Chapter 2

We both moaned in unison as he smashed his lips against mine. Jack kissed me hungrily, groaning as he bit my lip lightly before pulling away.

His dark stare was filled with the one emotion I’d been dying to see from him—desire.

My husband never looked at me like that. I always thought he only saw me as an acquaintance, or maybe a distant family member he barely remembered existed, or just some stupid woman living in his house.

Yet right now, he was really looking at me.

Maybe—just maybe—I awakened something in him. I got to steal his attention for a while. He’s mine for a while.

I was ignorant of the wicked ways to make him loyal and faithful. I had a lot to learn, and I’m promising myself to start now. It might be too late, and I should’ve done this a long time ago, but it’s better than receiving divorce papers.

“Lo, why are you doing this?” he suddenly asked, eyes half-closed, lips parted like he wanted to kiss me again but something was stopping him.

But me? I couldn’t think of anything else. I just felt his large hands caressing the length of my thighs.

“This isn’t you,” he added, making me open my eyes but not looking at him.

I shrugged. “Why not save the conversation for later?” I tried to kiss him again, but he held my head and stopped me, creating distance between us as he searched for answers.

His hypnotizing stare caught me without his words demanding them. I could tell how confused he was, but Victoria told me not to give a fuck and just fuck him.

“Wouldn’t it be best if I played my part as your wife?” I asked, guiding his hands back to my waist. “I know you’ve been drowning in work these past few months. You need a break. And a little bit of fun. So… here I am.”

He sighed as if I disappointed him and shook his head. His hands slipped away from my body.

What did I do wrong?

“I’m fine. And you don’t have to force yourself to do this because of me,” he said, his hands landing on my shoulders, wiping away that lust in a blink of an eye. He looked at me the way he usually does. “The Loraine I know is pure, innocent, and prioritizes her self-worth.”

“Maybe… I’m not so pure? And innocence doesn’t exactly coincide with ignorance, so no,” I replied, my fingers toying with his tie. “Besides, prioritizing self-worth has nothing to do with making love to my husband.”

A second later, he choked on his own spit, holding his throat, and had to clear his throat twice before recovering.

Just a minute ago, he said he wanted to “dig deep,” or whatever that meant… and now he’s backing out.

Does he really hate me that much?

“Jack,” I called, still sitting on his lap, still hoping this would lead somewhere good. “I understand you weren’t ready for this marriage, but as payment for my family’s debt… I thought clearly about it. I promise I’ll be worth the sacrifice of your bachelor life.”

He went silent for a moment, then he cupped my cheek. A slow, genuine smile appeared on his thinned lips.

“You have nothing to prove to me, Lo. I have no regrets about you, even if this fixed marriage was for a cause. We’re both victims here,” he said, taking off his jacket and wrapping it around my shoulders. “Why don’t we just talk about this at home? Hmm?”

I think I’ve heard that line before.

He’s made a lot of promises that never came true.

But to wrap this day up… it looks like my husband was never really mine.

Without a word, I nodded and pushed myself up. I was filled with disappointment, embarrassment, no-weewee-in-my-vageygey-ment, and everything ending with “-ment” that made no sense.

I picked up my dress and slipped into it, feeling his gaze follow my every move.

He was looking at me like he wanted me to stay undressed, but chose to say nothing.

With a heavy sigh, he stood up from the couch and reached for the tie of my dress.

“I can manage,” I said, pulling it away and loosely tying it myself.

“Lo, I’m sorry, but this can’t happen in my office,” he apologized, as if he didn’t bring women here and own them senselessly on his desk, on this couch, or on the floor. As if there wasn't a whore in his cabinet. As if he didn’t have any right to my body.

“We’re going to talk," he added.

I grabbed my purse and faced him. “When?”

He paused. “I just said it. Later. At home,” he answered, fixing his tie uneasily and glancing at the cabinet.

“Do you ever realize you’re never home?” I asked, softly reminding him of the house I could never call home.

“I’ll be with you for dinner—”

“That means never,” I cut him off, folding his jacket into two and handing it to him. “I thought you were sincere when you said yes to saving this marriage. I guess you were never a man of your word.”

“Loraine—”

“Don’t,” I quickly muttered, placing his jacket into his unwilling hands. “Just don’t. You’ll probably just tell me another lie.” I exhaled slowly and turned away.

“I have reasons, Lo,” he said, making my hand stop on the doorknob. Wishing if he could elaborate his words. “You won’t understand.”

“Because you think I’m stupid?” I faced him.

“What? No,” he defended instantly, closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose. “It’s just hard to explain. And I don’t think you would get it—fuck, that sounded even worse—let’s just talk later, okay?”

I didn’t respond. I just opened the door, but he suddenly pulled me back by the wrist, causing me to stumble on my own feet. Though I instantly regained my balance by leaning on him for a split second.

He gave me those always-convincing eyes and lightly squeezed my hand, like he was begging me to trust him.

“How about this? I’ll finish my work here, then I’ll pick you up at the house by seven, and we’ll have dinner together. I'll make a reservation ag a restaurant,” he said like I was an investor he needed for his business.

His work?

Does that apply to papers and meetings or—

“Gah!”

A feminine squeal and a loud crash stole both our attention.

My eyes instantly found the tanned woman sprawled on the floor, wearing just a piece of fabric hiding nothing on her pearl and panicking to cover her bare chest with her unworn dress.

“Oh… shit…” he muttered, frozen. “Lo, I can explain everything.”

The classic line of every cheating person.

But instead of going hysterical or bursting into tears like I should be doing, I just stared at them like a witness at an accident scene.

“Yeah. You definitely should finish your work,” I said quoting his words, then turned on my heel.

So much for evidence.