Chapter 2

The comments section exploded.

[This scene wasn't in the original novel! Wasn't the 'corrected plot' supposed to be the villainess getting desperate, chasing after the male lead, ruining the contract, and making him hate her?]

[No wonder he's the male lead's little brother. He's so handsome.]

So when Charles said he had arranged for someone to take care of me, he meant his younger brother, Jack Hansen?

The thought of someone outside the family seeing my skin hunger episode made me deeply embarrassed.

However, Jack simply wrapped his arms gently around me from behind.

"No one comforted you when it flared up? That's kind of heartbreaking."

The heat of his body felt unbelievably soothing.

Still, the last scraps of my rationality made me push him away.

There was no way I was going to become the cheating wife who got thrown out with nothing in the divorce.

For all I knew, this could be a setup between Charles and his brother, some elaborate act to get rid of me faster.

I shoved Jack out the door and slammed it shut. No matter how long he knocked outside, I refused to open it.

Eventually, I fell into a heavy sleep. By the time I woke up, it was already the next morning.

When I checked my phone, Charles had sent over a dozen messages.

I ignored all of them.

In the past, even being separated from him for two hours would have driven me crazy enough to bombard him with calls.

But things were different now.

I valued my life more.

Yesterday, I had managed to survive the episode by clinging to Charles's clothes.

But today, the rebound felt even worse.

I bit down hard on my lower lip, trying to use pain to suppress the unbearable itch crawling beneath my skin, trying to force myself to stay clear-headed.

A few hours later, I was crying.

In the two years we had been married, I had never suffered like this before.

During the day, I would cling to Charles, feeling up his abs and chest whenever I wanted. At night, no matter what I asked for, he indulged me every single time.

For two whole years, he had spoiled me until my appetite only grew bigger and bigger.

I turned on the TV.

Oakhaven News was broadcasting live coverage of Hansen Group president Charles securing a partnership with a major corporation from Stanton City.

His custom-tailored suit made him look impossibly refined. Beside him, Daisy followed closely in a pink business suit, her smile elegant and composed.

The livestream comments completely lost their minds.

['My wife isn't my weakness, she's my armor.' AHHHH this power-couple energy is EVERYTHING.]

[The height difference is killing me.]

Jealousy bubbled sourly in my chest.

I quickly forced the feeling back down.

I was just a disposable side character. If I wanted to stay alive, the only option was to stay far away from the male and female leads.

I tossed and turned miserably across the bed, soft whimpers escaping my throat.

Maybe I had accidentally pressed something on my phone, because suddenly Charles's voice came through the speaker.

"Amanda, why did it take you so long to call me back?"

I felt so awful I couldn't even speak. All I could do was continue making weak, breathless sounds that were easy to misunderstand.

The line went silent for two seconds.

Then he hung up.

A moment later, the news anchor announced that Hansen Group president Charles had abruptly boarded a flight back to Oakhaven.

Right then, the front door opened again.

Jack knocked lightly on my bedroom door.

"Hey, Amanda, it's me."

I was going insane.

The skin hunger was driving me out of my mind.

Jack was wearing a silk v-neck shirt so thin I could almost see the smooth skin hidden beneath the fabric.

I snapped.

I lunged at him and buried my face against his solid chest, clinging to him like someone cuddling a cat, unable to stop.

The corner of Jack's lips lifted slightly. He did not move, just let me hold him like that.

Tears streamed down my face.

After more than twenty hours of torment, I had finally found my 'cure.'

Just as I was sinking into the relief of skin contact, the smart lock at the front door clicked open again.

The comments flashing before my eyes went wild.

[Holy sh*t! The showdown is here. This is insane.]

[How does a throwaway villainess deserve this kind of love triangle? Our heroine hasn't even gotten anything yet!]

[This brother drama is way too entertaining.]

[Everyone trying to break up the official couple can get lost. This is obviously the male lead's plan to dump the annoying villainess faster.]

At the same moment, my phone lit up with a message from Charles.

[Amanda, I'm home.]