Chapter 1

　　Iris's POV

　　I raised my hand, intending to knock. Then I heard my husband, Damian's voice. Another man's voice could be heard too, faintly. This made me pause, "was he still in a meeting?"

　　I smoothed down my dress and drew a shaky breath. I've been so excited on my way here, today being our third wedding anniversary.

　　For three years, Damian had never touched me. He'd always blamed his health.

　　Under my dress was the red lingerie I'd bought for our anniversary...who knows? Maybe it would finally make him want me. Just thinking about it made my cheeks burn. It might sound silly, but our marriage had been falling apart for so long, and I didn't know what else to do anymore. So if there was a small chance this might change anything...

　　"I'll just come back," I sighed, not wanting to disturb his meeting. Then I heard it. "Mmm...fuck me. Just like that!" It was a man's moan.

　　I paused, my eyes widened in shock as I tried to process what was happening.

　　"Are you ready for me my love?" My husband said in a low thick voice heavy with lust.

　　No. I didn't want to believe this. My hands were shaky as I tried to push the door open and walk in on them! Maybe it was...

　　I swallowed, leaning closer. The door was slightly open and there they were, both fully naked caressing each other.

　　Choking on my sobs, I pressed my hands firmly on my lips to not make any sound.

　　Damian looked happier than I'd ever seen him. I saw now that it was never that he couldn't with me. He just didn't want me...

　　This was my husband who I have loved and dated for four years, and married for three. All through the time we'd been together, Damian and I had never had sex before.

　　"I want to save this moment for our wedding night," he had said to me when we were dating.

　　And on our wedding night, he had shocked me with the biggest secret. He was nursing sexual dysfunction. I always went with him to the hospital every time for check ups, praying every night I would one day feel his touch and carry his baby soon.

　　I paused as I realized who the other man had been. "Julian..." That was my husband's assistant. Damian was fucking his assistant?

　　Inside, Damian laughed softly. "With all these years we've been together since college, I've never stopped loving you!"

　　With a groan, Julian said through all the moaning and kissing. "I can't wait for you to finally divorce your wife so we can be together."

　　"Just a little more time, baby." Damian assured. "I'll end it soon now that her father is dead. We just need to make sure all her shares become mine. Then I'll get rid of her and we'll be together."

　　Knight Furnishings was my father's legacy. After his death, Damian had promised me he would protect it. So he had just been planning to steal it instead?

　　Biting back my tears, I slowly brought out my phone. If Damien thinks he can just get away with this...and abuse my love for him! I would never let him get away with it.

　　Through the slightly opened door, I raised the phone and made sure to take enough proof of his infidelity, then quietly walked out of there.

　　One shot of hot whiskey at the bar became three, until eventually I'd lost count of how many I had taken.

　　Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Damian and his lover. Their laughter etched in my head, and I could practically hear them calling me a fool.

　　I raised another shot and emptied it. Then I froze.

　　Across the room, I saw Ryder Lancast, Damian's uncle. Even through I was drunk already, I recognized him immediately.

　　The man was impossible to miss. Tall, broad-shouldered, and effortlessly handsome, he stood out even in a crowded bar. His sharp features carried the same Lancaster good looks as Damian's, but where Damian still looked approachable, Ryder was intimidating.

　　And right now, he was looking directly at me.

　　"Oh no." I immediately looked away. The last thing I wanted tonight was to face another Lancaster. I jumped up, and rushed to the restroom before he could approach me.

　　Unfortunately, when I came back out a few minutes later, Ryder was waiting in the hallway. As if he had known I would try to run from him.

　　Ryder frowned as he took in my flushed face. "Look at you, how many drinks have you had already, love?"

　　This made my face hardened and I angrily tried to walk away, but couldn't get past him as he towered over me.

　　The frustration, humiliation, and heartbreak I had been holding back all day came rushing out. "Don't you dare look at me like that!" I snapped.

　　Ryder's brows furrowed and I found myself laughing bitterly. "I'm not having the best time right now, okay? Look at me all dressed in sexy lingerie because I wanted to surprise my husband at work. Only for me to find him fucking another man!"

　　The words slipped out before I could stop myself. I looked at him and wiped my eyes angrily. "Tell me, Ryder, did I deserve that?"

　　He took a closer look at me, a deep set of gray eyes not leaving my gaze, then reached forward tucking a strand of hair from my face. His touch was very gentle, yet it made the heat inside me grow. My body tensed and trembled.

　　"You are beautiful and the sweetest soul I've ever known." He said, so softly. "No man should make you ever feel less of yourself, love." He added. "Damian must be blind, and he has always been stupid." This made me actually laugh out loud.

　　Watching Ryder's intense gaze on me made me swallow hard, the smile slowly fading from my face. My heart skipped and I instantly took a step back. I was not thinking straight...with these dangerous thoughts clouding my head.

　　I threw myself at him, grabbing his shirt, and he gave a start. "Tell me I'm sexy, and you would love to fuck me nice and good." The words I'd been thinking in my head slipped out without any filter and I almost regretted it. Almost.

　　His gaze darkened and at first, his lips parted open but no words came out. Then, he breathed hard. "Iris Knight, you have no idea what you're asking me."

　　My chest was beating fast, though my sharp voice did not betray me. "I'm serious. Say it to me." His presence was so close, almost suffocating but then in a good way.

　　For a second, Ryder simply stared at me. Then, his hand wrapped around my neck, not applying any pressure, just holding me as he pulled me deep into an open mouthed kiss.

　　Shaky breaths left my trembling lips as I clung on to him tighter.

　　He made his way down, pressing kisses down my neck and chest causing my nipples to harden instantly.

　　"You drive me so insane, you don't even know." I heard him mutter, his lips next to my ear lobe.

　　I stood on my toes and kissed him again.

　　This time, I did not hold back at all.