Page 203 of Hate Mates

Everything had lined up a little too perfectly, including the date, and whenever something was too good to be true, it usually was.

However, the twins were so happy about celebrating their birthdays that I kept my apprehensions to myself. I wouldn’t have if I knew of Kai’s layers of manipulations. I hated him for introducing doubt in my marriage and for destroying Stefan’s dignity.

How long had this been brewing? Did he develop a crush over dinner because he saw me outside of work clothes? Or did it start when I was his nurse? There was no way he merely saw me and fell madly in love at first sight, for this wasn’t love, it was a whim.

Maybe our paths had crossed before, and he orchestrated the chance encounter at the hospital.

Impossible.

No one could meet the Prince of Darster and forget. I was married, not dead. If his looks didn’t imprint on you, his captivating presence would. It was the closest I had come to meeting royalty.

But I had written him off as someone you dished to your girlfriends about—the hot, rich eye candy who was the total package. He was the fantasy man that women gossiped about during spin class—our version of locker room talk. The conversations were never serious because someone like him was unattainable.

So, what the hell was going on?

“You’re enough for me,” I spoke slowly, weighing each word so nothing set Stefan off or sent him running upstairs. “I’m sorry Cavendish made you doubt that. I love you. I love you so damn much it hurts. I get that life’s been unfair to you, but what you were thinking of doing wasn’t the solution.”

“Do you see a better option?” he asked, sounding broken. “I can jump off the roof and get out of the way. I can even bear to share you with him. What I can’t bear anymore is failing my family on a daily basis. I can’t buy you a decent gift or take you on a proper date. It pains me when the kids are the only ones who sit out on class field trips because we can’t afford the fee. I can’t do it anymore, Am. I just can’t.”

A few hours ago, we were madly in love. Now, his only choices were to give up his life or share me with another man. Feeling deflated, I whispered, “Our lives may be hard, but it’s honest, dignified, and full of love. We can’t corrupt our values with Kai’s perverse ideas.”

His demeanor brightened as he had expected my wrath, not a subdued tone. If he hadn’t admitted to suicidal thoughts, perhaps I would have spoken with venom in my voice. It was simply impossible to yell at someone who had suffered a shockand considered a morbid ending, but I sensed the return of hope as we dove into this discussion. “Our morals aren’t all that different from his. He’s tired of coming back to an empty house and wants a lively family. If anyone understands loneliness, it’s you.”

I rolled my eyes. “Don’t try to forge a connection between us or make me feel bad for him. We’re nothing alike. He’s a monster preying on people’s weaknesses and desires. He’s trying to break us.”

“No, he’s giving us an opportunity to be together. We’ll still live in the same house, except now, we’ll actually get to spend time together. Money can provide more than luxury. The real win here is our freedom. Imagine if we had nannies and could scale back at work. Even if you split time between him and me, we’ll have more quality time together than we do now.”

“I can’t believe we’re having this conversation. You’re rationalizing something you know is wrong.”

“What’s wrong is you passing out after an eighteen-hour shift. Work could finally be a choice, not a mandatory obligation. The kids will also be set for life. Private schools, trust funds, college tuitions, childcare.”

“We can’t introduce another person in our marriage just to push our obligations onto him,” I snapped, frustrated. “We should teach the kids how to navigate life with the resources within their means, not rely on a rich man’s generosity.”

“We can still give them that guidance. But the truth is, they can have extraordinary lives from our one sacrifice. Kai can secure them a future we never dared to dream for them, whereas we’re one mistake away from ruining it. How can we not consider it for their sake? It’s the difference between becoming the next president or the next custodian.”

The scenarios were irrefutable. Then again, loads of successful people came from families like ours. Perhaps therewas no correct answer, and we were both a little wrong and a little right in our assessment.

I closed my eyes. “I know this opportunity is tempting, and I want the kids to thrive as well, but at what cost? Are you okay with another man touching me?”

“He guaranteed me that he won’t touch you without permission.”

It took everything in me to keep my promise to not get mad. “He also said I had to be willing to make things work and sleep in the same bed half the time. A wife who doesn’t consummate the marriage isn’twilling to make it work. Not to mention, this man claims he won’t take outside lovers. It’s naive to think he’ll live like a monk, not when he’s paying a million dollars a year for a wife. He might not force me, but he has made it clear that sex is expected.”

Stefan stilled. Just when I thought I had cornered him, he shattered my heart. “Then I’ll find a way to deal with it. As long as I’m the only one in your heart, I can handle it. We can adopt a ‘don't ask, don't tell’ policy. Even if you’re married to two people, I’ll always be married and faithful to only you. No one else will own my heart or body because there isn’t space left for anyone else. If you feel even a fraction of how deeply I love you, we’ll be okay.”

The absence of his outrage surprised me. He was too compliant—no indignations from a man who claimed to revere the sanctity of marriage. No disgust from someone who detested cheaters.

But was it cheating if my husband consented? I suppose not.

He was confident I would never love Kai rather than being horrified that someone would lay claim to my body. That leftmefeeling betrayed, though both men had pledged their fealty to me.

“You’re willing to share me?” I asked, stunned.

“I’m willing to look the other way as long as you and the kids have a better life. I believe our love can prevail over any trial. A physical relationship with someone else, one we both sign off on, can’t diminish what we have. Because no matter what, he’ll never have your heart.”

I had gained new insights. Suddenly, there was no place for love in lovemaking. It was okay to fuck another man as long as he didn’t hold the same significance as Stefan. At least, that was the idea.

There was nothing but acquiescence from Stefan, and I couldn’t gauge his sincerity. The truth lay somewhere between wanting this for the family and for himself. Because if I agreed, his life would change, too.

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