Chapter 7

I pulled his hand away. "Let's just go to sleep early."

"Sera, are you still angry with me?" Rhys sat up, pulling me up with him.

We faced each other.

I lowered my eyes slightly, saying flatly,

"Do you expect me to forgive you right now? Do you think that's possible?"

Rhys gripped my hands, his voice heavy with guilt.

"Sera, I was wrong. I shouldn't have given in to temptation and betrayed our love. Believe me, I've truly changed."

His eyes were incredibly sincere, as if he had truly repented.

If I hadn't caught him cheating a second time, perhaps I would have foolishly believed him.

I looked at his incredibly familiar face, yet felt it was utterly foreign.

As if I had never truly known him.

Because the old Rhys would never lie to me, but now, his mouth was full of deceit.

His love for me was filled with sickening falsehoods.

I suddenly didn't want to see his face. I averted my gaze, looking out at the dark night sky.

"Just give me a little more time," I said softly.

A little more time, and I would finally escape this cage, finally be free.

Rhys, however, mistook my softening attitude.

After all, time was the best healer, and since divorce wasn't an option, I had no choice but to compromise.

A look of joy spread across Rhys's face, and he hugged me tightly.

"Sera, I know I made a huge mistake. Your coldness towards me now is a punishment, and I deserve it. I don't blame you. I'll wait until the day you're willing to forgive me."

That day would never come.

I would never forgive betrayal.

I let him hold me, my eyes fixed on the darkness, devoid of sorrow or joy.

Time flew by.

Julian, who was supposed to be on a ten-day business trip, returned early.

I had just finished dinner when my phone buzzed with a message from Julian.

He told me to pick him up at the airport.

I stared at the message, lost in thought.

I had gone to the clinic this morning for a check-up; I wasn't pregnant.

If I couldn't get pregnant with Julian's child, my escape plan would fail.

I would be forever trapped in this cage of an arranged marriage.

I had to keep seducing Julian.

"Sera, what are you looking at?"

Rhys put down his forks, looking up at me.

I put away my phone, stood up, and said, "I have something I need to go out for."

"Where are you going?" Rhys frowned. "It's so late now. Should I drive you?"

I shook my head, already moving towards the door.

"No need. A female friend suddenly came down with a fever, and there's no one to take care of her. I'm going to check on her."

"Who is it?" Rhys asked.

He and I had grown up together; we knew all of each other's friends.

I casually made up a lie.

"A new friend I met in baking class a few days ago. You don't know her. I won't say more."

I hurried out the door.

Rhys didn't think much of it and left the dining room as well.

Just then, he received a FaceTime call from Chloe, asking him to pick her up at the airport.

Chloe's mother had been ill a few days ago, and she had gone home to visit her. She was back today.

She had already landed and was waiting for him to pick her up.

Rhys thought that since I wasn't home anyway, he'd be bored alone, so he agreed.

Chloe had been away for a few days, and I wouldn't let him touch me, so he was feeling particularly pent-up.