Chapter 2

The department welcome dinner was held at a high-end seafood restaurant.

Mark had the nerve to tag along as my "devoted husband."

He claimed he wanted to thank my colleagues for taking care of me, but everyone with eyes could tell who he was really there to ogle.

Inside the private dining room, glasses clinked and laughter flowed.

Chloe intentionally swapped seats so she was sitting directly across from Mark.

Mark peeled shrimp for me, playing the role of the adoring partner: "Evelyn works so hard. I really appreciate how much you all look out for her."

My colleagues cooed, "Dr. Cross, you’re so lucky! Your husband is so attentive."

I smiled and took the shrimp, but my cold gaze flicked beneath the long tablecloth.

Chloe had kicked off her high heels. A foot wrapped in sheer black stockings was slowly sliding up Mark’s calf.

Mark stiffened for a second, then a look of covert arousal washed over his face.

While chatting and toasting my colleagues, he spread his knees under the table, trapping her wandering foot between his thighs.

Right in front of dozens of people, hidden only by a piece of cloth, they indulged in their filthy little game.

A surge of disgust churned in my stomach.

I took the razor-sharp stiletto heel of my right shoe, aimed directly at the top of Mark’s foot, and drove it down with all my weight.

Then I twisted it. Twice.

"Aaargh—!"

Mark let out an agonizing screech, shooting up from his chair. His face flushed bright crimson.

The room fell instantly silent. Everyone stared at him in shock.

"What's wrong, honey?" I looked at him with wide, innocent eyes. "Is your gout flaring up again?"

Cold sweat poured down Mark's forehead, but he couldn't utter a word of truth.

He could hardly tell the table he'd just been stomped on for playing footsie with an intern.

"No... nothing. Just a nasty leg cramp," he squeezed out through clenched teeth, his hands trembling as he sat back down.

Across from him, Chloe’s eyes turned red with distress. She looked ready to leap across the table and comfort him.

I watched in silence, sneering on the inside.

This was barely the appetizer.

Toward the end of dinner, the younger staff started a game of Truth or Dare.

Chloe lost.

Someone teased, "Chloe! Tell us about your most memorable 'first time'—where was it?"

A standard party question among adults.

A bit flushed from the wine, Chloe glanced seductively at Mark with hazy eyes.

"Right against a floor-to-ceiling window," she murmured, biting her lip. "The view was breathtaking, like the whole city was beneath us. The experience... was incredible."

Mark caught the hidden message. His Adam’s apple bobbed, his eyes burning with lust.

The table erupted into playful teasing.

I swirled the wine in my glass and added coolly:

"Is that so? You should be careful next time. Some glass isn't safety-rated—one hard push and you might fall straight to your death."

Chloe’s face turned pale. Her smile froze.

She gave me a nervous look, but saw me casually checking my phone, as if I’d merely made a passing comment.

A moment later, Chloe excused herself to use the restroom.

Not two minutes later, Mark held his stomach, claiming he had an upset stomach, and slipped out.

I put down my glass, slipped the digital voice recorder from my purse, and followed quietly.

The men’s restroom door had an "Out of Service" sign hung outside.

Standing just outside the crack of the door, muffled, hushed moans reached my ears.

"Babe, did that old hag hurt your foot earlier? Let me see."

"Shh... be gentle. Damn woman went completely crazy today. Her heel almost pierced through my bone."

"Hmph, she’s just jealous that I'm younger and prettier. Honestly, when are you finally going to divorce her?"

"Soon, baby, soon. Give me a little more time, and I'll make sure she walks away without a single penny."

Then came the nauseating sound of wet, sloppy kissing.

Leaning against the wall, I pressed stop on the recorder.

So they didn’t just want each other’s bodies. They wanted my fortune.

Mark, you really thought you could pull this off under my nose? You have no idea what’s coming.