Chapter One..My Wife is Cheating

Elowen's cries spilled through the house, loud and breathless.

​Sweat slicked her skin, and her body shook beneath Kieran's. Her fingers clutched at his shoulders as though letting go would make her fall, and she cried out his name again and again.

​His movements were rough and urgent, almost angry, as if he were pouring all his frustration into her. Sweat dripped from his chest onto hers, and the smell of alcohol and cigar smoke clung to his skin. Elowen sensed that something had upset him tonight, though she had no idea what. But she did not mind, not one bit, because she craved this just as much as he did.

​It had been a long time since she had felt this kind of pleasure with him. Between his exhaustion, his business trips, and the hours he spent helping her sister-in-law with her movie, they hardly had any time together. And on the rare nights they did, he never lasted more than five minutes before he was done.

​But tonight, Kieran didn't stop.

​Elowen couldn't even bring herself to care how loud she was. Let the household staff hear her if they wanted to. She was too far gone to worry about who might be listening.

​When it was finally over, she lay there breathless, her body trembling, her skin raw where his hands and mouth had been.

​Damn, that was the best sex of her life, she thought.

​Kieran fell asleep almost as soon as he lay down. Elowen turned her head to look at him, and a gentle smile spread across her face.

​Kieran Wells was the kind of man other women dreamed of marrying. Handsome, wealthy, and powerful, he was the eldest son of the Wells family and the president of Wells Enterprises. Wherever he went, people wanted his attention. He had the looks, the money, and the family name that opened almost every door.

​And he was her husband.

​Sometimes, Elowen still found it hard to believe that she had married the man she'd liked for so long.

​Their marriage had been arranged by their families to strengthen the relationship between the Wells and the Whitmores. Neither of them had objected, and Elowen had been secretly thrilled when she learned Kieran had agreed to marry her.

​She watched his sleeping face a little longer, then closed her eyes beside him, happier than she had been in months.

​When Elowen woke the next morning, the bed was empty.

​She washed her face, brushed her teeth, and changed into something comfortable before heading downstairs. Breakfast had already been served by the household staff. The coffee was poured, and the smell of warm bread drifted through the house.

​Kieran sat in the dining room, eating with his phone in his hand.

​Elowen smiled, walked over, and took her seat. "Good morning, honey."

​He glanced at her, then back at his screen. "Morning."

​She began to eat. Neither of them spoke for a while. Then her thoughts returned to the night before, and she set down her fork.

​"About last night, you seemed upset when you came home. What happened?"

​A flicker of something unreadable passed through Kieran's eyes, but it was gone before Elowen could notice. He returned his attention to his phone for a moment before answering, "It was nothing. Just a misunderstanding with one of my clients."

​She nodded. "I see." She hesitated, then added gently, "But you shouldn't drink too much, and you shouldn't smoke. It isn't good for your health."

​He looked at her, then lowered his eyes to his plate. "Okay."

​Elowen smiled, and they went back to eating.

​Kieran finished his coffee and set his cup down.

​"Valentina's celebration is tonight," he said. "I'll pick you up in the evening and we'll go together."

​Elowen nodded. "Okay."

​He stood, buttoned his jacket, and picked up his phone. He was almost at the door when she called out.

​"Kieran."

​He stopped and turned, one brow lifting. "Hmm?"

​Elowen hurried over, rose onto her toes, and pressed a kiss to his lips. "Take care of yourself."

​Irritation crossed his face, quick and sharp, there and gone. Elowen was too close to see it. By the time she drew back, he had forced a small smile.

​"Hmm," he said.

​Then he turned and walked out. Elowen stood at the door and watched his car pull through the gates, a soft smile on her face and her heart warm in her chest.

​By the time Elowen arrived at the Whitmore Cosmetics headquarters, the morning was already busy.

​The company's name stood in elegant lettering above the entrance of the glass building. Inside, employees moved between offices, the reception area, and the product development department. Displays of the company's latest skincare and makeup products lined the lobby, their packaging reflecting the brand's reputation for luxury.

​Elowen greeted the receptionist and headed upstairs.

​As the only daughter of the Whitmore family, she had inherited the cosmetics business after her father's death. She had grown up around the company, but taking over had taught her that owning a successful brand was very different from simply being born into a wealthy family. She had worked hard to earn the respect of the people who reported to her, and she took her responsibilities seriously.

​Now, as CEO, she oversaw the company's major decisions, from new product launches to expansion plans. Although she had a management team to handle the daily operations, she preferred to stay involved rather than leave everything in other people's hands.

​"Good morning, Miss Whitmore," her assistant greeted her as she entered her office.

​"Good morning. What's on my schedule?"

​"Your meeting with the product development team is at ten. After that, you have a call with the marketing director, and the revised campaign proposal is waiting for your approval."

​"All right. Send the team in when they're ready."

​Her assistant nodded and left.

​Elowen put down her handbag and settled behind her desk. She went through the campaign proposal, made a few notes, and checked the latest sales report before joining the product development meeting.

​The morning passed quickly. By the time she finished her call with the marketing director, she was reviewing a new skincare line when her assistant knocked and stepped inside.

​"Miss Whitmore, there's someone here to see you."

​Elowen looked up. "Who is it?"

​"Mr. Lysander Wells. He says he's your brother-in-law."

​She blinked in surprise.

​"Lysander? Did he say what he wants?"

​"No, ma'am. He only asked to see you."

​Elowen glanced at the clock. She hadn't expected a visit from him, especially in the middle of a workday, but there was no reason to turn him away.

​"Send him in, please."

​Her assistant left, and Elowen straightened the papers on her desk.

​A moment later, the door opened.

​She looked up and met a pair of amber eyes.

​A natural, polite smile touched her lips. "Hey, brother-in-law. Please, have a seat."

​Lysander closed the door behind him and took the chair across from her. His eyes stayed on hers, quiet and calculating.

​Lysander Wells was the youngest of the Wells children and the family's illegitimate son. Unlike Kieran, the favored eldest son, Lysander had never enjoyed the same privileges or consideration from the family.

​But Elowen had always found him difficult not to notice.

​He was one of the most beautiful men she had ever seen. His amber eyes stood out beneath long lashes, and his straight nose, sharply defined jaw, and striking lips gave his face an unusual appeal. A thin scar ran along one side of his face, left by the accident that had nearly killed him weeks ago, but it did little to diminish his looks. If anything, it made him more striking.

​Heat touched her cheeks when she realized how long she had been staring.

​It's only normal to admire a handsome face, she told herself. It doesn't mean anything. She was perfectly happy with her Kieran.

​"So," she said, folding her hands on the desk, "what brings you here?".

​Lysander didn't answer right away. His amber eyes stayed fixed on her face, as though he were gauging how she would react to whatever he was about to say. The stare was so heavy that she shifted in her seat.

​Her smile slowly faded.

​"Lysander?"

​He seemed to return to himself. Leaning back in his chair, he finally spoke.

​"My wife is cheating on me."

​Elowen stared at him.

​"What?"

​For a moment, she wondered whether she had heard him correctly.

​"Valentina is cheating on you?"

​It was hard to believe. Valentina had always appeared devoted to Lysander, and Elowen had never imagined she would betray him.

​"Lysander," she said carefully, her expression turning sympathetic, "are you sure? Maybe there's been some misunderstanding."

​"No misunderstanding."

​His answer was so firm that Elowen fell silent. She looked at him closely, and what unsettled her most was that he did not look angry or hurt. He looked certain.

​"I'm sorry. I don't know what to say." She hesitated. "Have you spoken to her about it?"

​"No."

​"Why not? If you're certain, shouldn't you talk to her first?"

​"What would be the point?"

​His calm answer caught her off guard.

​"At least give her a chance to explain," she said. "There might be something you're not aware of."

​Lysander let out a short, humorless laugh.

​"You're asking me to give her a chance to explain," he said, his amber eyes fixed on hers. "I wonder if you'd be so understanding if you were the one being betrayed."

​Elowen frowned. "What do you mean?"

​He held her gaze, and then he spoke, each word landing like a slap.

​"Valentina is cheating on me with Kieran."