Chapter 2
To be honest, for the first 25 years of my life, I really did live like a little princess.
My parents ran a manufacturing business that brought in close to eight figures a year.
I was their only child, so all their love poured down on me.
I was a mediocre student but pretty decent-looking, and lucky enough to barely scrape into a top university where I met Derek Stone, who was broke as hell.
Just like in every romance novel, I fell for Derek and pestered my parents to sponsor his education and give him startup money for his business.
After college, Derek married me out of gratitude.
Then came two years of marriage that looked perfect on the surface but was cold as ice underneath.
Derek was a good guy, but even good guys can’t control their feelings.
He only felt grateful toward me, so even in bed, he never lost control.
He was busy with work and scheduled exactly one hour every Saturday for intimacy. Any other time, I had to make an appointment with his secretary just to get
a kiss.
Living in that dead-end routine, my romantic soul couldn’t take it anymore and I started acting out.
Looking back now, I can’t really blame Derek for finding me boring.
I became a housewife straight after graduation, spending my days watching TV and playing games. Derek and I had zero common ground-we couldn’t even make small talk without it falling flat.
He thought I’d been brainwashed by social media, and I thought he wasn’t as caring and fun as other women’s husbands.
That’s how we slowly walked toward disaster.
Lying in bed, I let out a long sigh.
Isadora Morrison, God’s been pretty damn good to you.
For a useless waste of space like you, He actually gave you a second chance. Your ancestors must be throwing a party up there.
Since I got this opportunity, I better make it count. I won’t say anything grand about saving the family business or making everyone rich, but at least I should be able to give my family some security.
just as I was thinking this, Derek came in drying his hair.
He noticed I hadn’t changed clothes yet, and confusion flickered in his eyes.
Oh right, today was Saturday-my conjugal duty day.
Unlike my cold attitude before, I immediately rushed into the bathroom, took a lightning-fast shower, and changed into lingerie I’d kept hidden away.
I’d bought it during our honeymoon to spice things up, but never got the chance to wear it because Derek went on a business trip.
No time like the present-we were both going to enjoy this, so I might as well do whatever I wanted.
The moment I walked out, Derek’s breathing hitched.
He looked shocked, with some other emotion mixed in.
His voice was strained. “Isadora, you…”
1 silenced him with a kiss.
“Shh, time is precious. Don’t talk…”
Not gonna lie, changing my mindset made all the difference.
Before I was desperate for love and obsessed over Derek’s every move.
If he frowned, my heart would race with worry about disappointing him.
If he groaned or struggled, I’d feel anxious, thinking I was doing something wrong.
But treating him like a boy toy? All those feelings just vanished.
I only cared about whether he felt good, if the angle was right, if the pressure was perfect.
After three rounds, Derek’s face was practically green.
I leaned up to kiss him again, but he pushed me away.
“I have court tomorrow. Can’t be too tired.”
Oh, okay then.
I’d been thirsty for twenty-something years, so getting a little carried away was normal.
He didn’t want more and I wasn’t mad about it, so I got dressed and climbed out of bed.
Derek rolled over, looking shocked. “Where are you going?”
To the guest room. This place is a mess.”
Everything was… wet and uncomfortable. Easy way to catch a cold.
I used to endure it just to be clingy, but now I actually cared about my health. That misery was someone else’s problem now.
slammed the door shut, leaving Derek’s complicated expression behind.
The next morning I slept until ten, and he was already gone with a note: “Business trip to Hartford for a week.”
Underneath was a stack of cash for living expenses.
Derek loved giving cash-no idea if he was trying to humiliate me or what.
counted it. A hundred thousand, generous as always.
After getting dressed, I grabbed the money and headed straight to the bank.
The moment I walked in, I nearly got lost.
Can’t help it-I had classic rich girl syndrome. Couldn’t tell a carrot from a cucumber, never did a damn thing for myself.
Any slightly complicated environment made my head spin.
finally managed to flag down an employee who helped me at the counter. I converted Derek’s cash into gold bars and moved my personal savings to a new
account.
After finishing all that, I took a taxi to my family’s place.
f I remembered correctly, their business was already having problems around this time, but they didn’t dare tell me yet.
