Chapter 4

I never imagined the retaliation would come so swiftly and unexpectedly.

That night, my phone screen lit up. It was a message from Dylan.

"Looks like you've trained Clara well, huh? Just watch how I slowly trick her into being mine."

"You must be pretty mad right now, all alone in your empty bed!"

And then there was a video.

In the video, Clara and Dylan were locked in a tight embrace, passionately kissing. Their eyes seemed to be pulled together by an invisible thread, entwined, full of undeniable intimacy and longing.

I quickly saved the video.

Well, well, well. Free divorce evidence, I'd be a fool not to take it.

It wasn't until the middle of the night that I heard a soft click as the front door opened. Clara was finally home.

The next morning, I nonchalantly brought it up.

"Did you two kiss?"

Clara's eyes flickered, a momentary panic flashing before quickly subsiding.

In the end, she admitted it quite readily.

"Yes, but we had a good reason. It was unavoidable, and I can explain."

My face was stone-cold. "Go on, explain then. I'm listening."

Clara began to recount the events of the previous night.

"We were playing truth or dare, and he lost. The dare was to kiss one of the opposite sex for a minute."

"There were a few other women there, but I wasn't sure if they had any STDs."

"What if they kissed him and passed something on to Dylan? That wouldn't be good."

"He's the only son in his family, and his parents are counting on him to carry on the family name. We can't risk anything happening to him."

"My health is fine, and I don't have any weird diseases, so I just stepped in to help him out."

"That's pretty much what happened."

I looked at her, my expression blank.

"Clara Sterling, I never knew you had such a charitable side. I guess I underestimated you."

"Since you care so much about him, why won't you agree to divorce me?"

She heard the sarcasm in my voice and frowned.

But she continued her earnest explanation.

"Two people get together and marry because they like each other and love each other, obviously."

"You and I have love, but with Dylan, it's just family affection. Do you understand what I mean?"

As she said this, she tried to meet my gaze, but her eyes flickered nervously.

Clearly, even she knew her explanation was flimsy.

I rubbed my temples in frustration. I had no patience left to listen to her justifications.

These empty excuses.

To me, they were nothing more than a cover-up for her betrayal.

"I'm asking you one last time: Are you signing the divorce papers?"

She thought for a moment before replying, "Of course not, why would I?"

I glanced at her face, my voice flat. "Alright, I understand."

In that moment, the last shred of affection I held for her completely vanished.

It was only now that I realized my disgust for her had reached its peak.

How could I have ever fallen for her? Was I blind, or was she just a masterful actress?

Never mind, I was tired of dwelling on it.

0

Two days later was Mr. Sterling's sixtieth birthday banquet.

I attended the celebration as expected.