Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 24436 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 122(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24436 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 122(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
She had always looked up to Charlee-Mae, and while she had always wished their paths would one day cross...why did it have to happen at what was the lowest point of her life?
Charlee-Mae stepped back from the couple and turned to her audience with a mischievous smile. "I've seen how Ryu accepts awards, and let's just say it's a good thing he's not hard to look at."
The ballroom rang with laughter at Charlee-Mae's apt description, and even Summerine was hard pressed not to smile.
Since Ryu was a much-loved subject among the city's top gossips, everyone knew how the billionaire limited his thank-you speech to exactly that.
Thank you.
"But don't you worry, dear friends." Charlee-Mae gave her audience a conspirational smile. "Instead of having Ryu deliver his usual speech, and in honor of the nature of their award—-"
Charlee-Mae snapped her fingers, and the crowd oohed and aahed as mistletoe balloons began raining down the entire ballroom.
"This year's winning couple shall seal tonight's festivities with a romantic kiss!"
Faked
SUMMERINE DIDN'T EVEN blink when Ryu cupped her face.
Been there, done that.
She closed her eyes as his head started to lower. Winning this award only made her realize how good Ryu was at fooling everyone, herself included. If not for Billie inadvertently making her realize he was cheating on her, she would still be doing her low-key best to win his heart—-
"I'm sorry I have to do this."
Ryu's whispered words interrupted her thoughts, but before she could figure out what he was apologizing for—-
AH!
His lips had already covered hers, and Summerine realized this was not like their first kiss as husband and wife during their wedding.
Because this was real, not fake.
Real.
His lips and her lips.
Real.
And they were pressed against each other, and—-no!
It was already over before it even began, but that momentary contact was still more than enough to leave Summerine in a daze.
She was only vaguely aware of Charlee-Mae waving goodbye after thanking the other guests, Ryu pressing a hand on the small of her back, and Philippe de Rose walking towards them from the wings as soon as the stage curtains drew closed.
Oh, Ryu.
He had actually kissed her.
But why?
He had faked their wedding kiss, so why did he kiss her for real now?
Charlee-Mae smiled up at her husband as he reached her side. "Aren't they the most adorable couple?"
As Philippe curved an arm around his wife's waist, he also happened to notice the way Summerine had jerked upon having her relationship described as "adorable."
But since it was only Charlee-Mae's happiness that mattered to him—-
"They are, indeed." Philippe dished out the lie without hesitation. The other couple's problem was their business to deal with, and it was neither his interest nor inclination to meddle.
This is really it.
SUMMERINE COULDN'T stop touching her lips.
He kissed me.
It was all she could think about.
But why?
Had something changed between Ryu and the other woman?
And if that was the case—-
"Summerine?"
Her husband's unusually taut voice startled Summerine out of her thoughts, and she quickly lowered her hand when she realized she was still tracing her lip.
"I'm sorry about the kiss. Turning down De Rose's wife would only have caused people to talk."
The grim expression on his handsome face was new as well.
Could something really have happened?
"I'll do my best not to let such a thing happen again. I promise."
His jaw clenched, and Summerine realized that he was feeling...guilty?
The thought had Summerine fumbling for her phone, and she started scrolling haphazardly. She just needed an excuse not to meet his gaze, just needed something to busy herself with while pain threatened to swallow her up.
That one kiss from him had rocked her entire world.
But her husband looked as if he wished it hadn't happened at all.
It was just one kiss, and he was already acting like he was guilty of adultery—-even though Summerine herself was his wife.
I need to end this, Summerine thought miserably, before I become so pathetic that I won't even recognize myself.
Ryu made it so easy for her to pretend when they were together.
Just so easy to get carried away.
So easy to hope...even though, in truth, she never had any reason to hope at all.
Summerine wasn't sure how she was able to keep it together throughout the ride, but as soon as she got to her room—-
Oh, finally!
She shoved her face into a pillow and burst into tears.
I think this is really it, self.
(I know.)
Summerine cried even after harder at this.
(And I'm sorry.)
Her life had officially hit a new all-time low...if even Inner Troll was being nice to her.
The Affair
I'M SORRY.
I know I'm lucky to have you.
I know I'm asking too much.
And that I'm causing you trouble you don't deserve.
But I'm just so, so sorry.
I can no longer stay in this marriage.
I want a divorce.
Summerine was up all night perfecting her message.
Because this time, she was no longer in denial.
She had accepted that she was a coward.