Book 5
Chapter 1
For five years of marriage, my husband Ethan brought different women home every few days.
Until Faye–his dream girl–appeared, and the cycle broke.
After their wild night together, Ethan forced me to clean their room.
Faye lounged lazily in Ethan’s arms, looking at me with contempt. “Ethan, is this the old, ugly wife you told me about? The one you can’t even get aroused for?”
Ethan played with Faye’s hair absentmindedly and grunted in agreement.
Then that girl pulled down the blanket, revealing the fresh hickeys on her skin. “See these? This is how a man should respond to a young–beautiful woman. As a woman, you’re such a failure.”
The two of them laughed and mocked my stupidity, but I said nothing, just kept my head down and continued cleaning.
But back in my room, I pulled out divorce papers from the safe.
Five years I had almost forgotten that Ethan and I only had a marriage of contract.
In one week, these divorce papers would finally take effect!
The next morning, I got up early as usual.
Ethan had already called three times, demanding I bring breakfast to the bedroom.
I refused.
“What, do you two not have hands or feet? Do you need me to feed you bite by bite?”
The moment I hung up, Ethan stormed out, pointing his finger in my
face.
“Olivia, who do you think you’re talking to? Don’t forget whose house you’re in and who
you’re speaking to!”
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The Internet’s Favorite Couple Was My Marriage’s Worst Nightmare
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Chapter 1
I didn’t speak, just looked up at him.
I’d stared at this face for five years. Loved it for five years.
I knew he didn’t love me, but I never expected that after five years, he’d never once considered me part of this home.
Finally, I lowered my eyes and replied.
“I’ll be leaving this house soon enough.”
Ethan grew angrier. “Leave this house?? You’ve been living off me for years. How would
you survive without me?”
Before he finished, Faye’s lazy voice came from behind him.
“Aw, is the old lady getting moody? What, feeling bitter that you’re aging while Ethan’s with
someone younger and prettier?”
“If you’re so upset, why don’t you strip and crawl into Ethan’s bed too? Although-” She laughed with undisguised contempt. “Looking at your face, I doubt any man could get
excited.”
I threw my spoon onto the table, the sharp sound seemed to ignite something.
Ethan snorted beside me.
“Did Faye hit a nerve? Now you’re throwing tantrums?”
I pressed my lips together, silently putting away my half–eaten porridge and walking to the kitchen.
Faye’s triumphant voice carried‘ from the dining room. “That’s hilarious! Just stick to being a housewife, grandma!”
“Enough,” Ethan scolded, though his voice carried obvious affection.
I stood staring at the running faucet, lost in thought until the water nearly overflowed.
A hand reached past me to turn off the tap.
The Internet’s Favorite Couple Was My Marriage’s Worst Nightmare
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“What are you daydreaming about?” The voice was too close. I turned and immediately met Ethan’s dark, unreadable eyes.
I lowered my head and started washing dishes.
“Nothing. Just wondering what I’ll do after our divorce.”
“Divorce?” Ethan acted like he’d heard a joke. “You’ve been with me since college, been a housewife for five years. You’re completely disconnected from the world. What could you possibly do without me?”
“A maid? A cleaning lady?”
I’d heard these belittling comments too many times that I almost believed I was as worthless as he said.
But five years ago, I was young and pretty just like Faye.
Five years ago, my parents died in a car accident, leaving me with my ten–year-old brother who had leukemia.
Desperate, I dropped out of school and worked part–time to pay for his treatment.
The fastest way to make money was working at nightclubs as a hostess.
When a client humiliated me and smashed a bottle against my forehead, a hand reached
out to me.
That was my first encounter with Ethan Stone.
He descended into my life like a god, rescuing me from that hell.
He proposed a contract marriage.
Five hundred thousand dollars for five years of my life.
I agreed.
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