“Oh, the international supermodel actually agreed to lick it? What a woman Celeste is, she really knows how to handle her men!””What if he doesn’t lick it, then? Are we really going to let Leo do it? That’s Celeste’s precious Leo, the one she’s always pined for!”The mocking chatter around me was incessant, and I felt nothing but humiliation amidst it all.
Yet, amidst this sickening display of condescension, Celeste Kingston half-knelt in front of Leo Thorne, carefully applying a bandage to his neck. Then she turned, her eyes cold as she gestured at me.”Asher Hayes, don’t play games. Leo is waiting for you to finish so we can continue the game.”Leo, Leo…She only cared about Leo, never once asking if I was willing.She completely forgot I was her husband.Seeing me frozen, someone abruptly shoved me.”Why are you just standing there?
Go on, lick it! You’re not backing out, are you?”I stumbled, regaining my balance, and looked at Celeste again. Her gaze was already fixed entirely on Leo once more.”Ninety-six times. This is the ninety-sixth time.”I silently counted, stiffly walking towards Cassandra Vane, the notorious socialite who had cream on her leg.But just as I stooped down, her hand suddenly clamped onto my chin.She looked at Leo. “Mr. Thorne, this isn’t right. You lost three rounds to me. Just one lick won’t do.”
“How about the ‘Egg Challenge’? If you can convince him to do it, the punishment is null and void.”The ‘Egg Challenge’? What in the world was that?!An unknown dread immediately surged through me. I quickly looked to Celeste.But the next second, Leo was already looking at Celeste with pleading eyes, clinging to her arm, whimpering playfully.”Celeste, it’s just a dare. Can you get Asher to agree just this once…?”Seeing Leo’s fragile body trembling, Celeste was filled with nothing but tenderness.
Her eyes blazed as she looked at me.”Asher, you’re willing to lick cream, so you won’t mind taking another dare for Leo, right?””Yay! Thank you, Celeste!” Leo jumped up, beaming with triumph.Watching Celeste gently ruffle Leo’s hair, her expression doting and indulgent, I started to laugh. My dignity had been trampled. I was nothing but a toy, to be tormented and played with.Celeste, how could you be so heartless as to make me perform some twisted act, to be humiliated for him again?Oh, right, I almost forgot. Leo was her unattainable moon.She’d pursued him for years with no success.
Then, their families had torn them apart, and Leo had left the country overnight.Now that she finally had what she desired, how could I possibly compete?Suppressing the bitterness in my heart, I spoke stiffly.”So, does that count as a forgiveness voucher?”A forgiveness voucher? Everyone laughed at my strange question, but Celeste suddenly looked at me.She knew what I was talking about.After a moment, she nodded.
“It counts!”I gave a bitter laugh.”Alright, I agree.”Eight years ago, I had just entered the modeling world when I was noticed by a powerful, ruthless circle of women, who essentially confined me on an island. There, alongside other young men, I became their… ‘entertainment.’I was lucky. Celeste Kingston was the first woman I met there, and she fell for me instantly.For my sake, she systematically took over their businesses, ensured they ended up behind bars, and rescued me from that life.
