One Hundred Betrayals, One Final No

I had been married to Lucius Martin for three years, and in all that time, there was never a shortage of women around him.

Each time he brought another woman home, he would give me a necklace worth a fortune.

In just three short years, I had accumulated ninety-nine necklaces.

When Lucius fastened the hundredth necklace around my neck, I no longer cried or made a scene.

Because this time, the woman he cheated with was my own older sister, the one who had beaten and scolded me since we were children.

The man I loved most joined hands with the person I hated most to torment me together.

At that moment, my heart finally died.

This time, I took the initiative and walked up to Lucius, placing a house purchase contract into his hands.

"As long as you sign this," I said, "you can do whatever you want with her."

A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes, but in the end, he signed without hesitation.

For the first time ever, he even leaned down and gently kissed my cheek.

"Good girl," he murmured. "You've finally learned to behave."

I personally opened the car door for him and watched as he hurried off toward my sister.

When the car disappeared completely from sight, I let out a long breath.

Then I reached beneath the documents and pulled out the paper hidden there—a divorce agreement.

Adele's POV

This was the first time Lucius Martin had ever accompanied me out to dinner.

From time to time, he lifted his head to glance at the clock across from him, his fingers tapping impatiently against the tabletop.

It wasn't until I slid a house purchase contract toward him that he finally stopped.

He didn't even finish reading it. He signed his name at lightning speed, stood up, and prepared to leave.

"It's already midnight," he said coolly. "Our wedding anniversary is over. I should go."

Before leaving, he handed me a gift box. Inside lay a sapphire necklace.

I glanced at it and pushed it back to him.

"You've already given me a house," I said. "There's no need for the necklace."

Lucius looked as though he'd just heard the biggest joke in the world.

"Adele, do you think I care for a little money? Keep it," he said casually. "In case there's a next time—consider it an advance payment."

With that, he turned and left without a backward glance.

A next time.

Yes. After all, there had already been one hundred times.

The first time, I caught him kissing a young model in his car. He gave me a set of globally limited-edition jewelry.

The second time, he brought his new lover directly into our home. I cried and screamed until the whole ordeal ended with a pearl necklace.

He never cared about my emotions, because to him, this marriage was nothing more than a business alliance.

But I fell in love with him at first sight. From that very moment, this relationship