ANMELDENBetrayed by the man she loved, Serena Collins must also find a way to pay for her mother's medical treatment. Just when she is on the verge of giving up, fate leads her to Steave Alexander, a powerful CEO who also happens to be her ex-boyfriend's uncle. What begins as a simple agreement soon turns into a relationship filled with temptation, secrets, and feelings neither of them can ignore. Could her true love be the very man she should never have fallen for?
Mehr anzeigenToday, Serena Collins and her boyfriend, Ethan, had plans to meet. Serena arrived at Ethan's apartment with a happy heart.
There was nothing particularly special about the occasion, but Serena was the kind of girl who could always find a reason to be happy. Maybe it was because Ethan rarely had free time, so every date felt like a small celebration. At first, Serena walked cheerfully, full of excitement despite the lingering drizzle that had nearly ruined her freshly blow-dried hair. Her hand held a small umbrella, now folded shut, while her heart bloomed with joy. However, the moment she arrived at apartment 3B and noticed the door was not fully closed, an uneasy feeling crept over her. "Ethan is never this careless. Could it be that he doesn't realize his door is still unlocked?" Serena murmured. She reached out to knock, but something stopped her. Her heart was suddenly restless. Frowning, she carefully pushed the door open. She stepped cautiously into the dim living room. Only a corner lamp was on, casting the shadows of decorative plants across the walls. The sofa was in disarray, and a man's shirt lay draped over its backrest. Serena's heartbeat began to pound strangely. That wasn't all. She also noticed a woman's dress and undergarments scattered in front of the bedroom door. "Ethan?" she called softly. No answer came. She moved farther inside. The atmosphere in the apartment made her chest tighten, and just as she neared the bedroom door, she heard voices. "Ahh... deeper, Ethan. Don't stop!" a woman's voice cried out, breathy and filled with pleasure. Serena's body instantly froze. Then a man's voice followed, one she would recognize anywhere. "You're crazy, Marissa. Your body is addictive." Serena stood rooted to the spot, her head throbbing. The bed creaked, followed by alternating breaths and moans. "Ah, Ethan, faster. I'm almost..." "Quiet. Let me be the one controlling you tonight." Serena clamped a hand over her mouth to keep her breathing silent. She took a cautious step forward until she could peer through the narrow gap in the bedroom door, which was open only a few inches. And there, every certainty she had ever held shattered. Marissa, her stepsister, lay sprawled across the bed with her hair tangled across the pillow. Her unclothed body and intoxicated expression radiated pleasure. Ethan, the man she was engaged to, was kissing her stepsister with reckless hunger. Serena stood motionless. Tears fell from her eyes, yet her face remained rigid. She was not the kind of girl who would scream and cry outside a bedroom door. She simply stood there, swallowing the bitter reality that stabbed through her heart. Her hands trembled, but Serena kept her back straight, refusing to let herself collapse. She would not fall apart in front of them. With the last of her strength, she stepped away from the door. Their voices continued to slice through her ears, but Serena chose to leave. Her heart was broken, yet her thoughts were even more chaotic. She didn't know what to do about her relationship with Ethan. Their engagement was not merely a matter of love. It was an agreement between two influential families. If she called it off, her stepmother could persuade her father to withdraw all financial support for her biological mother's medical treatment. Her mother was currently receiving intensive care in the hospital. But if she went through with the marriage, it would feel like stabbing herself with the very same knife. Serena pressed a hand against her chest, torn between wanting to scream and wanting to faint. Every path before her seemed to lead toward destruction. She ran out of the apartment, her mind spinning. She shoved the door open in haste. Her breathing was ragged, and tears streamed down her face. Serena hurried down the hallway. That was when she nearly collided with a tall man dressed in an immaculate suit. She looked up. The man studied her intently. His dark eyes were calculating as they rested on the young woman before him. Meanwhile, Serena lowered her gaze again and walked past him without a word. The man was Steave Alexander Whitmore, Ethan's uncle. Steave watched the young woman wander away aimlessly, tears still visible on her cheeks. Suspicion immediately stirred within him. He walked toward Ethan's apartment and opened the door without hesitation. His instincts proved correct. Moans, gasps, and the rhythmic creaking of a bed echoed from inside. One glance was all it took for him to understand exactly what was happening. A faint smirk appeared on his lips. He pulled his phone from his pocket and raised it to his ear. "Paul," he said flatly. "We're moving up the timeline. Prepare everything."Serena stared at the computer screen on her new desk, wearing a half-bitter, disbelieving smile. This room was so different from her old workplace. Everything was elegant and minimalist, with the scent of fresh flowers filling every corner.The chair was comfortable, the desk was spacious, and there was even a small plaque bearing her name.Serena Collins, Personal Assistant to Mr. Steave Alexander Whitmore.She let out a silent little laugh."Wonderful," she muttered. "From an ordinary management position to the CEO's personal assistant overnight. Good job, Serena."At least my salary will be higher too, right?She leaned back and looked around. The employees passing through the floor worked in silence and with discipline. No one dared to look at her for too long. Everyone seemed to choose silence, pretending not to know anything.Serena realized that Steave's presence was genuinely intimidating to most of the people here. Even hearing his name alone was enough to make them straighte
Serena kept her head down throughout the journey to the office. Honestly, she still felt dizzy and drained. Dealing with Steave and all his lust was not easy. If things continued like this, Serena was starting to think she should just run away.But what could she do? Her life and death were already bound by a contract with that man.As soon as she arrived at the office, Serena went straight to the department where she worked and sat at her desk, trying to appear normal in front of her colleagues.But before she could even turn on her computer, one of the HR staff called her name. "Serena, please come with me to the HR department."Silently, she followed the HR woman's steps toward the office bearing the Wellington Management Ltd logo, the name of the company where she had worked for nearly three years.As soon as she entered, two HR staff members were already sitting there. One gave her a stiff smile, while the other appeared to be preparing several documents on the desk. "Please have
The next morning, Serena slowly woke from a deep sleep. She blinked, trying to gather her senses. Something felt strange, different from usual. Stretching her body, she felt a faint soreness in her muscles. Then she opened her eyes fully and looked around. Her heart immediately began to race when she realized she was in a room she knew all too well. Steave's bedroom. A flood of memories crashed into her mind. She remembered falling asleep on the living room sofa while waiting for Steave, who never came home. She remembered feeling heated touches on her body, touches that had made her shiver with both fear and desire. Then it all came back clearly. She and Steave had been together again last night. Shame and guilt surged through her. She hated herself for giving in to Steave, for betraying herself. Serena climbed out of bed with mixed emotions churning inside her. Steave wasn't in the room. Perhaps he had already left for work, or perhaps he was somewhere else in the apart
“These belongings will be moved to Mr. Steave's apartment. We're only carrying out orders.”“What?” Serena could hardly believe what she had just heard. “Steave? He's the one who told you to do this?”“Yes, Miss. The order came directly from him.”“Why? Why are my things being taken there?” Serena protested, grabbing hold of her suitcase as one of the men attempted to lift it.The man answered briefly. “Mr. Steave wants you to live with him starting tonight.”Serena fell silent, her face growing hot with a mixture of anger and confusion.“He never said anything to me! You can't just walk in and...”“We're only carrying out orders, Miss.”The man dipped his head politely before returning to work.Serena stood frozen as all around her, her personal belongings, her clothes, books, even the small potted plant she had always cared for, were being carried away by strangers.She quickly dug through her bag, pulled out her phone, and called Steave.But no matter how many times she tried, the
Serena restrained herself, trying to keep her voice polite."I want to talk about my mother's condition. The doctor recommends that she be transferred to a larger hospital. I hope you'll consider covering her medical expenses."Claudia chuckled, her eyes gleaming with mockery."Oh, so you've come t
The next day, Serena returned to her usual routine at the office. Telephones rang one after another, while the sound of keyboards clicking echoed throughout the workspace.Serena sat at her desk, staring at her computer screen with tired eyes.The stack of documents on her desk seemed endless. She
A few days later, Serena was at the Collins family mansion for a family dinner. That evening, the Collins residence seemed busier than usual. The lights lining the driveway were brightly lit. Her father typically only turned them on when welcoming important guests. The first thing Serena noticed
Today, Serena Collins and her boyfriend, Ethan, had plans to meet. Serena arrived at Ethan's apartment with a happy heart. There was nothing particularly special about the occasion, but Serena was the kind of girl who could always find a reason to be happy. Maybe it was because Ethan rarely had f


















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