Chapter 4 Becoming His Mistress

The corners of my lips twitched-I really wanted to say, "Are you freaking insane?"

But he was different now. He was no longer the timid, bullied "nice guy" of the past.

Suppressing the urge to curse at him, I forced a stiff smile. "President Carpenter, you must be joking. I have things to do. Bye."

"Bill can, but why can't I?" Julian suddenly asked, his tone carrying a hint of coldness.

I frowned. "What do you mean Bill can and you can't? What are you talking about?"

"Just now, you told Bill that if he gave you ten million, you'd spend the night with him. So if I give you ten million, why won't you spend the night with me?"

I couldn't help but roll my eyes.

I had only said that to Bill because I knew ten thousand was already a huge amount for him-ten million would be his death sentence. I never expected Julian to take it seriously.

Julian stepped closer, took a drag of his cigarette, and exhaled a ring of smoke. "Your family is in desperate need of money, aren't they? Spend one night with me, and ten million is yours. How about it?"

I clenched my fists at my sides.

I knew exactly what he was doing-using money to humiliate me.

Swallowing the bitterness rising in my chest, I sneered. "So what if you're rich now? Yes, my family needs money, but I won't earn it this way."

With that, I turned and rushed out of the room, my vision blurred with tears.

Emotions are such strange things.

No matter how those people I used to hang around with humiliated me, I never felt truly hurt.

But Julian's humiliation was different. It easily sent waves of pain rippling through my heart.

I ran straight to the lobby downstairs-only to see my brother, dressed in a delivery uniform, being mocked and ridiculed by Bob, Bill, and the others.

For a mere stack of cash, my brother actually knelt before them.

In that moment, the pride and dignity I had held onto crumbled to dust.

I covered my mouth, tears streaming uncontrollably down my face.

My brother had gone this far just to raise money.

And me? I only had to endure Julian's humiliation to get ten million, so what was I holding onto?

I abruptly turned around and sprinted back upstairs, praying that he hadn't left yet.

Bursting into the private room, I saw Julian still seated on the sofa.

It was as if he had anticipated my return-watching me with an amused smile.

I walked up to him and asked, "You hate me, don't you? You hate how I used to humiliate you?"

Before he could respond, I continued, "Fine. As long as you help my family pay off our debts, you can humiliate me however you want, for as long as you want."

Julian lowered his gaze to his glass of wine, chuckled, and asked, "Even if it means becoming my secret mistress?"

I took a deep breath. "...Yes."

He had taken the position that should have been mine and given it to his beloved first love-while I was left to be his secret mistress in the dark.

What a blatant humiliation.

The next day, my father came home, thrilled as he announced that all our debts had been paid off.

My mother wept with joy, asking how it had happened.

My father said it was Julian-he had even arranged for them to live in a beautiful new home.

In an instant, my mother began singing Julian's praises, convinced that he must deeply love me to do all this for our family.

I only smiled in response.

That afternoon, Julian's driver came to pick me up.

My parents, unaware of the truth, believed I was still his wife and assumed he was bringing me home to a life of luxury.

They had no idea that I was merely going to be his plaything, his outlet for entertainment and revenge.

Julian now lived in the villa that used to belong to my family.

The butlers and servants were all the same ones from before.

Like master, like servant.

They had once followed my lead in humiliating Julian.

The fact that he still kept them around showed his tolerance.

But I wasn't sure if he would be as merciful toward me.

Recalling the way he had humiliated me in the private room, a sense of despondency washed over me.

I was different from the servants.

They had only mocked him with words.

But I had insulted him, hit him, and even thrown a drink in his face in front of a crowd.

Thinking back on my past actions, I felt a shiver run down my spine.

Sigh.

If I had known things would turn out like this, I would have treated him better.

Nanny Mary led me to a bedroom door. "Miss, sir wants you to wait inside. And..."

She hesitated before continuing, "He also said you must clean yourself up before he returns."

I bit my lip, feeling the sting of humiliation.

So this was how it was going to be.

But what choice did I have?

I had agreed to be his mistress-I had to be prepared to abandon my dignity.

This was the room Julian and I had once shared.

Everything looked the same, yet nothing was the same.

Back then, there had been a floor mat next to the bed-that was where Julian had slept.

Meanwhile, I had slept in the bed, always warning him never to step too close.

Now, the floor mat was gone.

And so was my pride.

The gentle, submissive husband who used to let me bully him was gone too.

The past was out of reach. I swallowed the bitter ache in my chest and went to take a shower.

After washing up, I lay on the bed and waited for Julian to return.

Since I was his mistress now, I had to fulfill my role.

Even though everything had changed, even though my heart ached, things weren't all bad.

At least my family's debts were cleared.

At least my parents could live peacefully.

At least my brother no longer had to kneel for money.

That thought brought me some comfort.

I had no idea when Julian would come back.

After days of exhaustion, I soon fell asleep.

I didn't know how much time had passed when I suddenly felt a heavy weight pressing down on me.

Drowsily, I opened my eyes-only to see Julian on top of me.

His hands were inside my clothes.

"You... you bastard!"

Instinctively, I raised my hand to slap him.

But in the next second, he grabbed my wrist tightly.

He sneered. "Even after falling this low, the spoiled young lady still hasn't changed."

Looking at the familiar room, at the familiar man...

I froze for a few seconds before reality sank in.

Right.

He was the master now.

And I was nothing but his lowly mistress.

I withdrew my hand and lowered my head. "I'm sorry."

He let out a cold laugh and stood up, walking into the bathroom.

As I listened to the sound of running water, I anxiously twisted my fingers.

I didn't mind his touch-not after I had fallen for him.

But there was a difference between a night of passion and a night of humiliating revenge.

I wanted to run.

But I couldn't.

Time passed, and finally, he was done.

The sound of the bathroom door opening sent a shiver through me.