Chapter 1 Sent To Another Man's Bed

In a hotel room, Irene Dixon perched on the edge of the bed, her head spinning. She clenched her teeth, struggling to maintain consciousness.

Her life had spiraled into chaos when her father was jailed on murder charges, and the shock had triggered her mother's illness, landing her in the ICU.

Amid this turmoil, her father's former allies were twisting the knife. Disregarding her father's significant help in the past, they spread malicious rumors and absconded with the company funds, all for their own gains. Consequently, many business partners were withdrawing, demanding both contract cancellations and damages from the Dixon Group.

Overnight, the Dixon Group was saddled with a debt of 380 million dollars, teetering on the edge of collapse.

Determined not to let her parents' life's work disintegrate, Irene felt compelled to take on the overwhelming challenge. The Dixon Group's salvation seemed to hinge on securing a lucrative deal with the Swan Mountain tourism resort hotel project. However, the project's manager was avoiding her, and without securing the project's initial deposit within three days, the Dixon Group faced bankruptcy.

In her desperation, Irene sought help from her estranged husband, Cade Hudson.

The Hudson Group was a powerhouse in Eimwell, with the Hudson family holding prominence for over a century.

Years ago, Irene's mother had saved Cade's life, prompting Damien Hudson, Cade's grandfather, to orchestrate a marriage between Cade and Irene once they were of age.

Their marriage, however, existed only on paper. They had never held a wedding ceremony nor consummated the union. Cade had departed for business shortly after their marriage and hadn't returned for two years.

Now, desperate for an introduction to the elusive project manager, Irene reached out to Cade, who shockingly proposed that they first consummate their marriage.

Accepting a glass of wine Cade had sent over, Irene took the room key he provided and headed to the designated room, her body strangely warming. She hadn't been intimate with men before and couldn't suppress her nerves.

As Irene waded through a fog of drowsiness, a man approached her. He arched an eyebrow and murmured, "You're quite beautiful, and you have a lovely figure."

Instinctively, Irene leaned into the man's touch, clutching his hand and whispering, "Cade..."

The man's face hardened immediately, and he scoffed. "You're calling another man's name in my bed? Is that appropriate to you?"

Confused, Irene looked up at the man, her thoughts increasingly clouded. Yet, when she saw him moving to leave, she impulsively reached out and clung to him from behind, pleading, "Don't go!"

The man paused, turning to face the drunk Irene. Her delicate features and half-lidded eyes, highlighted by a faint blush at their corners and an unintentionally alluring look, stirred a sense of familiarity in him. He gazed at the strange woman before him, who had somehow found her way into his room, and a fleeting memory crossed his mind, but before he could focus on it, he felt her grip tightening around his waist.

The man chuckled and said, "Alright. Just don't regret this later." With that, he embraced her, gently pinched her chin, and their lips met as they fell onto the soft bed.

As he thrust into her aggressively, the sharp, woody aroma of his cologne filled the air, and her grip on his robe tightened as she let out a soft moan.

The sound she made served as a catalyst, drawing out a stronger reaction from him.

He released her, gazing down at her now tousled appearance, then removed his robe and tossed it aside.

Slowly, he pushed his shaft deeper inside her for a few more inches.

A pained groan escaped Irene as tears began to gather in her eyes.

As the man propped himself up by resting his muscular arms near Irene's face, she caught his hands, her voice breaking as she implored, "Please... Be gentle..."

"Okay," he whispered, lightly kissing her lips before lifting her legs across his arms.

Their shadows entwined endlessly in the dimly lit room.

Irene chewed on the blanket's edge, her tears saturating the pillow beneath her. Overwhelmed by a confusing fusion of pain and novel pleasure, panic surged within her.

Lifted abruptly, Irene clung to the man, her cries echoing in the room.

As time seemed to stretch indefinitely, he eventually released her, panting heavily. When he turned her to face him, he discovered she had fainted. He tutted, carefully wiped away a tear from her eyelashes, and tasted its salty bitterness. "Did it hurt that much?"

Her tears dampened his earlier enthusiasm and passion. The man stood up and walked to the bathroom.

The sound of water cascading in the bathroom filled the otherwise quiet room as Irene laboriously pried her eyelids open. She was anxiously awaiting a definitive response from Cade.

Fighting through her discomfort, Irene rose from the bed, her feet touching the chilly floor, and leaned on the table for support as she moved toward the bathroom door. Just then, her phone began to ring. The screen showed Cade's name.

Confusion washed over Irene. Cade was supposed to be in the shower. Why would he be calling her now? Uneasy, she answered the call. "Cade, I've complied with your request. When are you going to hold up your end?"

Cade's voice, full of mockery, came through the speaker. "When did I ever say I'd help you? I only told you to meet me at the hotel, and I'd consider it."

Irene's grip on the phone tightened. "And? Have you decided?"

"My decision is no," Cade responded crisply.

"You're going back on your promise?" Irene's face grew stern.

"You sound upset. But remember, you're my wife. Isn't it my right to have sex with you?" Cade's laugh had a biting edge. "Oh, and I forgot to mention something. The man with you last night wasn't me."

Irene's breathing grew rapid, her voice shaky. "What do you mean? This shouldn't be joked about, Cade."

Still laughing, Cade retorted, "I'm quite serious. It wasn't me with you last night."

Irene's phone slipped from her trembling hand. She stooped to pick it up, but before she could, a shadow fell over her.

Irene looked up to see the man who had stepped out of the bathroom. He was shirtless, scratches visible on his chest.

It was blatantly obvious now. Cade had tricked her. He had feigned a desire to be intimate with her, but in reality, he had sent her to another man's bed.