Chapter 1 · My Secret Husband's The Hundredth Lie

Chapter 1

After five years of secretly being married to CEO James Carter, he made an offer—fulfill 100 demands, and he'd acknowledge me as his wife publicly.

Love-blinded, I did everything—stood outside all night in freezing rain with a fever, drank an entire bottle of liquor as his jest.

Everyone called me pathetic, James' simp.

And I, the fool, believed he would eventually see my worth.

But after completing 99 demands, I overheard him with his ex, Sophia Reed, planning the final one.

"For number 100, Lydia puts on the wedding dress I made for Sophia. Right when she tears up, I'll tell her the truth. Her face will be priceless."

Sophia giggled. "You'd embarrass her just to amuse me? I'm touched."

I called off the wedding and had my lawyer draft divorce papers.

*****

"Ms. Sanders, you're sure about the divorce?" my lawyer asked over the phone.

No one expected I'd be the one to end it.

Hell, I barely believed it myself.

After all, I'd been hopelessly in love with James.

But now I finally saw it—every sacrifice I made for this marriage, every bit of dignity I gave up, was just entertainment for Sophia.

He never planned to claim me as his wife.

After 99 times, I was done with his game.

"Yes. Please handle it," I said.

"Don't tell James about the divorce yet," I murmured, my gaze lingering on him as he stood with his arms around Sophia, glass in hand.

"Yes, Ms. Sanders," my lawyer replied.

I hung up, no longer caring what they were doing. I turned to leave.

Then a sudden phone call cut through my thoughts.

"Where are you? Get to Cloud Hotel. Now."

James' voice was sharp.

It only hit me after he hung up—answering every one of his calls had become second nature to me.

But he never even had the patience to hear me out.

I shook my head with a wry smile and turned to leave.

We were getting divorced anyway. Why should I listen?

"You showed up, so why are you leaving?"

James appeared around the corner, blocking my path. An unfamiliar scent clung to him—a perfume I'd never smelled before.

He grabbed my chin, forcing my gaze up to his stormy eyes. "You won't listen to me, but you'll do whatever some other guy says?"

"I—"

He dragged me into the private room before I could finish.

"Jamie, you're so sweet," Sophia cooed.

She stood, threading her arm through his and lacing their fingers. "My apologies, Lydia. I insisted on meeting you, and Jamie just can't say no to me.

"Hello, I'm Sophia Reed. Jamie's first love."

James nuzzled her cheek affectionately, like she was his entire world.

She immediately blushed, melting into his arms.

"Guess how long before Lydia loses it? I give her a minute," someone said.

"Thirty seconds, tops!" another scoffed.

All around the table, smug and expectant faces were fixed on me.

Even James, holding Sophia close, watched eagerly, not wanting to miss my breakdown.

So that was why he brought me here.

They wanted a scene—the jealousy, the rage, the drama. My love had become entertainment for him and his friends.

James lived for watching me snap.

For demand 63, he'd made me walk into a nightlife venue, pick out women matching his taste, and deliver them to him personally.

After that humiliating scene, my night was spent in solitary tears, while James and his friends partied with their chosen women, mocking me.

I picked up my wine glass, filled to the brim.

James instinctively moved to shield Sophia, eyes locked on me, bracing for a scene.

"Welcome back, Ms. Reed," I said calmly. "No wonder Mr. Carter can't get enough of you. Anyone can see you're his type."

The whole room suddenly went dead silent.

I drained the glass in one gulp.

James froze momentarily, brows furrowing.

Sophia looked smug, practically glowing with satisfaction.

I actually knew who she was.

The night James and I got married, she'd messaged me from a burner account with old intimate photos of them together.

[You might've married him, but his heart and body always belong to me.]

For years, she'd provoked me periodically—making sure I knew who James really loved.

After we sat, Sophia slid herself into James' arms.

A few drinks later, she was drunk, arms wrapped around his neck.

"Darling, would you help me have a kid?" she purred.

Chapter 1

After five years of secretly being married to CEO James Carter, he made an offer—fulfill 100 demands, and he'd acknowledge me as his wife publicly.

Love-blinded, I did everything—stood outside all night in freezing rain with a fever, drank an entire bottle of liquor as his jest.

Everyone called me pathetic, James' simp.

And I, the fool, believed he would eventually see my worth.

But after completing 99 demands, I overheard him with his ex, Sophia Reed, planning the final one.

"For number 100, Lydia puts on the wedding dress I made for Sophia. Right when she tears up, I'll tell her the truth. Her face will be priceless."

Sophia giggled. "You'd embarrass her just to amuse me? I'm touched."

I called off the wedding and had my lawyer draft divorce papers.

*****

"Ms. Sanders, you're sure about the divorce?" my lawyer asked over the phone.

No one expected I'd be the one to end it.

Hell, I barely believed it myself.

After all, I'd been hopelessly in love with James.

But now I finally saw it—every sacrifice I made for this marriage, every bit of dignity I gave up, was just entertainment for Sophia.

He never planned to claim me as his wife.

After 99 times, I was done with his game.

"Yes. Please handle it," I said.

"Don't tell James about the divorce yet," I murmured, my gaze lingering on him as he stood with his arms around Sophia, glass in hand.

"Yes, Ms. Sanders," my lawyer replied.

I hung up, no longer caring what they were doing. I turned to leave.

Then a sudden phone call cut through my thoughts.

"Where are you? Get to Cloud Hotel. Now."

James' voice was sharp.

It only hit me after he hung up—answering every one of his calls had become second nature to me.

But he never even had the patience to hear me out.

I shook my head with a wry smile and turned to leave.

We were getting divorced anyway. Why should I listen?

"You showed up, so why are you leaving?"

James appeared around the corner, blocking my path. An unfamiliar scent clung to him—a perfume I'd never smelled before.

He grabbed my chin, forcing my gaze up to his stormy eyes. "You won't listen to me, but you'll do whatever some other guy says?"

"I—"

He dragged me into the private room before I could finish.

"Jamie, you're so sweet," Sophia cooed.

She stood, threading her arm through his and lacing their fingers. "My apologies, Lydia. I insisted on meeting you, and Jamie just can't say no to me.

"Hello, I'm Sophia Reed. Jamie's first love."

James nuzzled her cheek affectionately, like she was his entire world.

She immediately blushed, melting into his arms.

"Guess how long before Lydia loses it? I give her a minute," someone said.

"Thirty seconds, tops!" another scoffed.

All around the table, smug and expectant faces were fixed on me.

Even James, holding Sophia close, watched eagerly, not wanting to miss my breakdown.

So that was why he brought me here.

They wanted a scene—the jealousy, the rage, the drama. My love had become entertainment for him and his friends.

James lived for watching me snap.

For demand 63, he'd made me walk into a nightlife venue, pick out women matching his taste, and deliver them to him personally.

After that humiliating scene, my night was spent in solitary tears, while James and his friends partied with their chosen women, mocking me.

I picked up my wine glass, filled to the brim.

James instinctively moved to shield Sophia, eyes locked on me, bracing for a scene.

"Welcome back, Ms. Reed," I said calmly. "No wonder Mr. Carter can't get enough of you. Anyone can see you're his type."

The whole room suddenly went dead silent.

I drained the glass in one gulp.

James froze momentarily, brows furrowing.

Sophia looked smug, practically glowing with satisfaction.

I actually knew who she was.

The night James and I got married, she'd messaged me from a burner account with old intimate photos of them together.

[You might've married him, but his heart and body always belong to me.]

For years, she'd provoked me periodically—making sure I knew who James really loved.

After we sat, Sophia slid herself into James' arms.

A few drinks later, she was drunk, arms wrapped around his neck.

"Darling, would you help me have a kid?" she purred.