MasukRoy Shen guided me along the quiet, tree-lined path.
The noise and awkwardness faded behind them.The evening breeze swept through, carrying a sharp chill.Roy slipped off his casual blazer and moved to drape it over my shoulders.I stepped aside.Subtle.Clean.The coat, still warm from his body, fell through empty air."No need. Thanks."My tone was polite.Distant."I’m not cold."Roy’s hand froze mid-air.He withMy heart pounded like a drum against my ribs."Alexander. Coaching your son to eavesdrop? That's a new low, even for you."I gasped out the words, biting his jaw."Letting him hear it firsthand? That's what really cuts deep.""Knowing isn't enough. He needs to feel it. Understand what'completely out of the game'actually means."Alexander let out a low laugh, his lips brushing the shell of my ear, his voice dropping to a gravelly rasp.His palm dug into my waist.I sucked in a sharp breath.This man, when he went for the kill, didn't spare anyone. Not even his own blood.The hall outside went dead silent for a beat.Then the pounding on the door came back. Harder. More frantic."Who's in there?! Who the hell are you?!"Alexander chuckled darkly, kissing my sweat-damp temple."Tell him who I am."I bit down on his palm. When he flinched, I gasped out loud enough for the hall to hear."The bastard who owns me!"
At my words, Alexander didn't show the slightest displeasure. Instead, a flicker of amusement crossed his eyes, like he'd known I'd say exactly that.He leaned forward, bracing his hands on the entryway console table on either side of me, caging me completely within his space."I know. I rushed it."He admitted it readily, his voice low and smooth."Twenty-two. Your world just opened up. Endless prospects. You shouldn't be tied down by a marriage contract."Alexander seemed to read every hesitation I had. His thumb traced gently across my cheek, cutting off the words still forming on my lips."I'm ten years older. Asking you to marry me at this point probably sounds like I'm taking advantage of your inexperience, like I'm manipulating a young woman who doesn't know any better.""But sweetheart, this isn't some impulse on my part.""The Knights aren't an ordinary family. And the old man is no pushover.""If he can't get what he wants throu
I pushed open the heavy oak door of my penthouse and kicked my stilettos into the corner of the foyer. The motion-sensor lights hummed to life, washing the space in a warm, amber glow. One night. Two aggressive plays for my heart. And each one was more unhinged than the last. I was leaning over to reach for my slippers when my phone buzzed inside my clutch. I pulled it out and tossed my bag onto the console. The screen lit up. The name The Beast pulsed on the display. A sharp smile curved my lips as I swiped to answer. "Hey." "Home yet?"Alexander's voice came through the receiver, a deep, gravelly rumble. "Yeah, just walked in."I slipped into my slippers."Are you finally done for the night?" A beat of silence followed. "Yeah." Then the doorbell rang. I froze, phone still pressed to my ear, my gaze snapping toward the door. A low, dark chuckle echoed through the line. "Open the door." I walked quickly to
Roy Shen guided me along the quiet, tree-lined path.The noise and awkwardness faded behind them.The evening breeze swept through, carrying a sharp chill.Roy slipped off his casual blazer and moved to drape it over my shoulders.I stepped aside.Subtle.Clean.The coat, still warm from his body, fell through empty air."No need. Thanks."My tone was polite.Distant."I’m not cold."Roy’s hand froze mid-air.He withdrew it smoothly.Draped it over his arm.He looked at me.Moonlight traced the sharp, clean lines of his profile.His eyes held something far deeper than casual charm."Lisa. Was what he said true?"I stopped walking.I met his gaze directly."Is what true?""That you turned him down. Completely."A beat of silence passed."Was it because of me?"His voice was low.Direct.Edged with careful hesitation."Is it real? Or j
A massive wave of absurdity crashed over me.There was no point trying to reason with someone like him.He was locked in his own circular logic, selfish and pitiful.I didn't even have the energy left to explain.Exhausted."Think whatever you want.""Just know this:you and I ended a long time ago.""As far as I'm concerned, you were never more than a mistake."Ethan Knight's face drained completely white.His fingers tightened around the bouquet, thorns slicing into his palms, blood seeping through, but he didn't even notice."A mistake?"He forced a smile that looked more like he was about to cry."Lisa, six years. Four years together. And that's all I rate?"Roy Shen stepped forward, fully shielding me behind him."Ethan.""You had six years. You had her. You just didn't hold on.""Maybe that's not your fault. Maybe the timing was off. Or maybe you were never good enough."He paused, letting his
A heavy silence blanketed the lawn.Every eye was fixed on me, awaiting my response.The artificial glow of countless roses illuminated a sea of expectant faces.The acrid scent of spent fireworks lingered in the air.Beside me, Roy Shen's knuckles tightened around his champagne flute, the chill of condensation seeping into his skin.Watching Ethan's grand display, a cold disdain settled in Roy's chest. Embers that had smoldered for years suddenly flared, hot and bright.Too late.He only saw it now? Only felt regret now?He'd treated me as an afterthought, and now had the gall to stage this selfish spectacle?Memories of their RISD years surfaced. How many times had he witnessed Ethan mock her earnest efforts? How many nights had he seen me flee their fights, my figure a lonely silhouette under the harsh streetlights?Back then, he'd been relegated to just the classmate with a warm drink. He'd stood by, powerless, watching me slowly
Alexander raised an eyebrow, his gaze catching on my whitened knuckles."Afraid he'll see?"His voice was low, carrying the casual scrutiny of a man who held all the cards."Since when did Assistant Lisa lose her taste for trouble?"I couldn't let Ethan discover us. Not now.
Alexander Knight was not the only one lying awake that night.10:00 p.m.Under the same dark sky, the neon lights of Nebula Club dazzled the eyes.Ethan Knight leaned back against the booth, twirling a lighter in his hand, listening to Winnie Carter sing a sappy love song.Wes
I slipped into the driver's seat but didn't fire the engine right away. I leaned back wearily against the seat, picking unconsciously at the steering wheel. Five million dollars sat quietly in my account, and the ashen, defeated faces of the three White family members still lingered viv
Dawn was breaking when I was jolted awake by my phone buzzing insistently on the nightstand.I pried my eyes open to find the screen flooded with notifications—over ninety-nine missed calls and messages.Icons for Marcus White, Elaine White, and Chloe White flashed relentlessly, t







