A heavy sense of danger surrounded a sleek black car, followed closely by two similar vehicles until they stopped in front of the grand gates of a tall skyscraper.Big men in sharp black suits got out of the other cars and lined up behind the lead vehicle like soldiers.The driver rushed to open the back door for the man inside.First, a pair of long legs stepped out, wearing shoes so shiny they reflected the city around them. Then, a tall man emerged, dressed in a suit that looked like it was made from gold threadsHis hair was jet black and perfectly styled, though a few rebellious strands fell across his forehead.His eyes were a steely gray, sharp and intense, with brows that arched dramatically against his skin.He smoothed out his suit as he walked towards the building entrance.A slight smirk appeared on his lips—hardly noticeable but definitely there."Good morning, sir!" His employees greeted him in unison, bowing their heads respectfully.Some of them were barely able to stan
Dane lingered by the window, his gaze lost in the cityscape below like a silent predator surveying his territory.His eyes held an icy detachment when he finally turned away from the view, making his way toward the exit of his corporate fortress.His guards stood alert before the door, their bodies tensed at his approach. Even after years of service and familiarity, they could never shake off the aura of intimidation that clung to Dane like a second skin."Report!" he commanded, his voice cold and unyielding as winter frost.He didn't need to ask; it was merely a formality."We have him, sir," came the steady reply from Chris, his right-hand man.Dane acknowledged with a curt nod before sweeping past them without another word.His face was an unreadable mask as he stepped into the elevator with an air of impending doom hanging heavily around him.The doors closed behind him and he descended into the bowels of his empire accompanied by a select few of his loyal soldiers.Outside, Chris
Joey was adorned in a red bondage bikini with a garter belt that barely concealed her curves as she perched provocatively on the edge of the plush bed.Her makeup was a work of art, with smoky eyes and audacious matte red lipstick that demanded attention.Her hair was artfully tousled into an updo that exuded a sense of wild abandon.Draped around her neck was an extravagantly expensive choker necklace, adding an air of luxury to her ensemble.Her feet were accentuated with black stilettos, their red soles hinting at a daring persona.As Dane entered the room, Joey rose from her seated position.Her eyes glinted with desire yet held a trace of apprehension as they roamed over his well-defined chest muscles.A surge of fear prickled through her when she met his gaze that brewed with a stormy sea of anger and malice.Her breath hitched in anticipation as Dane prowled towards her, his lips curling into an ominous smirk."Sir—" Joey's voice wavered, breaking off into a gasp when Dane unex
Scarlet's eyes fluttered open as the first rays of dawn peeked through her window.She let out a big yawn and stretched her arms over her head, squinting at the clock across the room. It was seven o'clock - an early start to another bustling day at the hospital where she worked as a doctor.Her fingers rubbed at the sleep in her eyes before she pushed back the plush duvet and rose from her bed with a languid stretch.After luxuriating under the steamy cascade of water, letting it unknot the knots of stress in her shoulders, she stepped out and toweled off.She got dressed for work and stepped out into the hallway. Her older brother Michael's room was right across from hers.Scarlet stopped outside his door, wondering if he was home and awake as well before rapping lightly on the polished wood surface with her knuckles."Come in!" came his muffled reply from within.A soft smile graced Scarlet's lips as she nudged the door open and stepped inside the very masculine yet luxurious bedroo
~Dane Creighton's Mansion~Mrs. Creighton sat elegantly on the velvet chaise lounge, her slender fingers delicately turning the pages of a leather-bound book.The lenses of her tortoiseshell reading glasses reflected the plush living room bathed in a warm glow as she lost herself in the story's world.The tranquil atmosphere was suddenly shattered by the sound of muffled sobs approaching.Mrs. Creighton peered over her glasses just as a young maid burst through the door, her uniform clinging to her trembling frame.Tears streamed down the girl's flushed cheeks as she hiccuped between ragged breaths."Clara, dear, what's the matter?" Mrs. Creighton set her book aside, maternal concern etching her brow.The maid, Clara, could barely form a coherent sentence through her hysterics. "M-Madam...the young master...he..." She dissolved into a fresh wave of sobs.Mrs. Creighton's expression hardened as realization dawned. This wasn't the first time her son had terrorized the staff.She rose gra
The scorching midday sun cast harsh, unforgiving shadows on the pavement outside the hospital.Scarlet stood there, her slim figure etched against the stark white backdrop of the building behind her, awaited her brother Michael's arrival.He had promised to join her for a lunch date, and despite running late, she trusted he'd keep his word.The oppressive heat was downright stifling, searing through her light summer dress and causing beads of sweat to form on her brow.With a frustrated sigh, she raised a hand to shield her eyes from the sun's blinding glare and checked her watch again.Her gaze drifted back towards the street, eagerly scanning each approaching vehicle with hopeful eyes. When she finally spotted Michael's familiar black sedan in the distance, a quick smile flashed across her face before settling into a broad grin."You're so damn late!" Scarlet chided playfully the momet she climbed into the passenger seat beside him, leaning over to give him a peck on the cheek.Micha
Scarlet's sleek red Lamborghini purred as it emerged from the garage a little over a minute later, its powerful engine rumbling like a wild animal.Following close behind was a black SUV carrying her team of burly bodyguards like silent, intimidating sentries protecting their charge.Her car had just crossed over the bridge that linked the city's main arteries and was about to make a right turn at the traffic light when a flashy black sports car blew through the intersection, clearly running the red light.Tires squealed as the two vehicles collided with a sickening crunch of metal on metal."Son of a bitch!" Scarlet snarled, her delicate features contorting into an enraged glare as she gripped the steering wheel in a tight grip.Who the hell was this reckless douchebag with the audacity to drive like such an irresponsible jackass and damage her prized car she cherished more than life itself?The other driver's blatant irresponsibility and disregard for traffic laws infuriated her to h
Scarlet made her way to the riverside restaurant where Lincoln had been patiently awaiting her arrival. As soon as she spotted his tall, familiar figure standing outside with hands casually tucked into the pockets of his tailored slacks, she applied the brakes.The powerful Lamborghini purred to a stop right in front of him.Lincoln immediately closed the distance with long, purposeful strides, concern etching his handsome features.He reached to help Scarlet out of the low-slung car, his hands gentle but insistent as they grasped her shoulders, giving her body an anxious once-over to check for any signs of injury."Are you alright, sweetheart? Were you hurt at all in the accident? God, I knew I should have come pick you up myself instead of letting you drive," he fretted, the tense lines around his eyes and mouth showing just how worried he'd been.Scarlet flashed him a reassuring smile and shook her head.She reached up to press her palms against his stubbled cheeks in a soothing ges
~Meanwhile~Lincoln, Michael and Mr. Wovers stood grimly at the riverbank, watching as rescue teams worked tirelessly to locate any sign of Scarlet.A large crowd had gathered. Law enforcement officers maintaining a perimeter, members of the press jostling for a view, and hushed onlookers craning their necks.Divers plunged repeatedly into the murky depths while a massive crane was positioned over Scarlet's submerged car, its hook straining as it slowly lifted the crumpled wreck from the water's embrace.The vehicle emerged empty, thoroughly crushed and devoid of any human remains.A strangled cry tore from Michael's lips as he crumpled to his knees on the bank, finally giving voice to the anguish contorting his features."Scarlet!" he wailed, the sound reverberating from his core as fat tears rolled down his cheeks. "Oh god, no...please no..."Lincoln watched in numb shock as his almost brother-in-law was overwhelmed by grief. A single tear traced a path down his own cheek before he
It was simply impossible - unthinkable. Scarlet wasn't supposed to die, not like this. She was meant to live out the rest of her days in misery and anguish, forever haunted by him and the memory of her defilement. That was the fate Dane had intended for her.So why had she taken her own life instead? Why trade decades of torment for an escape into oblivion? Did she truly loathe him so completely, with such scorching intensity? He couldn't - wouldn't - believe it!A profound sense of unease settled over Dane as he wrestled with these turbulent thoughts and emotions.He felt...sad. Inexplicably melancholy in a way he couldn't fully grasp or articulate. Not because she was gone - because she was the one who had chosen to go.Scarlet was the only person he had ever truly wanted to possess, to torment, play with and control with an iron fist.She alone had captivated him in a way no other had before. And now she was gone, forever out of his reach.His mother grabbed his shirt again, jolting
Dane found solace in the comforting embrace of his mother back at the mansion.He had no desire to be productive today, his mind utterly consumed by the scandal surrounding Scarlet.All he craved was his mother's warmth and affection.Using the excuse that he simply wanted uninterrupted time with her, Dane turned off both of their phones to shield her from the harsh reality.The last thing he needed was the media hounding him with their relentless, judgmental questions.His mother let out a contented sigh and turned on the television to the news channel. Dane knew she didn't really care about politics - she just hoped to catch a glimpse of her husband, the Interior Minister, boasting about his supposed achievements.He shot her a disapproving look, but she was too engrossed to notice. With a weary sigh, Dane reluctantly extricated himself from her arms and rose to his feet."I'm going to my suite for a bit. We can resume this quality time when the news is over," he said dryly."No, sta
Scarlet lay on her bed with her eyes open and unblinking. She hadn't slept a wink all night and couldn't even catch a few hours of rest this morning because her phone just wouldn't stop ringing.Call after call from her mom, her brother, her fiancé Lincoln - the notifications never seemed to end."For God's sake, give it a rest already," she muttered irritably, rubbing her throbbing temples.Finally, she snatched up the phone when a new message chime trickled out. But it wasn't from anyone she recognized - just an unknown number.Heart sinking, Scarlet opened up the message thread.All she saw was a video file. Of her and some guy kissing, getting hot and heavy. She looked...content. Happy, even.A startled gasp escaped her lips as the awful realization hit her - this was from that night at the hospital when Dane had basically assaulted her… when he forced himself on her. The night he'd stolen a first kiss from her."What the hell?" She rewound and watched it again in disbelief. "But I
Dane exited the warehouse after finalizing the details of a new plan, one that would require immense precision and careful execution with Chris.He made his way to his car and slid behind the wheel. The engine roared to life and he sped off to his penthouse for a night with the new virgin he had booked. In the hopes of finding some semblance of respite from the lingering memories that plagued him.Try as he might, Dane could not shake the haunting recollection of Scarlet’s sobs, the anguished cries that seemed to reverberate endlessly within the confines of his mind. Her captivating beauty… the delicate features that had enraptured him…. Her voice hummed in his ears like a symphony, more enchanting than the grandest compositions of Mozart.Dane gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles turning white as he struggled with the intense emotions that threatened to consume him.How could it be the woman he hated with every fiber of his being… one he had violently claimed her virginit
Scarlet's eyelids slowly parted a while later to the harsh light filtering through the curtains and casting the world in a luminious hue.She blinked groggily, struggling to get her bearings."Are you alright, miss?" An unfamiliar voice spoke up.Scarlet gave a faint nod, resting her throbbing head back against the plush bed.She felt utterly drained, physically and emotionally spent. Her mind was a roiling storm of painful memories from the unfaithful events.The horrific things that had happened came crashing back in vivid flashes, and she couldn't stop the hot tears from welling up and spilling down her cheeks.The last clear recollection she had was of struggling wildly against the women who had seized her, screaming and sobbing uncontrollably as they wrestled her into submission.She remembered her car, still parked haphazardly by the roadside where they'd snatched her up.Mustering what little strength she had, Scarlet hauled herself to her feet and shuffled over to the mirror w
Dane got up from her after he had his fill, panting hard from the vigorous exercise.He donned his clothes while looking at her with a cruel gaze, his shirt left unbuttoned. Scarlet's eyes were fixed on the ceiling, blinking occasionally to show she was still conscious.She raised her trembling hand and pulled the thin sheet up to the top of her chest in a desperate attempt to hide her vulnerable body from his scorching eyes even though she knew the mass of her luscious hair splayed across the pillow already accomplished most of the hiding for her. Dane shifted his gaze from her exposed form to her face visible only from one side, and noticed a single tear quietly flowing down her delicate, flushed cheek.The sight stirred something deep within him, a flicker of empathy that warred with his selfish urges.“Why am I feeling this way, damn it?” He cursed under his breath, pondering what extraordinary qualities set this girl apart from all the others he had fucked.Her rare beauty, ye
Dane strode into the room with his footsteps heavy on the floor.The bedroom was oddly out of place in the middle of what should have been a dingy warehouse. It was meticulously prepared just for Scarlet's arrival the previous day.A detail that would definitely raise some eyebrows if anyone was aware.He paused as he approached the well-laid bed where she still slept soundly, peaceful and oblivious to her surroundings.Dane simply observed her for a long moment, taking in the gentle rise and fall of her chest with each breath. But then a soft sigh escaped her lips shortly before her eyelids fluttered. She was waking up.Scarlet's eyes cracked open slowly, struggling to adjust to the unfamiliar light.She blinked groggily as she took in the strange bedroom.Her gaze eventually landed on the figure standing by the window."Where am I?" she croaked out in a voice heavy and strained. "What happened?"Dane heard the words but didn't react. He simply sneered inwardly as he glanced sideways
Scarlet finally left the hospital after completing her mandatory training hours. Though relief washed over her at being done, her mind dwelled on the multitude of worries weighing her down.Firstly, there was the ongoing rift between Lincoln and his father over the failed business deal at their firm. The two stubborn men remained at an impasse, unable to see eye-to-eye.Then Michael's company had fallen on hard times. A sharp decline in stock value had caused investors to pull out in droves, leaving Michael's finances teetering on the edge of ruin."I don't know how much more stress poor Michael can take," Scarlet muttered under her breath as she merged on a gridlocked highway.As if her loved ones' troubles weren't enough, pesky rumors had started circulating about her at the hospital.Though she didn't know what sparked the gossip, it caused most of her colleagues to give her a wide berth lately, averting their eyes whenever she passed by.Scarlet felt a lump form in her throat as s