I Will Have Her Before Returning to New York

In the third year of her relationship with the young and handsome Lucas, Anna decided to propose to him.

She carefully prepared a candlelit dinner, changed into a delicate little dress, and put on bold makeup. As she poured the red wine, Lucas Caldwell wrapped his arms around her from behind, his heated kisses lingering at her ear.

You finally made up your mind? Tonight…

His strong arm circled her slender waist, long fingers gliding over the smooth satin of her dress.

Anna turned around and gently pushed against his chest. Stop it. Eat first.

Lucas was three years younger than her and about to graduate from college.

Tall and lean, even a plain white shirt could not hide his broad shoulders, narrow waist, and clearly defined abs. His features were sharp and vivid, full of youthful energy, like a rising sun.

He chuckled softly, a mischievous smile curling at his lips. Stepping forward, he slipped between her legs, caught her wrists, and pressed her back against the wine cabinet before leaning down to kiss her.

In the flickering candlelight, his breath grew hotter.

His passion was a bit too much for Anna. Thinking of what she had planned, she pushed him away before things went too far.

His lowered gaze was dark with desire. He bit her lip and murmured hoarsely, Anna, forget dinner. Eat me instead.

She laughed softly. Her face was striking, delicate yet radiant.

Because of her heavy workload, even though she was only three years older than him, she usually kept a cool expression. Lucas friends liked to joke that she was an iceberg beauty.

But when she smiled, it was like ice melting into spring. The warmth and beauty were impossible to ignore, and Lucas heart skipped a beat.

Thinking about tonight and finally making her his, he could barely contain his excitement.

Sit down, she reminded him.

Anna poured the wine and looked at the man who obediently took his seat. That was one of Lucas best traits. He listened.

She set the bottle aside and sat across from him.

Under the dim yellow light, a quiet intimacy flowed between them.

Anna spoke softly, almost tenderly. Lucas, do you like me?

He held her hand, the playful look fading as he grew serious. You tested me for three years. Do you really not know how I feel? Anna, of course I like you.

The corner of her lips lifted slightly. She took out a velvet box. This is for you.

Inside was a simple men’s ring. The platinum band gleamed under the candlelight.

The anticipation on Lucas face froze. A thin layer of chill settled over his expression. This was not the joy Anna had imagined.

She could understand it. Maybe he was not mentally prepared and felt startled.

Anna, what does this mean?

I want to make our marriage official.

She explained gently, then looked straight into his eyes. What, you do not want to?

After three years together, anyone could see how much Lucas loved her. Otherwise, they would not have lived under the same roof without crossing the line.

It had taken her three years to fully accept a boyfriend three years younger than herself.

When she had first agreed to his pursuit, it was not just because she was moved by his sincerity. Anna had already investigated his background.

He was the youngest son of the Caldwell family in New York, who had hidden his identity and enrolled in a university in Miami, living like an ordinary person for four years.

She was the opposite.

She was the unfavored eldest daughter of the Whitmore family. After her mother died, her father brought his mistress and their child into the house. Anna was sent abroad and stayed there for many years.

After returning from overseas studies, she wanted a place for herself within the Whitmore family. She accepted her grandfather Billy proposal, gave up the Whitmore family name, and took over a small failing company. If she could turn it around within three years, Billy would consider handing the Whitmore family to her.

The Whitmore family and the Caldwell family were evenly matched, a perfect alliance.

Whether in status or in love, they were meant for each other.

Now that she had delivered results, word came from New York that the Caldwell family intended to form a marriage alliance with the Whitmore family.

To keep her younger sister Lily from taking the lead, the timing was right. Anna decided to lay everything on the table.

She thought Lucas would be overjoyed when he learned their relationship was moving forward. Instead, he looked panicked.

The ring she had carefully chosen, engraved inside with their initials, seemed like a dangerous thing to him. He did not even dare to touch it.

Anna, this is too sudden. I am not ready.

He stood up, his handsome face cold. Right, Curtis just called me about something. I will go see him first.

He hurried toward the door, even forgetting to change his shoes.

With a loud bang, the door slammed shut. Soon after, the sound of a car engine came from the yard.

Anna stared at the ring he had not touched at all, frozen in place.

So he had never intended to marry her.

The plain bracelet on her wrist caught the light, cold and mocking, as if laughing at her confidence.

In their first year together, he had worked part time for a month and earned two thousand dollars to buy it for her.

Perhaps because of the Caldwell family discipline, his living standards over the past few years had been worse than those of ordinary college students.

Knowing his true identity, watching him wear a mascot costume every day handing out flyers on the pedestrian street, seeing him nearly suffer heatstroke several times in the blazing summer yet never give up, that was when she truly fell in love with him.

In his eyes, she ran a small company on the verge of bankruptcy, rented her home, and could end up homeless at any time.

Yet she had a determination he lacked. She chased clients and pulled in investments.

He often said that when he had money in the future, he would support her so she would not have to work so hard anymore.

He played the role of a poor college student. She played the role of a struggling businesswoman.

They had survived those hard years together. Yet right before everything was revealed, he backed away.

Midnight came. He still had not returned.

He once said that good men always came home before midnight.

Anna called him. His phone was off.

Had her proposal really scared him that much?

She went to the bar they often visited, planning to talk things through with him.

The door was slightly ajar. Before she went in, she saw the man inside the private room, surrounded by smoke.

She knew he smoked, but after she told him it was bad for his health, he never smoked in front of her again.

She had turned a blind eye and never pressed the issue.

He was obedient in front of her.

So obedient that she did not bother worrying about small details.

But now, that obedient Lucas was like any other man, holding a beautiful woman in his arms, legs crossed, lounging lazily on the sofa.

He casually let the woman light his cigarette for him. The red glow flickered at his fingertips.

A friend joked, I told you to break up long ago. Now look at the mess. That old woman really fell for you and even wants to marry you. Does she even know who you are?

Anna stood there, stunned. Those friends who always acted so well behaved around her called her an old woman behind her back.

Lucas exhaled a smoke ring. He lowered his head and bit into a grape the woman offered him, his expression cold like a stranger.

Wishful thinking. She thinks she can marry into the Caldwell family? Impossible. Her looks are good enough to be a bed partner in Miami at most.

Another man added, Right. You are about to form an alliance with the Whitmore family anyway. As long as she does not make trouble with Miss Whitmore, it is fine.

Someone else reminded him, Lucas, the deadline for our bet is almost here. If you lose…

White smoke blurred his face, making his features indistinct.

But his cold voice carried clearly, word by word.

Relax. Before I go back to New York, I will have her. I have played the innocent lover long enough. It is time to close the net.