Chapter 4

Five years ago, when my father was driven to desperation by bankruptcy, he jumped from the roof of our apartment building. Fortunately, he was caught by some trees and survived, but he's been kept alive only by expensive machines and medications ever since.

All these years, the money has been paid monthly by Adrian's mother according to our original agreement.

That evening, my phone rang. It was my best friend Rachel's voice: "Chloe, DM Club, come save me quick!"

She hung up immediately. Worried something had happened to her, I rushed to DM.

But when I arrived, I found her excitedly playing drinking games with a group of male models.

Seeing me, she blinked innocently: "It wasn't me who called you..."

"Then who did?" I asked, confused.

"I did." A deep voice sounded behind me, tinged with nervousness.

I turned around and came face to face with the abs guy from the phone.

Lucas wore a black jacket. At 6'3", he cut an impressive figure standing there.

Before I could speak, Rachel eagerly pointed at him: "Girl, this model won't even let me touch him. Says he's exclusively for one person. Hey, you try him out for me! Your scumbag husband has cheated how many times now? Why are you still holding back? Go for it!"

"He's not a model..." I kindly reminded her. "Don't spread rumors outside."

After we left, Lucas followed closely behind me. He was indeed handsome - calling him a model would be an understatement. There weren't many in Hollywood who looked this good.

Back when things were occasionally still okay between Adrian and me, he often praised this good friend of his.

Sometimes even Adrian wondered how he had the fortune to befriend someone of Lucas's background and status.

I felt a headache coming on. I shouldn't have impulsively replied to that message.

"This is..." I stumbled over my words, awkwardly saying, "This isn't right. You know this makes you the other woman, right?"

Lucas coughed lightly, standing just an arm's length away. Gone was his online flirtatiousness, but he was still direct: "So, does this mean I'm officially acknowledged now?"

"But I haven't actually done anything yet, have I?" he reasoned shamelessly. "I accept criticism and correction, but I'm still firm in my goal!"

"What goal?"

"To steal you away!"

"He's supposed to be your best friend. Aren't you afraid he'll beat you up?"

"What kind of good person is he anyway? At worst, I'm just seducing a married woman, a bit morally bankrupt. But what he's done is truly despicable... Ahem, of course, I'm not badmouthing your husband."

Maybe it was the dim lighting, the temptation of his good looks.

Maybe it was the exhaustion and torment from these years with Adrian.

I stared at him intently and suddenly said, "Wait a little longer. While I'm still married, I won't do anything immoral."

At least on the surface, I was still Adrian's wife.

Lucas's eyes lit up: "When do you plan to... get divorced?"

"Soon," I smiled.