Chapter 2

Even now, I could still remember the quivering sensation that man brought about when he touched me with those calloused hands of his.

At the time, I figured I could allow myself to get into a relationship. However, I did not expect to see what I saw when I opened my eyes the next day.

His expression suddenly turned serious after he answered a call. "Got it. I'll be right there," he said.

Thereafter, he got out of bed hurriedly and got dressed. He wrote a string of numbers on a piece of paper and said, "I have an urgent task I have to attend to right now. You can call me at this number."

I never had the chance to learn his name.

Initially, I thought our paths would never cross again. Unexpectedly, the next month, I found out I was pregnant.

Driven by sheer helplessness, I dialed that phone number. Nevertheless, no one answered the call, even after a few attempts.

I assumed I was deceived. He probably had no interest in me, so he came up with an excuse off the top of his head to get away. At the same time, worried that I'd pester him after that night, he gave me a fake number to get me off his back.

Due to medical reasons, I decided to have the baby. I had never regretted my decision. Nicole was obedient and smart. I was extremely lucky to have her by my side all these years.

After Megan sobered up the next morning, she called me to vent. "Fred is so rough indeed. My hands are all bruised because of him. Take it from me—never ever date a man like that. They've got violent tendencies—"

Before she could even finish her sentence, someone on her end of the call warned in a deep voice, "Megan Hahn."

Megan fell silent immediately. Thereafter, something came to mind, and she said coquettishly, "Freddy, have you got some time in the afternoon to help my friend move some stuff?"

"Nope."

"That's great!" Megan exclaimed, completely ignoring Frederick's response. She then said to me, "I found a laborer for you. He can help you move your stuff in the afternoon."

"Oh, no, that's alright. I can manage."

"Hey, don't be a stranger. There's no need to feel bad about it. He's just staying at home with nothing to do all day anyway."

At first, I thought Megan was just kidding. However, much to my surprise, she actually came over in the afternoon with a tall man tagging along with her.

I ran a women's lingerie boutique in the city. I had been running the business for years. Business had been relatively good. I never bothered to hire any staff and just handled every single aspect of running the boutique by myself.

Sometimes, when things got really busy, Megan would come over and lend me a hand.

I was right in the middle of taking inventory in the afternoon when I heard an argument going on outside.

"The 'stuff' you wanted me to move was actually women's lingerie?"

"What's wrong with lingerie, Frederick? Don't you wear undergarments when you head out too? If you go on like this, I'm gonna tell Dad that you're sexist!"

"You're really asking for it, aren't you?" Frederick questioned, his tone thick with annoyance.

"Why, are you gonna hit me? I'm a woman. I'll make sure everyone hears about this!"

Upon seeing that they were both on the verge of a full-blown row, I hurried out to intervene. "It's fine, really. It's only a few boxes. I don't need so many pairs of hands."

I apologized to Frederick. "I'm really sorry that Megan called you over without clearly explaining the nature of my business. I—"

I managed to get a good look at his face before I could finish my sentence. His features were sharp, and his jawline was chiseled. His masculine energy radiated intensely through his brown jacket.

Every word I wanted to say vanished from my mind instantly. Instead, the memory from four years ago came flooding back to me.

I remembered the feel of his fingers through my hair, the bulging veins in his arms, and the sound of his heavy, ragged breaths. Shockingly, I actually managed to recall every detail so vividly.

"Forget it. Just get out of here if you're not willing to lend a hand. Just look at that scowl on your face. It's not like we're begging you!"

Megan rolled her eyes and linked arms with me. "Don't apologize to him. He's been gone for years and has clearly forgotten how to be a gentleman."

"Hold up."

Frederick stood in our way. His eyes were fixed on me. I held back the surging emotions within me, feigning composure as I looked into his eyes calmly.

He coughed. "Where's the stuff?"

"What stuff?"

"Didn't you ask me to move some boxes? Where are they?"

Frederick removed his jacket, revealing the plain black T-shirt he wore underneath. He was extremely strong, so much so that he made the heavy boxes look weightless in his hands.