Chapter 6

Liora stared at the contract in her hand, and Xavier stood too close, his body heat burning, making Liora's breath catch.

"Sign it," Xavier whispered, his voice hoarse and full of seductive menace.

Liora sighed, then picked up the pen from the table. With a swift motion, she scrawled her name on the paper. Xavier snatched the contract and threw it onto the sofa.

"Good," Xavier said.

Without warning, Xavier's large hands grabbed Liora's waist, pulling her hard until her body was entirely pressed against his. Liora gasped, her chest rising and falling rapidly, her n*pples hardening despite the thin fabric of her pajamas.

"Do you think I don't know?" Xavier growled, his lips almost touching Liora's ear. "Every time you look at me, you try hard not to bite your lip. Every time I touch you, you tremble, not out of fear, but because you want it."

Liora wanted to deny it, but Xavier had already pressed his mouth brutally against hers, his tongue immediately invading and claiming every corner of her mouth. His hands gripped her hips, pulling her closer until she could feel the intensity of his desire pressing against her stomach.

"X-Xavier?" Liora tried to speak, but Xavier had already lifted her, throwing her onto the sofa.

Liora's body bounced, but before she could get up, Xavier was already on top of her, his knees forcing her thighs apart.

"You're mine now," he hissed, his left hand squeezing Liora's breast through the fabric of her pajamas. Liora screamed in shock, but Xavier covered her mouth with another kiss.

With a rough movement, Xavier undid Liora's pajama ties, exposing her body completely. His eyes burned as he stared at her smooth skin, her full breasts, her tempting waistline, and the moisture already glistening between her thighs.

"Look at yourself! You're already wet for me."

Liora turned her face away, ashamed, but her body responded to every touch of Xavier's. His fingers entered without warning, pushing deep, causing Liora to arch and scream.

"No one else is allowed to touch you! Only me! Only I am allowed to hear your voice like this and feel your body like this," Xavier said.

Liora couldn't hold back anymore; her hands grabbed Xavier's shoulders, clutching tightly as her first org*sm shook her. Xavier didn't give her time to recover; with a swift movement, he unbuttoned his pants, removed his clothes, and freed his hard, erect member.

Liora swallowed hard; its size always left her breathless.

"Don't look at me like that!" Xavier said.

And with a forceful thrust, he entered her completely, making Liora scream. Xavier didn't give her time to adjust; he immediately pulled out and thrust again, his rhythm brutal and merciless.

"Xavier!"

Liora couldn't speak; each thrust made her wilder, her hands clutching the sofa cushion, her body shaken by extraordinary pleasure.

Xavier leaned down, biting Liora's neck, sucking her skin roughly.

"I want you to remember this! Remember who made you feel like this. Who can control you?" Xavier said.

Liora couldn't respond; her second org*sm hit harder, causing her to scream and claw at Xavier's back. Xavier groaned roughly, his thrusts growing faster and deeper before he finally reached his peak, filling Liora with his heat.

With heavy breaths, Xavier stared at Liora, his eyes still filled with unreadable emotion.

"You'll never escape me," Xavier said.

**

A few months later.

Liora sat in the living room, wearing a knitted sweater and linen pants, staring blankly out the window. Ever since Xavier had said he would change the contract into a lifelong one, her thoughts had grown heavier.

She had already cut ties with Noah. She had promised to leave the past behind, but Xavier hadn't just changed—he had begun to control everything.

The office door opened. Xavier stepped in, followed by Max, his assistant, who always looked stiff in his gray suit. In Max's hand was a tablet and a small flash drive.

"Liora?" Xavier said.

Liora turned. "What is it?"

Xavier nodded at Max, who immediately placed the tablet on the glass table. Liora frowned as the screen lit up, showing a clip of street CCTV footage.

"What is this?" she asked.

Xavier crossed his arms. "Footage of your parents' car accident. May 17, 10:14 p.m."

"No, that's impossible. The police stated that there was no CCTV footage available. They said everything was down that night."

Xavier nodded. "Yes. They lied."

The recording began, the camera capturing a dark road in the middle of a downpour. Two cars were driving in opposite directions when a white vehicle suddenly crashed into the right side of a black sedan—her parents' car. The impact sent the vehicle spinning, slamming into the barrier and then flipping over onto the side of the road. Flames began to rise from underneath the car.

Liora covered her mouth. Tears slid down her cheeks before she even realized it.

But the footage wasn't over. A few seconds later, a black car pulled over not far from the crash site. A man stepped out, tall, wearing a dark coat and a hat. He stood there, watching the burning vehicle, then got back into his car and drove off. No help. No call.

Liora turned sharply to Xavier.

"Who was that man? Why did he leave?! Why did the police never show me this?!"

"That man was your ex-husband. Noah Anderson."

"So Noah was involved in my parents' death?" Liora asked, her voice trembling.

"And you were still considering giving him a second chance?"

"No, but why are you showing me this just now? You've known for a long time, haven't you?"

Xavier didn't answer right away. He strolled, sat down in the chair across from her, and looked straight into her eyes.

"Because back then, you weren't completely mine. But now, you are. And I won't let anyone lay a hand on what's mine—especially a man whose family killed yours."

Liora was silent, her fists clenched. She looked at the screen, now frozen on the image of the black car. She knew that wasn't Noah's car. It was Bella's. Was Bella involved, too?

Xavier stood, strolling behind Liora. He leaned close, whispering near her ear.

"Starting tonight, you're not just my wife. You're part of my plan."

Liora turned to him, confused. "What plan?"