Chapter 3

3

The year I "betrayed" Caden was our second year of marriage.

At that time, I was two months pregnant.

Neither of us knew it yet.

Caden's career was just starting to take off. He had finally gained the favor of some powerful mentors.

He should have been promoted. But suddenly, everything went wrong. His endorsements vanished overnight.

His path was blocked, and our family business started failing.

To fix the mess, we had to sell our land and our shops.

During those days, Caden couldn't eat or sleep.

Tragedy didn't stop there. Caden's mother was diagnosed with a serious illness that required a fortune to treat.

I asked around and found out that the person behind all our misery was Dominic. He was finally taking his revenge for that bottle to the head.

Then, Dominic approached me.

He told me he could fix Caden's career. He could pay for his mother's medical bills.

I knew there was a catch.

A wolf doesn't just hand out favors for free.

If he didn't want a life, he wanted something more precious than a life.

I asked him what he wanted.

Dominic looked at me with pure disdain. "I do what I want. I just love watching little people like you get angry and feel helpless."

"Besides, I haven't settled the score for my head yet. It's time for him to pay."

I didn't understand Dominic.

He had a hundred ways to make Caden suffer, but he chose to use me.

Years later, I still remember that night vividly.

In a dimly lit hotel suite, Dominic had his arm around me. He held the promotion papers in his hand.

When Caden walked in and saw me, he froze.

His eyes were bloodshot. His voice was raw as he asked me, "Why?"

I told him, "You can't give me the life I want. But Mr. Dominic can."

Dominic laughed loudly. His hand gripped my waist tightly.

I felt like my heart was being pierced by a thousand arrows. I was humiliated, but I forced a smile. I tried not to flinch when he touched me.

"Caden, isn't this great? I'm helping your career, and you're partnering with the elite. Everyone wins."

The light in Caden's eyes died. Disappointment spread across his face like a stain.

But he still reached out his hand to me. "Sera, come here! I don't need you to do this. I'll work harder to give you the life you want."

He was begging. His expression was so broken.

In that moment, I felt like a heavy stone was crushing my chest. I couldn't breathe.

He said, "Sera, I don't want the promotion. Just come home with me."

This man, who was once so proud he'd smash a bottle over a billionaire's head, was now begging on his knees.

Dominic laughed even harder, enjoying his victory.

"See, Caden? The woman you value so much is just like the rest. I snap my fingers, and she jumps into my bed."

"So, what was the point of hitting me back then? Tell me!"

Caden ignored him. He just kept staring at me.

I wrapped my arms around Dominic's neck and smiled at Caden. "That's right, Caden. Don't take things so seriously. Just move on."

I don't remember much of what happened after that night.

I just remember him signing the papers. He looked at me with burning eyes and said, "Sera, for the rest of our lives, we are enemies unto death."

After that, he became obsessed with his career.

In just a few years, he rose from a low-level clerk to the Senate Majority Leader. He was at the top of the world.

He succeeded.

And I became the biggest stain on his perfect life.