Chapter 3

Those sharp eyes that cut through boardrooms like a blade now looked soft and wet, almost puppy-like. Richard's robe hung open at the collar, revealing his perfectly sculpted muscles.

His broad back and wide shoulders looked reliable enough to lean on. With such an attractive body, any straight woman would feel her heart race.

I swallowed hard.

I felt him pressing against my hand with desperate need and thought he had changed his mind. However, after standing there waiting for a long time, he finally released my hand with a tremor.

He lowered his head, his voice tinged with hurt. "Come home early, okay?"

I turned and left.

What I did not know was that the moment the door closed, he turned and buried himself in the blankets. While he breathed in the lingering scent, his hand moved downward and he murmured my name, "Valeria..."

…

After that day, I decided in a fit of anger that Richard and I would sleep in separate rooms. I moved to the room next door, and Richard said nothing about it.

Yet, every time I fell asleep at night, I always felt like someone was holding me.

After noticing this pattern, I went to find Richard. "Richard, did someone break into our house at night?"

He was reviewing company contracts and looked up at me when he heard my words. "Did something go missing?"

I shook my head. "No, but I keep feeling like there's someone else in bed with me when I sleep at night."

The pen in his hand suddenly pierced through the paper.

Before I could say anything, he grabbed a fresh contract and said flatly, "Don't worry. I'll do a full inspection of the house. If you're still concerned, I can stay in your room all night."

I opened my mouth to speak. Glancing at the ruined contract he had tossed to the bottom of the pile, I said coldly, "That won't be necessary!"

I had already found a lawyer to draft our divorce agreement. Before long, I would divorce him. I would not need him to protect me anymore.

Richard kept his head lowered, and his voice was soft. "I just want to protect you."

However, protection was not what I wanted from him at all. I returned to my room in a huff, and my mind raced with thoughts until I fell asleep without realizing it.

While I was half asleep, I felt myself being held in someone's arms again. The embrace was warm, carrying a pleasant scent of cedar. The person's hands moved across my skin, leaving a burning sensation everywhere he touched.

I felt my lips being rubbed roughly, bitten, and invaded. Wet sounds filled the air as the man's burning breath made me gradually lose myself, my body surging with the waves of pleasure.

Immersed in that blissful world, I could not wake up for the longest time.

After struggling for a while, I finally opened my eyes and shouted angrily, "Who's there?! Don't you know breaking and entering is illegal?"

In the darkness, the person behind me froze, then quickly stood up and fled. I snorted softly and took my time getting dressed, not bothering to chase after him immediately.

I had prepared a backup plan the moment I realized someone had been breaking in. I had set up an alarm that would alert the police. By now, the police should already be waiting at the door.

When I finished getting dressed and came out, I discovered the responding officer was actually Richard's childhood friend, Ken Sotherby.

Before I even made it downstairs, I heard his voice.

"I was wondering who called the police. Did you finally lose control and scare your wife? You've been wanting it so badly but somehow managed to hold back for years."