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A Husband’s Betrayal, a Wife’s Reckoning
Novelix
已完結
When I went to the bar to pick Vito up, I walked in on him tangled up with Gina—my best friend—in a very intimate embrace. Our mutual friends had been placing bets on whether I'd file for divorce....
章節（3）
第1章
When I went to the bar to pick Vito up, I walked in on him tangled up with Gina—my best friend—in a very intimate embrace.
Our mutual friends had been placing bets on whether I'd file for divorce.
"No way Amelia's leaving him. Vito's loaded—she'd never give that up."
"If you ask me, Amelia's just spineless. Otherwise, how could Vito have been snatched away like that?"
"Vito, want to guess how your wife's gonna react when she sees us going at it like this? Think she'll lose it?"
My darling best friend was perched on Vito's lap, smiling as she planted a kiss on his lips.
"I don't think Amelia will divorce me. She's a parasite. She wouldn't dare."
I was standing outside the door. When I heard that, I almost laughed.
He was half right. I had no intention of divorcing him.
I intended to be widowed.
...
Vito arched a brow, stubbed out his cigarette, and suddenly pulled her in for a deep kiss.
The people around them broke into another round of cheers, egging them on.
I stood outside the door, trembling from head to toe.
It suddenly hit me—they'd deliberately called me over. They wanted to see just how far this pathetic doormat could be pushed.
But I didn't go in.
Not because I didn't dare.
I just wasn't going to tear their little show apart with my own hands. That would let them off far too easily.
They wanted to see me lose control—wanted me to rush in like some humiliated, cast-off wife, crying, screaming, giving them fresh material to laugh about for the rest of the night.
But I wouldn't.
I stood outside the door, slowly steadying my shaking hands. My fingertip slid across the phone screen, and I dialed another number.
"Gina's drunk. She's at Noir Lounge. You should come get her."
Silence for two seconds on the other end.
I heard Kai's breathing drop sharply.
"Drinking with who?"
I answered without missing a beat:
"With friends. All guys, and they're the rowdy type. I'm worried they don't have good intentions with Gina."
Kai—Gina's husband—had done time once for assault, all because he'd lost his temper.
He was more impulsive than me. Meaner than me, too.
All I had to do was put the knife in his hand.
Kai said okay, told me he was on his way.
I hung up and turned to leave.
Gina had once boasted to me:
"Kai looks like this quiet, harmless type, but he nearly killed a guy for me once."
"And ever since then, he carries a blade on him everywhere. Just in case someone tries to mess with me again."
I'd barely made it to the entrance of the bar when Vito called.
His voice was lazy, casual.
"You're already here, aren't you?"
I parted my lips but didn't speak.
He went on, "The waiter said you stood outside for a while. So you heard everything?"
His voice was gentle—and to me, unspeakably cruel.
I let out a soft "Mm."
Vito laughed.
"Pathetic."
He was right. Everyone thought I was pathetic.
Back in school, all I ever did was trail behind Vito. If he hadn't looked out for me, I probably wouldn't have made it into university.
I let out a soft "Mm."
Vito laughed.
"Pathetic."
He was right. Everyone thought I was pathetic.
Back in school, all I ever did was trail behind Vito. If he hadn't looked out for me, I probably wouldn't have made it into university.
Two days ago, there'd been rumors linking him to a supermodel. I'd been a little unhappy about it.
So today, he'd made a point of letting me see Gina sitting in his lap.
He just wanted to drive one thing home.
He could give me the position of his wife—and he could humiliate me in front of everyone.
And I had better learn to swallow it.
That was his idea of authority.
Around them, people were egging them on, laughter ringing out shamelessly.
"No way, Amelia doesn't even dare to walk in?"
"She heard all that and she's still not coming in? Talk about a saint."
Then Gina picked up the phone, giggling.
"If I'd known you were this terrified of losing him, Amelia, we wouldn't have bothered hiding it from you all this time."
"Doing this right in front of you—it's actually kind of a thrill."
"I've test-driven your husband for you, and I gotta say, everything's top-notch. Hope you don't mind."
"Gina, keep going and she's gonna start crying."
"Vito, aren't you going to comfort her?"
The moment Gina finished, someone chimed in from the side.
This time, Vito answered—unusually serious.
"Cut it out. If she cries, I'm the one who has to soothe her afterward."
"Still, as long as I'm willing to come home, she'll put up with anything."
His tone was condescending, as if I were some vagrant living off his charity.
Then he took the phone back, and his voice came through clearer.
"Where are you? The bathroom? Let me take you home."
I looked toward the hallway. The moment he saw me, he hung up.
The expression on Vito's face was one of pure satisfaction—with a trace of malicious pleasure.
He walked over to me and ruffled my hair carelessly.
"Gina's not like you. She's just a bit of fun. You're always going to be my wife—so what's with the tears?"
"There, there. I'm not going to divorce you."
His voice held the tone of a man tossing scraps to a beloved pet.
But right then, Gina came out of the room, one hand pressed to her forehead.
She staggered—straight into Vito, with impeccable aim.
Vito's arm went around her waist, his palm resting on the bare skin above her hip.
Gina tilted her head against his chest and lifted her eyelids just enough to glance at me.
"Vito, my head hurts. They made me drink too much."
"Take me home, would you? Amelia already knows anyway. No point pretending anymore."
"She won't mind, right?"
She turned her eyes on me, the challenge in them unmistakable.
Just then, Kai messaged me, asking for the address of the bar.
第2章
I sent him the location.
Then I looked up and fixed my gaze on Vito.
"And what if I do mind?"
It was the first time Vito had ever seen me speak so seriously. It threw him.
He tried to push Gina away, but she draped herself over him like a limp rag.
"We've slept together how many times now—are you really going to pretend nothing happened?"
"You said it yourself, Amelia's like a piece of wood in bed. She doesn't know the first thing about pleasing you!"
She laughed sweetly, saying it loud enough for me to hear on purpose.
Vito shot me a nervous glance.
"That was just a joke. I was teasing her."
I let out a soft "oh," my voice quivering, as if I'd been shattered but couldn't bear to walk away.
I knew what they loved most was seeing me like this—small, groveling.
So I lowered my eyes and murmured:
"Then let me come with you to take her home."
"What did you say?"
Gina couldn't believe her ears.
I lifted my head and looked at them steadily.
"You have a headache, don't you? Vito and I will take you home."
I stubbornly grabbed hold of her, forcing her to lean her weight against me.
Vito froze for a moment at what I was doing, then laughed as if I'd amused him.
He reached out and flicked the tip of my nose.
"Aw, Amelia's jealous? Don't worry, I'll make it up to you."
"Jewelry, bags, a designer gown—whatever you want. Anything else? I'll take you to the auction tomorrow."
His words and gestures were affectionate, as if he hadn't done a single thing wrong.
Inside, I was disgusted with him. But nothing showed on my face.
I'd always been good at wearing this mask.
Back in high school, some girl had cornered me in the bathroom and cut up my clothes.
Vito was the one who warned her off.
He'd stood there frowning at me for a long time, then shrugged off his jacket and put it around my shoulders.
"You should have a bit of a temper."
That girl never came back to school again. Vito assumed it was his doing.
What he didn't know was that she'd been caught kissing another boy by her strict, old-fashioned father.
And her father had been led there by me.
She was forced to transfer schools—no more chance to bully me, of course.
But I was happy to have someone like Vito play the hero, so I never told him the truth.
"Let's go. Take her home," I said.
"But I already booked us a hotel room. Who said I was going home?"
Gina's voice cut in, her eyes glittering with triumph.
Right in front of me, she wrapped one pale leg around Vito's, staring up at him.
"You don't want to, Vito?"
"That lingerie you wanted me to wear—I already had it sent to the hotel. If you miss out tonight, I'm not putting it on next time."
Vito's pupils contracted, his interest visibly sharpening.
"Amelia, you go home first."
"I can't miss out on Gina's little gift."
"That lingerie you wanted me to wear—I already had it sent to the hotel. If you miss out tonight, I'm not putting it on next time."
Vito's pupils contracted, his interest visibly sharpening.
"Amelia, you go home first."
"I can't miss out on Gina's little gift."
I looked at him, my eyes red.
"You sure?"
He nodded, then frowned.
"Be good—unless you want a divorce."
I drew in a deep breath. Even breathing made my chest ache.
Gina let out a snicker.
"What, you want to stay and watch? That's a bit much. Wouldn't that be too cruel on you?"
Inside, I laughed coldly.
Of course I wanted to watch.
I wanted to watch them make fools of themselves.
After all, Kai would be here soon.
第3章
I didn't say anything. Gina suddenly leaned in close and whispered in my ear:
"You know when Vito and I slept together for the first time?"
"The day you had that miscarriage and ended up in the hospital."
"We did it in your master bedroom. On your bed."
I was shaking all over.
The whole time I'd been hospitalized, Vito had kept telling me he was busy with a project at the office—that's why he couldn't come.
And I'd actually believed him.
Turns out he'd been busy screwing Gina.
Gina laughed, her voice growing crueler.
"Amelia, if you have even a shred of dignity left, don't follow us. Just divorce him already and let me have Vito."
I stared at her.
"Why would you do this?"
"Vito's rich and handsome—who wouldn't want him? He's a hell of a lot better than Kai!"
There was open worship in her face.
I glanced at the time. Kai should be about ten minutes out.
I kept stalling.
"Would Kai even let you go? Didn't you say he has a terrible temper, that he nearly killed someone once? Aren't you scared?"
At the mention of Kai, Gina's tone turned dismissive.
"He's all brawn, no brain. One crook of my finger and he'll do anything I say."
"Worst case, I trick him into a divorce down the line. He's as gullible as you are."
I asked again:
"What if he catches you cheating?"
She curled her lip.
"He's probably still hauling cargo down at the docks, or watching the back door of some casino. Dog-tired every day. How would he ever figure out what I'm up to?"
"And even if he did find out, he wouldn't dare say a word."
She leaned closer, dropping her voice—but that only made it sharper.
"I train him like you'd train a dog. You wouldn't understand."
I gave a cold, silent laugh and casually checked my phone.
A message from Kai.
*I'm almost there.*
I suddenly didn't feel like letting them off this easily. I wanted to see how this rabid dog would bite.
So I turned to Vito with the same wounded expression.
"I'll wait for you in the hotel lobby. When you're done, can we go home together?"
I laid on the humiliation thick. Surprise flickered in Vito's eyes.
"Why are you so… why does it have to be me?"
Gina cut in, "Amelia, do you have any shame? Even now, you're still crawling back for more punishment? What are you even trying to do?"
I kept begging.
"If it weren't for Vito back in college, I don't know what I would've done."
"He paid for all my living expenses those four years. He's been supporting me ever since."
"Gina, I can't survive without him."
Vito really was good at making money.
By the time he was twenty, he already had several companies and clubs under his name—numbers in his account that ordinary people wouldn't earn in a dozen lifetimes.
In college, he played the part of an ordinary student while quietly running the family's books for the casinos, freight operations, and security firms.
All that gray-market money passed through layers of shell companies, coming out clean as project dividends.
With him, I never had to worry about money.
The card he gave me had no limit.
Tuition, rent, living costs, even the expenses when I later went abroad for academic conferences—all of it, he covered.
That was how I made it through graduate school and eventually earned my doctorate.
Gina was glaring at me now, venomous.
"You gold-digging little bitch!"
Vito shot her an impatient look. "Don't talk about her like that. She's still my wife. If she wants to come along, let her."
Gina's expression flipped instantly, and her voice turned fawning:
"I just don't want her to ruin the mood for us."