Chapter 2

Andrew Flynn looked bored at the documents he was reading. In five minutes, he would be able to leave, so he was busy counting the seconds. He wanted to get home and go out with Patricia Margareth, the woman he'd been dating for two years.

A knock on the door interrupted Andrew's reverie.

"Come in!"

A man wore elegant glasses in formal attire that enhanced his handsome face and entered gracefully. His hand carried a black envelope with a white rose stamped on the body.

"Andrew," Ethan Nathaniel—the man's name—stopped his footsteps as soon as he arrived in front of Andrew. He handed the envelope to Andrew. "There's an invitation. It's from Mr. Jasper Willow."

"Another invitation?"

This month, he attended so many parties. But the party hosted by Jasper Willow was an exception; it was a golden ticket that could expand his business network and strengthen his status among the social elite.

Clearly, this was an opportunity he could not afford to waste.

"Yes."

Andrew let out a long breath. This was the part he hated the most: parties. Ever since he married the woman chosen by his grandmother, he had to take his wife everywhere. Parties, dinners--anything.

He didn't hate his wife. He just didn't like the fact that he had to marry someone he didn't love. He didn't want to be tied down further and deeper with Sandra. Therefore, he lived separately from his wife.

He bought a luxury villa that was quite far from where he lived alone, and he rarely visited her other than when he needed her existence.

Like now. He reached for his smartphone reluctantly, texting his wife.

[Prepare yourself. There's a party at 7 p.m. at Willow's family home.]

It didn't take him long after sending the message to get a message back from his wife.

[I'm not feeling well.]

Good.

He was relieved to know that he didn't have to bring his wife to the party tonight. He then texted Patricia and his younger sister, Tasya Flynn, about the party.

Everything would be much more fun when he brought Patricia and his sister. They both knew how to live the elegant and luxurious lives of the rich.

Unlike Sandra, who always looked simple to the point of being unattractive. His wife only wore the same dress every time she attended a party and only knew how to embarrass herself in front of the social elites. That was what annoyed him the most.

If only he could have married Patricia instead of the woman his grandmother had chosen. Maybe he wouldn't be trapped in this fucking situation.

"Tell them that I will come alone, not with my wife. She told me she's not feeling well."

Ethan seemed to object. "Wait. Are you planning to bring Patricia?"

"Is there a problem?" Andrew asked back.

"Nothing," Ethan resigned, stopping to ask. "Suit yourself. I'll confirm with Mr. Willow about your arrival at the party tonight."

"Good."

"I will excuse myself."

Ethan moved to leave Andrew's room. As soon as he closed the door to the room and left Andrew, Ethan let out a long sigh.

"Sandra really is an unlucky woman," Ethan muttered sadly. "I sympathize with her for having to marry a bastard like you, Andrew."

Ethan and Andrew had been friends for a long time, so he knew Andrew's character. His best friend was known as a player who was not fond of long-term commitments. The reason his best friend agreed to get married was none other than Mrs. Stacey's orders.

If he was a heterosexual man, he would definitely fall in love with Sandra. She was the right choice. 

There was no woman today who had a more perfect personality than Sandra Campbell.

But Andrew clearly didn't see that. His best friend's eyes were foolishly fixed only on the woman named Patricia. She is the type of woman who only knows how to satisfy a man's lust with her sex appeal and how to spend money.

Well, this was none of his business. This was Andrew's personal business with Sandra. He had no right to interfere in this matter.

Ethan shook his head softly, then walked out of the corridor back to his office.

***

At exactly seven in the evening, Andrew arrived at the party along with Patricia and Tasya. As soon as he entered, Jasper Willow and his wife, Yvenna Willow, who were standing in the middle of the crowd of invited guests, noticed his arrival. Withdrawing from the guests and asking them to enjoy the party, the couple walked up to Andrew.

"You came," Jasper said, looking astonished upon discovering Patricia's presence. He ignored Patricia's kind gesture of extending her hand to Jasper, turning to Andrew. "Where's your wife? Why isn't she with you?"

"She's not feeling well," Andrew replied casually.

"Yes. Why invite a nun to this place anyway?" Tasya laughed mockingly.

Yvenna was the first to show her obvious dislike for Tasya. "You should watch what you say. She is your sister-in-law. Are those appropriate words to say to your own family?"

"What did I do wrong?" Tasya was stunned, shrugged her shoulders, and left. "You're weird. I just stated the truth..."

Both Jasper and Yvenna looked at each other, feeling sorry for Sandra for not coming with Andrew. Everyone already knew that Sandra and Andrew's marital relationship was not good, but neither of them expected it to be this bad.

Andrew didn't even try to defend his wife when his sister insulted Sandra.

Jasper shook his head slowly. "I don't think there's any point."

"Yeah," Yvenna agreed, equally concerned.

"What's wrong?" Andrew asked, surprised and confused. His hand signaled for Patricia to leave him. Patricia nodded, went to another area, and enjoyed the party.

"What do you think?" said Jasper, getting annoyed. "What were you thinking by not bringing Sandra, but bringing your mistress?"

"I told you; my wife isn't feeling well," Andrew defended himself. "Patricia is my girlfriend after all. Of course, I have the right to bring her to the party. Why should I bring my wife to such a fancy place?"

"You know what, Mr. Andrew Flynn?" Jasper finally lost his temper. "I was actually planning to start a new business project with you, given the business relationship between my family and your grandmother. But I think I'd better cancel your plans."

"Huh? What do you mean--"

"You can't treat your wife well. Do you think you'll be able to take care of business?" Jasper took Yvenna's hand. "Let's go, dear. We don't have much time to take care of a moron like him."

The two left, welcoming the other guests.

"Who would want to do business with someone like you?" Andrew muttered in annoyance. He grabbed the champagne drink brought by a waiter who happened to be walking towards him and took a big gulp.

He might have failed to receive an invitation for a new business project, as people usually do when attending business parties like this.

But he didn't care. It would be more enjoyable for him to fully immerse himself in the party rather than be preoccupied with work. No working, nothing.

It was just him enjoying himself and letting the alcohol take over him completely.

***