Chapter 1 You're Great, But My Husband's Back
"Tired?" A man's husky voice, still heavy with desire, whispered in her ear.
Sophia Brown barely managed to open her eyes, her silky auburn hair cascading carelessly across the silk pillowcase.
Following the man's movements, she arched her neck in helpless pleasure, revealing the elegant curve of her throat.
"Let's take a break," she murmured, her voice equally hoarse, clearly exhausted from their passionate encounter.
Henry Windsor's gaze burned with desire as he toyed with a strand of her hair, his tone playful. "Giving up already? Just a moment ago, you had enough energy to scratch me."
Sophia glanced at the red marks her nails had left across Henry's chest, her cheeks flushing crimson as she cursed silently.
She'd been keeping him for two years now, and somehow this man's stamina had only improved with time.
Her back was killing her!
Henry looked down at her as his hands gripped her slender waist firmly. The light from above cast shadows across his already sculpted features, making him look like a masterpiece carved by the most devoted artist.
"Age is catching up with me; it's hard to compete with someone young like you." Sophia finally caught her breath, her manicured nails playfully scratching at Henry's chest like a petulant cat.
Henry caught her wandering hand, his eyes dark with passion. "In my eyes, you'll always be young."
Just as he finished speaking, Sophia's phone on the nightstand suddenly rang. The screen flashed with the contact name "Honey," like a bucket of ice water thrown over him, instantly shattering the intimate atmosphere.
Henry's eyes flashed with something dangerous. "Honey? So this is why you wanted to break up with me tonight?"
"Not break up. End this arrangement," Sophia corrected seriously. She reached to hang up, but Henry was faster, answering the call.
Oliver Miller's impatient voice came through the speaker.
"Sophia, when exactly are you coming home? You know I'm waiting for you here. Are you trying to throw a tantrum with me?"
A soft, delicate female voice chimed in from the background.
"Oliver, be nicer to Sophia. Don't be so harsh with her."
Sophia's expression instantly turned cold.
Clara Garcia continued in her gentle tone. "Sophia, Oliver's grandfather wants him to bring you home. Even if you want to throw a tantrum, you can't disrespect the elderly. Besides, we've been waiting for you at home all evening."
Clara's voice was gentle, but she'd already painted Sophia as disrespectful to her elders. The latter half of her statement was particularly suggestive.
Oliver was currently in what used to be their marital home.
With Sophia out so late, who knew what she was up to?
Sophia understood the underlying implication, sarcasm flooding her eyes.
Two years apart, and Clara's tactics were still so crude.
Not only had Clara deliberately destroyed someone else's marriage, but she'd also convinced Oliver to take her abroad on his wedding day to Sophia.
They had spent two years abroad in their illegitimate relationship, indulging themselves while completely ignoring that Oliver's grandfather, Gavin Miller, had been hospitalized from the shock, and the Miller family had become a laughingstock.
Sophia's voice was cold and full of sarcasm. "Can't handle waiting half a day? I once waited for you all night, only to hear that you'd taken Clara abroad."
Oliver's fury blazed even hotter. "Sophia, I told you, I don't have time for your dramatics! Where are you right now? Come home immediately."
Sophia frowned, her attention completely focused on the phone call. She didn't notice Henry's expression darkening beside her.
She didn't want to see Oliver, but she couldn't ignore Gavin.
It was so late, yet Gavin was still waiting.
She steadied herself. "I'll be right there."
The moment she spoke, Henry's hand, which had been resting on her chest, suddenly moved. He lifted his head to bite her earlobe, his voice deliberately muffled. "Sophia, can you really bear to go back? Am I not better than him?"
Henry's voice was already deep and husky, but now he deliberately lowered his tone, and his words carried a sense of intentional seduction.
Sophia immediately shot Henry a warning look, using her eyes to signal him to stay quiet.
Oliver's marital infidelity was public knowledge.
She needed to maintain her position as the victim. If Oliver caught her in any compromising situation, she'd lose her advantage.
Oliver keenly heard the voice on the other end of the phone; his expression changed as his voice rose in response."Is there a man with you? Sophia, where exactly are you right now?"
"You heard wrong."
Sophia hung up immediately, not giving Oliver another chance to question her.
She flipped her phone to silent and tossed it aside.
Looking at Henry, she moved to straddle him, now looking down at him from above. She placed her hand on his Adam's apple, her fingers gently sliding up and down in a caress.
Henry swallowed involuntarily.
Sophia's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly.
"You did that on purpose. What are you trying to do? Replace Oliver?"
She playfully patted Henry's sculpted chest muscles. "Answer me."
Henry's gaze grew even darker, his voice low. "You've known about my intentions from day one."
"Nice thought, but it's impossible." Sophia felt a twinge of regret as she said this.
After all, Henry was the perfect all-around companion.
Not only was he gorgeous with an incredible body, but his skills were exceptional, too.
Otherwise, their arrangement wouldn't have lasted two years.
Though she despised Oliver, she treasured Gavin's kindness.
When the Brown family had used her as a pawn, it was Gavin who had given her the warmth of family again.
If it weren't for Gavin's deteriorating health, he wouldn't have urgently called Oliver back.
Sophia was about to say more when Henry's lips crashed against hers urgently, as if trying to stop her from saying anything more heartless.
Sophia sighed inwardly. 'Fine. Seize the day.'
Meanwhile, Oliver couldn't shake the feeling that something was off about that voice he'd heard. Though it had been faint, he was certain there had been a man on the other end.
This late at night, Sophia was with another man!
Clara watched his darkening expression carefully. "Oliver, don't overthink it. Maybe Sophia is discussing business with a male client."
"What kind of business gets discussed this late at night?"
Oliver shot to his feet, a possessive rage roaring inside him.
"If Sophia has betrayed me, I'll never forgive her!"
Oliver forced down the ominous feeling rising in his chest.
At that moment, in the hotel room, Sophia and Henry had finally finished their battle.
Sophia was so exhausted that she couldn't even lift a finger.
Henry tenderly carried her to the bathroom to clean up—a habit he'd maintained for two years.
Sophia luxuriated in the bubble bath.
After washing her thoroughly, Henry wrapped her in a bath towel and carried her back to bed before cleaning himself up.
But when he emerged, he was greeted by a bank card that Sophia handed to him.
"Though you're great and satisfy me in every way, my husband is back."
"So this is where it ends. The card contains your compensation."