Chapter 5

Under the influence of the alcohol, Callum's restraint started to slip too.

"Talking big? Anyone can do that," he shot back with a smirk. "But if I actually sleep with you, I'm just worried you wouldn't be able to handle it."

Sleeping with another woman? At this point, he didn't really care anymore. As long as he could get the divorce, he was willing to do whatever it took.

He had never been after Victoria's money anyway. All he wanted was a clean break.

As for compensation for all those years he'd given up his career for her, half a million would be enough. That was pocket change to Victoria.

And even if she refused to pay, he'd still divorce her.

Haley raised an eyebrow.

"You won't know unless you try. How do you know I can't handle it?"

Callum didn't answer.

The alcohol dulled his senses, numbing the pain for a little while, but the ache from seven years of love still lingered deep inside him.

'Victoria… All these years, I've been the one bending over backwards for you. And you just kept pushing your luck.

'The little things, I could let slide. But this time, you crossed a line. You even put another man ahead of your own husband. That alone proved this relationship wasn't worth holding onto anymore.

'In a marriage, both people are supposed to be on the same team—facing the world together. Not turning around and taking an outsider's side against the person who loves you most.'

Callum let out a bitter laugh.

"I'm tired," he said. He threw back the rest of his drink in one gulp and stood up. "I'm going to the restroom."

Haley nodded and kept drinking on her own.

The flashing lights and chaotic colors of the nightclub blurred in Callum's vision. Between that and the alcohol, his head felt heavy and dizzy.

At the same time, at the entrance of the women's restroom, two sleazy guys covered in tattoos were blocking a woman's path.

She wore a silver halter dress that hugged her slender waist tightly. The fabric barely covered her curves, and her short shorts showed off her smooth, long legs.

Her eyeliner sparkled with crushed diamond glitter. Her lips were painted like cherries soaked in wine. Even under the dim nightclub lights, her beauty and figure were undeniably top-tier.

Her expression was cold and impatient.

"Don't touch me. Do you even know who I am? You're just a nobody! Touch me again, and you'll regret it!"

She shoved one of the men away and slapped the other hard across the face.

"Don't fucking touch me!"

The guy who got slapped rubbed his cheek. Instead of getting angry, a lewd grin spread across his face.

"Heh. A woman who comes to a place like this and still acts all innocent? Name your price for the night. I can afford it. Stop pretending."

The other guy chimed in with a grin, "Damn, didn't expect to find a top-shelf beauty like this here."

The woman's face darkened as she glared at them, teeth clenched.

"Don't come any closer. Or you'll regret it."

She checked the time. She had already sent a message. Her bodyguards would be there any minute. These two were about to pay the price.

The man sneered.

"Oh? What are you, some high-end call girl? Name your price. I'll pay."

As he spoke, he reached out to grab her.

Terrified, she stumbled backward.

"I'm from the Skylar family—"

Before she could finish, the two men were already reaching for her.

She squeezed her eyes shut in panic, silently praying her bodyguards would get there in time.

Then—

"Fuck off!"

"Who the hell are you?! Mind your own damn business!"

She opened her eyes in shock.

A handsome man had appeared out of nowhere, shoving one of the thugs against the wall and slapping him across the face over and over while cursing him out.

The other thug was already curled up on the ground, clutching his head like he'd just gotten the beating of his life.

Callum coldly kicked the guy on the ground twice after tossing him aside.

"Get the hell out of my way!"

Since he worked out regularly and practiced combat in his spare time, dealing with guys like this—who clearly had no real fighting skills—was easy for him.

He glanced at the stunned woman.

"Stop standing there. Go."

He wasn't interested in her. He hadn't helped because of some heroic urge. They were just blocking his way to the restroom. And their first words had already pissed him off.

More importantly, the thought of his wife betraying him on their wedding night had already pushed him to the edge. He was one wrong move away from completely losing it.

As for the consequences? He didn't care. He just needed to blow off steam.

Without another word, Callum walked straight into the restroom and didn't hang around for a second.

The woman only snapped back to reality after he was gone. She didn't even get a chance to thank him.

Just then, two bodyguards nearly two meters tall rushed over.

"Miss, are you okay?"

She shook her head and pointed at the two drunk men on the ground.

"Take them away. I'll leave later."

The bodyguards frowned.

"Miss, the boss ordered us to bring you back immediately."

Her expression darkened.

"I still have something to do."

"Miss, please don't make this difficult for us. It's the boss's order. We're just employees—if we're late, we'll get in trouble. The boss also said he's not going to force you to marry the second son of the Summers family anymore."

The woman sighed helplessly.

"Fine. I'll go with you."

Originally, she had snuck out after arguing with her grandfather.

If it weren't for what just happened, she never would have given away her location to her bodyguards.

In her mind, she had already burned the face of the man who had saved her into her memory.

…

The next morning, at a five-star hotel, Callum slowly woke up in a soft bed, his head pounding and his throat dry. He struggled to open his eyes, only to find himself in an unfamiliar room.

'Where am I?' he wondered.

He clearly remembered drinking all night at the nightclub. Everything after that was a blur.

Just as he was trying to piece things together, he noticed someone lying next to him.

A woman.

Wearing a black lace camisole.

The strap had slipped slightly off her shoulder, revealing smooth, pale skin and a dangerously tempting figure.

As a healthy adult male—and especially first thing in the morning…

Callum's mind went blank.

'What the hell? Why is Haley in my bed? Did we… have a one-night stand?'

The thought made his brain explode.

Had he cheated on Victoria — and with her best friend?!