Mag-log inLEANDER He left. Watching as he closed the door behind him, I lost all interest in sleeping any longer and decided to stand up. The bed was a mess, and so was the trash can at the side. My brows creased slightly. I'd never been the one to do these things in the past. Why did I touch him here?No, why did I touch him at all?Looking at my fingers, which wouldn't stop trembling, I knew this was trouble. I'd tried to avoid him well enough. I'd been avoiding him for years already. He was too young. He was in love with another. He could never be mine. Even now, he only saw me as a tool. Perhaps to make Vesper love him more? That didn't seem right. He knew Vesper was cheating. Whether this was revenge, punishment, or something else entirely, I couldn't tell. But I had become part of Ethan's plan.I walked toward the bathroom, pushing my fingers through my hair as my expression turned complicated. What would happen next? After touching him once and waking up with him by my side, wo
ETHANThe alarm rang loudly in the room. Stretching my hand, I swiped it off. RING~~~~~It came again. I hissed and turned the phone over. It automatically stopped. Finally regaining a peaceful moment, I shifted closer into the warm and firm embrace and resumed sleeping. "Ethan." A deep and magnetic voice called. The call was distant, yet it rang really close to my ears.I frowned and nestled deeper into the embrace. It was so comfortable. "Ethan? It's almost morning." The voice came again. I felt displeased. "I know," I replied grudgingly. It wasn't morning, right?Then what was the disturbance all about? But the voice seemed persistent. "Vesper will wake up soon. Your plan." My eyes snapped open. I stood up roughly in bed, almost falling back from the pressure. "Right. You're right." My voice was weak. Blinking, I tried to push back the sleepiness in my eyes. "I should leave." It was more for myself. I picked up my phone to check and realized it was thirty minutes pa
ETHAN Leander pulled my feet, drawing me closer to himself, and his lips caught mine again. This time, the kiss didn't last for long, leaving me panting and desperate for more. He moved downward, placing kisses on my chest. "Mark me, Leander." I blurted out, panting heavily.Leander paused. "I want your marks all over me." He raised his head. His eyes betrayed a hint of surprise as he stared at me. "Vesper..."I smiled. "It's fine. I have a plan..." I paused immediately. Would Leander really be okay with me plotting against his child this way? But he agreed to the deal. He needed an heir. Which meant he didn't really like that useless and greedy adopted son of his. He probably didn't care, right?However, I still felt uneasy talking about Vesper around Leander...I closed my eyes and pushed my fingers through Leander's hair, trying to force out any unwanted thoughts in my heart. No Vesper tonight. No revenge, either. It was just Leander and me. This was what I owed Leander
ETHAN I sat in bed, watching as Leander sat on the sofa, typing away on his laptop. My brows furrowed. What exactly was he doing? Did he not realize the reason I came to his room?Though the thought had been impulsive earlier, the moment I saw Leander going, I'd thought about the marks I wanted to show Vesper the next day. Leander was a good choice. With him, I wouldn't have to harm myself, and the plan would be even smoother. Wasn't that great?But there he was, sitting far away and working even though it was almost midnight, time for normal people to sleep. I frowned, feeling displeased and impatient. I stood up and approached him. Leander's fingers paused. "You're still awake?" My steps faltered, and I almost lost my footing. Really? He had no idea I was still awake?I bit my tongue and forcefully suppressed my anger. "Why aren't you sleeping yet?" Planning to leave me in bed while he worked. Was he trying to avoid me? He didn't go further last night either. What exac
ETHANAfter wiping my body and drying my hair, I stood before the mirror with a wry smile on my face. The bathrobe slowly fell down my waist, stopping at my ankle and sweeping the ground. My eyes remained fixed on my reflection through the mirror. The skin was smooth with no single sign of roughness. With a glance, it was certain that I hadn't been touched by anyone. My fingers ran across my neck, and my lips moved subtly. Why didn't Leander leave any mark on me last night?If I hadn't woken up in his place this morning, I'd have thought everything that happened was a dream. Despite all we did last night, not a single mark of his could be seen on me. The thought made me a little uncomfortable. My fingers tightened around the line of my neck, pinching lightly. When I lifted my fingers, a small red mark was left behind, purpling lightly and reflecting the redness of my face. It was painful. I couldn't believe that I would have to leave more marks like that around my body... no,
ETHANThey entered the elevator, and Gabriel pressed the button for the right floor. Vesper had his arm wrapped around my waist while he tried his best to keep his breathing steady. His face had turned bright red. His lips chapped. He rested on the wall, pulling on his shirt as if he wanted to tear it off. The ride down inside the elevator was as awkward as it could be. My eyes darted around from Vesper to Nick and then to Leander, who was standing at the side with his eyes slightly closed. I had no idea what he was feeling. Yet the coldness that loomed inside the elevator made me involuntarily shiver. Embarrassment clawed at my chest. It was as if I had been caught doing bad things. Maybe it was because I had plotted against his son right in front of him. He must be upset, right?No matter what, Leander might still favor his son more than he favored a business partner like me, right?My lips pursed, and a frown settled on my face. "We are here." Gabriel's voice rang in my ear
ETHANStaring at Leander, my lips pressed into a thin line, and a hint of desperation showed in my eyes. This was a rare occurrence. Something I'd never expected. But it could also disappear at the twinkle of an eye if I fail to hold on to this man before me. He was my salvation. The only one wh
ETHANMy eyes searched his. An offer?Could it be money?I shook my head. My father-in-law was rich enough to rival my father's consortium and still be victorious. Why then would he need money from me, an heir who hadn't truly taken over?Looking into those hypnotic blue eyes, numerous ideas flas
ETHAN My body turned cold as the realization dawned on me. Leander, my father-in-law, had a fate with me? Maybe it wasn't really fate yet, but why else would the countdown stop when he was with me? I wasn't certain. Yet a strong pull emerged from my chest, urging me to find out whatever was g
ETHANMy parents pushed back their seats and quickly approached. My mother's face turned red, and tears dropped freely from her eyes. "It's okay, son. It's really okay." She hugged me tightly. "Mum and Dad are always here for you." "Yes, son. You can always come back to us." My father's voice was







