Ch. 56..60: My Husband Wants An Open Marriage Chapter 56-60

CHAPTER 056. Handpicked By

loyal. It's a transaction, Ryan, plain and simple. And you got a bad deal. I nearly had a heart attack the day you brought that girl home, the minute you got tangled up with that... that nobody. And now you've somehow managed to stoop even lower. Emily is a secretary, Ryan. Your secretary. You should be ashamed to even show your face in public. You're so lucky she's pregnant with your child. The minute that child comes out, we're filing for custody."

Ryan stares at her, feeling as if he's looking at a stranger. He shakes his head. "Some people believe children come from somewhere in the sky. That angels handpick them and give them to people they deserve. I wonder what I did wrong up there to end up with someone like you."

For a brief, rare moment, her mask slips. Hurt flashes across her face. But just as quickly, she composes herself, eyes hardening as she opens her mouth to respond. Before she can, the door swings open, and Emily walks in, holding an envelope.

She places it on Ryan's desk, glancing between him and his mother. "... I just saw Julie. She handed me

this."

"Julie?" Ryan says. "Where? Where did she go?" He's on his feet, already halfway to the door.

"She's gone, Ryan," Emily calls behind him. "But she asked me to say hi to you."

"Damn it!" He yanks out his phone, dialing Julie's number, hands shaking with anticipation. As it rings, he glances back at Emily and Adeline, his heart hammering, praying that she'll answer. Adeline's gaze has zeroed in on the envelope, her eyes glittering with suspicion as she picks it up. She slices through the seal with her sharp nails.

"A resignation letter," she says. "Quite detailed."

"What the hell, Mom?" Ryan snaps. "That wasn't for you

His call has gone to voicemail. "Julie, please. Call me back. We need to talk. I just... I need to hear your voice." He hangs up, looking defeated as he walks back to his chair and sinks into it. Adeline holds up the letter, waving it in front of him with a smug smile. "It looks like she's finally ready to cut ties."

Ryan feels his stomach twist as she reads the opening words out loud.

"Dear Mr. O'Brien..." Well, she certainly knows how to make an entrance, doesn't she?"

"Stop it," he whispers, his face pale, hands clenched on his desk. "Just... stop."

"Oh, come now, don't you want to hear what she has to say? This is your wake-up call, Ryan. She's moving on. It's high time you did the same."

"Why are you doing this?" he asks. "What kind of mother. what kind of person finds joy in their own son's misery?"

1

"One who knows what's best for you. And I won't apologize for that."

He looks down, a strange emptiness in his chest, as though everything he'd fought for, everything he'd believed in, has been sucked dry, leaving nothing but a hollow shell behind.

Emily clears her throat, stepping back from the desk. "I'll leave you two to talk."

#

CHAPTER 056 Handpicked By Angels

Ryan barely notices her. His gaze is still fixed on his mother, on the person who has spent years shaping his life into a nightmare. He had loved her once, respected her, trusted her. But now? Now, he isn't even sure she's capable of love. Just as Emily opens the door, Adeline says, "Emily, wait."

Emily pauses mid-step, her hand on the doorknob. She turns, hesitating as Adeline's sharp eyes narrow in

on her.

give you the

"Why did Julie letter?" Adeline says.

Emily blinks, visibly thrown off. "What?"

"She came all the way here. She walked into the building, went through the trouble, and yet... she didn't bring the letter to Ryan herself. Doesn't sound right, don't you think?"

Emily glances at Ryan and then back at Adeline. "Am I supposed to understand the reason behind Julie's every move?"

"You're being defensive," Adeline says.

"What?"

"I asked a simple question, and you're on the defensive"

Emily throws up her hands. "Jesus, Adeline. What do you want from me?"

Adeline leans forward, folding her hands on the desk. I want you to tell me why you went out for lunch, came back looking. disheveled, unlike someone who just enjoyed a break. And then you waltz in here. carrying a letter from your sugar daddy's wife. A wife you don't even like. What, may I ask, inspired you to accept the letter?"

CHAPTER 057: Meek Act

Emily looks like she's about to explode. Ryan can see her clenching and unclenching her fists. Then she says, "Probably because I'm Ryan's secretary?"

"A secretary who was on her lunch break."

Emily lets out a humorless laugh. "Being on my lunch break doesn't make me any less his secretary."

Ryan rubs his temples as if the more presence of both women in the same room is giving him a headache. "Can you both stop? I'm going through enough as it is. I don't need two women clawing each other's eyes out in my office." "Great," Emily says. "I was just about to go."

"Oh, no, you're not," Adeline interjects. "I don't trust whatever this is. I don't trust you. If there's something going on, now would be an excellent time to start talking."

Emily opens her mouth to retort, but Ryan has had enough. He stands abruptly, grabbing his jacket and briefcase with a sharp, determined motion.

"Let's go." He strides toward Emily, nodding to the door. "I've had enough of my mother for one day.

"It's still a couple of hours before the workday ends," Adeline says.

I'm the boss," Ryan says. "I'm leaving."

He holds the door open for Emily, and together they start to exit the office. But Adeline's voice follows them.

"That's right, go home," she calls out. "Have your fun, breed more low-class babies. You two are a perfect match."

Emily stiffens, but Ryan places a steady hand on her back, urging her forward. They make it down the hallway, out of earshot, before Emily finally lets out a long breath, her face pale with anger. "Low-class babies?" she murmurs. "She... she's such a bitch."

"I know."

Emily's hands tremble as she reaches for her purse, trying to compose herself. "I don't understand how you put up with her, I really don't."

"Believe me, it's not by choice." He hesitates, glancing back toward the office they left. "She's always been ... controlling, manipulative. I thought once I was old enough, I could break free, but somehow, she's always there, lurking, pulling the strings."

As they step into the elevator, Emily watches him, her expression softening. A small crease of concern etches between her brows, "Ryan.... are you okay?"

He laughs, shaking his head. "I haven't been okay in weeks, Emily. Not since Julie left."

"Right," she says. "If it's any consolation, I haven't been okay either. Moving into your mother's house was the worst thing we ever did. I miss our cook, Martha. Your mother's cook is threatening to poison me with gluten. We need to move out." CHAPTER 057 Meek Act

"I'm working on it."

She sighs. "Are you really? Because I feel like you've been saying that for a while now, and here we are, still under the same roof as the Iron Lady herself."

He punches out a quick text to his chauffeur Justin: Get the car ready. He can hardly hear Emily's voice as she continues to talk, her words merging with the hum of the elevator,

"Are you even listening to me?" she says, poking his arm.

"Yes, Emily, I'm listening. We'll get out of there as soon as I sort things out," he says, pocketing his phone." Just hang in there."

As they reach the lobby, Emily's demeanor shifts. She straightens her skirt and clasps her hands in front of her, eyes downcast, as she always does when they are before other employees. Ryan scoffs inwardly- everyone knows they're living together. This meek act doesn't fool anyone.

Outside, Justin stands beside the glossy black Rolls-Royce, his face blank but his posture attentive. As they approach, he opens the door for Emily, nodding briefly to Ryan.

"Where to?" Justin asks once Ryan settles into the back seat. ""Home."

Justin glances in the rearview mirror. "Which home, sir?"

Ryan rolls his eyes. "My mother's house."

With a slight nod, Justin pulls out, merging smoothly into traffic. The silence in the car is heavy, punctuated only by the soft hum of the engine. Ryan leans back, staring out the window at the fading city lights, his mind a jumbled mess of frustration and exhaustion. He feels Emily's hand creep over to his knee, but he doesn't respond, too tired to even muster up a

reaction.

Later that night, Ryan sits up in bed, the dim light casting shadows over the pages of a self-help book. How to Avoid Divorce: A Complete Guide for Reconnecting. His eyes skim the lines with mounting frustration. The author seems to dance around the real issues, suggesting small acts of kindness and- communication strategies, none of which feel remotely applicable to his fractured, turbulent life.

He sighs, rubbing his temples. Just as he's about to turn the page, he feels a pair of hands sliding over his shoulders, creeping down his chest.

"Emily," he says, not even looking up from the book, "what are you doing?"

She leans in, her breath warm against his neck. "It's been a while since you touched me, Ryan. I'm pregnant, and pregnant women have needs, you know,

Her hands wander lower, tracing his abdomen, slipping beneath the sheets. Ryan flinches, feeling more discomfort than anything else.

"Emily, now's really not a great time."

CHAPTER 057, Meek Act.

Her hands pause, and she pulls back slightly. "That's what you say every time. Do you know what it feels like to be young and subjected to the sex life of a boomer?"

He raises an eyebrow, finally looking at her, "Are you calling me a boomer?"

"I'm saying that I'm horny, and you keep pushing me away."

Ryan sighs, letting his head fall back against the headboard, his gaze drifting toward the ceiling. "Alright.

Go on."

As Emily moves down on him, his thoughts begin to drift, spiraling toward the same place they always do

Julie. He can almost picture her as she was in their happier days, dancing around naked in their bedroom in one of her goofy, improvised ballet routines, making him laugh so hard his stomach hurt. She'd look back at him with that impish grin, a sparkle in her eyes, and suddenly the world felt... right.

Whole.

He blinks, jolting back to the present as he realizes he's now hard. Emily, sensing the change, lets out a gleeful noise

"He has risen," she murmurs, pulling back just enough to tug at her clothes, eyes bright with satisfaction. As she moves to undress, Ryan's gaze falls on a small vase of flowers in the corner, a modest arrangement of chrysanthemums. His brow furrows-something about them doesn't seem quite right. He squints, leaning forward, convinced he saw a flicker of movement.

something wrong with the flowers?" he asks, more to himself than to Emily.

She glances over, a frown crossing her face. "What?"

"They... look like they're blinking or something."

Emily laughs, but it's forced, a high, shaky sound. "Why would you think the flowers are blinking, Ryan?"

But Ryan can't shake the feeling. He stands up, ignoring Emily's protest as he crosses the room, his eyes trained on the flowers. The faint, rhythmic glint catches his eye again-a small, barely noticeable blinking light buried between the petals.

"Ryan, come back to bed," Emily says, trying to pull him back, but he steps around her, lifting the vase to inspect it closer. There, tucked between the stems, is a tiny, inconspicuous camera lens.

His stomach sinks. He turns to face Emily, holding up the vase. "Why is there a spy camera in the flower, Emily?"

CHAPTER 058: All He Sees Is Red

Emily stares at Ryan, and he can see the color drain from her face. She opens her mouth to respond, but

no words come out.

He takes a step closer, his voice dangerously low. "Why is there a camera in our bedroom?"

"Ryan, it's nothing," she says, She reaches for the vase, her hand brushing his arm, but he pulls back, setting the vase down behind him, marking it off-limits "Not so fast," he says. "Answer the question."

Emily bites her lip, eyes darting around the room. "It's just. It's a little kink thing, okay?" She gives a half- smile. "I thought maybe it'd be fun. Your birthday is coming up. I wanted to surprise you with a hot video.

He raises an eyebrow and then taps the side of his reading glasses. "I might be a bit shortsighted, Emily, but I'm not blind. Or stupid. How convenient that this little kink appeared the same day you saw Julie." "The camera's always been there. You just never noticed."

Ryan laughs. "Now I'm convinced you're lying. I love those flowers. I'd know if there was a damn camera

In there."

She o

opens her mouth, then hesitates before saying, "I don't leave it there all the time."

"Cut the bullshit, Emily."

"Alright, you want the truth? I met Julie today, and she threatened me. She threatened me and the baby. I got scared, okay? I didn't know

what else to do."

Ryan studies her, narrowing his eyes as he processes her words. "Julie threatened to harm you?"

"Yes. She said she'd... she'd hurt me, Ryan, Hurt me and our baby. That's why I put the camera there."

"What's the camera supposed to do?" he says. "Blink its red light until she collapses?"

She frowns. "It's just... I thought I'd have some evidence, alright?"

"Evidence? We're in the middle of nowhere, Emily. You've seen the security detail at the gate. You think Julie can just waltz in here with what, a knife?"

"She walked into our house and tried to attack me with a taser, Ryan."

He scoffs, shaking his head. "That was her house. Her house, Emily. Not some fortress surrounded by cameras and guards. I'm giving you five seconds to tell me what the hell is really going on."

"You don't care, do you?" she says. "I told you your wife threatened me-threatened our baby-and this is how you treat me? Like I'm the one at fault?"

Ryan stares at her, his jaw set. "Julie would never do that."

"Oh, really? How do you know what she would or wouldn't do, Ryan? You swore she'd never leave you, yet she did. You swore she'd come back, but she's served you divorce papers and a resignation letter. What makes you think you know what your wife's capable of anymore?"

He moves closer, a slow, calculated approach that makes Emily stiffen. Her eyes widen in fear. She

CHAPTER 058. All He Sees is Ro

begins to back up.

"Stay back, Ryan," she whispers. "You're not thinking clearly."

But he doesn't stop, his eyes dark and intense, every step deliberate. Finally, she's backed up against the wall, no more space to retreat. He's inches away, his hands coming up to grip her arms firmly but not enough to hurt-yet. "Why is there a camera in the vase, Emily?"

She squirms in his hold. "Let me go. You're hurting me.

"Why is there a camera in the vase, Emily?"

"Let me go, Ryan! I'm not Julie! You can't treat me like some piece of shit!"

He freezes, and for a moment, there's silence between them. His hands loosen slightly, and he looks at her with something close to disbelief.

"What the hell did you just say?"

Her breath comes in short gasps, her eyes darting over his face as if gauging his reaction. "Your wife is blackmailing me, okay? Is that what you wanted to hear?" Her voice is shaky. "There's no trace of the old Julie left in her eyes. She's out for blood, Ryan. I'm trying to protect you, to give you some peace. I put that camera there to gather evidence, something she can use to finalize this divorce and let you move on. I'm doing this for you. I don't want to bring a baby into a world where its father is chasing after his estranged wife." He releases her, his hands dropping to his sides. "You had no right."

"You left me with no choice."

He laughs, but it's a hollow, bitter sound. "What could she possibly be using against you that isn't already out there? Everyone knows we're together."

She looks away, her arms wrapped around herself. "Not everyone. The media doesn't."

"Don't lie to me, Emily. And don't pretend this was ever about protecting me." He narrows his eyes. "No matter how much I press, you'll never tell me the real reason for that camera, will you?"

Her lips tremble, but she doesn't answer.

For a moment, he stares at her, watching her as if waiting for her to slip, to say something that would unravel whatever mess of lies she's built. Then he takes a step back. Emily-checks her arms for marks, rubbing them as if his touch had burned her. Ryan moves, crossing the room to the closet and grabbing a shirt, hastily buttoning it, and reaching for a jacket.

Emily looks up. "Where are you going?"

To ask Julie.

Her face contorts in shock, then fear. She moves quickly, trying to block his path to the door. Her hands claw at his arm. "Ryan, please, just stop and think about this. Let's talk, just you and me. Please, don't go to her-"

CHAPTER 058 Al He Sees is Rod

He stops, meeting her gaze with a cold stare, the kind that has her fingers slipping from his arm in spite of herself.

And with that, Ryan walks out the door.

When Ryan gets to the gate, it slides right open. His car's electric tag is still active. That must be a good sign, right? Or maybe Julie hasn't gotten around to deactivating it.

As he drives through, his chest tightens at the sight of Julie's Bentley parked near the garage, glistening under the soft glow of the outdoor lights. Next to it is that Aston Martin he saw the other day. But then there's another car, a third car. A McLaren. Ryan feels his pulse spike.

Who owns the McLaren and the Aston Martin? Certainly not Julie. Are these gifts from her boyfriend? Trying to win his wife over with expensive gifts?

He parks his car, cuts the engine, and steps out into the evening air. His eyes catch movement ahead as Grant, the security guard, strides toward him, looking surprised and confused.

"Mr. O'Brien?"

"Good evening, Grant," Ryan says.

Grant scratches the back of his head. "I thought Mrs. O'Brien said you don't... live here anymore?"

"Yes, that's right. It's a temporary setback. She invited me over."

Grant glances back toward the house, clearly torn. "She didn't tell me..."

"It's a private meeting." Ryan adds.

Grant hesitates, eyeing him. "Oh, right. With the... other gentleman?"

Ryan stiffens, his pulse thrumming in his ears. "Other gentleman?"

"You said you have a meeting, right?"

Ryan's heart clenches, and his mind begins racing at breakneck speed. There's another man in Julie's house? Alone with her? His imagination paints images he wishes he could erase, scenarios he has no right to imagine but can't stop himself from seeing. But he keeps his expression as neutral as he can, forcing his fists to unclench.

"Yes," he says. "The three of us have a meeting."

Grant watches him with a wary eye. "I'll just page her to confirm."

"You do that. I'll be on my way inside," Ryan replies, already moving toward the entrance, ignoring the tentative protest from Grant behind him.

"Mr. O'Brien, I don't think you should be going in without confirmation."

But Ryan barely hears him. His mind is elsewhere, focused on the darkening doorway. He forces himself

to breathe, to calm his nerves, but all he sees is red, a haze of anger clouding his vision.

CHAPTER 059: Prove it

CHAPTER 059: Prove It ~~Julie~~

After minutes of struggling, Luke finally gets the old record player going, and the first notes of a tune spill into the room. I sit up on the bed, propping my chin in my hand as I watch him. There's something so endearing in the way he messes with the dials, muttering little curses under his breath until the music flows right.

"I can't believe this thing works," he says.

I laugh, letting the warmth of his presence seep into me. "Just like old wine. Gets better with age."

He turns to me, his eyes glinting with that mischievous look he's so good at. "Then I must be in trouble. Because you're like wine. If you get better each year, I might actually die of drunkenness."

"Is that so?" I tilt my head, trying to hide my smile.

"Absolutely," he says, offering his hand. "Come on. Dance with me."

Without a second thought, I spring off the bed and into his arms, feeling his arm wrap around me as we start to sway to the music. It's not graceful; I'm sure I'm stepping all over his feet, but I don't care. In this moment, the world outside the room doesn't exist. It's just us, moving together in this timeless, perfect little bubble.

"You're a terrible dancer," he whispers, his lips brushing my ear.

"I know." I laugh. "Tell me when I've stepped on your foot too much."

"How many is too much?"

I laugh again, and he chuckles along with me, his hand moving to the small of my back, holding me closer. It feels... like home. God, how much I've missed this. Missed the feeling of being looked at like I'm everything. Missed the way he makes me laugh without even trying.

"Grandpa won't stop talking about you, you know," he murmurs, his cheek against my hair. "Keeps asking when you're finalizing the divorce."

"Soon," I answer. I pull back just enough to meet his eyes. "I'm working on it. And you're not helping by sneaking in here."

"But I have to see you. I'm running low on oxygen.

I snort, rolling my eyes. "I bet you used that smooth talk to charm all your professors back in college."

000

"How did you know?" he says, smirking. "Were you my professor?"

"Oh, if I were your professor... I let the sentence linger, arching an eyebrow as I lean in, lips brushing his ear. "I'd have you take me all over this dresser." "Professor Julie... so, so naughty."

He pulls me closer, and I melt into him, letting myself get lost in the warmth of his body, in the faint, familiar smell of his cologne. He's a rock, grounding me, holding me together in ways I can't even describe.

10

CHAPTER 059, Prove It

His chin rests on my head, and we sway, the music a gentle lullaby. "I could stay like this forever, you know," he whispers, his breath tickling my hair. "Just holding you, listening to music, pretending we don't have a hundred things waiting for us outside this room. "Don't ruin it," I murmur, a soft plea in my voice. I don't want to think about the divorce, about the arguments, about the life I'm supposed to leave behind. Not now. Not while I'm here in this stolen moment with him.

He lifts my chin, looking down into my eyes. "I'm not going anywhere, Julie. I'm here."

Those words. They're so simple, but they hold so much, and for a second, I feel something inside me crack, feel something in me start to believe that maybe just maybe-everything will be okay. I offer him a smile, resting my head back against his chest, letting him hold me, letting myself believe in this, if only for tonight.

But there's a restless energy simmering just under the surface, a heat I can't ignore. I pull back, looking up at him. "Prove it," I say.

"How do you propose I do that?"

I glance toward the dresser, my grin widening. "I can think of a few ways."

He laughs, the sound low and rich, as he follows my gaze. "You're dangerous, you know that?"

"You knew that when you met me."

In a single, fluid movement, he lifts me onto the dresser, his hands firm on my waist, and I let out a surprised laugh, my fingers tangling in his hair as he leans in. His lips brush mine. The kiss is slow, deliberate, and full of a thousand unspoken promises. I feel his hands tighten on my waist, pulling me closer, as if even the smallest space between us is too much.

"Why do you always make me so hard?" he murmurs, his voice rough.

My fingers trail down the back of his neck. "It won't work if it's soft."

He groans as he pushes my nightgown up, his eyes locked on mine. Those eyes are filled with desire and mischief. "You're beautiful," he says.

I feel a thrill run through me as he takes me in, his gaze roaming over my body. I can feel his hardness pressing against me, and I know it's only a matter of time before he takes me. "No undies. Naughty Julie," he says.

He pulls back, his eyes never leaving mine, as he unbuckles his belt and pulls his pants down. I watch, my heart racing.

I can feel the heat between us intensifying.

1

After stepping out of his pants, he presses his body against mine.

I reach down, my hand wrapping around him, and he groans, his body shuddering. His desire fuels my

own.

He lifts my hips, and I wrap my legs around him, feeling him enter me, filling me, completing me. We moan in unison.

CHAPTER 050. Prove It

As we make love, the world around us fades away, leaving only the two of us.

Somewhere in the room, I can hear my phone ringing. But I don't care. I don't want to be disturbed. I don't want anything to take me away from this moment.

"Your phone," he says, thrusting into me.

"Ignore it," I whisper. "Just fuck me."

He obeys. His thrusts become more forceful, each one hitting a spot deep inside me that makes my entire body tremble. I cry out, my voice echoing through the room, as he pounds into me.

His hands grip my hips, his fingers digging into my skin, I feel myself being pushed to the edge, my body teetering on the brink of orgasm.

"Yes," I urge. "Right there. I'm going to-

And then-4 reach the peak, my orgasm exploding within me. I scream as wave after wave of pleasure crashes over me. I feel him coming along with me, his body jerking with pleasure, his sperm spilling inside me as we both collapse onto the dresser, our bodies still entwined, our breathing ragged, our hearts pounding in sync.

Right then, the door opens.

Luke's arms tense around me, his grip faltering as he stares at something-someone-behind me. My heart seizes in my chest as I force myself to turn around, and there he is.

Ryan.

CHAPTER 060: It's Best You Leave ~~Luke

The universe must truly hate me.

I mean, it's the only explanation why every time I try to do something right, something that makes met happy, it comes with problems like an estranged husband who doesn't understand boundaries. A man like Ryan

He stands frozen in the doorway, his gaze fixed on Julie like she's the only person in the room.

Julie taps my arm, bringing me back to life. I pull myself together and step back to grab my pants, fumbling to get them on. Suddenly I feel like a teenager caught in his girlfriend's bedroom by her father. Meanwhile, Julie has left the dresser. She's staring at Ryan with an icy glare.

"Was I unclear," she says, "when I told you you're no longer welcome in this house?"

I watch her walk toward him, the silk nightgown clinging to her in ways that leave nothing to the imagination. The bottom half of the gown is folded and still hanging askew around her waist.

Reflexively, I reach forward, tugging the fabric down so she isn't flashing Ryan anything. My y eyes settle on the liquid flowing down her inner thigh, the evidence of our lovemaking, and I wish Ryan could see it too. At the back of my mind, I know I'm being possessive. This man has seen Julie naked a thousand times. But she's mine now. I don't want him to see one inch more than he deserves.

* Ryan's eyes follow my hand. It seems to snap him out of his trance, and he takes a step into the room, a

dangerous gleam in his eyes

"You," he says, pointing a finger at me. "How dare you come into my home and put your hands on my wife?

I know I shouldn't interfere in this fight. It's Julie's fight, and from experience, I know she's more than capable of handling Ryan. But I'm beyond irritated with this man's persistent shamelessness.

"I think it's best you leave," I say.

"Oh?" He lets out a short, mocking laugh, stepping up until we're nose-to-nose, his breath hot and fast against my face. "You think you can just walk in here, chase me out of my own house?"

Julie forces her way into our middle, her back pressing against my chest as she faces Ryan head-on. Leave, Ryan. And the next time I see you here, I'll be calling the police."

The sharpness in her tone cuts through some of Ryan's bravado, and his shoulders slump. He's looking at her now, just her.

*Jules... come on, I know you're not thinking straight," he whispers, his hands coming up to reach for her, falling just shy of touching. This... this man has brainwashed you into thinking you should be with him, just because we're going through a rough time=" "Really?" I say, wondering how much lower he can get.

"Jules," Ryan goes on. "I'll put everything behind us. We can start over, just you and me. I'm sorry." His