Chapter 3 "Marry him" ?

Now that I was feeling much better physically, I began planning how to get to the bathroom without Larry noticing, then find Zoe and talk things through with her. Maybe we could make some kind of deal.

It had always been that way between us but Zoe was usually the one with something to hide, while I was the one holding the advantage. But now, I had committed a sin so enormous that it overshadowed every mistake she'd ever made. I had gone from being a faithful wife to a cheater. And that mistake could cost me far more than my marriage to a billionaire.

I carefully pushed myself off the bed and made my way toward the bathroom, trying not to attract Larry's attention. Just as my fingers closed around the doorknob, his voice stopped me.

“Come here when you're done.”

I felt my heart leap into my mouth, and I froze for a second before forcing myself to continue. I stepped into the bathroom, quickly stripped off my clothes,turned on the shower and let the warm water pour over me. I stood beneath it with my face turned toward the stream, allowing the water to wash over my skin.

Then I sighed deeply. For the first time since waking up, I allowed myself to think about what I'd done. And the more I thought about it, the more terrified I became.

I needed to talk to Zoe before Larry found out. Before everything fell apart.

The longer I stayed in the bathroom, the more dangerous it became. Eventually, I'd have to face Larry, and I suspected his questions would be about my drinking.

I quickly dried myself with a towel and returned to the bedroom. I stopped abruptly at the door.

Larry was standing in front of the mirror, shaving.

“It's been a long time,” he said with a laugh, glancing at me through the mirror.

I said nothing. There was something different about the way he was looking at me, and it made me uneasy. A few hours ago, I might have interpreted it differently. Now, everything feels complicated, he had warmth hidden behind those eyes but it looked like mere horniness.

I continued drying my hair before running a comb through it.

“You don't need that yet,” he said and I frowned.

“Why?”

“I’m going to break the streak.” He laughed again.

I stopped combing my hair and watched him for a moment. I wasn't sure what he meant, but I figured he was just horny, a few hours ago I would have been very excited.

I moved closer, sliding my hand around his cock and stroking him while I leaned in to kiss him. He immediately slapped my hand away. I froze, a little taken aback.

“Don’t do what I didn’t ask you to,” he growled.

He left me standing there and sat on the edge of the bed.

“Come here.”

He turned me around, made me go on all fours, and arched my back himself. Then he shoved his cock into me in one thrust. I didn’t make a sound. He started thrusting slowly at first, then went faster and harder, the wet slap of skin against skin loud in the room, but I stayed silent… unmoving, unresponsive, like a log.

That was the Matteo effect. I wasn’t impressed anymore. I wanted more. He stopped abruptly and sat back on the bed, breathing hard, clearly angry.

“What was that?” he demanded.

“What?” I stood up. He shrugged it off, as usual. I hate sex without foreplay and he knows but he doesn’t give a fuck which was why I had to hurt his ego too.

“You remember it's today, right?” he asked suddenly, walking over to his setup and picking up his phone from the desk.

“What?” I looked at him.

“And I'll assume I didn't notice what you did today. Connect your phone to the TV and scroll through your messages and gallery.”

“Yeah,” I replied dryly. Our monthly routine. I'd completely forgotten it was today.

There was a strict no-cheating clause in our marriage contract, and Larry never failed to enforce it. Once every month, we went through each other's phones… messages, calls, and gallery. Neither of us was allowed to hide anything.

I picked up my phone and connected it to the flat-screen. My messages appeared on the screen.

I scrolled through everything without hesitation. I had nothing to hide or at least, nothing I believed he could find.

Larry watched silently, occasionally nodding as I went through my messages and gallery. When I finished, I dropped my phone on the bed.

“Your turn.”

He connected his phone to the TV. His messages were clean. Not a single suspicious conversation. Then he opened his gallery. He scrolled for a few seconds before suddenly stopping.

“Have my glasses been recording this whole time?” He stared at the screen, then shook his head. “Zoe. What an idiot.”

He opened the video. Larry watched the screen for a few seconds, his expression changing. Then his finger moved toward the delete button.

He hesitated. And stopped. At the time, I still didn't understand why.

I didn't know that the video on that screen was about to become my doom.

He opened the video. It showed Matteo talking to Zoe near the gate. Zoe was wearing the Meta glasses, completely unaware that they were recording everything.

Larry shook his head when Zoe mentioned sneaking Matteo in through the back door.

“I wouldn't have cared if she wasn't giving him money,” he muttered. “The same money she doesn't work for. My money.”

“How do you know she's giving him money?” I asked, struggling to keep my voice steady.

“Because I know my sister,” he snapped, frowning at me.

On the screen, Zoe led Matteo through the back door and instructed him to stay in the room. Then the video showed them kissing. Larry immediately skipped past that part.

My stomach twisted and my toes curled. I already knew I was in trouble.

Running wouldn't solve anything. Leaving this marriage meant losing the protection Larry's name provided me, and without it, I'd be walking straight back into the hands of my stepfather.

“I want to tell you something,” I blurted out.

“Not now!” His voice was sharp enough to make me flinch.

On the screen, Zoe told Matteo to freshen up while she went to check whether Larry was sleeping or working.

Larry skipped forward again. Then the image changed. Zoe walked into the room and there I was, standing beside Matteo. Both of us were completely naked.

Larry paused the video and went silent. The silence was so heavy that I could almost hear my own heartbeat.

I couldn't speak or move and I was trembling from head to toe. My mind immediately went back to my stepfather.

If this marriage ended, he would find me. He would take away everything Larry's protection had given me.

“I'm sorry, I'm really sorry Larry….I swear to god it was a mistake, I was tipsy..I thought it was you and I was just about to tell you..,” I said suddenly, my eyes filled to the brim with tears. “I'll do anything. Anything in the world. I'll let you trample all over me. I'll be your slave. Just don't abandon me please”

The memories of my stepfather’s wicked grin flashed in my head and I shook in terror, cold sweat running down my spine. No! No! No! I didn't want to go back to that horrible life. Freedom was with Larry and him alone if he abandoned me now…….

Larry slowly turned his head toward me. His expression was unreadable. I swallowed hard, tears streaming down my face.

His next sentence shook me to the core.

“I want him too.” Larry's eyes narrowed. “Can you get him for me?”

My mouth dropped open in complete disbelief.

“I want you to marry him... for me.”