows was nothing short of stunning.

Elaine tried calling Jasper, but he did not pick up, so she just let the call drop.

Clutching her phone, she felt a wave of numbness wash over her.

Behind her, the door chimed, and footsteps grew louder as they neared.

Suddenly, her phone was plucked from her grasp by the man behind her and tossed aside with an indifferent flick of his wrist.

He gripped her wrist tightly, pinning her against the window.

She looked down, his warm breath on her ear sending shivers down her spine.

"Been waiting long, my dear?" he murmured.

Elaine's blood ran hot through her veins.

The presence that she could not escape made her want to bolt.

She inhaled deeply. As she turned, the man caught her chin and kissed her fiercely and possessively.

Her mind was a whirl of irritation and confusion.

Part of her wanted to pull away.

He seemed to read her thoughts, nipping her lip in a warning. "Having second thoughts?"

However, before Elaine could respond, her eyes brimmed with tears.

The man laughed and locked eyes with her, a smirk playing on his lips. "You weren't scared when you were pushing your card into my hand."

Elaine could not blame anyone but herself; she had had too much to drink that night.

Spurred on by her friend, she boldly gave her card to the most dashing guy there.

Little did she know that he was Jasper's cousin, who was always overseas.

She had figured Stephen Carter would lose interest once he knew who she was.

Yet there he was, showing up for their date.

Elaine's voice tightened, and there was a whisper of urgency as she said, "They're right next door."

Stephen hummed a low note. "What's next?"

He gently turned her face to his, gazing deeply into her eyes. "Is this getting in the way of us?"

Elaine met his dark, penetrating gaze and felt exposed, as if he could see right into her soul.

For the last two years, Jasper's romantic escapades were relentless, his flings and affairs splashed across the tabloids were too many to count.

Stephen said, "Or are you holding out for him, keeping yourself pure?"

The words pierced Elaine's inner turmoil like a needle.

She paused, her heart racing, and then she made her move.

With a boldness that surprised even herself, she cradled his face, rose on her tiptoes, and pressed her lips to his.

Passion did not always need love to ignite into a blazing fire.

Elaine had not touched a drop of alcohol that night, yet she felt utterly drunk at the moment.

Lost in the intensity, she wrapped her arms around his neck, her short nails carving fervent trails across his skin.

As the night wore on, Elaine's mind wandered.

Thoughts of Jasper invaded her senses, unbidden and persistent.

Through her haze, the shrill ring of her phone pierced the silence.

Jasper, who had ended their call just two hours before, was on the other end.

Elaine picked up the phone and heard his voice—low, husky, and lazy. "Why are you calling me?"

"It's nothing," she replied, a sense of finality in her voice.

With a soft grunt, she said, "It's done."

A wave of vindictive satisfaction washed over her, a silent victory over Jasper.

Without another word, she ended the call.

Stephen noticed the redness at the corner of her eyes and gently wiped it away, murmuring, "My dear."

Elaine bristled at how he addressed her, as a mix of discomfort and embarrassment washed over her. "Please don't call me that."

Traditionally, she was supposed to refer to him as her husband's cousin.

Stephen's eyebrows knitted in a frown. "Aren't you two in the middle of a divorce?"

Elaine was taken aback, not expecting Stephen to know her personal affairs.

She was the one who had asked for the divorce.

Jasper had agreed without hesitation.

He had even swiftly set up a lawyer and drafted the paperwork.

Of course, he expected her to walk away empty-handed despite lacking a prenup or any division of assets.

However, Jasper had the means to leave her penniless after the divorce if he chose to.

The old Elaine could never have imagined Jasper turning his company's formidable legal force on her.

It was a harsh, icy slap of reality. There was not even a trace of their past affection.