Chapter 1

Everyone knew I was a doormat for my wife, Elara Sinclair. But tonight, right in front of her face, I kissed another woman.

It happened at the annual corporate gala. During the game segment, my wife chose to forfeit and accept a dare.

The penalty was to mouth-to-mouth feed an alcoholic drink to a member of the opposite sex.

Without a second of hesitation, she chose her boy-toy assistant, Brooks Miller.

A full minute passed before they finally pulled apart.

A thin string of saliva even stretched between them in the air.

In the second round, the bottle pointed at me. I didn't hesitate to forfeit either.

My penalty was to kiss a member of the opposite sex for thirty seconds.

I smiled.

I turned my head and kissed the billionaire female CEO sitting right next to me.

1

Time seemed to hit the pause button.

Thirty seconds. Half a minute.

It wasn't long, but it felt like a lifetime.

The next second, the VIP lounge exploded.

"Holy shit!!!"

"What the hell did I just see? Am I too drunk?"

"He kissed her! He actually kissed her!"

"Kissing Valerie Prescott right in front of Elara Sinclair? He's insane! He's completely lost it!"

"Cassian Reed, are you crazy?!"

"Look at Elara's face... This is gold! Absolute gold!"

The entire booth, the whole room, was in a total frenzy.

Gasps, screams, the sound of fists slamming on tables, and the crash of breaking glass mixed together in a deafening roar.

Elara shoved Brooks Miller away, her face turning pale instantly.

Then, she flushed a deep, angry red. She pointed a trembling finger at me.

"Cassian Reed! What the hell are you doing?! How dare you cuckold me right in my face! Let her go! Who do you think you are? I'm going to kill you!"

Brooks Miller looked shocked and angry too. But deep in his eyes, there was a hint of annoyance that I had interrupted his fun, along with a touch of smugness.

"Cassian, you're dead! Do you know who Ms. Prescott is? She's the CEO of the Prescott Group, worth billions! You're just a pathetic loser kept by your wife! A boy-toy! You aren't even worthy of touching her pinky! You must have a death wish!"

Time was up.

I slowly lifted my head and let go of Valerie Prescott.

She stepped back like a startled fawn, covering her mouth. Her cheeks were so red they looked like they might bleed.

"You..."

She looked at me, her voice slightly raspy and full of disbelief.

I gave her a small, apologetic smile, but I remained perfectly calm.

"Sorry. It was just a penalty."

Elara's scream almost pierced my eardrums.

"Cassian Reed!!"

I finally turned to look at Elara.

"CEO Sinclair, weren't we playing Truth or Dare? I forfeited, so I got to choose my penalty partner. Is there a problem?"

"You... you..."

Elara was shaking so hard she could barely speak.

"You forfeited? How dare you forfeit?! Who gave you the right?! What kind of trash do you think you are?!"

"Oh?"

I cocked an eyebrow, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

"So, CEO Sinclair actually knows the rules? Then what was it when you forfeited earlier, drank three shots, and jumped straight to the dare? Do the rules only allow you to quit halfway?"

"I..."

Elara was momentarily speechless, her face turning even uglier. She doubled down on her attack.

"Cassian, if you're drunk, get the hell home! Don't stay here and embarrass me!"

"I'm not drunk."

I shrugged, looking perfectly innocent.