The Practice Wife

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The fifteenth time he rejected me in bed, I finally accepted that my husband was repulsed by me. I retreated to the master bedroom, scrolling through divorce lawyers on my phone, when bizarre floating text suddenly materialized in the air right in front of my face.

[Thank God! The ugly ex-wife is finally asking for a divorce. Our pure endgame couple is about to meet!]

[Bro, who else is hyped? Watching the untouchable billionaire CEO completely lose his mind over the poor, sweet innocent girl, going at it seven times a night... that is the spicy content I need.]

[I kind of feel bad for the ex-wife though. She loved him for years, never even got to sleep with him, and walks away with absolutely nothing.]

[Who cares! Everything the male lead has belongs to our sweet Stella anyway. The ex-wife was born a broke loser! Once they divorce, she will be working fast food.]

Reading those glowing words, a fiery rage boiled up in my chest.

Why? Why does his next girl get everything, while I end up with an empty bank account and an empty bed?

Blind with anger, I stormed right into the master bathroom, completely ignoring boundaries, and launched myself at Kevin while he was under the showerhead.

Pure and untouched, huh? I am taking a massive bite out of this prime meat first.

I refuse to leave him completely wrapped up in a bow for the next girl.

I threw the bathroom door open. Kevin was facing away from me under the spray.

We had been married for a long time, but this was the very first time I had ever seen him completely naked.

Hearing the noise, Kevin turned around. Our eyes locked.

A rare flash of shock crossed his face.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

I stepped right into the shower.

"Getting down to business."

I threw my arms around his neck, got up on my tiptoes, and smashed my lips against his.

I had secretly loved Kevin for three years and had been married to him for one. This was my very first time tasting the lips of this untouchable man.

It was incredibly intoxicating.

I could not help but deepen the kiss, biting his lower lip until he let out a muffled groan.

He finally snapped out of his shock and shoved me away hard.

"Wendy, have you lost your mind? Who gave you the nerve to pull a stunt like this?"

"Do not forget our agreement. This marriage is strictly a business arrangement."

Right. His wealthy family had backed him into a corner about settling down, and I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. He used me as a convenient shield.

But those glowing comments floating in my vision were stabbing me right in the heart. I refused to swallow this humiliation.

Why? According to those comments, that so-called "sweet girl" had nothing going for her except being a little prettier than me.

Why does she get to devour Kevin while I get kicked to the curb with absolutely nothing? I reject that script!

I quickly stripped off my wet clothes, showing a reckless stubbornness I rarely displayed around him.

"We are legally married anyway. I am getting my money's worth out of this arrangement tonight."

My sudden outburst seemed to throw Kevin off balance.

He completely forgot he was naked. He walked over and gently touched my forehead.

"What is wrong with you? Are you feeling sick?"

He looked so gentle and concerned.

It was always like this. Always exactly like this.

He clearly did not love me. He was usually entirely aloof and distant.

But the second I showed any sign of discomfort, he acted like he deeply cared.

The bitter ache in my chest became entirely unbearable. I threw myself against his wet chest.

"Kevin, just kiss me, please. Just kiss me and the pain will go away."

The man in my arms tensed up. I could feel a distinct physical reaction pressing against me.

Just when I thought Kevin was going to take things further, he let out a long, heavy sigh.

His voice turned freezing cold again. "Wendy, get out."

"Our arrangement has not changed."

"Besides, I do not have feelings for you. We are not sleeping together."

"Drop this fantasy and just play your role as my wife on paper."

Maybe he realized his words were a bit too harsh.

His tone softened slightly. "Tomorrow, I will have my assistant wire you one hundred and fifty thousand dollars."

"Consider it compensation for your grievances."

That night, he slept in the study again.

Maybe he was afraid I would ambush him, because I heard the deadbolt click into place.

I stared blankly at the locked door, completely frozen in place.

The floating text flooded my vision once again.

[LMAO I am dying! The ex-wife really thought she was the exception. Trying to seduce the male lead? The delusion is real.]

[Right? Kevin is a total ice king. If he does not like you, throwing yourself at him is useless.]

[Do not be so mean. I think she is kind of pitiful. Having a legal husband who refuses to touch you is incredibly depressing.]

[Depressing? He just gave her one hundred and fifty grand! Though knowing this girl's pathetic personality, she will probably refund the money tomorrow. But whatever! Kevin's money is destined for our sweet Stella anyway. And his body too.]

[Sigh. If I were the ex-wife, if I could not get the man, I would at least secure the bag.]

[Exactly! At least she would not end up broke and working dead-end jobs after the divorce. In the original plot, she sees the male lead and Stella looking all happy together, loses her mind, and ends her own life. All because she played the proud martyr.]

I rested my chin on my hands, sitting alone on the cold stairs.

My heart felt suffocated and bruised.

The chat was absolutely right. I was playing the proud martyr.

I was dirt poor, yet I was trying to play the game of pure, unrequited love.

Kevin literally offered me money and I was planning to reject it.

If I had not seen those comments, I genuinely would have walked away from this divorce with nothing but the clothes on my back.

I cried through the entire night. My eyes were completely swollen.

But I finally figured it out. If Kevin was repulsed by me, I needed to play it smart. I would drain as much cash as possible, and when this Stella girl showed up, I would pack my bags and leave on my own terms.

Having made up my mind, I crawled back into bed and slept in.

I had no idea that when Kevin woke up and saw the kitchen empty, he completely froze.

He hesitated for a long time before pushing the master bedroom door open.

Seeing the lump buried under the blankets, he visibly relaxed.

When he got to the corporate office, just as he was about to start reviewing files, he paused and called his assistant.

"Here is my wife's routing number. Wire her five hundred thousand dollars from my personal account."

I slept incredibly well.

From the day I married Kevin, I had been walking on eggshells, desperately trying to please him. Today was the first time I had ever slept this peacefully.

When I finally got out of bed, it was already past two in the afternoon.

That meant I had failed to make Kevin's breakfast and completely missed dropping off his lunch.

I figured he would not care anyway. I grabbed my phone.

Surprisingly, there was a text from Kevin: [Let us forget about what happened yesterday.]

[I wired you some money. Buy yourself something nice.]

I opened my banking app. The balance read: $500,152.65.

God bless Kevin for turning my bank account into six figures overnight.

A bitter smile touched my lips. If I had focused on the cash from the very beginning, I would be financially independent by now.

I washed my face and decided to go for a walk.

Somehow, my feet dragged me right toward the plaza beneath Kevin's corporate tower.

I spotted a young woman in a plain white t-shirt handing out promotional flyers.

The floating text started going absolutely crazy.

[Ahhhhh! It is her! It is Stella! She is working so hard!]

[I remember this scene! It is her time of the month and she is in severe pain. The male lead is going to bump into her and take her up to his private office!]

Really? So this was the girl who would eventually make Kevin go seven times a night.

She was definitely prettier than me.

Her skin was flawless and pale, glowing a soft pink even under the harsh sun.

Long, straight legs wrapped in cheap denim. Her plain clothes could not hide her natural beauty.

But she did look terrible. She was clearly suffering from awful cramps.

Right at that exact moment, Kevin strode out of the glass lobby doors.

Stella swayed on her feet and collapsed directly into his arms.

My vision was instantly completely obscured by words like [OMG], [SO SWEET], and [I AM SCREAMING].

Just like the chat predicted, Kevin stared at Stella's face, momentarily stunned.

For the first time in his life, he did not push someone away. He hesitated for a brief second, then scooped her up into a bridal carry and carried her straight back inside the building.

I did not watch the rest. I just closed my eyes.

I did not need to guess. The fated couple had met. They would be uncontrollably drawn to each other and fall deeply in love.

And I, the unloved stepping stone, was officially written out of the story.

It turns out some things simply cannot be achieved through hard work.

I felt like crying, but I also wanted to laugh.

Wendy, oh Wendy.

You are always the one nobody loves.

I wandered into a nearby luxury mall in a complete daze and walked straight into a high-end salon.

The stylist smiled at me. "What kind of look are we going for today, miss?"

"Cut it short," I said.

He looked shocked. "You have such beautiful long hair. Are you sure you want to chop it off?"

"Yes. Cut it right up to the jawline."

I always thought Kevin liked elegant, traditionally feminine women, so I tried desperately to mold myself into that image.

In the end, he never even gave me a second glance.

I knew I was not a classic beauty.

I had sharp, slightly European features. Keeping my hair long and soft always felt strangely mismatched.

When the stylist finished chopping off the length into a sleek, sharp bob, he smiled.

"Wow, you know what? You absolutely rock this edgy vibe."

My smile was uglier than crying. "Really? Maybe this is the real me."

Unlike Stella. She just had to stand there to look like a runaway princess.

I walked into a boutique next door and bought comfortable, oversized casual clothes.

When the cashier asked what I wanted to do with my old floral dress, I said, "Throw it in the trash."

I only bought those dresses trying to guess Kevin's preferences anyway. He hated them, I hated them, keeping them was pointless.

When I got home, I cleared out more than half my closet. Donated some, trashed the rest.

Around six in the evening, Kevin came home from work.

He looked surprised when he saw me dragging garbage bags to the door.

"What are you doing at this hour? I thought you loved that dress."

I kept my head down. "I do not like it anymore, so it is garbage."

"Your hair..."

"Cut it. It is cooler this way."

"Oh." He did not push the subject.

He walked into the dining room and stared at the empty table.

"You..."

I suddenly realized I had not cooked dinner.

"Sorry, I am really tired today. Do you want me to order you some takeout?"

Kevin's eyes stayed glued to my face.

"No need. I am not hungry."

He turned around and walked straight into the guest bedroom.

As he brushed past me, a faint scent of jasmine drifted off his suit jacket.

It was Stella's perfume.

Kevin scrubbed his skin in the shower, his eyes constantly darting toward the bathroom door.

After what happened yesterday, he felt entirely on edge.

He could not even name the emotion twisting in his chest.

It felt like a strange mix of anticipation and resistance.

He mindlessly lathered the soap, straining his ears to catch any sound from the hallway.

But half an hour passed, and Wendy never barged in.

He pressed his tongue against the inside of his cheek, feeling like he was losing his mind.

Why was he hoping she would barge in and kiss him again?

He did not even like her.

He aggressively rinsed off the soap, wrapped a towel around his waist, and stepped out.

He told himself he was just hungry and needed to go down to the kitchen to find a snack.

But when he reached the ground floor, the living room was completely pitch black.

Wendy had already gone to sleep.

A heavy, uncomfortable feeling settled in Kevin's chest. He turned around and went back upstairs.

That night, he dreamed about Wendy breaking into the bathroom again.

And this time, he did not push her away.

When I woke up the next morning, there was a plate of food on the dining table.

Kevin, who almost never set foot in a kitchen, gave me a slight, awkward smile.

"You are awake. You looked really exhausted yesterday, so I made some eggs."

I gave a flat, monotone hum.

Right as my heart started to feel a tiny bit warmer, the floating text ruined it.

[Holy crap, what is happening? The male lead is cooking for the ex?]

[Calm down, it is just because he heard Stella talk about her struggles yesterday. He wants to learn how to make breakfast for her, so he is using the ex-wife as a guinea pig.]

[Honestly, the ex looks like she is about to cry. Do not tell me she is getting delusional again thinking he actually likes her.]

[She has zero shame. She is so ugly, how does she not know her place? Stop throwing yourself at him!]

The more they insulted me, the colder my blood ran.

I ate the food in complete silence.

Kevin watched me out of the corner of his eye while sipping his black coffee.

"Is it good?"

I nodded.

"It is good."

When you make it for Stella later, she will definitely love it.

I carried my plate to the sink, completely oblivious to the intense gaze Kevin had locked onto my back.

When it was time for him to leave for the office, he leaned down, trying to kiss my cheek.

I flinched like I had been burned and stumbled backward.

"What is wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing."

He cleared his throat, looking deeply embarrassed.

"I mean, we are married. This is just a normal routine."

I offered a bitter smile and waved my hands.

"No, no need."

"You never have to do this again."

You do not need to force yourself to act like a husband just to appease your guilt. Save it for what you actually want.

I stared at Kevin's strikingly handsome face and silently drew a permanent line under our four-year history.

Kevin left for work with a dark, stormy expression. I figured since the female lead had officially entered the picture, our marriage was rapidly approaching its expiration date.

Soon I would be entirely alone in the world, and I had no idea what my next steps were.

I needed someone to talk to, so I took a cab to my mother's house.

She was sitting on the porch, rocking her toddler son in the sunlight.

When she saw me walk up the driveway, genuine annoyance flashed in her eyes.

"It is not a holiday. What are you doing here?"

I shifted awkwardly. "Nothing, I just wanted to come see you."

"Mom, I actually need to talk to you about something..."

Right at that moment, my little half-brother tripped and fell. My mother rushed over and scooped him up in a panic.

"If it is important, just text me," she snapped.

"My husband is going to be home any minute. He does not like you being around. You need to leave."

I swallowed the lump in my throat and went to my father's house, only to find a padlock on the front gate.

I dialed his number. I could hear ocean waves crashing in the background.

"Your stepmother and I are vacationing in the Bahamas. Do not call me unless someone is dying."

"Dad, I really need to talk to..."

"Talk to your mother! Stop bothering me, you are not my only kid anymore."

Click. He hung up.

I stood frozen on the street corner, feeling completely hollow.

Right on cue, the floating text flooded my vision again.

[Yay! Stella brought the CEO lunch! They had the sweetest afternoon eating together in his office.]

[So adorable! When is the ex getting deleted? I am ready for the seven-times-a-night arc.]

[Soon, soon. According to the timeline, the CEO proposes to Stella in two months. He will definitely dispose of the ex-wife before then.]

I wanted to scream, but the tears just would not stop falling.

Even if I was just a disposable side character, could I not get a single drop of happiness?

Forget it. From the day my parents divorced and abandoned me, I should have learned that good things were never meant for me.

I squatted on the curb and cried silently until my legs went completely numb. I finally tried to stand up.

My vision went entirely black. I swayed violently, and a pair of strong hands caught my shoulders.

I blinked the darkness away and realized I recognized the face looking down at me.

"Wait... are you Kevin's cousin?"

Grayson nodded. "Yeah. I just flew back into the country for business. You looked familiar, so I came over to check on you."

He was three years older than Kevin and spent all his time running the family's overseas empire.

Aside from a brief introduction at my wedding, we had never actually spoken.

I was shocked he even remembered me. He was still gripping my hands tightly to keep me steady.

I felt my face heat up. "Grayson..."

I tugged my hands back gently.

He immediately let go, looking apologetic. "Sorry about that. I overstepped."

He looked every bit the polished, perfect gentleman.

The chat room immediately started losing its mind.

[Yo! It is the mysterious billionaire cousin! He is insanely rich and barely has any scenes. I love him.]

[I heard this guy is obsessed with his empire and refuses to ever get married.]

[Honestly, the ex-wife has terrible luck. If she had targeted the older cousin instead, she would be dripping in diamonds for the rest of her life and would never have to worry about him falling for another woman.]

[LMAO so true! The cousin loves nobody but his bank accounts. Marrying a guy like that would be zero drama.]

Grayson... zero drama?

Could that actually work?

I entertained the thought for exactly two seconds before laughing at my own stupidity.

Wendy, you absolute fool. How many times do you need your heart stomped on before you stop believing in fairy tales?

When I got home that evening, I thought about the chat mentioning Kevin proposing to Stella in two months.

If that timeline was accurate, we were going to be filing for divorce very, very soon.

I needed to start packing up my life.

I was in the middle of folding sweaters when I heard the front door open downstairs.

I walked to the landing and saw Kevin walking in.

And right behind him was Stella, dressed in a sharp, fitted business suit.

This was the first time I was getting a close, unhurried look at the so-called female lead.

She was breathtaking.

She clearly had been taken care of lately. Her makeup was flawless, and her clothes screamed quiet luxury.

When she saw me on the stairs, she looked up, neither humble nor arrogant.

"Good evening, ma'am."

I was utterly speechless.

Before I could reply, she continued, "I am the new executive assistant. I am just here to help Mr. Kevin pack for an emergency business trip. Please do not misunderstand."

I am not misunderstanding a thing. Soon enough, this entire house will belong to you.

I gave a deeply sarcastic, polite smile and glanced at Kevin, who was pouring a glass of water.

He caught my gaze.

"Can you pack a few suits for me? I will be back in two days."

I was about to nod and walk down the stairs.

But then I saw the chat cursing me for interfering. I immediately sat right back down on the top step.

I flashed Stella a warm, welcoming smile. "His bedroom is the second door on the left. Go right ahead and pack for him."

"You are his assistant, so you definitely know his itinerary and wardrobe needs better than I do."

A flicker of absolute thrill and shock crossed Stella's face.

She quickly masked it.

She lowered her voice, feigning hesitation. "Oh, I could not possibly..."

"It is totally fine. Go ahead."

The second she disappeared upstairs, Kevin marched over to the base of the stairs, his face completely black with rage.

"Wendy."

"What?"

"How could you let a stranger into my bedroom?"

"Why not? It is not like you want me in your bedroom either."

He did not just hate me being in his bedroom.

Standing within a three-foot radius of him seemed to actively disgust him.

Kevin opened his mouth, but no words came out.

He violently loosened his tie, looking incredibly frustrated.

Just as he was about to yell something else, Stella came walking down the stairs with a sleek carry-on.

I gave them a flawless, elegant smile. "All set? You should hurry to the airport. Safe travels."

I turned around and walked straight into the master bedroom, shutting the door behind me.

I considered my behavior absolutely perfect.

I handled everything with grace and dignity.

My only hope was that when the divorce papers were signed, he would throw a little extra alimony my way.

Like the chat said, if I cannot get the man, I am getting the bag.

I lay in bed, swallowing my pathetic feelings, and booted up a mobile game.

Just then, Grayson sent me a text.

He said he finished his meetings for the day and asked if Kevin and I wanted to grab dinner.

I told him Kevin was out of town and I was home alone.

He immediately sent a picture of a table covered in incredible food. "If you do not mind, you are welcome to join me."

Sitting at home overthinking was driving me crazy anyway. I threw on a jacket and took a cab straight to Grayson's restaurant.

Putting aside the weird family dynamics, Grayson was actually phenomenal company.

He spoke at a slow, calming pace, and he constantly checked to make sure I was comfortable.

When he noticed I was picking around the cilantro, he quietly flagged the waiter and had several dishes swapped out for a slow-cooked beef stew he remembered I liked.

I had such a genuinely good time that I snapped a quick picture of the table.

I posted it to my social media: [Thanks to the best cousin for treating me to dinner.]

Kevin never looked at my social media anyway, so I did not bother hiding it from anyone.

I never expected that at eleven o'clock that night, a massive thunderstorm would roll into the city.

I had just finished my shower and was getting ready for bed when I heard a loud crash downstairs.

Thinking the wind had blown over a vase, I grabbed my phone flashlight and walked out to the landing.

Standing in the foyer was a completely drenched figure. His face was twisted into a terrifying, deadly scowl.

The second Kevin saw me, he cleared the stairs in three massive strides.

He slammed me roughly against the wall, his eyes completely bloodshot.

"Just because I rejected you that one night, you immediately run off to another man?"

"Wendy, how could you do this to me?"

Before I could process a single word, he crushed me against his chest like I was a priceless treasure he was terrified of dropping.

His lips crashed down on mine, chaotic and desperate.

"Wendy, do not fall in love with anyone else."

"I was wrong. Please, please want me."