Chapter 2 Game Night Party

"Aisha, are you playing games with me? You forced me into this marriage using my grandmother, and now you want a divorce? Do you think you can just push me around?" Alan was furious because it was true—I had manipulated my way into this marriage. Three years ago, the Wright family needed to choose an heir, but there was a condition: the heir had to be married. When I learned Alan was secretly dating women for this purpose, I had an idea. If he could marry a stranger, why couldn't that woman be me? I approached Alan, but he rejected me. So, I begged my parents to talk to Alan's grandmother, Hecate, who had always liked me. She pressured Alan into marrying me, saying he wouldn't inherit if he married anyone else. Alan came to me, explaining that our marriage would be a business arrangement. I was a bit sad, but I thought, since Alan didn't have a girl he liked, once we were married, I could win his love with my sincerity. I believed I was attractive—I had been a cheerleader in school and had good grades. So, I was confident. I agreed, and a few days after graduating college, I married Alan. I was so happy then, completely unaware of Alan's gloomy mood during that time. Looking back, Alan must have felt humiliated and angry. He was so proud, yet he couldn't even choose his wife and had to marry someone he didn't love. How could he be willing? I spoke with bitterness, "I'm not playing games with you. I just think you've already gotten everything you wanted. There's no need to keep up this loveless, sexless charade." "Loveless, sexless?" Alan's anger subsided a bit, replaced by a mocking smile. "So, you're lonely and want someone to fill that void?" I was shocked. In our three years of marriage, Alan had always been serious. This was the first time he said something so flippant. In my moment of surprise, Alan sat beside me, lifting my chin with his fingers, his tone teasing, "I didn't expect you to want a man. Why not just say so instead of talking about divorce? Afraid I won't give you what you want?" This side of Alan made me uncomfortable, especially as his hand slid from my chin to my neck. His touch was gentle but clearly seductive. So close, I could even smell the warm scent of his cologne. His scent enveloped me, making my breath quicken. Before, I would have thought it was because I was shy. But now I knew it wasn't that. I was terrified of repeating the past and felt anxious and scared. I quickly pushed his hand away, my expression turning cold. "You're overthinking it." Alan rubbed his fingers together, a slight smile on his lips, then lounged lazily on the sofa. "Good. Aisha, you started this deal between us, but it's not up to you to decide when it ends." I stood up, my tone indifferent, "Then think about when you want to divorce and let me know. After all, you were prepared for divorce from the start, weren't you?" I didn't look at Alan anymore and headed upstairs, hearing his slightly heavier breathing. I guessed he was angry because I hit the nail on the head. In my past life, I only found out a year later during an argument with Alan. He never intended to stay with me forever. From the moment we married, he was ready for divorce, even planning the division of assets. Back in my room, I washed away my gloomy feelings and then contacted my friend Annie to go out for a drink and relax. After mentioning divorce, I couldn't stay in the same place as Alan. "What? You want to go out now?" Annie raised her voice in disbelief. "A few days ago, I invited you to today's game night party, and you said you were busy. You said your husband was coming back from a trip, and you wanted to stay home with him." I remembered now. The day before I was reborn, Annie had invited me, but I declined. I laughed, "Yes, that was the plan. But today I thought, he's just coming back from a trip, not a big deal. Why should I welcome him? So, I changed my plans and want to go out and have fun with you." Annie was thrilled, "That's the spirit. You don't know how hard it’s been to get you out since you got married. The girls are all complaining you're choosing love over friendship!" I accepted Annie's words cheerfully because they were true. After getting married, I focused on pleasing Alan. If he wasn't on a business trip, I'd wait for him at home. When Alan was away, I'd learn about his hobbies to have common topics, hoping he'd talk to me more. But it was all useless. I opened my closet to pick an outfit for tonight. Seeing all the light-colored, conservative clothes, mostly white, I smiled bitterly. I liked bright, colorful, and sexy clothes. But knowing Alan liked white and pure girls, I changed my style. Even the lingerie I wore to seduce him was white lace. That time, Alan just looked at me indifferently and mocked, "Even if you strip, I'm not interested. Stop wasting your effort." Looking at these clothes, I couldn't find my confident self from before. This change only took three years. I threw all the clothes from the closet onto the floor, then called to have new clothes delivered. A stream of colorful, sexy dresses soon arrived. When I went downstairs, I didn't see Alan. The maid said he left upset after I went upstairs. That was good, less awkward for me. I picked a few dresses to take to my room. Since I was leaving, I didn't want to leave too much behind to pack later. Wearing a top that showed my team's logo on my lips, a sporty two-piece outfit revealing my waist, and sexy shorts, I felt like my old self again. Then I drove straight to the fan club.