Chapter 1

Audrey's POV

It was New Year's Eve, and I was buying sex toys.

My husband hadn't touched me in months, and the last time he did, he was drunk.

He lasted two minutes, rolled off me,

cleaned himself up, and said—

"You're too heavy, Audrey. It's hard to be attracted to you. Why can't you just lose weight? Slim women can actually move. You just lie there like a sack. It's disgusting. I regret the day I married you."

Six years of marriage and I had become a stranger in my own life.

Still, I wanted to fix it.

Maybe if things got better between us… we could give our daughter, Nia, a sibling.

I didn't want her growing up lonely the way I did, hidden away while my parents paraded my perfect cousin like a trophy.

I met Matteo in college. He was the hottest guy on campus, and I was the plus-sized girl everyone laughed at.

On prom night, he called me beautiful.

That was all it took.

Minutes later, I was bent over behind the hall, giving him my virginity because I thought he loved me.

Three weeks later, I found out I was pregnant.

My parents were furious. I had ruined their image, but they arranged the marriage anyway.

Matteo got a billionaire title through my family's business empire, and I got the man I loved.

Everyone called it a fair trade… but it wasn't.

For six years, he refused to be seen with me.

At every gala, board meeting, or high-profile event, he showed up with size-zero women draped over him, while I stayed home in custom gowns that cost triple because, as designers whispered, "It takes extra fabric”

They always sighed while measuring me, like my body offended them.

The few times I attended events, the whispers followed.

"How did she even fit in the car?"

"Poor Matteo… stuck with a wife like that."

He never defended me. He just stood there, jaw tight, eyes anywhere but on me, like I embarrassed him.

Eventually, he stopped sharing a room with me.

Said he couldn't stand my snoring or my farts, so he moved to the far end of the house.

When I got home that night, something felt off.

Before I even reached the living room, I heard Matteo's breathless voice.

"God… I missed you."

My steps slowed.

"Of course you did," the woman murmured. "How do you even stand sleeping in the same house with that fat pig?"

A soft moan followed, then Matteo chuckled.

"She disgusts me so much. She can't even keep her legs open, and her folds are so disgusting, I can't even look at her without losing my appetite”

They both laughed as my fingers tightened around my bag.

"She still thinks you'll touch her again?" the woman asked.

"Please," Matteo scoffed. "I'd rather die."

Something shattered inside me as I walked in.

Matteo was naked on the living-room couch, head thrown back between his thighs… on her knees… was Kylie Mercer.

My own cousin. His first love.

The same woman my family paraded around like a trophy and who had made my life hell all through college.

The bag slipped from my fingers.

The toys spilled across the marble floor with a humiliating clatter.

Matteo's eyes snapped open.

"Shit—Audrey!"

He shoved Kylie away, grabbing a throw pillow to cover himself.

"It's not what you think—I… she's just practicing for a movie role. Method acting…"

I turned and ran upstairs, tears blurring my vision as I yanked open the closet and threw clothes into a suitcase.

Matteo burst in seconds later.

"Audrey, where are you going?"

"None of your business." I zipped the case so hard the handle cracked. "I'm done."

He grabbed my wrist. "You can't leave. Think about Nia. I can't take care of her alone. Think about your parents, they'll cut me off…"

"Don't you dare use our daughter as an excuse for your disgusting behavior!" I yanked free. "I heard everything. You said you'd rather die than touch me again, right? So go to Kylie. She's who you really want."

I dragged the suitcase downstairs. The driver was already outside.

"Airport," I said, my voice cold. "Now."

Matteo followed, panic finally breaking through.

"Audrey, please. I'll change. I swear. Don't tell your parents. I'll stop seeing her. Therapy… anything. Just… come back. For Nia. I love you."

I slammed the door and didn't look back.

On the flight to California, I kept my phone on airplane mode. When I finally turned it on, messages flooded in.

Matteo: Please don't do this, I know I messed up.

Matteo: You're the reason I'm cheating. No man is attracted to a fat woman.

Matteo: Okay, I'm sorry. I'll never see her again. I'll fire the escorts, I'll sleep in our room every night.

Matteo: For Nia's sake, please don't tell your parents. I'll change. I promise.

I turned the phone off and stared out the dark window.

By the time I landed and checked into a five-star hotel, I was exhausted.

I needed space to think, tell my parents, fight for full custody of my daughter… and most importantly… stop being fat and ugly.

The elevator doors were sliding shut when a man slipped in at the last second.

His cologne hit me instantly. I looked up… and forgot how to breathe.

He was easily the most handsome man I had ever seen.

Tall, broad-shouldered, dressed in a perfectly tailored suit that hugged his body like it was made for him.

His dark hair was slightly tousled, like he'd run his fingers through it one too many times. His face looked strangely familiar, though I couldn't place it.

My eyes dropped before I could stop myself.

He wasn't even hard, yet the outline was big enough to strain the fine fabric.

Heat rushed to my face. I was so distracted staring that I didn't notice when the elevator moved.

He bumped into me.

My bag slipped, and rolling across the elevator floor… was my pink vibrator.

He bent down and picked it up between two fingers, examining it like it was the most interesting thing he'd seen all day.

My heart nearly stopped.

I rushed forward and snatched it from his hand.

"Give me that!"

He straightened slowly, one brow lifting as his gaze settled on me.

"Why so aggressive?" His voice was calm, amused. "You're yelling like a sex-starved woman."

My eyes widened.

"Excuse me?" I snapped, chest rising and falling. "How dare you…"

But he didn't look intimidated. If anything… he looked entertained.

"It's not like I'm lying," he said casually.

I frowned. "What are you talking about?"

He slipped his hands into his pockets, studying me like he had all the time in the world.

"I sat next to you on the flight yet you didn't notice me once because you were crying the entire time like you had man problems. What kind of stupid man would make a beautiful woman like you cry?"

I hadn't heard that word in years. For a second, I forgot how to respond.

Then the elevator jerked.

A calm voice crackled through the speaker:

"Dear guests, we're experiencing a brief technical issue. The elevator will remain safely lit and ventilated. Power will be restored in approximately thirty minutes. Please remain calm."

I groaned. "I can't believe I'm stuck here with someone like you”

He laughed, low and rich.

"Women."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Your eyes are saying something completely different from your mouth. You've been staring at my dick from the second I walked in here."

Shit. He saw that.

Heat flooded my body. I stammered,

"Wh-what are you even proud about? It's not like you know anything about pleasing a woman."

He stepped closer, hazel eyes darkening.

"Are you daring me right now?"

My heart slammed against my ribs. All the years of rejection boiled over into something reckless and wild.

"Yes," I said, lifting my chin. "I dare you. If you know you've got a working dick, bend me over right now and fuck me.”