Chapter 1

The man devouring my body right now was Dominic Chase—CEO of Stratus Aerospace Corporation.

And the reason I ended up in his bed? I had my pathetic excuse for a husband to "thank" for that.

In Eastbridge City, Dominic was a power player in both the light and the shadows. Rumor had it he had a thing for women outside the usual social circles—respectable wives, not the industry's playthings.

He had a taste for raw, marinated food and a bedroom appetite that was anything but restrained.

A few years back, a dancer nearly bled out after a night with him. She was rushed to the hospital and needed multiple blood transfusions to survive. Later, one of the hilltop villas in Eastbridge was quietly transferred to her name. People joked that if one night of passion could earn you a luxury villa, then maybe it was worth the blood loss.

Now, the refined and gentlemanly Dominic Chase from daylight hours had vanished. In his place was something feral, a beast tearing me apart, bone from bone.

The pain, the fear—everything overwhelmed me, and for a moment, I found myself thinking of Eric.

Just as I drifted off, Dominic gripped my chin and forced me to look at him. His expression was dark with displeasure, and I found myself blushing under his intense gaze.

He didn't like it when I got distracted during moments like this. I'd already been punished once.

This time, I made sure to stay focused. Maybe that's why, even though it was our first time, we moved with such surprising rhythm, perfectly in sync.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked.

"Nothing," I said quickly.

But he could see right through me.

Under his command, I couldn't help trembling. My body betrayed me as he dragged me deeper into his world.

He liked how I responded. He liked hearing my voice.

But I wasn't that kind of woman—not at my core. I was quiet, conservative, someone who stuck to the rules and lived a simple life.

After graduating from university, I had no connections or resources. Desperate to survive, I took a job I didn't even like as a receptionist at Stratus Aerospace. Still, I felt lucky to be hired at all.

That's where I met Eric.

We were both nobodies—just two low-level employees. We dated for a year before we got married.

Back then, Eric never laid a hand on me. I thought he was just a gentleman, maybe a bit old-fashioned. But after we tied the knot, I realized the truth.

He wasn't holding back out of respect; he simply couldn't.

Eric wasn't just infertile. He couldn't perform at all. Overnight, I'd become a wife in name only.

I wanted a divorce right away, but he broke down in front of me, sobbing like a lost child. And I—I was too softhearted.

My family came from a traditional background where divorce was taboo. So, I stayed.

Eric said he understood I was young, and if I had physical needs, he even gave me permission to find someone else. But I never did.

My loyalty only made him feel guiltier. To make it up to me, he handed over his full paycheck every month, never let me lift a finger around the house, cooked my favorite dishes in new ways, and took me shopping or out on holidays.

He pampered me like a father spoiling a daughter, and for someone like me—neglected and overlooked in my own childhood—that kind of attention filled a hole I didn't even realize I had.

Until one day, Eric took me shopping for expensive clothes and lingerie. Then he booked a night at the most luxurious five-star hotel in Eastbridge.

I thought he was finally cured.

But just before I stepped into the presidential suite, he revealed the truth—he had arranged for me to spend the night with Dominic Chase, the CEO of Stratus Aerospace.

That's right.

My husband gave me to another man.

I still remember every word he said that night. "The boss needs a woman. She has to be inexperienced and clean. In return, I'll be promoted to regional manager. The salary's a hundred and fifty thousand a year. Most importantly, we could use him to get you pregnant."

I couldn't believe those filthy words were coming from Eric's mouth.

I trembled from head to toe, blood running in reverse, hot tears stinging my eyes.

I cursed him and hit him, but Eric doused me with cold reality.

Last month, my family had fallen into crisis. My younger brother had racked up enormous debts and fled town, leaving our elderly parents to deal with angry loan sharks. Eric had tried reaching out to friends for help, but the gap between what we owed and what we had was too wide. The only solution left... was me.

If I kept Dominic satisfied, not only would our debts disappear, Eric would get promoted, and we'd have a child.

Eric told me that if I was willing to make this sacrifice, everything else would fall into place.

And in the end… I agreed.

When I walked into the suite, Dominic didn't look the least bit surprised to see me. He wore a white robe loosely tied at the waist, revealing the firm muscles of his chest.

My hands clenched instinctively at my sides. I didn't even realize I was shaking.

His cool gaze swept over me, eyes tinged with arrogance and amusement.

"Care for some wine to set the mood?"

Without waiting for an answer, he turned and bent over the coffee table to pour a glass. I watched as the crystal goblet hovered midair, the rich red liquid leaving elegant streaks along the glass.

"Mr. Chase," I said stiffly.

He gripped my chin and tipped the wine into my mouth. A trickle escaped down my chin, and when he wiped it away with his thumb, I trembled even more.

"Cold?" he asked.

"No."

"Unwilling?"

Of course, I was unwilling. But I had no choice.

"...No."

"Then don't act like I'm forcing you. What's your name?"

As if names mattered in something like this. Was he planning to leave a five-star review afterward?

I lowered my eyes. "Alicia Monroe."

"Alicia," he repeated, nodding slightly.

Dominic led me to the bedroom and sat at the foot of the bed, leaning back on his hands.

"Take it off," he said casually.

I never imagined I'd have to strip completely naked for any man besides my husband. The shame burned through me.

"If you're not willing, the door's right there," he said impatiently.

My first instinct was to run, but my legs were rooted to the floor, heavy as lead. I knew what would happen if I walked away: the debts and our problems would all come crashing down on me.

So I stayed. My hands trembled as I unzipped the little black dress Eric had picked out for me.

It pooled at my feet. I stood there like a wind-up doll on a jewelry box—rigid, humiliated, exposed.

The lingerie was lace, barely there, the kind Eric insisted would make me look irresistible. I'd thought it was over the top. He'd called it seductive.

Dominic's gaze slid over me like a slow burn. The desire in his eyes was unmistakable—hungry, possessive, predatory.

He reached out, and I instinctively covered my chest, stepping forward in small, reluctant strides.

His fingers toyed with the strap on my shoulder, slowly slipping it down as if he were unwrapping a gift. He handled me like I was nothing more than a new toy.

Clearly, Eric understood men.

Because in that moment, Dominic's restraint snapped.

He pulled me into his arms, kissed me with feverish heat, and when his patience ran dry, he turned into something primal, like a lion tearing me apart.

That night, I remembered nothing but the scalding heat of his body and the sharp ache he left embedded deep inside me.

When I woke the next morning, Dominic was gone.

A sleek black card lay on the nightstand.

I thought it was over.

But as I stepped out of the suite, his assistant, James Morgan, was already waiting outside.

James handed me a tailored suit and said, "Ms. Monroe, Mr. Chase is heading to Southport for a meeting this afternoon. You'll accompany him as his assistant."

Assistant?

I stood frozen, completely blindsided.