We’d been married for three years, yet my husband, Gerard Blanding, had never once let me into his study. He kept his guard up around me in every possible way… because I was just the wife he bought for five million dollars.
And yet, I accepted it willingly… because I had secretly loved him for five long years.
Three months ago, he gave me a list—sixty-six tests I had to pass. “If you can get through every one of them,” he said, “then we’ll finally be a real couple.”
I was just about to complete the sixty-sixth when I got a call from the police.
“Hello, Vikki Blanding? Your husband’s been arrested for soliciting prostitution. Please come to the station to cooperate with the situation.”
It felt like a bolt of lightning struck me. Still refusing to believe it, I grabbed my keys and rushed to the station.
Inside, Gerard sat with his head lowered, trying to act cute as he begged for forgiveness.
“Hey, I know I messed up, okay? I won’t drag you into my nonsense anymore, I swear. I already did everything you asked—took the punishment, made it up to you and Vikki. Come on, smile for me.”
Tessa’s voice was soft and playful, her eyes still red as she finally smiled through her tears.
“Alright then, it’s a deal. From now on, you have to listen to me. When I tell you to stop, you stop. And also—”
Gerard nodded over and over like a fool, then leaned in and kissed her.
When I arrived at the police station, I didn’t see either of them. After asking around, I learned they had already left for an amusement park.
I overheard a young cop grumbling under his breath.
“Man, rich people really have their own kind of fun. Just to make his side chick happy, that guy actually let himself get arrested for soliciting, and then had his wife come bail him out.”
“They’re practically regulars here. The first time, they got in a fight over some sexy couple photos. The second time, she claimed the custom diamond necklace he bought her gave her an allergic reaction and accused him of trying to kill her. The third time, they came back from a trip and she cried about almost being trafficked… None of it’s trouble. They just love showing off.”
I turned around and walked out.
Like I didn’t already know about their dirty little scandals.
But none of it mattered anymore.
Those few years of my youth—I’d just count them as something I gave him.
One month from now, I’d be gone for good.
Vikki’s POV
Late that night, an unfamiliar call jolted me awake. I picked it up, still half-asleep.
“Hello? Is this Vikki Blanding? Your husband’s drunk out of his mind. Please come pick him up from Starshine Club.”
Before I could even respond, the line went dead. I didn’t catch the sound of laughter and chatter on the other end.
I got dressed and rushed to the club. Standing outside the private room, I hesitated, wondering if I should knock.
Then I heard Tessa’s bright, teasing voice ring out through the door.
“Vikki should be on her way by now! Usually, it doesn’t even take her half an hour. She comes running like a dog, terrified some other woman will steal her husband away.”
The people inside burst into laughter, joining in one after another.
“Everyone knows Gerard only really loves you, Tessa. If you hadn’t left the country three years ago, that woman would’ve never gotten her chance. You have no idea—he doesn’t even take her to our parties or let us call her sister-in-law.”
“Stop now, seriously. Talking about her just ruins the mood. I bet she’ll be here in twenty minutes.”
“Forty!”
“Come on, she’s never missed a single call to pick him up. This time won’t be any different.”
I stood there for a long moment in silence. Then I pushed open the heavy door.
“This is the last time,” I said quietly.
Every head turned toward me. For a moment, they all froze, but not one of them looked ashamed.
“Come sit,” Gerard said calmly, motioning to the seat beside him.
I looked at him. His eyes were clear, no trace of drunkenness. So it was just another performance.
“Gerard,” I said evenly, “this is the last time. Next time you drink yourself to death, I won’t give a damn anymore.”
My gaze fell on the couch beside him. Scattered on the leather were pink panties, a lacy bra that barely covered anything, and an unopened box of condoms.
My voice shook with the anger I could no longer hold back.
“You’re disgusting! You’re sleeping with your own stepsister. Aren’t you afraid of karma?”
My words were sharp, but Gerard just smirked, spinning a pack of cigarettes between his fingers. “Really? Maybe you should worry about yourself first. You think you’re not disgusting?”
The way he looked at me made my skin crawl. Suddenly, my mind went hazy, and I sneezed, catching a strange, unfamiliar scent.
I shook my head in disbelief. “What did you put in this room?”
A blond guy lounging nearby pointed at a small bouquet in his hand.
“It’s just gardenias. We all smell it fine. Only you think it’s weird.”
I let out a dry laugh.
Great. He already forgot I was allergic to pollen. And that smell? Definitely not just from the flower. It was some kind of aphrodisiac, for sure.
I just didn’t want to argue with him anymore. I stumbled toward the door, dragging my unsteady body with me.
Just then, the door kicked open.
“Police! Hands where we can see them! All of you!”
The young officer leading the raid went down the line, checking everyone one by one.
I crouched in a corner, watching as the escorts were marched out.
“Officer, there’s one more over here!” Tessa proclaimed, her voice clear and triumphant.
I looked down at the prohibited items that had somehow ended up on me and had no idea how to explain it.
“This is a misunderstanding! This is a misunderstanding!” I protested. “I came here with Gerard!”
The officer’s skeptical eyes swept over me, then locked onto Gerard.
“You know her? Tell the truth.”
