Chapter 2

"Don't you like my present? It took me much effort to find it since you were so painstakingly hiding it from the world. After tonight, you won't have to hit it anymore, what do you say?" Young Master Dean asked with an amused smile as he stared at the woman's pale face and at Brandon's confused one.

Seeing there was no response from the two, young Master Dean pulled the woman to her feet and brought her closer to himself, caressing her exposed curvy waist seductively while looking into Brandon's eyes daringly.

Brandon looked from the blonde woman to the young master, trying but failing to register what was going on.

He knew right from the time his nerves had decided to act up, that today was not going to go smoothly for him, but he had never been expecting such a jaw-dropping surprise.

With one last attempt to make sure he was not hallucinating, Brandon closed his eyes, pinched his nose bridge, and then opened his eyes again to see the scene had changed from the young master caressing her exposed milky waist to kissing her plump pink lips in a sensual manner while still maintaining his provocative gaze.

Brandon felt blood rush to his face, his anger rising to a new height he had never experienced in his life.

It wasn't a dream.

It wasn't a hallucination.

It wasn't... It was nothing but reality.

The woman he loved, cared for, and readily submitted to, was being kissed in such a familiar way by another man, and all she could do was allow him. No struggling.

Not anywhere else but in the presence of her legally married husband.

As several thoughts ran through Brandon's mind, his knees became weak compared to the anger that kept getting stronger as he watched them kiss.

"What the heck is going on here, Cassandra?" Brandon asked, finally finding his voice in the midst of all his confusion and rage.

As his cracked voice rang through the room, the other guest burst out laughing while watching the show unfold. Only one of the guests remained unfazed by the display; instead, he concentrated on sampling the wine on the table, unbothered by the scene unfolding.

Once in a while, his eyes flickered to Brandon, specifically to the ring on his finger, after which he'd shake his head pitifully. It wasn't sure to whom the pity was directed as he went back to drinking the wine casually.

Young Master Dean laughed as he removed his lips from the woman's. "What do you think is going on here?" He asked with a mocking tone as he pulled the breathless Cassandra closer. He lifted Cassandra's chin and pecked her lips lightly.

"Baby, do you want me to inform him or would you like to do it yourself?" He asked with a slurry tone, making Cassandra's cheek flush a deeper shade.

Brandon clenched his fist by his side, his lips pursed into a thin line. He could not have ever imagined himself being able to get this angry in his life, not to mention holding back the said anger.

He wasn't a fool who could not read the room; he had already figured out what was going on; any stupid person would have figured it out after the display a few moments ago.

He just couldn't bring himself to accept it.

He could not bring himself to accept that the woman who had promised to stand by him would do something this outrageous to him.

He wanted to think that she was threatened. Or forced. Anything but her agreeing on her own, but after seeing the disgust in her eyes while looking at him, he had his answer.

Not waiting for her to explain, he breathed out, "Why?"

Cassandra folded her arms and scoffed arrogantly, "What do you mean, why?" She asked with a pointed stare.

"Why would you do this to me? Why?" He repeated, his voice sounding choked as he tried to suppress the negative emotions he was feeling.

"Why else?" She replied smugly, "It's because you are poor."

"You didn't know I was poor before you agreed to marry me?" He demanded, finally losing grip of his surprised emotions.

"You weren't aware that I was poor when you agreed to date me? When did you agree and sign the marriage certificate with me? You didn't know my financial situation back then?" He questioned.

Cassandra pursed her lips and glared at him as she held onto the young Master Dean's arms. She had known Brandon for five years, and she had never once seen him get so angry and out of it.

He had always been mild-tempered and easy-going. He had always listened to her and her family, even when they stepped all over his dignity. Seeing him this livid and on the verge of losing his temper sent a cold shiver down her back as the strong lady façade she had on began to fade.

She swallowed hard and continued to glare at him. "How will I know you'll remain poor even when you are married to me? Because if I could not do the things my friends were doing, all I had to do was manage the meager money you brought him for three years! How long do you expect me to continue living like that with your broken self?" She sneered angrily.

Each and every word of hers sent a stab or arrow into Brandon's broken heart: "Please, you don't mean all you've just said. Take it back," he said, pleased.

"I'll do anything you want and be whatever you want me to be, but please don't say all those things. Tell me all this is just a prank," he continued, and the guest snickered at his pathetic appearance.

"I no longer love you, and I'm done with you. I'll have my lawyer send you the divorce papers," Cassandra declared, and the tiny thread holding Brandon's sanity snapped into two at that moment.

He picked up a bottle of wine and threw it against the wall in anger as he glared at her. "You are not going to break up with me!" He declared with a crazy look in his eyes, and the next moment he got a slap in the face from young Master Dean.

"How dare you talk to my woman that way? Go down on your knees and apologize!" Ge commanded, and Brandon returned the slap with one of his own. "Make me!"