Two sleek black vehicle departed from the villa in succession.

Edwin bid farewell at the villa gate, observing until the vehicles vanished from sight; then he leisurely lit a cigarette and sauntered indoors. Ascending to the second-floor bedroom, he discovered Laura still in slumber.

Shedding his coat, he perched on the bed's edge, giving her a playful pat on the rear.

"You've been basking in the sun's rays, rise and shine!"

Their passionate encounter from the previous night left her utterly drained. She lacked the vigor to rise from bed. Noticing her stillness, Edwin slid his hand beneath the covers, playfully using his cold fingers to provoke her.

She attempted to evade his advances, but he persisted in his playful torment, granting her no reprieve.

Biting her lip, she pleaded with him in hushed tones.

Her innocent demeanor only fueled Edwin's desire further. Before long, he escalated their intimacy, playfully questioning her between kisses, "Feeling the chill? How does it feel now?"

Laura, overcome with embarrassment, closed her eyes gently.

Succumbing to his persistence, she softly uttered, “It's... it's different... Edwin... Oh! Aren't you supposed to be heading to work?"

“Nothing much at work today."

Edwin unabashedly joined her under the covers. Laura, mortified, hastily tugged at her nightgown, forbidding any further advances or teasing from Edwin.

Edwin flung open the curtains, welcoming the sunlight into the room.

Despite being over 30, her physique retained the delicate, youthful allure of a girl... Skipping breakfast, Edwin indulged in Laura instead, finding himself disinclined to attend the afternoon office grind, opting instead to remain by his wife's side.

But he couldn't skip the office party that night.

Laura had hickeys all over her neck. She refused to go with him, and Edwin just smiled and didn't push her.

She was shy, and Edwin never pushed her into anything she didn't want to do. He and his father would support the family anyway. The women just needed to be taken care of and didn't need to worry about other things.

He drove to the venue by himself. As the car left the villa, he spotted a familiar face.

A black Land Rover was parked at the gate of their villa, quietly in the night sky under the moonlight.

It was Raphael, the tech nouveau riche, leaning against his car, puffing on a cigarette Like he'd been waiting there for ages.