Chapter 1

Three years into our marriage, Julian Vance suddenly brought home a young college girl.

Before I could even process it, he pushed a handsome male student toward my chest.

"I need some excitement in my life, and you need company," Julian said, his voice dripping with casual indifference. "We both get what we need. Don't resent me for this."

But the last time he played this game, he pushed it too far.

This time, he actually sat down and tried to negotiate with me in a gentle, pleading tone.

"Chloe, I wasn't careful this time. I tried to prevent it, but Vivian still got pregnant with my child."

"The baby needs a legitimate family. We need to get a temporary divorce."

"I'll marry Vivian for now. During this time, you can stay with this college kid. Just treat it like you're dating him!"

Everyone in the living room held their breath, expecting me to do what I always did—throw a check at the boy and kick him out.

Instead, I looked up, a faint smile playing on my lips. "Sure. I'll do what you want. I'll date him."

Julian froze. The living room fell dead silent.

Mia was the first to snap out of it. "Chloe, what did you just say?"

I set my phone down.

My gaze drifted from Julian's stunned face and landed on the young college boy standing nearby.

"I said, sure."

Someone in the room gasped loudly.

"Chloe actually agreed?!"

"No way. She's not kicking him out this time?"

"Julian, did you hear that?"

Julian's expression barely changed. The faint, arrogant smirk remained on his face.

However, Vivian looked visibly nervous, her fingers tightening around Julian's hand. "Julian... Chloe has finally come around. You should be happy."

Julian didn't reply. He walked over to the young boy, patted his shoulder, and said, "Take good care of Chloe."

With that, he turned and led Vivian upstairs.

I withdrew my gaze and looked at the boy. He was still standing in the same spot, the tips of his ears flushing a bright red.

"Do you live on campus, or are you staying here?" I asked.

His throat bobbed as he swallowed nervously. "Either... either is fine."

"Then stay here."

I turned toward the hallway. Behind me, the whispers of Julian's friends immediately broke out:

"Wait, is Chloe serious this time?"

"Usually when this happens, she throws a fit and kicks us all out!"

"Oh, come on, trust Julian. She always ends up throwing a check. It's like she thinks touching another guy will give her some kind of disease."

"Remember that media arts major last time? She didn't even give him money. She just had security throw him out onto the street."

"She's probably just putting on a show to make Julian jealous because Vivian is pregnant."

I kept walking.

Their words stabbed at my back like tiny needles. But they were right.

I used to be so stupidly proud.

Too proud, too elegant.

I foolishly believed that keeping myself "clean" would protect my marriage.

Every time Julian brought a boy in front of me, I would coldly hand them a check and kick them out.

I thought that was winning. I thought at least I was keeping my hands clean.

And what did I get for it?

Vivian's baby was on the way.

My high moral standards had only won me a divorce agreement, an empty bed, and a room full of people laughing at me behind my back.

At the end of the second-floor hallway, I pushed open a bedroom door.

"This is your room," I said.

I leaned against the doorframe, studying the boy. His name was Ethan Mercer.

Six-foot-tall. Best speaker in the international moot court. Top of his class, with a guaranteed spot for his master's degree and a full scholarship every year.

Julian had really spent some money this time.

Ethan wasn't just some random boy picked up from a club.

"Selling yourself for money?" I asked bluntly.

He nodded.

I was surprised. No hesitation, no excuses.

The old me would have sneered, thrown a check, and told him to get lost.

How powerful I must have felt back then.

Standing on my moral high ground, acting like anyone who touched me was degrading my sacred love.

And what happened?

The "trash" left, but Julian never came back either.

Honestly, was any of them actually dirtier than Julian?

"If you need anything, just tell the housekeeper," I said, stepping into the room.

He followed me inside. "Chloe, my name is Ethan."

"I know," I replied without turning around. "Julian told me."

I walked out onto the balcony.

Downstairs, the guests were finally leaving. I watched their cars drive away in the dark.

I had lost count of how many times they had gathered to watch me become a joke.

Returning to the master bedroom, my eyes fell on the divorce papers sitting on the nightstand.

For three years, I had closed my eyes to his wild behavior. All because of what had happened back then—something that had completely broken my heart and alienated us.

But he had his reasons, and I had mine.

A debt must always be paid.

In the beginning, I told him as long as he didn't bring them home, I didn't care.

Later, I said as long as he didn't cross the red line of getting someone pregnant, I would look the other way.

I took step after step backward. He pushed step after step forward.

Now, since we were both sick of this marriage... there was no point in hesitating.

I picked up the pen and signed my name.