The bedroom is dark and barely lit. It's early morning, and Irene is half-awake. The sheets feel extra soft, and the fabric smells nice. But her body feels uncomfortable, as if a truck has run over her.
She asks herself what's wrong, unable to remember anything. Her mind is a blur of scattered memories and images.
"What happened to me? What did I do? Why is my mind so confused? Why does it feel like I've been hit by something? My body aches so much. What happened? Who did this to me?"
As her confusion grows, her eyes catch the presence of another person in the room.
It's her husband, Alpha Simeon Kings, the person she hates most. Her face falls immediately as she sees Simeon standing there, his cold gaze fixed on her as usual, with no shift in expression or trace of human emotion. His face is like a still jewel. Simeon raises an eyebrow at her, and she instantly feels anger rising.
"Damn you, Simeon Kings. Is this what you always wanted? Is 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 says, ignoring her anger. Irene groans in frustration.
Is she mistaken about what happened? Could she be wrong?
If Simeon didn't sleep with her, then what actually happened to her body? Simeon ignores her worried expression. He knows what happened; he knows she is the one who was in the wrong.
"No, you're lying. I know it. You're just trying to distract me," Irene insists, pointing at him with frustration. But then, her memories come 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 remembers 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 hates every part of him, and in a moment of rebellion, she steps away from him and goes outside to the terrace, taking in the fresh air. That's when Joe Quar, her father's business partner and a young CEO, joins her.
They drink and chat, one cup after another, until everything becomes blurry.
She ended up in his bed.
How 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 can't bring herself to speak to her husband, only giving him shameful glances, unable to face him. She betrayed him, yet here she is, accusing him.
Simeon watches Irene with no expression, silent as ever. He understands her character, and though she can be willful at times, he never thought she'd go so low to push him away.
Finally, as if deciding, Irene looks at Simeon and says, 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's just an ordinary girl with simple dreams. She wants nothing but freedom, missing her days of independence.
Her husband is Simeon Kings, a CEO and Alpha of the Moonlit Pack. She never wanted to marry him and resents her family for arranging this marriage. She hates them all, especially Simeon for accepting the marriage.
Now that she's unintentionally cheated, this is her chance to escape this loveless marriage. Simeon doesn't love her; she's 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 changes after Irene mentions divorce.
Did she intentionally have an affair with another man? Did she do it to drive him away?
Does she truly hate him this much?
"I won't divorce you, Irene. I forgive you for what you did," Simeon says calmly, his gaze steady on her like an autumn breeze.
Irene's face falls. "Simeon, I said divorce me. I cheated on you; I'm asking for a divorce," she says through gritted teeth, almost breaking down. She thought she'd finally escape this marriage, but why won't he let her go?
He doesn'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 drops.
"Did you do this intentionally? Was it your plan to get away from me?"
His wife despises him and cheated on him, yet here she is, demanding a divorce.
Irene grits her teeth at his question. She doesn't like it. She's stubborn, and he's even more stubborn. Their marriage was arranged; he should just let her go.
"Simeon," Irene says, trying to calm herself. "Simeon, divorce me. Isn't that fair? You don't love me, right?"
Simeon's expression loses its steadiness after her question.
Could he tell her that he likes her? Could he even say it?