Chapter 2

"Ms. Sterling," Walter said as he walked over, clearly upset on my behalf.

"Mr. Blackwood has gone too far. He's riding on your coattails, yet he secretly adopts and sponsors another woman. He keeps abandoning you for her over and over again.

"I think he's starting to forget his place."

"Oh, Walter."

I smiled and patted him on the shoulder. "Actually, I think Adrian has a point. I want a little pet of my own to tame."

"A pet, Ms. Sterling?" Walter asked, clearly confused.

I smiled. "Yes. Adrian always said that sponsoring an underprivileged student is like raising a flower with your own hands. You get to watch it grow, bloom, and turn into something beautiful.

"I want to know what that feels like, too.

"Find the man in this photo and bring him to me as soon as possible."

Half an hour later, Walter's hesitant voice sounded from outside the door of the study. "Ms. Sterling, I've brought him back."

That was fast.

Even I was surprised. I set down my teacup and announced, "Bring him in."

The door opened, and Walter helped a young man in. The latter was tall and lean, but he looked like a complete mess. His white shirt was stained with blood and dirt, and there were several nasty bruises on his face.

I frowned slightly. "What happened?"

"Just as we cleared the Sterling residence gates, we ran into a crowd surrounding him and beating him…" Walter replied.

"It looks like he crossed the wrong people. He refused to go to the hospital, so I took the liberty of bringing him straight to you."

I walked over to the man and tilted his chin up to inspect him.

He looked exactly like his photo, with clear skin and well-defined facial features. Though he was bruised and battered, his eyes were striking.

"What's your name?" I asked.

The man looked up slightly and replied in a hoarse, raspy voice, "Jaguar Reed."

I applied a little more pressure on his chin and leaned in closer, indifferently saying, "Jaguar Reed?

"That's a nice name, but nobody dares cause trouble in front of the Sterling residence. So, why did you appear outside my gates on purpose?"

His lips moved slightly, as if he were about to speak, but I suddenly cut him off. "Forget it. The reason doesn't matter.

"I know Adrian has been targeting you, making a mess of your life and studies, but I can protect you. Why don't you stay with me instead?"

Jaguar looked up at me. There was a trace of bitterness in his eyes as he asked, "Ms. Sterling, do you just take in anyone you lay your eyes on?"

"Of course not," I replied matter-of-factly.

The corners of his mouth lifted slightly. "Alright then."

The words had barely left his mouth when his breathing suddenly turned ragged, and fine beads of sweat broke out across his forehead.

Noticing his odd behavior, I reached out to check his forehead and realized that his body temperature was dangerously high.

"Were you drugged?

"Walter, call the doctor and get some ice."

Jaguar ground his teeth like he was fighting every instinct to touch me, but still, he couldn't help but pounce on me.

I kicked him straight into the freezing bathtub, and the shock immediately sobered him up.

Expressionlessly, I brought over a glass of ice water and held it to his lips. "Drink some water. The doctor will take some time to arrive."

Jaguar didn't take it. His gaze was unfocused, and a dark, unreadable emotion swirled in his eyes.

"This is our first time meeting each other. Why are you being so kind to me?"

"Oh," I casually replied. "Because I want to be your sun, your rain, and your oxygen. I want to tame you, so you only live for me."

Jaguar's breath hitched, and he immediately let go of my hand. "You really just want a pet, don't you?"

It wasn't a question. It was a statement, as if he had known all along that I just wanted someone to tame and play with.

Something about it felt strange, though I couldn't put a finger on it. So, I turned to leave the bathroom.

I didn't see the way Jaguar stared after me as I left and murmured in a deep, heavy voice, "You're just like you were in your past life… Eve."

…

Soon, the doctor arrived to neutralize Jaguar's drug and dress his wounds.

Walter settled him into the guest room, while I returned to my study and started reading through his file.

Something about it felt off.

He was an orphan and an underprivileged student without a family or money…

By all accounts, he should live a grueling life, but there wasn't a single callus on his hands.