로그인Upon returning home, I walked straight into the lavish expanse of my living room and sank into the soft cushion of the sofa. My gaze drifted upward, tracing the high ceiling of the grand second floor until my eyes rested upon the gleaming chandelier, dripping in gold and glittering diamonds, before I released a weary sigh."That woman had better prepare herself," I hissed into the empty room. "If she truly believes I will simply turn a blind eye to what she did to me, then she is gravely mistaken," I added in a low, vengeful whisper to myself.Not a single maid was present in the hall. I knew with certainty that they were all out in the garden, as today was their designated schedule for tending to the blossoming flora. I rested my arm casually against the back of the sofa and closed my eyes for a brief moment. Moments later, I retrieved my cell phone and dialed Scarlet's number without delay. Fortunately, she answered my call almost instantly."Miss Lora, where on earth are you? I
Warm morning light prickled against my closed eyelids, forcing the haze of sleep to break. Beneath my palms, the mattress yielded in a plush, unfamiliar sink, smelling faintly of crisp linen and bleached cotton. My fingertips brushed down my chest, tracing fabric that felt entirely wrong. A harsh reminder that jerked my eyes open.I bolted upright, my forehead immediately throbbing with a sharp, blinding pulse. Squeezing my eyes shut against the pain, I hissed through my teeth."Damn it! What did I do last night?"Opening my eyes to a slow squint, I surveyed the room. Crisp white paint covered the walls, stripped of any soft touches or clutter. Everything about the stark, orderly space practically screamed that a man lived here."My God, Lora. You idiot." The self-loathing tasted bitter on my tongue as the memories began to bleed back in.A heavy breath rattled in my chest. Regret clawed at my throat, but no amount of thrashing would turn back the clock. If I hadn't been so obses
A weightless, sickening sensation washes over me, rendering my limbs utterly useless. No matter where Klint drags me, I am powerless to resist. A bitter rage gnaws at my chest, directed entirely at my own foolishness. If only I had never allowed him to sit at my table, I would not be trapped in this waking nightmare."Klint, have m—mercy on me. Please, don't do this," I whimpered, my sanity fraying under the terror of his intentions. The drug he slipped into my drink burned through my veins, twisting my instincts into a harrowing, unbidden physical craving."Beautiful, stop fighting what your body so desperately wants," he purred, his breath hot against my neck. "Don't worry. I know exactly what I'm doing. You won't regret letting me touch you.""Klint, p—please," I choked out, a futile attempt to push him away.The cruelest part of it all is the agonizing clarity of my skin. I feel every terrifying press of his hands against my flesh. Even as the surrounding crowd blurs into smea
Samantha’s betrayal shattered whatever truth I once held about her, forcing me to hunt for facts in the dark shadows. When Carson claimed she was battling an illness, I dispatched Scarlet to uncover the real story.Scarlet confirmed that Sam had indeed checked into St. Luke's Hospital. I almost believed the tragic illness narrative, until Scarlet revealed that Sam slipped out every single night to paint the town red at various vibrant nightclubs. How could someone gamble with their health so recklessly like that? I needed to witness this outrageous charade with my own eyes.Now I stood inside the moody velvet ambiance of the Butterfly Night Club, an exclusive haven catering to the city's wealthy elites. The warm plush lighting and soft bass offered comfort, yet I remained entirely cold to its seductive charms, driven by a far darker purpose.Scarlet's intel proved dead accurate because Sam sat under the neon lights right here. A daring white party dress clung to her figure while sh
Days had blurred past since the evening I unveiled my true self to the world. Every television broadcast beamed my face and name across the news networks, the anchor voices droning over high-resolution photos of my grand reveal. Talk shows inundated my office with invitations for exclusive sit-down interviews, yet I left every message unreturned. I simply basked in the quiet intoxication of taking what belonged to Samantha.My thumb traced the velvet edges of the jewelry casing containing the necklace she had pined over, the item I had outbid her for without batting an eye. Opening the latch, I let my gaze drink in the piece before running a single fingertip across its intricate details. The pendant curved into a perfect heart, its facets catching the sunlight and casting fractured beams across the room, demanding the devotion of anyone who dared to look upon it.A rapid, heavy pounding against my office door shattered the stillness. The heavy wood swung open, revealing Scarlet, he
I foolishly assumed my words would finally quiet their mockery, but another wave of cruel laughter echoed through the hall instead. Narrowing my eyes, I anchored myself with a single, desperate promise: the moment I proved my identity, every last one of them would bow. For now, all I could do was endure the humiliation and wait for Scarlet’s return to the venue."Just leave, Lora," Carson growled, his voice heavy with irritation."I am not going anywhere," I replied, holding his gaze to force the weight of my sincerity upon him. "I belong at this auction. I was chosen and personally invited, Carson."He closed his eyes briefly, exhaling in sharp disbelief. "How?! Stop trying to force us into believing your lies, Lora. No one has ever seen the face of La Lora's CEO. It is impossible for it to be you! You might share the same name, but you are certainly not the executive invited tonight," he said."Crazy!" Samantha’s voice cut through the air, sharp and dripping with malice. "Do not







