Chapter 1

Sophie leaned back against Marcus's muscular chest, listening to his strong heartbeat.

Marcus Stone reclined against the headboard, taking a long drag from his cigarette, his calloused hand resting on her soft shoulder blade. After their passionate encounters, he always needed his post-coital smoke.

"I'm turning twenty-five this year," she said, taking the cigarette stub from his fingers. Ash scattered on the pristine white sheets.

"Time to get married."

Marcus felt her heart skip a beat against his chest.

He tapped off the ash and asked casually, "Found someone suitable?"

Sophie was quiet for a moment before responding, "Yes. Getting the marriage license in a few days, then having the ceremony."

Marcus laughed as if he'd heard a joke, unable to hide the mockery in his smile. "That was fast."

Sophie fell silent, stubbing out the cigarette and glancing at his expression from the corner of her eye. Her heart sank – his face showed nothing but coldness, as always.

"Mr. Stone, I'm resigning tomorrow."

Marcus gave a noncommittal grunt and got up to shower.

Through the frosted glass, in the warm glow of the bathroom light, Sophie watched his toned silhouette. She knew every inch of that body after three years, knew exactly how to please him. She understood every subtle tone in his voice, including the indifference in it now.

To Marcus Stone, she was nothing but a plaything.

Three years ago on a snowy night, she had collapsed drunk on the sidewalk. Marcus had stepped out of his Maybach, bringing her home.

She had been working at Skyline, an exclusive club, trying to pay off debts. A fifty-something executive had plied her with strong liquor until she passed out.

Marcus had just left a dinner party, immaculate in his black suit, aristocratic and untouchable. He stood before her like a crane in the snow, gently tilting up her chin. When he saw her face clearly, he froze for a moment.

"The standards at Skyline must have improved."

He took her home, but she was burning with fever, clutching his sleeve and murmuring.

"Don't go..."

Perhaps her initiative had ignited something in him.

Like a teacher guiding a student, he led her from couch to floor to bathtub, deeper and deeper into passion.

She remembered waking up the next morning. Marcus was satisfied enough to offer her a job as his assistant.

He often brought Sophie to various social events, and she repaid his trust by working tirelessly, even drinking until she developed ulcers at business functions.

Marcus gave her everything except marriage. He had once half-jokingly said that when she wanted a family, she should tell him – he would help prepare her dowry.

But this time, Sophie wanted to walk away on her own terms.

They spent one last night wrapped in each other's arms. Perhaps knowing it was their final time together, she held him tighter than ever.

The next morning while he was in the bathroom, Sophie prepared breakfast as usual, catching a glimpse of a message notification on his phone.

It was from Vanessa Shaw, the college student they'd seen at the bar.

[Tonight I'll be waiting at the Sofitel, room 1307.]

Sophie smiled bitterly, her heart aching with the reminder of how deeply she had fallen for him.

But she knew it was time to let go.

Chapter 2

When Marcus emerged from the bathroom, his muscular frame wrapped in a plush robe, bronze skin visible where it gaped open. He picked up his phone, eyebrows lifting.

"You looked at my phone?"

Sophie didn't deny it, swallowing past the lump in her throat.

"Who are you meeting tonight?"

"Just an intern. Work things to discuss."

Marcus showed no embarrassment at being caught. He simply felt no need to explain himself as he opened the message to reply.

He had posted a photo from the company gala on social media, earning effusive praise from Vanessa.

[You looked so handsome today! Can't wait to see you at the office, and especially tonight!]

[Love you, KISS KISS]

Sophie felt dizzy for a moment. It had been so long since she'd seen Marcus smile so gently. She glimpsed their lengthy chat history.

In contrast, her own message thread with him was sparse and cold.

Looking up, she found him watching her prolonged stare, and he warned casually:

"Don't look at my phone again."

Sophie gave a self-deprecating laugh. "Mr. Stone, I'm resigning today. There won't be any 'again.'"

After saying this, she reminded him to eat breakfast just as she always did.

Everything was like any other morning – fresh-toasted sandwiches, perfectly warmed milk, and his stomach medicine placed ready on the table.

Marcus frowned, not expecting her to make such a drastic statement.

He studied her features, unchanged from three years ago.

He remembered finding her by the road then – a fragile girl with fair skin marked by a beauty mark like a teardrop, making his heart ache.

"Fine, we'll discuss this later. I'll make time for you after I'm done with work."

He felt a surge of irritation, not understanding why Sophie was being so strange today.

Marcus was busy and left with his driver as soon as he arrived for the auction.

Sophie returned to the CEO's office alone to pack up and leave.

She ran into Marcus's other assistant, Ryan.

Sophie made sure to tell him to watch Marcus's ulcer, keep his tea and coffee warm, and how to handle his temper.

Ryan asked anxiously, "Miss Reid, you're really leaving? Not staying in the city?"

She gave a soft "mm" of agreement. "Going home to get married. Not staying here."

"Oh... well, congratulations on your marriage."

Sophie discovered a new employee registration form in her drawer, Vanessa Shaw's name glaring at her.

The assistant position that had taken her a year's probation to earn was handed to Vanessa without hesitation.

Before leaving, she took one last look at the office she'd worked in for three years, expression blank as she pressed a hand to her chest, as if already starting to dissolve that ache.

Her belongings weren't much – even including everything from the mansion, just one suitcase.

When Marcus returned from the auction that afternoon, throat parched, he found no coffee on his desk. Just as he was about to get angry, Ryan brought it in.

"Mr. Stone, your Americano's ready."

He noticed the empty assistant's office next door.

Marcus wasn't panicked – whenever Sophie had been upset with him before, she always came back on her own.

He had Finance transfer her $100,000 and messaged to tell her it was her wedding dowry.

But before Marcus could finish his meeting, Sophie had returned the money untouched.

Marcus's face darkened.

[Sophie, are you done throwing your tantrum?]

This time, unusually, Sophie didn't immediately reply to his message.

Marcus felt unsettled but didn't check again, heading out to his appointment with Vanessa.

Sophie stared at the confirmed booking page on her screen, letting out a long breath.

She had already bought her plane ticket to River North. In two weeks, she would leave Chicago forever, disappearing completely from Marcus Stone's life.

Chapter 3

Meeting Vanessa was purely physical, hardly any communication involved.

Vanessa was only a freshman, eighteen years old, at the age when desire first blooms. She let Marcus mold her to please him.

Marcus gripped her face, struck by how much it resembled that other face he kept thinking of, a flash of longing crossing his eyes.

Vanessa nibbled his ear provocatively, voice trembling.

"You're amazing..."

Suddenly, Sophie's shy, restrained expression flashed through his mind.

Marcus's eyes cleared instantly.

He lost all interest, roughly pushing away the still-excited Vanessa and quickly getting dressed.

Then he took out a credit card and coldly tossed it onto her.

"I'm not satisfied. Don't come back."

Passion interrupted, leaving only emptiness.

Vanessa knelt anxiously on the bed, eyes full of hurt.

"Why? Tell me what you don't like and I'll change, okay?"

"Just please don't reject me?"

Marcus impatiently pulled her hands away, not sparing her a glance.

"When I'm not satisfied, I'm not satisfied. No reason needed."

"Please..." Vanessa called out pitifully, watching his resolute back as he left, collapsing in defeat.

...

Sophie got her marriage license with James Foster, her arranged match, as agreed.

They were both people wounded by love, disillusioned with romance, wanting only to build their own home.

So they quickly agreed to a contract marriage.

Even without love, spending life this way seemed fine.

They agreed to a simple ceremony in Chicago, then buy a house in River North to live a quiet life.

At the mall, James was helping her pick out wedding rings and traditional jewelry.

They had just gotten their marriage license today, the little red booklet still warm in their hands.

"How about this one?"

James had the clerk take out the diamond ring Sophie was eyeing, slipping it onto her ring finger as he quietly asked her opinion.

Sophie's eyes lit up, but when she saw the price tag, she immediately tried to take it off.

"It's too expensive."

But James stopped her.

"The basic wedding set is the minimum for marrying you. Having a simple ceremony doesn't mean you should settle for less."

Sophie was touched.

Just then, Marcus happened to be nearby and spotted Sophie in the jewelry store. He unconsciously clenched his fist.

So she was really putting on a full show.

Even found a man just to provoke him.

Marcus walked up to the couple, breaking their intimate moment.

Seeing James's ordinary looks, his eyes showed disdain.

"Sophie, I didn't know your standards would drop so low after leaving me."

"I might have thought better of you if you'd picked someone from a karaoke bar."

Sophie's expression cooled. She pulled James behind her protectively, her tone distant and aloof.

"Mr. Stone, please don't insult my husband. He's not someone an outsider like you should judge."

Seeing Sophie defend another man this way, Marcus felt a stab of jealousy.

She just called that man... husband?

"I need to speak with Sophie."

James didn't stop them.

"Go ahead, don't worry about me."

Sophie knew he wouldn't give up until he got his way.

They turned to leave one after another. Out of habit, Sophie reached to take Marcus's coat, their eyes meeting awkwardly for a moment.

What was she doing? Marcus didn't need her anymore.

Habits were truly terrifying things.

Marcus didn't stop her actions, just frowned slightly. "What, a few days apart and you're already acting like strangers?"

"If you have something to say, just say it."

Without speaking, he led her to a high-end men's store they often visited.

The staff immediately greeted them warmly.

Marcus lifted his chin. "I need a suit for a trade conference. Help me pick something appropriate."

These tasks had always been Sophie's domain, and he was used to it.

Sophie silently selected suitable styles, automatically reciting his measurements.

"You should have been this obedient all along."

Marcus accepted with a cold smile.

Sophie understood what he meant. For three years, whether work or life, their understanding needed no words.

But she reminded him, "Mr. Stone, when new habits form, you might find something more suitable."

Marcus's expression instantly turned cold. He took the clothes and went into the fitting room.

Shortly after, he commanded coldly:

"My shirt and tie need adjusting. Come in and help me."