Chapter 1

Larissa

“I can’t believe this, Zephan.” I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose as I let his phone fall to the bed. “This is the third time this month. Don’t you feel any ounce of shame? Or… guilt even?!”

Zephan’s brow dipped in an annoyed frown before he turned toward his side of the cupboard with his towel still draped around his waist and beads of water running down his flushed skin.

“Oh so that’s what you’re going to do now, huh?” I threw the covers aside, closing up the distance between us within seconds. “You’re going to ignore me?”

“You’re the one blowing this out of proportion. How could I not ignore that?” He said the words so calmly, it scrambled whatever was left of my patience.

I couldn’t believe my ears. “I’m the one blowing this out of proportion? Can you hear yourself Zephan?” I blinked. Once, twice, trying to understand what I just heard.

Seeming unbothered by my eyes on him, he moved towards the bed changing to the sweatpants he had picked out. I followed, furious now. “Your wife just caught you cheating, and it’s not the first time, or the second time, or even the third time. And all you can say is I’m blowing this out of proportion?!”

“Go to sleep, Risa.” He climbed into the bed, tucking himself under the covers. “We’ll discuss this when you’re rational.”

“Wha—rational?!” I fired back, yanking the covers away. I was done with this nonsense. I had caught Zephan with countless women these past few months, it didn’t matter how he cheated or what lies he wrapped around it—cheating was still cheating.

When our parents introduced us years back, I thought he was a good guy and that we’ll be able to make things work between us.

Turns out I was very wrong.

“Risa,” Zephan’s tone was heavy with warning, and I almost let out a laugh because he was the one clearly in the wrong here. “Stop this nonsense and go to bed.”

“No.” I wrapped the duvet into a huge ball and dumped it on the bed, right beside his feet before dropping heavily next to it. “We’re going to discuss this now.”

Zephan dragged his eyes closed, like he was fighting for patience, and I was about to call him out on it when his next words made me freeze mid-sentence. “See this is exactly why I suggested we have an open marriage.”

My eyelids fluttered, trying to catch up with my brain. “What did you just say?”

He stared at me, his amber eyes giving nothing away. “Well I know you heard me.”

I blinked again. And again. “Wh—what do you mean by open marriage?” I questioned, completely confused. “When did you even suggest we have an open marriage?”

“Last month.” He answered without missing a beat.

I could hear my heart pounding loudly in my chest. “When? You’ve never mentioned anything like that. Why would you even think of something like that?”

“Because it’s the solution to both of our problems?” He lifted a brow like it was perfectly normal to suggest an open marriage to your wife so you could cheat without having her stop you.

He then moved to grab the duvet, shaking it out before pulling it over himself.

“This is ridiculous.” I said, disbelief burning in my voice. “There’s no way I’m letting you do something like this.”

“You have to pick, sweetheart.” The usual nickname lacked endearment as I watched Zephan plump the pillow behind him. “Either that, or you mind your damn business.”

~~~~~~

The conversation Zephan and I had that night never really left my mind. It just sat heavily in the center of my chest even till this very second.

Which was why I was out here, letting the sweet-smelling breeze hit my face, and seeking help from my closest friend.

“I just don’t understand what his problem is, Lennie.” I complained, shifting back into the bench with the plastic cup in my hand. “All I’ve done is been the perfect wife. I cook, I clean, I do the laundry—”

“Your oral game is top notch too.” She cut in with a slow nod, before taking a sip from her cup.

“Exactly. But he still keeps going outside.”

“Hmm.” Lennie stroked her chin before shifting her gaze to her son nearby, who was busy wandering along the grassy path, examining every stick and pebble he found. “Maybe it’s just part of him. You know how most men are.” She snorted, gesturing vaguely with her hand. “Wanting to plunge their dick into every pussy they can just to see if it’s as sweet as it looks.”

“You should even be a happy girl.” She grinned, her green eyes sparkling with mischief as she gave me a light playful nudge on the shoulder.

I raised a brow, straw poised at my lips as I waited for her to continue.

“You’re a free woman now. Well, sort of.” She corrected herself when I gave her a pointed look. “You can have sex—or a relationship—with any guy you want.”

The sweet creaminess and gentle hint of vanilla coated my tongue as I took a sip of my latte, the cold drink sliding down smoothly as Eleanor’s words sank in.

“We can even go clubbing.” She carried on, unaware of the plan forming in my head. “Just like old times and hook up with hot men.”

“Yes. I mean if Zephan can cheat so can I right?” I tucked my hair behind my hair, squinting my eyes as the light summer breeze hit my face.

“Well, now that it’s an open marriage, it’s actually not cheating.”

“Oh hush,” I waved off her comment. “It’s still the same thing.”

Lennie rolled her eyes. “Whatever you say.”

Just then, Ethan came towards us with as many sticks and pebbles his hands could carry and Lennie started telling him something about dropping them and getting his hands dirty.

Looking at her, most people would just assume she was just a young woman who’d had a kid out of wedlock in her early twenties—not knowing that the damn woman had married twice and ended up divorcing them because she now realizes she wasn’t the type to be stuck in a marriage and tied down by one man. And now, she had money coming from both ex-husbands since she won custody of all her kids.

And she still had the freedom of dating whoever she wanted, whenever she wanted. Somehow she’s always had her way with these men—charming, teasing, and leaving them wrapped around her finger.

With her sun-kissed blonde hair, piercing green eyes, and curves that seemed to have been sculpted just to turn heads, she looked every bit the part of a woman who knew exactly what she wanted… and always ended up getting it.

“So what’s your plan now?” Lennie turned towards me after handing Ethan a bottle of orange juice.

I took a sip from my latte, fighting my smirk and failing before finally saying, “Getting laid.”

“Ouuu, I know just who to call. A friend of a friend introduced me to this somewhat exclusive agency that runs a small roster of… discreet men for private, intimate encounters.” She purred, wiggling her brows at me as she took out her phone from her purse. While Ethan just stared up at us with wide curious eyes, oblivious to the shameless things his mother was saying.

“They are very good at what they do.”

My brows dipped. “Lennie.”

“What?” She didn't take her eyes off her screen.

“Don’t tell me you’ve—” I paused abruptly, my eyes flicking to Ethan and I quickly amended my words. “—smashed every guy in the agency?”

She stiffened, her eyes darting to mine for a moment. “Okay. I won’t tell you then.”

My jaw dropped and I was about to scold her, when she gave me a sharp glare before smiling warmly at Ethan and returning her gaze to her phone. And I couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.

Her excitement was making me equally excited.

If my husband thought suggesting an open marriage was a good idea, he was about to learn just how wrong he was.