Chloe was ready for dinner with Dante.

She wore a pale pink A-line dress with a square neckline that made her look older than her age. The hem fell below her knees, completely hiding her figure. Nude pointed-toe pumps completed the outfit. Her hair was twisted into the same elegant bun she always wore, and her makeup was tasteful and understated, with the same pale pink lipstick that did nothing to accentuate her full lips.

Her mind drifted to the sexy dress she'd worn the night before.

To how incredible her body had looked in it.

To the black lace lingerie that had ended up in ruins at the hands of that sexy stud.

Nothing she was wearing now could compare.

She caught her lower lip between her teeth as memories of his powerful thrusts flooded her mind.

There had been no romance.

No tenderness.

Just an intensely pleasurable fuck she'd been craving for years.

A knock at the door interrupted her lustful thoughts.

Chloe took a deep breath and slipped back into the role of the perfect wife.

Picking up the small handbag that matched her painfully boring outfit, she walked to the door.

When she opened it, the housekeeper was waiting outside.

After a respectful bow, she said, "Mr. Montgomery sent the driver to pick you up."

Chloe nodded.

That was just like Dante.

He never came for her himself.

They always met at the venue, where they could put on the performance of being the perfect married couple.

She left her bedroom and walked downstairs before heading outside, where Dante's chauffeur was waiting.

As she approached, she couldn't help giving him a discreet once-over.

He was handsome. Well-built. He could be her next...

She immediately shook the thought away.

"No, Chloe," she whispered to herself. "No one close to home."

The chauffeur, a handsome man with brown hair and warm brown eyes dressed in a tailored black suit, bowed respectfully before opening the rear door of the limousine.

She climbed inside gracefully.

The moment she settled into the seat, Dante's scent surrounded her.

Expensive cologne. Pure masculinity. He smelled like a real man. A stud who had never wanted to fuck her.

But she didn't care anymore. She could find men of her own now.

Men who knew how to give her exactly what she wanted.

"Weekends..." she murmured with a smile.

Yes. Those were the days Dante was never home. Except for today, of course.

Though knowing him, this dinner was probably some unavoidable obligation.

That meant weekends would be perfect for finding a lover and spending two uninterrupted days having sex.

Now she just needed to find the right place.

Somewhere no one would recognize her.

She still had to remain Dante Montgomery's wife on paper.

She became so lost in her thoughts that she barely noticed when the limousine came to a stop.

The drive had flown by.

"Mr. Montgomery is waiting for you in the lobby, ma'am," the chauffeur said as he opened the door for her.

Chloe took a steadying breath.

She stepped out with all the grace expected of Mrs. Montgomery.

The restaurant was one of the most exclusive in the city.

Of course it was. Her illustrious husband never dined just anywhere.

She walked toward the entrance wearing the practiced smile she always showed the public.

Mrs. Montgomery was expected to look happy and radiant.

"Dante."

Her voice was soft as she greeted him, carefully suppressing the urge to march over and slap him for all his affairs.

Dante looked up from his phone.

His eyes narrowed slightly as he gave his wife a quick once-over.

She looked as dull and uninspired as ever.

Then again, that was exactly how Mrs. Montgomery was supposed to dress.

Not that she had much to show off anyway.

He slipped his phone into his pocket and walked toward her.

After discreetly checking that people were already watching them, he smiled.

"You look beautiful, my dear wife."

His deep voice tried to sound affectionate. The tenderness was completely fake. Chloe recognized it instantly.

"Sure," she replied, unable to keep the trace of sarcasm from her voice.

Dante raised an eyebrow. Normally she thanked him and returned the compliment. Not that he cared.

Leaning down, he brushed a quick kiss against her cheek, barely letting his lips touch her skin.

Chloe fought the urge to recoil.

The thought of those lips, lips that had been all over countless other women, made her skin crawl.

The photos she'd received flashed through her mind again, and anger threatened to boil over.

"Come on," Dante said, offering his arm. "The investor and his wife are waiting."

Chloe quietly sighed before slipping her hand around his arm.

She just had to endure a few hours in the company of her cheating husband.

Together, they approached a table where a well-dressed middle-aged couple was already waiting.

The man wore a perfectly tailored suit, while his elegant wife was dressed in a turquoise pantsuit.

"My apologies for keeping you waiting," Dante said politely.

The couple looked up as Dante and Chloe approached.

The older man rose to his feet and shook Dante's hand.

"It's a pleasure to see you again, Mr. Montgomery," he said. His gray hair gave him a distinguished appearance.

"The pleasure is mine, Mr. Vander," Dante replied.

Noticing the man's attention shift toward Chloe, he added, "This is my wife, Mrs. Chloe Montgomery."

"Evan Vander," the man said, extending his hand to her.

Chloe smiled politely as she shook it.

"It's a pleasure to meet you."

"And this is my wife, Elina Vander," Evan said proudly.

Elina smiled warmly. Her blonde hair was clearly dyed, but she was still an attractive woman despite her age.

"Oh my, you're both so young." She looked at Dante with a smile. "How long have you been married?"

Dante's expression tightened almost imperceptibly.

He couldn't even remember how many years he'd been married to Chloe Brooks. Was it two? Three? He honestly wasn't sure. Yet he couldn't afford to get the answer wrong. Their marriage had never been a secret. The entire country knew exactly when they had married. Everyone knew, except him.

"Four years," Chloe answered with a forced smile.

The idiot had actually forgotten how long they'd been married.

"How wonderful," Elina said. "You're still in the honeymoon phase."

Chloe had to fight the urge to burst out laughing.

"Absolutely," Dante replied with practiced pride.

"Please, sit down," Evan said. "My dear Elina won't be bored anymore. She'll have the delightful company of your beautiful wife."

Dante pulled out Chloe's chair before taking his own seat.

In public, he was always attentive. He had to play the perfect husband.

Chloe sat beside Elina, who never stopped smiling.

At least she wouldn't have to spend the evening in silence like she usually did whenever she accompanied Dante to these dinners.

The meal passed pleasantly enough.

Dante and Evan discussed business while Elina chatted with Chloe about marriage and how wonderful life was when you found the right person.

Naturally, Chloe had to pretend Dante was exactly that. The right man. The husband who had made the past four years blissfully happy.

"So..." Dante said at last, setting down his wineglass. "Shall we finalize the agreement?"

Evan chuckled and looked at his wife.

Taking Elina's hand, he lifted it to his lips and placed a tender kiss across her knuckles.

"What do you think, sweetheart?"

Elina smiled and gently caressed her husband's cheek.

Across the table, Dante and Chloe watched with polite smiles, though inwardly both wished the evening would end so they could go their separate ways.

"I have one condition," Elina said.

"I'm listening," Dante replied.

"On the day we open the hotel, I'd like Chloe to be there."

Chloe blinked in surprise.

She hadn't paid much attention to the business discussion and turned toward Dante, waiting for his answer.

"Of course." He smiled. "She'll be there as what she is. My wife."

He looked at Chloe with the same manufactured tenderness he'd worn all evening.

"Of course," she echoed, returning an equally convincing smile.

Together, they continued fooling everyone around them.

The perfect couple.

-

After the successful dinner, Chloe walked toward the waiting limousine with Dante beside her.

She assumed he was simply escorting her to the car to maintain appearances.

"You did well tonight, Chloe," Dante said once they reached it.

"I know."

She turned to face him.

"Now we just have to come up with the perfect excuse for me to miss that hotel opening."

Dante nodded.

Although Chloe accompanied him to nearly every important event, this one would take place on a private island.

He had no intention of bringing her.

He was already planning to enjoy the trip with whichever mistress happened to be warming his bed by then.

"We've got plenty of time to figure it out," he said with a faint smile. "I'll handle it."

He raised a hand toward her face. He should reward her.

She continued playing the role of the perfect wife, so perhaps he ought to give her a little encouragement.

A meaningless promise. A little false hope.

Chloe knew exactly what he was about to do.

A fake caress. A fake gesture of gratitude. Another empty promise.

She'd had enough of his lies.

Before his hand could touch her, she stepped back.

Their eyes met. Her smile remained. But it no longer held tenderness or hope. Now it was defiant.

He had deceived her for four years. He had made a fool of her. Now it was her turn.

"Goodbye."

Without another glance, she turned away.

The chauffeur was already holding the rear door open.

She climbed into the limousine without looking back. She never would again. Dante Montgomery wasn't worth it.

Dante watched her leave with a faint smile. Her rejection surprised him. But more than anything, it relieved him. He hated pretending to be affectionate with her.

"Sir?" the chauffeur asked.

"Take her home," Dante ordered.

He wasn't leaving with her. His own car was waiting. He already knew exactly where he wanted to go.

The chauffeur nodded, closed the limousine door, and climbed into the driver's seat.

Dante didn't even wait for them to pull away.

He accepted the keys to his black luxury sports car and slid behind the wheel.

He needed to get there. He needed to see her again. To have her again.

He hadn't been able to stop thinking about the masked woman he'd paid six million dollars to spend the night with.

His mind was made up.

That inexperienced woman, who had proven to be an absolute wildcat in bed, would become his new mistress.

She would remain his...

Until he grew tired of her.