Chapter 1
Three years into our marriage, and Giancarlo Wooten, the heir to a top-tier fortune, had never slept with me. I was the society's most infamous discarded wife.
The breaking point came when I tried, desperately and recklessly, to save the marriage. I slipped a potion into a glass of water, only to unexpectedly awaken a God's-eye commentary system.
Current status: The live-feed commentary was going wild, predicting that this glass of water would, by some twist of fate, end up in the bed of Giancarlo's true love and that I would be thrown out of the Wooten family with nothing, branded an adulteress.
Then came the twist. The moment Giancarlo pushed the door open, I caught sight of a shocking truth in the commentary—something about his hidden ailment.
I lifted my head and downed the entire glass in one bold gulp.
*****
On our third wedding anniversary, Giancarlo Wooten still didn't come home for dinner.
The sprawling villa was cold and empty. Staring at my own face in the mirror—beautiful but lifeless—I finally made up my mind.
The powder dissolved instantly in the water, turning it completely clear and leaving no trace behind.
If tonight went as planned, maybe Giancarlo would finally see something good in me, even if it was just once.
Just as I set the glass down, several lines of glowing text suddenly flashed across my vision without warning.
[Here we go again. Classic drugging plot—Rosalie, the side character, is digging her own grave.]
[LOL, does she seriously not know the waiter will end up taking this drink to Annabell's room? Giancarlo will divorce her because he feels responsible, and Annabell is the true heroine.]
[Poor Rosalie. She still doesn't know Giancarlo actually has an addiction. He's been holding back because he's scared that once he starts, he won't be able to control himself and might hurt her.]
My hand shook, and the water in the glass almost splashed out.
Pop-up comments?
I could actually see comments about the future.
The line 'Giancarlo has an addiction' struck me like lightning. My whole body went rigid.
Heavy footsteps echoed from the entryway. Giancarlo was back.
He brought a biting cold with him, broad-shouldered and long-legged, and that face the media called 'a gift from the gods' was as icy and aloof as always.
He loosened his tie, his eyes barely paused on me before moving to the glass on the table.
"Still up?" he asked.
His voice was deep and magnetic, with a coldness that made you feel miles away.
I watched as his slender fingers hovered over the glass, my heart was in my throat.
The pop-up comments started flooding in again.
[Drink it, and you'll head straight to Annabell's room next door. Rosalie's about to get booted from the Wooten family.]
[This drug is potent. Giancarlo's been abstinent for three years. Annabell's not gonna be able to walk tomorrow.]
I pressed my nails so hard into my palm it almost hurt, desperate and tense.
Why should I?
I had waited for him for three years. Why was I the one who had to hand him over to someone else?
Just as Giancarlo's fingers brushed the rim of the glass, I shot out my hand and snatched it away before he could grab it.
Giancarlo's brows furrowed, his eyes filled with confusion.
"Rosalie?" he said.
I locked my gaze on him and then glanced at the barrage of pop-up comments flooding my vision, all of them egging him on to betray me.
If I didn't drink it, fate would send him straight to Annabell tonight.
If I did drink it, the effects of the drug...
I took a deep breath, and with Giancarlo staring at me in shock, I threw my head back and chugged the drugged water in one go.
The cool liquid slid down my throat, and I slammed the glass hard onto the table.
"Something's wrong with this water. Let me get you a fresh one," I said.
My breathing was already getting rapid and uneven.
Giancarlo picked up on my strange behavior right away. He stepped closer, his hand clamping down on my shoulder.
"Rosalie, what did you just drink?" Giancarlo's tone was urgent.
His palm was burning hot. Even through my flimsy pajamas, it made me tremble all over.
The drug kicked in way faster than I expected.
It was so hot.
A restless fever seemed to rise from deep within my bones, sweeping over me all at once.
I pushed Giancarlo away, stumbling backward as my vision doubled and everything started to blur together.
"It's nothing, just a bit thirsty," I forced out,
Clenching my teeth, I stumbled toward the bathroom, barely holding myself together.
The comments were going crazy.
[Holy crap. The storyline just crashed. Rosalie actually drank the drug herself?]
[That stuff's custom-made—no man, no cure. Is Rosalie seriously self-destructing right now?]
[Look at Giancarlo's eyes. He looks like he's about to snap.]
Giancarlo yanked me back with surprising force.
He pinned me against the icy wall, his deep eyes storming with emotions I couldn't decipher.
"Rosalie, what did you put in that water?" he growled.
He leaned in, and his crisp, woody scent hit me hard—turning into the most dangerous trigger.
I couldn't help but press against his chest, barely holding onto my self-control.