Loving You Is My Sin

After an abrupt silence, Jude headed upstairs.He suddenly heard Scarlett's voice from behind. "Have you ever loved me? Even if just a little?" Her words betrayed a tiny, pathetic shred of hope.Under the light, her body was shaking... "Jude, have you ever loved me?" She stared at the man's lanky figure with nervousness, hope, and unease... Emotions of every kind intertwined and formed a chaotic jumble. She was desperate to hear his answer.That answer was..."Don't you know the answer, Mrs. Simmons? The only thing that exists between us is a contract. Love? You must be kidding me."Jude's chuckle reached her ears.She raised her hands and pressed them hard against her heart. Her face was a frightening shade of white... Hadn't she known his answer long ago? Still, she couldn't help but hope... "Moron! Scarlett, you're a moron!" "Jude Simmons, is it our contract? Is that why you're willing to compromise, stay with me, and come home every night for the past seven years?"Jude

Moonlight filtered into the room through the floor-to-ceiling window and onto a sleepless Scarlett as she listened to the steady breathing of the man beside her. She took advantage of the moonlight to look at him, only to see his large, seductive back... For the past seven years, they would always sleep on the same bed after sex. Yet, whenever she opened her eyes, she would either be alone or he would face his back against her.She wanted so badly to tell him that she had only learned about Lucy's leukemia when he asked her to donate her bone marrow.She had signed up as a bone marrow donor by coincidence. After finding out that she was a match for Lucy, she agreed to help without even thinking about it.Still, she didn't think that he would believe her even if she told him.That wicked idea had come to her suddenly, and she somehow garnered the courage to make an outrageous request: "If you sign the contract and marry me, I'll save her." She had been too desperate for Jude and his

"Hmm? Why isn't the wife of the year sending you lunch today?" Eric Parker was Jude's close childhood friend, who had joined the Simmons Corporation as Jude's secretary instead of working for his family's business.It was Jude's first day at work after returning from Provence. "Mrs. Simmons" had always delivered homemade lunch to the office every day without fail.Jude hated Scarlett, so Eric was the one who always ate all the good food.Scarlett's cooking skills had made him a picky eater and he wouldn't eat food from just any restaurant. Of the three meals in a day, lunchtime was the only time when he could eat the food that Scarlett had prepared for Jude.Seeing that it was about time, he waited and waited for the familiar blue lunchbox until he was forced to question Jude."We're divorced." The man behind the desk sounded so nonchalant yet his words were like a bomb strike to Eric."A divorce?" Eric's voice was loud and full of disbelief. "You're joking! How could she bear di

When Audrey appeared to have more to say, Jude interrupted her out of inexplicable anger. "That's between me and her," he said unhappily.Although he sounded as gentle as ever, a tactful person would have heard the warning in his voice.Jude was inexplicably furious. No matter how much hatred and contempt he held for that woman, that was his business. Hearing Audrey mention that woman upset him immensely."Jude... I-I just feel bad and sorry for you. Please don't be mad at me," Audrey explained herself flusteredly over the phone.Looking impatient, Jude interrupted her pleasant, albeit, flustered voice, "Got it. Let's end it here."He was about to hang up when Audrey cried, "Wait!""Jude, it has been years since my sister passed away. It must be the eighth anniversary this year... Jude, can you really not forget about her? C-Can't I be the one instead?" Audrey asked, sounding agitated. "Jude, my sister and I are twins. We look exactly the same. Jude, I love you."Jude Simmons's

A few days later, Eric and Jude received an invitation to their high school reunion.They were childhood friends as well as high school classmates; they even studied at the same university abroad.The high school reunion was held in a private lounge at the Marriott International Hotel. Though initially reserved, everyone soon eased up after several rounds of drinks later.When Jude gave Eric a "this-is-freaking-boring look", Eric spread his hands with a wry smile. He wouldn't have come had he known that this reunion was nothing more than a flattering contest.Knowing that Jude was running out of patience, he stood up. "Please go on without us, guys. Jude and I..." There was no reason to stay in such a boring gathering much longer.Eric was about to bid everyone farewell when one of their drunk classmates interrupted him and asked loudly, "Simmons, I heard you have gotten divorced?"His voice was so loud that everyone fell silent.The man was positively intoxicated as he walked t