The bedroom was dark and barely lit. It was early morning, and Irene was half awake.
The sheets felt extra soft, and the fabric smelled nice. But her body felt uncomfortable as if a truck had run over her.
She asked herself what was wrong, unable to remember anything. Her mind was a blur of scattered memories and images.
"What happened to me? What did I do? Why was my mind so confused? Why did it feel like I'd been hit by something? My body ached so much. What happened? Who did this to me?"
As her confusion grew, her eyes caught the presence of another person in the room. It was her husband, Alpha Simeon Kings, the person she hated most.
Her face fell immediately as she saw Simeon standing there, his cold gaze fixed on her as usual, with no shift in expression or trace of human emotion.
His face was like a still jewel. Simeon raised an eyebrow at her, and she instantly felt anger rising.
"Damn you, Simeon Kings. Was this what you always wanted? Was this why you married me...so you could sleep with me? Isn't that it? You did this to my body, didn't you? You've always craved the body of the poor human girl controlled by her wealthy family."
"Think again, Irene," Simeon said, ignoring her anger. Irene groaned in frustration.
Was she mistaken about what happened? Could she be wrong? If Simeon didn't sleep with her, then what actually happened to her body?
Simeon ignored her worried expression. He knew what happened; he knew she was the one who was in the wrong.
"No, you're lying. I know it. You're just trying to distract me," Irene insisted, pointing at him with frustration.
But then, her memories came flooding back like water, unclear and vague.
It was just at the cocktail party celebrating her father's company's 50th anniversary, and then... She remembered her mother whispering for her to stand close to her husband.
She hated the thought of standing near him, even though he was her husband. She hated every part of him, and in a moment of rebellion, she stepped away from him and went outside to the terrace, taking in the fresh air.
That's when Joe Quar, her father's business partner and a young CEO, joined her.
They drank and chatted, one cup after another, until everything became blurry. She ended up in his bed.
When she left the room, it was Simeon who carried her from another man's arms after she had shared a forbidden, intimate moment with Joe.
Irene couldn't bring herself to speak to her husband, only giving him shameful glances, unable to face him. She betrayed him, yet here she was, accusing him.
Simeon watched Irene with no expression, silent as ever.
He understood her character, and though she could be willful at times, he never thought she'd go so low to push him away. Finally, as if deciding, Irene looked at Simeon and said, with slight hesitation, "You can divorce me, Simeon. I cheated on you. My betrayal is enough reason for you to leave me. Why keep us bound together in this loveless marriage?"
She was just an ordinary girl with simple dreams. She wanted nothing but freedom, missing her days of independence.
Her husband was Simeon Kings, a CEO and Alpha of the Moonlit Pack. She never wanted to marry him and resented her family for arranging this marriage.
She hated them all, especially Simeon for accepting the marriage.
Now that she'd unintentionally cheated, this was her chance to escape this loveless marriage.
Simeon didn't love her; she was sure of it. If he loved her, he wouldn't have been so calm and quiet when she was cold toward him. Simeon's calm, serious face changed after Irene mentioned divorce.
Had she intentionally had an affair with another man? Had she done it to drive him away? Did she truly hate him this much? "I won't divorce you, Irene. I forgive you for what you did," Simeon said calmly, his gaze steady on her like an autumn breeze. Irene's face fell.
"Simeon, I said divorce me. I cheated on you; I'm asking for a divorce," she said through gritted teeth, almost breaking down.
She thought she'd finally escape this marriage, but why wouldn't he let her go? He didn't love her.
He should let her go. Their bond of three years should come to an end. "Irene, my dear, let me ask you a question."
Simeon's calm expression finally dropped. "Did you do this intentionally? Was it your plan to get away from me?"
His wife despised him and cheated on him, yet here she was, demanding a divorce. Irene gritted her teeth at his question.
She didn't like it. She was stubborn, and he was even more stubborn. Their marriage was arranged; he should just let her go.
"Simeon," Irene said, trying to calm herself. "Simeon, divorce me. Isn't that fair? You don't love me, right?"
Simeon's expression lost its steadiness after her question. Could he tell her that he liked her? Could he even say it?