Chapter 3

The room was in chaos.

It was not until the doctors finished treating Aiden's injuries that Eloise finally turned her attention to me. "Luke, have I been too kind to you these past five years? Is that why you've forgotten your place?"

The setup had been so clumsy and obvious that anyone could have seen through it, yet Eloise had fallen for it completely.

"I didn't do it. There are security cameras in the room. Check the footage yourself."

Aiden probably did not know that I had taken a knife for Eloise when her enemies came after her during our first year together. Ever since then, she had become increasingly cautious. Every place where she spent any significant amount of time was equipped with security cameras. No matter what Aiden said or did to me, there would be evidence.

Eloise merely raised an eyebrow and replied coldly, "Is that really necessary? Aiden doesn't lie."

I froze. All the grievance and anger I had been suppressing suddenly lodged in my chest.

Aiden was Eloise's fiancé, the man she would spend the rest of her life with. If her future husband said something happened, then it happened. What right did a secret lover like me have to speak up?

"I'll break whichever hand you used to hurt Aiden. As for that tattoo, did you deliberately show it off to upset him? Get it removed."

My breath caught in my throat.

I had gotten the tattoo only a week earlier. The words "I love Eloise" were inked on my finger, all to make her happy.

Eloise had laughed and kissed my finger.

"You and your little tricks."

After all, keeping my benefactor happy had been my job. To Aiden, however, the tattoo was an outright provocation.

Two bodyguards pinned me down and forcibly pulled my arm out.

"Eloise, I didn't do anything! Why won't you believe me?"

Aiden chuckled. "Why would she believe a money-grubbing gold digger like you instead of her own future husband?"

The moment the cold iron rod crashed into my wrist, agonizing pain tore through my entire body.

"Ah! Stop!"

I screamed, my eyes bloodshot and my whole body trembling, but Eloise never stopped the bodyguards. Linking her arm through Aiden's, she walked upstairs without looking back.

Some time later, even the bodyguards left.

My right hand was a mangled, bloody mess. The pain had long since faded into numbness, while bright red blood continued to flow from the wounds.

I struggled to my feet and stumbled out the door. The moment I reached the hospital, I lost consciousness.

When I finally woke up, Eloise was standing beside my bed. Her first words, however, carried no trace of concern.

"Aiden knows about us and isn't happy about it. Just let him vent a little. I'll make it up to you afterward."

I suddenly felt ridiculous for ever wondering whether she might have felt even the slightest bit of pity for me.

"Considering how much money I've taken from you, a little hardship is only fair."

Something shifted in Eloise's expression, and she frowned slightly. She looked as though she wanted to say more, but a call from Aiden pulled her away.

I closed my eyes and recalled the day I first met her.

The funeral had barely ended when my landlord threw me out onto the street. People pointed fingers in my face and hurled the cruelest insults they could think of.

Just as I was sinking into complete despair, Eloise appeared.

With a single glance, she had those people terrified and begging for mercy on their knees.

"Luke, have you ever considered being with me?"

Those were the first words Eloise ever said to me. From that day forward, I knew she had not approached me without a reason.

I agreed to become her kept man for the money. I also agreed because I wanted to get under Aiden's skin.

She took me as her lover specifically to provoke Aiden.

I had assumed she still resented him for leaving her all those years ago. The moment Aiden returned and humbled himself before her, however, she agreed to let bygones be bygones.

The sharp ring of my phone snapped me back to reality. I answered the call.

"Luke, I heard your sugar mommy is about to dump you. Want to find someone else just to get back at her?"