Chapter 1
"How Can Women Earn Over Ten Thousand a Month?"
Late at night, a post shot to the top of trending news.
Josephine Kennedy clicked in and found a highly upvoted comment: [Just find a sugar daddy. Mine gives me $200,000 a month and is gentle and considerate. Way easier than working.]
To prove her point, the poster even uploaded a photo of her benefactor in the comments.
In the reflection of a floor-to-ceiling window, a man in a white dress shirt leaned casually against a sofa, his head slightly bowed. Though his features weren't fully visible, his exceptional bone structure was clear.
And disturbingly familiar. Josephine's heart jolted.
The man in the photo... why did he look so much like her husband of five years, Gideon Carnegie?
She scrolled through the comments instinctively. Below were many condemning the poster, but she didn't care—she'd even replied to them one by one.
[What's wrong with having a sugar daddy? It's consensual. He cares so much about me he doesn't even bother with that ugly wife of his.]
[He values me. Last month I casually mentioned wanting to see fireworks, and he ditched his feverish wife to come keep me company.]
[We met six months ago. He accidentally hit me with his car.]
[He doesn't love his wife at all. He gives me $200,000 a month but only gives his wife $20,000.]
Each boastful comment pierced Josephine's nerves. Her hands trembled uncontrollably. The monthly allowance Gideon gave her was exactly $20,000.
And last month, after she'd gone to his office to deliver some documents, she'd come home and collapsed with a high fever.
Gideon had canceled an out-of-town meeting and rushed back overnight. But when Josephine woke in the middle of the night, he was nowhere to be found.
Later, he explained there'd been an emergency at work. But that day, she'd smelled an unfamiliar sweet fragrance on his shirt.
Josephine had suspected something, but she'd quickly dismissed it herself.
How could it be? Gideon had spent a whole year pursuing her. After they got together, he'd treasured her like a precious gem.
Not only was he thoughtful and attentive, he'd even drive across cities overnight just because she'd casually mentioned craving a dish from her hometown.
"Jojo, you'll always be my priority."
That promise had kept Josephine from ever doubting Gideon.
But now...
"Jojo, why aren't you asleep yet?"
A sound came from the doorway. Gideon walked in from outside, wearing a white dress shirt with the collar unbuttoned, a trace of weariness in his eyes.
Josephine looked at him, the photo from the post flashing rapidly through her mind.
The nearly identical silhouette made her heart seize.
"Jojo?" Gideon sounded puzzled and called out again.
Josephine's fingers gripped her phone tightly. After a long moment, she forced out the words. "Gideon, is there something... you're hiding from me?"
A flash of surprise crossed Gideon's face, then he smiled helplessly. "Have you been reading those ridiculous posts online again?"
"Those are all fake. You can check my phone anytime. If you want, you can even drop by the office whenever you like. Besides, our Jojo has sharp eyes—no little secret could escape you, right?"
He walked over and took Josephine's hand, his eyes seemingly able to hold only her.
Maybe she was overthinking.
Josephine's turbulent heart calmed slightly.
"You—"
She'd just started to speak when a phone rang.
Gideon glanced at her apologetically, stood, and walked out to take the call. Moments later, he hurried back. "Jojo, something urgent came up at work. I need to head back right away. Get some rest early."
Before Josephine could react, he turned and rushed out.
As silence returned to the house, an inexplicable panic rose in Josephine's chest again. She instinctively opened the earlier post.
Three minutes ago, the poster had added some new comments.
[He went home tonight, but I said I really missed him, so he ditched that ugly woman to come see me.]
[He said only with me can he experience the pleasure of being a man.]
[Tonight we'll have an unforgettable night. All you can do is be jealous through your screens.]
She'd smugly posted a selfie—no face shown, wearing a nurse's outfit. Beneath the revealing fabric, the girl's beautiful young figure invited fantasies.
Josephine's heart felt like it was growing countless thorns, making her restless.
The thought that "Gideon betrayed her" flashed through her mind, stabbing pain into her heart and leaving her at a loss.
She couldn't imagine—if this were really happening—how she would cope.
Josephine hesitated, then suddenly stood and walked outside.
No matter what, she had to find out the truth.
Josephine didn't know where they were meeting, but based on the girl's later reply [He'll be here in ten minutes], she set her destination as Aqua Sky Villa.
That was their wedding home. Later, for work convenience, they'd moved to a flat in the city center.
Twenty minutes later, her car stopped outside the villa.
Josephine hurried to the wedding house. The next second, she froze as if struck by lightning.
Not far away, inside the brightly lit villa, a half-dressed man and woman were entangled desperately against the floor-to-ceiling window.
The semi-transparent nurse's outfit now hung loosely around the girl's arms, swaying with the man's thrusts, making Josephine dizzy.
The strength she'd been forcing herself to maintain rapidly dissolved. Her legs went weak, and she stumbled toward the villa.
Why?
Why would he do this?
Josephine wanted to demand an explanation.
But just as her left hand touched the door, she heard urgent panting from inside and the girl's sultry voice. "Gideon, between me and that old hag—who do you like better?"
Gideon laughed low. "You, of course."
The girl pouted coquettishly. "I don't believe you."
"Don't believe me?" Gideon thrust hard, speaking through her gasp. "For you, I even forced her to quit her job. You still don't believe me?"
"Looks like I haven't been working hard enough today if you still have the energy to think about nonsense."
As his words fell, the scene inside became even more obscene.
Josephine stumbled back two steps, her mind going blank.
No wonder—no wonder six months ago the company had suddenly fired her without cause, using only the flimsy excuse that her abilities didn't match the position, with no further explanation.
Josephine had wanted to argue with them but Gideon had stopped her.
"Since the company doesn't want you, this is perfect—just come home and be a full-time Mrs. Carnegie." He'd smiled soothingly. "I'll earn the money. You just enjoy yourself."
Josephine had thought he was being protective. She never imagined—this was just his way of pleasing his mistress!
The sudden truth made tears burst from Josephine's eyes.
She tremblingly pulled out her phone and photographed the disgusting scene inside, then quickly returned to her car and contacted a lawyer.
