Chapter 1

While on a business trip, my husband's company model, Kylie Shaw, posted a new update on TikTok.

【Work is wrapped! The hottest boss treated us to a luxury cruise for two!】

In the photo, she wore a tiny bikini, leaning against a man's shoulder for a mirror selfie.

Across his broad, bare back, several bright red scratch marks were clearly visible.

Someone commented: "The sexual tension between you two is insane! Looks like last night was wild!"

Kylie replied with a shushing emoji: "Hehe, babe, you've got sharp eyes."

I calmly hit like on her reply.

A second later, Garrett Langford called me, his voice dripping with merciless mockery.

"It was just a harmless joke. Don't lose your mind just because you don't have a body like hers!"

Then he turned away to comfort Kylie, "Ignore her. She's just jealous of everyone."

Listening to Kylie giggle on the other end, I quietly hung up the phone.

This was my seventh year of loving Garrett. I decided it was time to put an end to it.

1

When Garrett returned from his trip, I was trying on dresses at a luxury boutique.

Ever since a gala last year where Kylie and I wore the exact same dress, he had publicly humiliated me. He told the entire room that wearing red made me look like her mother. Since then, I hadn't bought a single red outfit for an entire year.

Garrett felt I embarrassed him, and he hated seeing me in red.

So the moment he saw me at the register preparing to pay, he stepped in and stopped me without a word.

He tossed the red dress back onto the counter and dragged me away.

"Your skin is dull and you're getting old. Stop trying to dress like a young girl!"

I didn't argue with him. I just followed him in silence.

While waiting for the elevator, he handed me a shopping bag. "Kylie gave this to you."

"The poor girl was worried you'd be mad at her, so she picked out an apology gift just for you."

I looked inside the bag at the tacky, glowing neon green swimsuit.

A bitter laugh rose in my chest. How fitting.

I replied flatly, "She has great taste."

Garrett gave a satisfied nod and scoffed.

"Glad you realize it. Unlike her, you're always acting immature, throwing tantrums, and picking fights over nothing."

"We're going to her runway show tonight. You'll apologize to her face-to-face, and we can put this behind us."

Seeing that I remained silent, he grabbed my shoulder with an irritated grip.

"You took her gift, so why the hell are you giving me attitude now?"

His force was so strong that I lost my balance and tumbled sideways.

The fresh surgical wound on my leg from my scar revision procedure slammed against the wall, turning bright red.

It was a severe burn scar from years ago, left behind when I pulled Garrett out of a fire.

I collapsed onto the floor, instinctively cupping my stomach with my hands.

A sharp, throbbing pain flared up from the wound, making me gasp for breath.

The elevator doors opened, and Garrett panicked slightly as he helped me up.

"Are you okay? I didn't mean to push you that hard..."

"Your new scar cream just arrived anyway. Let's get back to the car and I'll put it on for you."

Inside the car, he rummaged through the glove compartment and console but found nothing. "I swear I left it right here..."

Suddenly, his hands froze, and a flash of guilt crossed his face.

"Gwen, last time Kylie scraped her foot, I gave it to her."

"You know how it is. She's a model. A scar on her leg would ruin her career..."

His voice trailed off as if he realized what he had just said, and he snapped his head toward me.

I only listened quietly, showing no anger at all.

In the past, I would have demanded to know why my personal things were being given to Kylie.

Now, I was too exhausted to care. She could have it all.

I looked out the window and said, "It's fine. We have more at home. Let's just head back."

Garrett let out an awkward chuckle and agreed.

Just then, his phone rang.

Hearing that custom ringtone, Garrett answered in a heartbeat. "What's wrong, Kylie?"

From the receiver came Kylie's tearful sobs. "Garrett, please come save me!"

"Mr. Miller keeps forcing me to drink, and now he's demanding that I strip and walk for him! I'm so scared..."

"Fuck that piece of trash! How dare he touch my woman!"

Garrett slammed his fist against the steering wheel in fury and comforted her, "Don't be scared, Kylie."

"Which lounge are you at? Send me the location, I'm heading over right now."

As he spoke, he reached over to unbuckle my seatbelt, his voice hurried.

"Gwen, take an Uber home yourself. I need to handle this."

After hanging up, he frowned at me, urging me to get out.

"Garrett." My hand rested on the door handle as I called his name.

He looked back, visibly annoyed.

"Can you be reasonable for once? Don't you know Kylie is in danger right n―"

"The child lock is on." I cut him off.

He froze for a second, unlocked the doors, and offered some fake concern.

"Remember to put cream on your leg when you get home. Call me if it still hurts."

"Got it. Drive safe."

With that, I got out of the car and walked away without looking back.