"Why don't you just ask Martin out?" Emily suggested to her friend Sarah as they trained together in kickboxing at the Feng mansion gym. They had been sparring partners for almost two months, and Emily had noticed that Sarah had lost a lot of weight during that time. Her dedication to a healthy diet was evident as she sweated through their intense workouts. Emily admired her friend's determination and couldn't help but feel inspired to follow a healthier lifestyle herself. Breathing heavily, Sarah took the flask of water from one of her assistants, "Thank you, Claire," she said gratefully. Claire, a diligent young woman who had been working at the mansion for several years, smiled back at her and offered a towel to wipe her face. "As you were saying, I don't think that's a great idea. He's like a brother to me. And I must tell you something, he is betrothed to the gorgeous Lady Catherine Shand," Sarah explained as she took a drink from the flask. Emily's eyes widened, and her mou
Stepping into the luxurious lobby of Marshall Corporation, she felt a surge of confidence and pride, knowing that she had come so far since her days of training and education. Her presence and height initially captivated the office, much more with her conservative yet sexy, attire. Her flawless complexion radiates against the deep navy-blue corporate dress that gracefully accentuates her curves, while her classic updo and thick reading glasses exude intelligence and sophistication. With each confident step, her light gray pumps and matching blazer complete the ensemble, exuding professionalism and authority. Her light done makeup enhances her natural beauty, leaving a lasting impression of poise and grace. As she approached the reception desk, she couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. The journey she had planned on, the sacrifices she had made, and the secrets she had guarded had all led her to this moment. With a confident smile, she inquired about the clerical wor
Sarah continued to excel in her role as Communication Specialist, but she couldn't ignore the whispers and gossip surrounding her.It was clear that Larah, even after her previous schemes were exposed, was determined to tarnish Sarah's reputation.One day, during a break in the office, Sarah overheard a group of colleagues engaged in hushed conversations. Their voices carried a mix of curiosity, judgment, and malicious intent."Did you hear about Sarah? They she's a single mother and has quite a reputation with men," a female officemate said to another."Really? That's surprising. She always seemed so composed and professional. I wonder how true these rumors are," the other replied.A male officemate chimed in, "I don't know all the details, but I heard she's had multiple failed relationships. It's no wonder she can't keep a man, given that she's raising a fatherless child."Sarah's heart sank as she listened to the false stories being spread about her. She felt the weight of the judg
Sarah's car screeched to a halt in the middle of the road, and she immediately saw that her rear tire had been purposely deflated.Before she could grab her tools for a spare tire, she noticed four sketchy dudes walking up to her, looking all menacing.They were carrying heavy clamps, a hammer, and a baseball bat, and their laughter gave her the creeps.Her voice shook with a mix of fear and defiance. "What do you want from me?" she demanded, her eyes darting between them.One of the guys smirked, loving the intimidation. "We're here to teach you a lesson, babe. You messed with the wrong crew."Just when Sarah was about to face their attack, she saw a fifth guy showing up, holding a bottle that looked like acid.Angry and frustrated, she muttered, "Larah, you backstabbing witch."The newcomer sneered as he spoke to Sarah."You should've known not to mess with us. You're gonna regret it big time."Sarah's eyes widened when she saw a tinted car pull up nearby, confirming her suspicion a
Sarah walks into the swanky Maxwell Club, her outfit was stunning – a classy, form-fitting dress revealing just the right amount of cleavage, showcasing her fashion sense.Her makeup skillfully accentuated her striking features, and like any other day, she deliberately placed her signature mole on her upper right lip, reminiscent of Cindy Crawford's iconic beauty mark.Ever since she began working, she had her hair dyed a rich chestnut hue, adding to her allure and giving her an air of foreign elegance. Her hair flowed gracefully down her back, adding to the overall magnetism of her appearance.With every confident step, her height of six feet, boosted by three-inch heels, turned heads, exuding a captivating presence.Inside the renowned Maxwell Lounge, Chairman William Xu couldn't help but be captivated by the lady who just came with her height and flawless mixture of Chinese and Caucasian beauty. She has encountered tall, mix-raced beautiful and accomplished women before, but she l
In the midst of the crowd, William noticed Camilla, the daughter of Willard Chan from Diamond IT Corporation, gracefully approaching him, highlighting her feminine charms. As they settled on the couch, Camilla approaching William gracefully. "Hey there! Mind if I join you?" William feeling a tingling sensation as kisses his neck, "That's quite a welcome." "You seem eager to have here. Let me take care of that." Camilla seductively inviting him and her nipples are almost showing from the thin fabric of her extremely tight scanty dress. William breathless with his eyes closed, "You're driving me wild." She proceeded to stimulate his aroused state, further exciting him. He detected the scent of a recreational drug, Fentanyl lozenge, in her breath, with its addictive fragrance lingering in the air. "Damn! You took them, again?" He asks the bewitching socialite with a tinge of concern. "Yah, it makes me feel hornier than I could ever imagine. Relax, increases my performance level."
As agreed during her grandfather's call, before lunch time, Sarah drove to her grandfather's opulent mansion, where she was poised to make her formal entry into the family's elite world. As she stepped into the grand foyer, it was evident that the household was in a frenzy of activity, all in preparation for her arrival. The gazes she encountered, however, were anything but welcoming; they dripped with condescension. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted individuals who looked like they had stepped out of a fairytale – princesses and princes in both appearance and demeanor. What set them apart was their language; instead of conversing in English, Mandarin, or Shanghainese, they whispered secrets in the elegance of French. Sarah decided to adopt the role of the outsider who seemingly didn't understand, determined not to let their sophisticated chatter rattle her. As she made her way into the cavernous dining hall, she found the Lao's already seated, along with her grandfather Hao
She drove away from her grandfather's opulent mansion, her mind buzzed with the unsettling interactions and hidden agendas she had encountered at the family gathering. Little did she know that the evening was about to take a perilous turn. As Sarah navigated the winding roads in her sleek, black sports car, Sarah couldn't shake the feeling that she was being followed. Glancing into her rearview mirror, she spotted two ominous black-tinted cars tailing her closely. Instinctively, she knew what this meant – danger lurks just around the corner. The ominous pursuers wasted no time. With a sudden surge of speed, the two cars closed in on Sarah's vehicle, and gunshots pierced the night air. Bullets ricocheted off her car's bulletproof exterior, sending sparks flying in all directions. Sarah's heart raced as she tightened her grip on the wheel, her instincts kicking into high gear. She grits her teeth,"Time to get out of here." With adrenaline coursing through her veins, Sarah pushed her
For three long and painful days, William had barricaded himself from the outside world. The heartache of Sarah's unexplained departure had driven him to isolate himself at the mansion’s bar, leaving him in a state of emotional turmoil. The once-bustling world around him had become a distant and hazy backdrop to his profound despair.William took another glass of scotch, wincing as he felt the effects of the excessive alcohol consumption. His stomach rebelled with an acid reflux, a painful reminder of his self-destructive behavior.In this troubled state, his loyal bodyguards, Tony and James, entered the room, concern etched on their faces. "Chairman Xu, you need to take care of yourself," Tony implored. "This isn't the way to cope with your emotions."James nodded in agreement, adding, "We've been looking for her diligently. We'll find her, but you need to regain control."William's voice was hoarse as he responded, "I can't... I can't think of anything else but her. I need her back."
The cold water was biting, but Sarah didn’t have time to feel it. She swam as fast as her tired body would allow, pushing through the ache in her muscles and the sharp sting of her wounds. The shouting from the men behind her was getting closer, bullets slicing through the air, some splashing into the lake around her.She heard the familiar “whup... whup… whup…” of the helicopter’s blades overhead, growing louder. Sarah dared to look up, water dripping from her hair into her eyes. The helicopter was hovering lower now, just above the water, the downdraft creating ripples across the surface."SARAH!" her uncle’s voice cut through the chaos. "GRAB THE LADDER!"She saw it—metal steps descending from the helicopter, swinging just above the water’s surface. The current made it difficult to get close, but she fought against it, using every last bit of her strength. Her uncle’s men were firing back at Benjie Lao’s goons, the air filled with the sound of gunfire. They were out in the open, hol
"What a filth!" She couldn't contain her disgust as she gagged, the stench of the tunnel overwhelming her senses. She stumbled, her stomach turning, and finally, the inevitable happened. She threw up, her body revolted against the foul odor.As soon as she could, she crawled out of the tunnel, her skirt torn and dirty. The sewer led her to a small, dark hole, which she squeezed through, emerging into a dense, unfamiliar forest."God, I'm still on Lao's property," she groaned, pulling out her phone and dialing her uncle Vincent's number. "Uncle, please help me. I'm in Shanghai, at Lao's mansion.""Sarah?! Oh, God, I've been looking for you! Where are you?""I'm in the woods. I escaped through the sewers.""Hang on. I'll be there with my men immediately. Go and hide!""Okay, please hurry." As she spoke, she looked up and saw towering pine trees. The sound of voices carried through the air, a chilling reminder of her danger. She knew she had to move, or she'd be found."I need to climb th
Twenty minutes felt like a lifetime as Sarah scrambled to pack a few essentials. The weight of the situation pressed down on her, a mix of apprehension and a strange, dawning excitement. The unexpected possibility of pregnancy offered a sliver of hope amidst the uncertainty. But the road ahead was shrouded in mist.Grayson's knock on the door startled her out of her thoughts. "We need to leave, Sarah. The chopper's waiting." His voice was clipped, his expression unreadable.She forced a smile, shoving the remaining clothes into her bag. "Just a minute." The carefully constructed facade felt brittle, ready to crumble under the weight of unanswered questions.Downstairs, the grand foyer felt even more imposing than before. The rhythmic thrum of the chopper blades vibrated in the air, a constant reminder of the escape, or perhaps, a forced return, she wasn't sure which. As they walked out towards the helipad, Sarah couldn't help but steal a glance at Grayson. His jaw was set, his eyes re
Twenty minutes felt like a lifetime as Sarah scrambled to pack a few essentials. The weight of the situation pressed down on her, a mix of apprehension and a strange, dawning excitement. The unexpected possibility of pregnancy offered a sliver of hope amidst the uncertainty. But the road ahead was shrouded in mist.Grayson's knock on the door startled her out of her thoughts. "We need to leave, Sarah. The chopper's waiting." His voice was clipped, his expression unreadable.She forced a smile, shoving the remaining clothes into her bag. "Just a minute." The carefully constructed facade felt brittle, ready to crumble under the weight of unanswered questions.Downstairs, the grand foyer felt even more imposing than before. The rhythmic thrum of the chopper blades vibrated in the air, a constant reminder of the escape, or perhaps, a forced return, she wasn't sure which. As they walked out towards the helipad, Sarah couldn't help but steal a glance at Grayson. His jaw was set, his eyes re
Glancing at the wall clock, Sarah noticed it was 6:35 AM. Despite their hunger, they eat in silence, sitting across from each other at the table. She ate quickly, knowing that later that afternoon was her grandfather’s funeral.Then, Grayson's phone rang, and he excused himself to answer the call. The conversation that followed left a sense of tension hanging in the air. Sarah couldn't help but overhear parts of it, and it piqued her curiosity even further.Grayson received the call someone mysterious, and his expression turned solemn as he listened to the authoritative voice on the other end of the line. "Bring Sarah back to Shanghai," those words were firm, and his tone conveyed the weight of his authority.The command was clear and left no room for negotiation. Grayson understood that he needed to follow these instructions, and the complexities of their situation seemed to deepen. With a nod, he replied, "Understood, Chairman. I will make the necessary arrangements.""Avoid getting
Grayson woke early and headed to the kitchen to prepare breakfast himself. As he chopped onions, his phone rang—it was his grandfather, Chairman Benjie Lao. Grayson knew immediately that an early morning call like this meant trouble, something urgent and possibly deadly. His stomach tightened as he answered."Grandpa, I’m guessing you’ve got something important to tell me," Grayson says, his voice steady despite his unease. He knew his grandfather well enough to expect the worst."You’re a crazy brat! Deliver Sarah to me!" Benjie’s voice thundered through the phone, punctuated by the loud stomp of his cane. "Don’t defy me, fool. I know you bedded her without consent. Love will take you nowhere. Marry her, then kill her immediately!" His tone left no room for misinterpretation.Grayson's jaw clenched. His eyes darkened as memories of his childhood flashed in his mind—being forced to train with his father's men, getting shot, and enduring a samurai’s blade across his back. The thought of
As they returned to the mansion after their half-day excursion in Nanchang city, Grayson and Sarah found themselves in high spirits as if they have no problems at all. The connection between them had deepened, and curiosity about each other's worlds had grown. The mansion, with its grandeur, was a stark contrast to the bustling streets of the city they had just explored.They decided to plunge into the pool while still in their clothes on, laughter bubbling up between them like the water splashing around. The coolness of the water was a delightful contrast to the heat of their bodies, and they felt carefree, like kids again, giggling as they splashed each other playfully.“Come on, you can’t be scared of a little water!” he teased, his eyes sparkling with mischief as he dunked her lightly, pulling her under for a brief moment before she resurfaced, gasping and laughing.“I’ll get you for that!” she declared, her cheeks flushed with exhilaration. With a quick flick of her wrist, she sen
Sarah's eyes flutter open as she senses a gentle touch against her cheeks. Her heart quickens, and even before she fully comprehends what's happening, the undeniable presence of another person lingers before her. She lies still, her senses on high alert, trying to discern who could be sharing this intimate space with her in the dark.As Sarah slowly opened her eyes and beheld Grayson's impassive face hovering over her, her heart raced, and she instinctively shielded her nearly bare bosom from the gossamer fabric of her silk nightgown. She sat up, her nerves on edge. "Grayson, what a surprise," she managed to utter, attempting to conceal her vulnerability."Well, tomorrow is your Grandpa's burial, and I must take you there," Grayson stated, his emotions turbulent as he observed Sarah's vulnerable yet alluring state. "You have a natural beauty that drives me crazy," he added, reaching out to caress her hair before standing. "It's almost seven. I suppose we should have breakfast together.