Chapter 5

After enduring the long dinner, a new problem arose when we returned to the hotel.

Ruby looked at Noah with teary eyes. "Please, I'm broke. Can't you let me stay with you? Pretty please?"

Her mascara was starting to run from the fake tears.

Noah shifted uncomfortably, his beady eyes darting around. "But... my wife might not like that!"

Wouldn't I like it? It was as if he couldn't afford to pay for his mistress' room.

I turned to head to my pre-booked double room. I was absolutely exhausted.

Ruby yanked my arm, her sharp acrylic nails leaving scratches on my bare skin. "Hey! What do you think you're doing? This is Noah's room!"

I shot Noah a tired look, hoping he'd show some decency.

He scratched his head and said, "Why don't you... let Ruby have the room? Don't worry, she's just like a sister to me!"

Great. Just great, Noah!

I'd had enough of this drama. Without another word, I headed to the front desk to book a single room.

"Hold on, Zoe! Let's exchange WhatsApp. I'll pay you back another day," Ruby said with a sweet smile, though her eyes gleamed triumphantly.

I took a deep breath to calm my irritation before adding her contact.

Money matters were not something to mess around with.

The receptionist informed me that the only available single room was next door, freshly cleaned after the previous guest had left.

I nodded in agreement.

Once I got to my room, I collapsed onto the bed.

I thought I would spend the night crying and tossing in bed after everything that happened.

Instead, I fell into a deep sleep.

"Oh yes... Noah, you're still such a beast in bed!"

"Scream louder, baby! I love hearing you moan like the little minx you are!"

"She's nothing like that nerdy bookworm who just lay there like a corpse! It's no fun in bed!"

The noises from next door jolted me awake.

As I listened to Noah's words, everything became crystal clear.

He was nothing but a complete fraud!

He had performance issues, and I wasn't interested in putting on a show...

Did I want to spend my life with someone like him?

After so many years of marriage, my desire for divorce had only grown stronger with each passing day.

Unable to sleep, I mindlessly scrolled through Instagram on my phone.

The first post I saw was Ruby flaunting herself in a bikini on the beach.

In the comments, Noah wrote: [Wait for me to bump into you! My love!]

All the bitterness I'd been bottling up inside finally reached its breaking point when I saw that post.

Like a fish out of water, I clutched at my collar, struggling to breathe through the pain.

So, even our annual honeymoon trips have been part of your shopping list.

What a fool I had been, covering all our expenses because I worried about your self-esteem over not having an income.

Without hesitation, I got up to pack my bags and booked a red-eye flight.

I quickly told Edward: [Professor Langley, I've decided to pursue further studies abroad.]

Noah, you wouldn't be able to catch up to me.