Let her go.

A NERVOUS LAUGH SPILLED past Summerine's lips, but she knew right away that this was a mistake when she saw his dark eyes glint at the sound.

"I'm s-sorry," she blurted out. "I'm j-just nervous—-"

"Are you now?"

"Y-Yes!"

"I want to believe you, Summerine. But I can't help thinking you're lying to me—-"

"I swear I'm not," she cried out.

"—-since you're also the same woman whose lover was stupid enough to confront me with this."

Summerine automatically reared back when she saw his hand move. A part of her was already dreading the impact of his hand landing painfully on her cheek...but all he did was toss his phone on the rug.

"Go on. Read it."

Her hands shook as she reached for his phone, and Summerine's lips parted in shock when she saw the message on its screen.

I'M IN LUV W UR WIFE.

SHE DESERVES BETTER THAN U.

LET HER GO.

She had to read it again and again just to make sure she wasn't imagining things.

And when her gaze finally flew back to him—-

"I..."

Words still completely failed her.

Because this was insane.

"I—-It's..."

Why would anyone send her husband something patently untrue?

Who could possibly gain from destroying her husband's trust in her?

It just made no sense unless... oh my gosh.

There was indeed one person who would benefit from creating a rift between Ryu and her, and Summerine was torn between wanting to cry foul and just letting things be...if this was what it took for her to obtain a divorce.

You caught me.

I'm sorry.

It's true.

I have been cheating with another man behind your back.

So please let me go.

Summerine's fists clenched against her sides at the thought of having to admit something so painfully untrue.

"I want to hear you say it, Summerine."

But if this was the price she had to pay for her freedom and his—-

Her eyes started to sting as she forced herself to meet his gaze.

Say it.

Her heart started to hammer.

Say it.

Her lungs started to burn.

Say it.

And when her lips finally parted—-

"No, it's n-not true," she heard herself choke out.

"Then just tell me his name."

His tone had actually turned cajoling, but this only freaked her out. It was as if her husband had turned into a complete stranger, and his Perfect-Gentleman persona was nothing but a sham.

"I give you my word I won't harm him."

This was the real Ryu Harcourt all along—-

"I just need to get rid of him."

And did he just threaten to commit murder?

"W-What exactly do you mean?" Summerine stammered.

"Why do you even ask," her husband asked in a suddenly cold voice, "when you say you're not having an affair?"

"Because you're scaring me!"

"Good."

Summerine was horrified. Was he actually happy that he was scaring her?

"You need to understand from now on that I am not the kind of person anyone wants to mess with."

"I u-understand!" And she really, really did, more so than he probably imagined.

"So, let's do this again, shall we?"

"B-But—-"

"Who's the guy?"

Summerine had barely started shaking her head when she saw Ryu close his eyes as if needing to control himself from strangling her...and the sight was enough to have her entire body shudder.

"I-I'm n-not—-"

" Stop lying to me."

T he softness of his voice was like having the sharpest blade press against her throat, and Summerine felt as if she was about to faint at the sound.

"Do you think I don't know this whole place is your fuck pad?"

What...did he just say?

"Do you think I haven't done my due fucking diligence?"

He thought this was her...what?

"This hellhole is the only blind spot in the entire university—-"

It was?

"The only fucking place in the entire property that isn't covered by the security cameras—-"

B-But...

"Are you going to tell me right now that's just a coincidence? "

"Y-Yes!" Because it really was a coincidence, and—-

AAAH!

Ryu was suddenly on the floor, having leaped from his seat before crouching down on one knee in an abrupt move that had Summerine hastily backing away in fear.

"I'm going to give you one last time to tell me the truth."

"R-Ryu, p-please—-"

"Are you having an affair?"

Tears of terror started rolling down her cheeks. "I s-swear I'm n-not—-"

"Don't lie—-"

"A-And I can prove it," she hurriedly gasped out, "b-because I'm s-still a v-virgin!"