Between the Dream I Don’t Need to Continue or the Old Friend I Never Expected

I never made a scene about Lucas Dickerson's infidelity.

On our wedding night, when I walked in on that unbearable scene, my heart didn't break—it was sawed apart by a dull blade, the pain radiating in dense, rhythmic waves.

Yet I remained silent. I still brought him warm water to soak his feet. The next morning, I prepared breakfast as I always did.

From that day on, I applied to work at the Dickerson Group. Guilt made him agree.

Over the next three years, the women around him rotated like a revolving door. They understood the rules of survival for a rich man's mistress and never crossed the line.

Until now.

Lucas had actually brought a woman home.

Evelyn Gilbert, his childhood sweetheart, jabbed a finger in my face, her tone dripping with arrogance. "Daniela Bates, I told you—even if Lucas marries you, the only one in his heart is me. I *will* replace you and become Mrs. Dickerson!"

Displeasure coiled in my gut.

You can cheat on me. But you cannot touch my money.

——

After a grueling day at the Dickerson Group, all I wanted was a hot shower and a good night's sleep. But the moment I pushed open the door to the master suite's bathroom, the unmistakable sounds of passion slammed into me like a physical blow.

In the bathtub, Lucas held Evelyn tightly, kissing her with an intensity that suggested the rest of the world had ceased to exist. His eyes were squeezed shut, completely lost in their private universe.

Evelyn, however, snapped her eyes open.

Her gaze was pure provocation. Her lips curled into a smug, victorious smile as she stared straight at me.

This was the first time Lucas had brought an outsider home. The game had changed.

"Lucas, Daniela is back!"

Evelyn feigned terror, shrinking deeper into his embrace, her voice trembling with a fabricated sob. "I'm scared. My chest hurts..."

"Daniela! Are you a ghost?"

Lucas whipped his head around, his voice sharp with impatience. "Why didn't you make a sound? Apologize to Evelyn immediately! You scared her!"

"I'm sorry."

I lowered my head obediently, slowly backing out of the bathroom. "I won't disturb you. Starting tonight, I'll sleep in the study."

I had a rule: I never touched anything that had been soiled.

After Lucas cheated the first time, I never let him near me again. Now that the master bedroom had been tainted by Evelyn, it was dead to me as well.

I showered in the guest room and retreated to the study to work.

Currently, the weight of the Dickerson Group rested entirely on my shoulders. Even after leaving the office, idleness was a luxury I couldn't afford.

The study door swung open without warning. Evelyn, wrapped only in a bath towel, sauntered in and perched herself directly on my desk.

Dark love bites marred her exposed thighs—evidence of Lucas's well-known *bad habits*.

"Daniela, I told you long ago. Even if Lucas married you, he loves *me*." She looked down at me with naked ambition. "We grew up together. When your family went bankrupt, the Dickersons only let you marry in out of pity. Now that I'm back, you should return the title of Mrs. Dickerson to its rightful owner!"

"Sure. No problem."

I smiled and nodded. "As long as Lucas makes the decision, I agree to everything."

"You think he can't bear to let you go?" Evelyn's voice sharpened, clearly dissatisfied with my lack of resistance. "I know everything—you've been married three years, and he hasn't touched you once!"

"That's not what I meant."

I maintained my gentle facade. "I mean that divorce isn't up to me. You have to ask him. If he agrees, I'll fully cooperate."

Heavy footsteps approached from the hallway.

"Daniela, I know I was wrong! Please, don't hit me anymore!"

Evelyn's hand flew up and viciously slapped her own face several times. Then she threw herself off the desk, collapsing onto the floor and bursting into loud, theatrical sobs.

I glanced at the wet mark her towel had left on my documents.

Bile rose in my throat. I felt nothing but disgust.