Seductive touch

Irene Jones POV

My heart pounded as I struggled to respond, my voice trembling. "Yes?"

"Miss, the Young Master would like to meet you," the man said, his tone formal yet firm. He gave a slight bow. "I’m Albert, his bodyguard. I’ve been sent to escort you."

His words made my mind go blank. What was happening? This was supposed to be my wedding day, yet here he was, saying something that didn’t make any sense.

"Are you coming, Miss Jones?" Albert asked again, his tone calm but insistent.

I nodded silently and followed him. The gown clung to me like a weight, dragging me down with every step. Each movement away from the aisle felt like another piece of my dignity crumbling.

I wanted to ask him why, to demand an explanation, but the words stuck in my throat. I didn’t know him, and there was no trust between us.

As we exited the banquet hall, a sleek black SUV pulled up in front of us.

Albert gestured to the vehicle. "He is inside."

He opened the door, revealing a broad back turned toward me. The sight only made my anxiety worse.

My thoughts raced, but I forced myself into the car, my composure hanging by a thread. I couldn’t afford to make this worse.

"So, you must be Irene Jones."

The deep, monotone voice sent a chill down my spine. My body stiffened, every muscle tense.

"I asked you a question," the voice pressed, sharper this time.

My breath hitched. He hadn’t even turned to look at me, yet his presence was suffocating.

"Are you deaf? Or perhaps you don’t wish to answer me, Miss Jones?"

I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. The absurdity of the situation paralyzed me.

"Are you the chosen bride?”

I flinched but forced myself to respond, my voice barely audible. "Yes, I am."

"Don’t you think you’re too ugly to be chosen?" His words hit like a slap, tearing through the fragile walls I’d built around myself.

I clenched my hands, doubt creeping in. How did he even know about my appearance? He hadn’t looked at me once.

"I don’t know about that," I murmured, unable to meet his gaze.

"So who knows?" he scoffed. "You think I’m unaware of how your greedy family replaced you in the bride's place?”

My stomach churned. How did he know? This was supposed to be a secret, but he spoke as if it were common knowledge.

Before I could process his words, he pinned me against the window. My breath hitched as his piercing green eyes locked onto mine, cold and unrelenting.

"I hate liars like you," he spat, his voice dripping with venom.

Anger bubbled up inside me, overpowering my fear. "Who the hell are you?!"

A low, humorless chuckle escaped him. "Ha! Ha! Ha! Why are you so amusing?"

My breathing quickened as panic clawed at my chest.

He leaned closer, his sharp nose brushing against my neck as he inhaled deeply. My body tensed, heat spreading through me despite my revulsion.

"What are you doing, bastard?" I shouted, my voice shaking with a mix of anger and fear.

His grip on my wrist tightened, his expression unreadable. "So, you can curse too?”

"Who are you? Why the hell are you touching me and speaking to me like this?" I demanded, desperate to regain some control.

"I am Cyril Myers, your husband’s cousin," he said, his tone mocking.

"Then why are you behaving like this?" I snapped, trembling. "I’m your soon-to-be sister-in-law.”

A smirk spread across his face as his eyes roamed over me with unsettling ease, as if I were a puzzle he meant to solve. "Why waste your life marrying an impotent, ugly man? You're hardly appealing, but how about spending one night with me? I can give you anything.”

My stomach churned in disgust. First, he insulted me, and now this? The humiliation was unbearable.

"If I’m so repulsive, why do you even want me?" I hissed, my voice trembling with anger.

"It's mine to know, not yours." His smirk widened as he leaned closer, his presence suffocating.

The movement caused my gown to slip slightly, exposing my thigh. His hand rested on my bare skin, sending a jolt of terror through me.

"Leave me!"