Lure Him In

I've been married to Shawn Ford for three years, and he's humiliated and insulted me throughout. When he's with his friend, he brags, "The woman my Uncle Cameron can't have is licking my boots. I want to laugh whenever I see her sucking up to me."

It wouldn't ever occur to him that I'm frequently in his uncle's bed, covered in hickeys and love bites he leaves on my body.

......

Shawn Ford was back from his travels, and he'd brought me a gift, which was a rare occurrence. I looked at the velvet box but didn't take it.

"Are you stunned? You don't have to be that touched by me giving you a little trinket like this, do you?" He looked at me mockingly. He carelessly threw the box onto the table.

My assistant, Marissa Smith, quickly picked up the box and held it before me. "Why are you just sitting there, Luna? Open it and see what's inside!"

I couldn't be bothered to lift a finger, but I was curious to see what Shawn was up to this time. I lazily opened the box to see a custom-made necklace inside.

The name engraved on it wasn't mine, though. It was for Heather Shaw, a celebrity. I supposed he had better tastes this time.

Marissa leaned closer with a bright smile. "The packaging looks so fancy. Let me see what's inside!"

I didn't hide the necklace, so she clearly saw Heather's name on the necklace. Her smile froze, and she parted her lips awkwardly. "Uh… I still have some work to do."

I waved a hand and dismissed her, looking uncaring. Shawn, on the other hand, looked a little angry at my indifference.

"Is that how you're going to react to me kindly getting you a gift, Luna?" he snarled.

Man, it looked like I'd been so deeply in love with him in the past that he'd gotten the wrong idea about the current me. I was about to say something to brush him off when his phone rang.

He didn't bother hiding from me to answer the call—Heather's voice rang out in the room. She said, "You took the gift meant for me and gave it to Luna, Shawnie. What should we do?"

Shawn faltered before starting to flirt with her. "Weren't you the one who packed my things, babe?"

She giggled coquettishly. "Oh, you found me out. I did it on purpose. She won't get mad at me, will she?"

Shawn glanced at me before saying patiently, "This means nothing. She won't get mad even if I bring you home with me."

I raised an eyebrow, thinking that he was right. I wouldn't have gotten mad in the past because I humbled myself too much in my love for him. Now, I wouldn't get angry because I no longer felt anything for him.

Shawn was still living in the past, though.

Heather huffed. "Hurry up and come back, okay? I miss you already."

Shawn made a sound of acknowledgment and promised to buy her a new Hermès bag. An eerie silence descended upon the room after he hung up.

Perhaps my seemingly obedient appearance awakened his conscience. He came close to me and held my hand. "I'll buy you a new necklace, Lulu. One that's from the brand you usually wear."

I chuckled and retorted. "You might as well just transfer the money to me. Ms. Shaw will probably get mad at you if she hears about this."

He scowled and released me, leaning over me with his hands propped on the table. "I've never realized how materialistic you are, Luna. I can offer you money and gifts, but you can't demand them from me. Do you understand that?"

I almost let out a derisive laugh. He was willing to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars—millions, even—to buy his mistress bags and luxury goods, but he was unwilling to transfer 20 thousand dollars to me.

I couldn't believe how pathetic this marriage had made me. Why else would he be so scornful and disdainful of me?

I retracted my phone and looked through my messages, my expression icy. When he saw that I wasn't responding to his words, he rapped his knuckles on the table and said in a warning tone, "You're not a teenager, so stop pulling the jealous act. I don't have time to waste on you."

He turned to leave but stopped at the door. "Oh, right. Uncle Cameron is back—stay away from him. After all, you're my woman. I'm the only one who can see you."

After that, he hurried off to be with Heather.

Meanwhile, I read a text that his Uncle Cameron had just sent to me. I laughed.