Chapter 1: The Love Dream

“I’m coming back anyway,” she muttered under her breath. “To take back what’s mine and avenge my mom’s death.”

Amber had spent most of her life pretending that marriage arrangement did not exist.

At four years old, she lost her mother.

At four years old, she also lost her home.

Before she died, Amber Shaw’s mother arranged her marriage to the heir of the Winchester family, the most powerful family on the Upper East Side.

The memories still lived vividly inside her mind no matter how hard she tried to bury them. Her father did not even wait long after the funeral before marrying his mistress openly. The woman moved into the Shaw mansion like she had always belonged there, taking over everything that once belonged to Amber’s mother.

Including her place.

Her grandfather had left a massive estate behind for his daughter, but Amber’s father - Malcolm Shaw, seized everything for himself. Then, as if that was not enough, he threw his own child away like trash nobody wanted.

Amber still remembered the cold morning she was sent away.

Sixteen years had passed since then.

Sixteen years without hearing from him.

And now suddenly, he wanted her back.

Amber sat silently inside her hotel room, staring at the letter in her hand. The paper had already wrinkled from how tightly she held it. Her luggage rested beside the bed, unopened after the long trip.

The letter instructed her to return to New York immediately and break off the engagement with the Winchester family.

A bitter smile touched her lips.

The same family that abandoned her now suddenly cared about her engagement?

How ridiculous.

Amber leaned back against the chair slowly, exhaustion weighing heavily on her body. She had only just left Mrs. Winters that morning.

The woman who truly raised her.

Years ago, when Amber turned twelve, she begged Mrs. Winters to take her back to the Shaw family. She still remembered how hopeful she felt that day, convinced her father would finally accept her again.

Instead, the gates never even opened for her.

She remembered standing outside the mansion while her stepmother looked down at her with disgust.

“You have no place here, little rat.”

Mrs. Winters had held her hand tightly all the way home afterward while Amber silently cried beside the window of the bus.

Now those same people wanted her return.

Amber knew this sudden invitation had nothing to do with love or guilt. People like the Shaw family only reached out when they wanted something.

Unfortunately for them, she was no longer the helpless little girl they abandoned.

“I’m coming back anyway,” she muttered under her breath. Her fingers tightened around the letter until it crumpled completely in her hand. “To take back what’s mine and avenge my mom’s death.”

The anger inside her chest felt sharp enough to choke her.

Without hesitation, Amber threw the letter into the trash can beside the desk and stood up. She grabbed her suitcase and headed toward the door.

The second she opened it, her entire body froze.

A man stood directly outside her room.

Blood covered his shirt and dripped down his arm onto the carpeted hallway floor. His breathing was uneven, rough, dangerous. Dark strands of hair fell across his forehead while his sharp eyes locked instantly onto hers.

Amber’s heart slammed violently against her ribs.

The man immediately pulled out a small knife and pointed it at her throat.

“Back inside.”

Amber gasped softly and stumbled backward. “Who are you?” she asked shakily.

Instead of answering, the man glanced behind him down the hallway.

Then voices echoed from the stairwell.

“This way!”

“Fuck!” The stranger cursed under his breath. His jaw tightened before he turned back toward Amber. “Move!”

Fear rushed through her body instantly.

Amber flinched and stepped backward into the room while the man followed closely behind her. He kicked the door shut with his leg without taking his eyes off her for even a second.

Outside, heavy footsteps thundered through the hallway.

“Find that bastard, Oliver Winchester.”

Amber’s breath caught.

That name. Something about that name triggered something inside her.

Could he be the one? 

Could this be the same man she was here to break engagement with?

She shook off the thought off her head.

That can’t be possible.

“The world thinks he’s a philanthropist billionaire. Underneath it all, he’s a ruthless crime boss. We failed tonight, we’re the ones to be buried.”

“He’s a damn demon.”

One of the other men sounded genuinely terrified.

“We unloaded three bullets into him. Yet he’s still walking. Please tell us how the hell are we supposed to stop that kinda man?”

Amber slowly looked back at the bleeding stranger standing in front of her.

Before she could fully process what was going on, Oliver suddenly grabbed her and pushed her down onto the bed.

Amber let out a startled gasp.

He tore open his bloodstained shirt with one rough motion and tossed it aside carelessly.

Amber’s eyes widened.

Even injured, the man looked unfairly attractive. His body was powerfully built, hard muscles covered in streaks of blood and bruises. There was something dark and dangerous about him that made her pulse race uncontrollably.

Oliver climbed onto the bed above her while pressing the knife toward her neck again.

“Moan for me.” He roared.

Amber stared at him like he had completely lost his mind.

“What?”

“Do it!” His patience snapped instantly. “Loud. Or I slit your throat.”

“You’re insane!” Amber snapped back, trembling. “I don’t even know you.”

Oliver turned briefly toward the door as footsteps approached outside.

Then his gaze darkened when it returned to her. “Shut up and do what I say. Or I’ll kill you.”

The knife pressed slightly harder against her skin.

Amber’s breathing became shallow.

Outside the room, the voices grew closer.

“Seal all exits.” he ordered. "No survivors.”

A chill ran down Amber’s spine.

They were not just hunting Oliver. Anyone connected to him tonight would die too.

Oliver leaned lower over her, his voice deadly calm now.

“I said start moaning. Or I’ll kill you.”

Amber clenched her fists tightly beneath the blanket.

‘They’re here to kill him.’ Amber whispered inside her. ‘If I don’t play along, I’ll be next.’

Her heart pounded wildly.

Then suddenly, she wrapped her arms around his neck and let out a loud breathless sound.

“Oh, yes!”

Oliver stared at her briefly, clearly surprised by how quickly she adapted.

“You’re amazing!” he said, satisfied. He pulled up the blanket up to cover their bodies halfway.

Amber continued dramatically while forcing herself not to panic.

“Yes, harder! Oh, uhh… uh….” She continued moaning. 

Oliver immediately caught on and lowered himself closer to her body while the blanket covered them almost completely.

From outside, the footsteps slowed near the door.

Amber could practically hear her own heartbeat.

Slowly, she slid one hand beneath the blanket behind Oliver’s back.

Then her fingers touched cold metal.

A gun.

Her eyes flickered slightly.

‘You want me to play along?’ She whispered inside her again, pulling out the gun slowly. ‘Fine. But your gun is my f*e.’

Carefully, without alerting him, Amber slid the weapon beneath the pillow beside her.

“Yes, harder! Harder! Yes!”

She kept moaning loudly while Oliver stayed above her, his breathing heavy against her neck.

“Oh, yes! Yes!”

Then suddenly, the hotel room door creaked open.

Amber’s fake moans nearly stopped.

Three armed men stormed inside immediately, their guns raised straight toward the bed.