CHAPTER THREE: THERE IS NO OTHER STERLING DAUGHTER

Ethan Blackwood sat in his sprawling office, the skyline of X City stretching out before him, a sea of glass and steel. His fingers drummed lightly against the polished mahogany of his desk, his mind replaying the events of the previous night. He could still feel her warmth, the softness of her skin, the way her body had trembled beneath him.

His jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing at the memory. It had been a night unlike any other. Not because of the passion that had consumed them, but because she had been a virgin. That one fact kept gnawing at him, something that had lodged deep in his mind and refused to leave. A virgin. He had taken her innocence, and despite the haze of the aphrodisiac coursing through his veins, that knowledge had burned into him with a strange intensity.

Ethan wasn't a man given to sentimentality, but he wasn't heartless either. He had done what he thought was right at the moment. The drug had affected her just as much as it had him, and leaving her untouched would have been cruel. At least, that's what he had told himself. He had convinced himself that his actions were necessary, that he was helping her through it. But now, in the cold light of day, he couldn't shake the feeling that he owed her something more.

His private detective had returned to him earlier that morning, presenting a single name: Natasha Sterling, the only daughter of Victor Sterling, a well-known businessman in the city. It made sense, Ethan thought. Natasha had been the reason he was at that cursed party in the first place. He had been invited to her 21st birthday, a strategic move by Victor, no doubt, to push his daughter into the social spotlight and perhaps even forge a connection with someone of Ethan's stature.

The idea of marriage hadn't crossed Ethan's mind until that morning, but now, it seemed like the only logical solution. The woman he had slept with-Natasha, as he assumed-had been a virgin. That fact gnawed at him. He had seen the glazed look in her eyes, the slight tremble in her body that could only be attributed to the aphrodisiac she had unknowingly consumed. And as much as he hated to admit it, that night had not been just a fleeting encounter for him. There was something about her-something that lingered in his mind.

It wasn't just the physicality of it. There had been an undeniable connection, a pull he couldn't explain. She had been vulnerable, yet strong in her own way. He remembered the way she had looked at him, a mix of fear, confusion, and need. She had needed him, and he had been there for her. But now, it was time to take responsibility for what had happened.

His grandfather had been hounding him for months about marriage. The old man had made it clear that if Ethan didn't settle down soon, he'd lose favor in the Blackwood family's inheritance. The pressure had been mounting, and this situation presented a convenient solution. Marrying Natasha Sterling would not only solve the problem of his grandfather's incessant demands, but it would also settle his own conscience regarding what had transpired between them.

Ethan wasn't a man who left loose ends. He wasn't a man who walked away from his responsibilities. If Natasha had given herself to him, albeit under the influence of drugs, the honorable thing to do was to offer her marriage.

His thoughts were interrupted by the soft knock on his office door. His assistant entered, placing a sealed envelope on his desk. It was from Victor Sterling's office.

Ethan's lips curled into a faint, almost imperceptible smile. The timing was perfect. He had already planned to send an official marriage proposal to the Sterling family, and now, it seemed, they were just as eager for the connection. He leaned back in his chair, fingers steepling beneath his chin as he considered his next move. Marrying Natasha would be a win-win situation for everyone involved. The Sterlings would get the prestigious alliance they craved, and he would satisfy his grandfather's demands while putting to rest the lingering guilt over the events of that night.

There was no other woman. No other Sterling daughter. The detective had confirmed that Natasha was the only child, so it had to be her. The woman he had spent the night with, the one who had stirred something unexpected in him, was Natasha Sterling. He had no reason to question it further.

With a curt nod, Ethan picked up the phone and dialed his assistant. "Send the proposal to the Sterling family. Formalize the offer for marriage."

"Understood, Mr. Blackwood," came the efficient reply.

He hung up the phone, his mind already moving forward. This marriage would solve everything. The events of that night would be behind him, and he could move on, satisfied that he had done the right thing. As for Natasha, she would get everything she wanted-a marriage to the richest, most powerful man in X City.

As Ethan stared out the window, the city below a blur of activity, he felt an odd sense of calm settle over him. Everything was falling into place. He had made his decision, and now all that was left was for the pieces to fall where they may.