Chapter 1

Outside, the rain poured down in torrents.

Serena Vale, clutching her soaked wedding dress, ignored the stares of onlookers as she made her way to the 30th floor of the Wildflower Hotel.

Tomorrow was supposed to be her wedding day with Marcus Kade, yet here she was, disheveled and standing at another man's door.

Knock, knock, knock...

"Mr. Kade," Serena's voice was soft and trembling, with a hint of vulnerability.

Inside, Damien Kade, wearing only a white bathrobe with his hair still damp from a recent shower, opened the door.

"Miss Vale, if you're unhappy with your wedding dress, you should be talking to your fiancé, not his uncle."

Serena bit her pale lips, her big eyes filled with a mix of innocence and distress, her body seemed to give way as she leaned into his arms.

"Mr. Kade, let me in. I'm cold."

It was as if his embrace was the only warmth she could find, like a small, cunning animal seeking shelter.

Damien's smile widened, choosing not to call her bluff.

"Miss Vale, visiting your fiancé's uncle in the middle of the night—is it really the cold or something else?"

Serena knew Damien's words could be sharp, but she didn't mind. She rose on her tiptoes, givinghim a quick, light kiss.

His Adam's apple, chin, cheek...

The door slammed shut.

Serena's bold move instantly ignited Damien. He looked down coldly, taking control of the situation.

There was no room for her to back out now; she had come to him and there would be no regrets.

Damien pressed her against the door. The pristine white wedding dress, originally meant for Marcus, was now being torn apart by his uncle, creating a forbidden bond that brought an intense allure to both of them.

The overwhelming sensation made them indulge in the thrill they brought each other,one passionate, the other fervent.

Their bodies moved together with an unspoken harmony.

...

By dawn, the room was filled with a chaotic mix of scents. As Damien put his clothes back on, his bare back revealed several deep nail scratches.

He casually ran a hand through his hair, preparing to leave the bed, when a pair of pale hands stopped him.

The delicate fingers were gentle and graceful, yet they were doing something mischievous, slowly tracing up his strong arm.

"Not enough? Want to go again?" Damien's gaze fell on the hand and he let out a soft chuckle, a sound of genuine satisfaction and release.

Reflecting on the recent pleasure, he didn't mind going for another round.

After all, their physical connection was remarkable and it had been a long time since he had experienced such intense enjoyment. It was a taste he found hard to resist.

"Mr. Kade..."

"Why did you come to me? Give me a reason," Damien's voice was deep and magnetic.

Serena furrowed her brow slightly. The reason was simple, really. She had caught her fiancé and her younger sister in the act on her wedding bed.

That scoundrel of a man didn't love the true heiress but preferred the fake sweet talker. Well, fine then, a jerk and a shameless woman, a match made in heaven.

Serena had initially thought of exposing the shameless pair to her parents, but then she reconsidered.

Ever since she was found by the Vale family, her parents had been distant, except for her late grandmother. She couldn't be sure they wouldn't twist the truth to protect them.

The marriage arrangement with Marcus had been orchestrated by her grandmother on her deathbed, fulfilling an old promise, but Serena never felt anything for Marcus.

Out of respect for her grandmother's last wish, she went along with it. Yet, on the day of the engagement, she found herself drawn to her fiance's uncle.

She was a sucker for looks and physique and Damien's build was far more appealing than Marcus's weak frame.

She couldn't get him out of her mind.

Today, she finally got a taste and it was as satisfying as she had imagined.

Since Marcus had already betrayed her, she saw no reason to hold back. An eye for an eye had always been Serena's motto.

So she deliberately wore the wedding dress meant for tomorrow, letting another man tear it apart with his own hands.

How thrilling!

Serena felt a mix of pain and pleasure, indulging in a bit of revengeful abandon.

"Again," she demanded.

"You're quite the little minx," Damien replied with a teasing smile.

"You love this troublesome little minx, don't you?" Serena teased back, wrapping her arms around Damien's neck, pulling him down with her into their shared passion.

The next morning at ten o'clock, the rain had cleared and the sun was shining brightly.

Serena was awakened by a rapid knocking on the door.

As she groggily came to, Damien was already out of bed, lighting a cigarette while his indifferent gaze landed on her.

"Are those people outside your doing? Reporters?" he asked.

"I don't know. Maybe my fiancé missed me after not seeing me for a night," she replied, her voice dripping with false sweetness.

Damien frowned slightly and tossed one of his white shirts onto Serena's face. "Put this on first."

With that, he strode to the door. As soon as he opened it, a crowd of people rushed in, their faces a mix of shock, anger and hostility.

"Shameless! Do you have no decency?!" The first to shout was Serena's own mother.

Though they were mother and daughter, in Laura's eyes, Katrina, who had been by her side for over twenty years, felt more like family.

At that moment, Katrina stood behind Laura, her mouth slightly agape in disbelief. "Sister, you're supposed to marry Marcus today. How could you do something so disgraceful?!"

Also present was the matriarch of the Kade family and Marcus himself, whose face was a stormy shade of blue, too furious to speak.

Katrina was eagerly stirring the pot and Marcus felt his manhood under threat. He stepped forward, ready to grab Serena by the neck. "Shameless!"

Before he could touch her, a soft cough from Damien stopped him.

Marcus's fingers clenched instantly, veins popping at his temples. "Uncle, she's my wife."

"Not married yet."