Chapter 3

Alice’s POV

Switching off my phone , I drifted into a drowsy stupor.

When I awoke, the entire villa lay deserted, shrouded in pitch-black darkness with not a single light switched on. Yet foolishly, I still clung to a sliver of hope, softly calling David's name.

Truth be told, in our three years of marriage, David seldom returned home. Even when he disliked me, he at least maintained the pretense of husband and wife, inventing excuses for why he couldn’t come back. Business dinners. Emergency meetings. Overseas calls. Lies wrapped in politeness. Tonight, though, he hadn’t even bothered with that.

My phone buzzed suddenly, the sound sharp in the darkness, making me jump. I grabbed it instinctively, my fingers clumsy as I unlocked the screen.

Alice, come to Sinok Bar! I’ve spotted your husband!

My best friend’s message popped up, followed by a photo attachment. I tapped it, my breath catching hard in my throat.

David sat in a VIP room, one arm draped casually over the back of the sofa, his posture relaxed in a way I hadn’t seen in months. Beside him sat Lily, her head tilted slightly toward him, her smile soft, intimate. The lighting was dim and warm, casting them in a glow that made them look like the only two people in the world.

I stared at the screen until my eyes burned.

I didn’t even remember grabbing my coat. I only remembered the rush of cold air as I stepped outside and the dull roar in my ears as I drove straight to the bar.

Sinok Bar pulsed with music and laughter, neon lights flashing against dark walls. The moment I stepped inside, my best friend spotted me and barreled over, her heels clicking angrily against the floor. She strutted toward me like a cockerel ready for a fight, eyes blazing.

“Alice,” she said sharply, grabbing my wrist, “I’m telling you, I’ve got loads of photos. David’s definitely having an affair with Lily.”

My stomach churned. “She’s his cousin’s wife,” I said, my voice shaking despite myself. “His cousin’s only just passed away. And they’re already officially together?” I laughed bitterly, pressing my lips together. “Do they have no shame at all?”

“None,” she snapped. “Come on.”

She didn’t wait for my answer. She dragged me through the crowd, shoving past startled patrons, straight toward the VIP area. The bass thudded against my chest as we approached the private room. Laughter spilled out from behind the door, loud and celebratory.

From afar, I spotted Lily seated beside David. His body leaned toward hers, his face drawing closer and closer. Their silhouettes blurred together under the dim lights. My steps slowed, my breath hitching. From my angle, it looked like they were… kissing.

My heart slammed violently against my ribs.

The door swung open.

The noise hit me first. Cheers. Laughter. Glasses clinking. David’s friends lounged around the room, drinks in hand, faces flushed with excitement.

“Finally,” someone said with a grin. “You two are a perfect match.”

“About time,” another chimed in. “Everyone knew it’d end this way.”

My presence registered slowly, like a sudden drop in temperature. Conversations faltered. Smiles froze.

Then someone laughed awkwardly and asked, “What about Alice? Will your grandpa agree to the divorce?”

The heated atmosphere instantly solidified into ice.

Lily’s eyes filled with tears almost instantly. She stood, hands trembling, her voice soft and sacrificial. “David, it’s alright,” she said gently. “I’ll leave tomorrow to continue my PhD with my former professor and return to Switzerland. I won’t cause you any trouble.”

The words hit like a match to gasoline.

David’s posture changed immediately. He straightened, his jaw tightening, his arm moving instinctively around her shoulders. “You’re not the one being driven away,” he said firmly. “I’ll divorce Alice as soon as possible.”

The room went silent.

I felt like the floor had dropped out from beneath me.

Before I could react, my best friend lunged forward with a sharp gasp. She grabbed a glass of red wine from the table and hurled it straight at Lily’s face.

“Have some shame!” she shouted.

David reacted faster than I’d ever seen him move. He stepped in front of Lily, shielding her with his body. The wine splashed across his shoulder and chest, soaking his shirt. Only the ends of Lily’s long hair were dampened.

Chaos erupted.

Chairs scraped back. Someone shouted. Another person cursed. David turned, his eyes blazing red, veins bulging on his neck as he roared, “Are you out of your mind?”

The entire room froze.

I knew instantly my best friend had crossed a line. Even as the McKain family’s prized daughter, the Neighleys’ largest business partner, the McKains couldn’t withstand the Neighleys’ wrath when provoked like this.

Lily clung to David, shaking, tears streaming down her face. She pressed her forehead against his chest like a frightened rabbit. “I’m scared, David,” she sobbed. “Please don’t get into trouble for me.”

Watching him shield her, something cracked inside my chest.

I was dragged back to high school, to the day a boy twice our size had cornered Lily behind the gym. David had walked in, seen her crying, and lost all restraint. He’d sent that bully to the hospital for a month with a baseball bat, nearly landing himself in juvenile detention. That was the first time I’d seen David like a raging lion.

This was the second.

Raised in elite education, trained to be a gentleman, only Lily’s harm could make him lose his manners.

“Apologize,” David barked.

My best friend’s face went pale, her fists clenched at her sides. She was terrified, but stubbornness flashed in her eyes. She shook her head. “No.”

My heart raced. I stepped forward without thinking. “I’ll apologize,” I said quickly, my voice trembling. “I’m sorry for her behavior.”

David sneered, his gaze slicing into me. “If you want to apologize, then show me you’re sincere. But don’t apologize to me.” He tilted his chin toward Lily. “Apologize to her.”

My heart shook violently.

He wanted me to apologize to Lily.

I swayed slightly, my knees threatening to give out. I was his lawful wife. And he wanted me to apologize to the woman who had humiliated me, who stood wrapped in his arms while our marriage was mocked in public.

My lips trembled. I couldn’t speak. The room blurred.

Seeing me falter only made my best friend angrier. She shoved past me, pointing at David. “How dare you?” she shouted. “Alice is your wife!”

David didn’t even look at her. His eyes stayed locked on mine, cold and unyielding. “Apologize,” he repeated.

No room for negotiation.

The music started up again somewhere in the bar, muffled through the walls, but inside that room, everything felt suspended. I stood there, surrounded by people who looked at me with curiosity, judgment, and pity, my heart pounding so loudly I wondered if they could hear it.