Lyla grew desperate, unable to comprehend why Carlo would reject her request. His coldness and unpredictability left her emotionally raw, and her voice cracked with the weight of her despair, “Please… I know a million dollars is no small sum, but Lucas is innocent. I have to help him. I’ll find a way to pay you back, I…”She had been on the verge of saying, “I’m willing to do anything,” but at the last second, she swallowed the words. She knew that if she voiced such a promise, it would only drag her into another endless entanglement with Carlo—a pain she could no longer endure. Tears began to spill down her face, uncontrollable.Seeing her tears, Carlo was torn between anger and anguish. He took a few steps forward, coming so close to her wheelchair that their faces were almost inches apart. His eyes narrowed, his gaze cold as he lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes.Lyla’s tear-streaked face was heartbreaking, but Carlo’s fury only grew as he realized that those tears weren
Half a month later, in the North Atlantic, a luxurious cruise ship sailed smoothly across the sea.Despite being winter in the Northern Hemisphere, the ship was near the equator, where the air remained hot and humid. The setting sun cast a warm glow on the shimmering ocean, while occasional salty breezes brought a fleeting sense of coolness. Around the pool on the deck, over a hundred young, beautiful women, dressed in all kinds of bikinis, held colorful cocktails and laughed and played, their lively chatter almost drowning out the rock music blasting from the speakers.When they were invited, they were told this was a beauty pageant party hosted by a young, mysterious billionaire. If any of them managed to catch his eye, they might become his wife, and their life would change overnight. Though the cruise had been at sea for three days and the women had spent those days indulging in endless luxury, none of them had seen the elusive billionaire. But that didn’t stop them from competin
“Exactly! Mr. Carlo!” Emma continued, her excitement bubbling over as she spoke, completely unaware of the confusion on Lyla’s face. “He contacted me out of the blue, thanking me for the little prank we pulled on you at the café. Then he asked if I’d like to work here part-time.”“The pay is amazing! And since I had nothing planned for winter break, I figured I’d use this job to save up my expenses for next semester.” Emma’s face lit up as she spoke, her words pouring out in an endless stream of admiration and gratitude for Carlo.Lyla’s mind became increasingly chaotic as she listened, her thoughts swirling with questions—about the “confession” from the supposed murderer, and why she had suddenly ended up on this cruise. Every time she tried to concentrate and piece things together, a sharp pain throbbed in her head. She shook it off and finally interrupted Emma, turning toward her room.Sensing Lyla’s shift in mood, Emma followed her inside. Her voice softened with a hint of concern
The curvy woman was genuinely offended by the earlier joke and raised her hand, threatening to slap the petite woman. The tall woman, who had been quietly watching the spectacle, finally stepped in to diffuse the situation. She smiled, trying to ease the tension, "Alright, alright, I’ve got some juicy gossip. Wanna hear it?"“What kind of gossip?” The other two immediately stopped bickering, their attention fully on the tall woman.Even Lyla, who had been quietly listening from a distance, sat up straighter, her curiosity piqued.“You know Sienna Rivers, right?” the tall woman asked, her tone dripping with mystery."Ugh, that slut?” the curvy woman sneered, her voice dripping with disdain. "That stuck-up woman, always acting like she’s some big deal, showing off her designer clothes and pretending she’s the heiress to some billion-dollar company. She looks down on everyone, like her eyes are gonna roll right out of her head."The petite woman rolled her eyes as well, adding, “I don't
Lyla suddenly realized that the “Mr. Reeves” they had been referring to was none other than Hudson. She hadn’t seen him in over three years, and now, memories began to surface. Hudson casually rubbed his wrist, as if the slap he had delivered moments ago was nothing out of the ordinary. He maintained his usual elegance and gentlemanly demeanor, and with a slight smile tugging at the corners of his lips, he turned to Lyla, bowing slightly. “Ms. Sinclair, long time no see.”The two women who had been holding Lyla’s arms immediately released her, their faces now pale with fear and shock. They didn’t know Lyla’s exact identity, but seeing the respect with which Mr. Reeves treated her, they realized she was no ordinary woman. They shrank back, eyes wide with fear, wishing they could disappear, desperately hoping Hudson wouldn’t cast another glance in their direction.Lyla’s mind raced with questions, but in that moment, she couldn’t find the words. She simply nodded in response, “It’s been
Although every fiber of Lyla’s being resisted, her feet moved forward uncontrollably, inching closer to get a better view of what was happening inside the room.There, the moaning woman lay draped over the arm of the sofa in a seductive pose, her hips provocatively raised. She wore a skimpy bikini, with the lower half resembling a thong, exposing nearly all of her backside. This must be the woman the others had mentioned—Sienna Rivers.Carlo stood with his back to the window, holding a leather belt in his hand. He was whipping Sienna’s exposed rear, but most of his body was shrouded in shadow, making it hard to see his expression. His strikes, however, didn’t seem particularly harsh. To Lyla, it appeared more like teasing than punishment. Sienna’s pale, smooth skin bore no visible welts, and her moans were exaggerated, more akin to an act of seduction than cries of pain. Her body twisted and arched, flaunting her figure with every movement.The scene was painfully familiar, almost an e
Lyla practically sprinted back to her room, her steps unsteady, heart pounding with emotions she couldn’t calm. The moment she slammed the door shut, her bottled-up feelings surged forward. She collapsed onto the bed, burying her face deep into the pillows, and the tears came, silent but relentless, soaking through the fabric. She cried as if she could expel all the pain and confusion that had built up over the past few days.She never thought of herself as a weak person, but Carlo's words had struck her deeply, cutting through her defenses. Everything suddenly felt like a lie—his care for her, his relentless pursuit, and even the bite mark he had tattooed on his body as a symbol of their bond. Could it all have been just a facade?As the pain twisted inside her, Lyla realized that somewhere along the way, she had fallen in love with Carlo. That was why seeing him with another woman hurt her so much—it was a wound that cut her deeper than she ever expected.Time passed in the silence
Lyla woke up in bed, her head throbbing from the hangover, leaving her feeling completely drained. Sunlight streamed through the balcony windows, bringing a hint of warmth to the room, but it did little to improve her mood. She glanced at the clock on the wall—already 3 p.m. The room was quiet, and Emma was nowhere to be seen. On the nightstand, there was a note and a call button. The note said that if Lyla needed anything, she could use the button to reach Emma at any time.Next to the note was an invitation-like card. Lyla instinctively reached for it, but the moment she saw the words "From: Mr. F" on the front, she quickly pulled her hand back. She silently vowed that no matter what the invitation was for, she would not be attending.The gnawing hunger from her hangover caused a burning sensation in her stomach. She knew she had to eat something; getting sick on a yacht would be a hassle. Although Emma had said she could call anytime, Lyla didn’t want to bother her. Besides, she wa