I’m just an ordinary, honest woman. And somehow, I ended up marrying the city’s biggest heartbreaker. A year into our marriage, everything changed. He started coming home later and later. Whenever he looked at me, his eyes held nothing but impatience—like I was a burden he couldn’t wait to shake off. One night, I overheard him talking to his friends, his voice dripping with scorn. “Why would I ever settle down for someone so plain? What makes her think she could ever tie me down?” A wave of relief washed over me. Finally. I had a real reason to ask for a divorce. That’s the thing about people like me—we always think of others first. Even when it makes things harder for ourselves.

Chapter 1I’m just an ordinary, plain woman.And somehow, I ended up marrying the city’s biggest heartbreaker.A year into our marriage, everything changed.He started coming home later and later. Whenever he looked at me, his eyes held nothing but impatience—like I was a burden he couldn’t wait to shake off.One night, I overheard him talking to his friends, his voice dripping with scorn. “Why would I ever settle down for someone so plain? What makes her think she could ever tie me down?”A wave of relief washed over me. Finally. I had a real reason to ask for a divorce.That’s the thing about people like me—we always think of others first. Even when it makes things harder for ourselves.It was past midnight when Dean came stumbling home. Two months gone, he never said a word, and he’d even missed our wedding anniversary.I was half-asleep when he rolled me over in bed. Before my face was buried in the pillow, I caught a strong whiff of perfume—loud, bold, unmistakable.Just like Dean.Except this was women’s perfume.I struggled to turn my head. There he was: flawless, ridiculously handsome, not a single blemish on that face. His Adam’s apple moved as he swallowed, abs hard and defined, muscles tense under his skin.His eyes were dark with hunger, ready to devour me.No wonder he kept topping those Most Eligible Bachelor lists for five years straight.Dean paused when he saw my face, the heat in his eyes dimming a bit. He hesitated for a second, but didn’t stop.Everywhere he touched me felt raw, like I was trapped in a spotlight. Goosebumps raced across my skin.All I wanted was to escape.“Baby,” I called out, my voice soft and sticky with fake sweetness. “You’re home so early tonight. I missed you so much I couldn’t even eat dinner.”That did the trick. Whatever interest he had fizzled out in an instant.He rolled away, grabbed a cigarette from the nightstand, and muttered, “Are you a kid? Can’t eat unless I’m here?”I exhaled quietly, relieved that even such a ridiculous excuse worked.Dean had been with more women than I could count, so he should’ve seen right through me. But I’d spent years playing the lovesick wife.It’s three years chasing him, watching girlfriends come and go, and I never once thought to give up.Dean once said I was the most stubborn admirer he’d ever met.I drifted back to sleep.Out on the balcony, I heard Dean’s voice through the cracked door as he called someone.“Dean, you’ve been MIA for ages. Staying loyal to your wife now?” a friend teased.Dean snorted. “For her? She’s nothing special. Why would I bother?”“Honestly, the first time, I almost couldn’t even kiss her.”The guy on the other end burst out laughing.Dean grumbled, “Shut up, it’s the middle of the night. Keep your voice down.”I was almost asleep again when Dean came back inside. He set a small box on my pillow.Fighting off sleep, I spared a glance.A set of diamond earrings lay there, sparkling and pretty.If I hadn’t seen the matching necklace—ten times the price—I might’ve thought the earrings were a real gift. I wouldn’t have known they were just a freebie that came with the necklace.I didn’t feel angry though. If anything, there was a weird sense of anticipation brewing inside me.It’s been a year.After we got married, Dean pretended to settle down.But now, he was finally reaching his limit.And honestly? So was I.I’m a plain person. But I’m a sucker for good looks.I’m nothing special myself, just average at best, but I can’t help it—I only like hot guys.Honestly, the idea of some unattractive guy sweating and grunting on top of me? I’d rather die.So, I’ve always worked hard.Because I know the truth: with my looks and background, no gorgeous guy is ever going to fall for me.I did okay on my finals, but not amazing. It’s like, everyone’s gunning for the best schools—if you’re not Ivy League or top-tier, you’re nobody.A master’s degree wasn’t enough, so I went for a PhD.With my plain, unremarkable face and a habit of always saying yes to my professor, I finally got into a top research institute.I thought maybe, finally, I was good enough.Then I met Dean. And in that first second, I knew I was still nowhere close.I sucked up to my bosses at dinners, pulled all-nighters after drinking, and even spent weekends writing essays for their kids.Eventually, I made it to associate director, which was pretty rare at my age.Now, I was finally worthy to chase Dean.People tried to set me up with other guys while I was running after him. I went along with it, just to be polite.But every single date only made me more determined to win Dean over.After every awkward blind date, I’d go find Dean, just to give my eyes a break.Once, it was two in the morning.He happened to need a designated driver, and I didn’t hesitate for a second.Dean looked at me and asked, “Do you really like me that much?”He said this with a stunning, completely wasted girl in the passenger seat, her bare shoulder peeking out from her dress.I nodded, hard. No hesitation. Well, I’m just not into ugly guys.I said, “Dean, I love you.”It’s human nature to love beautiful things.But if loving beauty just means dressing myself up, that feels kind of shallow.No matter what I look like, I love myself.Dean burst out laughing at my sudden confession. His messy hair blew back in the wind, showing off his long lashes and narrow eyes—so gorgeous it almost didn’t seem real.Sometimes I wonder if he’s had done plastic surgery, but honestly, I don’t care.His slender fingers, knuckles faintly pink, held a slim menthol cigarette, flicking ash onto the sidewalk as he laughed.“Marian, you’re the first person to really make me laugh in ages.”From that night on, he started giving me a little attention.He went from never accepting my invitations to sometimes saying yes—when he was in a good mood.Sometimes, he’d even accept the lunch I brought him.Eventually, we ended up together.Not because I changed him or made him turn his life around, like in the movies. He just got tired of playing around, and his family started pushing him to settle down.I had the degrees, didn’t hang out in sketchy circles, had a respectable job, and seemed like the perfect wife.Everyone in Dean’s family loved me—except Dean himself.I didn’t care about the reason. All I knew was, I’d never have to wake up from nightmares about ugly husbands or ugly sons again.When we posted our relationship on social media, I felt like I’d finally made it.Take that, everyone who said I was delusional.At our wedding, I stared at Dean’s face—seriously, it was like a masterpiece—and just felt this wild excitement.His abs teased me under his shirt.When the officiant told us to kiss, I “accidentally” brushed against his chest and those little pink tips underneath.If only I could tie him up, in some kind of diamond rope pattern...Just thinking about it made my legs go weak—so much for being innocent.Dean didn’t notice a thing. After all, I’m supposed to be plain.His kiss was all technique, no feeling.I didn’t mind. I can make my own happiness.That night, I was so happy I thought my heart might burst.It felt like my chest was overflowing with spring water.I let out a satisfied sigh.The only flaw? Dean had zero sense of service—he didn’t care about my feelings at all.Maybe that’s because I’m probably the least attractive person he’s ever slept with.Outside, streetlights glowed like artificial stars, making up for the sky we lost to the city.I looked at Dean’s sleeping face and couldn’t help but smile.Those strong brows, that straight nose, those perfect lips...God, he was beautiful.Better looking than any celebrity.If he actually liked me, he’d have no flaws at all.But hey, nobody’s perfect.As long as he keeps that face, I’ll keep loving him.We honest people—that’s just how loyal we are.But is what I feel for Dean really love?What even is love, anyway?Freud said, “Love comes from our longing to feel complete.” Jung said, “Great souls are both male and female; falling in love at first sight is just loving another version of yourself.” So maybe, back then, falling for Dean was just me trying to find the missing pieces of myself.But now? I think I finally feel whole.The next morning.When I woke up, Dean was still out cold, sprawled across the bed. His phone kept lighting up with notifications—one after another, all from girls with filtered selfies and influencer names. I didn’t bother checking what they said.Instead, I quietly plugged in his phone—it was almost dead anyway.As I tried to step over him, Dean’s hand caught my ankle. Without even opening his eyes, he yanked me back, pulling me right onto his lap.“Come here,” he mumbled, his voice rough and low, all sleep and sexiness. A year ago, that would’ve been all I needed. I’d have jumped him right then and there.But now?I wriggled off, a little awkward. “Babe, I have an important meeting today. The big boss is coming. I really can’t be late.”Dean’s face darkened, but I ignored it.Just before I left, I paused in the doorway. “Honey, I’m going on a three-day work trip. Take care of yourself, okay?”I even shot him a text to remind him, just in case he hadn’t heard me. But then I remembered—he’d put my messages on Do Not Disturb ages ago.So I ended up texting one of his wild friends instead:[Hey, I’ll be away for three days. Can you keep an eye on Dean for me? Thanks! 😊]I made it to work right on time.That night, I stayed late to finish up some reports. My manager even stopped by, looking concerned. “Marian, your trip got postponed. No need to kill yourself prepping. Go home early, alright?”“I’ll head out soon, just need to wrap this up,” I said. But by the time I finally left, it was already 10:30 PM.On the way home, I checked the security camera app on my phone—just a habit, lately. I watched as some woman walked up and knocked on my door.Dean answered, wearing nothing but his boxers.The woman looked nervous, maybe even a little bashful. Dean glanced her up and down, then stepped aside and let her in.I almost floored the gas pedal.Calm down. No need to rush. It’s not like Dean would jump into something right away… right?By 11:00, I was standing at our door. My hands were shaking so badly I punched in the wrong code the first time.When I finally got in, chaos hit me in the face.Lace panties. Torn stockings. Clothes everywhere. The kind of mess I’d only ever seen in movies—or nightmares.For someone like me, it was almost too much.But apparently Dean moved faster than I thought. The bedroom door flew open so hard it banged against the wall.A naked woman stumbled out, clutching her clothes. She turned back to the bedroom, practically begging:“Dean, I flew here just to see you! Don’t kick me out so soon. If you want to try something different—”Dean just tossed her bra at her.“I sent you money for your flight. Time to leave.”He wandered out, lazy and bored.The woman wasn’t giving up. “If you’re not into me, I have this friend—she’s gorgeous. Want to see her picture? She’s at the club nearby, we could all go…”Dean barely glanced at her phone, but then he looked up—and saw me.The woman went dead silent.The whole place did. It was like the world just… stopped.Chapter 2I’m just an ordinary, plain woman.And somehow, I ended up marrying the city’s biggest heartbreaker.A year into our marriage, everything changed.He started coming home later and later. Whenever he looked at me, his eyes held nothing but impatience—like I was a burden he couldn’t wait to shake off.One night, I overheard him talking to his friends, his voice dripping with scorn. “Why would I ever settle down for someone so plain? What makes her think she could ever tie me down?”A wave of relief washed over me. Finally. I had a real reason to ask for a divorce.That’s the thing about people like me—we always think of others first. Even when it makes things harder for ourselves.It was past midnight when Dean came stumbling home. Two months gone, he never said a word, and he’d even missed our wedding anniversary.I was half-asleep when he rolled me over in bed. Before my face was buried in the pillow, I caught a strong whiff of perfume—loud, bold, unmistakable.Just like Dean.Except this was women’s perfume.I struggled to turn my head. There he was: flawless, ridiculously handsome, not a single blemish on that face. His Adam’s apple moved as he swallowed, abs hard and defined, muscles tense under his skin.His eyes were dark with hunger, ready to devour me.No wonder he kept topping those Most Eligible Bachelor lists for five years straight.Dean paused when he saw my face, the heat in his eyes dimming a bit. He hesitated for a second, but didn’t stop.Everywhere he touched me felt raw, like I was trapped in a spotlight. Goosebumps raced across my skin.All I wanted was to escape.“Baby,” I called out, my voice soft and sticky with fake sweetness. “You’re home so early tonight. I missed you so much I couldn’t even eat dinner.”That did the trick. Whatever interest he had fizzled out in an instant.He rolled away, grabbed a cigarette from the nightstand, and muttered, “Are you a kid? Can’t eat unless I’m here?”I exhaled quietly, relieved that even such a ridiculous excuse worked.Dean had been with more women than I could count, so he should’ve seen right through me. But I’d spent years playing the lovesick wife.It’s three years chasing him, watching girlfriends come and go, and I never once thought to give up.Dean once said I was the most stubborn admirer he’d ever met.I drifted back to sleep.Out on the balcony, I heard Dean’s voice through the cracked door as he called someone.“Dean, you’ve been MIA for ages. Staying loyal to your wife now?” a friend teased.Dean snorted. “For her? She’s nothing special. Why would I bother?”“Honestly, the first time, I almost couldn’t even kiss her.”The guy on the other end burst out laughing.Dean grumbled, “Shut up, it’s the middle of the night. Keep your voice down.”I was almost asleep again when Dean came back inside. He set a small box on my pillow.Fighting off sleep, I spared a glance.A set of diamond earrings lay there, sparkling and pretty.If I hadn’t seen the matching necklace—ten times the price—I might’ve thought the earrings were a real gift. I wouldn’t have known they were just a freebie that came with the necklace.I didn’t feel angry though. If anything, there was a weird sense of anticipation brewing inside me.It’s been a year.After we got married, Dean pretended to settle down.But now, he was finally reaching his limit.And honestly? So was I.I’m a plain person. But I’m a sucker for good looks.I’m nothing special myself, just average at best, but I can’t help it—I only like hot guys.Honestly, the idea of some unattractive guy sweating and grunting on top of me? I’d rather die.So, I’ve always worked hard.Because I know the truth: with my looks and background, no gorgeous guy is ever going to fall for me.I did okay on my finals, but not amazing. It’s like, everyone’s gunning for the best schools—if you’re not Ivy League or top-tier, you’re nobody.A master’s degree wasn’t enough, so I went for a PhD.With my plain, unremarkable face and a habit of always saying yes to my professor, I finally got into a top research institute.I thought maybe, finally, I was good enough.Then I met Dean. And in that first second, I knew I was still nowhere close.I sucked up to my bosses at dinners, pulled all-nighters after drinking, and even spent weekends writing essays for their kids.Eventually, I made it to associate director, which was pretty rare at my age.Now, I was finally worthy to chase Dean.People tried to set me up with other guys while I was running after him. I went along with it, just to be polite.But every single date only made me more determined to win Dean over.After every awkward blind date, I’d go find Dean, just to give my eyes a break.Once, it was two in the morning.He happened to need a designated driver, and I didn’t hesitate for a second.Dean looked at me and asked, “Do you really like me that much?”He said this with a stunning, completely wasted girl in the passenger seat, her bare shoulder peeking out from her dress.I nodded, hard. No hesitation. Well, I’m just not into ugly guys.I said, “Dean, I love you.”It’s human nature to love beautiful things.But if loving beauty just means dressing myself up, that feels kind of shallow.No matter what I look like, I love myself.Dean burst out laughing at my sudden confession. His messy hair blew back in the wind, showing off his long lashes and narrow eyes—so gorgeous it almost didn’t seem real.Sometimes I wonder if he’s had done plastic surgery, but honestly, I don’t care.His slender fingers, knuckles faintly pink, held a slim menthol cigarette, flicking ash onto the sidewalk as he laughed.“Marian, you’re the first person to really make me laugh in ages.”From that night on, he started giving me a little attention.He went from never accepting my invitations to sometimes saying yes—when he was in a good mood.Sometimes, he’d even accept the lunch I brought him.Eventually, we ended up together.Not because I changed him or made him turn his life around, like in the movies. He just got tired of playing around, and his family started pushing him to settle down.I had the degrees, didn’t hang out in sketchy circles, had a respectable job, and seemed like the perfect wife.Everyone in Dean’s family loved me—except Dean himself.I didn’t care about the reason. All I knew was, I’d never have to wake up from nightmares about ugly husbands or ugly sons again.When we posted our relationship on social media, I felt like I’d finally made it.Take that, everyone who said I was delusional.At our wedding, I stared at Dean’s face—seriously, it was like a masterpiece—and just felt this wild excitement.His abs teased me under his shirt.When the officiant told us to kiss, I “accidentally” brushed against his chest and those little pink tips underneath.If only I could tie him up, in some kind of diamond rope pattern...Just thinking about it made my legs go weak—so much for being innocent.Dean didn’t notice a thing. After all, I’m supposed to be plain.His kiss was all technique, no feeling.I didn’t mind. I can make my own happiness.That night, I was so happy I thought my heart might burst.It felt like my chest was overflowing with spring water.I let out a satisfied sigh.The only flaw? Dean had zero sense of service—he didn’t care about my feelings at all.Maybe that’s because I’m probably the least attractive person he’s ever slept with.Outside, streetlights glowed like artificial stars, making up for the sky we lost to the city.I looked at Dean’s sleeping face and couldn’t help but smile.Those strong brows, that straight nose, those perfect lips...God, he was beautiful.Better looking than any celebrity.If he actually liked me, he’d have no flaws at all.But hey, nobody’s perfect.As long as he keeps that face, I’ll keep loving him.We honest people—that’s just how loyal we are.But is what I feel for Dean really love?What even is love, anyway?Freud said, “Love comes from our longing to feel complete.” Jung said, “Great souls are both male and female; falling in love at first sight is just loving another version of yourself.” So maybe, back then, falling for Dean was just me trying to find the missing pieces of myself.But now? I think I finally feel whole.The next morning.When I woke up, Dean was still out cold, sprawled across the bed. His phone kept lighting up with notifications—one after another, all from girls with filtered selfies and influencer names. I didn’t bother checking what they said.Instead, I quietly plugged in his phone—it was almost dead anyway.As I tried to step over him, Dean’s hand caught my ankle. Without even opening his eyes, he yanked me back, pulling me right onto his lap.“Come here,” he mumbled, his voice rough and low, all sleep and sexiness. A year ago, that would’ve been all I needed. I’d have jumped him right then and there.But now?I wriggled off, a little awkward. “Babe, I have an important meeting today. The big boss is coming. I really can’t be late.”Dean’s face darkened, but I ignored it.Just before I left, I paused in the doorway. “Honey, I’m going on a three-day work trip. Take care of yourself, okay?”I even shot him a text to remind him, just in case he hadn’t heard me. But then I remembered—he’d put my messages on Do Not Disturb ages ago.So I ended up texting one of his wild friends instead:[Hey, I’ll be away for three days. Can you keep an eye on Dean for me? Thanks! 😊]I made it to work right on time.That night, I stayed late to finish up some reports. My manager even stopped by, looking concerned. “Marian, your trip got postponed. No need to kill yourself prepping. Go home early, alright?”“I’ll head out soon, just need to wrap this up,” I said. But by the time I finally left, it was already 10:30 PM.On the way home, I checked the security camera app on my phone—just a habit, lately. I watched as some woman walked up and knocked on my door.Dean answered, wearing nothing but his boxers.The woman looked nervous, maybe even a little bashful. Dean glanced her up and down, then stepped aside and let her in.I almost floored the gas pedal.Calm down. No need to rush. It’s not like Dean would jump into something right away… right?By 11:00, I was standing at our door. My hands were shaking so badly I punched in the wrong code the first time.When I finally got in, chaos hit me in the face.Lace panties. Torn stockings. Clothes everywhere. The kind of mess I’d only ever seen in movies—or nightmares.For someone like me, it was almost too much.But apparently Dean moved faster than I thought. The bedroom door flew open so hard it banged against the wall.A naked woman stumbled out, clutching her clothes. She turned back to the bedroom, practically begging:“Dean, I flew here just to see you! Don’t kick me out so soon. If you want to try something different—”Dean just tossed her bra at her.“I sent you money for your flight. Time to leave.”He wandered out, lazy and bored.The woman wasn’t giving up. “If you’re not into me, I have this friend—she’s gorgeous. Want to see her picture? She’s at the club nearby, we could all go…”Dean barely glanced at her phone, but then he looked up—and saw me.The woman went dead silent.The whole place did. It was like the world just… stopped.Chapter 3I’m just an ordinary, plain woman.And somehow, I ended up marrying the city’s biggest heartbreaker.A year into our marriage, everything changed.He started coming home later and later. Whenever he looked at me, his eyes held nothing but impatience—like I was a burden he couldn’t wait to shake off.One night, I overheard him talking to his friends, his voice dripping with scorn. “Why would I ever settle down for someone so plain? What makes her think she could ever tie me down?”A wave of relief washed over me. Finally. I had a real reason to ask for a divorce.That’s the thing about people like me—we always think of others first. Even when it makes things harder for ourselves.It was past midnight when Dean came stumbling home. Two months gone, he never said a word, and he’d even missed our wedding anniversary.I was half-asleep when he rolled me over in bed. Before my face was buried in the pillow, I caught a strong whiff of perfume—loud, bold, unmistakable.Just like Dean.Except this was women’s perfume.I struggled to turn my head. There he was: flawless, ridiculously handsome, not a single blemish on that face. His Adam’s apple moved as he swallowed, abs hard and defined, muscles tense under his skin.His eyes were dark with hunger, ready to devour me.No wonder he kept topping those Most Eligible Bachelor lists for five years straight.Dean paused when he saw my face, the heat in his eyes dimming a bit. He hesitated for a second, but didn’t stop.Everywhere he touched me felt raw, like I was trapped in a spotlight. Goosebumps raced across my skin.All I wanted was to escape.“Baby,” I called out, my voice soft and sticky with fake sweetness. “You’re home so early tonight. I missed you so much I couldn’t even eat dinner.”That did the trick. Whatever interest he had fizzled out in an instant.He rolled away, grabbed a cigarette from the nightstand, and muttered, “Are you a kid? Can’t eat unless I’m here?”I exhaled quietly, relieved that even such a ridiculous excuse worked.Dean had been with more women than I could count, so he should’ve seen right through me. But I’d spent years playing the lovesick wife.It’s three years chasing him, watching girlfriends come and go, and I never once thought to give up.Dean once said I was the most stubborn admirer he’d ever met.I drifted back to sleep.Out on the balcony, I heard Dean’s voice through the cracked door as he called someone.“Dean, you’ve been MIA for ages. Staying loyal to your wife now?” a friend teased.Dean snorted. “For her? She’s nothing special. Why would I bother?”“Honestly, the first time, I almost couldn’t even kiss her.”The guy on the other end burst out laughing.Dean grumbled, “Shut up, it’s the middle of the night. Keep your voice down.”I was almost asleep again when Dean came back inside. He set a small box on my pillow.Fighting off sleep, I spared a glance.A set of diamond earrings lay there, sparkling and pretty.If I hadn’t seen the matching necklace—ten times the price—I might’ve thought the earrings were a real gift. I wouldn’t have known they were just a freebie that came with the necklace.I didn’t feel angry though. If anything, there was a weird sense of anticipation brewing inside me.It’s been a year.After we got married, Dean pretended to settle down.But now, he was finally reaching his limit.And honestly? So was I.I’m a plain person. But I’m a sucker for good looks.I’m nothing special myself, just average at best, but I can’t help it—I only like hot guys.Honestly, the idea of some unattractive guy sweating and grunting on top of me? I’d rather die.So, I’ve always worked hard.Because I know the truth: with my looks and background, no gorgeous guy is ever going to fall for me.I did okay on my finals, but not amazing. It’s like, everyone’s gunning for the best schools—if you’re not Ivy League or top-tier, you’re nobody.A master’s degree wasn’t enough, so I went for a PhD.With my plain, unremarkable face and a habit of always saying yes to my professor, I finally got into a top research institute.I thought maybe, finally, I was good enough.Then I met Dean. And in that first second, I knew I was still nowhere close.I sucked up to my bosses at dinners, pulled all-nighters after drinking, and even spent weekends writing essays for their kids.Eventually, I made it to associate director, which was pretty rare at my age.Now, I was finally worthy to chase Dean.People tried to set me up with other guys while I was running after him. I went along with it, just to be polite.But every single date only made me more determined to win Dean over.After every awkward blind date, I’d go find Dean, just to give my eyes a break.Once, it was two in the morning.He happened to need a designated driver, and I didn’t hesitate for a second.Dean looked at me and asked, “Do you really like me that much?”He said this with a stunning, completely wasted girl in the passenger seat, her bare shoulder peeking out from her dress.I nodded, hard. No hesitation. Well, I’m just not into ugly guys.I said, “Dean, I love you.”It’s human nature to love beautiful things.But if loving beauty just means dressing myself up, that feels kind of shallow.No matter what I look like, I love myself.Dean burst out laughing at my sudden confession. His messy hair blew back in the wind, showing off his long lashes and narrow eyes—so gorgeous it almost didn’t seem real.Sometimes I wonder if he’s had done plastic surgery, but honestly, I don’t care.His slender fingers, knuckles faintly pink, held a slim menthol cigarette, flicking ash onto the sidewalk as he laughed.“Marian, you’re the first person to really make me laugh in ages.”From that night on, he started giving me a little attention.He went from never accepting my invitations to sometimes saying yes—when he was in a good mood.Sometimes, he’d even accept the lunch I brought him.Eventually, we ended up together.Not because I changed him or made him turn his life around, like in the movies. He just got tired of playing around, and his family started pushing him to settle down.I had the degrees, didn’t hang out in sketchy circles, had a respectable job, and seemed like the perfect wife.Everyone in Dean’s family loved me—except Dean himself.I didn’t care about the reason. All I knew was, I’d never have to wake up from nightmares about ugly husbands or ugly sons again.When we posted our relationship on social media, I felt like I’d finally made it.Take that, everyone who said I was delusional.At our wedding, I stared at Dean’s face—seriously, it was like a masterpiece—and just felt this wild excitement.His abs teased me under his shirt.When the officiant told us to kiss, I “accidentally” brushed against his chest and those little pink tips underneath.If only I could tie him up, in some kind of diamond rope pattern...Just thinking about it made my legs go weak—so much for being innocent.Dean didn’t notice a thing. After all, I’m supposed to be plain.His kiss was all technique, no feeling.I didn’t mind. I can make my own happiness.That night, I was so happy I thought my heart might burst.It felt like my chest was overflowing with spring water.I let out a satisfied sigh.The only flaw? Dean had zero sense of service—he didn’t care about my feelings at all.Maybe that’s because I’m probably the least attractive person he’s ever slept with.Outside, streetlights glowed like artificial stars, making up for the sky we lost to the city.I looked at Dean’s sleeping face and couldn’t help but smile.Those strong brows, that straight nose, those perfect lips...God, he was beautiful.Better looking than any celebrity.If he actually liked me, he’d have no flaws at all.But hey, nobody’s perfect.As long as he keeps that face, I’ll keep loving him.We honest people—that’s just how loyal we are.But is what I feel for Dean really love?What even is love, anyway?Freud said, “Love comes from our longing to feel complete.” Jung said, “Great souls are both male and female; falling in love at first sight is just loving another version of yourself.” So maybe, back then, falling for Dean was just me trying to find the missing pieces of myself.But now? I think I finally feel whole.The next morning.When I woke up, Dean was still out cold, sprawled across the bed. His phone kept lighting up with notifications—one after another, all from girls with filtered selfies and influencer names. I didn’t bother checking what they said.Instead, I quietly plugged in his phone—it was almost dead anyway.As I tried to step over him, Dean’s hand caught my ankle. Without even opening his eyes, he yanked me back, pulling me right onto his lap.“Come here,” he mumbled, his voice rough and low, all sleep and sexiness. A year ago, that would’ve been all I needed. I’d have jumped him right then and there.But now?I wriggled off, a little awkward. “Babe, I have an important meeting today. The big boss is coming. I really can’t be late.”Dean’s face darkened, but I ignored it.Just before I left, I paused in the doorway. “Honey, I’m going on a three-day work trip. Take care of yourself, okay?”I even shot him a text to remind him, just in case he hadn’t heard me. But then I remembered—he’d put my messages on Do Not Disturb ages ago.So I ended up texting one of his wild friends instead:[Hey, I’ll be away for three days. Can you keep an eye on Dean for me? Thanks! 😊]I made it to work right on time.That night, I stayed late to finish up some reports. My manager even stopped by, looking concerned. “Marian, your trip got postponed. No need to kill yourself prepping. Go home early, alright?”“I’ll head out soon, just need to wrap this up,” I said. But by the time I finally left, it was already 10:30 PM.On the way home, I checked the security camera app on my phone—just a habit, lately. I watched as some woman walked up and knocked on my door.Dean answered, wearing nothing but his boxers.The woman looked nervous, maybe even a little bashful. Dean glanced her up and down, then stepped aside and let her in.I almost floored the gas pedal.Calm down. No need to rush. It’s not like Dean would jump into something right away… right?By 11:00, I was standing at our door. My hands were shaking so badly I punched in the wrong code the first time.When I finally got in, chaos hit me in the face.Lace panties. Torn stockings. Clothes everywhere. The kind of mess I’d only ever seen in movies—or nightmares.For someone like me, it was almost too much.But apparently Dean moved faster than I thought. The bedroom door flew open so hard it banged against the wall.A naked woman stumbled out, clutching her clothes. She turned back to the bedroom, practically begging:“Dean, I flew here just to see you! Don’t kick me out so soon. If you want to try something different—”Dean just tossed her bra at her.“I sent you money for your flight. Time to leave.”He wandered out, lazy and bored.The woman wasn’t giving up. “If you’re not into me, I have this friend—she’s gorgeous. Want to see her picture? She’s at the club nearby, we could all go…”Dean barely glanced at her phone, but then he looked up—and saw me.The woman went dead silent.The whole place did. It was like the world just… stopped.