Chapter 4
After what felt like an eternity, he finally released her, slamming her against the wall. His voice was rough and guttural. "Why did you tease me? I told you not to act recklessly in front of Zoe."
Lynn did not answer. She wrapped her arms around his neck and giggled softly. After a moment, she breathed against his ear.
"Did I tease you, then? I'm jealous. Can't I be a little willful?"
She purred and pressed her body against his hard chest. He did not speak, but his breathing grew heavier. Moments later, he lost control and kissed her hard again.
"I'll set off the same fireworks for you tomorrow. Whatever Zoe has, you'll have too. Only one rule--my bottom line: don't make a scene in front of her."
She had known about Jarin and Lynn for months, yet nothing compared to the agony of seeing it with her own eyes. Her heart ached dullly, as if cut by a blunt knife, and tears filled her eyes before she knew it.
Tears blurred her vision. Through the narrow crack in the door, she watched the two in the stairwell lose themselves in each other. She watched him kiss her neck while one hand slipped under her skirt.
The woman's moans and the man's restrained gasps leaked through the door. Logic told her to turn and leave, but her legs felt rooted to the spot.
Only a wall separated her from the man who had sworn never to betray her--now betraying her with another woman.
Trembling, she pulled out her phone, pointed it at the scene, and pressed record.
She stood outside and listened for as long as they were tangled inside.
When they finally reached their climax, she checked the recording duration.
One hour and thirty-six minutes.
And it was not over.
As Jarin tore open a second wrapper, Lynn stopped him softly. "Mr. Voss... I can't. Shouldn't you return to Mrs. Voss? She's been waiting in the cold wind."
"Shut up. Get down."
Jarin snapped coldly. Without another word, he took her again, beginning another round of possession.
This time, Zoe could not bear to listen any longer.
Staggering, she turned and fled, her face pale.
Back home, she said nothing as she gathered all the memories of her years with Jarin:
their photographs, all the gifts he had given her, the matching items that once symbolized their devotion.
Her wedding dress, their wedding portraits, their wedding rings...
She packed everything into a large box and had the servants carry it to the backyard. Once they left, she pulled out a lighter expressionlessly and set the box ablaze.
Then she turned her gaze to the garden behind her.
There, Jarin had once planted an entire field of roses for her with his own hands.
As he planted them, he had laughed and held her in his arms. "Darling, roses represent pure love. You're the first girl I ever loved, the only one I want to marry. My love for you is pure and flawless."
What a cruel joke--pure and flawless.
Thinking of what she had just witnessed, she smiled bitterly and set the roses on fire too.
Flames roared into the sky, burning the entire romantic field to ash.
She stood there, watching coldly as the fire devoured every memory they had shared.
Jarin, the roses will never grow again. Between us... there is no future.
Only when the entire backyard lay in ruins did she turn and return to her room to pack her luggage.
Midway through, hurried footsteps approached. Before she could react, the bedroom door slammed open.
Jarin rushed in, sweat beading on his forehead, wild with terror. He exhaled sharply at the sight of Zoe safe in the room.
"Darling, why did you leave alone? Do you know how terrified I was, how desperately I searched for you?"
His voice trembled with fear, but she only looked at him, saying nothing. In that silence, he finally noticed the clothes spread out in the walk-in closet.
In an instant, his mind went blank. All he could hear was his own voice, shaking violently.
"Why are you packing? Where are you going?!"