Chapter 3

I had returned to the past on the exact day of my 100th failed IVF attempt.

It was a little too late to stop the actions of my past, lovestruck self.

Fortunately, I could still choose to live differently.

I reached out and hugged Claire. “Never again. From now on, I’m only living for myself.”

Claire was happy for me.

To celebrate, she took me to the nightclub.

As soon as the door opened, I saw two neat rows of tall and handsome young men. Each man had been groomed with a different style.

“Caddie, take your pick! This is my treat for everything tonight!

“Here’s to you escaping that misery and getting your life back!”

I had never been interested in men from places like this.

But upon second thought, I realized I truly did need a child. I happened to be ovulating on that day.

My gaze swept over the crowd and landed on a young man in a white dress shirt.

He had a slender and upright build. The line from his neck to his shoulder was sharp and elegant. His fingers were long and elegant and gave off an indescribably aloof and captivating aura.

Claire followed my line of sight and said, “He’s a college student working part-time. He’s a top student, and he’s pretty arrogant. He never takes on clients.”

I set down my glass and walked up to him.

“Are you disease-free?”

The young man stared at me.

“I’ve never been with a woman before.”

Satisfied, I said, “Keep me company. You set the price.”

He was taken aback. His gaze lingered on me for several seconds.

A man nearby could not help but intervene.

“I’m sorry, miss, Silas is... special. He doesn’t take clients.”

However, Silas raised his hand. His dark eyes locked intently on mine.

“Alright.”

That evening, he carried me into the presidential suite.

The young man was vigorous and passionate. I cast off all the shackles and pain of my past, losing myself completely.

My phone screen lit up and went dark repeatedly. Arthur kept calling me. He only stopped after the 100th attempt.

After we were done, I left Silas some money. I glanced at my many missed calls and walked out.

I did not see Silas watching me from behind. His intense gaze never left my back as he took a phone call.

“I’m not crazy. I know exactly who she is.”

...

When I returned home, Arthur was sitting on the main couch. His face was ashen.

The ashtray in front of him was overflowing with cigarette butts.

“Cadence! Where were you last night? Why didn’t you pick up my calls?”

Lucy timidly tugged at Arthur’s sleeve.

“Arthur, don’t be so harsh. Cadence was probably just upset. That’s why she stayed out all night.”

I casually took off my high heels and handed my purse to the approaching housekeeper. Only then did I look at him.

“Claire and I went out for drinks with some guys to blow off steam. Do you have a problem with that?”

“Cadence, you are Mrs. Carter!”

Seeing my utter indifference, Arthur’s anger flared instantly.

“You went out drinking with other men? Do I mean nothing to you?”

I patted his shoulder.

“Oh, relax. Didn’t we shake on it just yesterday? I’ll be the perfect Mrs. Carter for you.

“You and Lucy are all over each other. That’s good for you. But I do get lonely. You’re busy, so I found someone who isn’t.”

Arthur nearly choked on his rage.

Lucy promptly added fuel to the fire.

“Cadence, how could you be so shameless? Arthur only treats me well because you couldn’t give him a child. On top of that, you actually turned around and betrayed him. You’re really breaking his heart.”

Even at that moment, they had the audacity to try guilt-tripping and shaming me with more fabricated accusations.

I clenched my fist and replied with a smile, “As you said, I couldn’t conceive. Even after 100 failed IVF attempts, I still couldn’t give you a child. Trust me, any ‘betrayal’ on my part isn’t going to magically produce a baby like yours did. So you can relax.”