Divorcing the Ruthless CEO

The whip struck the woman's soft, tender skin, and searing pain spread through her entire body.

Christina Reed lay on the cold tile floor, biting hard on her lower lip just to stay conscious.

Her body shook with agony, but she still lifted her gaze defiantly toward the man lounging on the sofa. “Ethan… why can’t you trust me?”

In stark contrast to her misery, Ethan Carter sat on the leather sofa in a custom-tailored suit, legs crossed, his posture noble and cold.

His face was strikingly handsome, every sharp angle commanding attention, while his almond-shaped eyes carried a cold, untouchable restraint—a beauty so intense it bordered on oppressive.

He looked down at her from above, his voice full of disgust. “I saw it with my own eyes. You still want to make excuses?”

Christina’s whole body trembled as she screamed hoarsely, “Emily fell by herself...”

A sudden, searing pain shot through her jaw, forcing her to lift her head. Ethan’s icy gaze locked onto hers.

“Christina, you knew Emily was in poor health, yet you deliberately pushed her down the stairs. Why are you so vicious?”

His fingers tightened around her jaw with such force that Christina felt as if her bones might shatter.

Christina looked at him. Though she was destined to be his wife, she had never earned his trust. “I swear, I didn’t.” Her head shook violently, desperation lacing her voice. “I was only trying to save her.”

“Still making excuses.” Ethan flung her face aside and barked coldly at the bodyguard nearby, “Keep going. Beat her until she’s willing to tell the truth.”

Christina clung to Ethan’s pant leg, her body shaking. “Ethan… I’m your wife. You can’t do this to me...”

Before she could finish, a powerful force sent her flying away.

Ethan turned his back on her, leaving her only a cold, unyielding silhouette as he spat out one word: “Continue.”

The whip lashed down on Christina once more, agony twisting her into a tight curl. The last flicker of hope inside her went out completely.

Bracing herself against the floor, she screamed with all her strength, “Ethan, if you don’t believe me, then let’s get divorced!”

Ethan’s departing footsteps stopped.

He turned back to look at Christina, battered and bruised on the floor, and smiled coldly. “Divorce? The position of Mrs. Carter that you schemed so hard to get—you’re willing to give it up? I’m warning you, don’t think you can threaten me with divorce. It won’t work.”

Ethan’s words cut deeper than any lash on her skin. At last, Christina realized that all along, he believed she would stop at nothing—calculating, shameless, relentless.

Five years ago, at an art exhibition, she saved Elizabeth Carter’s life by performing CPR after Elizabeth choked and vomited. That incident marked the beginning of a close friendship between them.

At the banquet, murmurs of disdain spread through the crowd, claiming her daring rescue was nothing more than a calculated move to attach herself to the illustrious Carter family.

She had blushed in embarrassment at their words, but Ethan stood up for her and drove those gossipy people away.

In that moment, her heart wavered.

She knew he was only protecting the Carter family’s dignity, but to her, it became a rare light in her dark life.

Knowing her place, she hid those feelings away and always treated him with respect and distance.

The turning point came three years ago at Elizabeth’s birthday banquet. After they were drugged and found entwined in the same bed, the scandal exploded across Emerald City overnight. Only when Elizabeth forced him into marriage did the uproar finally subside.

And Ethan’s lover, Emily Cooper, left the country without a word after hearing the news.

Ethan blamed everything on Christina—hated her for appearing at Carter Manor, hated her for climbing into his bed, hated her for ruining his love.

From then on, he looked at her only with disgust.

Only Christina knew the truth: she had never even entertained such a thought. How could she possibly have drugged him?

That night three years ago, when she woke up, she was already beneath him, her whole body aching, her mind blank, with no idea what had happened.

Over the past three years, everyone in Emerald City had mocked her as shameless, willing to do anything to marry into wealth.

Every member of the Carter family, Elizabeth excepted, regarded her with nothing but scorn and disdain.

She swallowed her temper and endured every grievance only because she still held on to a sliver of hope.

A year ago, after he got drunk, they slept together for the first time since their marriage.

Afterward, Ethan’s attitude toward her softened noticeably, and their intimacy began to grow with surprising ease.

She thought her persistence had finally moved him and made him see her sincerity.

But now, every lash of pain finally woke her up.

It turned out it had all been her wishful thinking.

She was no longer willing to endure a life of meek submission and hollow fantasies, no longer willing to remain trapped in a marriage without love or trust.

She wanted to set him free—and set herself free too.

Seeing her fall silent, Ethan assumed he had struck a nerve. His expression darkened further as he said coldly, “Today is just a small punishment. If you still don’t learn your lesson, I’ll show you what happens when you anger me.”

With that, he strode away, his retreating figure resolute.

One day earlier, late at night.

The floor-to-ceiling windows in the master bedroom stood open, wind pouring in, but it couldn’t dispel the thick scent of sex in the room.

On the expansive bed, Ethan’s movements were fierce, as if he wanted to fuse Christina completely into himself.

“Gentler...” Christina endured his thrusts, gripping the sheets tightly beneath her.

Hearing her plea, Ethan, on top of her, didn’t slow down at all. Instead, he became even more ruthless.

Christina passively endured it, gazing hazily at the handsome face above her.

Fire burned in his eyes—an obsession with her body.

Between them, there were no kisses, no tenderness, only raw, possessive lust, as if she existed solely to satisfy his desire.

“Focus.” Ethan noticed her distraction, his large hand gripping her waist as he punished her with even greater force.

Christina let out a muffled groan, tears forced from the corners of her eyes.

After a long while, everything finally stopped.

Ethan strode toward the bathroom, and soon the rush of water filled the room. Christina hauled her aching body upright and barely managed to lean against the headboard.

Soon, the bathroom door opened.

Ethan wore only a towel wrapped around his waist. Water still dripped from his hair, droplets sliding down his broad shoulders and neck, tracing over his firm chest and abs before disappearing into his V-line.

Christina watched him. He truly had a perfect body. Even after all these years, her heart still fluttered at the sight.

Ethan ran a towel through his hair. When his gaze lifted, it locked onto Christina’s glistening, tear-filled eyes.

In those eyes was undisguised adoration.