Chapter 1 Heartless Woman My wife , Elizabeth Bennett , followed Buddhist discipline , and physical indulgence was strictly forbidden .
She only allowed .
us to have sex on the sixteenth of each month .
Even then , she controlled everything the timing , the position , the rhythm , even my facial expressions .
If I ever got carried away , she would stop everything without hesitation and walk away .
We had been married for five years .
Though I had my frustrations , I kept compromising out of love for her .
I used to think that even if she came off heartless , at least she loved me in her own way .
It wasnt until I went on a rescue mission with the team to a burning hotel that I realized how wrong Id been .
I found her there , clothes in disarray , nestled in another mans arms .
There was even a young child between them .
I had never seen Elizabeth wear that kind of gentle expression before .
She was trembling , clearly afraid , but still clung to that man and softly comforted the child .
I froze where I stood , completely stunned .
The heat around me was suffocating , but I was shivering like someone had stabbed me straight through the heart .
Suddenly , a voice snapped me out of it .
Dont just stand there , Julian ! Leave this family to me .
Go check the next room ! It was my captain , Kennedy Adams , calling out as he rushed Chapter 1 Heartless Woman 2/7 inside without hesitation .
Meanwhile , Elizabeth stared at me in disbelief .
I could tell she knew it was me behind the fire mask Julian Thornton , the man she was legally married to .
Our eyes locked , and it felt like my chest was being torn apart .
If they are a family , then what does that make me ? The fire was too urgent to dwell on anything .
I forced myself to move and rushed to help the next trapped resident .
It took three whole hours to put out the blaze .
Thankfully , there were no casualties .
But by the time I stepped out of the building , heavy with emotion , Elizabeth , the man , and the child had all vanished .
She didnt even bother to stay and explain things to me .
I let out a bitter laugh , suddenly realizing this five year marriage had been nothing but a cruel joke .
When I got home , Elizabeth , who was usually working late into the night , was actually there , like shed been waiting for me .
I thought she was going to explain .

If she could tell me why she was at that hotel , why she ended up with another man and a child like a family , maybe I would have forgiven her .
That gut wrenching pain might not have mattered so much compared to five years of love .
But instead , Elizabeth turned on her laptop and joined a video ares for you a Chapter 1 Heartless Woman menting .
Phe didnt even glance at me : ever an hour, acting like some of it had ever happened .
ad , she looked over with a cold expression and handed me a document .
root and salt a sharp pam the memear I read the title .
Adoption papers ? I asked , stunned .
abeth reped calmly , Yea .
Thats the child you saw today at the hotel .
From now on , were adopting him .
I towed , aythats your connection to that boy and who exactly is that man to you ? Hes called Callum Harlow .
Hea the father of the child , Gideon Harlow .
Were colleagues .
Thats all you need to know , Ehzabeth said Eatly .
Elaughed , but it was empty and bitter .
Clearly , that wasnt an explanation .
It sounded more like a statement carved in stona .
She didnt leave me any space to question ber .
Taking a deep breath , I asked again .
If you guys are just colleagues , then what are you doing in a hotel ? Why were you half dressed when I saw you ? Be honest with me , Elizabeth .
Is that i nearly shouting in disparation , but all Elizabeth did was frown slightly and say , Youre reading too much into this .
I follow Buddhist teachings .
Id never go against my rows , especully pet in marriage .
Chapter 1 Heartless Woman 4/7 The moment she said that , I laughed , even more bitterly .
You hold back from intimacy like its a sin .
Once a month , thats all I get .
So tell me , why did it seem so easy for you to be in his armst like that ? For over five years , I had given her my full trust .
I respected her faith , never once challenging it .
But at this point , I was starting to think the whole Buddhist path thing had been nothing more than an excuse all along .
As soon as I said that , her frown deepened and her voice turned cold as she said , If thats what you believe , Im not going to argue .

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If you really believe Ive been fooling around with another man , then dont bother coming to my room on the sixteenth anymore .
We already have a child anyway .
If it werent for the sake of carrying on the family line , I never wouldve done something so meaningless with you .
Elizabeths words sliced through me like knives .
I was in so much pain I could barely breathe .
So being with me once a month was torture for her ? Shed always kept herself above it all , distant and untouched , never willing to make an exception for someone like me .
I was never the one she bent the rules for .
Elizabeth then said , Thats it .
Go get some rest .
With that , she shut her laptop and was about to leave .
I fought Chapter 1 Heartless Woman through the gut wrenching pain and called out to her , I can accept adopting Gideon , but dont let me catch you getting involved with anyone else again .
At the very least , show some respect for me as your husband ! Elizabeth paused in her tracks .
The child still needs his 5/7 biological father right now .
Youre the one whos too fragile to handle the truth .
Dont blame that on me .
And with that , she left .
That night , I couldnt sleep at all .
The pain kept me tossing and turning , and at one point , I thought I could actually hear her laughing and chatting with Callum Harlow in her room .
By the next morning , the little boy , Gideon Harlow , had already been dropped off .
His luggage was spread all across the living room , and Elizabeth was buzzing with joy as she helped him unpack .
I stood there , watching it all with a mess of emotions .
Look at that , she laughs .
It was nothing like the day we moved in after the wedding , when she sat there all stiff and stone faced .
She told me people on her path shouldnt get swept up in emotions , so she kept a straight face .
But I finally get it now .
She wasnt being devout .
She just didnt care enough about me .
Once they were done unpacking , Elizabeth took Gideon by the hand and led him to her room to give him a bath .
I didnt know what happened , but not long after , I heard him crying from her room , and the sound of running water stopped .
best fades Chapter 1 Heartless Woman 6/7 I immediately started to worry .

After all , shed never been a mother before and never taken care of a child .
Moreover , Gideon was still little .
If he slipped and hurt himself in the shower , thatd be a huge problem .
Wed been married five years , and by now , looking out for Elizabeth had become second nature .
Even though wed just had a huge fight last night , I couldnt bring myself to take it out on a kid .
Gideon was here now there was no way I could just ignore him .
After giving it some thought , I pushed the door open .
But what I saw stopped me dead in my tracks a mans coat was hanging right there by the entrance .
The bathroom door in Elizabeths room was slightly ajar , so it wasnt hard to see what was going on inside .
Gideon had brushed his teeth so hard his gums were bleeding , and he was crying in fear .
She was crouched next to him , softly comforting him .
Shed just gotten out of the shower , wrapped in nothing but a towel .
And right behind her , Callum was helping dry her hair , smiling as he teased Gideon for being a scaredy cat , What a picture perfect little family .
Funny , considering this is my home and Elizabeth is my wife .
And here I am , feeling like a complete stranger in my own life .
My face instantly went pale .
My heart felt like it was being torn apart .
The sight hit me like a truck ; I couldnt even keep my Chapter 1 Heartless Woman 7/7 balance .
I stumbled back and crashed into the wall .
Callum jumped at the sound and spun around to see me , completely caught off guard .
This isnt what it looks like , Mr.
Thornton .
I brought Gideon here last night , and he got upset when I tried to leave .
You know how kids are .
I only stayed over because of him .
Thats all , I swear .
It gutted me , realizing too late that hed actually been here last night .
The voices I heard while drifting in and out of sleep werent just in my head .
Callum had spent the entire night in Elizabeths room a privilege Id never even been granted .