Chapter 2

At dawn, Christina was startled awake by a commotion.

She opened the door and saw, in the garden of the neighboring villa, a haggard woman clutching a man's shirt with trembling hands. Her voice tore through the morning air.

"Dirk, I've loved you for ten whole years and bore you several children! When we got married, you promised to love me forever! It hasn't even been that long, and you dare to keep a mistress behind my back?"

Despite the early hour, many people had already gathered by the lakeside for their morning walks. The scandalous scene unfolded before them, drawing more curious eyes with each passing second.

Dirk, clearly someone of status, noticed the growing crowd. His expression shifted immediately as he grabbed the woman and dragged her toward the villa.

"What are you making a scene for? I've told you many times, no man in this world can stay completely faithful!"

Christina stood frozen, unable to look away, until a warm hand gently covered her ears from behind.

"Christina, don't listen to such filthy words."

Without turning, she spoke softly, "Tell me, do all men eventually cheat?"

Lucien stiffened. He turned her around to face him, his eyes unwavering. "I can't speak for others, but I won't. Christina, I will love only you for my entire life."

"Your entire life?" she murmured. "But life is so long."

He pulled her into his arms, his breath warm against her ear. "As long as it is, I only want you."

She finally laughed, but there was a faint bitterness in her voice. "And what if you cheat? What if you betray me?"

"If I betray you, the heavens shall punish me and strike me down with lightning."

Hearing those words, with the truth still buried deep inside her, her heart ached.

"Lucien, you dare swear such a cruel oath? Aren't you afraid it might come true?"

He chuckled softly. "No, because no one knows better than I do how much I love you. If you don't believe me, I'll carve out my heart for you. And if that's still not enough, I'll give you my entire life."

Could he really give her his entire life?

Then why couldn't he even control his own desires?

His body still carried traces of another woman's scent, yet his lips whispered the most tender words.

"Christina, Lucien, what are you two doing?"

A voice suddenly broke the silence.

They turned and saw Vanessa standing at the door, wearing a red strapless dress.

Lucien visibly stiffened. He frowned slightly. "Isn't today the weekend? Where are you going dressed like that?"

The tone was less that of a brother asking a sister and more that of a jealous husband questioning his wife.

Noticing the jealousy in his voice, Vanessa smiled coyly. "There's a company mixer tonight, and I'm planning to find myself a boyfriend. I won't be coming home tonight."

Lucien's expression darkened instantly, while Vanessa's smile widened.

"By the way, Christina, do you two have any plans today?"

Only then did Lucien snap out of it. He tightened his grip on Christina's hand.

"We're visiting my parents today," he said.

Vanessa smiled again. "Send them my regards." Then, she turned and left.

Half an hour later, Lucien drove Christina toward his family's estate.

His parents had never liked Christina as a daughter-in-law. They believed she had turned their son into a lovesick fool who nearly lost his life for her. Worse still, after years of marriage, they had no children. Every visit was met with cold stares and sharp words.

Lucien knew this and tried to minimize visits, but this time, his mother's declining health left him no choice.

As soon as they stepped inside, the cheerful chatter ceased. His parents' faces fell.

Seeing their hostility, Lucien bristled.

"If you treat Christina like this again, we won't come back."

His father slammed the table. "How dare you! Are you abandoning your parents for a woman?"

Lucien held Christina's hand tightly and refused to back down.

"I told you before, Christina is my one true love. I can't even bring myself to raise my voice to her, and yet you treat her like this. Do you want to rip my heart out? If this happens again, I'll consider myself an orphan."