Chapter 1

There they were, in the bed again, caught red-handed. But this time, it was me lying there naked with a stranger. And for the first time, Jack Murray showed a reaction.

It lasted a second.

He quickly regained his composure, even tearing open a condom for me. Calm. Casual.

"I said we'd have an open marriage, no strings attached. Looks like you finally listened."

Then, with a chilling smile, he handed a condom to the man on top of me. "Be careful. Don't let her get pregnant."

As he walked away, he offered one last piece of advice.

"I'm right next door. Have fun. Run out of ideas, just ask me for tips."

I watched him walk away without a glance back.

This five-year marriage had to end.

"Ms. Hayes, should we... continue?"

The man looked at me, a hint of pity in his eyes.

I stumbled from the bed, fumbling with my clothes, my heart a raw wound of humiliation and grief.

I pulled out a wad of cash and handed it to him.

"What happened tonight, it never leaves this room."

As I left the room, Jack was waiting in the hallway, his arm around his latest fling. He eyed me with a smirk that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Thought you finally grew a spine. Is that all you've got?"

I froze, looking up at him.

Jack chuckled.

"Audrey Hayes, we have an understanding. Even if you did sleep with someone, I'd never make the pathetic scene you just did. Don't worry. I'm the picture of understanding."

His words hit me like a physical blow, stealing my breath.

He was right.

He was understanding.

In a situation like that, even if it was just an act, no man would react as casually as Jack had. No other man would dismiss it so lightly.

He simply didn't care.

He didn't care about me. So no matter what I did, it wouldn't stir a single ripple in his heart.

Between us, the one who always struggled with being "understanding" was me.

That's why five years ago, when I first found him in bed with someone else, my reaction was so drastically different from his.

I smashed everything I could get my hands on, crying hysterically, like a total lunatic.

But Jack? He remained utterly calm, just watching me quietly, before letting out a sigh.

"Audrey, this is just an arranged marriage. Why are you making such a spectacle of yourself?"

It felt like a bucket of ice water had been dumped over me, chilling my heart to its core.

Jack would never understand how I felt then, just as he would never know how my heart soared to the heavens when I learned he was my arranged fiancé.

Because of his words, I, his wife in name only, lost the right to even question his subsequent gossip and scandals.

Facing one caught-in-the-act after another, I gradually transitioned from hysterical outbursts to a numb, resigned calm.

Like now. I was still hurting, but I could finally accept the fact that our marriage was truly ending.

I looked at Jack, gathered my composure, and, mimicking his smirk, curved my lips into a smile.

"Poor acting, I know. My apologies."

Jack blinked, a flicker of confusion in his eyes. For the first time, he seemed genuinely unsure of me.

But the woman beside him, Scarlett Reed, snickered. She leaned into him, her voice playful. "Jack, honey, how can you talk to Ms. Hayes like that?"

"She went through all that trouble, stripping herself down and throwing herself at another man, just to get your attention, to make you jealous! You're making her lose face!"

She playfully pushed Jack toward me, poking his chest.

"Go on, comfort her! Look, Ms. Hayes is about to cry."

Jack glanced at me, then offered a dismissive smile.

"It's just an arranged marriage. I have no obligation to comfort anyone."

"Everyone needs to manage their own emotions. If you don't want to humiliate yourself further, don't pull ridiculous stunts like this again."

He wrapped his arm around Scarlett's slender waist once more.

"I promised to spend tonight with you. I can't go back on my word, can I?"

Without another glance, he turned and led Scarlett into their room.

The moment the door closed, Scarlett looked back at me, her eyes glinting with undisguised triumph and provocation.

Soon after, muffled, intimate sounds began to emanate from behind the door.

It was as if they were determined to make sure I heard every single sound, to break me with their forced display.

They knew I hadn't left, and I knew they were doing it on purpose.

I don't know how long I stood there, until my legs went completely numb. Then I shakily made my way home and called my lawyer.

"Draft up a divorce agreement for me. Get it to me as soon as possible."

Since Jack kept insisting it was just an arranged marriage, then surely it wouldn't matter if I just... found a new arrangement.

After all, what difference did it make who I was arranged to marry?