Amidst the whispers and stares from the bar's patrons, Cynthia stumbled out, her steps unsteady and desperate.
The late spring night breeze carried a chill, cruelly slipping into her collar. She was soaked, unsure whether it was sweat or spilled liquor from her struggle earlier, and as she stepped outside the bar, a shiver ran down her spine.
Suddenly, a strong wave of dizziness hit her, overwhelming her like a rushing tide.
Her body felt drained, as if her muscles had been stripped away, and she was left weak and on the verge of collapsing onto the cold ground.
Those drinks were definitely tampered with!
Shaking uncontrollably, Cynthia fumbled for her phone, her fingers sluggishly gliding across the screen as she tried to call her best friend, Erica, hoping for her to come and help.
But fate seemed unwilling to spare her.
Just then, two tall, shadowy figures appeared from behind her, silently approaching. Before she could react, a large, rough hand covered her mouth.
Cynthia felt the world spinning, her head heavy and clouded, as if engulfed in a thick fog.
Her body burned with an intense, uncomfortable heat, a sensation so foreign that she instinctively wanted to tear off her clothes.
Half-dazed, she was suddenly thrown onto a soft, large bed, the bright white light flashing painfully in her eyes.
She tried with all her might to open her eyes, to see where she was, but all she could see was a blurry haze, as if there were thick frosted glass between her and reality.
She tried to scream, but her throat was glued shut, no sound escaping.
Then, a towering figure slowly appeared in front of her, its presence overwhelming, like a mountain looming above her.
The figure pressed down heavily on her, the unmistakable scent of male pheromones flooding her senses, causing her body to involuntarily respond, every pore greedily inhaling the scent.
Her wrists were pinned to the bed with painful force, sharp agony jolting through her, bringing a fleeting moment of clarity.
In that instant, a deep, hoarse voice whispered in her ear, "I'm always right. YOU'RE THE SLUT! You want me to fuck you, huh?"
The words cut into her heart like a sharp knife.
She wasn't a slut, she screamed inside, wanting to open her mouth to argue, to tell him she was drugged, that she was a victim!
But when she tried to speak, all that escaped her lips were weak moans, the sound seeming to welcome the man's touch and invasion.
The next moment, her lips were seized in a harsh kiss, the burning sensation making her tremble all over.
She tried to push him away, but her body betrayed her, no strength left to resist, instead sinking deeper into the nauseating intimacy...
***
The Next Morning
The morning sun filtered through the thick curtains, casting several sharp beams of light. Cynthia's head was pounding painfully, each heartbeat like a heavy hammer pounding on her nerves.
Her body felt as though it had been pierced by countless needles, and an aching soreness spread throughout her limbs.
She struggled to turn over on the soft white bed, her pale arm slipping out from under the covers as she instinctively reached for her phone.
But after fumbling for a while, she couldn't find it. Rubbing her forehead, she slowly opened her eyes.
What she saw immediately snapped her out of the haze, as if cold water had been poured over her.
This was an unfamiliar room, lavishly decorated but filled with an eerie atmosphere.
The bed beneath her was soft, almost like a trap, binding her in place. What terrified her more was that she was completely naked, her skin exposed to the air, a cold chill seeping into her bones.
For a moment, her mind went blank.
Clothes, both men's and women's, were scattered all over the bed and the floor, the undeniable evidence of what had happened the night before—she had slept with a man.
Suddenly, the fragmented memories of last night crashed into her mind.
She had been abducted by a stranger, and then everything went black.
Her mind flickered with disjointed images, the man pressing on top of her, his hungry desire, the kiss, and the hands that had driven her to madness...
"DAMN!" she whispered under her breath, her voice trembling with a mixture of despair and fury. "A FUCKING one-night stand?!"
At that moment, the sound of running water came from the bathroom, harsh and loud in the otherwise silent room.
The noise startled Cynthia, making her freeze, her nerves immediately tensing.
Countless terrifying thoughts tangled in her mind.
Who was the man in the bathroom? Was he the one who kidnapped her?
Panicking, she quickly threw off the covers, scrambling out of bed, her bare feet cold against the floor.
Her movements were frantic and hurried, as she desperately grabbed for the clothes on the floor, trying to cover herself, while her eyes searched for her phone. That was her only chance for help.
When she finally found it, her trembling fingers pressed the buttons, ready to call the police.
But just then, the bathroom door creaked open. The sound wasn't loud, but it felt like thunder in her ears, and she froze in place, her body shaking uncontrollably.
Who was she about to face? Would this man kill her now that she was awake?
As she forced herself to calm down, she turned to face him, but the phone slipped from her hand, clattering to the floor.
Her face drained of color, her skin going deathly pale as if all the blood had been drained from her body. The air thickened with a suffocating cold.
It was the man from last night, the one who had called her a slut—Lucien.
He stood there, holding a cigarette in one hand, wrapped in a bath towel, his perfect physique on full display.
Water droplets clung to his pale skin, and his flawless face radiated coldness, his eyes—glinting with a chilling light—locked onto her.
Thick eyebrows, a high nose, and lips that were thin but exquisitely beautiful—all of it exuded an aristocratic elegance that was impossible to ignore.
But to Cynthia, it all felt like a nightmare.
Now, just being alone with him in this room, she felt as if she were standing on the edge of a cliff, with danger looming close by.
Run.
That was the only thought in her mind now. She had no courage left to defy him like she did last night.
But Lucien was faster. With one swift motion, he grabbed her sore wrist and slammed her against the wall, showing no intention of letting her go.
His breath was too close, and his wood-scented cologne, mixed with the fresh smell of his post-shower body, made her dizzy.
"Trying to run AGAIN?" Lucien's voice was low and hoarse, drifting in her ear with an undeniable force.
Cynthia's face was pressed hard against the wall, causing a sharp pain."I spent a lot of energy satisfying you last night. And you're just leaving like this? Not even a thanks?" Lucien's magnetic voice whispered in her ear.He was utterly shameless! To put it bluntly, he had committed a crime! And now, he was asking her to thank him?!"I have nothing to say to you. Let me go!" Cynthia felt stripped of all her dignity in front of him.She tried to push him away, but he grabbed her wrists, forcing her hands over her head. The barely hanging clothes slipped off her body, and she was once again pressed against the cold wall.Shame surged through her, overwhelming her thoughts."Nothing to say to me? Have you forgotten? We used to be husband and wife." Lucien's arms tightened around her waist, his body pressing dangerously close to hers. His lips brushed against her translucent earlobe, "I'm the one who knows best how slutty you are."His thumb ran over her lips, speaking slowly, "Your sk
Cynthia looked at Roy, a mix of emotions rising within her. Roy was handsome, and as a colleague, she knew him well. He was loyal, passionate, and responsible. If they were to date, he would treat her wonderfully—spoiling her and loving her. In every way, he seemed like a perfect partner.But..."Roy..." Cynthia wasn't sure how to begin.Roy spoke earnestly, "Cynthia, I love you! Over the course of our time together, I've realized I've unknowingly fallen for you. I know you need a warm embrace. Please, give me a chance. Marry me, Cynthia."Around them, guests turned to watch this heartfelt proposal, with some even encouraging her to say yes!"Say yes!"More voices joined in, repeating, "Say yes! Say yes!"Say yes?Once, she had thrown herself into love, only to be burned. Now, she had no expectations left...As Cynthia hesitated, a man suddenly walked up to them, his presence imposing and unnerving.He casually sat beside her, draping an arm over her shoulder, his lips brushing agains
As soon as Cynthia heard her son's voice, a pang of emotion surged in her heart."Harley, are you okay?""I'm not okay, Mommy. I miss you so much. Mommy, make sure you eat on time and don't stay up late. Wait for me..." Harley rambled on, his words warming Cynthia's heart.A smile tugged at her lips. "Well, well, well, I know all about it, and what about Gerald? Did he listen to you?""Ugh, he doesn't listen at all. A woman came to see him again today, and he dragged me out..." The phone seemed to be snatched from Harley's hands, and his protesting voice could be heard, muffled as if someone was holding him down. Cynthia could almost imagine Gerald pressing Harley's head down.Sure enough, Gerald's familiar raspy voice came through the phone. "There's no woman, don't listen to his nonsense.""Yes, there is! A woman with a big butt, really ugly! His taste is getting worse... no medicine can fix it..." Harley's voice came again, but was cut off midway. Without a doubt, Gerald was coveri
On the other side.Cynthia's hands trembled slightly as she held the phone to her ear, listening to the steady dial tone. Yet, her gaze never left Roy. Biting her lower lip, her face was filled with guilt and remorse as she whispered, "Gina, can you come over? Something happened, and I need your help."After hanging up, she took a deep breath and slowly walked toward Roy, each step feeling as though she were carrying a crushing weight."I'm sorry..." Cynthia's voice wavered with emotion.If not for her, Roy wouldn't have been humiliated like this, wouldn't have been beaten so badly. She knew all too well who had orchestrated this—Lucien, the man she both feared and despised.But Roy didn't know. At that moment, his face was twisted in fury, his eyes burning with rage as if ready to set the entire world on fire. His fists were clenched tight, his whole body tense like a provoked beast, ready to pounce and tear his enemy apart."You don't need to apologize. This isn't your fault—it's th
Lucien's face contorted with a storm of emotions, dark and unreadable.It had only been six years, yet she had already learned to threaten him with a knife.Cynthia tilted her head up, locking eyes with Lucien. Time had passed swiftly, but he seemed untouched by it—unchanged in every way.The same striking face she knew so well, the same abyssal gaze. The way he looked at her now was exactly how he had watched her last—filled with an overwhelming hatred, as if he wanted to tear her apart.Six years ago, there might have been a shred of mercy left in him. But now, the tide of time had washed away every trace of warmth between them, leaving behind nothing but pure, seething hatred. There was no kindness left in his gaze, only cold, merciless fury.Perhaps it was the dim lighting of the room, or perhaps it was the sight of his loathing expression, but Cynthia's eyes stung. Her grip on the knife trembled slightly, and the sharp blade nicked Lucien's neck. A bead of crimson welled up, star
Lucien stood alone in the room, the air around him drained of all life, leaving only an oppressive silence in the wake of the violent confrontation. Blood trickled steadily from his palm, yet his expression remained vacant and hollow, as if he felt no pain at all.The door burst open, and Sandy stepped inside. The sight before her made her eyes widen in shock, and she clamped a hand over her mouth, a gasp escaping before she could stop it. "Lucien!"Without a second thought, she turned and shouted toward the hallway, urgency thick in her voice. "Hurry! Get me some gauze!"Moments later, the necessary supplies were rushed into the room.Sandy dropped to her knees beside him, her hands trembling slightly as she carefully cleaned the blood from his palm. Though her movements were gentle, they carried a sense of urgency. She wrapped the gauze around his hand, layer after layer, securing it firmly.Throughout the process, Lucien remained motionless, as
As soon as Cynthia got home, she felt completely drained, as if all the strength had been sucked out of her.She collapsed onto the bed, her body sinking into the mattress, staring blankly at the ceiling. Her mind kept replaying everything that had happened with Lucien, the exhaustion weighing on her both physically and mentally, leaving her unable to move.She had no idea how long she lay there until a crisp knocking sound echoed from the door.Forcing herself to sit up, Cynthia dragged her weary body to open it.Standing outside was Erica, beaming with a bright smile, holding a large, heavy-looking shopping bag.The moment Erica stepped inside, her smile faltered. She immediately noticed something was off. With a concerned look, she asked, "What's wrong? You look terrible."Reaching out, she tried to feel Cynthia's forehead, checking if she was sick.Cynthia stepped aside to let her in, shaking her head slightly. She forced a weak s
CrossStar Group, commonly known as C. Star, was a rising entertainment company that had made a name for itself in just a few years. With a roster of top-tier celebrities under its management, it had quickly solidified its position in the industry, becoming the hottest topic among major magazines.Then of course F.E Magazine is no exception, this was supposed to be Gina's job, and it looks like she was supposed to be held up by her last job, and that's why she was asked to fill in.Stepping out of the office, Cynthia dialed Gina's number.On the other end, Gina's voice sounded a little weary, yet she still responded with her usual enthusiasm, promising to send over the documents right away.After hanging up, Cynthia quickly gathered her things and left the magazine office in a hurry.Upon arriving at C. Star's headquarters, the receptionist greeted her with a professional smile and politely led her to the waiting room. "Please wait here for a moment
Cynthia gently closed Georgia's bedroom door and took a few steps forward. As she lifted her gaze, she caught sight of a flickering glow near the balcony, the faint arcs of light piercing through the darkness. She hesitated for a moment, then, almost instinctively, moved toward the glow. When she got closer, she realized who it was—Lucien.Without thinking, she blurted out, "You haven't left?"Lucien turned his head slowly at the sound of her voice, his expression calm as he met her gaze. "Where else should I go?" he asked in return.His words caught Cynthia off guard, as if something lodged in her throat, rendering her momentarily speechless. Indeed, given the tangled mess of their relationship, it wasn't exactly surprising that he was still here.Just then, a faint but distinct creaking sound came from the balcony railing.A warning flashed through her mind—the landlord's reminder: The railing is old and unstable. Don't lean on it, or you might fall.Before she could even think, her
Cynthia slowly regained consciousness, only to find that Lucien was already gone. As she moved slightly, a wave of soreness spread through her body, as if she had endured some kind of harsh punishment. Yet, she couldn't deny that Lucien's skills in bed were nothing short of extraordinary—just as they had always been.After taking a shower and changing into fresh clothes, Cynthia stepped out of the bathroom, only to realize that night had already fallen. The room was shrouded in darkness. She reached for the switch, and with a soft click, light illuminated the space. As her gaze landed on the glass tank, her footsteps faltered.The turtle had been placed back inside. It lay motionless at the bottom of the tank, quiet and still.Cynthia slowly approached, her eyes locked onto the small creature. Lucien's words echoed in her mind: You're just like this turtle.As much as she hated to admit it, there was some truth to his cruel remark.Her marriage to Lucien was like that glass tank—an en
Lucien strode over to Cynthia, pulled her into his arms, and firmly clasped her waist. Towering over the disheveled Edric on the ground, his eyes glinted with disdain. "If you want to speak to my wife, you'll have to get my permission first."Cynthia instinctively tried to push him away. "Lucien!" she called softly.At the sound of her voice, Lucien turned his head slightly and glanced at her. That one look sent a sharp jolt through Cynthia's heart. In his eyes, she saw overwhelming possessiveness, fierce protectiveness, and a trace of barely contained rage.Edric scrambled to his feet, looking utterly pathetic. His suit and face were smeared with dirt, and his bloodshot eyes locked onto Lucien and Cynthia with seething anger. His clenched fists trembled slightly, but he dared not make another move.Lucien glanced at him with contempt before lowering his gaze to Cynthia. "Darling, let's go home."His tone was gentle, but chilling to anyone who heard it.Simon helped Georgia from the t
After the call ended, Cynthia sat frozen in her seat, her mind blank. Several seconds passed before she slowly came to her senses and took a deep breath — a breath that seemed to drain all the strength from her body. After hesitating for a moment, she stood up and headed straight to her manager's office to request leave.She knew full well that, no matter how strained her relationship with Georgia had been, she couldn't just turn a blind eye. Blood was thicker than water — no matter how much she tried, she couldn't cut those ties completely.When she arrived at the hospital, she went directly to the Radiology Department. Spotting Edric sitting there, Cynthia stormed over."Where's Georgia?" she demanded."She's inside, getting some scans done," Edric replied calmly, looking up at her."What exactly happened? And why are you here?" Cynthia's tone was sharp.Edric furrowed his brows slightly but still explained patiently, "I accidentally scraped her with my car, so I brought her here ri
Sitting in the car, Cynthia stared silently out the window. After a long while, as if gathering all her courage, she slowly turned her head and softly asked, "How did you know I was there?""I told you we'd go home together after work. Why didn't you wait for me?"Lucien's tone was noticeably cold.Cynthia froze, suddenly recalling that he had indeed mentioned this. Lowering her eyes slightly, she murmured, "I forgot,"with a hint of barely noticeable guilt in her voice."You remember everything when it's about other people, but when it comes to me, you forget it all completely,"Lucien said, visibly annoyed. His eyes fell on the clothes she was wearing, and his expression darkened even more. "Take it off."Cynthia was still startled by his earlier words, and now, hearing this sudden command, she frowned slightly. Is he seriously thinking about... here, in the car?"What? Do you just love wearing another man's clothes that much?"&nbs
Lucien stood at the doorway, clad in a perfectly tailored black suit, his posture straight and imposing. His sharp, hawk-like gaze locked onto Cynthia the moment he spotted her.When he noticed she was still wrapped in her male colleague's jacket, his brows furrowed slightly, a flicker of displeasure flashing through his eyes.Cynthia lifted her gaze and met Lucien's eyes.Why did he always seem to appear out of nowhere? Did he secretly install a tracker on her or something?Lucien strode over to her, lowering his head slightly as he gazed at her. His voice was calm but firm. "Are you done here?"Cynthia met his eyes with an unshaken expression. "They want me to borrow money from you—to pay off another million for Georgia. Would you still be willing to lend it to me?""If you want it, I'll give it to you,"Lucien replied without hesitation.Cynthia let out a soft "hmm,"as if contemplating something. Then she turned to
Shortly after.As Cynthia stood in front of the familiar doorway, she was met with nothing but cold emptiness.This was a place she had once loathed with every fiber of her being, yet it was also the place she had been forced to rely on.She had been gone for six years—who knew how much had changed?She pressed the doorbell, her expression utterly calm.The door swung open, revealing Toby standing shirtless, a large, inky-black tattoo sprawled across one shoulder. It was an indistinguishable mess. The moment he laid eyes on her, a sinister grin spread across his face. "We've been waiting for you."Cynthia stepped inside, her movements unhurried. Toby's gaze raked over her, sizing her up. "Looks like you've been living quite the luxurious life these past few years. Just look at those clothes, shoes, that bag—every single piece screams designer."She continued walking into the living room, her voice indifferent. "That's righ
The afternoon passed peacefully, with no one paying any more attention to Jacqueline. She slunk away, thoroughly humiliated. Hogan remained professional and focused on filming until the very end, which moved Pearl to tears.Cynthia had plans with Gina, so she completely forgot that Lucien had mentioned picking her up after work. The moment she clocked out, she left with Gina, and the two of them headed to a nearby restaurant for dinner.After confronting Cynthia earlier, Gina had already started to regret it. Yes, Cynthia had lied to her, but after cooling down, she questioned herself—what was she doing? She had only ever admired Lucien from afar. It had always been one-sided. What right did she have to hold her friend accountable for that?She trusted that Cynthia had her reasons.But she never expected Cynthia to drop a bombshell on her."Lucien is my ex-husband."Gina was utterly stunned, staring at Cynthia in shock, unable to proce
The moment Jacqueline saw Lucien, the smugness on her face instantly disappeared, replaced by sheer terror. Her eyes widened in horror as if she had just seen the most terrifying thing in the world.Her legs went weak, and she stumbled, barely able to stay on her feet. Nicky quickly reached out to support her, calling out anxiously, "Jacqueline!"Then, as he turned to look at Lucien approaching, an icy chill shot up his spine. His body involuntarily trembled.Lucien walked toward them, his fingers lightly brushing together as his cold, piercing gaze locked onto Jacqueline. His voice was laced with disdain as he said, "So, you've left clothes at my house before? I'll have the housekeeper search the storage room right away. If they find anything, I'll have it sent back to you immediately. In my home, aside from my wife's clothes, I consider anything else filthy and have the maids use them as rags.""Lucien…" Nicky couldn't take it anymore and tried to interject.However, before he could