Holly Sinclair and Joanna York checked into the mountain resort.

Miss Sutton would be vacationing at the resort for a week.

She still had a chance.

The sun was bright today, not a cloud in the sky.

It was perfect weather for a ride.

The resort had its own stables.

Sonia Sutton loved to ride.

She had her own magnificent horse here.

After lunch, Holly Sinclair told Joanna York to go back to her room and rest.

She wanted to walk around nearby, enjoy the scenery, and let her food settle.

After strolling for about ten minutes, she was ready to head back to her room.

But as she passed the stables, she inadvertently spotted a shady figure slip inside and stop in front of a snow-white horse...

...

The changing room.

Holly Sinclair changed into her riding gear.

Sonia Sutton was going to the stables to ride soon.

She had to go see if there was a chance to make Sonia Sutton change her mind.

After changing, Holly Sinclair stood before the mirror, adjusting her clothes.

"Still haven’t given up?"

Suddenly, a voice dripping with sarcasm sounded from behind her.

Holly Sinclair glanced up at the mirror.

In its reflection, she saw Vivian Linton’s exceptionally smug face.

Holly Sinclair’s eyes narrowed, her gaze turning ice-cold.

Vivian Linton walked up step by step, a sinister smile on her face.

With no one else around, she couldn’t be bothered to keep up the act.

Vivian Linton leaned close to Holly Sinclair, provoking her in a voice only they could hear. "Holly, save it. There’s no way Sonia Sutton will choose you. It’s really pathetic how you’re shamelessly sticking around."

Sonia Sutton had already rejected her outright, yet she still wouldn’t leave.

’What a bitch!’

Vivian Linton seethed with hatred, grinding her teeth.

But she couldn’t suppress the flicker of anxiety she felt.

And the more uneasy she felt, the more she despised her.

’Why does she have to fight me for everything?’

’Can’t she just obediently divorce Tristan and quietly get lost?!’

"Have you two signed a contract yet?"

Faced with Vivian Linton’s provocation, Holly Sinclair just returned a cold smile.

Vivian Linton froze.

’Not yet.’

"Before a contract is signed..." Holly Sinclair took in her expression, her sharp gaze shooting through the mirror to land on Vivian Linton’s face. Her red lips curved into a smirk. "...it’s still anyone’s game."

Vivian Linton clenched her fists tightly.

"Heh~" Gritting her teeth, she lifted her chin, held her chest high, and said smugly, "With Tristan by my side, what do I need a contract for?"

"And you’re so proud of relying on a man?" Holly Sinclair turned, crossing her arms and looking down at Vivian Linton with contempt.

"A man is a woman’s world. A woman is meant to depend on a man. Of course I’m proud to have an outstanding man like Tristan to rely on," Vivian Linton said, full of self-righteousness.

"I’ve heard of foot-binding, but I’ve never seen someone with a bound brain like you. You’ve really opened my eyes, Miss Linton," Holly Sinclair retorted sharply.

’I’m speechless.’

’This was the first time she’d ever heard such an appallingly backward opinion in person.’

’What century is this?’

’Still spouting that ’a man is a woman’s world’ nonsense?’

’Is she a relic from the Qing dynasty?’

"You!" Vivian Linton choked with anger, infuriated by Holly Sinclair’s blatant mockery.

She wanted to raise her hand to strike, but Holly Sinclair’s utterly cold gaze made her stumble backward in fear.

Just meeting Holly Sinclair’s eyes gave her a humiliating sense of stinging pain in her cheeks.

As Vivian Linton backed away, she accidentally bumped into a small decorative item on the sink counter.

The small trinket fell to the floor with a CRASH, shattering to pieces.

"Holly, what do you think you’re doing?"

Megan Grayson walked in just in time to see this scene.

Her first reaction was that Holly Sinclair was bullying Vivian Linton, and she immediately rushed forward to defend her.

Vivian Linton was an expert at winning people over.

By occasionally giving Megan Grayson small gifts, she had easily gotten Megan on her side.

Megan Grayson already disliked Holly Sinclair, and now that she had accepted gifts from Vivian Linton, she naturally shared her animosity.

Holly Sinclair couldn’t even be bothered to give Megan Grayson a direct look.

Seeing that she dared to ignore her, Megan Grayson felt she was losing face and grew even more annoyed. She yelled furiously, "You’re bullying Vivian again! Believe it or not, I’m going to go tell—"

"Go ahead."

Before she could finish, Holly Sinclair cut her off airily, "By all means. Make a huge scene, so everyone can find out exactly whose husband Tristan Sterling is."

"You—" Megan Grayson was speechless.

Vivian Linton’s expression changed in an instant.

’Although she had Tristan’s affection, with her current status, standing by his side wasn’t quite legitimate.’

’Making a scene would do her no good.’

Neither Vivian Linton nor Megan Grayson dared to say another word.

Holly Sinclair sneered, turned, and walked away.

...

Holly Sinclair walked out of the changing room.

She was heading for the stables.

But as she passed the door to a VIP lounge, a large hand shot out and yanked her inside.

"Ah!"

she cried out in alarm.

She was pulled directly into the person’s arms.

A familiar masculine scent washed over her, making her heart tremble violently.

She raised the riding crop in her hand, about to whip the man.

"Trying to murder your own husband?"

Tristan Sterling grabbed her raised hand, and with a THUD, pinned her against the door panel. His cold voice echoed in her ear.

His voice was cold, but his breath was scorching hot.

It puffed against her ear, like the light brush of a feather.

It tickled.

She shrank back, turning her head to avoid it.

But he wouldn’t allow it.

His long fingers gripped her chin, forcing her to turn her face back toward him.

"Hmm?"

He leaned close to her lips, his voice lazy and sensual.

Before, Holly Sinclair would have been lost in a second.

But now, faced with him like this, her first thought was, ’Is this how he is with Vivian Linton, too...?’

Her stomach involuntarily churned with nausea.

"Let go."

Her stomach was roiling violently. She didn’t have the energy to struggle with him, so she calmly spat out two words.

"Where are you going?"

His gaze fell on her ample chest, his handsome face unreadable.

’She shouldn’t wear riding gear.’

’It’s too tight.’

’It showcased her curvaceous figure to perfection.’

’Especially her chest and bottom.’

’Full and perky—a perfect combination.’

’Seeing her dressed like this inevitably conjured certain wild images in his mind...’

He wouldn’t allow her to go wandering around dressed like this.

"To ride," Holly Sinclair answered truthfully.

"You’re not allowed to go!"

Tristan Sterling barked, his domineering tone leaving no room for argument.

A sharp pain pierced Holly Sinclair’s heart.

’He’s actually trying to stop me from going to the stables to see Sonia Sutton.’

’For Vivian Linton’s sake, does he really have to push me to the brink?’

’Can’t I even compete on my own merits?’

’This is too much!’

"On what grounds?" Holly Sinclair clenched her fists tightly, the corners of her eyes turning red.

"I said you’re not allowed, and that’s final!" His tone was harsh and utterly tyrannical.

"Tristan Sterling, do you think my brain is bound like Vivian Linton’s?" She laughed in fury. "I’ll go wherever I want, you can’t control me!"

"You dare—" HISS...

Before he could finish, she kicked him hard in the shin.

The man sucked in a sharp breath of air from the pain.

The combat boots she was wearing packed a punch.

Taking advantage of his pain, she gave him a hard shove.

Caught off guard, he stumbled back several steps.

Holly Sinclair yanked the door open and ran.

Like a rabbit, she vanished out the door in an instant.

Tristan Sterling’s face was as black as thunder.

He wanted to chase after her, drag her back, and punish her harshly, but just as he stepped out the door—

"Tristan."