Chapter 1

Benjamin's POV

I looked at the smile on Elena Sawyer's face, and I knew without a doubt that what she and Justin Butler just said was no joke. I immediately pulled my hand out of hers.

Noticing my rejection, she looked over to me and spoke gently. "What's wrong, Benjamin? Are you feeling too tired?"

She casually picked up the coat beside her and draped it over my shoulders.

The next second, Justin swirled the wine in his glass. In Ruskian, he taunted me in a lazy, almost playful tone,

"Think he'd cry on the spot if he knew we did it in every corner of your marital home last night?"

Elena didn't even look at Justin. She picked up her glass and lightly clinked it against his.

Looking into my eyes, she answered in Ruskian, "So what if he finds out? What's wrong with a successful woman having a few men?"

The women in the private room who understood the language laughed even louder. Amid their shrill laughter, Elena turned toward me and leaned closer.

She switched back to the local language and said softly, "If you are, why don't you go home and get some rest? We still have to go to the city hall tomorrow."

I found the whole thing almost laughable. "What exactly were you two talking about just now?"

Elena barely flinched. "We were saying that you're finally going to be my husband tomorrow. Everyone is just jealous that we get our happy ending."

Justin took the opportunity to come over and throw an arm around my shoulders. "Yeah, Benjamin. I'll always be there for you, too."

Looking at his pretentious smile, I wanted so badly to just respond to them in Ruskian, "Bastards. That's not what you were saying a moment ago."

Before I could say anything, he suddenly clutched his stomach and doubled over. "Ouch."

Elena immediately let go of my waist. She moved so quickly that she nearly left me swaying. In just a second, she reached Justin and caught him, not bothering to see if I was alright.

Justin leaned against her, his back to me, and secretly winked at Elena.

I caught it, and suddenly, it all clicked.

I always thought Justin had a serious stomach condition. Every time we got together, and he complained about his stomach hurting, Elena drove him home herself, no matter how late it was.

Now, watching the effortless way they communicated with nothing but their eyes, I felt sick to my stomach. So, they had been sleeping with each other countless times, and I had been foolishly oblivious.

Elena steadied Justin, then turned to me. "His stomach is acting up again. I'm taking him to the hospital."

She paused, then walked back over to me. "Just take a cab home. I'll be back soon."

I stepped back and shrugged off the coat she put over my shoulders. "I don't think so. And I don't think we're still getting married tomorrow."

Elena froze for a moment, assuming jealousy had gotten into my head.

She walked over and, as usual, started placating me.

"Oh, babe. Are you really jealous of your best friend? You know his stomach is bad."

She rose onto her toes and kissed me lightly on the cheek. "I'll be back soon. Are you just nervous because we're getting married tomorrow? Come on, babe. You're the one I'm marrying."

With that, she helped Justin into the car.

I was just about to confront Elena when the car door was closed.

Just before it closed, Justin leaned toward her and murmured in Ruskian, "So, what do you want tonight, my queen? Your little bad wolf or your sweet puppy?"

She let out a soft laugh and closed the door.