Claudia Ross clenched the key in her hand as she walked through the alcohol-saturated room, feeling even guiltier than a thief.
She tiptoed into the bedroom, where the smell of alcohol was so strong it almost made it hard for her to breathe.
The man on the bed was Claudia Ross's husband—Wyatt Perry, who was currently drunk and unconscious.
After three years of marriage, it was the first time she examined him so carefully.
Looking at his sharply outlined handsome face, a dull pain throbbed in her chest.
Claudia Ross took out the potion her mother-in-law had given her, supported Wyatt Perry's neck, and slowly poured the liquid into his mouth.
Gurgle, gurgle!
Wyatt Perry's Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed all of the potion.
Not a single drop was wasted.
After doing all this, Claudia's heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might leap out of her chest.
She held her breath and watched Wyatt's reaction.
The medicine worked quickly, just as her mother-in-law had promised.
If her mother-in-law hadn't pushed her to the edge, she wouldn't have taken such a risk and come here to find Wyatt.
"Hot... hot..." Wyatt started to tear off his clothes unconsciously.
Now was the time!
Claudia took a deep breath, stripped off her own clothes, and climbed into bed, snuggling into Wyatt's arms.
As she inhaled Wyatt's breath, heavy with the scent of alcohol, she felt intoxicated herself.
Neither of them had any experience in this area, but procreation was a human instinct.
When Wyatt touched Claudia's soft body, he instinctively flipped over and pinned her down.
Wyatt was like a red-hot branding iron, his searing heat making it hard for Claudia to breathe.
Claudia had mentally prepared herself on the way over, but Wyatt, wild as a maddened beast, inflicted pain far beyond her tolerance.
Her tears flowed soundlessly.
But those were tears of happiness. After three years of marriage, she had finally become his woman.
In her ear, she heard Wyatt's tender whisper, "Katie..."
Katie?
Claudia's eyes snapped open in shock.
"Katie..."
This time, she heard it loud and clear.
He was in her body, yet uttering another woman's name.
Katie was the woman in his heart.
In Wyatt's dreams, she was nothing but a substitute for another woman.
Claudia closed her eyes and endured a storm that should never have belonged to her.
This was their first time, and it would also be their last...
...
In the dead of night, Claudia dragged her weary steps upstairs, each step a struggle.
Awakened by the sound of a car, Wyatt's mother opened the door and was surprised to see Claudia, "Claudia, you're back? Did you and Wyatt..."
"Mom, I didn't see him," Claudia shook her head, handing back the key to Wyatt's mother.
If Wyatt knew he had been sold out by his own mother, he would definitely be unhappy.
"How could you not have seen him? Hailey clearly said Wyatt went to Drizzly Hut after the gathering. Did you go to the wrong place?"
Confronted with the questioning look of Wyatt's mother, Claudia forced a laugh, saying, "Maybe!"
She was never good at lying. At this moment, best to avoid and hide, lest she give herself away.
"I'm going to rest now. Mom, you should rest too. It's late!"
"It is late. I thought tonight might be successful..."
To avoid pressuring her daughter-in-law, Wyatt's mother didn't say any more, "Alright, don't overthink it, get a good night's sleep, we can talk tomorrow."
"Good night, Mom!"
"Good night!"
Wyatt's mother watched Claudia return to her room, feeling that her daughter-in-law was acting oddly that night.
Could it be that not seeing him was a lie, and being thrown out was the truth?
She pondered and eventually felt her guess was very likely, all she could do was shake her head and sigh.
Claudia took a bath. Although she was exhausted, she was completely sleepless.
She took out pen and paper and seriously wrote the "Divorce Agreement."
2
Claudia could not remember how many times she had called Wyatt, each time answered by his assistant, Hailey Jack.
The divorce agreement had been ready for three days.
She didn't want to drag things out any longer; while she still had the courage, she wanted to settle the matter sooner.
Assistant Hailey still spoke in a strictly business tone, "Mrs. Perry, the boss is very busy right now and can't take your call."
Busy is just an excuse, isn't it? The truth is you just don't want to answer her call!
Claudia Ross never knew before how annoying she was to others.
She laughed at herself and said, "I'm here to talk about important matters with your boss; he doesn't need to avoid me. Tell him to come home when he has time, there's a surprise waiting for him."
Just as Claudia had expected, Wyatt Perry indeed didn't want to take her call.
Assistant Jack turned around and conveyed Claudia's message to Wyatt.
He was reviewing documents, and when he heard the word "surprise," his eyebrows knitted together.
What kind of trick is she trying to play this time?
He was completely uninterested in Claudia's surprises.
No matter how she played her games, he was determined not to be involved.
After Katie Poole returned, he was even less willing to have any entanglement with this wife in name.
He might not have control over his marriage, but at least he could control his own feelings.
...
Claudia waited another two days but didn't receive a call from Wyatt; instead, Katie Poole took the initiative to approach her.
Hearing the name "Katie Poole" over the phone nearly made Claudia forget to breathe.
Katie said proudly, "Since you know who I am, there's no need for introductions. Let's go out for tea and have a chat."
Other mistresses feared the legal wife, but Katie's confidence made Claudia feel somewhat insecure.
After all, Katie was the one Wyatt loved; she was just his wife and the one who would shatter their union.
Claudia dressed with care, making sure her makeup and outfit were flawless when she met Katie.
She didn't want to lose to Katie.
But the moment she laid eyes on Katie, she knew she had lost spectacularly.
Katie was exceptionally beautiful, tall, with skin fairer than snow, and every smile or frown captivated the beholder.
She was like a pure snow lotus, radiating her own aura.
Claudia sat restrained across from Katie.
Compared to Katie's graceful demeanor, she, a daughter of a wealthy family, seemed like a mere maid.
"Hello."
Katie observed Claudia without a trace of emotion, a flicker of contempt glancing across her eyes.
"Wyatt loves me, and you must have had a hard time these years, but don't worry. After you two divorce, I'll make sure Wyatt compensates you well!"
Claudia disliked Katie's attitude, especially that pitying look that made her feel like a pitiable worm.
"Miss Poole, I think you might be confused. I am Wyatt's lawfully wedded wife. What right do you have to say such things to me? Even if we were to divorce, I'd expect him to speak for himself, not for someone like you to speak on his behalf."
Katie haughtily retorted, "If I'm not worthy, then probably no one is. I forgive your youthful ignorance and won't hold it against you. Wyatt doesn't love you, and there's no need to waste your youth. Finding someone who matches your level is the proper thing to do!"
"I think Wyatt matches me quite well. Our families are on par, a fitting match. Not like some people, longing to marry into a rich family to transform into a phoenix." Claudia shot back with sharp sarcasm: "Everyone can dream of being Cinderella, but not everyone can become Cinderella. The Perrys' door isn't open for just anyone to enter."
Katie became furious: "Do you believe that I could make Wyatt divorce you tomorrow?"
Suddenly, Wyatt's mother burst in, pointing at Katie's nose and scolding, "You shameless woman, it's you who have led Wyatt astray. He and Claudia won't divorce. Get out! And do not come back to Rivile City, leave!"
"Auntie..."
"Don't call me Auntie. You're as vile as your mother!"
Wyatt's mother, in a rage, slapped Katie across the face.
Katie, covering her face, knelt on the ground with a thud.
"Auntie... please, I beg you not to send me away... I want nothing... I won't destroy Wyatt's family; I just want to live in the same city... Just to catch a glimpse of him from afar... Auntie, please... grant me this..."
What a lie about wanting nothing!
What she ever wanted was the man Wyatt Perry, regardless of whether he was another woman's husband; she wouldn't hesitate.
Wyatt's mother furiously retorted, "As long as I live for one more day, you won't come near Wyatt. Get out, get out..."
After shouting, she kicked at Katie.
Katie appeared frail and wept heartbreakingly on the floor.
Naturally beautiful, her sobbing figure seemed pitiful, easily garnering people's sympathy.
The café's patrons gathered around and began to blame Wyatt's mother for being vicious.
"What do you know? It's none of your business to meddle in other people's family affairs."
Wyatt's mother had always appeared gentle and kind to Claudia, hardly ever raising her voice, let alone cursing.
Claudia had never seen her so out of control.
In public, she had raised her hand to Katie.
As Katie sobbed grievously, more onlookers gathered.
"Mom, don't be angry. How did you get here?" Claudia hurried to hold back Wyatt's mother, trying to prevent the situation from escalating.
It wouldn't look good on the news.
"If I didn't come, you wouldn't realize how much you're being bullied. Don't hold me back; I'm going to teach this little hussy a lesson today. She'd love for me to die of anger, then no one would stop her from seducing Wyatt."
Wyatt's mother shook off Claudia and reached out to strike Katie again.
Her raised hand was caught in mid-air.