Chapter 1

I had never imagined that the man I trusted most would cheat on me behind my back. What made it even more absurd was that the woman he cheated with was brazen enough to show up at my door to provoke me.

Someone knocked on my door that day. When I opened it, a sweet-looking young woman stood outside. She looked barely 18 or 19.

The moment she met my eyes, open hostility flashed across her face.

"Hi, I'm Sabrina Stout. I'm here to return a shirt Percy Gaskell left at my place."

As Sabrina Stout spoke, she pulled a man's shirt out of her bag. "I already washed off the lipstick and red wine stains. And this is for you."

Then she took out a small bottle of lubricant and pressed it into my hand.

"I use this brand every time. Percy likes this scent the best. His appetite is huge. He needs it at least 15 times a month. If you don't use enough lubricant, it really hurts every time you sleep together."

Faced with such a blatant provocation, turmoil surged inside me, but I kept my face calm as I looked at Sabrina. I pushed the bottle of lubricant back toward her.

"I'll take the shirt. You should keep this for yourself."

Sabrina covered her mouth and let out a short laugh. "You're right. I do need it more than you. I've already gone through three or four bottles. As for you, you probably haven't slept with your boyfriend even once this month, have you?"

I ignored her mockery and turned toward the living room to pour her a glass of water.

"Thanks for coming all this way. It's blazing out there. You must be thirsty. Have some water."

I'd known about Percy Gaskell's ridiculous little elimination game for a long time, and I'd already decided to walk away from it.

I once thought that when I finally saw the other woman, I would grab her by her hair and tear her face apart.

But standing there, looking at Sabrina with her cheap knockoff bag, low-end makeup, and a fresh-faced look that said she was probably still in college, something in me loosened.

Only someone this young and unworldly would treasure a man like Percy.

There were plenty of men in the world. Letting her have one who couldn't stay faithful cost me nothing at all.

Sabrina clearly hadn't expected me to stay calm in the face of her provocation. The smile on her face froze.

Her gaze dropped to the glass of water in my hand. She lunged forward, snatched it away, and flung the water straight onto me.

"Who wants your water? Don't act all high and mighty with me. This house might not even be yours much longer!"

I stopped holding back. I raised my hand and slapped her across the face.

"I'm giving him to you. I'm giving this whole 'Mrs. Gaskell' role to you, too. If you ever come back in front of me and act up again, it won't stop at a slap!"

Sabrina clutched her swollen cheek and glared at me with pure hatred. "Don't get too smug. I won't let this go!"

As expected, she went straight to Percy to complain. When he stormed back home, I was packing my suitcase.

"Maisie Cullen, why'd you hit Sabrina? What did she do to you? If you've got the guts, hit me instead! Why pick on someone weaker than you?"

I took a deep breath, snapped the suitcase shut, turned around, and slapped him.

"You think I wouldn't hit you?"