My Husband's Old Flame Got Divorced

I found out my husband's old flame got divorced.

I confronted my husband that same night.

My husband laughed. "Are you sure? Should I call my secretary right now and cancel the Butterfly haute couture?"

I...??

Waaah, let me rethink this.

1

Unexpectedly, my husband's old flame returned a little earlier than I'd anticipated.

I was soaking in a milk bath with a face mask on, looking at a social media post from one of his friends.

In the photo, Julian Sterling stood close beside a graceful-looking woman. They both looked overjoyed, their smiles reaching their eyes.

I only got the chance to marry him because Eleanor Wynne left.

Even though I knew from the very beginning this marriage had no future, I still dove in headfirst. The reason was simple: Julian Sterling was loaded.

After all, things you can solve with money are a lot simpler than getting feelings involved.

For the past two years, our marriage has been all about pleasure, not love.

And as it turns out, being with him is actually a lot of fun. He's well-endowed, great in bed, gorgeous, and willing to spend a ton of money on me. A pretty decent husband, all things considered.

I had just stepped out of the tub when I heard the squeal of brakes from outside.

It was Julian Sterling, back in a frantic hurry to come divorce me, no doubt.

That's Julian Sterling for you, always a cut above the rest. Even when he's cheating, he manages to give both sides his full attention.

He tore off his tie and pulled me into his arms, dipping his head to press a fierce kiss onto my shoulder.

"Milk?"

I was ticklish and started to shrink back.

'He smelled of another woman's perfume, a crime my nose was quick to detect. Fresh from a date, and now he's here trying to seduce me. What incredible stamina he has.'

"What did you call me for earlier?" His eyes were practically smoldering.

I quickly pulled my nightgown closed. 'I wouldn't call him for no reason. The truth is, I was looking for his secretary.'

"Because I missed my husband, of course," I said, putting on a show of being cute.

"Nora Ashwood, you've never been able to lie," he said, watching me with an unreadable smile.

'He's right, I can't lie to save my life. For the past two years, I've always just asked Julian Sterling directly for whatever I wanted. He'd give me anything—anything but his love.'

"I just wanted to ask when the Butterfly haute couture you promised me is going to arrive?" 'His secretary was handling it, so who else was I going to ask?'

Julian Sterling's eyes narrowed as he studied me thoughtfully. "In a hurry to wear it?"

'Well, Eleanor Wynne is back, so...'

I bit back the rest of my sentence.

'Forget it. I might as well just lay my cards on the table.'

"When should we get our business taken care of? Just pick a date and have your secretary inform me," I said softly, nestled in his arms.

"What business?" he asked, his brow furrowing.

I...???

'Figures. A man in love really is an idiot. What happened to his usual sharpness? How could he not pick up on what I was saying?'

"I guess I'll go pack my bags, then." 'I had no desire to play along with his act anymore. So childish.'

I had just started to get up when he seized my wrist and yanked me down beneath him.

Before I could even process what was happening, his fiery kisses descended, blanketing me. Julian Sterling ripped at my clothes, far rougher than usual.

'I knew he was angry. I must have struck a nerve.'

'Heh. To think the man who's usually so cool and composed could be such a hypocrite.'

I instinctively tried to dodge his kiss. But for a man who always had the upper hand, how could he tolerate being slighted? He redoubled his efforts to dominate me.

The next morning, I woke up aching all over, just as I'd expected. I couldn't even lift my wrist.

I tried to slip out of bed quietly, but a large hand pressed me back down.

"You're going to be late for work," I whispered.

He pulled me tighter into his embrace, burying his face in the crook of my neck.

'This position felt so intimate. How ironic. Our relationship was strictly about pleasure. Anything more was just a pipe dream.'

"Not going. Taking today off," he muttered, his eyes still closed.

'Of course. It was for Eleanor Wynne.'

'He wouldn't even take a day off for our wedding anniversary, but the moment Eleanor Wynne gets a divorce, he's ready to let his business go to ruin.'