I hated the people around Richard. This was why. In their eyes, I ranked somewhere near Richard's household staff.
Before marriage, who would've dared call Natalie Green "dull"?
In two years of marriage, I'd worked so hard to restrain myself. I'd learned all those boring, tedious social protocols because Richard asked. I'd changed how I dressed. I'd even given up singing. All of it to become a better Mrs. Winston. And none of it mattered. To Richard and his friends, I was still no different from something he'd purchased.
I closed my eyes, waiting for Richard's response.
Please. Say something.
Don't let me be this humiliated.
"Since when do you care about this stuff?" Richard clearly wanted to drop it.
But Nick wouldn't let go, his tone carrying that knowing male laugh. "Just curious. You never talk about it. Though I remember you mentioning once that you two are very compatible in bed?"
Richard made a soft sound. "That's true. Otherwise, this marriage would be truly dull."
Boom.
Absurdity and heartbreak got crushed under pure rage.
I wanted to storm out there, stand in front of him, throw what I was holding in his face, and demand answers. Richard Winston, what the hell am I to you? Some legal, convenient sex toy?
My feet moved forward an inch without permission, and in that instant—
"Richard?" Olivia's weak voice came from the room. "Are you out there? I'm thirsty..."
Richard turned immediately, striding toward the room, his tone holding a concern I rarely heard. "I'm here. Don't move. I'll get you water."
The door wasn't fully closed. There was a gap. I don't know how I crept closer.
"You came." Inside, Olivia's voice had more strength than before. "I thought you'd be stuck listening to Nick ramble."
"He talks too much." Richard's voice had lost some of that business-cold edge.
Then the sound of him pouring water for Olivia.
"Your wife doesn't know you're back, does she?"
The moment Olivia finished speaking, Richard responded coolly. "She doesn't need to know."
Their tones were nearly identical. It made Nick laugh. "Richard, I've known you for years. I always figured you'd end up marrying Olivia. I even had custom watches made with your names on them as a wedding gift. Then you turned around and married that boring Natalie woman. I really couldn't accept it at the time."
"What's there to accept?" Olivia shrugged casually. "As long as Richard thinks that choice makes him happy."
"Fair enough." Nick shifted position. "Remember graduation night in college?"
Richard and Olivia said nothing, like they were waiting for Nick to continue.
"Richard got pretty drunk that night, said after graduation he'd definitely marry Olivia." Nick's laugh grew more teasing. "We all made bets, said if you didn't follow through, you'd still have to fulfill a husband's duties to Olivia after marriage—and you nodded and agreed to it, Richard. Don't pretend you don't remember."
The room went briefly silent.
Then came Olivia's light laugh, like a cat that got the cream. "Don't worry, Nick. Our Richard keeps his word. Last week, he and I completed that bet at the Royal Saoiy Hotel."
Richard didn't deny it.
A husband's duties... even an idiot knew what they'd done in that hotel. Richard had actually slept with Olivia?
