Chapter 1

To experience a hundred different lovers from all walks of life.

During our five years of secret marriage, Scarlett Sterling brought a revolving door of men into her bed.

Every time she brought a lover home, I was banished to the study for the night.

Once she was done, she would make me clean up the filthy "battlefield."

"He has no shame. This is the only use he has now."

The little assistant who had run over my sister had just climbed out of Scarlett's bed.

He looked at me with an arrogant, mocking sneer and told me to give him a massage.

"Come here and rub my back."

"I didn't expect President Sterling to be so spicy in bed. It was intense."

On the day the news of my sister's death arrived, my heart turned to ash.

I boarded a plane to leave the country forever.

Later, I heard that Scarlett turned the entire city upside down just to find me.

1

"Ian Rhodes, where the hell did you go! I've given you too much slack!"

I had just returned from the hospital when Scarlett's screaming hit me the moment I walked in.

She saw the stuffed doll in my hand, my sister's favorite.

Her voice was sharp and filled with pure disgust.

"Do you think running to the hospital every day is going to make her better?"

"Your eyes are glued to that sister of yours all day long. Don't forget, she's only alive because of me."

"If you make me unhappy, you know exactly what will happen!"

She snatched the doll from my hands, threw it on the floor, and stomped on it repeatedly.

I lunged forward to save it, but she slammed her heel down hard on the back of my hand.

The hatred in Scarlett's eyes deepened. "Ian, you're so pathetic! Cherishing a piece of literal trash! You really have no spine."

I looked up, dazed. For a moment, I saw the Scarlett from years ago.

Back then, she was the first girl who ever stood up for me when I was being bullied.

Because I was an orphan, the kids at school treated me like dirt.

Everyone looked down on me, except for her.

She told me I was special. Back then, I thought she was the one who was truly different.

Caleb Montgomery walked out of the bathroom. His eyes tightened when he saw me, but he quickly moved to Scarlett's side.

"He's probably just upset after hearing the truth."

"Scarlett, maybe I shouldn't come over anymore."

As he spoke, his hand moved suggestively across Scarlett's waist. He shot me a look full of triumph and mockery.

It was pure, unfiltered contempt.

Since we got married, Scarlett had countless lovers. At her peak, she changed them every night.

She never had a long-term thing with any of them, but Caleb was different.

To Scarlett, Caleb was more than just a toy in her bed.

Scarlett let out a cold snort.

"This is my house. Why should I care about what that useless man thinks?"

She tilted Caleb's chin up and gave him a flirtatious smile. "If you don't come, who will I go to when I'm lonely at night..."

The two of them began to flirt and touch right in front of me, completely ignoring my existence.

I stood there like a villain trying to break up a pair of soulmates.

"Then don't be mad at Ian anymore... Just do it for me, okay?"

Scarlett nodded. Seeing me still standing there like a statue, she frowned.

"Well? Thank Caleb. You'd better learn to behave and serve us both well."

"If you want to live off a woman, you need to act like it."

"Otherwise, I'm one phone call away from cutting off your sister's hospital funds!"

My pupils shrunk, and a shiver like an electric shock ran through my body.

In that second, something inside me shattered completely.

The truth was, Nina shouldn't have died.

Under treatment, her condition had improved significantly. She was supposed to come home in a week or two.

But on that day, she sneaked out to buy me a birthday gift.

She was right outside the office building when she was hit by a drunk driver. That driver was Caleb Montgomery.

When I rushed out of the building, all I saw was a cake soaked in blood.

Afterward, Scarlett used her massive influence to keep Caleb from facing any charges.

"I was the one paying for her bills anyway. I'll just pay them a bit longer!"

"She's going to die sooner or later. But if Caleb gets a DUI on his record, do you know how it will ruin his reputation and his future?"

To save my sister, I swallowed my rage.

But in the end, Nina died anyway.

Thinking about this, the last string of my sanity snapped.

My eyes turned bloodshot as I glared at her, my voice trembling with fury.

"You want me to thank him? Scarlett, are you even human!"

"If it wasn't for him, Nina's condition wouldn't have gotten worse! She wouldn't be in a coma, she wouldn't..."

Scarlett's face turned pale, then red. Hearing me mention Caleb, she rushed over and slapped me across the face.

"Getting hit was her fate! If it wasn't for me, she'd have been dead years ago!"

"Ian, don't be ungrateful!"

She stared at me, her words cold and sharp as ice.

Before I could say a word, she grabbed Caleb and slammed the door as they left.

Watching them go, my heart ached so much I could barely breathe.

Three years ago, for love and for my sister's life, I agreed to marry her.

I did it even though I knew she hated me to the bone.

But now, the person I was protecting is gone. The pure love is gone.

I have no reason to stay.

I don't want to be in this place for another minute.

After standing frozen for a long time, I dialed a number I hadn't called in years.

"Professor, can I come see you?"