Chapter 5

Evelyn's POV

When I got home, I tossed Sebastian’s latest “cheating compensation”—a brand-new Louis Vuitton Capucines BB—straight into my bag cabinet.

The moment I let go—

I froze.

What used to be one neat row… had somehow turned into an entire wall. A full-blown luxury forest. Every color. Every style. Perfectly arranged. Like a silent confession.

Evelyn, I cheated. Evelyn, I did it again. And again.

Any other woman might’ve laughed like she’d hit the jackpot. I just felt… suffocated. These weren’t romantic. They were evidence. The most expensive, most excessive, most frequent apologies of my marriage.

My lips twitched, something bitter rising in my chest.

I always thought I was open-minded. Emotionally strong. Not the jealous type.

But when your husband’s “sorry” fills an entire wall?

Even God would probably take one look and go—okay, that’s a bit much.

Alright.

You can be sad.

Just not for long.

I’m going to live like myself again— beautiful, radiant… and just a little vengeful.

I took a deep breath, handed my luggage off to the house staff, and headed upstairs for some sleep. Last night had been… intense. My back and legs were still protesting.

God. That man.

I’d never been that satisfied before. Maybe I should’ve paid him? …Nah. Not like I’ll ever see him again.

The moment I stepped into the bedroom, Sebastian appeared behind me like a ghost and wrapped his arms around me.

“Babe…” His voice was low, sticky-smooth against my ear. “Thanks for the gift.”

…Gift?

Oh. The underwear.

The one I’d bought on purpose—my version of “returning the favor.”

I almost laughed.

But then I remembered the first time he gave me a bag—how he’d looked just like this.

Soft. Grateful. Convincing.

And suddenly, it wasn’t funny anymore.

He kissed my ear, my neck—slow, deliberate, like he knew exactly where to light the fire.

“You were out having fun… and still thought of me,” he murmured, resting his chin against my shoulder. “I’m touched. So touched that I kind of want to—”

He paused.

His voice dropped, heated.

“Pin you down and say thank you properly.”

“…Right.”

Was this really how he used to have me completely wrapped around his finger?

His hand slid down my waist.

I dodged him like I’d just smelled smoke.

“Not tonight. I’m tired. Early flight.”

More importantly—

There were still marks on me.

From him.

Faint and dark, uneven, almost like signatures.

If Sebastian saw them now, my entire revenge plan would go up in flames—and I’d probably end up being blamed instead.

Sebastian narrowed his eyes, softening his tone. “Tired? You’ve been gone for days. Didn’t miss me at all?”

“Why don’t you take me to that dinner tonight?” I cut in.

If he was going to cling to me like this, I might as well make things difficult for him.

No way he gets to comfortably juggle his little lineup of women.

“A dinner?” His expression flickered—hesitation, almost resistance. “You don’t like those events. I already told my secretary to come with me.”

Secretary.

One of the eight.

I let out a silent laugh.

Then I turned, slipped my arms around him, and tilted my head just slightly—soft, sweet, calculated.

“Then tell her not to come.” I looked up at him. “Or what… is your secretary more important than your wife?”

His shoulders tensed.

Just for a second.

Then he smiled, taking my hand. “Of course you’re more important.”

Right.

A guilty man is the easiest man to control.

 

That night, I attended a gala with Sebastian for the first time in a while.

I wore a backless black satin dress, fitted just right, the slit rising to that perfect, dangerous point along my thigh. Sebastian was in a deep navy suit, platinum cufflinks understated but expensive—cleaner, more polished than he ever looked at home.

The lighting was soft, golden, almost intoxicating. I looped my arm through his as we moved through the crowd—smiling, greeting, exchanging polite conversation with the city’s finest.

Then suddenly—

He froze.

I followed his gaze.

At the end of it stood a woman in a green slip dress. Her figure was… unreal. And her face—

I’d seen it before.

On one of the I*******m accounts Sebastian followed.

His second out of eight.

Sebastian’s throat shifted. “I need to take a call,” he said, like nothing was wrong.

“Of course,” I smiled sweetly, letting go of his arm.

He thought I wouldn’t follow.

Three minutes later, I set my champagne down—

and did exactly that.

Corner. Corridor. Empty stretch.

He’d picked the location like a professional.

Even though I was prepared—

The moment still hit like a fist to the chest.

Sebastian.

My husband.

Pinned against the wall with his 2/8—

kissing her like he’d forgotten the rest of the world existed.

Desperate. Familiar. Practiced.

Honestly, they looked so in sync I almost wanted to gift them a marriage certificate.

Something inside my chest tore open—sour, sharp, furious.

Thoughts flooded in, one after another—

No woman survives her husband’s phone.

My husband is cheating.

And somehow, seeing it in person is worse than any message, any picture. My breathing faltered. I took a step back without thinking. Did I want to cry?

Of course.

Even if he’d betrayed me—again and again. Even if I was already planning revenge. Even if my own body had already crossed that line—

…I had loved him.

Something salty touched my lips.

Tears.

Why was I crying? Why was my first instinct… to run?

Pathetic.

I turned to leave—

And ran straight into a solid, warm wall of a body. My bare back met heat. Firm. Steady. For a second, it almost felt like being… held.

Then a strong hand slid around my waist.

I turned sharply—

Him.

The stallion.

My 1/8.

Black shirt. Collar undone. Standing too close—radiating that dangerous, effortless heat.

What the hell was he doing here?

But he didn’t look surprised to see me.

Actually—he never did.

Every time he showed up, it was like gravity shifted. Like he could just pull me into his space without trying.

Focus.

My husband was right there.

And my affair was holding me like this.

My heart had to be pushing 280 beats per minute.

This wasn’t attraction. It’s a full-blown crisis. A disaster.

I pushed against him, trying to get out of his arms. He didn’t move. Instead, he tightened his hold, casually trapping me there. His chin brushed lightly behind my shoulder—close enough to feel, not enough to escape.

Deliberate.

Teasing.

“Why are you crying?” he murmured. “That happy to see me?”

His thumb brushed away the tear on my cheek. Then his gaze lifted— past me. Toward Sebastian.

My entire body went rigid.

He, on the other hand, looked… calm. Almost entertained.

Did he know?

I hadn’t told him anything. But I would bet anything— he was enjoying this. Enjoying me standing here, on the edge of losing control, pretending I wasn’t.

Then he lowered his head.

His lips brushed near my ear, warm, slow, and my spine went weak in an instant. He let out a soft, amused breath. And then, gently—

he said something completely insane.

“Why not go say hello?”