1 For five years, every time I accidentally brushed against my wife Cassandra’s skin, she’d punish me by making me kneel in disinfectant and recite from "The Gentleman’s Code." Until one day, I saw a faint, crimson mark on her collarbone, a subtle bruise of intimacy, and instinctively reached out to touch it. She erupted in a furious tantrum, slamming the door behind her as she left, but surprisingly, she didn’t order me to kneel in disinfectant. I naively believed she was slowly growing accustomed to my touch. But the very next day, my virginity was put up for auction, to be held among the city's elite heiresses in two days’ time. Cassandra’s friends exchanged lecherous glances, already calculating their bids, but she remained utterly unmoved, repeatedly dousing herself in disinfectant. "The skin Noah’s lips have grazed, he dared to touch," she sneered, "He thinks he’s what, exactly? Just looking at him makes me feel unclean." "Noah Reed just got back from his trip. Cassandra waited so long for that kiss, and Ethan Hale, so utterly shameless, dared to touch her? He deserves a lesson." Cassandra scoffed with disdain. "A lesson? Please. Five years of no one touching him, he's probably ecstatic that some wealthy older woman will bid on his first night. You wouldn't believe how desperate he is." "It's as if he can’t stand being without a woman!" A wave of mocking laughter followed, nearly shaking the roof. "Noah is allergic to his scent; it makes him nauseous. It forces Cassandra to sanitize herself every time she comes into contact with Ethan. He probably genuinely believes he’s unclean, hahaha!" "This auction is his chance to finally be a man, no longer bound by 'The Gentleman's Code.' He must be thrilled!" Amidst the rising tide of ridicule, a cold dread washed over my face. It felt as if an invisible hand had gripped my heart, a pain so sharp that my vision blurred. Every time Cassandra accidentally touched me, she’d recoil as if I were a ghost. I’d even started to believe I carried some infectious disease, soaking myself in disinfectant every night. Over time, every inch of my skin became severely damaged; even a gentle breeze would irritate it, causing allergic reactions and a painful rash. Cassandra even had the double bed in our master bedroom replaced with two separate beds, terrified of catching my supposed "germs." After countless desperate questions from me, Cassandra simply threw a medical report at me. "I have severe germophobia. Don't you ever touch a single hair on my body again!" So this was it. All of it was because of Noah Reed—a casual remark, a fleeting "disgust," an "allergy." Such an absurd reason. Our families had been close for generations, and a childhood betrothal had been arranged. As we grew older, the engagement gradually faded from our families’ minds; everyone assumed we’d pursue relationships of our own choosing. But Grandmother Vance had been plagued by illness for years, and being a woman of strict, old-fashioned principles, she insisted we honor the marriage pact. She knew perfectly well that Cassandra harbored feelings for Noah, and I, at the time, was seeing someone. Yet, she remained unyielding, and we were powerless. In my hesitation, Grandmother Vance offered a lifeline. "I truly hope you two will make it work. But, to prepare for the worst, if Cassandra ever truly wrongs you, I will personally bring the signed annulment papers to ensure you are free." But on our wedding night, she locked me out of our bedroom. I initially thought she just needed time to accept me, so I gave her all my patience, indulging her "germophobia." But that wait stretched for five years. I endured five years of an unconsummated marriage, humbling myself to her every whim, only to uncover this devastating truth… I dialed Grandmother Vance’s number, my voice numb. "In two days, at the downtown auction, there will be ample proof that Cassandra has betrayed me. Please, Grandmother, release me." I returned home very late. Cassandra, uncharacteristically, didn’t treat me with her usual cold disdain. Instead, there was a faint flicker of desire in her eyes. Yet, the key fob on the coffee table that wasn't mine, and a pair of men's briefs peeking from the sofa cushions, still pierced my heart. "You’ve always wanted to touch me, haven't you? Five years. I don’t believe you haven't wanted to at all." I turned, startled, meeting her gaze, watching as a reddish tint slowly crept to the corners of her eyes. Was she truly willing to let me touch her? But remembering the vile things she’d said to her friends, I instantly averted my eyes. "I’m tired. I want to rest." Cassandra heard my refusal, and the desire in her eyes immediately vanished, replaced by impatience. "You used to beg me to touch you. What's wrong now? You're my husband, behave." With that, she forcibly pinned me against the wall, stripping every stitch of clothing from me, leaving me naked and exposed in the cold air. I gasped. The next moment, I was shoved into the master bedroom, but she remained outside, locking the door. The woman's voice was cold as she tossed out, "I'm busy. You can stay in there by yourself tonight." 2 I searched the entire bedroom but couldn’t find a single piece of clothing. Even the sheets and curtains had been removed. Just as I started to think it didn’t matter if I was naked in the room, a harsh glare from telescopes reflecting from the mansion across the street caught my eye. Several women jostled, vying for a better view. "That's Ethan Hale, the one whose virginity is being auctioned! Cassandra's having us 'pre-inspect' him so we can bid higher. This is amazing!" "Let me see, let me see! Wow, he actually looks pretty good! I just wonder if we can outbid those big shots. The auction attendees are all major executives and wealthy older women." "Whether we get him or not, at least we get an eyeful now, hahaha! We're not losing anything!" ... I stood rigidly, paralyzed. Those lecherous, predatory gazes felt like sharp thorns, piercing me with excruciating pain, leaving me nowhere to hide. Amidst the muffled, vulgar whispers that reached my ears, I hugged myself tightly, trembling in the corner. Downstairs, Cassandra was hardly idle. I could tell from the sounds that she was intimate with Noah Reed. "Ethan Hale actually thinks I want to touch him. You should have seen his eyes; he looked like he wanted to devour me right away. Absolutely disgusting." Her words were punctuated by the sound of disinfectant being sprayed. "Don't worry, Noah, only you can touch me. I would never let myself get dirty." Following that, the sounds from downstairs grew increasingly sordid. I wrapped my arms around myself, my heart turned to ash. Even if a hundred more pairs of eyes fell upon me, I would meet them with numb indifference… It wasn’t until past midnight that Cassandra unlocked the door. As if nothing had happened, she said with an air of casual indifference, "I got so engrossed in my work, I forgot about you. Hurry, put this on, don't catch a cold." The woman impatiently tossed a bathrobe at me, as if looking at me for another second would defile her eyes. I haphazardly wrapped the bathrobe around myself, but the chill in my flesh lingered. Cassandra glanced at her phone and mumbled to herself, "Strange. Grandmother's illness isn't better, so why did she decide to check out of the hospital?" I offered a perfunctory lie. "Maybe she felt a bit stifled. Some fresh air would do her good." Then, her phone chimed again. For a split second, I saw a glaring message: "Cassandra, Cassandra, the indecent photos and video worked! A wealthy older woman has already placed a pre-bid of three million. She's nearly seventy, so Ethan's first night will be... blessed, hahaha!" It was then I realized there was a small, real-time surveillance camera in the bedroom. Which meant my naked body had not only been seen by the perverse women in the mansion across the street, but also by the wealthy older patrons who had access to the online auction… Cassandra quickly put her phone away, guilty, and changed the subject. "It was just a small delay, no need to look so gloomy. In the future, once I overcome more of my issues, there will be opportunities." Seeing her perfunctory and disgusted expression, my heart twisted into a knot. For Noah Reed, she could revel in intimacy, utterly free of any germophobia. For me, she would probably never "overcome" her physical aversion. I clenched my fists tightly, no longer feeling any physical pain in my skin. Cassandra rummaged through her evening gowns, then casually said, "Go take a proper shower first. I'm taking you to an auction. I heard there's a highly anticipated item up for bid tonight. Everyone's going for that, so let's join the fun." Hearing her words, I felt an electric shock and rejected her in horror. "I'm not going. I don't want to bid on any items." Hearing my refusal, the woman's face immediately fell. "Don't be so temperamental. Noah even said he’d bid on some jewelry for you. You're so old now, and all you do is throw childish tantrums… You're going whether you like it or not. Ever since we got married, all you’ve done is stay home, washing clothes and cooking. The housekeeper has no work left! Anyone would think you’re trying to steal her job! Come out with me and see the world!" I looked at my ravaged hands and suddenly found it all rather ridiculous. All these years, to accommodate her germophobia, I washed the bedsheets morning, noon, and night, and hand-washed her clothes every day. In her eyes, it was merely the work of a housekeeper. Even worse, it was something so undignified… Seeing me just looking at my hands, Cassandra's patience completely ran out. She directly shoved me into my designated "disinfectant" bathtub. After I finished, the woman, as if steeling herself, dried me off, her disgust palpable on her face. Once I was dry, she meticulously sanitized her hands, then dragged me into the car. Upon arriving at the auction venue, guests mingled, clinking glasses and discussing the upcoming auction. The moment he saw me, Noah Reed rushed over with a smile, carefully examining my hands. 3 My hands were already so raw from disinfectant that they were white with red patches, the skin as thin as parchment, already covered in a painful rash. "Heh, Ethan's got such delicate skin, hasn't he? I heard Cassandra can't bear to touch you; she's probably afraid of hurting you." The next moment, someone sharply interjected. "Hahaha, afraid of hurting him? She just doesn't want to touch him! Why else would he still be a virgin after five years of marriage?!" Another wave of mocking laughter, layered one upon another, brutally drowned me. Five years. She truly hadn't allowed me to touch a single hair on her body. I frowned, my face burning, and spoke coldly. "Have you said enough?" Cassandra scoffed, her dark eyes clearly filled with displeasure. "I compliment you for being youthful, and you're not happy? Can't you tell good words from bad? It means you're pure. Anyone else would be secretly delighted. Don't be ungrateful." Seeing my expression didn't improve, one of the women present raised a glass and offered it to me. "That's right, that's right, handsome. Don't be so sensitive. She was complimenting you. Come on, try a sip, this wine is very expensive." I looked around. Everyone's gaze was fixed on me. Realizing they intended to auction off my first night, I instantly understood. I coldly pushed away the glass. "Didn't you say this was just for collectibles? I don't have a habit of drinking." Hearing my refusal, Cassandra's knuckles around her wine glass whitened slightly, suppressing her rising anger. "You refuse a friendly offer and invite trouble instead. I told you, you’ve become a simpleton staying home. You can't even take a joke, and you won't drink. What exactly do you want?" I took a step back, looking at her with deadly seriousness. "I should be asking you that. What exactly do you want? Cassandra..." Before I could finish my sentence, I felt a sharp needle pierce my lower back. Hiss— The drug seemed to take effect. My head gradually grew heavy, and my hearing became muffled. "Why waste words on him? One shot and it's done. He's the main event, the star item. If we delay any longer, those big shots will get impatient!" "Good thing you're so prepared. Ethan Hale is quite cautious. If this doesn't work out, most of the auction attendees will be disappointed!" Noah Reed leaned limply against Cassandra's shoulder, his triumphant gaze fixed on me, challenging me. "Ethan is truly lucky. So many people are fighting for his first night. Tonight will certainly be very meaningful for him." I staggered, trying to keep myself upright, and cast a pleading look at Cassandra. "Please, don't do this to me. I don't want to be with other women..." Why wouldn't she let me touch her, yet she would allow other women to? Hearing my broken pleas, Cassandra only clutched Noah tighter, scoffing. "Don't you just love women touching you? Since I can't overcome my aversion, I can only let other women exercise my rights as a wife. Isn't that a win-win?" The woman deliberately exaggerated her caresses of Noah, every touch to his body a mockery of me. I closed my eyes in despair. The terror had begun to fade, replaced by a chilling numbness. The next moment, I was completely stripped naked and confined inside a transparent crystal box, then taken backstage. "Let me out..." But outside, it was only Cassandra's people. No one paid attention to my pleas. "Several wealthy older women are demanding to see Ethan Hale in advance! Who knew he’d be so popular for his age? We won't know who gets him until the last minute, hahaha!" Perhaps Cassandra's expression was displeased, for someone patted her shoulder. "Don't worry. After a night of ecstasy, Ethan won't remember any of this. Then you can just split the auction proceeds among us, girls." The laughter from outside the box grew more distant, and I pinched my thigh hard, trying to stay conscious. It wasn't until Grandmother Vance appeared, ordering her personal bodyguard to release me from the box and wrap me in clothes. "I never imagined that girl Cassandra would go this far!" She made me sign the annulment papers and then instructed the bodyguard to take me to the airport. The moment I got into the car, I couldn't hold on any longer and fell unconscious. At the same time, the auction house buzzed with excitement. "The final, most anticipated item, 'Youthful Dream,' has already reached a pre-bid of six million, and now... someone has placed a 'Moonbeam' bid!" Following a burst of enthusiastic cheers, everyone present, including Cassandra, turned to look at the auctioneer’s gesture. The moment she saw Grandmother Vance, the woman’s brow immediately furrowed. Grandmother Vance held up the marriage contract and slapped it onto Cassandra’s face with a sharp thwack. "Since you don't want Ethan Hale as your husband, from this day forward, he is no longer your husband!"
? Continue the story here ?? ? Download the "MotoNovel" app ? search for "392847", and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel