“You’re drunk,” I said, trying to be cool, taking a sip of the beer in front of me.
“Maybe,” he’d said, “but that doesn’t make your beauty any less real.”
I’d laughed and asked him to take a seat.
A few beers later, I stood up to leave. Julian stood up, too, wobbling on his feet. He grabbed my hand.
“I mean it,” he’d said. “You’re gorgeous.”
Before I could reply, Julian’s hands were on my face, and then his lips were on mine. I raised my hands to feel his strong sides, his muscles rippling under my touch.
He’s so drunk, I thought. He’ll never remember this. He won’t even remember who I am.
In that moment, though, I didn’t care. I was too enveloped in his soft, insistent lips on mine, his tongue flicking into my mouth. I was too distracted by the damp heat spreading inside my panties.
When Julian pulled away from me, taking my hand and pulling me towards the bar door, I didn’t resist. When Julian opened the door to the car waiting outside and ushered me inside, I didn’t tell him I had to go home. When Julian undressed me in his room, I didn’t tell him to stop.
That was the first night we slept together. That was the first night I slept with anyone. Julian was so kind, insistent on my pleasure and my comfort, demonstrating what I could do to feel good and to make him feel good.
After that, we became friends with benefits. It wasn’t what I wanted from him. I couldn’t deny that I was in love with him, the crush I’d developed on him only strengthened by our physical chemistry.
Despite the temptation I felt to continue sleeping with him, knowing that Julian didn’t return my feelings was too painful. I decided that I would break up with him, for both of our best interests.
When I asked to end our situation, though, Julian surprised me. He asked me to marry him instead. Or rather, he asked me to sign a marriage contract, with the condition that our relationship would be kept secret. And he would give me income by month.
I understood the logistics of our secrecy, and some part of me realized that, despite our history, Julian still didn’t see me as a legitimate partner. I was ecstatic anyway, hopeful that in marriage Julian would realize my value. After all, marriage tied us together permanently.
I decided not to pursue my medical career to become his housewife, and for a long time, that life was enough for me. We still had a vibrant sex life that stoked the flames of my love for him, and the day-to-day responsibilities of caring for him fulfilled me for a while.
I loved preparing dinner from him, always anticipating the look of bliss when he raised a forkful of his favorite meal to his lips. At night, when thoughts of what my life could have been threatened to occupy my mind, I would look at him sleeping next to me, and the thoughts would disappear. He looked so innocent at night, the muscles in his face relaxing, softening his features.
And at night, when he’d peruse his documents on the sofa, sitting on the covers I’d carefully woven for him, I would sit in the armchair near him, reading a book, and sometimes he would reach over and pat my hand.
Even though I was an afterthought compared to the rest of Julian’s busy life, he treated me well. And I got to be with him.
I thought of the gift box, then pushed the thought away. I just needed to talk to Julian.
I pushed myself out of bed, wanting to go find a nurse to ask if the baby was okay after my fall.
When I stepped outside, though, I ran into Olivia. I guessed the rumors were true. She was here for her prenatal check-up.
He’d found out I fainted. He’d come here to check on me. I was surprised, but my heart soared with hope that the whole day had been one strange misunderstanding.
Then he shielded Olivia behind him, as though I were a threat to her. He frowned. “What are you doing here?”
Olivia frowned at me. “Are you stalking us?”
Julian looked at me with disgust. “You’d go to that length to stop me from this?”
He motioned for the Beta to come over and take me away. I hadn’t even gotten to the nurse’s stand to initiate my prenatal checkup yet, and I struggled the best I could to break away from the Beta’s grasp.
“Stop dragging her like that.” I looked up to see Olivia commanding the Beta to let me go.
She has the power to do that? I thought.
The Beta released me, and for a second, despite myself, I felt a wave of gratitude for Olivia.
Then she moved to stand in front of me. While her demeanor was gentle, portraying a ladylike innocence to the others occupying the hospital hallway, there was a dangerous glint in her eyes.
Olivia leaned toward me, acting as though she simply wanted to help dust me off after my altercation with the Beta. Instead, she whispered, “I know who you are, you low-born, gold-digging whore. You have no status. You aren’t good enough for him.”
My mouth dropped open in surprise at her utter audacity. Despite my social status, I was still Julian’s lawful wife, a fact she indicated she was aware of. I stiffened at the disrespect, but knew that as a human I held no ground to make my feelings known.
“How much do you want to him alone? For good?” Olivia asked, tugging on the arm of my shirt. “I’ll pay you.”
This was too much. “Are you serious? You think you can buy your way out of this? You think you can pay me and take over my life?”
Olivia only smirked. She dug her hand into her purse, then held it out towards me, like a violent dog’s owner offers them a treat. Like a temptation.
Like a bribe.
Without thinking, I lashed out, hitting the card out of her hand. How dare she act as though I could be bought? It was one thing to call me a low-born whore, but another entirely to assume my morals could be bought.
The card spun through the air, the force of my hand sending it through the air in such a way that it hit Olivia’s stomach.
She cried out in pain.
Julian rushed over, glaring at me. “What are you doing?”
Julian went Olivia’s side, rushing to steady her.
“Amber. Leave.” His tone was stern, severe. Julian had never talked to me this way before.
I stood there, stunned, as I watched him comfort and care for Olivia. I watched my husband treat this other woman as though she were some fragile and precious thing, while I was treated like a villain. Like less than a villain, even; like a whore.
I could bear coldness, his neglect, even his contempt. But I can’t stand feeling like I’m the other woman. This is our marriage, isn’t it? No matter how small or hidden, it’s still a marriage. But he broke that with his betrayal. I just can’t take that.
“I want a divorce.” I couldn’t hold back the pressure building inside me anymore.
Julian’s POV
Divorce?
My wolf refused. NO, Rory growled.
“Calm down, Rory,” I reminded him.
She can’t leave, Rory said. She’s so much better than that awful woman.
“Olivia?” I asked him.
Whatever, he returned.
“Look what she’s done, Rory,” I said. “As soon as Olivia showed up, she started causing trouble at the office. She’s never even been to the office before.”
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