Chapter 5 The Contrast Is Too Great

I nervously looked over and saw him walking out of the bathroom with only a towel wrapped around his waist.

He had broad shoulders and a narrow waist, with perfect body proportions.

His skin wasn't dark, but neither was it a frail white-it had a healthy, strong glow.

I used to forbid him from exposing his body in front of me. At the class reunion, I had been too dazed to notice, so I never realized how well-built he actually was.

Realizing that I had been staring at his body for too long, I awkwardly turned my head away.

The man quickly approached me, bringing with him a wave of heat.

I tensed up and instinctively backed away, stammering, "W-When did you get back? Are you hungry? How about I... I cook something for you?"

"Cook?" The man chuckled, but his tone carried a hint of mockery. "Other than eating, do you even know how to cook?"

His words left me speechless.

In his eyes, I was probably just a useless spoiled rich girl.

And honestly, that wasn't far from the truth. Aside from dancing, I couldn't name a single skill I had.

The man suddenly leaned in close, his warm breath brushing against my ear, sending a shiver down my spine.

"Actually, besides cooking, there's something else you can do to make me happy."

His deep eyes burned with a clear desire.

I knew that as his mistress, I should be sensible enough to please him and cater to his needs.

But my hands and feet refused to obey my brain.

The contrast was just too great-I was still struggling to accept this new identity.

While I was hesitating, he suddenly leaned in and kissed me.

His kiss was fierce and possessive, dominating me completely.

I gasped, instinctively pushing against his shoulders in protest.

He let go of me, his brows furrowing as he sneered coldly. "If it were Alex, you wouldn't resist like this, would you?"

Alex-his younger brother.

But what did this have to do with Alex?

Yes, I used to have a huge crush on Alex, but after marrying Julian, I had completely cut ties with him.

For three years, I hadn't seen Alex even once.

If Julian hadn't brought him up, I might have completely forgotten about his existence.

"My brother is returning to the country soon. You must be looking forward to seeing him, right?" Julian stared at me, a chilling glint in his deep eyes.

I licked my lips, about to clarify his misunderstanding.

But before I could speak, he suddenly laughed at himself. "In your heart, I've never been able to compare to Alex. Even now that I've become powerful, you still don't see me as worthy, do you?"

Wait-was this man... feeling insecure?

I hurriedly said, "Alex is indeed excellent, but you-"

"Shut up!"

Julian suddenly snapped, his expression turning ice-cold.

The words "are even better" got stuck in my throat.

He was clearly upset, so I pressed my lips together, not daring to say another word.

Julian leaned against the window, lighting a cigarette as he chuckled at me.

Through the swirling smoke, his voice drifted over lazily. "It seems Miss Moore still has some pride left. You don't really seem fit to be a mistress."

Afraid that he might go back on his promise to settle my family's debts, I quickly said, "No, I... I'm just not used to it yet."

Julian let out a light laugh, full of mockery.

I bit my lip, got out of bed, and walked toward him.

Since I had already chosen this path, there was no point in hesitating anymore.

Standing before him, I placed my hands on his shoulders, clumsily kissing his lips and neck.

His eyes darkened instantly.

I traced my hands down his chest, mimicking the seductive gestures of those alluring women at bars.

But I had no idea what to do next. My hands simply fumbled awkwardly over his chest.

He chuckled lowly and grabbed my wandering hands, his voice deep and husky. "You don't know how?"

I lowered my gaze, too embarrassed to look at him.

He suddenly extinguished his cigarette, lifted me in his arms, and kissed me fiercely.

In my dazed state, my clothes fell away, and my body sank into the soft bed...

A frown creased my forehead, but a strange thought flashed through my mind.

Wait...

At the class reunion, hadn't we already done this? Then why...

Before I could dwell on it-

-

When I woke up again, it was already noon.

The sound of running water drifted from the bathroom.

I dragged my aching body up and was startled to see a faint trace of blood on the sheets.

Huh?

What's going on?

Hadn't I already given him my first time? Why was there still blood?

A suspicion crept into my mind, making me furrow my brows.

Just then, the man walked out of the bathroom.

I bit my lip awkwardly and blurted out the question lingering in my mind. "That night at the class reunion... did we actually do anything?"

"No."

He answered so straightforwardly.

I almost choked.

"Then why didn't you explain to the reporters?!"

Julian shot me a glance and replied indifferently, "We were lying there naked together. Do you think they would have believed me?"

"But you could've at least told me and my family! If you hadn't done anything to me, then they wouldn't have forced you to marry into our family. You wouldn't have had to-"

"What? Regret it now?" Julian suddenly leaned in close, his dark eyes filled with cold amusement.

I licked my lips.

Shouldn't he be the one regretting it? He had been forced to marry into my family, humiliated by me, and even separated from his beloved first love!

Julian suddenly tossed a towel at me.

I was startled for a moment before hearing his calm voice. "Dry my hair."

"Oh, okay..."

I quickly took the towel and knelt up, carefully rubbing his damp hair.

It reminded me of the past.

I used to be too lazy to blow-dry my hair, always going straight to bed with it wet.

But he would insist on drying it for me, even using a hairdryer, saying that sleeping with wet hair would give me headaches.

Back then, I found him annoyingly persistent and would curse him out, yet he had never lost his temper, always treating me with endless patience.

Thinking about how obedient and gentle he used to be, and then looking at how cold and ruthless he was now...

It was terrifying.

How deep did his thoughts run for him to endure everything, hiding his true self so well while secretly despising me?

Julian finished dressing and buttoned his cuffs as he said, "Don't wander around. Stay here and wait for me to come back."

I knelt on the bed and nodded obediently.

The first rule of being a good mistress was to listen to her benefactor.

Julian suddenly glanced at the bloodstain on the sheets.

My face heated up, and I hurriedly pulled the blanket over it.

Julian smirked-his smile was surprisingly attractive.

Looking back on our three years of marriage, I realized he had never smiled in front of me, always maintaining a calm, expressionless demeanor, like an emotionless puppet.

But now, it was clear-he had been hiding his true self all along.

After he left, I planned to catch up on some sleep.

After all, last night had been exhausting-my legs still felt weak.

But just as I lay down, my phone rang.

When I saw the caller ID, all my fatigue vanished.

I immediately sat up and grabbed the phone...