Chapter 1

“Pathetic!”

My hand froze on my shoe, and I stiffly looked at Julian, who was sprawled on the couch.

He was staring at my wrongly buttoned shirt, his displeasure evident.

“I told you ages ago, no matter how you dress up, I’m never going to touch you! If you’re sick, take your meds!”

I lowered my gaze.

Of course, I knew.

Our families forced Julian and me into this strategic marriage, which drove his true love away.

On our wedding night, he locked me in the bridal suite, then walked out to find her.

“If you can go three years without touching her, I’ll forgive you.”

His love, Seraphina, had said, filled with spite.

Now, there were only seven days left until the three years were up.

Over a thousand days and nights had passed, and Julian had indeed never touched me.

But he knew perfectly well that after being tormented all night by an intensely potent aphrodisiac on our wedding night, I had developed a severe condition of heightened senses and physical sensitivity.

For three years, I couldn't leave the Sterling estate; I had to find ways to tempt him.

So much so that now, merely having a button on my shirt misaligned, in his eyes, became a deliberate seduction.

The door slammed shut with a **bang!**

I quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

It was a good thing he continued to shun me completely.

Otherwise, if he were to unbutton just one button, he would glimpse the marks covering my body—marks left by another man.