I Took His Pampering and Left Him Behind Chapter 03

Selena’s skill won Marcus over fully.

She replaced me as his plus-one at galas. Word spread across their circle that I’d fallen

permanently out of favor.

Rumors swirled nonstop, but Marcus never shut them down. Still, every night, he climbed into.

the same bed and held me.

Before the Parker Group anniversary gala, Marcus had sent an elaborate gown over for me.

But Selena ended up wearing it instead.

“Thank you, Mr. Parker. I had no idea what I was going to wear otherwise,” Selena said,

smoothing the skirt and smiling at him.

I’d put on a scene for the system, which got me banned from the gala and stripped of my spot

at his side.

I stared at the diamond-encrusted dress on Selena, a faint twinge of longing stirring in me. I

wondered what it felt like wearing something worth a fortune.

“Why are you staring like that? You don’t seriously think I’m stealing your husband, do you?”

“I don’t care for men. They only slow me down.” Selena’s tone was haughty, even as her eyes

drifted back toward Marcus.

Marcus shot me a sharp look.

“You’re not coming tonight. Stay home and think about your behavior.”

Selena slipped her arm naturally through his.

“That bracelet you’re wearing is hideous. It clashes terribly with your suit. Let me take it off for

you,”

Marcus lifted his wrist, letting her do it.

She tossed my bracelet onto the floor like trash.

A sharp ache twisted my chest. My eyes stung unexpectedly.

That bracelet had been the first gift I’d ever given him for his birthday.

I’d made it myself, messy and amateurish, nothing next to his million-dollar watches.

Up until that day, he’d worn it every single time I put it on. For a foolish second, I’d thought I

might mean something special to him.

Reality hit hard, wiping out my delusions.

To him, it was just a trinket to keep his pet happy.

I pushed the silly emotion away and pulled up my system panel to admire the numbers.

Another twenty thousand points added. The faint hurt vanished instantly.

Making money beat silly romantic feelings any day.

Marcus came home long after the gala ended. I was fast asleep.

He wrapped himself around me from behind, carrying Selena’s rose perfume on his clothes.

“Where’s the bracelet?”

I stirred, groggy from sleep, and blinked.

“I don’t know.”

It had been left on the floor after Selena threw it down. The housekeeper probably tossed it in

the trash by now.

“Don’t be mad at me, Bonnie.”

“The bag you saved in your cart will be delivered tomorrow.”

It was Marcus’s go-to trick-hurt me first, then buy me off. My closet was already overflowing

with the bags he’d bought me these past weeks.

“Make me another one.”

For the sake of the new bag, I agreed. I bought a cheap knockoff from a street stall to pass off

as handmade.