Chapter 1

The moonlight streamed through the windows, bathing Austin Langford's muscular arms and rolled-up sleeves with a soft, white glow.

He clutched a lacy silk nightgown in one hand while his other hand moved quickly and swiftly under the covers. A low growl escaped his lips, and Austin's tense body relaxed right after that.

It wasn't until he finally got up and went to the bathroom that Cara Reyes finally dared to release her lower lip she'd bitten down on until it bled.

The bathroom door was ajar. She watched through the crack in the door as Austin carefully rubbed the nightgown with his fingers and even sniffed it at times with a dazed look in his eyes.

"Winter… Winnie…"

Winter Langford was Austin's younger stepsister.

Half an hour later, Austin finally came back to the bed, but he still kept an arm's distance away from Cara.

He didn't even touch her throughout the entire ordeal, but Cara couldn't go back to sleep anymore. She kept her eyes wide as she lay awake, lost in her memories.

When she was 20 years old, both her parents had died at sea, and they left her such a huge inheritance that she didn't even have to work anymore for the rest of her life. However, she felt lonely and wanted a child of her own to keep her company.

The day she first met Austin, he had just returned from the port where he worked. He had a broad back, a slim yet muscular waist, and sweat was trickling down his shoulder and abs.

Cara could feel her entire body reacting to him.

After learning that he and his stepsister were struggling financially, she seized the opportunity and decided to "sponsor" him by providing for him financially.

Then, she began seducing him with every opportunity she could get after confirming their relationship.

In the summer, Cara would wear short dresses to deliver lunch to him, but she would never get a second glance from him. He would then tell her that the food she gave him was no different from the food served at his canteen.

At night, she would slip on custom-made nightgowns and get onto him, asking for a night of intimacy. He, however, wouldn't respond to her at all.

Once, she'd even tried drugging his drinks, but aside from him blushing lightly, he told her it was useless otherwise.

Cara thought that he had too many responsibilities in life, and that was the main reason why he had no desire for her.

It wasn't until she woke up the other night a month ago and witnessed the jaw-dropping scene of him masturbating to a nightgown that she finally realized something. His lust, desire, and impulses had never been directed at her from the start.

Rather, they were all directed toward Winter, his stepsister who had no blood relation to him at all.

That was the night when everything fell apart for Cara.

The first rays of sunshine poured in through the windows, and Austin got up next to her before going to get dressed.

Cara called out to him on instinct. "Austin, I—"

Austin cast her a cold look as he fixed the tie around his neck. "Haven't you already tried it in the mornings?"

Cara froze in her spot. It wasn't until a couple of minutes later that she finally understood what he meant.

So, did he think that she was a woman driven by her insatiable lust for him?

His words felt like rubbing salt on her wounds, tearing apart and eating into her bleeding injuries once more.

Cara just chuckled bitterly and walked out after him, bumping into Winter on the way, who had also just gotten up.

She still had a sleepy look in her eyes as she instinctively hugged Austin with her arms around his waist. "Austin, have you seen my newest nightgown anywhere? That one is my favorite."

Hearing that, Cara immediately turned to look at Austin. She wanted to know how he would answer Winter's question. After all, he had kept the nightgown hidden away like a precious gem, making sure nobody else could ever get it back.

"I haven't seen it. I'll buy you another one," Austin said stiffly, gulping a few times at how intimately Winter was acting with him.

He was getting aroused, and it was only from a hug…

His restrained yet passionate gaze shattered the last line of defense in Cara's heart.

Lowering her head, she walked right past them with a bitter smile and headed straight for the door. She pushed it open and walked out.

"Are you leaving?" Austin asked behind her.

Cara didn't look back as she replied, "Yeah."

She was leaving and never coming back.