Chapter 1 Who's Shameless?

At midnight, the vast villa of Regalis was dark except for the light still glowing from the master bedroom on the second floor. A phone buzzed incessantly on the bedside table, its persistent ringing as relentless as a death knell. Adeline Keller, who was lounging with a fashion magazine in hand, finally picked up the call. Lucy Sharp's voice burst out like a bomb. "Adeline! What the hell are you doing? Why did it take so long for you to answer?" "Reading," Adeline replied lazily as she flipped a page in the magazine with her slender fingers. Her nonchalant response only fueled Lucy's frustration. "Reading? Seriously? Did you even see the photo I sent you?" "Yes, I saw it," she answered, stifling a yawn. 10 minutes earlier, Lucy had sent her a photo. It showed Christopher Lambert in fitted black bike gear on his sleek, jet-black Kawasaki H2. His chestnut-colored hair glinted under the streetlights, and the diamond stud in his left ear sparkled. His sharp profile looked as though it had been carved from marble. All in all, he was breathtakingly handsome. On the back seat of his motorcycle sat a slender woman, her long black hair streaming in the wind and her delicate face lit up with a genuine smile. Her hands were wrapped tightly around Christopher's lean waist, and her entire body was pressed seamlessly against his broad back, as if she belonged there. Adeline had taken one glance at the photo before closing it. Christopher's antics were nothing new. He excelled at creating messes that she had to clean up. "Adeline! You're Mrs. Lambert, the proper wife of Christopher Lambert and the young lady of Lambert Group! Is that all you have to say?" Lucy's voice grew even louder, threatening to shatter Adeline's eardrum. "That bitch, Dorothy Clark, keeps clinging to him every single day! Doesn't that make you angry at all?" Adeline moved the phone a little farther from her ear to preserve her hearing. "No leash can hold a dog that wants to run," she replied coolly. Her indifference made Lucy bristle. "I don't care what you say. You're the only sister-in-law I recognize, and I won't tolerate anyone else—especially that Dorothy! I'm sending you the address. Go drag Christopher back. I'll wait for you there!" Lucy ended the call before Adeline could respond. Adeline stared at the message containing the address, and her perfectly shaped brows twitched. She wasn't unaffected by Christopher spending nights out with Dorothy. She wasn't indifferent; she had simply grown used to it. In their three years of marriage, the world had painted an ideal picture of Christopher as a rebellious, enigmatic heir who doted on his wife and fulfilled her every whim. But Adeline knew better. Christopher's heart had never been hers. Their marriage was nothing more than an arrangement dictated by their families. For the sake of her father-in-law, David Lambert, and to fulfill his dying wish, she had to uphold her role as Mrs. Lambert. … The address Lucy provided led to a motorcycle-themed bistro in the upscale Aurora Heights. Adeline pulled up in a red Ferrari and spotted Christopher's black Kawasaki parked among the rows of expensive bikes. Before she could do anything else, Lucy opened her car door and dragged her out before leading her straight to the entertainment room on the third floor. Laughter and chatter spilled into the hallway. Lucy pushed open the door, releasing a wave of cigarette smoke. Inside, a group of young men and women mingled. The men were prominent heirs of Gillstone City's most elite, rich, and influential families. To be part of Christopher's circle, one had to be exceptional. There were a few groups of men gathered together. Some were playing pool, others were throwing darts, and a few were drinking. They were all accompanied by the playful laughter of the young women nearby. Adeline's gaze landed on the most captivating man in the room. Christopher held a pool cue in one hand while an expensive cigarette dangled casually from his lips. He was still dressed in his black biker gear, and the diamond stud in his left ear gleamed brightly. His chiseled features, which were strikingly handsome, was accented by a faint, roguish smile on his face. His chestnut hair, which seemed effortlessly styled yet still looked perfect, enhanced the fairness of his complexion and made him look even more captivating. The blend of rebellious charm and innate sophistication—two seemingly contradictory traits—came together flawlessly in him, creating a presence that was nothing short of breathtaking. Despite three years of marriage, no matter how many times Adeline had seen Christopher from every angle, she still found herself momentarily stunned by his looks. A man like him, who was a walking epitome of perfection, naturally attracted women by the droves. In those three years, Adeline had felt like she was constantly playing whack-a-mole. Every time a new woman popped up around Christopher, she would knock her away. Every woman, that was, except Dorothy. And now, Dorothy stood next to Christopher, practically glued to his side. Adeline knew better than anyone else that any woman Christopher chose to protect was untouchable. "Your wife's here," Sean Peterson said, his sharp eyes spotting Adeline as she entered. He was startled at first, but he quickly recovered and patted Christopher on the shoulder while nodding subtly in her direction. Christopher took a drag from his cigarette, his narrow eyes glancing toward the entrance where Adeline stood. His tone was detached as he asked, "What are you doing here?" "It's late, and you haven't come home. I was worried," Adeline replied with a perfectly polite smile, her tone laced with a faux intimacy that gave the illusion of a harmonious relationship between them. Christopher didn't respond and acted as though he hadn't heard her. Adeline walked forward. The sound of her high heels clicking against the floor filled the room. She was wearing an off-white midi dress that reached her ankles and revealed her slender, fair calves. Her long, wavy hair tumbled down her back, giving her an air of effortless elegance. The young women in the room couldn't hide their shock and openly stared at her beauty. Even Henry Xander found himself mesmerized by her until Christopher gave him a cold glare and smacked the back of his head. "Where the hell are you looking?" Christopher barked. Henry quickly averted his gaze and laughed awkwardly. Everyone in Christopher's circle knew two things. First was that Adeline was stunning. Second was that Christopher didn't love her. As Adeline neared, Dorothy took half a step away from Christopher. Smiling warmly, she greeted her, "Adeline, you're here. Care to join us?" Lucy, who had followed Adeline in, rolled her eyes dramatically. "Who wants to hang out with you? My sister-in-law is here to take Christopher home!" Lucy practically growled out the words "sister-in-law", clearly directing them at Dorothy. Dorothy remained unbothered and kept smiling. "Lucy, my dear cousin, do you have something against me?" "Who's your cousin? Stop making up family ties between us," Lucy shot back angrily. "Lucy!" Christopher's voice cut through the tension, cold and clear. "Stop acting like a firecracker that's ready to blow up at everyone." "Christopher," Adeline said as she stepped closer, her smile as poised as ever. "It's almost one in the morning. Don't you think it's time to go home?" Christopher's brows furrowed slightly. "Who asked you to come here?" he asked, his tone laced with irritation. "I'd hate to see you in the tabloid headlines tomorrow. That wouldn't do the Lambert Group's stocks any favors." Christopher sneered. "Are you worried about Lambert Group or Keller Corporation?" "What difference does it make?" Adeline replied with a faint smile. She took out a photo from her bag and tossed it onto the pool table. Her slender finger tapped twice on the image, specifically on Dorothy's hands wrapped tightly around Christopher's waist. Then, she turned her gaze toward Dorothy, her tone calm but commanding as she said, "Everyone knows Christopher Lambert is married. Even if he doesn't care about his reputation, shouldn't you, as an unmarried woman, care about yours? Keeping your distance from someone else's husband—is that really something I need to teach you?" Adeline's voice wasn't loud, but it carried a commanding authority that left no room for argument. The room fell into an awkward silence. Dorothy was stunned and momentarily speechless, and she struggled to come up with a response. "And who exactly are you calling shameless?" Christopher's voice was cold and cutting, laced with a barely contained anger. Adeline's smile remained as calm and unwavering as ever. "Christopher, you've only got one face, so you might want to use it wisely." Christopher's expression turned stormy. His chiseled features were clouded with a dangerous intensity as the atmosphere around them became suffocatingly tense.