For three years, Queenie was the perfect wife. She accompanied her husband Zander to every doctor's appointment, endured his erectile dysfunction with patience, and never once complained about spending every night alone in their bed. She loved him. She believed that was enough. But she was wrong. While she guarded their home, he was finding comfort in his female psychologist's bed. He told himself it wasn't cheating, only a part of his "treatment.” He was sure Queenie would never find out—and even if she did, she would never leave. Little did he know—he was wrong about everything. Queenie had already played her first move: she tricked him into signing divorce papers while he wasn't paying attention. She had already gathered every scrap of evidence she needed. She was just waiting for the right moment to strike. And she was creating something far more powerful. Fragrance—the "useless hobby" Zander had mocked for years—was becoming her empire. And the mysterious financial power that everyone in his circle was desperately trying to win over? That was her too. Zander fell to his knees and begged, "I was wrong. Give me one more chance." Queenie looked down at him—this man who had once made her feel like she was invisible—and smiled. "You look so much better on your knees than you ever did beside me." Zander didn't stop. He bought the studio next to hers and showed up every morning with breakfast, promising to wait as long as it took. Then Stanley appeared—a man who had never once dismissed her dreams—and tossed the breakfast into the trash. His hand settled on Queenie's waist, his voice calm and firm. "Back off. My woman doesn't need you to wait. She needs you to disappear." And in that moment, Queenie finally understood: real love doesn't ask you to turn around. It stands in front of you, ready to walk forward.

Chapter 1Queenie Xylon stood outside the study, listening to the pained, muffled groans of her husband, Zander Calvert.After a long moment, the study door opened. Zander walked out, his face flushed.Queenie finally released her grip, her nails having nearly dug into her palms, and walked over calmly. "Is the session over?"Zander reached out, gently stroking her long hair. "Yeah.""How do you feel?""Same as always. Whenever Dr. Whitlock guides me through the trauma, it brings up a lot of fear. Good thing the process, though painful, leaves me feeling incredibly relaxed once the session is over."He did look like he was riding a wave of cathartic release."Queenie, you must have been so worried hearing Zander's groans, right?" Renata Whitlock followed him out, a bright smile on her face. Her eyes were shimmering and undeniably seductive.Queenie offered a faint smile. "Not at all. You're a renowned therapist in the industry. With you working so hard to treat my husband, I have complete peace of mind.""Zander has been incredibly cooperative, which is why the treatment is going so smoothly." Renata shot the man a meaningful look, causing him to guiltily avert his eyes."I broke out in a cold sweat just now. I'm going to take a shower.""I should go check on Romy."Watching their figures disappear together, Queenie let the icy glint in her eyes fade before turning and stepping into the study.She walked straight into the inner lounge area, her gaze locking onto the trash can in the corner.Reaching over, she tipped it over. A foil packet slid out. It was empty.Staring at the thin, reflective material, she let out a self-deprecating laugh.As she laughed, her eyes turned red.The betrayal itself wasn't the most ironic part. The true irony was that he couldn't do this with his own wife, yet had no problem doing it with another woman.Three years ago, they had gotten married in Fiji. On their wedding night, Zander had complained that the hotel lacked ambiance and insisted on driving up to a mountain villa.Halfway there, he wanted to do it in the car...Queenie had refused, which killed his mood. Driving recklessly out of frustration, the car had swerved off the mountain road, and Zander had sustained a spinal injury in the crash.They had narrowly escaped with their lives, but ever since that night, Zander couldn't summon the desire whenever he faced her.In fact, the moment she got close, his body would involuntarily tense up, his eyes flashing with the terror of that tumbling car. He could no longer function like a normal man.Queenie had accompanied him to countless doctors and specialists. Finally, they concluded that his issue wasn't physical; it was a psychological response—post-traumatic stress disorder. From then on, Renata became his exclusive therapist.A divorced single mother, Renata had been invited to move in with her daughter six months ago, as Zander had decided the daily two-hour commute for therapy was too inconvenient.Initially, Queenie hadn't thought much of it. That was until three nights ago, when she came downstairs for some water and accidentally overheard their conversation."Zander, you can never keep quiet. Aren't you afraid Queenie will hear and get the wrong idea?"The man sitting on the sofa had replied dismissively, "Queenie is untouched. She doesn't understand these things, and she won't overthink it.""But you're completely functional now. Don't you plan to... try it out with her?"As Renata spoke, her hand had already rested on his body.He closed his eyes. "I tried. But I can't do it with her...""Only with me?"The woman's voice was like a purring cat, low and intimately close."Who could resist your seduction? Even a saint would drop to his knees..."Standing at the top of the stairs, Queenie's blood had instantly turned to ice, a bone-deep chill rushing through her veins.Her temples throbbed violently. Her head felt like it was being crushed in a vise, on the verge of splitting open.At that moment, she finally understood—The sounds that had worried her so deeply weren't born of agonizing memories. They were groans of pleasure drawn out by his therapist.She had convinced herself that her own prudishness had caused him to suffer this unmitigated disaster. But the mocking piece of trash before her proved that her guilt had been an absolute joke.Tossing the disgusting piece of evidence back into the bin, Queenie numbly walked out of the study. She calmly sat down on the living room sofa.A moment later, Zander came downstairs, freshly changed and looking invigorated."I need to discuss something with you.""I have something to say."They spoke in unison as he walked up to her.Queenie paused for a second, then curled her lips. "You go first.""I want you to start picking up and dropping off Romy at school for Dr. Whitlock. You don't do much at home anyway, so you might as well. She has a heavy workload, so just help take some of the burden off her shoulders."The mistress had stolen her husband, and now she was supposed to chauffeur the mistress's child around?"Why should I?" Queenie asked coldly.Zander frowned, clearly displeased with her reaction, but he managed to temper his annoyance to pacify her."Queenie, be reasonable. It's easy for you to sit at home playing the idle rich wife, but do you have any idea how hard I have to fight in the corporate world?My seat as CEO of Evermore Group isn't secure. The company's performance has been flat this year, and the stock is stalling. The VP is teaming up with a few board members to initiate a vote of no confidence at the next shareholder meeting. I desperately need a massive win to stabilize the situation. Dr. Whitlock knows the legendary trader 'Z'. If she's willing to introduce us, I'll have this in the bag.""So you want me to kiss up to her for you?"Zander shot her a faint glance, though the blatant contempt in his eyes was impossible to miss."It's not like you bring any other value to the table. This is the absolute least you can do. If I asked you to introduce me to 'Z', would you even have the capability?"Queenie stared at him evenly.She didn't need the capability to introduce him to "Z". Because she was "Z".Back in college, she had majored in finance, but after graduating, she never pursued a career in the field.Everyone assumed she was unmotivated, that she had coasted through her four years of school and amounted to nothing. They had no idea she possessed an extraordinary talent for high-level trading.But having talent didn't mean she had a passion for it.Her family had forced her into the major. Her true passion lay in perfumery. Her dream was to become a master perfumer. To that end, she had set up a small studio, spending her days working with aromatics, hoping that one day she could launch her own fragrance brand.The only reason she had become the legendary trader "Z" was because she saw how fiercely her husband was struggling. She had hidden her identity, silently amassing capital in the shadows, all so that if his career ever hit a wall, she could be his impenetrable safety net.She hadn't been dead weight in this marriage. She just hadn't expected his betrayal to outpace her sacrifice.What was even more laughable was Renata shamelessly boasting that she knew "Z".She offered a mocking smile. "Zander, do you really look down on me that much?""That's not what I meant. It's just that my condition took three years to cure. You know what they say—idle hands make for a wandering mind. I'm just worried that since you have nothing better to do, you'll start overthinking things.""Overthinking what, exactly?"While they were talking, Renata walked over with a smile.Zander immediately stood up. "I was just discussing this with Queenie. From now on, she'll handle dropping off and picking up Romy from preschool for you."The therapist feigned surprise. "Oh, I don't know about that. I couldn't possibly trouble her. Let's just have the nanny do it.""Just listen to me. She's meticulous. She'll do a much better job than the nanny.""But Queenie...""She already agreed."Queenie's nails dug into her palms. She stood up, bluntly rejecting the notion. "I didn't agree, and I never will."In that very moment, she made her decision. There would be no amicable split with him!She had originally planned to ask for a peaceful divorce, but she had changed her mind. Those who trample on true devotion deserve no mercy!Zander's expression darkened. His wife was being uncharacteristically defiant today. Gone was the sensible, considerate, easygoing woman he was used to.As the tension thickened..."Pew! Pew! Pew! I've got a gun! Surrender!"Romy ran in, playfully brandishing an unidentifiable object and aiming it at them like a weapon.Catching a glimpse of what her daughter was holding, Renata's face contorted, and she snapped sharply, "Where did you get that?"No matter how naive Queenie was, she could easily tell what that shape was.The little girl suddenly pointed right at her. "I took it from Queenie's room!"Zander was stunned, his pupils contracting sharply. After a moment of blank shock, an embarrassed flush crept up his neck, as if he had been slapped across the face.He had always thought his wife was reserved and dignified, someone who would never initiate anything. Now it seemed he had grossly underestimated her!After two seconds of silence, he snatched the object from the girl's hand, his knuckles turning white. When he looked at his wife, a layer of simmering rage settled in his eyes. "Queenie, are you really that desperate?"Queenie found the situation both infuriating and laughable.She had noticed long ago that this girl wasn't as innocent as other kids her age. She was an expert at currying favor with Zander, a stark contrast to how she treated her.Before discovering the affair, Queenie hadn't read too much into it. But looking back, all the girl's behaviors were clearly orchestrated by her mother.To have a five-year-old child parade around with an adult toy to frame her—Renata definitely had an ulterior motive.As for what that motive was, she wasn't sure yet.Her cold gaze landed on the lying child, and she asked sharply, "Romy, are you absolutely certain you took this from my room?""Yes! From under your pillow!" The little girl lied without blinking."That doesn't belong to me. As for where it came from, I suggest you ask Dr. Whitlock."Queenie directed her piercing gaze at Renata.The therapist quickly pulled her daughter behind her defensively. "Children don't lie. Why deny it, Queenie? We all understand Zander's condition. It's completely normal for you to have physical needs.""So I have physical needs, but you don't? My husband is incapacitated, and you're divorced. What makes you so sure this is mine?""I don't need things like that..." Her eyelashes fluttered slightly."Why wouldn't you? Is someone already taking care of you?" Queenie pressed relentlessly.Zander finally lost his patience, or perhaps his guilt kicked in. "Enough! We're talking about you. Why are you dragging Dr. Whitlock into this?"Cold fury crackled in his dark eyes. "You're just too idle, which is why your mind wanders to things like this. Dr. Whitlock is a dedicated professional. She's not like you."With that, he took Romy's hand. Looking like a picture-perfect family of three, they walked away, disappearing from her sight.Queenie’s vision blurred slightly as her mind drifted back to the day she first met him.The cafeteria was noisy, the crowd was bustling, and he had stood there with one hand casually in his pocket, chatting with his friends. His white shirt was pristine, framing his sharp collarbones. His expression shifted between serious focus and easy smiles.Amidst that chaotic, mundane environment, he stood out like a solitary beacon, drawing her eye instantly. She had fallen for him at first sight.Back then, Zander was the elusive dream guy that every girl chased. But in the end, she had been the one to capture him. They had shared a profoundly sweet chapter of life together.From college sweethearts to walking down the aisle, she had spent six whole years. From the altar to absolute strangers, he had only needed a single moment of betrayal.Closing her tear-warmed eyes, Queenie lowered her head and let out a desolate laugh.Everyone falls for a piece of trash at least once in their youth. There was nothing to regret.She was the one who fell for his looks; now she just had to accept the loss.***Night fell.Fresh from the shower, Queenie stood in front of the vanity, drying her hair. A tall figure walked into the bathroom and took the hairdryer from her hand.Queenie stared at the man in the mirror. His movements were as gentle as ever, but that face no longer belonged to the boy she had loved so deeply.Once her hair was dry, Zander leaned in, burying his face in the crook of her neck, his arms wrapping around her waist. They met each other's gaze in the reflection."I'm sorry for my tone earlier today. It's better for you to take care of your needs at home than to go looking for someone else on the outside."Queenie found it hysterical. But she couldn't even be bothered to explain herself anymore."But I was still surprised, Queenie. I never expected you to use something like that..."His handsome face was a mix of bewilderment, embarrassment, and frustration."Weren't you raised in a highly respectable academic family? Your grandfather always taught you to be reserved and conservative. Did you forget all that?"It was precisely because of her strict family upbringing that they had never crossed the line before marriage.Queenie curled her lips. He wasn't wrong. Times had changed, but her grandfather still lived with incredibly outdated, patriarchal views. Even if he knew his granddaughter was being cheated on, he would expect her to swallow her pride and endure it quietly. She could die a married woman. But she could never harbor such scandalous thoughts as divorce.Chapter 2Queenie Xylon stood outside the study, listening to the pained, muffled groans of her husband, Zander Calvert.After a long moment, the study door opened. Zander walked out, his face flushed.Queenie finally released her grip, her nails having nearly dug into her palms, and walked over calmly. "Is the session over?"Zander reached out, gently stroking her long hair. "Yeah.""How do you feel?""Same as always. Whenever Dr. Whitlock guides me through the trauma, it brings up a lot of fear. Good thing the process, though painful, leaves me feeling incredibly relaxed once the session is over."He did look like he was riding a wave of cathartic release."Queenie, you must have been so worried hearing Zander's groans, right?" Renata Whitlock followed him out, a bright smile on her face. Her eyes were shimmering and undeniably seductive.Queenie offered a faint smile. "Not at all. You're a renowned therapist in the industry. With you working so hard to treat my husband, I have complete peace of mind.""Zander has been incredibly cooperative, which is why the treatment is going so smoothly." Renata shot the man a meaningful look, causing him to guiltily avert his eyes."I broke out in a cold sweat just now. I'm going to take a shower.""I should go check on Romy."Watching their figures disappear together, Queenie let the icy glint in her eyes fade before turning and stepping into the study.She walked straight into the inner lounge area, her gaze locking onto the trash can in the corner.Reaching over, she tipped it over. A foil packet slid out. It was empty.Staring at the thin, reflective material, she let out a self-deprecating laugh.As she laughed, her eyes turned red.The betrayal itself wasn't the most ironic part. The true irony was that he couldn't do this with his own wife, yet had no problem doing it with another woman.Three years ago, they had gotten married in Fiji. On their wedding night, Zander had complained that the hotel lacked ambiance and insisted on driving up to a mountain villa.Halfway there, he wanted to do it in the car...Queenie had refused, which killed his mood. Driving recklessly out of frustration, the car had swerved off the mountain road, and Zander had sustained a spinal injury in the crash.They had narrowly escaped with their lives, but ever since that night, Zander couldn't summon the desire whenever he faced her.In fact, the moment she got close, his body would involuntarily tense up, his eyes flashing with the terror of that tumbling car. He could no longer function like a normal man.Queenie had accompanied him to countless doctors and specialists. Finally, they concluded that his issue wasn't physical; it was a psychological response—post-traumatic stress disorder. From then on, Renata became his exclusive therapist.A divorced single mother, Renata had been invited to move in with her daughter six months ago, as Zander had decided the daily two-hour commute for therapy was too inconvenient.Initially, Queenie hadn't thought much of it. That was until three nights ago, when she came downstairs for some water and accidentally overheard their conversation."Zander, you can never keep quiet. Aren't you afraid Queenie will hear and get the wrong idea?"The man sitting on the sofa had replied dismissively, "Queenie is untouched. She doesn't understand these things, and she won't overthink it.""But you're completely functional now. Don't you plan to... try it out with her?"As Renata spoke, her hand had already rested on his body.He closed his eyes. "I tried. But I can't do it with her...""Only with me?"The woman's voice was like a purring cat, low and intimately close."Who could resist your seduction? Even a saint would drop to his knees..."Standing at the top of the stairs, Queenie's blood had instantly turned to ice, a bone-deep chill rushing through her veins.Her temples throbbed violently. Her head felt like it was being crushed in a vise, on the verge of splitting open.At that moment, she finally understood—The sounds that had worried her so deeply weren't born of agonizing memories. They were groans of pleasure drawn out by his therapist.She had convinced herself that her own prudishness had caused him to suffer this unmitigated disaster. But the mocking piece of trash before her proved that her guilt had been an absolute joke.Tossing the disgusting piece of evidence back into the bin, Queenie numbly walked out of the study. She calmly sat down on the living room sofa.A moment later, Zander came downstairs, freshly changed and looking invigorated."I need to discuss something with you.""I have something to say."They spoke in unison as he walked up to her.Queenie paused for a second, then curled her lips. "You go first.""I want you to start picking up and dropping off Romy at school for Dr. Whitlock. You don't do much at home anyway, so you might as well. She has a heavy workload, so just help take some of the burden off her shoulders."The mistress had stolen her husband, and now she was supposed to chauffeur the mistress's child around?"Why should I?" Queenie asked coldly.Zander frowned, clearly displeased with her reaction, but he managed to temper his annoyance to pacify her."Queenie, be reasonable. It's easy for you to sit at home playing the idle rich wife, but do you have any idea how hard I have to fight in the corporate world?My seat as CEO of Evermore Group isn't secure. The company's performance has been flat this year, and the stock is stalling. The VP is teaming up with a few board members to initiate a vote of no confidence at the next shareholder meeting. I desperately need a massive win to stabilize the situation. Dr. Whitlock knows the legendary trader 'Z'. If she's willing to introduce us, I'll have this in the bag.""So you want me to kiss up to her for you?"Zander shot her a faint glance, though the blatant contempt in his eyes was impossible to miss."It's not like you bring any other value to the table. This is the absolute least you can do. If I asked you to introduce me to 'Z', would you even have the capability?"Queenie stared at him evenly.She didn't need the capability to introduce him to "Z". Because she was "Z".Back in college, she had majored in finance, but after graduating, she never pursued a career in the field.Everyone assumed she was unmotivated, that she had coasted through her four years of school and amounted to nothing. They had no idea she possessed an extraordinary talent for high-level trading.But having talent didn't mean she had a passion for it.Her family had forced her into the major. Her true passion lay in perfumery. Her dream was to become a master perfumer. To that end, she had set up a small studio, spending her days working with aromatics, hoping that one day she could launch her own fragrance brand.The only reason she had become the legendary trader "Z" was because she saw how fiercely her husband was struggling. She had hidden her identity, silently amassing capital in the shadows, all so that if his career ever hit a wall, she could be his impenetrable safety net.She hadn't been dead weight in this marriage. She just hadn't expected his betrayal to outpace her sacrifice.What was even more laughable was Renata shamelessly boasting that she knew "Z".She offered a mocking smile. "Zander, do you really look down on me that much?""That's not what I meant. It's just that my condition took three years to cure. You know what they say—idle hands make for a wandering mind. I'm just worried that since you have nothing better to do, you'll start overthinking things.""Overthinking what, exactly?"While they were talking, Renata walked over with a smile.Zander immediately stood up. "I was just discussing this with Queenie. From now on, she'll handle dropping off and picking up Romy from preschool for you."The therapist feigned surprise. "Oh, I don't know about that. I couldn't possibly trouble her. Let's just have the nanny do it.""Just listen to me. She's meticulous. She'll do a much better job than the nanny.""But Queenie...""She already agreed."Queenie's nails dug into her palms. She stood up, bluntly rejecting the notion. "I didn't agree, and I never will."In that very moment, she made her decision. There would be no amicable split with him!She had originally planned to ask for a peaceful divorce, but she had changed her mind. Those who trample on true devotion deserve no mercy!Zander's expression darkened. His wife was being uncharacteristically defiant today. Gone was the sensible, considerate, easygoing woman he was used to.As the tension thickened..."Pew! Pew! Pew! I've got a gun! Surrender!"Romy ran in, playfully brandishing an unidentifiable object and aiming it at them like a weapon.Catching a glimpse of what her daughter was holding, Renata's face contorted, and she snapped sharply, "Where did you get that?"No matter how naive Queenie was, she could easily tell what that shape was.The little girl suddenly pointed right at her. "I took it from Queenie's room!"Zander was stunned, his pupils contracting sharply. After a moment of blank shock, an embarrassed flush crept up his neck, as if he had been slapped across the face.He had always thought his wife was reserved and dignified, someone who would never initiate anything. Now it seemed he had grossly underestimated her!After two seconds of silence, he snatched the object from the girl's hand, his knuckles turning white. When he looked at his wife, a layer of simmering rage settled in his eyes. "Queenie, are you really that desperate?"Queenie found the situation both infuriating and laughable.She had noticed long ago that this girl wasn't as innocent as other kids her age. She was an expert at currying favor with Zander, a stark contrast to how she treated her.Before discovering the affair, Queenie hadn't read too much into it. But looking back, all the girl's behaviors were clearly orchestrated by her mother.To have a five-year-old child parade around with an adult toy to frame her—Renata definitely had an ulterior motive.As for what that motive was, she wasn't sure yet.Her cold gaze landed on the lying child, and she asked sharply, "Romy, are you absolutely certain you took this from my room?""Yes! From under your pillow!" The little girl lied without blinking."That doesn't belong to me. As for where it came from, I suggest you ask Dr. Whitlock."Queenie directed her piercing gaze at Renata.The therapist quickly pulled her daughter behind her defensively. "Children don't lie. Why deny it, Queenie? We all understand Zander's condition. It's completely normal for you to have physical needs.""So I have physical needs, but you don't? My husband is incapacitated, and you're divorced. What makes you so sure this is mine?""I don't need things like that..." Her eyelashes fluttered slightly."Why wouldn't you? Is someone already taking care of you?" Queenie pressed relentlessly.Zander finally lost his patience, or perhaps his guilt kicked in. "Enough! We're talking about you. Why are you dragging Dr. Whitlock into this?"Cold fury crackled in his dark eyes. "You're just too idle, which is why your mind wanders to things like this. Dr. Whitlock is a dedicated professional. She's not like you."With that, he took Romy's hand. Looking like a picture-perfect family of three, they walked away, disappearing from her sight.Queenie’s vision blurred slightly as her mind drifted back to the day she first met him.The cafeteria was noisy, the crowd was bustling, and he had stood there with one hand casually in his pocket, chatting with his friends. His white shirt was pristine, framing his sharp collarbones. His expression shifted between serious focus and easy smiles.Amidst that chaotic, mundane environment, he stood out like a solitary beacon, drawing her eye instantly. She had fallen for him at first sight.Back then, Zander was the elusive dream guy that every girl chased. But in the end, she had been the one to capture him. They had shared a profoundly sweet chapter of life together.From college sweethearts to walking down the aisle, she had spent six whole years. From the altar to absolute strangers, he had only needed a single moment of betrayal.Closing her tear-warmed eyes, Queenie lowered her head and let out a desolate laugh.Everyone falls for a piece of trash at least once in their youth. There was nothing to regret.She was the one who fell for his looks; now she just had to accept the loss.***Night fell.Fresh from the shower, Queenie stood in front of the vanity, drying her hair. A tall figure walked into the bathroom and took the hairdryer from her hand.Queenie stared at the man in the mirror. His movements were as gentle as ever, but that face no longer belonged to the boy she had loved so deeply.Once her hair was dry, Zander leaned in, burying his face in the crook of her neck, his arms wrapping around her waist. They met each other's gaze in the reflection."I'm sorry for my tone earlier today. It's better for you to take care of your needs at home than to go looking for someone else on the outside."Queenie found it hysterical. But she couldn't even be bothered to explain herself anymore."But I was still surprised, Queenie. I never expected you to use something like that..."His handsome face was a mix of bewilderment, embarrassment, and frustration."Weren't you raised in a highly respectable academic family? Your grandfather always taught you to be reserved and conservative. Did you forget all that?"It was precisely because of her strict family upbringing that they had never crossed the line before marriage.Queenie curled her lips. He wasn't wrong. Times had changed, but her grandfather still lived with incredibly outdated, patriarchal views. Even if he knew his granddaughter was being cheated on, he would expect her to swallow her pride and endure it quietly. She could die a married woman. But she could never harbor such scandalous thoughts as divorce.Chapter 3Queenie Xylon stood outside the study, listening to the pained, muffled groans of her husband, Zander Calvert.After a long moment, the study door opened. Zander walked out, his face flushed.Queenie finally released her grip, her nails having nearly dug into her palms, and walked over calmly. "Is the session over?"Zander reached out, gently stroking her long hair. "Yeah.""How do you feel?""Same as always. Whenever Dr. Whitlock guides me through the trauma, it brings up a lot of fear. Good thing the process, though painful, leaves me feeling incredibly relaxed once the session is over."He did look like he was riding a wave of cathartic release."Queenie, you must have been so worried hearing Zander's groans, right?" Renata Whitlock followed him out, a bright smile on her face. Her eyes were shimmering and undeniably seductive.Queenie offered a faint smile. "Not at all. You're a renowned therapist in the industry. With you working so hard to treat my husband, I have complete peace of mind.""Zander has been incredibly cooperative, which is why the treatment is going so smoothly." Renata shot the man a meaningful look, causing him to guiltily avert his eyes."I broke out in a cold sweat just now. I'm going to take a shower.""I should go check on Romy."Watching their figures disappear together, Queenie let the icy glint in her eyes fade before turning and stepping into the study.She walked straight into the inner lounge area, her gaze locking onto the trash can in the corner.Reaching over, she tipped it over. A foil packet slid out. It was empty.Staring at the thin, reflective material, she let out a self-deprecating laugh.As she laughed, her eyes turned red.The betrayal itself wasn't the most ironic part. The true irony was that he couldn't do this with his own wife, yet had no problem doing it with another woman.Three years ago, they had gotten married in Fiji. On their wedding night, Zander had complained that the hotel lacked ambiance and insisted on driving up to a mountain villa.Halfway there, he wanted to do it in the car...Queenie had refused, which killed his mood. Driving recklessly out of frustration, the car had swerved off the mountain road, and Zander had sustained a spinal injury in the crash.They had narrowly escaped with their lives, but ever since that night, Zander couldn't summon the desire whenever he faced her.In fact, the moment she got close, his body would involuntarily tense up, his eyes flashing with the terror of that tumbling car. He could no longer function like a normal man.Queenie had accompanied him to countless doctors and specialists. Finally, they concluded that his issue wasn't physical; it was a psychological response—post-traumatic stress disorder. From then on, Renata became his exclusive therapist.A divorced single mother, Renata had been invited to move in with her daughter six months ago, as Zander had decided the daily two-hour commute for therapy was too inconvenient.Initially, Queenie hadn't thought much of it. That was until three nights ago, when she came downstairs for some water and accidentally overheard their conversation."Zander, you can never keep quiet. Aren't you afraid Queenie will hear and get the wrong idea?"The man sitting on the sofa had replied dismissively, "Queenie is untouched. She doesn't understand these things, and she won't overthink it.""But you're completely functional now. Don't you plan to... try it out with her?"As Renata spoke, her hand had already rested on his body.He closed his eyes. "I tried. But I can't do it with her...""Only with me?"The woman's voice was like a purring cat, low and intimately close."Who could resist your seduction? Even a saint would drop to his knees..."Standing at the top of the stairs, Queenie's blood had instantly turned to ice, a bone-deep chill rushing through her veins.Her temples throbbed violently. Her head felt like it was being crushed in a vise, on the verge of splitting open.At that moment, she finally understood—The sounds that had worried her so deeply weren't born of agonizing memories. They were groans of pleasure drawn out by his therapist.She had convinced herself that her own prudishness had caused him to suffer this unmitigated disaster. But the mocking piece of trash before her proved that her guilt had been an absolute joke.Tossing the disgusting piece of evidence back into the bin, Queenie numbly walked out of the study. She calmly sat down on the living room sofa.A moment later, Zander came downstairs, freshly changed and looking invigorated."I need to discuss something with you.""I have something to say."They spoke in unison as he walked up to her.Queenie paused for a second, then curled her lips. "You go first.""I want you to start picking up and dropping off Romy at school for Dr. Whitlock. You don't do much at home anyway, so you might as well. She has a heavy workload, so just help take some of the burden off her shoulders."The mistress had stolen her husband, and now she was supposed to chauffeur the mistress's child around?"Why should I?" Queenie asked coldly.Zander frowned, clearly displeased with her reaction, but he managed to temper his annoyance to pacify her."Queenie, be reasonable. It's easy for you to sit at home playing the idle rich wife, but do you have any idea how hard I have to fight in the corporate world?My seat as CEO of Evermore Group isn't secure. The company's performance has been flat this year, and the stock is stalling. The VP is teaming up with a few board members to initiate a vote of no confidence at the next shareholder meeting. I desperately need a massive win to stabilize the situation. Dr. Whitlock knows the legendary trader 'Z'. If she's willing to introduce us, I'll have this in the bag.""So you want me to kiss up to her for you?"Zander shot her a faint glance, though the blatant contempt in his eyes was impossible to miss."It's not like you bring any other value to the table. This is the absolute least you can do. If I asked you to introduce me to 'Z', would you even have the capability?"Queenie stared at him evenly.She didn't need the capability to introduce him to "Z". Because she was "Z".Back in college, she had majored in finance, but after graduating, she never pursued a career in the field.Everyone assumed she was unmotivated, that she had coasted through her four years of school and amounted to nothing. They had no idea she possessed an extraordinary talent for high-level trading.But having talent didn't mean she had a passion for it.Her family had forced her into the major. Her true passion lay in perfumery. Her dream was to become a master perfumer. To that end, she had set up a small studio, spending her days working with aromatics, hoping that one day she could launch her own fragrance brand.The only reason she had become the legendary trader "Z" was because she saw how fiercely her husband was struggling. She had hidden her identity, silently amassing capital in the shadows, all so that if his career ever hit a wall, she could be his impenetrable safety net.She hadn't been dead weight in this marriage. She just hadn't expected his betrayal to outpace her sacrifice.What was even more laughable was Renata shamelessly boasting that she knew "Z".She offered a mocking smile. "Zander, do you really look down on me that much?""That's not what I meant. It's just that my condition took three years to cure. You know what they say—idle hands make for a wandering mind. I'm just worried that since you have nothing better to do, you'll start overthinking things.""Overthinking what, exactly?"While they were talking, Renata walked over with a smile.Zander immediately stood up. "I was just discussing this with Queenie. From now on, she'll handle dropping off and picking up Romy from preschool for you."The therapist feigned surprise. "Oh, I don't know about that. I couldn't possibly trouble her. Let's just have the nanny do it.""Just listen to me. She's meticulous. She'll do a much better job than the nanny.""But Queenie...""She already agreed."Queenie's nails dug into her palms. She stood up, bluntly rejecting the notion. "I didn't agree, and I never will."In that very moment, she made her decision. There would be no amicable split with him!She had originally planned to ask for a peaceful divorce, but she had changed her mind. Those who trample on true devotion deserve no mercy!Zander's expression darkened. His wife was being uncharacteristically defiant today. Gone was the sensible, considerate, easygoing woman he was used to.As the tension thickened..."Pew! Pew! Pew! I've got a gun! Surrender!"Romy ran in, playfully brandishing an unidentifiable object and aiming it at them like a weapon.Catching a glimpse of what her daughter was holding, Renata's face contorted, and she snapped sharply, "Where did you get that?"No matter how naive Queenie was, she could easily tell what that shape was.The little girl suddenly pointed right at her. "I took it from Queenie's room!"Zander was stunned, his pupils contracting sharply. After a moment of blank shock, an embarrassed flush crept up his neck, as if he had been slapped across the face.He had always thought his wife was reserved and dignified, someone who would never initiate anything. Now it seemed he had grossly underestimated her!After two seconds of silence, he snatched the object from the girl's hand, his knuckles turning white. When he looked at his wife, a layer of simmering rage settled in his eyes. "Queenie, are you really that desperate?"Queenie found the situation both infuriating and laughable.She had noticed long ago that this girl wasn't as innocent as other kids her age. She was an expert at currying favor with Zander, a stark contrast to how she treated her.Before discovering the affair, Queenie hadn't read too much into it. But looking back, all the girl's behaviors were clearly orchestrated by her mother.To have a five-year-old child parade around with an adult toy to frame her—Renata definitely had an ulterior motive.As for what that motive was, she wasn't sure yet.Her cold gaze landed on the lying child, and she asked sharply, "Romy, are you absolutely certain you took this from my room?""Yes! From under your pillow!" The little girl lied without blinking."That doesn't belong to me. As for where it came from, I suggest you ask Dr. Whitlock."Queenie directed her piercing gaze at Renata.The therapist quickly pulled her daughter behind her defensively. "Children don't lie. Why deny it, Queenie? We all understand Zander's condition. It's completely normal for you to have physical needs.""So I have physical needs, but you don't? My husband is incapacitated, and you're divorced. What makes you so sure this is mine?""I don't need things like that..." Her eyelashes fluttered slightly."Why wouldn't you? Is someone already taking care of you?" Queenie pressed relentlessly.Zander finally lost his patience, or perhaps his guilt kicked in. "Enough! We're talking about you. Why are you dragging Dr. Whitlock into this?"Cold fury crackled in his dark eyes. "You're just too idle, which is why your mind wanders to things like this. Dr. Whitlock is a dedicated professional. She's not like you."With that, he took Romy's hand. Looking like a picture-perfect family of three, they walked away, disappearing from her sight.Queenie’s vision blurred slightly as her mind drifted back to the day she first met him.The cafeteria was noisy, the crowd was bustling, and he had stood there with one hand casually in his pocket, chatting with his friends. His white shirt was pristine, framing his sharp collarbones. His expression shifted between serious focus and easy smiles.Amidst that chaotic, mundane environment, he stood out like a solitary beacon, drawing her eye instantly. She had fallen for him at first sight.Back then, Zander was the elusive dream guy that every girl chased. But in the end, she had been the one to capture him. They had shared a profoundly sweet chapter of life together.From college sweethearts to walking down the aisle, she had spent six whole years. From the altar to absolute strangers, he had only needed a single moment of betrayal.Closing her tear-warmed eyes, Queenie lowered her head and let out a desolate laugh.Everyone falls for a piece of trash at least once in their youth. There was nothing to regret.She was the one who fell for his looks; now she just had to accept the loss.***Night fell.Fresh from the shower, Queenie stood in front of the vanity, drying her hair. A tall figure walked into the bathroom and took the hairdryer from her hand.Queenie stared at the man in the mirror. His movements were as gentle as ever, but that face no longer belonged to the boy she had loved so deeply.Once her hair was dry, Zander leaned in, burying his face in the crook of her neck, his arms wrapping around her waist. They met each other's gaze in the reflection."I'm sorry for my tone earlier today. It's better for you to take care of your needs at home than to go looking for someone else on the outside."Queenie found it hysterical. But she couldn't even be bothered to explain herself anymore."But I was still surprised, Queenie. I never expected you to use something like that..."His handsome face was a mix of bewilderment, embarrassment, and frustration."Weren't you raised in a highly respectable academic family? Your grandfather always taught you to be reserved and conservative. Did you forget all that?"It was precisely because of her strict family upbringing that they had never crossed the line before marriage.Queenie curled her lips. He wasn't wrong. Times had changed, but her grandfather still lived with incredibly outdated, patriarchal views. Even if he knew his granddaughter was being cheated on, he would expect her to swallow her pride and endure it quietly. She could die a married woman. But she could never harbor such scandalous thoughts as divorce.