Trapped in a Looping Marriage

After marrying my husband for the third time, I still hadn't learned my lesson.

Seeing his female secretary in our kitchen making breakfast first thing in the morning, I lost my mind, marched right over, and flipped the dining table.

Suddenly, floating comments appeared in my field of vision like a live stream chat:

[The reincarnated heroine is a genius! With just a few simple tricks, she got the villainess to self-destruct and divorce three times already. Girl boss is absolutely slaying!]

[This annoying brat of a wife always treats her billionaire husband like trash and threatens divorce at the drop of a hat. This time, she finally pushed him to his limit.]

[After the fourth divorce, the stupid ex-wife will still be waiting around for him to beg her to come back, completely unaware that the real heroine is already pregnant with his heir and taking her crown. The ex-wife ends up dying all alone in some miserable rented room.]

I froze.

But I still couldn't hold back. I swung my hand and slapped Austin across the face.

A sharp, ringing crack echoed through the room.

But my palm didn't land on Austin's face.

Gemma had thrown herself in front of him, taking the blow.

I stared, momentarily stunned. Before I could even say a word, Gemma was already biting her lip, looking up at me with tear-filled eyes.

"Ma'am, if you wanted to take your anger out on me, I would have accepted it," she sobbed, her voice trembling. "But how could you ruin this breakfast? The two hours I spent cooking don't matter, but Austin has a sensitive stomach. If he skips breakfast, his ulcer will flare up again..."

I rolled my eyes so hard they almost got stuck. "I was aiming for your boss. Who told you to dive in and catch the slap?"

Gemma choked on her words, tears instantly welling up.

At that moment, Austin stood up.

He stepped between us, shielding her, and looked down at me. His voice was completely flat. "Don't feel like wraps this morning?"

I sneered, turning my head away to ignore this man who clearly had no concept of personal boundaries.

Austin remained silent for a beat before suddenly addressing Gemma. "You should leave first."

I turned to walk away, cold and furious, but Austin grabbed my wrist.

Gemma blinked in surprise, then nodded meekly. "Alright, Austin. I'll do as you say."

Before stepping out the door, she paused and turned back, offering him a sweet, lingering look. "We have that meeting with Mr. Larson from Apex Enterprises at ten. I'll head over first to prep the documents. Please join me as soon as you're done here."

Austin finally glanced at her. "Right."

The way these two were making eyes at each other right in front of me was infuriating. Did they think I was dead?

Anger surged through my chest.

[Look at the CEO's dark expression! He's clearly furious that his girl got slapped. He's totally done with the toxic wife!]

[That's why he told the heroine to leave first. He was terrified his psycho wife would hurt her again. What a protective king, haha!]

[Our precious girl is still thinking about work even after getting hurt. She's a true power player worthy of standing by his side, unlike the useless, pretty-faced ex-wife!]

[Don't worry, the wife is about to demand a divorce and he's going to agree instantly. The plot is finally getting back on track!]

My heart skipped a beat.

I actually had been planning to throw a fit and demand a divorce.

Were these bizarre floating comments actually real?

Had Austin really fallen for Gemma, just waiting for me to step aside?

Then why the hell did he keep begging me to remarry him?

Before I could wrap my head around it, Austin was already tying on an apron with practiced ease.

"What do you want to eat? I don't have time for anything complicated since I have to run. How about some eggs and toast?"

[Why hasn't she brought up the divorce yet? The CEO is stuck cooking for her just waiting for her to say it. He couldn't even leave with our sweet girl. Annoying!]

[The toxic wife keeps using her father's mentorship to guilt-trip him. Poor guy has divorced her three times and still can't shake her off.]

[That's why the heroine couldn't stand her. Reincarnating was her chance to snatch the CEO away and shower him with the love he actually deserves!]

Staring at the aloof man in front of me, a sudden wave of bitterness stung my nose. "I'm not hungry! Just go to work!"

I yanked my hand out of his grip and stormed back into my bedroom.

Not long after, the sound of an engine revving came from the driveway.

Austin had actually left without saying another word.

My temples throbbed with rage.

Lying on the bed, my chest felt incredibly tight.

I didn't get it.

Austin and I were the ones who were married.

Why were these bizarre comments cheering on a blatant homewrecker?

Just because Gemma was the heroine and I was the villainess?

My birth had been a difficult one, resulting in mild oxygen deprivation. Because of that, I had always been a bit slow.

When I was a kid, my relatives used to whisper behind my back, joking that if someone kidnapped me and sold me off, I'd probably count the cash for them with a big smile.

I was also incredibly lazy. Whenever things got slightly difficult, my immediate reaction was to throw in the towel.

Hey, persistence is hard. Giving up is effortless.

Fortunately, I had an incredible father.

He was the director of the National Academy of Sciences.

He had mentored countless brilliant minds, and Austin was his absolute star pupil.

Austin was also breathtakingly handsome. Tall, lean, and possessing the kind of presence that commanded any room he walked into.

I had fallen for him at first sight.

Armed with my dad's connection, I spent three years chasing this absolute iceberg of a man until I finally melted him.

While Austin came from humble beginnings, his talent was undeniable. Even my hard-to-please father had nothing but praise for him.

And Austin certainly proved him right. The projects his team developed were wild successes, and within a few short years, his net worth skyrocketed, turning him into the brilliant young billionaire everyone gossiped about.

With money and power, the vultures naturally started circling.

Back when he was a nobody, I was the only one who wanted him.

Now that he was wealthy and gorgeous, things had changed.

Still, even though Austin always treated me with a certain cool detachment, he never showed the slightest interest in other women either, so I had never worried.

Until Gemma showed up.

I noticed Austin treated her differently.

After all, she was the reason I had walked away three times already.

Gemma's tactics were cheap but effective.

She would leave lipstick marks on his collar, send him late-night texts loaded with double entendres, or show up at galas wearing the exact same designer dress as me.

But Austin was hopelessly dense. Whenever he saw me shaking with rage, he would just say, "You're overthinking it. She's not like you."

I decided to choose a better moment to address it.

One night, in the middle of our private, intimate moments in bed, I brought it up and urged him to fire her. Austin paused his movements, pinning me down. "You're right. She's a distraction."

Yet the very next day, she was still right by his side.

Furious and exhausted, I decided to set him free. I demanded a divorce. Austin only stared at me, his eyes dark. "Are you sure?"

"Yes," I snapped.

"Fine," he replied. He didn't beg.

But every single time, before a month had even passed, he would show up at my door asking me to come back.

And I always agreed.

Honestly? I was a sucker for his face and his body.

I rolled over in bed.

The screen of comments in my mind was in absolute chaos:

[What the hell? Why isn't the toxic wife falling for it this time? In the original timeline, they should be in their fourth cooling-off period by now!]

[Out of respect for his mentor, the CEO won't be the one to ask for a divorce. Does this mean our sweet girl has to keep being his secret lover? This is so frustrating.]

[Don't worry, the wife is stupid and petty. The heroine just needs to provoke her a little more, and she'll throw another tantrum.]

[Forget about the wife, look! The heroine is accompanying the CEO to a client dinner. Someone just asked if she was Mrs. Finch, and he didn't deny it! Ahhh, silent confirmation!]

So Austin really did have feelings for Gemma.

I angrily pulled my gaze away from the floating text.

But I wasn't stupid.

I knew Austin's character inside out.

When it came to women who weren't his wife, the man was incredibly stingy.

When I was his wife, my credit cards had no limits. I could buy a whole wall of Herms bags without him batting an eye.

But the moment we divorced, he made sure I left with absolutely nothing. Not a single cent.

Over the years, I had grown accustomed to living a life of luxury. A single spa session cost thousands. My own savings wouldn't even last me two weeks.

That was the real reason I always agreed to remarry him so quickly.

So this time, I wasn't going to be the one to bring up the divorce.

Since Austin was so in love with Gemma, he would have to be the one to make the move to give her a proper title.

I just had to wait.

Let him ask for the split. That way, I could legally demand a massive payout.

But before that happened...

I was going to spend his money like there was no tomorrow!

With that thought, I bolted upright and called my exclusive spa, booking a series of premium treatments worth a fortune.

The next morning, the moment I woke up, I had a text from Austin: [Having dinner out tonight. Don't wait up.]

I stared at the screen for a long moment.

Then, I dialed my best friend.

Why spend his money alone when I could bring my bestie along for the ride?

I threw on a high-end designer dress and rushed out the door.

But as we walked out of the spa and passed a luxury jewelry boutique, Phoebe suddenly gasped.

"Sienna, isn't that your man? Who is that girl with him?"

I followed her gaze.

Through the glass window, I saw Gemma.

She was leaning over a velvet counter, focusing intently on a tray of diamond rings.

Beside her stood Austin, wearing a remarkably soft, gentle smile.

So this was the business he had to attend to.

Phoebe finally recognized Gemma's face and spat, "Isn't that the homewrecker who caused your last divorce?"

"What the hell is Austin playing at? He literally just remarried you, and now he's out shopping for rings with her?"

Phoebe grabbed me as I instinctively tried to turn away, pulling up her sleeves.

"Sienna, why are you running? That's not like you! You are the legal Mrs. Finch! Come on, let's go in there and give them hell!"

My best friend's words made me pause.

I suddenly realized how much those stupid floating comments were affecting me.

I was acting like a doomed supporting character who was bound to be abandoned, choosing to retreat without a fight.

But why should I back down?

Even if I was destined to lose, I was going to make this cheating duo pay a heavy price first!

Taking a deep breath, I balled my hands into fists, ready to catch them red-handed.

Inside the shop, Austin seemed to sense something. He abruptly turned his head toward the window.

Seeing my furious face, his brow instantly furrowed.

[Look at how annoying the wife is. The CEO was smiling so sweetly at our girl, but the second he saw his wife, his face fell!]

[Omg, is he helping her pick out an engagement ring? Is he planning a proposal?]

[It breaks my heart knowing the toxic wife is going to use her dad's influence to bully the heroine again. But her time is coming. Her father's downfall is happening soon, and without him, let's see how she throws her weight around!]

What?!

Is something terrible going to happen to my dad?

The fury on my face instantly vanished, replaced by sheer panic.

I couldn't care less about confronting them anymore. I grabbed Phoebe's hand, shoving my black card into her palm.

"Max out this card. Buy whatever you want. I have an emergency."

Without waiting for her reply, I sprinted to my car and sped toward my father's house.

According to the comments, my dad was already feeling unwell but was brushing it off as typical old-age aches and pains. By the time he realized something was seriously wrong, it would be too late. He would pass away in less than three days.

The mere thought of losing the father who had cherished me my entire life sent a sharp, agonizing pain through my chest.

As I burst through the front gate, I saw my dad in the garden, watering his flowers.

Since retiring, this had become his favorite hobby.

"Well, look who it is! My little princess is home!"

Seeing his cheerful, smiling face, my eyes welled with tears.

When my mother died from complications during my birth, my father's hair had turned white overnight. For years, people urged him to remarry. My grandmother had even threatened him, arguing that I was slow and practically a simpleton, and that he needed to have another child so the family line wouldn't end.

But he refused. He dedicated his life entirely to me, giving me all the love and indulgence in the world.

Recalling the comments, I rushed over. "Dad, when was the last time you had a full physical exam?"

"Uh, not too long ago. Maybe six months?"

His eyes darted away, his voice lacking confidence. "Your old man is as strong as an ox. Aside from this stubborn cough, I'm perfectly fine. Don't worry, I'll be around to help you raise your kids!"

Hearing that, everything clicked.

For some reason, as people got older, they developed an irrational fear of doctors. My dad was no exception.

"We are going to the hospital. Right now."

Seeing my stern face and realizing I was truly angry, my dad didn't dare argue. He meekly followed me to the hospital.

To my utter surprise, halfway through the checkups, Austin showed up.

Wasn't he supposed to be with Gemma?

Why was he here?

But I was in no mood to figure it out.

Listening to the veteran specialist's diagnosis, my tears began to flow freely.

Austin stepped forward to pull me into his arms, but I pushed him away with all my might.

"This is all your fault! If you and Gemma hadn't kept stressing me out every single day, I wouldn't have been too distracted to notice my dad's health! I would have caught this sooner!"

Instead of letting go, he held me even tighter. Unable to break free, I ended up wiping my tears and nose right onto his expensive jacket.

Austin sighed, gently stroking my back. "Shh, okay, it's my fault. But your dad's condition is in its absolute earliest stage. It's completely curable with medication. Why are you crying like it's the end of the world?"

I froze.

Looking up, I met the amused, knowing gazes of both the doctor and my father.

Embarrassed, I let out a wet hiccup.

While Austin went to get the prescription, my dad pulled me aside, speaking in a warm, earnest tone.

"My sweet girl, Austin isn't a man of many words, but I can tell his feelings for you are genuine. You throw the word 'divorce' around daily, yet he still accommodates your every whim."

"With his current status, there's no shortage of women trying to climb into his bed. But have you ever actually seen him cross the line?"

I opened my mouth to protest, wanting to warn him not to be fooled by Austin's quiet exterior.

I wanted to tell him about what I saw at the jewelry store, and the bizarre floating comments.

But looking at the silver hair at his temples, I swallowed my words.

I didn't want to stress him and make his condition worse.

I could wait until he was fully recovered.

After driving my dad back to his estate and giving the housekeeper strict instructions, I turned around to find Austin still standing there.

He was surprisingly free today.

I didn't ask questions, silently sliding into the passenger seat.

The drive back to our place was quiet.

Once home, I took a long shower, got changed, and crawled into bed to review the shopping list Phoebe had sent over.

Just as I was admiring the ridiculous total, a pair of large, warm hands slid under the covers.

I looked up into Austin's deep brown eyes.

He was wearing a loosely tied robe, his dark hair still damp from his own shower.

I frowned, about to ask what he thought he was doing, when a cold sensation slipped onto my ring finger.

I gasped softly, looking down at my hand.

It was a massive diamond ring.

And the design looked exactly like the one I had seen at the boutique earlier today.

"Didn't you always complain that your ring wasn't big enough?" Austin murmured, his voice husky against my ear.

Before I could say a word, his hot lips pressed against mine.

The comments in my mind exploded:

[Oh my god! The villainess actually used her sick dad to manipulate him! Poor CEO had to take the ring meant for our heroine just to placate his crazy wife!]

[It breaks my heart seeing him forced to perform in bed like this. What's worse is that the heroine hasn't even touched him yet, but this toxic b*tch gets to enjoy him whenever she wants!]

[It's fine, it's just physical for him. His heart belongs entirely to our girl!]

To be fair, we hadn't been intimate in a while.

And according to the comments, Austin and Gemma were still strictly platonic?

Meaning, my husband was still clean.

With that reassuring thought, I stopped overthinking and pulled him closer, matching his intensity.

But right at that moment, Austin's phone began to vibrate on the nightstand.