Chapter 1

Lorraine Reid was the saint in their social circle. That saying had been circulating among the socialites for six years. Despite being married to the untouchable star of the legal world, Luca Frey, for three years, Lorraine had remained a virgin. Luca had an obsession with cleanliness, severe to the point of being shocking. They had dated for three years and had been married for another three, and yet, he refused all physical contact, including hugs, kisses, and even sex. She had once refused to believe it and tried to seduce him again and again, only to end up failing each time. She thought that was just who he was—cold, aloof, and untouchable. But today, she finally realized that even the unattainable could descend into the mundane, and his obsession with cleanliness could make exceptions. … In a high-end restaurant, Lorraine's fingers trembled slightly as she held her glass. Through the glass window, she could clearly see Luca kneeling on one knee, massaging the sore ankle of the woman across from him. He gripped her pale ankle gently with his long fingers, as if holding a treasure, his face showing no trace of disgust or discomfort. Was this really the same Luca who had to sanitize his hands three times even when he accidentally touched Lorraine's? Trembling, she snapped a photo and sent it to Luca's closest friend, Tobias Greene. "Who is she?" Tobias quickly replied, "Isn't that Elene Moore?" Elene Moore. Lorraine stared at the name. "So… who is she?" Tobias hesitated for a moment, then admitted, "She's Luca's first love. He once gave up inheriting the family business to become an attorney for her. "He fought gangsters and ended up in the hospital, nearly losing his life for her. After they broke up, he spiraled into despair for two years before he finally recovered…" Lorraine listened quietly, her mind going blank. Tobias tried to comfort her. "That's all in the past. He's married to you now. You're definitely the one he loves." Was that so? Lorraine laughed through her tears. She remembered the first time she had seen Luca at Crestmont College during her sophomore year. Standing at the entrance of the law school, his white shirt had danced in the wind, making him look like something out of a painting—distant, untouchable, and perfect. She was the eldest daughter of the Reid family and had always been bright and bold. She was used to getting everything she wanted. But that day, when she had approached him asking for his contact information and got rejected, she realized for the first time that there were things in this world she couldn't have. And so, she had relentlessly pursued him for two years. She had brought him breakfast every morning, only to watch him dump it in the trash. She had meticulously prepared gifts for him, and he would just throw them to the strays on the street. If her hand so much as brushed his sleeve, he would strip it off on the spot and throw it away. But she had only become more determined and refused to give up. Finally, on a rainy night, when she had been soaked outside the library, he had unexpectedly handed her an umbrella. "Let's give it a try," he had said in an ice-cold voice. She had thought she had won. After all, he had finally become her boyfriend and gone on to become her husband as well. But through three years of dating and another three years of marriage, he had continued to sanitize his hands three times even if he so much as accidentally touched her. When she wanted to hug him, he would step back. When she wanted to kiss him, he would dodge. On their wedding night, he had slept in the study. Everyone said, "Luca is always like this. He has severe cleanliness issues." She had gradually accepted the explanation. After all, he treated everyone that way, didn't he? But today, she saw him kneeling for another woman, his gaze tender beyond belief. And that was when it became painfully clear that someone could be the exception in his heart. How ridiculous! Lorraine had the looks and figure every woman envied, with men lining up across the city vying for her attention, even after she had gotten married. And yet, she had spent eight years lowering herself for a man who had never loved her. If he wouldn't touch her, plenty of others would. He didn't love her, but countless men were eager to shower her with affection. She decided to get a divorce and let him be with the woman of his dreams once and for all. After making up her mind, she wiped her tears, grabbed her bag, and quickly walked out of the restaurant. She was walking so fast that she accidentally collided with Elene, who was leaving at the same time. As their eyes met, the sign above them suddenly came loose, crashing down toward them with full force. Lorraine instinctively pushed Elene away, but the heavy sign struck her back, making blood gush from the wound instantly. The pain made her fall to her knees, and her vision blurred as she saw Luca running from the parking lot. He steadied Elene in his arms, checking her for injuries, completely unconcerned that his expensive suit was now covered in dust. Only after he had confirmed that Elene was unharmed did he notice Lorraine lying in a pool of blood. "What are you doing here?" he asked, his gaze sharp and icy as he kept Elene behind him. "Were you following me while I met a friend?" She was in too much pain to speak. But it was her chest that hurt even more than her wound. "No, the sign fell, and this lady saved me…" Elene finally regained her senses and spoke up. Luca paused, turning to look at Lorraine. "Do you two… know each other?" Elene asked cautiously. Lorraine winced in pain, unable to speak, her eyes fixed on Luca as his expression shifted. "She's one of my admirers who's been bothering me for a long time," he said casually, glancing at Lorraine's pale face. His words were like a knife, stabbing straight into Lorraine's heart. Suddenly, she laughed, tears mingling with the blood streaming down her face. After loving him for eight years, she could barely be labeled as one of his admirers. Seeing the blood around Lorraine, Elene said worriedly, "Luca, take her to the hospital. She's badly hurt." But Luca stood frozen and said coldly, "She's a mess with blood everywhere. I have a cleanliness obsession and can't touch her. Let's just call 911 for her." Lorraine lay on the cold ground with blood spilling from her forehead, making her face grow even more pallid. Hearing his words, she felt as if an invisible hand were squeezing her heart tight, and the sharp pain nearly suffocated her. The wail of an approaching ambulance grew louder. As the paramedics rushed over, ready to lift her onto a stretcher, Elene suddenly staggered, her face turning pale. "Luca, I…" Before she could finish, everything went black, and she collapsed. "Lene!" Luca leapt forward, catching her steadily. For the first time, his usually cold voice was laced with panic. He shot a cold glare at the paramedics. "Put her down and take Lene to the hospital first!" The nurse looked conflicted. "But Ms. Reid has lost a lot of blood and is already disoriented. If we wait for the next ambulance, it could be life-threatening—" "I called the ambulance," he interrupted coldly, placing Elene carefully on the stretcher, his voice leaving no room for argument. "I decide who goes first." He got into the ambulance, never once glancing back at Lorraine. Lorraine watched the ambulance drive away, her heart going numb from pain, and she finally passed out. … When Lorraine woke up, the bright white lights made her squint in discomfort. "You're finally awake!" the nurse sighed in relief. "A kind-hearted person brought you to the hospital. You'll need to notify your family to care for you." Lorraine shook her head weakly and said faintly, "I'm single." The nurse was surprised. "But your records show you've been married three years with no children." "I'll be divorced soon," she said lightly, but her voice was laced with determination. Just as the words left her mouth, the ward door was pushed open. "Divorced?" Luca stepped in with a cold face. "Who said anything about divorce?"