Chapter 1

LAURA

Laura took a deep sigh as she stopped in front of the library door of her father, Leo. Her father had called her to the mansion because he had something important to tell her. Laura had no idea what her father wanted to discuss, but she agreed to meet him anyway. When it came to her father, she shouldn't disobey his wishes. She couldn't afford to defy him, or he would get angry.

Laura knocked three times on the door. "Come in," she heard her father's voice after a while. She turned the door handle and entered. As she looked up to where her father was sitting, she couldn't help but pause in surprise at his appearance. It had been almost a month since she last saw him, and she was shocked at the drastic change. He looked older, stressed, and thinner, with dark circles under his eyes, as if he hadn't slept well.

Was he ill?

"Take a seat, Laura," her father said to her in a cold voice.

She stepped forward and sat down in the visitor's chair in front of him. "What did you want to tell me?" she asked. She disliked calling him "Papa" when they were alone, reserving the term for when they were with others. This was because she wasn't actually Leo William's daughter. She was the product of her mother's infidelity to the man she truly loved. Laura had discovered that her mother didn't love Leo; their marriage was arranged to expand the family's business interests.

At the time, her mother, Dianne, was in love with someone else but was forced to leave him due to her parents' wishes. They had threatened to harm the man Dianne loved if she didn't comply. To protect him, Dianne married the man her parents chose.

However, hidden to the family and her husband Leo, Dianne continued to see the man she loved, and Laura was the result. But Laura's birth was followed by her mother's death due to complications, and months later, her biological father died in a car accident.

Only a few people knew Laura was a bastard child; everyone else believed she was Leo William's daughter. Leo chose not to reveal the truth, considering it an insult to his pride. Despite not being his biological child, Leo still raised Laura, though he didn't show her love. Instead, a nanny named Andi took care of her, with Leo only providing financial support.

"Break up with your boyfriend and marry Draco Atlas Smith," he said to her without flinching, his voice cold.

Laura's eyes widened in shock at what she heard. "What?"

Leo eyebrows furrowed as he gazed at her menacingly. "You have no right to question me, Laura," he said in a cold voice, anger was evident in his voice. "You have no right to refuse me what I want. I raised you. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't be in this world. You wouldn't be where you are today," Leo added. "When I say something, you have to follow. No questions asked. And when I say to break up with your boyfriend, you'll do it. Whether you like it or not, you'll marry Draco Atlas Smith." Her father's voice had a finality to it.

Laura's hands clenched into fists on her lap as she met her father's cold gaze at the moment.

******

Laura bit her lower lip as she parked her car in the parking lot of the building where her boyfriend Peter's apartment was located. She was there to tell him about her conversation with her father and to say that she was finally willing to go along with Peter's proposal - to get married. Peter had asked her to marry him several times before, but she had always refused.

At 25, she didn't feel ready to settle down, and she was just starting her career as a veterinarian, following in her mother's footsteps. According to Nanny Andi, Laura's mother had a kind heart for animals, just like her.

Laura and Peter had only been together for three months, and she felt it was too early to take their relationship to the next level. Peter was her boyfriend, one of the engineers who renovated Miller Estate, the estate her mother had left her. That's where she first saw and met him. Peter was handsome, standing six feet tall, and kind, too.

When the project was finished, she thought their communication would end, but Peter continued to text and call her. Eventually, he asked her out and confessed his feelings. During their meeting, he asked for her permission to court her.

Laura agreed, and after seeing Peter's sincerity in courting her, she accepted his proposal after a month. She didn't regret her decision, as Peter was kind and caring. Although she loved him, she had never given herself to him, even when he invited her to. She wanted to preserve her virginity until their wedding day. Peter respected her decision and didn't pressure her.

However, after hearing her father's desire for her to marry Draco Atlas Smith, a man she didn't know and had never met, her mind changed. She'd rather marry Peter than Draco, who seemed to be a business partner of her father's and around the same age as him. The thought of a contract marriage arranged by her father, without love involved, wasn't appealing to her.

Laura got out of the car and walked straight into the building. She soon reached Peter's apartment door and chose to ring the doorbell instead of using the passcode she knew. It took a while for the door to open, but instead of Peter, she saw another woman.

Laura's brow furrowed in confusion, especially when she saw what the woman was wearing - a loose T-shirt that looked like it belonged to Peter. She was certain the woman wasn't wearing anything else under the shirt, as her nipples were clearly visible through the fabric.

"Who are you?" Laura asked the woman, regaining her composure.

The woman raised an eyebrow to her. "I should be asking you that. Who are you, and why are you here at my boyfriend's condo?" she asked her.

Her eyebrows furrowed even more. Just as she was about to speak, she heard Peter's familiar voice. "Love, who's that--Laura?" Peter's words trailed off as he saw her, his eyes widening in surprise.

Laura's fists clenched, especially when she saw what Peter was wearing - just a pair of boxer shorts. The hickeys all over his body were also visible. Laura wasn't stupid; she knew exactly what was going on. She wanted to punch Peter in the face for cheating on her, but she changed her mind. Instead of confronting him, she turned around and left the scene. She heard Peter calling her name, but she ignored him and kept walking.

Her eyes began to well up with tears, blurring her vision. As a result, she didn't notice the man she was about to collide with. The impact was strong, and she lost her balance. Before she could stumble, the man's quick reflexes kicked in, and his arm wrapped around her slender waist, pulling her close. Her face pressed against his solid chest, and she caught the sweet scent of his expensive perfume. When she regained her composure, she quickly pushed him away and stepped back. She heard him mutter a soft curse at her sudden movement.

The man towered over her, forcing her to look up to meet his gaze. His furrowed eyebrows and piercing stare sent shivers down her spine.

The man was tall, fair-complexioned, well-built, and gorgeously handsome, exuding a strong sex appeal. He wore a black long-sleeved shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows.

"T-thank you," Laura said to the man, not waiting for him to respond. Instead, she stepped into the elevator. She felt him enter behind her and noticed his furrowed eyebrows again. He pressed the G-button, and she stood still. As the elevator descended to the ground floor, thoughts of Peter's betrayal flooded her mind. Her fists clenched involuntarily.

In that moment, Laura made a decision. She pulled out her cellphone from her pocket and called her father. It took a while for him to answer. As soon as he said hello in his cold voice, she immediately stated her purpose for calling.

"I agree," she said in a flat tone. "I agree to marry Draco Atlas Smith." As soon as Laura mentioned the name of the man her father wanted her to marry, she noticed the man standing beside her in the elevator turn towards her. When she looked up, she couldn't help but gasp at the expression in his eyes.

Those devilish eyes were scary.