Chapter 3

Ian's anger boiled over, and he punched Neal right in the face.

Blood gushed from Neal's nose in an instant.

Neal wasn't the type to take things lying down. He licked the blood off his lips and flashed a cocky grin. "Mr. Swift, everyone else manages to keep their mistress and wife happy. Why can't you?

"Or did you actually feel for your mistress? Are you letting a university kid play you like a fiddle?"

Ian stayed silent, and that told Neal everything he needed to know.

Neal scoffed and held up two fingers. "Pick one, Mr. Swift. Which one do you want me to handle for you?"

Ian hesitated for a few seconds, looking conflicted as he glanced at Neal.

"Jessica's different," Ian said. "She gives me something Lara never could. I'm really happy when I'm with her.

"But Lara's been by my side for so long. Even if it was an arranged marriage, we've grown attached to each other.

"And Lara's really good at her job. She's helped me out more times than I can count. Honestly, I really can't decide."

Neal scoffed, looking disdainful. "Alright, I get it. So you want both of them, huh? No sweat. This stuff is child's play."

Hearing the answer he wanted, Ian's face finally lit up with a smile.

Just as he was about to head back, Ian suddenly stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes wide with surprise.

Neal lit up a cigarette and teased, "What's up, Mr. Swift? Did you just spot another girl you like? Let me check her out. Is she hotter than Jessica?"

He glanced in the same direction as Ian and blurted out, a little flustered, "Uh, Lara?"

I nodded, cool and collected.

Shutting my laptop, I said, "Neal, you don't have to handle me for him. I'll leave on my own."

My gaze landed on Ian, my expression unchanged. "I'll have my secretary prepare the divorce papers tomorrow. Mr. Swift, please review them when you have time."

"Lara," Ian murmured, "I..."

The first time I saw Ian cheating was when I'd just come home after working late.

I called out for the housekeeper a couple of times, but got no response.

Then, from the bedroom upstairs, I heard the soft clink of glass.

I knew that sound right away. It was the gentle chime of Ian's favorite crystal tumbler.

Whenever he mixed whiskey in that glass, his fingers would swirl around the rim, sending tiny halos of light dancing across it.

He never used that glass unless he was in an exceptionally good mood, and even then, he'd only take it out to admire it.

As I walked up the stairs, I wondered if maybe he'd just scored another big R&D deal. What else would make him so happy he'd bring out those glasses?

But when I stopped and looked through the crack in the door, it was like I'd been turned to stone.

A doll-like girl was kneeling between Ian's legs, wearing my Chanel robe.

Her legs were wrapped around his waist, and she was twirling his tie around her fingers.

I staggered back, almost losing my balance before I managed to steady myself.

Ian, always on edge, heard the noise and hurriedly moved the girl off his lap, then rushed over to me, looking flustered.

"L-Lara? Why are you home?" he stammered. "Weren't you supposed to stay at the office tonight for the shareholders' meeting tomorrow?"

Yeah, that was what I'd said.

But I was worried he wouldn't be able to take care of himself if his stomach acted up again.

So I made a last-minute decision to come home and cook him some soup, planning to wait until he was asleep before heading back to the office to finish my work.

All these years, whenever he got sick, the only thing he could eat was the soup I made for him.

After everything I'd done for him all these years, this was how he repaid me?

He actually lied to me, just to sneak around with that girl.

My rage boiled over. I didn't even think; my hand shot out and I slapped him right across the face.

"Ian, you used to be better than this," I said, my voice shaking with hurt.

I held back my tears, staring at him, desperately hoping he'd give me a real reason, something that made sense.

But he didn't. For a split second, he looked ashamed, but then that look vanished, replaced by an expression like it was the most normal thing in the world.

"That was before," he said, his tone dismissive. "But now, everyone does it.

"Just look around. What successful businessman doesn't have a few women on the side?

"Besides, I'm just seeing one girl. It's not like your dad, who's got three in the country and five overseas.

"What? Is my paycheck not big enough for you? Is that why you have to go rubbing elbows with every guy in the social scene?

"You're always circling around a bunch of men, calling it work meetings, but come on, I'm a guy. I know exactly what goes down when the doors close."

He snorted, full of contempt, then started yelling like he was the victim. "Lara, I've already cut you more slack than most. I never made you stay home, never told you to quit your job.

"With all the freedom I've given you, can't you just suck it up and be like the other wives for once?"