The Perfect Cheating Wife

I shrank behind my mother-in-law, forcing a few pathetic tears to well up in my eyes.

Cassius, my notoriously ice-cold husband, glared at the glowing screen in his hand. The muscle in his jaw ticked so hard it looked like he was plotting a murder.

I didn't even have to guess. His precious little golden girl must have stirred up some fresh drama online.

Can't even keep your own ex in check, I scoffed internally. Pathetic. My secret boy toy was a million times betteralways waiting for me at home, perfectly obedient.

I rubbed my reddened eyes, plastering on a mask of brave, long-suffering endurance before looking up at my mother-in-law. "I'm okay, Mom. As long as Cassius is happy, I can handle anything. I'm sure once he gets this phase out of his system, he'll find his way back to us."

My mother-in-law pulled me closer, her glare shifting to Cassius like he was a piece of trash on the rug.

My father-in-law slammed his hand on the mahogany table. "I'll freeze your trust fund and have you kicked off the family board by tomorrow morning!"

Cassius finally lifted his head from the screen. His gaze locked onto mine, pinning me in place like a wild beast interrupted mid-kill.

A slow, dark smile curled the corners of his mouth. He held the phone out to me, his voice dangerously soft. "I picked up the wrong phone, sweetheart. This one is yours."

All the air vanished from my lungs.

Chapter 1

I was never supposed to be the sacrificial lamb for this corporate merger. But the almighty Cassius family took one look at my older sister and passed.

When my mother called to demand I fly back to New York, I swept the sterling silver cutlery off the table in a clattering crash. "You dinosaurs!" I shouted into the phone.

"I'm a modern woman! I want real love! To hell with your arranged marriage, you can take your trust funds and rot in hell!"

My mother didn't even blink. "Our company is launching several joint ventures with the Cassius empire. Whoever marries him gets a twenty percent cut of the annual dividends."

I scoffed, rolling my eyes. "You think you can buy me off with some pocket change?"

My dad's face slid into the FaceTime frame. "It's at least a billion dollars. Minimum."

I cleared my throat, pasting on a perfectly sweet smile. "Mom, Dad. I can't bear the thought of you two working so hard. I'll book the next flight home to share your burdens."

The Cassius family basically owned New York. Their net worth wasn't just a number; it was an entire ecosystem. Half the Manhattan skyline practically bore their name.

When I finally showed up to the setup dinner, I understood why my sistera woman who treated men like disposable toyshad been sobbing into her vodka martinis ever since they rejected her.

Holy hell. The man was gorgeous.

His jawline looked like it could cut glass, and his sharp, dark eyes held a lethal, magnetic pull. My gaze tracked his long, elegant fingers tapping a slow, rhythmic beat against the mahogany table, drawing attention to the heavy gold signet ring on his pinkya glaring symbol of absolute power.

Just breathing the same air as him was enough to make my ovaries explode.

I slipped into the seat across from him, looking up through my eyelashes. "Hi. Cassius, right? I'm Sloane."

"Sloane," he replied, his voice a low, freezing rumble. "Cassius." His expression remained a deadpan mask, carved from pure ice.

God. I'd marry this face for free. Hell, I'd lick his abs as a full-time job. Why did my parents even need to bribe me with a billion dollars?

Not that Cassius showed a single ounce of interest in me. But he was out of options. My family only had two girls: me and my sister. If he turned me down, he'd be stuck marrying one of my brothers to seal the deal.

So, three months later, we tied the knot. I wasn't an idiotI knew his family forced him into this merger just as much as mine did.

He even had an exhis golden girl, Paigecurrently climbing the A-list ladder in Hollywood.

"This corporate marriage is garbage," I complained to my sister a few days before the wedding. "Am I supposed to fight off a line of side pieces now?"

My sister didn't pause filling in her brows. "Are you a virgin?" she snorted.

"Shut up."

"Then you're not exactly losing out, are you?" She smirked, practically drooling at the memory of him. "With a face like that, every time you sleep with him is a win. Plus, you're cashing out big time.

And hey, he's the sole heir. All that money goes straight to your future kids. Just outlive the guy and collect the check."

"How can you be so toxic?" I fake-gasped. "Marriage is a sacred bond! Men can play around all they want, but they always come crawling back home to the wife!"

I paused, checking my own reflection in the vanity mirror. "But just to keep things fair if he plays, I play too. I can't let my hot new husband outshine me in the scandal department, right?"

To be perfectly honest, I skipped caring about the multi-million-dollar wedding reception. I was just waiting for the honeymoon suite.

And he definitely delivered. The man knew exactly what he was doing.

But he never talked. Literally zero words.

For the first three days of our marriage, he skipped going into the office. We existed in a relentless cycle of sleeping, ordering room service, and dragging each other back to the mattress.

Between the sheets, he wrecked me. I was left a gasping, trembling wreck.

Yet the second he caught his breath, he'd grab a book or the Wall Street Journal, completely shutting me out. Not a single post-coital cuddle. Not one attempt at bonding. Just pure, icy silence.

Chapter 2

Even when we were dating, it was just dinner and movies. The conversation was always the bare minimum.

"Italian or steakhouse? What movie do you want to see? Too many sugary Frappuccinos are bad for you. Spicy food will wreck your stomach."

Now, even that pathetic banter was gone. Replaced entirely by a daily itinerary.

"It's late, go to sleep. We're having dinner at my parents' tomorrow. Working late, don't wait up. Bring the top-secret merger files from the study safe to the office.

Pick up a gift for the Vanderbilts, we're going to their grandmother's birthday gala."

I felt like a glorified personal assistant. Sure, the sex was phenomenal. But the second the wedding weekend wrapped, he went straight back to the office. We didn't even get a honeymoon.

The families' excuse was that the joint ventures were kicking off and everyone was slammed. A newlywed wife, left rotting in a massive empty mansionhow tragically boring. And I absolutely refused to get a real job.

Then my sister texted me a TMZ link.

[ Paige Caught at The Plaza with Mystery Billionaire. ]

One look at the broad shoulders in that blurry paparazzi shot, and I knew instantly. My brand-new husband.

I texted my sister back.

[ I'll forgive him no matter what he does. Do you know Wyatt from that new pop group? I'm a huge fan. Set up a meet-and-greet, I need my idol to comfort my lonely, neglected heart. ]

[ Done. ]

My sister replied.

Wyatt was pure sunshine and devastatingly handsome. He smiled at everyone. And he was completely cleanmy sister did the background check. No scandals, no secret girlfriends.

He just debuted and was still flying under the radar. But what can I say? I love a good reality TV show.

An ice-cold billionaire husband and a passionate, golden-retriever boy toy. Balancing the two kept my mood perfectly elevated. Whatever emotional damage my husband dealt out, my secret boyfriend was right there to comfort me.

My sister immediately signed Wyatt to her entertainment agency. Any cash or industry resources I wanted to funnel his way went straight through her corporate accounts. Clean and untraceable.

The house he lived in was a gorgeous property under my sister's name. The best part? It wasn't even that far from the estate Cassius and I shared. Our marital mansion sat near the top of the hill; my boy toy was tucked away right at the bottom.

Honestly. Who cheats that loudly? I couldn't fathom why Cassius let himself get caught on camera like that. Amateur hour.

Later that night, Cassius was in the shower. I lounged on my stomach across our king-sized bed, scrolling through my phone. Wyatt was spilling all the latest Hollywood gossip in my DMs. I was eating it up.

Then he sent another text.

[ Do you want to see my abs? ]

My thumb hovered over the screen.

The picture loaded instantly. Not just abs. Eight perfectly sculpted abs dripping with shower water.

He followed it up.

[ I miss you. My schedule is pretty clear right now, so when are you coming to see me? It's okay if you're busy, I just wanted you to know I'm thinking about you. ]

I quickly typed back, soothing his ego.

[ Be a good boy. My husband is going on a business trip in a few days. I'll come see you then. ]

Cassius had mentioned he was flying to LA. Funny enough, his precious Paige was shooting a movie in Hollywood right now.

I clicked my tongue. Karma's a bitch. You play, I play.

The bathroom door clicked open.

[ Gotta go, ]

I sent.

I immediately deleted the thread, logged out of my burner account, and snatched a random hardcover off the nightstand, burying my face in the pages.

Cassius walked up to the bed, dripping wet and smelling like expensive cedar body wash. He smoothly pulled the book from my grip. "It's late, Sloane. Let's go to sleep."

I gave him a soft, obedient nod, acting too shy to meet his gaze. Naturally, he pinned me to the mattress, forcing me to look right at him. Sigh, I guess I'll just have to suffer through it.

Chapter 3

Over the weekend, we went back to his parents' estate for dinner. He was flying out for his business trip on Monday. I couldn't stop the anticipation building in my chest. My fingers practically trembled with excitement.

Honestly, the thrill of sneaking around? So much better.

I texted my sister.

[ You should get married. It adds a certain spice to life. ]

She replied.

[ ? To fight off side chicks? ]

[ No, ]

I typed back.

[ Sneaking around. It's a rush. ]

She left me on read.

I scrolled through my feed. Paige had just posted an IG story, saying she was hospitalized and hooked up to an IV drip.

I glanced over at Cassius, who was resting his eyes in the seat next to me. I almost felt bad for the guy. Finally sneaking off to LA for a rendezvous, only to end up with a bedridden patient. What a waste of a trip.

I couldn't resist logging into my burner account.

[ Baby, you're staying healthy, right? ]

Wyatt replied instantly with a gym mirror selfie. Pumping iron, a bead of sweat rolling down his sculpted chest.

[ You care so much about me. How could I ever make you worry? ]

He excitedly spammed me with a few more photos, saying he had free time at home and baked a fresh batch of handmade cookies, promising to make them for me the second I came over.

I was just zooming in on the picture when the Maybach pulled through the wrought-iron gates. Cassius's eyes snapped open. I immediately locked my screen.

My mother-in-law greeted me with her usual overwhelming enthusiasm, pulling me into a tight hug and chatting a mile a minute. The staff quickly stepped in to take our coats and bags. She dragged me upstairs to her private sitting room and handed me a velvet box containing a stunning diamond jewelry set. One look, and I knew it cost more than most people made in a lifetime.

I immediately forced my eyes to well up with grateful tears.

She patted the back of my hand. "Cassius is a workaholic. You two didn't even get a honeymoon. I know you must feel neglected, sweetheart.

If he ever mistreats you or falls short, you put him in his place. Or tell me, and I'll handle him for you."

I gave a delicate little sniffle. "Mom, it's okay. No matter what I go through, being part of this family is worth it. Cassius gives me the cold shoulder a lot, but I'm used to it."

Her eyes softened with deep sympathy as she squeezed my hand. "You are such a good, sweet girl."

When we walked back downstairs, Cassius and his father were seated in the living roomCassius glued to his phone, his dad snapping the newspaper open.

My mother-in-law glared at her son. "Cassius! Look at you. It's a rare weekend home, and instead of spending time with your family, you're burying your face in that damn screen."

My father-in-law slammed his paper onto the coffee table, his scowl deepening. "I've been meaning to talk to you about this. Look at how often Sloane comes over to keep us company since the wedding. We never see a shadow of you.

What are you, the President of the United States? No one is that busy."

I quickly stepped in, playing the ultimate devoted wife. "Mom, Dad, please don't yell at him. It's my fault. I haven't been taking proper care of him.

He works overtime every single day, he's just exhausted, and that's why he doesn't have time to visit."

My father-in-law's face turned red. "Look at how understanding Sloane is! Then look at yourself!"

Cassius was incredible. He must have been reading the news about Paige's hospitalization. Even with his parents screaming at him, his eyes didn't leave that phone screen for a single second. Hilarious.

Unlike me. The second I stepped foot onto the estate, I shoved my phone deep into my purse, playing the perfect, attentive daughter-in-law who couldn't care less about screen time.

He was just too honest. Wearing every single one of his flaws right out in the open.

Chapter 4

While his parents berated him, Cassius didn't even glance up. His face was dangerously dark, a muscle jumping frantically in his tight jaw. His mother smacked his shoulder hard. "Your father and I are talking to you!

Are you deaf?"

His father paced the room, scoffing. "I always said raising a son is worse than raising a dog. At least a dog wags its tail at me!" He turned to me, his expression softening in a jarring instant.

"Sloane is so much better. Ever since you married into this family, it feels like I finally got the daughter I always wanted."

I offered a shy, timid smile and rushed to my husband's defense. "Mom, Dad, please don't be mad. Cassius must be dealing with something extremely important for the company."

His mother crossed her arms. "His father ran the entire empire and never ignored us like this!"

Well, his father wasn't juggling a secret mistress, I thought. Balancing a side chick takes time. Unlike me. I didn't have a real job, so I had all the time in the world to pamper my little golden boy.

I wanted his parents to rip him a new one, so I excused myself to the kitchen to fetch a fruit platter. As I walked away, my ears perked up at his mother's harsh whisper. "You better not be messing around outside this marriage, Cassius. Your father and I saw that tabloid article."

Oh my god. The whole world knew my husband was stepping out on me. But Cassius completely ignored her, his thumb swiping aggressively across his phone screen.

When I walked back into the living room, I made sure my eyes were perfectly red and watery. His dad was still fuming. "Tell us what the hell you've been doing out there! How can you be so reckless with the family image?"

His mother caught my distressed look and immediately rushed over, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. "Don't worry, sweetie. We'll handle him."

I rolled my eyes internally. Cassius couldn't even keep his precious ex out of the press. Useless. My boy toy was so much betterwaiting patiently for me at home every single day.

I blinked away my fake tears, pasting on a look of brave endurance. "Mom, Dad, it's really okay. As long as Cassius is happy, I can endure anything. I'm sure once he gets it out of his system, he'll find his way back home to me."

I let out a soft, broken hitch of breath. "It's my fault anyway. I clearly haven't been giving him enough attention, and that's why he" I pressed a hand to my mouth, faking a stifled sob.

"But I don't mind. I love him too much to care. Family peace is what matters most."

My mother-in-law pulled me into her side, shooting a death glare at her son.

His father smashed his crystal goblet against the marble floor, the glass shattering into a thousand pieces. "Call my private lawyer!" he roared. "I'm rewriting the will!"

It looked like he was ready to cut Cassius off entirely. Jackpot. I threw myself in front of my husband, looking the picture of fragile bravery. "Dad, don't do this!

If you're going to punish anyone, punish me! I failed to keep my husband's heart at home!"

My supposedly deaf-and-mute husband finally reacted. "Sloane, you're stepping on my foot."

A literal miracle. I spun around to face him, tears spilling down my cheeks. "Cassius, please. Just explain it to them."

Cassius finally lifted his head from the screen. His dark, bottomless eyes locked onto mine.

I played the frightened victim perfectly, shrinking back and ducking behind my mother-in-law's shoulder.

"I'm so sorry, Cassius," I whimpered. "It's all my fault you're getting yelled at. When we get home, I'll lock myself in the walk-in closet to reflect on my mistakes."

His mother reached out and actually slapped his shoulder hard. "You lock Sloane in closets at home? Are you abusing her?"

"You absolute disgrace!" his father spat.

Cassius didn't break eye contact. The silence in the massive room stretched, heavy and suffocating like a tomb.

Then, he smiled. A slow, chilling curve of his lips.

He held out the glowing screen.

"I picked up the wrong phone earlier, sweetheart." His voice was a dangerously soft purr. "This one is yours."

!!!

Chapter 5