My Husband on Her Rating List

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Scrolling through Ins, I found a post: From Mind-Blowing to Trash, Rating the Men I Slept With This Year.

Thinking of that cold, distant man at home, I clicked on the post with curiosity.

Pure college boy, a bit clumsy, I'll give him a passing grade

Athletic black guy, oh wow, that was wild, definitely top-tier

The comment section exploded.

"Now THIS is the kind of girl boss content I need"

"Living your best life, let me live it for a couple days too."

I was about to leave a playful comment when the woman's latest update made me freeze.

"Last one. My best bed partner, also the one who gave me my sexual awakening. Even though he's married, I'm giving him a straight-up 'mind-blowing.'"

The photo showed them lying together in bed.

And the sleeping man in that photo was my husband.

I stared at the screen in disbelief, but the comments that refreshed below made my blood run even colder.

"Isn't that knowingly being the other woman? That's not cool."

"So what? Haven't you heard that the one who isn't loved is the real mistress? Besides, I had his first time."

"A man sleeping with two women at the same time... how good can he even be?"

"That's not true at all. He promised he'd only have sex with me, that he'd never waste it on that old hag at home."

Indeed, in our year of marriage, Xander Thorne was either working overtime or on business trips.

The times he actually came home could be counted on one hand.

Even on our wedding night, what should have happened didn't-he used being drunk as an excuse and just fell asleep.

I'd questioned myself countless times.

Was I just too unattractive? Was that why Xander wouldn't touch me?

But before we got married, his love for me had been so passionate and intense. He'd hold me in bed, his voice hoarse.

"Nora, I want to be with you so badly."

"Once we're married, I can truly have you."

Remembering that past sweetness, I smiled bitterly.

Now I finally understood. It wasn't that I'd done anything wrong.

It was that Xander had already found his bed partner.

His only bed partner.

The next second, Xander pushed the door open and pulled me into his arms.

"Happy New Year. What are you looking at?"

I quickly put down my phone and turned to meet his eyes.

"Nothing, just browsing."

As I spoke, I thought of the words "mind-blowing" from the post and tentatively kissed his lips.

The man froze for a moment, then chuckled softly, cupping my head and deepening the kiss.

His heavy breathing hit my face. As things heated up, we unconsciously began pulling at each other's clothes.

He pushed me down onto the bed, and just when we were one step away, he stopped.

His previously hazy eyes instantly cleared. Xander pushed me away, buttoning his shirt as if nothing had happened, his voice hoarse.

"Alright, go help in the kitchen. It's almost time for dinner."

Of course. It was like this again.

I numbly got up and walked into the kitchen, laughing at myself.

When my mother-in-law saw me, she immediately vented her dissatisfaction.

"Nora, now that you've married into the Thorne family, you need to think about our family, don't you?"

"Look at your belly. It's been a whole year, and still nothing."

"I'm not trying to push you. But you and Xander should have a baby while you're young. It'll be easier for you both when the child grows up."

Mrs. Thorne rambled on and on while my grievances surged up.

Before marriage, I'd promised her we'd have two children in three years.

But what happened? We could count on one hand the nights we'd even shared a bed.

Thinking of how Xander had just walked away, my heart grew even heavier.

Seeing my silence, Mrs. Thorne lost what little patience she'd had and stormed off.

"People like you just have no manners. I must have lost my mind to let someone like you marry into the Thorne family."

I stared numbly at the mess before me and mechanically began cleaning up.

Mrs. Thorne was right.

Xander and I were from two different worlds.

Without his love, I had nothing. I could never reach the heights of the Thorne family.

Crack.

Lost in thought, I cut my finger with the knife, leaving a streak of bright red.

I immediately rinsed it under water, intending to go outside for a bandage.

The noise outside gradually grew louder as the neighbor's daughter arrived with gifts, smiling brightly.

"Mrs. Thorne, Xander, Happy New Year! I brought gifts and came to join you for dinner."

I looked up and saw that familiar face. My heart lurched.

She was the woman from the photo.

Mrs. Thorne chatted cheerfully with Jocelyn Lane about everyday matters, grinning ear to ear at the jewelry she'd brought.

"Oh my, our Jocelyn is so thoughtful. I had my eye on this ruby necklace set just last month."

Xander sat nearby, bringing a peeled shrimp to Jocelyn's lips.

The woman took his finger into her mouth with a lingering gaze, then slowly swallowed the shrimp.

Xander treated it as routine, his movements practiced, as if he'd done it a thousand times.

Only when I sat beside him did he belatedly react.

"Nora, let me introduce you. This is Jocelyn Lane, my childhood friend."

"Taking care of her has become a habit. Don't mind it."

As he spoke, he peeled a shrimp apologetically and placed it in my plate.

I forced a smile.

He seemed to have forgotten that I'm allergic to shrimp.

Mrs. Thorne saw this and began her passive-aggressive commentary.

"Married a hen that won't lay eggs. No real ability, but quite the temper. Should've married Jocelyn instead."

Xander remained silent, seemingly accepting her words.

"Now, Mrs. Thorne, don't say that. Xander and Nora are so in love. Having a baby is just a matter of time."

Jocelyn fanned the flames from the side, deliberately emphasizing "in love," as if challenging me.

My hand trembled, accidentally knocking my fork to the floor.

As I bent down to pick them up, I glanced up and saw Jocelyn's feet intimately resting between Xander's legs in a suggestive position.

Even though I already knew the truth, seeing this scene still felt like a knife twisting in my heart.

I looked at Xander. The man's earlobes were already flushed red...

After dinner, Xander settled me in the room and volunteered to wash the dishes.

I picked up my phone and, like a masochist, opened the post I'd been viewing earlier.

Jocelyn had posted an update.

"Came to Xander's house for dinner, washing dishes together."

"These are the hands that made me feel absolutely incredible in bed."

Jocelyn had posted a picture of Xander washing dishes. Those hands were long and strong, with our diamond ring still on his ring finger.

The hand fetishists in the comments went wild.

"Beautiful fingers, I want to lick them."

"Using the ring, does that feel amazing?"

Jocelyn quickly replied to that comment.

"Good taste. Not just the ring, but lots of other toys too..."

I suddenly felt dizzy, wanting to throw up.

Once, I'd deliberately bought sexy lingerie and even used various props, hoping he'd show some interest.

But that night, he'd looked at me coldly and thrown the blanket over me.

"Sorry, Nora, I'm a rather traditional person."

"This... you're being too slutty. I can't accept it."

Those cold words still echoed in my ears.

I'd thought I was too improper, consumed only by lust.

Now I knew that Xander wasn't without desire.

He just directed all his desire toward another woman.

Tears filled my eyes. Xander pushed the door open and, seeing me cry, held me with apparent concern.

"Nora, I'm sorry. I let you down."

"The baby situation, that's on me. I promise, just let me prepare a bit more."

"Next year, we'll definitely have a child."

Seeing my silence, he handed me a glass of warm milk as usual.

Whenever we fought before, he'd give me warm milk as a peace offering.

He was confident I'd forgive him, so he turned and left.

In fact, I'd always chosen to forgive him before.

But today, I poured that entire glass of milk down the drain.

Just like my past feelings, this time I was cutting everything off completely.

Late at night, Jocelyn tiptoed into my room and threw herself into Xander's arms, acting coy.

"Xander, you have no idea how hard I tried to hold myself tonight."

The man's breathing gradually quickened. The sound of rustling fabric filled my ears.

"Stop it, why are you in such a hurry? What if you wake up that old hag?"

Xander pulled Jocelyn tightly into his arms and chuckled.

"You little troublemaker, worrying about so much."

"Relax, I put double the sleeping pills in that milk. She won't wake up."

"Besides, haven't we done this several times before? Still not used to it, hmm?"

My heart seized.

So the "peace offering" milk I'd thought was simply a tool for their affair.

No wonder Xander's body always bore ambiguous marks.

I'd assumed I'd left them while I was asleep.

The sounds beside me grew louder. The two quickly began kissing.

"Xander, you're being naughty."

"I saw today that Nora's lips were quite swollen. Did you secretly do it with her?"

Xander didn't answer, only thrust harder.

He proved with his body whether or not he'd done anything with me.

Under Xander's vigorous movements, Jocelyn quickly cried out, and then they climaxed together.

"Xander, what if that old hag keeps pestering you for a baby?"

"You wouldn't betray me someday, would you?"

The man fell silent for a long time.

Just when I thought he'd fallen asleep, he suddenly answered.

"Then... we'll blindfold her and swap in someone else."

"When the time comes, I'll treat his child as my own. Consider it... compensation for her."

Hearing Xander's words, I bit my jaw hard to keep from making a sound.

So in his heart, there was only Jocelyn.

He'd even rather have his wife under another man than give up serving Jocelyn with single-minded devotion.

I dug my nails into my arm, refusing to let tears fall.

"Xander, actually, I'm pregnant."

Jocelyn's words struck like thunder in my heart.

Xander immediately stiffened, his voice trembling.

"Then what we just did..."

"It's fine, I'm already three months along. I checked-after three months it's safe."

Ha. Three months.

Three months ago, the only time Xander had the opportunity to cheat was on our wedding anniversary.

I was lying in bed, my period making me collapse in pain.

Xander heated me a glass of milk and kept warming my belly with his hands.

That night, I slept deeply, peacefully, happily.

But apparently, I wasn't the only one who was happy.

The sun slowly rose, and Jocelyn finally left the room.

Xander gently kissed my forehead, then held me and fell peacefully asleep.

A single tear slid down my cheek.

The next day, Jocelyn greeted me with a radiant face after getting up.

Her expression showed the bliss of being thoroughly satisfied.

I ignored her, silently calculating how to maximize my benefits in a divorce.

But Jocelyn blocked my path directly, pouring herself a full glass of wine.

"Sister-in-law, I forgot to toast you yesterday. Today, I'll toast you."

She was about to drink it in one gulp.

I stood coldly to the side, wanting to see what kind of drama she'd create.

Sure enough, the next second, Xander snatched the glass from her hand.

"Jocelyn, what are you doing!"

Jocelyn remained unharmed, but the wine splashed all over my face.

Her eyes reddened as she buried herself in Xander's arms with a trembling voice.

"Xander, Nora said... said I was dressing like this to seduce you, and that I was disrespecting her, that I should have toasted her yesterday..."

The woman's body was soft. Her words made Xander's bones go weak.

"Nora, am I giving you too much face?"

"You married into the Thorne family and actually think you're something? You even dare to scold Jocelyn?"

"Let me tell you, Jocelyn will always be my sister, but you?"

"Without me, you're nothing."

I looked at the furious man before me, my heart filled with sorrow.

Yes, from childhood, I'd received financial support from the Thorne family.

My father cheated and drank, saw me as a money pit, wanted to marry me off quickly for bride price money.

So from an early age, I'd longed for a happy family, wanted to have my own child, build my own home.

Through excellent academic performance, I was selected by the Thorne family to become their sponsored student.

After years of hard study, I finally escaped my original family and became independent.

That's when Xander confessed his feelings to me.

He pursued me for five years, using his patience to tell me bit by bit that he'd take good care of me, build a happy family with me.

He also swore he'd always love me, that our children would be extremely happy.

Now it seemed like such a desolate, ridiculous scam.

He used minimal warmth to weave lies called happiness.

And personally stripped away my freedom to have children.

"Xander, my stomach hurts so much."

Jocelyn suddenly screamed, clutching her abdomen in pain.

Xander immediately picked up Jocelyn and rushed out the door.

After a long while, Xander called me.

"Bring your marriage certificate and come to the hospital immediately."