My Clingy CEO Husband

###Chapter 40: What Made Her Beg for Mercy Every Night

Benjamin Sterling loosened his tie in frustration. "Easy for you to say! A talent of that caliber—someone who’s both exceptionally skilled and trustworthy—where am I supposed to find someone like that?"

A glint flashed in Rose Joyce’s eyes, as if she’d suddenly remembered something. "That’s right! Benjamin, I have the perfect person in mind!"

She immediately took out her phone, her fingertips flying across the screen as she pulled up a woman’s profile and turned it toward Benjamin.

The woman in the photo wore a sharp business suit, her makeup was exquisite, and her gaze was sharp and confident. The background was the bustling streetscape of Avelorn.

"This is my good friend, Lydia Thorne."

Rose Joyce said smugly, "She’s known on Wall Street for having the Midas touch with projects. Not a single merger and acquisition case she’s handled has ever failed. Look at her resume—an Ivy League graduate. The Coretech Science acquisition she managed last year earned her client this much."

As she spoke, she made a gesture indicating a staggering amount of money.

"Most importantly," Rose Joyce leaned forward slightly, "she just returned to the country and is looking for a platform where she can really make her mark. We’ve been friends for years, we know everything about each other, so she’s completely trustworthy. If we could get her to take charge..."

Rose Joyce didn’t need to finish. Benjamin Sterling stared at Lydia Thorne’s flawless resume on the screen, his heart pounding violently.

’This is practically a perfect weapon sent from the heavens! A brilliant background, an impressive track record, and her personal connection to Rose Joyce ensures she’s controllable... It all fits my needs perfectly.’

An image had already formed in his mind: Maxine Rhodes paling in comparison to Lydia Thorne, ultimately forced to bow her head in defeat.

’I will prove to everyone, especially Maxine Rhodes, that I, Benjamin Sterling, am the true leader who can attract top talent and guide the company to greater heights!’

Benjamin Sterling’s eyes turned ruthless. "Contact her immediately! Arrange a meeting as soon as possible. I’m going to make Maxine Rhodes pay a painful price for her arrogance!"

"Of course, Benjamin. I’ll arrange it right away," Rose Joyce replied obediently, the corners of her lips curling into a triumphant, cold smirk.

’Maxine Rhodes, you think you’re so great just because you won a war of words? Just wait until Lydia Thorne arrives. Then you’ll know what true despair feels like.’

’Your good days are over.’

「Nine p.m.」

Ethan Hawthorne returned to the empty apartment after a business dinner.

Only a few wall sconces lit the living room, and it was so quiet you could hear the ticking of a clock. Maxine Rhodes wasn’t back yet. This was already the third time she’d worked late this week.

Ethan Hawthorne undid his tie and tossed it onto the sofa, annoyed.

He took out his phone and opened a three-person group chat.

Ethan Hawthorne: [You there?]

Noah Sutton: [Well, well, if it isn’t Mr. Hawthorne, gracing us with his presence amidst his busy schedule? What a rare sight! Not at home with your wife at this hour, but you have time for us? Something fishy is going on!]

Ethan Hawthorne: [She’s not back yet.]

Noah Sutton: [No wonder. Your resident career goddess abandoned you again for the starry sea of her professional ambitions?]

Elias Grant: [Career goddess?]

Noah Sutton: [That’s right! Beautiful and badass, with a look that could kill! We saw her at the hotel that one time—the one who almost made that greasy CEO kneel and call her ’Daddy’!!]

Noah Sutton: [@Elias Grant Look who’s back from the dead!]

Elias Grant: [Yeah.]

Elias Grant: [So, Hawthorne the Bastard has been legally married for a month and still hasn’t sealed the deal?]

Ethan Hawthorne: [...]

Noah Sutton: [Sealed the deal? I doubt Mr. Hawthorne even knows which way the door to the bridal chamber opens! [Smirk] Fess up, you haven’t even hit a home run yet, have you?]

Noah Sutton: [I told you before, with a career-driven alpha female like her, you have to make the first move! What’s the use of acting all deep and brooding at home all day? She probably thinks you’re frigid!]

Ethan Hawthorne: [You’re the one who’s frigid! Give me some actual useful advice.]

Noah Sutton: [Useful? Bro, everything I’ve got is pure gold! Just wait!]

A few seconds later, Noah Sutton dropped a video link into the chat. The title was extremely explicit: "Make Her Beg for Mercy Every Night! The Ultimate Bedroom Arts Every Real Man Must Learn!"

Noah Sutton: [Click it and learn! From theory to practice, satisfaction guaranteed! If you can’t get the hang of it, come find me!]

Elias Grant: [...Hawthorne the Bastard, I suggest you save this as evidence and then report him.]

Ethan Hawthorne: [This kind of thing...]

’Utterly vulgar,’ he thought.

But his finger wavered over the screen. ’Maybe I should just click it and see?’

Just as he was wrestling with himself, the sound of a key turning in the lock came from the front door!

Maxine Rhodes was back!

Ethan Hawthorne panicked. He fumbled with his phone, trying to close the chat, but in his haste, he made things worse. Instead of closing the link, his finger tapped it, starting the video!

The next second, a series of extremely suggestive, sticky moans and what sounded like humid background music exploded from the phone’s speaker, instantly filling the entire quiet living room.

"Ngh... Hubby... not there..."

"Baby, just relax..."

Ethan Hawthorne: !!!

His mind went blank with a buzz, and it felt as if all the blood in his body rushed to his head, only to freeze solid in an instant!

In his frantic scramble, the phone, like a greased-up loach, shot out of his hand with a WHOOSH. It traced a graceful parabola through the air before landing precisely under the sofa.

To make matters worse, the impact had somehow jammed the volume at its maximum level!

The video continued to blast its explosive content:

"Ahh... G-gently... go gentle... It’s too deep..."

"Cry out, I want to hear it..."

Maxine Rhodes had just bent over to change her shoes when she heard the commotion, which sounded like a late-night adult movie channel on surround sound. She froze on the spot, and the keys in her hand fell to the floor with a CLATTER.

Then she saw the great Mr. Hawthorne—normally so cold and ascetic—on all fours, desperately pawing under the sofa for his phone like a big golden retriever lunging for a treat.

Their eyes met.

The air froze. The only thing still moving was the blush-inducing sound from the phone, echoing tirelessly:

"Mmm... that feels so good... I want more..."

!!!