Chapter 1

"Oh, it seems the great artist agreed to drink it after all? Lucas really has a way of disciplining his wife!"

"What if she didn't drink it? Surely we couldn't let Chloe drink it? She's the apple of Lucas's eye!"

The harsh, piercing mockery echoed through the opulent banquet hall. I stood there, feeling a coldness unlike anything I had ever known.

Amidst this nauseating display of arrogance, Lucas crouched in front of Chloe, carefully removing the glass shard from her hand and inspecting her unscathed wrist. Then, he turned his head, his eyes icy as he looked at me:

"Elena, don't play games. Chloe is waiting for you to end this round so we can continue talking business."

Chloe, Chloe... his heart and eyes were filled only with Chloe. He never once asked if I was willing.

He had completely forgotten that I was his wife.

He had also forgotten that just a few days ago, because of that woman, I was locked in my studio all night, resulting in a severe flu. I was only standing here today thanks to medication.

Seeing my hesitation, someone suddenly shoved me:

"What are you staring at? Drink it! Thinking of backing out now?"

I stumbled, barely steadying myself. When I looked at Lucas again, his gaze remained locked tight on Chloe.

"Ninety-six times. This is the ninety-sixth time." I counted silently in my heart, my body stiff as I walked toward the man holding the leather shoe—Sebastian, notorious in these circles.

Just as I bent down to take the shoe, Sebastian suddenly gripped my chin.

He looked at Chloe and said, "Miss Chloe, this isn't right. She lost to me three times. Drinking just once isn't enough."

"How about we play 'Human Target'? If you can persuade her to be the target, I'll wipe the slate clean on the previous punishments."

Human Target? That dangerous act usually seen in a circus?!

A surge of inexplicable fear rushed into my heart, and I frantically looked at Lucas.

However, in the next second, Chloe was already clinging to Lucas's arm, pouting and begging coquettishly:

"Lucas, it's just a game. Can't you make your wife agree just this once? Mr. Sebastian's aim is very good."

Looking at Chloe's trembling little frame, Lucas's eyes held nothing but pity. He looked fixedly at me:

"Elena, you were willing to drink from a shoe. For Chloe's sake, you shouldn't mind standing still, right?"

"Yay! Thank you, Lucas!" Chloe jumped up in joy, her face full of triumphant smugness.

Watching Lucas stroke Chloe's head with such indulgence, I couldn't help but smile in that moment. My dignity was being trampled upon; in their eyes, I was nothing more than a plaything to be tortured for amusement.

Lucas, how could you be so cruel? How could you force me into such a dangerous game for her sake, putting me in harm's way?

Oh, right, I almost forgot. Chloe was the childhood sweetheart he could never have.

He had guarded her for years, but due to a family alliance, they were forced to keep their distance, and Chloe went away to London.

Now that she was finally back, naturally, she had to be pampered and obeyed.

What did I have to compete with that?

Suppressing the bitterness in my heart, I spoke stiffly:

"Does this count as a sketch?"

A sketch? The crowd mocked my strange request, but Lucas stopped stroking Chloe's hair and looked at me sharply.

He knew what I was saying.

A moment later, he nodded:

"It counts!"

I gave a bitter laugh:

"Fine, I agree."

Eight years ago, I had just begun to make a name for myself in the art world when I was trapped in a gallery fire.

To save me, Lucas rushed into the flames. That was our first meeting.

Because of me, his back was left with permanent burn scars.

Later, I learned that it was because my profile in the firelight looked exactly like Chloe's.

The night I was rescued, I asked him how I could repay this debt.

His eyes were sincere: "Then marry me."

I looked at him: "I'm serious."

His breathing ragged as we entangled together, he said:

"Then... draw me ninety-nine sketches."

"Sketches?" I nestled in his arms, puzzled.

At that time, he smiled and said:

"Silly girl, if—I mean if—if one day I hurt you ninety-nine times, you draw one sketch to forgive me once. When the sketches are done, the debt is settled."

For the next five years, he poured his resources into supporting my art career, loving me like a rare treasure.

Until two months ago, when Chloe returned to the country. Everything changed.

Now, this was the ninety-seventh time. Only two more, and my debt would be paid. We would have nothing to do with each other.

Seeing Lucas nod, Sebastian led me to the wooden board in the center of the hall.

He toyed with several sharp throwing knives, a bloodthirsty light in his eyes.

A chill shot straight to the top of my skull. I realized in terror that this wasn't just a game—if his aim was off by even a fraction, I could be killed or crippled.

Lucas, who had followed us, suddenly narrowed his eyes and turned to ask Chloe:

"Isn't this supposed to be rubber knives? Why are they real?"

But Chloe ignored him and shoved me against the board.

"Mr. Sebastian, Miss Elena's hands are very steady; I'm sure she'll cooperate perfectly with you."

"Don't you want to try it yourself? Challenge your limits?"

As soon as Chloe finished speaking, I was already trembling with fear. I immediately looked to Lucas for help.

At the very least, I still held the title of his wife. He had loved me once. Although he had tormented me many times for Chloe, he wouldn't hand me over to a madman to be hurt, would he?

But unexpectedly, Lucas walked to the bar, poured a glass of whiskey, and downed it in one gulp.

"Why don't you stand there first? Don't move, it will be over soon."

Over soon? He wanted me to risk my life to entertain them?

He... actually agreed?

In a daze, I saw Chloe smile viciously at me.

"Sister! Didn't you hear Lucas?"

Just as I was looking at Chloe, overwhelmed, she suddenly feigned a fall, crashing into my arm.

Instantly, I lost my balance, my body swaying to the side.

At the same moment, the knife in Sebastian's hand was thrown.

"Ah!"

A scream. The knife grazed the back of my hand, and blood instantly gushed out, staining my white gown red.

My gaze met Chloe's feigned look of horror.

Chloe's shrill accusation exploded in my ear:

"Sister, if you didn't want to play, you should have just said so. Why move and cause Mr. Sebastian to miss? is this the upbringing of Lucas's wife? Do you want to ruin everyone's fun?"

Sebastian's expression froze for a second, then, as if realizing something, he stared at me wide-eyed:

"You... your hand is bleeding?"

I didn't speak, just clutched my hand. As a painter, my hands are my life.

Sebastian reached out to grab my arm, but his wrist was caught in a vice-like grip by Lucas.

Lucas glanced at my blood-covered hand, his eyes instantly turning sinister. He gritted his teeth and looked at Sebastian:

"Get out!"

Sebastian was intimidated and could only leave, cursing under his breath.

"Lucas! Are you crazy? If I'd known it was your psycho wife, I wouldn't have played with her!"

After Sebastian disappeared, I stood up to leave, but my arm was grabbed again by a large hand.

"Elena, you don't have to continue, are you happy now? Did that time in the fire not teach you to be brave? You just had to stand still, and this would have been over. Why did you have to move? You know I asked you to cooperate to help you fit into this circle, don't you? Are you really that stupid?"

Looking at the furious Lucas, I responded with red eyes.

This time, I finally stopped enduring and retorted:

"Lucas! I am your wife. If you had defended me sooner, this would never have happened."

My words were blunt. It was him—to save Chloe's face, to use my endurance to please others—who had refused to speak up.

Having his thoughts exposed, Lucas felt a twinge of guilt.

Seeing this, Chloe tried to defend him.

But Lucas frowned and snapped at her:

"Enough! Shut up and wait for me in the car."

Once her footsteps faded away, he sighed:

"I'm sorry, but I still need to explain. I really thought those were rubber knives. If I had known they were real, I never would have agreed from the start."

"As for Chloe, I hope you can understand. After all, she just returned to the country, and seeing that I got marr—"

Lucas stopped abruptly, but I could guess what he wanted to say.

He wanted to say that Chloe was in a bad mood because she found out he was married, so she deliberately made things difficult for me, hoping I would forgive her.

Our eyes met, and Lucas seemed to read the mockery in mine. He sighed again.

"Alright, I see you're hurt. I'll have the driver take you to the ER. Chloe isn't doing well; I have to go check on her. We'll talk about this when I get back."

Before I could answer, he added, "Although you didn't finish the task, this can still count as a sketch."

With that, he turned and left. Watching his retreating figure, I looked at the back of my hand, still bleeding, and suddenly laughed out loud.

But I didn't care anymore.

Only two more times. Once I've paid off the debt, I'm leaving.

From now on, I will never endure his trampling again.