Chapter 1

My husband,Damian Blackwood,the King of Wall Street,treats me like ice.

But today,he sent me a text.

“Go to the pharmacy.Get the usual.”

When I got back to our penthouse on Fifth Avenue,his so-called“best friend,”the socialite Chloe,was sitting in our bedroom,slowly pulling a pair of torn stockings back onto her legs.

Seeing me,she feigned surprise.“Oh,Aurora,you're back so soon?”

She shook the empty box in her hand.“Damian texted the wrong person.Don't take it personally.”

Damian sat on the edge of the bed,a cigar between his fingers,smoke swirling around him.

“I promise,this is the last time.Our open relationship ends now.”He didn't even look at me,his voice devoid of apology.“She's an old friend.Had to give her a taste of married life.”

He had his assistant send me an encrypted file.

“Here's a list I picked out for you.You should try it,too.”

In the ninety-eight times this has happened before,I broke down,screamed,and became hysterical.

But this time,I calmly accepted the file.

…

The next morning at breakfast,Chloe was wearing Damian's silk shirt,unbuttoned to show off the marks on her neck.

She sighed dramatically.“Ugh,I told Damian not to be so rough.I won't be able to cover these for the gala.”

Damian didn't look up from his steak.“You should go.I need to talk to Aurora.”

Chloe pouted,then deliberately bumped into me as she stood up.

My coffee cup tilted,and the hot liquid spilled onto the back of my hand,instantly raising two blisters.

Damian just chuckled in his usual way.“Stop messing around.”

It used to be that if anyone dared to treat me like that,Damian would grab them by the collar and intimidate them until they apologized to me.

Chloe slammed the door shut.

Damian then pulled a blue jewelry box from a nearby pile of luxury shopping bags.

All these years,every time he brought another woman home,he would give me a piece of jewelry as“compensation.”

I've never opened any of them.They fill an entire walk-in closet.

“My dear Aurora,”he said,pulling me into his arms,enveloping me in the scent of his expensive cologne.“The title of Mrs.Blackwood will always be yours.With them,I'm just having fun.”

I've heard that line hundreds of times.

“Good girl.Don't be angry.”

His words were light,certain that I wouldn't dare to resist again.

After all,my previous attempts at resistance had cost me dearly.