Three Days Left Of Contract Marriage

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On the night of our fifth wedding anniversary, my wife brought her hundredth boy toy home.

The young guy looked at me with a smirk. Is this your husband, babe? He doesn't look like much.

Don't ruin the mood by talking about someone so boring, Chloe replied. Come here.

She couldn't wait to pull him into the bedroom.

I sat on the sofa, listening to the muffled sounds of their intimacy. I tapped on my phone to check the calendar.

Three more days. That was all that remained of this absurd contract marriage.

Chloe Pierce, whatever I owed you, I have paid it back in full.

The next morning, I got up and knocked on the bedroom door.

It wasn't locked, so I pushed it open.

The air was still thick with the scent of their night together. Chloe lay in the boy's arms, her face flushed with the afterglow of pleasure.

The guy wrapped his arm around her shoulder. When he saw me, his hand moved lower in a blatant provocation.

"Sorry about that, big brother," he sneered. "Chloe said she didn't get enough last night. She insisted on a morning round."

I said nothing. Chloe, however, gave me an annoyed glare, as if I were a nuisance for interrupting her fun.

"Why are you still standing there?" she snapped.

The boy didn't hold back his sarcasm. "A man living like this... what a pathetic failure."

Chloe laughed and agreed. "You're right. You're the one with the real masculine energy."

"Heh, then let me show you exactly how much energy I have!"

"Oh, you're terrible..." Chloe giggled.

The door clicked shut, cutting off the sounds of their ridiculous behavior.

I took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.

Just three more days.

Then, our agreement would finally be over.

It was more than an hour before they finally came downstairs.

When the boy saw me, he couldn't help but brag.

"Sorry, old man. I'm young, and I've got plenty of stamina. Hope you didn't wait too long."

Chloe rolled her eyes at him, but she didn't stop him. She let his hand wander over her waist and hips.

They sat at the dining table, feeding each other and flirting shamelessly.

To any outsider, I was the one who didn't belong in this house.

I didn't care much, though. I had grown used to this over the years.

"Zane and I are going to have a wedding," Chloe said without looking up. "He wants to make it official."

She continued, "I plan to use this house as our marital home. Make sure you move out soon."

"Why?" I asked.

I wasn't asking because I wanted to stay. I was actually surprised and a bit relieved.

I had been wondering how to pack my things and leave without her noticing.

"Why?" Chloe repeated the word with a cold smirk.

"Jace Miller, what right do you have to question me?"

"I was going to give you some money so you wouldn't starve while I'm on my honeymoon. Now, it seems you don't even deserve that."

The contempt on her face and the disdain in her voice were so natural. She acted as if I were her property.

She seemed convinced that the moment I left her, I would end up begging on the streets.

For five years, I had no life of my own. I served her hand and foot just to satisfy her need for total devotion.

Many people thought we weren't a real couple.

To them, a normal husband wouldn't act like a loyal watchdog.

They couldn't understand why I would degrade myself and accept such humiliation.

The reason was simple: money.

She chose me because I shared a slight resemblance to her first love.

On our wedding night, she brought a man into our bed.

Over the last five years, she brought home a new boyfriend every few months.

I went from feeling rage and shame to a state of quiet acceptance and, eventually, numbness.

So, as Zane provoked me at the table, I felt nothing.

I actually thought he was pathetic.

Seeing my silence, Chloe grew even more impatient.

"Did you hear me?" she snapped.

I snapped out of my thoughts and nodded. "Okay."

I agreed to her demand, but she still looked unhappy. Her brows furrowed deeply.

"What's with that look? Are you giving me an attitude?"

Before I could answer, she scoffed to herself. "Whatever. A loser like you will probably end up as a janitor."

She added, "It would be embarrassing if people recognized you. I'll arrange a tiny studio for you later."

I opened my mouth but decided to say nothing.

She was too self-centered to listen. Explaining myself was a waste of time.

After dealing with me, she went into the bedroom and returned with a small box.

"Zane, try this on for size."

My hand trembled slightly as I held my fork. I knew that box.

"Wow! Did you get this specifically for me, babe?"

Zane was thrilled. He took the diamond ring and tried to slide it onto his ring finger.

It got stuck halfway.

"This..." Zane looked discouraged, but he didn't dare complain. He just gave Chloe a pouty look.

"It's fine," Chloe comforted him softly. "I'll have someone resize it for you."

Her tone was so casual, so dismissive.

She seemed to have forgotten the time I merely opened that box while cleaning.

She had screamed at me and hit me for even touching it.

"Remember this, Jace! This ring is for him! No one else is allowed to touch it!"

The "him" she meant was her first love.

Zane looked at me and grinned. "Did you even get a ring when you married her? Maybe we have the same size. Should I wear yours?"

I paused, then slid off the cheap, plain band I wore. "Sure."

Zane was stunned that I gave it up so easily.

I placed the ring on the table and walked toward my room.

Since I was leaving anyway, I needed to start organizing my things.

Chloe followed me inside before I could start.

"Go tidy up the back garden later," she ordered. "And show Zane around the property."

"He needs to get used to his new home."

I didn't look back. "Let the butler show him around."

Chloe's voice rose in anger. "If I rely on the butler for everything, what do I need you for?"

Exactly. What was the point of me being in this house?

I wanted to ask her that, but I swallowed the words. "Fine."

Her expression softened slightly. "Honestly, you're so slow to do anything!"

When I grabbed my tools to head down, they were tangled on the sofa, kissing passionately.

They didn't stop when they saw me. If anything, they got louder.

"There are bedrooms upstairs," I reminded them.

They reluctantly pulled apart. Zane gave me a look of pure disdain.

"It's called passion, old man. You wouldn't understand."

Chloe snorted and waved me away. "Just get to work! Stop wasting time."

I started mowing the lawn and trimming the hedges in the garden.

Zane stood nearby, throwing insults every few minutes.

"Seriously, Jace, a man living as a doormat like you? You're better off dead."

"She loves me. Why do you keep hanging around like a stray dog?"

I stayed silent. Eventually, he got bored and sat on a bench, looking moody.

When I finished and headed back up, he suddenly lunged forward and grabbed my sleeve.

"Listen, Miller. I'll tell you a secret. Chloe is already carrying my child!"

"Your wife is pregnant with another man's baby, and she's having a wedding. Are you a total coward?"

I didn't want to fight with him. I tried to pull my arm away so I could leave.

But as soon as I pulled back, he let out a dramatic scream.

He threw himself backward toward the stairs.

I instinctively reached out to catch him, but he grabbed my hand and pulled hard.

We both lost our balance and tumbled down the stairs together.

Sharp pain shot through me. I felt something warm trickling down my forehead.

Before I could clear my head, a voice screamed in fury.

"What the hell are you doing?!"

I looked up with difficulty. Chloe was rushing toward us, her face distorted with rage.

Zane immediately put on a mask of pure agony.

"Chloe, don't blame Jace. He's just upset. It's normal that he'd take it out on me."

"I was just trying to help him up, but then..." He groaned in fake pain.

Chloe's eyes turned cold as she looked at me.

"Jace, apologize to Zane right now!"

I let out a bitter laugh at her blind accusations.

"Apologize? Why don't you check the security cameras and see who actually owes who an apology!"

My tone was defiant, which only made her angrier.

"You can't do anything right! You're completely useless!"

"Zane is a sweet, innocent guy. Why would he hurt himself just to frame a loser like you?"

My voice returned to a flat, calm state. "Check the cameras."

Zane's eyes flickered with panic. He quickly clutched his arm and claimed he was dizzy.

Chloe's anger instantly turned into frantic worry. She helped him out the door to see a doctor.

I watched them leave, feeling a deep bitterness in my chest.

Five years of living together, and I didn't even have a shred of her trust.

Just then, my phone rang. It was my senior from the university lab.

"Jace, the Professor wanted me to confirm if you're joining the research project. The team is set. We're just waiting for you."

My mind was suddenly very clear.

Back when I graduated, my mentor had invited me to join a major bio-tech development project.

He always thought I was wasting my talent. He had kept a spot open for me all this time.

"I'll be there on time," I said.

For the next two days, Chloe didn't come home.

On social media, she posted photos of her and Zane on a trip.

Zane was being "thoughtful" too. He kept sending me private messages with their itinerary.

He sent photos of the hotel beds, the views from their balcony, and how much fun they were having.

Looking at those provocative photos, I felt absolutely nothing.

I mailed most of my belongings to the lab. I only kept one backpack.

On my last night, Chloe came home late. She smelled like she'd been drinking heavily.

"Make me some detox tea," she demanded, swaying as she walked.

Since it was my final night, I didn't refuse her.

After she drank the tea, she looked at me with a confused expression.

Her eyes landed on the bandage on my forehead. "Is that still not healed?"

"No," I replied shortly.

She shook her head with a look of disgust. "You're getting old. Your body can't even heal itself anymore."

"Look at Zane. His arm was almost dislocated, and he's already back to normal."

I didn't say a word.

She seemed to lose interest. She showered and headed to the bedroom.

Before closing the door, she poked her head out.

"Make sure you pick up the wedding photos and the rings tomorrow. And remember to move out in the morning."

The door slammed shut. The house became silent again.

Only the ticking of the wall clock remained.

I sat in the living room from midnight until the sun began to rise.

My phone buzzed with a notification.

My flight was in three hours.

I went into the small bedroom and took out the agreement from five years ago.

I also placed the divorce papers I had signed on the table.

I left them in the most obvious spot. Then, I put on my backpack and called a cab for the airport.

Goodbye, Chloe.