"Hi, I'd like to report a crime. I suspect there's a massive prostitution party going on here."

I never realized how toxic Olivia's inner circle actually was.

If Damien hadn't rounded up all those girls to throw her a birthday bash, I would've thought they were harmless drinking buddies at worst.

As it turned out, they were anything but harmless.

My head spun as I replayed Damien's words about needing his permission. No wonder Olivia always acted so shifty and vanished into the restroom for ages before we got intimate.

I forced myself to breathe.

I wanted a divorce more than anything, but it wasn't that simple.

Our families were business partners, and our marriage was the anchor holding many joint projects and capital together.

Olivia thoroughly repulsed me, but I couldn't just drag everyone else into the mess.

As I took a deep breath to steady myself, my phone buzzed with a text from my mother-in-law, Margaret Foster.

"How was the birthday party, you two? Your dad wanted to grab dinner with you guys tonight, but I told him that young people don't want to hang out with a couple of old folks on a birthday, so we didn't call you today.

"Tomorrow, once you're done with your romantic weekend, why don't you swing by the house for a family dinner?"

I stared at the screen. Before I could figure out a response, my phone lit up with an incoming call.

Olivia was losing her mind on the other end. "Ethan, what the hell is wrong with you? Do you have any idea that filing a false police report is a felony?"

I ended the call and replied to Margaret, "Olivia isn't in a good mood today, so she went out to play some party games with her friends.

"I heard from some guys in our social circle that things got out of hand over some guy, and now the cops are involved. I can't even track her down right now. Mom, what should I do? She's a woman out there on her own, and I'm honestly worried."

I called Olivia right after, but just as I expected, it went straight to a busy signal.

At that point, I wasn't even sure we'd be visiting the Bennett residence tomorrow.

…

It was late at night when Olivia finally returned.

The alcohol had mostly worn off, leaving her expression flickering with a mix of frustration and fury. After pacing around the room several times, she couldn't help but stop in front of me.

"It was just a joke," she said. "Did you really have to blow it up like this?"

I let out a dry scoff. "I thought you said you didn't even see him as a guy?"

Olivia's words caught in her throat.

Only after a long pause did she clench her jaw and spit, "You already laid into him at the party! And before he could even recover from that, you threw him to the cops!

"He was just trying to do something sweet for my birthday, and you spent the entire night humiliating him. Ethan, just because your family has money doesn't mean you get to go around being a bully."

The amount of mental gymnastics she did was so absurd that I actually laughed out loud.

"I'm a bully? His family business is about to go under. Are you going to tell me that's my fault, too?" I retorted.

"No!" Olivia snapped, getting defensive. "Stop trying to twist my words! The bottom line is that you put your hands on Damien, and you terrified him! Why can't you get that through your thick skull?"

I held her gaze without saying a word, and her voice gradually died down.

Then, she uncomfortably shifted her eyes away from me.

"It was just a game," she said. "Everyone in our friend group swore we'd never get married. I was the first one to break the pact, and Damien just had a hard time letting go of me.

"Besides, it's not like he ever says no when I ask for his permission. Ethan, it literally has zero impact on your life. You're completely overreacting."

Deep into the night, the room was so quiet that the ticking of the wall clock was the only sound filling the silence between us.

After what felt like an eternity, I finally nodded.

"You're right. That actually makes a ton of sense."

A flicker of joy flashed in her eyes, but I continued, "From now on, I'll need the approval of my childhood friends and best friends before anything can happen between us."

Olivia froze.

"We're talking about our private life. What does that have to do with anyone else?" she questioned.

I looked at her, and she went completely quiet, her eyes turning stone-cold.

"Wow, Ethan. You really are a piece of work."

…

The aroma of breakfast was what finally woke me up the next morning.

When I opened the door, I found the dining table covered in a beautiful breakfast spread. The elegant presentation made the source instantly obvious.

It was from Copper Table, the private breakfast cafe Margaret ran.

Melissa Grant, the Bennetts' housekeeper, stepped back respectfully. "Mr. Calloway, Ms. Bennett asked us to prepare this for you and bring it over."

Set right in front of my usual spot was a plate of lobster rolls, each one garnished with a delicate pinch of caviar.

A bit further down the table, there were soufflé pancakes and croissants.

Every dish on the table was something I had reached for a second helping whenever we dined with Margaret.

The door to the guest bedroom clicked open, and Olivia stepped out, looking disoriented for a few seconds.

The sleep left her eyes the moment she caught sight of me.

After spending some time fussing around in the bathroom, she hurried out and sat across from me. "Honey, I had this spread made specially for you. These are all your favorites, right?"

"About last night... You know I had way too much to drink," Olivia said, wearing a fragile, pleading smile. "I said and did some incredibly stupid things, but none of it came from the heart. Please don't be mad at me."

I stayed silent, and her smile slowly petrified on her face.

Right on cue, Melissa stepped in, placing a fresh bowl of oatmeal in front of Olivia. "Ms. Bennett, your mother is still expecting both of you back at the house today."

Olivia let out a soft sigh.

"I admit I took things a step too far this time. I'll make sure Damien stays in his lane from now on, and I won't let him get carried away again, okay?"

She placed a lobster roll on my plate.

"I'm sorry," she said. "Honey, at least give me some credit for trying."

I set down my fork and cut straight to the chase. "Are we going to the Bennett residence or not?"

The drama from last night had made it all the way to a police station. I didn't need a crystal ball to know that Margaret had personally pulled strings to get Olivia out of there as fast as possible.

Whether the police report was a false alarm or not didn't matter.

Margaret would never allow the slightest speck of dirt to stick to Bennett Group's reputation.

As for our marriage, I knew exactly how her family viewed it. To them, if we could be happy, great. But if we were miserable, we just needed to sweep it under the rug and keep it on the down low.

After all, that was how most families in our circle operated.

…

When we arrived at the Bennett residence, Margaret welcomed me with a smile, as if she knew nothing about what had happened the night before.

"Ethan, you're finally here. We've been waiting for you."

As she spoke, she gave Olivia a sharp, warning nudge. "You brat. I told you to just stay home and celebrate with Ethan, but you just had to insist that you guys don't run in the same circles. Look at the drama you're causing! If you make Ethan unhappy again, see if I don't give you a piece of my mind!"

She deftly blocked any opportunity I might have had to bring up Olivia's behavior.

Wesley Bennett, my father-in-law, guided me over to the couch, opening a polished wooden display box. "Margaret and I spotted this at an auction a few days ago, and we both instantly thought of you."

Inside sat a pair of black opal cufflinks. One look at them told me they were worth a fortune.

I hesitated, remaining silent, when a sudden commotion echoed from the front door.

Damien walked right into the living room, cradling a small Maltese puppy in his arms and wearing a bright smile.

"Olivia, you're back home. I figured as much when I saw your car parked in the driveway. That's cold. You came home and didn't even tell your best friend. Look how stingy you've gotten. It's not like I held a grudge against you after getting pushed around last night."

He pretended to be upset as he set the puppy down. The moment his hands were free, he casually slapped her rear end.

The second the puppy's paws hit the floor, it started darting around the room. Suddenly, as if spooked by something, it bolted straight toward the coffee table where the gift box was resting.

Crash!

A porcelain teacup fell to the floor, striking the Maltese right on the head.

The puppy let out a sharp whimper.

Damien's expression instantly shifted. He rushed over, scooped up the puppy, and glared at me in fury.

"Ethan, can't you tolerate a helpless puppy? This is Olivia's home, not yours! Even if you hate me, you didn't have to—"

Before he could finish his performance, Wesley's face hardened.

"I'm the one who threw that cup," Wesley barked.

Damien froze, the fury draining from his eyes in an instant. "M-Mr. Bennett?"

Wesley's voice rose. "Who let the dog in? Have I not made it clear to every single person in this house that I'm allergic to dog fur?"

The entire first floor went dead silent as the maids exchanged nervous glances, none of them daring to speak.

I picked up a fresh teacup from the tray. "It's just a stray that wandered in without an invite, Dad. There's no reason to let it ruin your day."

Damien's face flushed with anger. "Who are you calling a stray?"

I didn't answer. Instead, I lifted the teapot, filling the cup with fresh tea.

Only then did Olivia seem to come back to herself, and she hurried over. "That's enough. Besides, Livie didn't break the cuff links, and Damien didn't do it on purpose either."

The puppy's name sounded awfully like a nickname for Olivia.

Damien instantly realized something was off. He reached out, tugging at her sleeve.

"Mr. Bennett, it's not what you think. It's just a puppy Olivia gave me right after you guys finalized the wedding date," he stammered. "She said she was worried I'd get incredibly lonely without her around. That's why she bought Livie to keep me company."

The rich aroma of the tea began to fill the room.

I shut my eyes.

Maybe I shouldn't have held out any hope for Olivia.

As I slowly closed my fist around the black opal cufflinks, I smiled. "Dad, whatever stunts Olivia has pulled, consider it even."

Olivia's gaze landed on my hand.

Her expression stiffened, and she looked at me in disbelief.

"Even? What's that supposed to mean, Ethan?" Olivia questioned.

Meeting her eyes, I slowly ran my thumb over the surface of the cufflinks.

"An eight-million-dollar pair of cufflinks, Olivia. I hope you keep up the good work," I said.

Bennett Group's new product launch was right around the corner.

Wesley's compensation was certainly generous.

I guess I had just been too naive. I was a businessman myself, yet I was still foolishly holding out hope for something as worthless as love.

I got up to leave, but Olivia chased right after me.

"Ethan, what do you mean by even? What are you talking about? Explain yourself!"

I opened my hand, flashing the eight-million-dollar cufflinks. The fog in my head finally cleared, leaving me stone-cold sober.

"The black opals are stunning. Do me a favor and tell your dad that next time, I'd prefer cash."

Her face darkened.

"Do you seriously have to frame a genuine gift from Dad as some sort of payoff?" she hissed. "Ever since we tied the knot, I've kept my distance from Damien. Can you at least stop talking dirty in front of my parents?"

Her voice dropped into a furious whisper. "Last night was just a game. I didn't actually cheat on you!"

At the entrance of the Bennett residence, Damien stood there with the puppy in his arms, looking frantic.

"Olivia, help! Something's wrong with Livie. I think she's going into shock from being hit! I already let you go so you could be with him. Can't you guys at least leave me with the dog?"

The soles of my leather shoes clicked sharply against the marble floors as I closed the distance between us.

"Let her go? What, were you planning on having Olivia with you around the clock? Or were you hoping she'd personally breed you a kid to keep you company?" I questioned. "Please, go on. I'm all ears. If you can cough up eight million dollars yourself, maybe I, as her legal husband, will actually consider approving your application."

"Ethan!" Olivia shrieked. "How can you say that at a moment like this? Livie is a living creature!"

She snatched the dog into her arms, ran to the car, and started the engine.

Damien scrambled after her, ripping the passenger door open and turning back to shoot me a glance.

The corners of his mouth lifted slightly as he silently mouthed, "You're no match even for a dog."

The Bennett residence was out in the deep suburbs.

Because I had to play the part of the doting husband when we arrived, I hadn't driven my own car.

Now that Olivia had taken the car and left, I had two choices. I could either go back inside and play the victim for Wesley, or I could find my own way back.

The black opal felt cold in my palm, serving as a cold reminder that playing the victim would only work if the timing was right.

If throwing a fit didn't yield anything tangible, there was no point in putting on a worthless show of emotions.

After thinking it over, I called my childhood friend, who was still single.

It didn't take long for her flashy sports car to pull into the driveway.

I frowned. "Did you really have to bring this one?"

"What? Pink is festive," Serena Sutton replied. "We're celebrating you finally cutting that toxic woman loose."

I didn't respond.

Serena pulled a slim cigarette from her pack and offered it to me. "Stop being so uptight. If you hadn't completely given up on her, you never would've let me come pick you up."

When I didn't reach for it, she casually lit it herself and slipped it between my lips.

Seeing me furrow my brows, she gently pressed her index finger against my mouth. "Since you're officially done with her, this doesn't count as crossing the line."

Serena let out a soft laugh. "I told you. There aren't many women in high society like me who keep their noses clean and only stay close to you."

As the smoke hit my lungs, a smile broke across my face.

"Alright, fair point. Consider this my thank you. Take me back, and help me sort through all the projects tied to the Bennetts."

Her face lit up with excitement. "Sure thing!"

That night, I returned to the drinking parties I had kept myself away from.