Chapter 3

"Emily, are you sure about this?"

I couldn't believe that the woman in mourning this morning had become someone else in the evening.

My best friend, Emily, in front of me was wearing a yellow halterneck top and a miniskirt. She had round earrings on each side of her ears. Her face was heavily made up, and her red lips were smiling at me.

She clearly saw my embarrassment, so she took out a gold membership card from her fancy Chanel bag and waved it in front of the security guard.

"This lady is my friend. You have to remember her face."

The round-faced security guard put on a fawning face at once and gave Emily and me a smile as we entered the bar.

We walked down a blue, glowing circular passageway to the bar lobby, where masked waiters were shuttling plates from table to table. They were all topless and wearing nothing but a pair of briefs.

A few naked pole dancers on the stage are doing a very provocative dance, the music loud and full of passion. The men and women sitting closest to the stage let out sharp shouts from time to time. They seemed to be competing with the stereo for the loudest voice.

Emily took my hand and walked to the booth when a man in a black mask came up to her and asked what kind of wine she wanted.

"Kylie, would you like a drink?"

"It's up to you," I replied casually.

We spent our night drinking, dancing, and enjoying. That was the first time I felt so happy in my entire life.

I felt dizzy and dropped my sunglasses. As I bent over to pick them up, a strong hand grabbed my wrist. I saw a man staring at me with his deep green eyes!

He looks drunk and so gorgeous. In fact, his face was so stunning. He had a perfect square jaw, full lips, high cheekbones, and a broad forehead. His silver hair was thick and curly.

He was a big, tall man. His muscles were strong and well-proportioned, and in the dim light, they were a healthy golden yellow.

God, he's so charming. And his body also exudes a strange sweet smell, like chamomile and fresh oranges.

"Baby, is this you?" The man muttered to himself. "No, it can't be..."

"What? I don't know you!" I was anxious to get away from the man's hands, but they held me like a pair of tongs. His tall body closed in on me, forcing me to step back until my back was against the wall.

I pushed him with my hand, but he pressed his whole body against mine. My breathing quickened at once.

"Please," the man whispered, "Talk to me, baby..." He used the tip of his nose across my side of the face. The hot air from the man's nose poured directly into my ears, and I felt itchy. "Hazel..."

"I'm not Hazel!" I shooked my head.

"I won't let you leave me, never!" The man wrapped his iron arms around me, and I couldn't resist his strength. "Baby, let's go home, hmm?"

"Get away! I'm not your baby!" I roared at him.

It's no use screaming for help at this point. No matter what happens in this p**n bar, screaming is considered normal.

I continued to resist, but the man laughed even more triumphantly. Is there somebody help me stop this maniac?

"Sir!" A man's hurried voice came from the side. "You have an urgent call!"

"I said don't disturb me!" While the man turned his head, I raised the thigh to the man's lower body to kick him.

I feel like my knee is touching a hard rock. Then I heard curses. I ran away and saw Radleigh walking away with my sister in his arm towards the door of the bar.

I'm going after them!

But when I ran outside the bar, I couldn't find them. They are was out of my sight. Damn it. I need to find and confront them.

The sweet smell came again, and I dared not linger. So I rushed to my car and opened the door with great speed. I drove the car like I was running for my life.

Through the rearview mirror, I saw my pale face in, like a frightened rabbit after being chased by a tiger.

"Baby!"

What the fuck?

I stepped on the gas pedal and sped up. The car was speeding down the road. I can't remember how many red lights I passed by. Now I just want to go home. Just then, a shadow rushed from the grass by the road.

Oh my god!

I slammed on the brakes and the steering wheel almost hit me in the forehead, making me feel dizzy.

As lights flashed, I looked through the window and saw the road ahead. At that moment, the street was awkwardly quiet since there was no sign of a passing car.

To make sure I didn't hit anything, I unfastened my seat belt and got out of the car. I saw an elk crouching in the headlights of my car. Her big, clear eyes were full of fear and uneasiness. The good thing was I didn't see any blood on the ground around her.

"It's all right, you're safe." I was bending over to her and then whispered, "Don't be afraid, you can go home now."

A few seconds later, I felt relieved and got back in the car. But suddenly, the sound of a speeding car came from behind me. It was a silver sports car, and the white headlights made the road so bright that I had to squint.

The silver sports car sped past me. Just as I was about to curse, it made a sharp turn in front of me, the tires screeching against the road.

The car stood out in the street. Soon, a man opened the door and got out of the car. He had an angry expression on his face just like the car he was driving.

It's him, the man I just met at the bar. I never expected he'd catch up.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

"Why do you want to escape?" The man's eyes were red and he approached me step by step. I had to back off until my body was pushed against my car.

"I said, I don't know you!" I answered him.

The man sneered and his breath smelled like Tequila. He jerked his head down and pressed his face against mine. His tall body wrapped around me so tightly that I had nowhere to run.

"I won't let you go, Hazel!" His voice was full of plunder, as if I were his chosen prey.

He was hunting me like a wolf!

A quick step sounds from the direction of the sports car. I wanted to turn my head to see if anyone could help me, but he immediately squeezed my chin to force me to look into his eyes.

"Take her car! I'll drive myself back to the hotel!"

The man's eyes were still fixed on me as he spoke in a commanding tone. 

"Seriously, what do you want from me?!"

He stepped back a little. Before I could figure out what he was up to, he raised his hand and slammed it down on the right side of my neck.

I suddenly couldn't see anything and lost consciousness. I must have forgotten to curse this man. Damn it.

When I woke up, I found myself lying on a big, soft bed. The soft silk sheets smell like lavender. A delicate chandelier above my head gave off a faint yellow glow. I looked around, and everything in the room seemed so strange.

I hope this time I am not dead again after the rebirth!

I saw the silver-haired man sitting on the sofa. His face told me that this time I had just fainted.

"You're awake. I see the name on your driver's licence. You are Kylie. You don't mind if I call you that, do you?" The strange man said hoarsely, holding a glass of wine in his hand.

He glanced at me, then turned the glass with his finger and drank the rest.

He changed into a dark grey shirt, and his hair was flufly and damp. His eyes were deep and melancholy. He stared at me calmly for a few seconds just as my eyes met his.

I must admit that he is very handsome. He has an air of mystery. My heart skipped a beat. Damn it. Why is my heart racing for him?

I ducked his eyes and looked down at my clothes. I'm wearing the same clothes I wore before I left the house. There was no obvious pain or swelling in my body.

I guess he didn't do anything to my body?

As the man set his glass on the nearby table, he stood up as if making a decision. He walked over to my bedside and said to me in a slightly apologetic tone.

"I'm sorry I brought you here. Because I mistook you for... my ex girlfriend..." He paused as he spoke, as if he had been stabbed by a dagger and an indescribable pain was suppressed in his chest. "I'll have someone take you home if you want."

"Of course, I want to go home!" I moved my body, and the soles of my feet touched the soft wool carpet on the floor. "I don't need anyone to take me home. Listen, meeting you is a bad thing for me. And this is kidnapping, okay? If you knew who I was, you'd regret what you did tonight."

I will not reveal that I am Radleigh Adams' wife if I do not have to. At least, in this city, everyone knows the heir and ruler of the Adams family, Radleigh Adams. The Adams family has a great deal of wealth, and the city's economy follows our decisions.

Although I still hate my husband, I must admit that his name will bring me some power and convenience.

"The last person who said something like that to me has been thrown into the deep sea to feed the fish." The man suddenly changed his face. His emerald green eyes looked at me with interest. "Why don't you just tell me who you are?"

I was irritated by the man, so I stood up and looked him in the eye. "I'm Radleigh Adams' wife. If you're planning something, I suggest you give it up."

"Radleigh's... wife?" The man lifted his chin slightly, looked up at the ceiling, and repeated the title over and over again. "Radleigh's wife... Interesting!"

"You'd better let me go. If my husband finds out I'm gone, he'll search the whole city. Maybe he'll kill you."

Of course, these are just lies I tell to scare him. Radleigh won't be looking for me. He should be moaning in bed with Kristen right now.

How ridiculous. My husband was having an affair with my sister, and I was in a room with another man I didn't know. They are having a good time, and I am nervous now.

The man laughed when he heard what I said. His smile made me feel like an idiot. Doesn't he believe me? Or he doesn't even know who Radleigh is?

"You know what?" The man shrugged, his eyes sharp, "I've changed my mind. If you were just an ordinary woman, I wouldn't bother you anymore, but if you were really Radleigh Adams' wife, things would be different."

"What?! What do you want?!" I asked, frowning uneasily.

"I want you to stay—"

"What?!" I had no idea that my status as Radleigh's wife seemed to interest him rather than frighten him.

"Don't you want to know who I am?" The man approached me and sniffed my hair. "You smell good, Kylie..."

"W-Who are you?" I asked him nervously.

I could feel my voice trembling, a foreboding coming over me. The man's voice came from the depths of hell.

He put his mouth to my ear. "My name... is Alexander Lecrec—I am your husband's enemy..."

My jaw dropped.

If I remember correctly, the Lecrec family was also involved in the merger of gas companies. Not only was he a rival to Adams, but the feud between Lecrec and Adams goes all the way back to their great-grandfather.

If he doesn't kill me, Radleigh will kill me when he finds out I spent the night with him, even though nothing happened between us.

Shit. What happened to my life? Why it's so messed up now?