"Now be a good boy and take care of me. Don't worry, I'm not high-maintenance. I never bother with protection. Hahaha..."

In the depths of my despair, a thunderous crash erupted from outside.

The rolling shutter was forced open, and people stormed in.

"Let him go!"

It was officers from the nearby police station.

The internet café owner had driven out all the other patrons so he could assault me in peace. But someone had seen him slip something into my drink and quietly called 911 on their way out.

They rushed me to the hospital to have my stomach pumped, took my statement, and left me with a thick coat. I borrowed a charger from the front desk, and the next morning, I called the calligraphy class to resign.

Once that was done, I went to the mall next door, grabbed a cheap casual outfit, and got ready to fly home.

But the moment I stepped out of the mall, several of Lauren's bodyguards blocked my path.

"Mr. Henson, Ms. Sanchez is hosting a banquet at the Regalia Hotel today to celebrate Secretary Cobb's second anniversary. She's specifically requested that you come and perform for Secretary Cobb. If you'd please."

I frowned.

"Get out of my way, or I'm calling the police."

The lead bodyguard, Val Whitney, let out a contemptuous laugh.

"Go right ahead. Then we'll file a report too."

"Ms. Sanchez says the coat you burned last night was worth a hundred grand. That's enough to land you behind bars for a while."

I laughed in disbelief. So this was the trap they'd been waiting to spring.

"A hundred grand? I'll wire it to her right now."

But Val snatched the phone from my hand and smashed it on the ground at my feet.

"You ungrateful piece of shit."

"Without Ms. Sanchez, you couldn't even feed yourself. Who the hell do you think you are, playing lord of the manor? You haven't even signed the marriage certificate, and you think you're her husband? Take him."

They dragged me into a car and sped off.

When we arrived, the entire banquet hall had been decorated with staggering extravagance.

Noel, dressed in a tailored designer suit, had his arm around Lauren's waist as they worked the room, greeting guests.

He carried himself like the man of the house.

The irony cut deep.

Because Lauren had said she didn't want anything flashy, yesterday's wedding had been a bare-bones affair at some no-name motel. She'd only invited a handful of her personal friends, so most people in her circle didn't even know the wedding had happened.

I'd understood. I knew how hard she worked for her money. Besides, once I brought her home to meet my family, we'd throw a proper celebration. Everyone would see the announcement. The whole world would know.

So I hadn't minded.

But the Regalia was the most exclusive hotel in Capital City, operating on an elite membership system. Only those who met a certain threshold of status and wealth were even eligible to walk through the doors. A single banquet there ran into the millions.

And she'd booked it for Noel's anniversary. She'd even invited the press.

When Lauren spotted me, she walked over with a frown.

"The owner of the calligraphy class said you quit. Said you're leaving. Where do you think you're going?"

My voice came out flat. Dead.

"Home. To take care of my grandfather. Is that a problem?"

A smug, superior smile spread across her face.

"So you've finally figured it out. Without my protection, you can't survive a single day in this city. Your only option is crawling back to your little village to slop the pigs."

"Tell you what. If you wash all of Noel's underwear in front of everyone today, nice and clean, I'll forgive you. Tomorrow we'll go sign the marriage certificate, just like we planned."

Her assistant brought over a small basket. There had to be at least a dozen pairs inside.

Clearly, they'd had quite the night.

My hands had been protected my entire life. My family had never let me do so much as a single chore.

I stared at her, unable to process what I was hearing.

"Lauren, did your brain and your ass switch places? Every word out of your mouth is pure garbage."

"You two spent my wedding night making out and sleeping together, and now you want me to wash his dirty underwear?"

"Let me make one thing clear: even if you chopped Noel Cobb into pieces and sold him by the pound, he wouldn't be worth me lifting a single finger!"

Lauren's face went cold instantly.

"Who told you to humiliate Noel in front of everyone yesterday? This is the compensation you owe him!"

"Drop the act. Those hands of yours teach calligraphy all day. How much does that even pay? I promised you the position of man of the house at Sanchez Corp. Don't bite the hand that feeds you!"

"This is the anniversary gift Noel wants most, and I will give it to him!"

With that, she pulled out a bamboo calligraphy brush and sneered.

"Laurence, I believe this means a great deal to you. Am I right?"

"If you don't want me to snap it in half right now, you'll do exactly as I say."

My fists clenched at my sides.

That brush wasn't worth much money, but it was the last birthday gift my father ever gave me.

He'd made it by hand.

Not long after that, he died in a car accident.

I drew a deep breath, grinding my teeth before I spoke.

"Fine. I'll wash them."

Then I bent down, picked up the plastic basin they'd prepared, and said without a trace of expression, "Can I go to the bathroom to fill this up now?"

Only then did Lauren curl her lips in satisfaction.

"Good boy. As long as you keep Noel happy, I'll give it back, and things can go back to the way they were."

She posted a bodyguard at the door so I couldn't run.

Water rushed from the faucet, and my reflection stared back at me with ice-cold eyes.

I pressed the hidden button on the back of my mechanical watch.

A faint crackle of static lasted two seconds before a voice came through, equal parts roguish and wounded.

"I thought you'd thrown that watch away. What, you finally decided I'm not so bad after all?"

"Fair warning: if you're about to tell me you went and got a marriage license, I will throw myself off this building. Try me."

My voice came out level.

"No license. We broke up. She's making me wash her boy toy's underwear in front of a crowd."

"If you still want this marriage, don't make me waste my breath."

The other end went quiet for half a second.

When Ebony Mason spoke again, the excitement and fury in her voice were almost tangible.

"The Regalia Hotel?"

"Sit tight. I'll make that woman eat every last pair."

I was brought back to Noel.

Lauren hooked her arm through his, her tone dripping with tenderness. "Noel, today Laurence won't stop washing until you tell him to. Not until you're completely satisfied."

"Do you like your present?"

"Oh my God, I love it! Nobody treats me as well as you do, Ms. Sanchez."

The two of them locked lips in a shameless kiss, as if no one else existed.

Noel sauntered over to me, all smiles.

"So it turns out you didn't like barking like a dog, but this is more your speed? Tsk. Even trashier than I thought."

"You should've said so sooner. I've got plenty more at home. But wait, you're not planning to do this standing up, are you?"

The moment the words left his mouth, Lauren flicked her wrist.

A bodyguard behind me drove his boot into the back of my knee, forcing me to the ground.

Mocking laughter erupted all around.

"There we go. Much better angle for getting them nice and clean."

Noel picked up a bottle of liquor with an elegant flourish and blinked innocently.

"The thing is, I'm a bit of a germaphobe. Someone as filthy as you, Laurence... I just can't stand it. You don't mind if I sterilize you with a little alcohol, do you?"

I didn't look at him. My gaze went past him, settling on the woman behind.

"Lauren. Do I need to remind you that my skin is allergic to alcohol?"

"I'll ask you once. Are you sure you want to do this?"

Hesitation flickered across Lauren's face.

Before she could speak, Noel's eyes reddened, his voice trembling with hurt.

"Ms. Sanchez, don't tell me you actually feel sorry for him? You promised you'd help me save face today."

"I'm just trying to teach your husband how to be a proper, tidy homemaker. Otherwise, all he knows how to do is spend your money and throw jealous fits. How's he supposed to take care of you?"

Noel's lip trembled, his eyes glistening on cue. "If you think I'm out of line, then fire me. I'll leave and never come back. That way I won't be a bother to either of you."

Lauren's expression melted instantly. She cupped his face and wiped his tears, then turned to glare at me.

"Laurence, a skin allergy isn't going to kill you. Pop a few pills and you'll be fine."

"Noel's right. You need to learn your place. Other women's husbands don't act like you. Some wives keep a whole stable of lovers and their husbands don't say a word."

"Behave yourself. Stop upsetting Noel, and I promise I'll keep the deal I just made with you."

My heart went cold. Completely, irreversibly cold.

When Lauren's first business venture fell apart, she'd been swindled out of everything. Not only was she flat broke, she was half a million dollars in debt.

I couldn't stand watching her waste away, sleepless night after night, sinking deeper into despair.

But I didn't want her to feel like I was handing her charity, so I hid my identity. I told her I'd sold the house my parents left me, the one meant for our future together. I used the money to pay off every cent of her debt, gave her seed capital, and encouraged her to start over.

Then I asked one of my grandfather's most accomplished protégés to pose as a business mentor, coaching her one-on-one in corporate management and how to survive in the cutthroat world of high finance.

After that, I quietly leveraged my family's network to pull strings behind the scenes, securing investors and partnerships, helping her claw her way back up and into Capital City's elite circles.

And now, before she'd even fully cemented her position, she was already plotting to cast me aside and enjoy the best of both worlds.

But in this world, people who betray a sincere heart never meet a good end.

Noel gleefully upended an entire bottle of liquor over my head.

The alcohol burned like acid in my eyes, forcing out involuntary tears. My hair clung to my face in wet, reeking strands.

He poured five bottles in total, making sure every inch of me was drenched before he finally stopped.

He watched my skin swell red and angry from the allergic reaction, watched me clench my jaw against the searing pain and the fire spreading across every nerve.

Noel smiled, satisfied. He leaned down and whispered in my ear.

"Laurence, that sharp mouth of yours was running pretty hot earlier. What happened? Cat got your tongue?"

"You know as well as I do that I'm the one Lauren cares about most right now. One word from me, and she'll make you drink that entire basin of dirty underwear water."

"But tell you what. Get on your knees, knock your forehead on the floor a few times, and beg me nicely. I'll let you off with just two-thirds of the basin. Sound fair?"

So that was it. Payback for last night.

But if I rolled over that easily, I wouldn't be Laurence Henson.

I seized a fistful of his hair and slammed his entire head into the basin of filthy water.

Noel choked, thrashing wildly, but no matter how hard he struggled, he couldn't lift his face from the surface.

The guards wrenched me off him. He collapsed to the side, retching and coughing, but still managed to wail through his sobs.

"Lauren! He's jealous because you chose to kiss me that night! He's doing this out of spite!"

"If you don't punish him, I'll kill myself right now!"

Lauren's face turned to iron. She backhanded me so hard I hit the floor.

My forehead cracked against the corner of the table. Warmth flooded down my face.

"Laurence, you ungrateful piece of trash! You don't like me having a lover? Fine. Then I'll make you the side piece. You'll become the very thing you despise most!"

"Tomorrow I'm going to the courthouse with Noel. He's a hundred times more obedient and forgiving than you'll ever be. He deserves to be my husband, not you!"

"You like using your hands so much? Then I'll destroy them. Someone get over here and smash his fingers, one by one. Let's see if he ever dares lay a hand on Noel again!"

I was pinned to the floor, both arms stomped flat against the ground.

Noel tossed aside the towel he'd been using to dry his face and flashed me the triumphant grin of a victor.

Val walked over with a small iron hammer, lined it up with my fingers, and raised it high.

Just as the hammer was about to come crashing down, the banquet hall doors blew open with a deafening bang.

Ebony Mason's face emerged into view, all sharp, striking angles that looked almost otherworldly.

Behind her stood over a hundred former mercenaries in tight formation, disciplined and battle-ready.

Every single one of them wore the Mason family's iconic crest pinned to their lapels.

In the next instant, every person in the room shot to their feet, gasping in unison.

"Miss Mason, what brings you here?!"