Chapter 1

In that instant, I pushed open the apartment door, and the lunch box in my hand slipped, crashing to the floor.

The sounds coming from the bedroom made my blood freeze instantly—James's urgent panting mixed with a woman's wanton moaning.

No, that wasn't right.

Because I knew that voice all too well.

It was Victoria. My stepmother.

My fingers gripped the door handle tightly, knuckles white as bone. Through the half-open door, I witnessed a scene that would be forever seared into my memory—James kneeling between Victoria's legs, his tongue moving slowly and deliberately, teasing her.

She arched beneath him, fingers tangled in his hair, her moans shameless and lewd. And what she was wearing—it was the silk nightgown I'd bought just last month. My nightgown. My bed.

On the nightstand sat a photo of us—James's arm wrapped around my waist, his smile so tender, so deceitful.

The contrast was nauseating: the man who once whispered sweet words in my ear now had his head buried between my stepmother's trembling thighs as she gasped his name.

I had planned to leave work early, bringing him his favorite sushi as a surprise, only to stumble upon this disgusting betrayal.

That bitch Victoria!

Rage and disgust surged through me. When Dad had just died, she couldn't wait to move into our house, claiming she wanted to take care of this "poor child."

And now? She was seducing my boyfriend!

This was how she repaid my father? This was her idea of "mother-daughter bond"?

Watching her slutty display made me sick. A woman pushing forty, still playing innocent?

That face flushed from a man's attention, those deliberate moans, and that smug gleam in her eyes—she was doing this on purpose!

She knew this was my room, my bed, my boyfriend, but she wanted to humiliate me like this!

"Baby, you're back just in time," James said, not a trace of guilt on his face. That disgusting smirk played at the corner of his lips, as if this were some twisted victory. "Victoria and I were just... discussing our relationship."

"Discussing?" My voice trembled with suppressed fury. "You call this discussing?"

Victoria sat up, completely unbothered by her near-naked state, lazily combing her disheveled hair with my brush. "Becky, darling," she purred, "James mentioned you're somewhat... inhibited in bed. He thought you might need a little... guidance."

That old whore!

Suddenly I remembered all her seemingly caring words: "Becky, you need to learn to dress yourself up, or what man would like you?" "Women need to learn to please men, you can't always be so stubborn."

So she'd been preparing for this all along! This scheming bitch, pretending to care about my love life while secretly seducing my boyfriend!

"Inhibited?" A bitter laugh escaped my throat. "So your solution was to do this in my bed, wearing my clothes?"

James stood up, shameless, his gaze full of contempt. "Honestly, Becky, you're too boring. Always the same old positions. Victoria's willing to experiment—something you never could do." He moved closer, his voice low and revolting. "We could share her. Think about it—the three of us. You'd never have to worry about disappointing me again."

Share?

The word nearly made me sick! This pair of dogs wanted me to join their depraved game! What did they think I was? Property?

"Get out."

My voice shook the walls. I'd never experienced such fury.

"Don't be so dramatic," James sneered, reaching out to touch me. "You should be grateful I'm giving you this opportunity. Most women would kill for—"

"Grateful?" I grabbed the lamp from the nightstand and hurled it at him. "Get out of my house!"

He dodged, and his fake charm finally cracked. "You're throwing away two years, Becky. Who else would put up with your frigid act? You'll come crawling back begging."

Victoria leaned against his arm, her smile sickeningly sweet, that victorious pose making my teeth itch with hatred. "He's right, darling. Modern women shouldn't cling to outdated jealousy. Sharing is enlightened."

That shameless old hag!

Did she think seducing my boyfriend made her the winner? Did she think I'd stoop as low as her to fight over men?

"Share?" I pointed at the door. "What do you think I am? An object? Disappear from my house or I'm calling the police!"

James's face darkened, but he knew today was a lost cause. As he dressed, he couldn't resist one final blow: "You'll regret this."

The door slammed shut.

I leaned against it, slowly sliding to the floor, trembling with rage.

Bastard. Bitch.

I hugged my knees, feeling my heart pounding violently in my chest. Two years of love, two years of trust, kicked into the gutter just like that.

Tears wanted to come, but I refused to cry for such scum.

I couldn't let this break me.

James's words "who else would put up with your frigid act" echoed in my mind, gnawing at my self-esteem like a venomous snake. Did they think I'd hide in a corner crying? Did they think I'd lick my wounds like some pathetic creature?

Wrong.

I'd show them that losing me was the biggest mistake of their lives!

I shot up, walked to the kitchen, and grabbed a bottle of red wine. If James thought I was too conservative, if Victoria thought I wasn't "enlightened" enough, then I'd prove them wrong—I could be more open, more wild!

And I'd find a man a hundred times better than James!

The alcohol burned in my veins as I opened my laptop and logged into that underground dating platform a friend had secretly recommended.

"Want to find a better man to piss off those two dogs," I muttered, browsing the page. "Preferably the type that would make James feel inferior."

Photos scrolled past until one title caught my attention:

[Professional Problem Solver. Target Elimination. Price Negotiable. Full refund if task cannot be completed.]

The photo below made me stop scrolling.

The man in the picture faced away from the camera, showing off impressive shoulder and back muscles, broad shoulders and a lean waist forming the perfect inverted triangle. Though I couldn't see his face, that physique alone was enough to set one's imagination racing.

"Target elimination... must mean eliminating emotional baggage, right?" I squinted at the screen. "These professional service providers really know how to package themselves."

I opened the chat window, alcohol making me bolder than usual.

[Me: Hi, I saw your ad, how much for one time?]

He replied quickly.

[Depends on how many targets. Are you sure you want to do this?]

Multiple targets? I paused, then understood. This guy was thoughtful, worried I couldn't handle too much at once.

[Me: Just me alone, can you give a discount?]

This time he was silent for a long while, so long I thought he'd gone offline.

[Do you have any special requirements?]

Special requirements? So direct? I blushed, not expecting this platform's services to be so... professional.

[Me: Anything goes?]

[Extra charge.]

Concise and clear, very professional attitude. I bit my lip. Though my wallet would hurt, it was worth it to spite James!

[Me: Never mind then... wait, can we meet tomorrow to discuss details?]

Another long silence.

[Fine. Tomorrow 2 PM, downtown Starbucks.]

[Me: How will I recognize you?]

[I'll find you.]

Such a mysterious and charming answer! I closed the laptop, my heart racing inexplicably.

This man gave me a very special feeling—professional, mysterious, and that body... God, just imagining his hands touching my skin made me shiver.

Tomorrow at 2 PM.

What should I wear? That black bodycon dress? Or something bolder?

Imagining James's expression when he saw me with such a gorgeous guy, I couldn't help but smile. He'd be so green with envy!