Chapter 1

Inside the hotel room, the place was a mess.

Nina Walker woke up, her entire body sore and achy. She rubbed her temples, preparing to rise, and glanced at the tall figure lying next to her. His strikingly handsome face boasted sharply defined features and deep-set eyes. He remained sound asleep, showing no signs of waking.

Nina sat up, the sheets slipping off, revealing faint marks on her fair, sensual shoulders. She got out of bed, bloodstains clearly visible on the sheets.

Glancing at the time, realizing she was almost late for work, she grabbed her scattered professional attire from the floor and changed into it. Her stockings were already torn by him. She balled them up and tossed them into the trash, slipping on her high heels.

There was a knock at the door. Nina was already neatly dressed, back in her role as an efficient secretary, holding her purse as she headed out. Entering was a pure-looking beauty. Nina had called her. The type that Nash York liked. Nina said, "You just need to wait for Mr. York to wake up in bed, nothing needs to be said."

She glanced back at the man sleeping on the bed, a bitter taste rising within her, yet she still left the room. Nina didn't want Nash to find out they had slept together yesterday. They had an agreement - three years of secret marriage, then they could divorce. During this time, no love or any intimate acts should be involved...

She had been Nash's personal secretary for seven years and his wife for three. From the day she graduated, she stayed by his side and never left. It was also that day when he warned her that their relationship could only be that of superior and subordinate, never to transcend this hierarchy.

Nina stood by the corridor window, still pondering over yesterday's events, him holding her in bed, calling out "Mira." Her heart clenched fiercely. Mira was his first love. He had treated her as a replacement for Mira. She understood Nash; he wouldn't want anything with her.

This marriage, which she alone took seriously, had to come to an end. The events of last night served as the closing chapter to their three years together. As she checked her phone, a headline caught her eye: "Rising Star Singer Miranda Lewis Returns Home with Fiancé!"

Nina's grip on the phone tightened, bitterness flooding her heart, her nose prickling with the sting of realization. Finally, she understood why he had drowned himself in alcohol the previous night and why he had cried in her arms.

Cold wind blew against her, and she gave a bitter smile, putting away her phone and retrieving a pack of cigarettes from her bag. Lighting one up, she held it between her slender index and middle fingers, the smoke swirling around her, veiling her lonely yet beautiful face in a haze. At that moment, Taylor Lawson hurried over, panting, "Nina, Mr. York's suit has arrived, I'll take it in now."

Nina's thoughts were interrupted, and she turned her head. She glanced over, "Wait."

Taylor halted, "Is there anything else, Nina?"

"He doesn't like blue, so change it to black. Use a striped tie, and yes, iron it again. Make sure there are no wrinkles, and don't use a transparent bag; he doesn't like the sound of plastic. Hang it on the hanger and send it over." Nina was like Nash's personal housekeeper, remembering every little habit of his without ever making a mistake in all these years.

Taylor was startled. In her three months here, just seeing Mr. York's stern face was terrifying enough. She had nearly caused trouble again today.

Taylor hurried off to make the change, "Thank you, Nina."

Suddenly, a low growl came from the suite, "Get out!"

Immediately followed by a woman's terrified scream. Before long, the door opened.

Taylor, red-eyed and dejected, had been reprimanded. This time, Mr. York was particularly furious.

Her pleading eyes turned to Nina, "Nina, Mr. York said he wants you to come in."

Nina glanced at the wide-open door, also fearing she couldn't handle it, "You go down first."

She extinguished her cigarette in the ashtray and strode into the suite.

At the doorway, she saw a mess inside, with everything around Nash in disarray. The table lamp shattered, and the screen cracked, the phone still vibrating.

The woman she had brought was too scared to move, standing naked, unsure of where to go, with a hint of guilt in her eyes.

Nash sat grimly on the bed, his physique well-proportioned from long-term exercise, his muscles defined, broad chest, and visible abs, with a faint hint of a 'V' line hidden under the sheets.

He looked tempting, but his handsome face was dark, his eyes fierce, teetering on the edge of rage.

Nina stepped forward, propping up the lamp, poured a glass of water and placed it on the bedside table, "Mr. York, there's a meeting at 9:30, you can get up now."

Nash's gaze was coldly fixed on the woman.

As if he still found it unbelievable.

Sensing this, Nina said to her, "You can leave now."

The woman breathed a sigh of relief, quickly picked up her clothes and hurried out, not daring to linger for a moment.

Everything became calm once more.

Nash shifted his gaze back to Nina's face. Nina habitually handed him the water and placed the shirt on the bed, "Mr. York, you can change your clothes now."

Nash's face remained stern, his displeasure evident in his eyes as he asked coldly, "Where were you last night?"

Nina was momentarily stunned. Was he blaming her for failing to take care of him properly, enabling other women to take advantage of him, and betraying his Mira?

Her eyes softened slightly, "Mr. York, you were drunk last night, it was just a moment of drunkenness. We're all adults, you don't have to dwell on it."

Her subdued emotions conveyed that she would handle it for him, ensuring that no other woman would bother him.

He stared at her, the veins bulging on his forehead, "I'll ask you one last time, where were you last night?"

Nina felt a bit nervous, "I've been dealing with exhausting projects lately. I fell asleep in the office."

As soon as she finished speaking, she heard Nash snort coldly.

His face turned cold, his lips tightly pressed together as he got up from the bed, grabbing a towel to wrap around himself.

Nina watched his retreating figure, her eyes slightly moist.

In her presence, he always concealed himself, as if being seen by her was something repulsive. Last night, when he treated her like Mira, it was completely different.

By the time she snapped out of her thoughts, Nash had already finished showering and was standing in front of the full-length mirror.

Nina walked over and, as usual, buttoned up his shirt for him. He was tall, standing at 1.88 meters, while she was only 1.68 meters tall. It was still a bit of a stretch for her to tie his tie.

He seemed still angry at himself for being unclean, for betraying Mira, refusing to bend down in his cold arrogance.

She could only tiptoe and reach up to put the tie around his neck.

As she concentrated on tying his tie, Nash's warm breath brushed against her ear, his voice husky with tension, "Nina, that woman last night... it was you, wasn't it?"