“Pathetic!” My hand froze on my shoe, and I stiffly looked at Julian, who was sprawled on the couch. He was staring at my wrongly buttoned shirt, his displeasure evident. “I told you ages ago, no matter how you dress up, I’m never going to touch you! If you’re sick, take your meds!” I lowered my gaze. Of course, I knew. Our families forced Julian and me into this strategic marriage, which drove his true love away. On our wedding night, he locked me in the bridal suite, then walked out to find her. “If you can go three years without touching her, I’ll forgive you.” His love, Seraphina, had said, filled with spite. Now, there were only seven days left until the three years were up. Over a thousand days and nights had passed, and Julian had indeed never touched me. But he knew perfectly well that after being tormented all night by an intensely potent aphrodisiac on our wedding night, I had developed a severe condition of heightened senses and physical sensitivity. For three years, I couldn’t leave the Sterling estate; I had to find ways to tempt him. So much so that now, merely having a button on my shirt misaligned, in his eyes, became a deliberate seduction. The door slammed shut with a **bang!** I quietly breathed a sigh of relief. It was a good thing he continued to shun me completely. Otherwise, if he were to unbutton just one button, he would glimpse the marks covering my body—marks left by another man.
Sunlight streamed onto the enormous wedding portrait in the living room, and I offered a bitter smile. To outsiders, Julian and I were the perfect couple, living in harmony for three years. But no one knew that we had secretly filed for divorce the day after our wedding. The family alliance was too intricate; we couldn’t completely separate at the time. Moreover, Julian needed me to stay and prove his loyalty to his love over these three years. It was no wonder the outside world knew nothing. After all, the same Julian who had sneered at me in the morning could take my hand that evening, playing the part of a devoted husband and wife at a banquet. Sometimes, even I would get lost in the illusion. But illusions were just that—illusions. The fragile peace between Julian and me only needed Seraphina to shatter it. The moment I saw Seraphina, I felt the man beside me instantly stiffen. He instinctively flung my hand away. “Seraphina, what are you doing here?” Julian never attended banquets where Seraphina was present because pretending to be in love with me would hurt his Seraphina. Seraphina pointed to a man in the distance and said mockingly, “You’re allowed a dance partner, but I can’t have a male companion?” “Seraphina, you know perfectly well…” Julian’s voice was tinged with urgency. “Know what? Who was it that got a call from his ‘wife’ last night and almost rushed off, only staying reluctantly for one night and then claiming he had to leave first thing in the morning?” “Everyone in the city knows the Sterling heir and his wife’s loving story, don’t they?” I instantly understood her anger. Last night, I had my first flare-up outside the estate. In a haze of delirium, I dialed Julian’s number. But he never came. I had no choice but to call a male escort to help me. “It seems I’m truly superfluous. Three years ago, I said if you just didn’t touch her, I’d forgive you.” Her slightly reddened eyes darted to my neck. “You can’t even hide the hickeys now. What more is there for me to forgive?” I hadn’t realized the marks left by the male escort were visible. I instinctively covered my neck, my eyes meeting Julian’s in confusion. A flicker of doubt crossed his eyes. But Seraphina’s move to turn and leave didn’t give him time to think. He quickly grabbed her wrist. “I have never touched her! I can show you all the security footage from the house for the past three years!” Then, his face darkened as he turned to me. “Have you learned to stage things now? Apologize to Seraphina immediately! Her body is delicate; doctors have warned her against emotional distress.” I froze, my throat tight. I hadn’t done anything. But I eventually lowered my head and said, “I’m sorry. I overstepped.” No one knew that I, too, had once fallen for Julian. That day, when I first saw him, his smile beneath the cherry blossom tree was so bright. A friend’s casual comment, “Isn’t that your fiancé?” made my heart skip a beat. But later, I understood that anyone would look good standing under that cherry blossom tree. The first year, I finally accepted he could never love me. The second year, I thoroughly buried that ridiculous infatuation. The third year, I slowly, painstakingly, disentangled all the financial ties between our two families. Now, only seven days remained until their three-year pact expired. Seven days later, the Sterling family would have a new mistress, and I would forever leave this absurd marriage. “Anya, dear, it’s not your fault,” Seraphina said, her anger subsiding, as she playfully pointed at Julian. “I’m not the type of woman who likes to compete with other girls. If anyone’s to blame, it’s him.” She gently took my hand, as if she wasn’t the one who had just caused a scene. “But Anya, your feelings for Julian must be so deep, doing everything he tells you.”
A trace of undetectable mockery flickered across Seraphina’s face. My heart was calm. Mr. Sterling, the influential businessman, was also attending tonight’s banquet. My family needed his help with some recent business ventures. My easy apology was simply to prevent Julian’s impulsive actions from spoiling things. “Anya, I’d like to toast you.” I instinctively reached out for the glass, but a sudden pull made me stumble back two steps. Crash! The towering pyramid of champagne flutes collapsed, and both Seraphina and I fell hard into the shattered glass. Without hesitation, Julian rushed to Seraphina’s side. Even though she had avoided most of the glass shards. “Julian!” I looked at Mr. Sterling approaching in the distance and whispered a reminder to Julian. Julian paused, then, seeing me covered in blood and Seraphina with only minor scrapes, he quickly moved to help me up. “Anya, why did you push me?” Seraphina cried, her voice trembling. “Don’t worry, I won’t fight you for Julian. Even if our three-year pact is almost over, I’ll still leave.” Julian’s hand froze, and his face instantly turned dark. “First, it was fake hickeys, and now you’re deliberately hurting her?” he snapped at me. “Anya, I told you I wouldn’t touch you, even after three years. Give up your vicious schemes!” Julian didn’t hesitate anymore. In front of the Mayor and all the guests, he carried Seraphina away. “What’s going on? Didn’t Mr. Sterling and his wife have a great relationship? Why is he leaving with another woman?” “If that woman was more seriously injured, then fine, but Miss Hayes is clearly hurt worse!” “I always wanted to say, ‘model couple’? What genuine feelings can there be in a strategic marriage?” Amidst the whispers of the crowd, Seraphina, who was about to leave, subtly flashed me a triumphant smile. But I didn’t care about Julian’s blatant favoritism. After all, in many moments no one saw, he had been just as biased. While I soaked in an ice bath all night to fight the effects of the drug, he was at a bar, begging Seraphina for forgiveness. While I landed in the hospital after drinking myself sick at business dinners for countless contracts, Julian was at the vet with Seraphina’s dog. While I endured agonizing nights due to my sensual fever, Julian chose to prescribe me the most nerve-damaging medication, terrified he might cross the line himself. I didn’t care about any of that. My only concern was the company’s interests. I quickly explained, “It was my fault; I accidentally knocked over the champagne flutes. Miss Seraphina has a bleeding disorder, so even a small injury can’t be ignored. That’s why I asked my husband to take her to the hospital first.” Most people believed me. “Oh, I see. No wonder Mr. Sterling hesitated for a moment.” Of course, there were also sharp-eyed observers. “But that Miss Seraphina, doesn’t she look a lot like Mr. Sterling’s fiancée from before he got married?” I subtly glanced at Mr. Sterling, who had approached. His eyes were filled with disappointment; it seemed he didn’t believe a word I said. Suddenly, the roar of a helicopter echoed from above the ballroom. “We’re here to treat Mrs. Sterling’s injuries.” Julian had actually called a helicopter ambulance for me. My heart immediately eased. At least our image as a loving couple hadn’t completely shattered. Dragging my exhausted body, I was about to head home when four bodyguards suddenly blocked my path. They were unmistakably wearing the Sterling family’s security uniform. My knees hit the cold marble floor of the Sterling mansion with a heavy thud. “Married for three years, and you can’t even keep a man in line!”
Eleanor’s furious voice came from behind me. This scene was exactly like three years ago, when Eleanor found out Julian had gone to Seraphina on our wedding night. She had made me kneel here then too, after a night of soaking in ice water and a fever. Her son made the mistake, yet she blamed me for everything. If my family hadn’t still needed the Sterling family’s backing back then, I would have left long ago. “Call Julian immediately and tell him to get back here!” I called, but it was hung up in a second. 【Don’t bother me tonight. Seraphina’s wound got infected!】 Eleanor sneered, then, just like three years ago, she inflicted her cruel form of ‘discipline’ on me. Whip after whip. No visible marks, but the pain went straight to my bones. The next day, still aching from new and old wounds, I went to an animal rescue center to attend a charity event where the Mayor would also be present. If I could get some insider tips from high-ranking officials about certain shipments, my family’s business would be secure. Anyway, I was almost free, so I didn’t mind using this “loving couple” facade to gain some last benefits. Julian, knowing he had publicly abandoned me yesterday, felt guilty and did show up. I was feeding cat food with the children at the center. The gloom of my unhappy marriage was temporarily dispelled by the children and small animals, and I found myself unconsciously smiling. Sensing approaching footsteps, I looked up, and my eyes met Julian’s. For some reason, he froze in place. “He likes the pretty lady!” a child’s voice chirped. The child’s innocent remark startled Julian, a flicker of panic crossing his face. He quickly retreated a few steps. “Stay away from me. I still need to go take care of Seraphina later. She’s allergic to cat fur.” “Ah!” My wounds were accidentally touched, and I couldn’t help but cry out. Julian frowned, pulling my hand to examine the injury. “This is your own fault, you deserve it. If you hadn’t deliberately hurt Seraphina first, you wouldn’t have been caught by the glass—” His words trailed off. “What are these whip marks?” “Did my mother punish you again? Were you calling me yesterday to ask for help?” I found it a little funny, seeing Julian show a hint of remorse for me. “Yes, but you hung up.” “Then why didn’t you call more times? If you called more, I would have definitely answered.” “You told me not to disturb you, didn’t you?” Julian’s expression was odd. He mumbled, “Whatever I said goes, you…when did you start loving me so much?” “Huh?” “It’s nothing. I’ll take you to the hospital later.” If I had known I’d run into Seraphina at the hospital, I would have rather died of pain than go with Julian. “Julian,” Seraphina said, her eyes slightly red, from the end of the corridor. “Didn’t you say you were in a meeting?” Just as I was about to sigh about what a terrible man Julian was, Seraphina looked at me. “Did you specifically call me to the hospital just to show me this? I already told you, I won’t compete with you, why bother going to such lengths?” I was still at a loss for words, but Julian’s face had already darkened. **Slap!** He hit me hard, and my cheek instantly stung with a fiery pain. “It seems my concern just now was completely wasted. How could a scheming woman like you ever let herself suffer? You’d even exploit a small scratch to the extreme!” I covered my cheek, suppressing the dizzying sensation of seeing stars, and looked at Julian in disbelief.
In the end, I said nothing. After all, Julian was blind and deaf; any further explanation would only add to my list of accusations. My phone vibrated. It was an insider tip about shipments, revealed by the Mayor. The last bit of value from this marriage had been squeezed dry. I wiped away my tears and took one step at a time towards my freedom. “Anya, immediately send a pack of feminine hygiene products to The Nightfall Club. Seraphina started her period, and you’re familiar with those brands.” Julian and I hadn’t seen each other for days. He was busy coaxing Seraphina, and I was busy packing my bags to make room for her. When I received the message, I hesitated, but eventually delivered it to him. After all, I had a divorce settlement agreement for him to sign. “Three years are up. You never touched me once.” Hearing this, Julian froze, flicking cigarette ash onto the floor. “What do you mean?” I smiled faintly. “I mean, you can finally ask for your love’s forgiveness. I wish you both a lifetime of happiness!” Despite my blessings, Julian’s face showed no joy; instead, he said angrily, “What are you blabbering about? Are you deliberately dragging your feet, making Seraphina wait for you?” Unable to refute, I handed him the divorce settlement agreement, urging him to sign it and be done with it. He didn’t even look, scrawling his signature impatiently. “Aren’t you going to deliver the items to Seraphina?” I said nothing more, took the bag, and headed to the restroom. Everything went smoothly, and I left, filled with anticipation. But just then, two bodyguards suddenly blocked the exit and dragged me back inside. The restroom was in chaos. Four shady-looking men were subdued on the floor by Julian’s bodyguards. Seraphina was nestled in Julian’s arms, her face unusually pale, and an unlabeled bottle of liquid lay on the floor. Julian looked up, his eyes so cold they sent shivers down my spine. At his command, a bodyguard mercilessly kicked the back of my knee, and I fell straight to my knees. The sudden pain stole my breath, and I almost couldn’t suppress my rage. “Julian! What the hell is wrong with you?” “What’s wrong with me? If I had been a moment later, Seraphina would have been assaulted!” Julian’s voice was chilling. “You gave Seraphina this dangerous substance and hired four men to assault her! Anya, when did you become so vicious?” “No, I should say, when did you stop even pretending to be gentle?” He ordered Seraphina to be rushed to the hospital, then walked directly towards me, holding the bottle of liquid. I froze, and realizing his intent, I recoiled sharply. “Julian, calm down! There’s security footage here; check it, and you’ll know it wasn’t me!” “Miss Hayes, we don’t want your money anymore, but please, beg Mr. Sterling for mercy! We don’t want to go to jail!” the four men whimpered, their faces drawn. Julian sneered, reaching out to grip my neck, then pinching my jaw, forcing my mouth open. “Julian! No! You know I have that condition! If I take this, I’ll die!” He didn’t stop, pouring the remaining two-thirds of the liquid into my mouth. I couldn’t stop coughing. By the time I regained my senses, he had already led everyone out of the restroom. “Go on, enjoy the torment of craving release but finding none!” Almost instantly, my body began to boil. “Please, let me out…I’ll die…” The only response was the fading sound of footsteps. Before my consciousness completely faded, a familiar figure burst through the door. “Why do I always see you looking so pathetic?”
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