Chapter 1

Marcus Dalton, Shariston's golden boy, bailed on our wedding day by claiming he was going to renounce the world.

All the socialites were sure I would be kicked out of the Dalton family in no time.

To everyone's shock, Marcus dropped his cold and detached act after we got married and spent every night tangled up with me.

Just when everyone was convinced I had seduced Marcus and broken his resolve to stay unattached, I overheard his conversation with his friends.

"Your wife is incredibly naive, Marcus," one of his friends said. "She hasn't realized seven different men have shared her bed over these three years. She actually thinks you are the one keeping her up all night."

"You're never home during the day, yet she still thoughtfully prepares meals for you and never suspects a thing," another man added.

Marcus laughed as he flicked his cigarette ash. "She is a poor girl from a small town with no experience. She has no idea how wild things get in our circle."

The man who'd shared my bed last night cut in, "Don't say that about her. She's just pure-hearted."

The man from the night before chimed in, "Yeah, she even gave me a sweet massage when I was feeling dizzy."

Marcus's face darkened. "You guys don't need to come over anymore. My mom is hoping she and I will start a family soon."

I looked down at the camisole I was wearing and sighed.

Marcus had seven friends, and there was still one left that I hadn't hooked up with yet.

*****

The elite circle was wild.

On our wedding night, Marcus not only turned off the lights but also blindfolded me with a silk scarf.

He sent away all the servants from the villa. My wedding dress, headpiece, and shoes were scattered from the first floor all the way to the bedroom, and in the process, we even smashed two antique vases.

It was pitch black, and I couldn't see a thing, but at least I could feel his abs.

That feel was really something.

"Marcus, go easy," I murmured.

He was seriously ripped. His one arm wrapped around my shoulders from behind, his hand covering my mouth. His mouth was occupied too, biting down to leave tooth marks on my shoulder.

The next day, I proved all those rumors about Marcus being frigid were total nonsense.

I was limping so badly that I couldn't even make it to breakfast with my in-laws.

Rumors blew up fast. Marcus was no longer the reserved, untouchable man everyone thought he was.

I became the hottest topic in the socialite circle.

My sister, Jessica Hart, called me late at night from overseas. "So, how was it?"

I was covering up the hickey on my shoulder. "Only seven rounds."

Honestly, I knew from the very first night that the man being intimate with me wasn't Marcus.

While I was asleep, he was on the phone by my bedside, his fingers playing with my hair. "Can't leave yet. She just cried herself to sleep.

"What are you worried about? Your parents aren't going to check up on you.

"She's so innocent. She hasn't noticed a thing."

After he finished his call, I waited a few seconds before pretending to sleepwalk, snuggling into his arms and groping him.

I knew this guy couldn't handle being teased.

Since he wasn't mine to keep, I might as well get what I could out of every encounter.

Only an idiot would pass up a free win.

Half a year later, I got bored.

While this friend of Marcus's was away on a business trip, I found the perfect chance to video call Marcus and mess with him.

It took ten tries before he finally picked up.

"What do you want? Spit it out," he said.

Marcus was always this cold. He didn't like me, and simply seeing me annoyed him.

He had never even set foot in the villa.

I played dumb and joked, "Didn't you say you were going to wear me out tonight? Why haven't you come back yet?"

I lay face-down into the pillow, eyes red. "I feel awful. This floor-to-ceiling window overlooks the sea. Do you think people outside have seen us?

"I really want to play piano with my back again. You play so beautifully."

Marcus didn't look at me, but his face turned visibly dark. "Shut up. Don't talk about that during the day."

The twisted thrill was his own suggestion, yet saying it out loud filled him with a sick, jealous burn.

I ignored his irritation. "You promised me. If you don't come back, I'll come find you at the office. I don't mind doing it in the office. I'll only give you half an hour to make it back."

I'd been eyeing his other friends for ages.

Marcus, to get rid of me, promised he'd come back tonight.

But he wasn't actually coming back.