"I don’t understand what you're talking about. I just forgot something at the office and came back to look for it, that’s all." Raven trembled as she hurriedly shut the laptop behind her, stammering in an attempt to dodge the question. Just as she was about to slip away, the California Kingsnake suddenly raised its body and flicked its tongue, letting out a low gruhh sound that nearly made her heart jump out of her chest. "Roonie, come here." Catherine clapped her hands twice and called out. Immediately, the snake slithered over to Catherine and swiftly coiled itself around her arm. Lysia shuddered slightly at Catherine’s pet. She understood her best friend’s unusual interests—keeping snakes and her fondness for reptiles. But those creatures were Lysia’s nemesis. However, today, she needed to put on a little show, and the California Kingsnake would play a crucial role. "Earlier today, Cathy accidentally spilled a type of powder that this little guy loves onto my laptop keyboa
“Jacob, Jessica, Henry… I’m old now. I haven’t been involved in the company’s affairs for over a decade, so how could I possibly intervene now? You should talk to Kyle instead.” Samantha clutched her chest, coughing violently before slowly closing her eyes and shaking her head in exhaustion.As soon as she saw Kyle and Lysia arrive, her face lit up noticeably. However, the very next second, her expression dimmed again as she weakly said, “Oh, you’re here.”“Mom, when did you have such distinguished guests? Why didn’t you call me?” Kyle strode in nonchalantly without so much as a glance at Henry’s family.Jacob, Henry’s father, forced an awkward smile and spoke up, “Kyle, we’re all family. Why are you treating us like strangers?”“Oh? Family, you say? Then tell me, why haven’t you cared about Mom’s health all these years, dear elder brother? The moment you heard that I transferred my Reinhart Ring Diamond shares to her, your entire family suddenly rushed over to have a heartfelt chat w
The next morning, Lysia slowly opened her eyes as sunlight streamed into the room. She stretched to loosen her joints, but the moment she felt a warm, solid body right next to her, she panicked and let out a scream."Ah!" Without hesitation, she flung the blanket off and kicked the man beside her straight onto the floor.Kyle tumbled to the ground before he was even fully awake, groggily muttering, "What's going on, Lys?"Seeing the pained expression on his face, Lysia felt a twinge of guilt and almost reached out to help him up. But she quickly held onto the last bit of stubborn pride she had left, pursing her lips in protest. "Who gave you permission to cross the line?"Because the hotel room's sofa was far too small for Kyle to sleep on, she had come up with the idea of dividing the bed into separate spaces. She had warned him very clearly about this before falling asleep. Yet, when she opened her eyes, somehow, their bodies were completely tangled together.This realization both s
“KYLE REINHART!” Lysia shouted the moment she opened her eyes.She struggled frantically against the thick blanket wrapped tightly around her, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t break free. Using all her agility, she managed to sit up, blowing away the messy strands of hair sticking to her face as she gritted her teeth. “Kyle Rein—”The sound of the bathroom door unlocking interrupted her mid-sentence.Kyle stood in the doorway, arms crossed over his bare chest. Droplets of water dripped from his damp hair, trailing down his toned torso. A smirk played on his lips. “Good morning, babe~”“What the hell are you doing? Let me out!” Lysia glared at him, her voice filled with frustration.“Well, I couldn’t exactly give you another chance to kick me off the bed, now could I?” He shrugged, stepping toward her leisurely while using a towel to dry his hair.“How childish!” she shot back.Kyle only chuckled in response, then slowly unwrapped the thick blanket restraining her. As if
After their unexpected meeting on the yacht, Jean Moreau invited Kyle and Lysia to attend his cocktail party that very evening. This sudden change of plans caused quite a disruption to their honeymoon schedule, which in turn put Kyle in an exceptionally unpredictable mood.Sitting inside a luxury fashion boutique in Paris’s largest shopping mall, Kyle intently observed each evening gown Lysia tried on. He narrowed his eyes slightly and asked, “Are you sure you really want to go?”“Could you bring me a smaller size? Thank you.” Lysia handed the gown she liked to the sales associate, her tone polite.Only then did she turn to Kyle and reply, “A party gathering top-tier entrepreneurs and world-renowned fashion designers—why on earth would I refuse?”After all, Lysia had never denied being a workaholic. She seized every opportunity unfolding before her, turning them into articles to make a name for herself, publishing them across various magazines under RRC Newsroom. Wasn’t that the perfe
"Then will you pay me a higher salary to do as you say?" Lysia pretended to be deep in thought, nodding as if she had just come up with a brilliant idea.She glanced down indifferently at Victor’s hand clinging to Kyle’s arm before turning back to look directly at the woman’s face."Madame Laurent," she continued, neither too fast nor too slow, "I understand your concern for Mr. Reinhart. But today, he hired me to accompany him. If you're expecting me to step aside, then..."Victor hadn’t expected a mere secretary to remain so calm while confronting her. At this point, she couldn’t publicly lash out at Lysia too harshly in front of so many people—after all, Lysia hadn’t committed any major mistakes, aside from being one of the rare women to appear alongside Kyle at a social event.With the sharp intuition of a woman, Victor sensed that the relationship between the two was far from simple."Are you joking with me?" Victor narrowed her eyes, a silent threat urging Lysia to back down."N
[WARNING R-18] THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS MATURE CONTENT NOT SUITABLE FOR YOUNG READERS.As Lysia gradually regained consciousness, she realized she was lying in an unfamiliar room.Slowly sitting up, she rubbed the aching spot on the back of her neck and took a moment to observe her surroundings. Based on the décor, she could tell that she was still at the same hotel where Jean Moreau’s banquet was being held.Noticing that her clothes were still intact, she wasted no time. Without hesitation, she got up and searched for the door to escape.As she made her way toward the sofa, she accidentally tripped over someone’s leg. Her heart skipped a beat, nearly leaping out of her chest. The dim golden lighting barely illuminated the space, so she crouched down slightly to get a better look at the man sleeping there.The moment she recognized his face, a mix of relief and shock washed over her.“Kyle!” she gasped, immediately shaking him.The air around him was heavy with the scent of alcohol. His
[WARNING R-18] THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS MATURE CONTENT NOT SUITABLE FOR YOUNG READERS.“Can I come in?” Kyle asked in a hoarse voice.Sweat was pouring down his forehead in large beads, and he was eager to take Lysia’s swollen lips once more.Lysia was now naked in front of him. His Adam’s apple moved as he swallowed, and his hands spread her thighs apart.The caress from Kyle’s large hands made her feel numb. She placed her hand on her chest to feel the pounding of her pulse, and her entrance was already wet enough to itch slightly from his foreplay. Looking straight into his hazel eyes, she nodded and said, “Do it.”As soon as she received her consent, Kyle slowly entered her with a very rhythmic force.“Aaah…” Lysia let out a moan.Up until this age, she had never truly experienced the feeling of making love because the haunting past kept haunting her. She had tried to overcome that nightmare many times, but she failed and then gnawed at the pain when the past came flooding back. She
A few days passed.At last, Lysia was able to let go of the burden in her heart, freeing herself from the haunting memories and returning to a normal life. After long conversations with Kyle every day, he had helped her realize that she was never someone who needed to run away.Her soul was beautiful—and far more important than her body. After all, Kyle had never loved her for her looks, her body, or her virginity.On a weekend morning, Lysia lay nestled in Kyle’s arms in bed. Every night beside him felt warm and safe.Kyle immediately opened his eyes at the sound of his phone vibrating on the nightstand. His biological clock had always been precise, making it impossible for him to sleep past 6 AM. But since his little wife was still sound asleep, he simply closed his eyes again, savoring the feeling of holding her in his arms.Reaching for his phone, he pressed it to his ear and spoke in a low voice, “Hello?”On the other end, Ryan also spoke quietly, as if he was in a silent place.
"Lysia Kingsley, if you have the guts, say that again!" Kyle shouted furiously.His outburst seemed to have startled everyone in the Kingsley household. Matthew and Rachael opened their bedroom doors, glancing toward Lysia’s room at the end of the hallway.Swallowing his anger, Kyle grabbed Lysia’s hand, pulled her into the room, and slammed the door shut. He braced both hands against the wall, gazing down at her, his eyes filled with heartbreak.By now, Lysia had calmed down a little. She turned her face away and muttered, "I think I've made myself clear. Let’s break up. Our marriage contract is almost up, and I don’t want you to pity me anymore."In an instant, Kyle seized her lips. He cupped her delicate chin and kissed her fiercely, yet his touch carried an endless tenderness. For over a week, he had missed her to the point of madness. Not a single night had passed peacefully since the day the news broke, and he saw her crying in pain.She wasn’t the only one suffering—Kyle was ju
*** END OF FLASHBACK: BACK TO PRESENT ***“Get away, don’t touch me!” Lysia screamed and pushed Kyle away from her as he tried to come closer to hug her.She sat curled up in the living room of the Kingsley mansion with a lifeless look. Her face was pale without a drop of blood, but she didn’t shed a single tear. However, she was being haunted by the past, causing her to unconsciously oppose everyone to protect herself.Kyle looked at Lysia shaking her head and muttering under her breath, unable to help but feel heartbroken and helplessly sigh.Standing with him was the Kingsley family. Matthew and Ryan could only look at each other and shake their heads as they saw the situation from 10 years ago repeating itself after they saved Lysia from that kidnapper. At that moment, she went crazy like a completely different person, becoming afraid of any man approaching her and locking herself in her room for a whole month.Only Rachael, her mother, could stay by her side.The three men quickl
Austin Miller, Lysia's boyfriend, was also her first love when she was 16 years old. He was a guy who went to the same high school as her and was 2 years older than her. On the first day of school, Austin helped Lysia when she went into the wrong classroom. Since then, she often met him at the basketball court every time she went there with her friends to cheer for the matches.At school, Austin always stood out with his handsome appearance, studied well and was also the captain of the basketball team, so he received a lot of love from the girls in the school. Once, Lysia accidentally got hit in the head by a basketball, those male students teased her, but Austin came to help her.Since then, Lysia fell in love with him and feelings began to blossom in the heart of a 16-year-old girl. And not long after, they became closer and closer and decided to fall in love when Austin confessed.It was ironic that just a few days after they had their first kiss, Austin had to hear these humiliati
*** FLASHBACK: 10 YEARS AGO ***The kidnapper forced Lysia into his carnival van and drove towards an abandoned house that he had claimed as his hideout. It wasn’t far from the last bus stop. Surrounded by hills, this area became eerily deserted at night.Inside the damp, moldy house dimly lit by a yellowish light, he shoved Lysia onto a wooden chair and violently ripped the tape off her mouth.A stinging pain spread across her lips, making her wince before slowly opening her eyes. Her first reaction was to struggle against the tight ropes binding her to the chair. But when her gaze landed on her kidnapper, sheer terror rendered her speechless.“H-How much do you want? Just name your price, and I promise I’ll give it to you,” Lysia stammered, trembling.The man slammed a pair of pliers onto the table before turning to face her. Leaning back against the creaky surface, he smirked. “Smart girl. I knew you had to be some rich brat. Everyone living around Elmwood Crossroad is filthy rich
*** FLASHBACK: 10 YEARS AGO ***“Mommy, I already gave Ryan the lunchbox you made for him. Can you please stop calling me over and over?” Lysia said in a frustrated tone over the phone.She walked through the vast campus of Reeds University, occasionally glancing up at the rooftop, where a young man was looking down at her. She waved at him briefly before flashing a bright smile and dashing toward the school gate, having completed the task her mother had assigned her.Since high school, Rachael had prepared lunch for Lysia every day. Worried about Ryan, she often asked Lysia to bring him a meal as well. All because Reeds University was just a few steps away from her high school.After turning 18, Ryan moved out to live on his own, something Lysia deeply admired. She longed for the freedom to do whatever she wanted without her mother constantly nagging her about eating balanced meals. If she lived alone, she could indulge in sweets instead of being forced to eat salads and nutritious g
A few days later, Lysia and Kyle finally returned to Reeds City after her health had fully recovered.Throughout the journey, Kyle held her hand tightly, never letting go, as he shared countless stories from his childhood. That night, she suddenly realized why she had been so vulnerable to Charlotte’s attacks—just like that evening at the European restaurant. It was all because she barely knew anything about Kyle’s past.He had never taken the initiative to share what he had gone through, the people he had met, or the experiences that shaped him. And, sadly, Lysia had never thought to ask.As they entered the outskirts of Reeds City, they decided to visit the cemetery to pay respects at his mother’s grave.From a distance, Lysia spotted an elderly man tending to Samantha’s resting place. She glanced at Kyle and noticed that his expression had grown complicated."Let’s come back another day. Let’s go home now." Kyle gently pulled Lysia, urging her to turn back.But she held his hand ev
In the stillness of the night, Lysia slowly opened her eyes, only to find herself slumped over the steering wheel. A sharp pain radiated from her forehead. When she reached up to touch it, her fingers came away stained with blood.The world outside the car was pitch black. Fumbling around in the center console, she searched for her phone. The moment she managed to turn it on, the screen flickered briefly before shutting down completely.Before losing consciousness, she had been speeding through the storm, rain lashing violently against the windshield, blurring her vision. But none of it compared to the raw, gut-wrenching pain she had felt when she saw Charlotte in Kyle’s room. Her heart had shattered, and with her vision clouded by tears, she had screamed in anguish, the sound of her cries swallowed by the roar of the engine.Then, without warning, a landslide erupted right in front of her. In sheer panic, Lysia slammed on the brakes, but the car skidded out of control. The tires lost
Early the next morning, Kyle set off for Verdantia.Since Verdantia was only about a two-hour drive from Reeds City, he chose to travel by car.Sebastian sat in the passenger seat. Hearing Kyle sigh, he expressed his concern, “Mr. Reinhart, did you not sleep well last night?”“That’s right.” Kyle massaged his temples with a frown. To be precise, he had barely slept at all.Thinking back to the previous night, he had been so sure that he was finally about to "feast" on his wife. But just as he was getting ready, that sassy little woman had called out from the bathroom, casually informing him that she was on her period.As if that wasn’t enough, she had spent the entire night lying on top of him, wrapped in a lacy, seductive nightgown, teasing him mercilessly. His ‘glorious boy’ had been standing at full attention, tormenting him to the point of utter exhaustion.At that moment, his mind had wandered back to the time they had made love so wildly in his office. He had poured every last b