"Zzz…"Hearing the rhythmic snoring, Stefan turned around to find that Renee was fast asleep without a care. Furious, he spun the steering wheel and jammed his food on the brakes.As the car came to a screeching halt at the turn on a coastal zone, Renee immediately jolted awake and reached for the car door handle, looking around in panic, "Argh! What happened?! Was there an earthquake?!"She saw that the car had stopped by the beach, enveloped in darkness and silence—danger seemed to lurk everywhere.Meanwhile, Stefan opened the window to let the fresh breeze in, looking up at the starry sky above."Carefree, aren't you?" He scoffed flatly as he lit himself a cigarette, exhaling a puff of smoke. "Someone who knew better would know you're due for punishment, but those who don't would think that you're here to sightsee."Embarrassed, Renee hastily tidied her appearance and cleared her throat. "Sorry I wasn't taking this seriously. Should I be more worried about not meeting your exp
Stefan did not miss Renee's fidgeting, but misunderstood it as her craving a cigarette. Frowning, he lectured her like a father would, "You're a woman, but you smoke?"His judgy tone pissed Renee off, and she straightened herself menacingly as she snapped, "What's wrong with women smoking? Why are men allowed to do it, but not women?""Men are different from women," Stefan said stubbornly."In what way?" Renee demanded sharply. "From my perspective, women can do anything men can, but men can't do everything women can. In that respect, women are nobler than men!""How so?""Women are more empathetic, sentimental, and kinder. Most importantly, they can bear children, and men can't. Think about it—every human being came from a woman, so why are men allowed to smoke but women aren't?"Stefan actually could not come up with a retort against Renee's eloquent logic, and she snorted. "See? Can't argue against that, can you? Give me a reason if you think of one that's reasonable."Seizin
"Yes, that's how much I love him. So please set us free, Mr. Hunt!" Renee clearly felt Stefan's rage, but she felt no fear, and instead repeatedly challenged the limit of his patience."In that case, get ready for a world of pain!" Stefan snapped, his eyes ablaze with rage even as he snatched her cigarette and snuffed it out violently."What are you doing?!" Renee exclaimed, shifting backwards and putting her hand on the door handle, ready to flee at a moment's notice."Weren't you acting all noble and ready to give up everything for him? Having second thoughts now, are we?""No, I just… wanted to prepare mentally.""Don't worry, I won't kill you," Stefan said, his gaze dangerously possessive as he held her dainty chin with his long fingers. "I'm only interested in your body.""You're sick!" Renee's face flushed, and she turned to open the door to escape the awkward, suffocating space inside the car.She didn't expect Stefan to lock the door before she could."If you're not hav
Both of them knew very well that this was wrong, but neither of them wanted to stop.Perhaps it was that so-called muscle memory at work, and their brains could no longer control their bodies…"W-Wait!" When Stefan's hand caressed her body all the way up to her collar and easily undid her blouse's buttons, Renee jolted to her senses and pushed the man away."You dare resist me?!" Stefan's eyes flashed dangerously as he glared indignantly at the woman. "Don't forget that you're the one who got in my car, and you knew what you were in for the moment you did. You're not naive enough to think that I'm just taking you to the beach for a stroll, are you?!""I get it. You want to sleep with me!" Renee sneered even as she straightened her hair and tried to calm herself. "I'm just surprised—weren't you known for your loyalty, Mr. Hunt? You're marrying Ms. Murphy soon, but you still can't keep it in your pants… Isn't that a little hypocritical?""Everyone has a dark side, and you might be w
"Let me go!" Stefan cried, refusing to suffer such humiliation. He started to flail around under Renee's body, but was completely vulnerable like meat on the butcher's table, as her hand was applying pressure to a vital part of his!Renee was very keen on teasing him, and caressed his handsome face fearlessly in her dangerous dance with a dangerous man. "Stop struggling, stud. The more you do, the more excited I get… and it'd be too late if I did something you can't ever change…" Renee now understood why men got so domineering in relationships—this feeling of lording over a partner was simply amazing!"You're playing with fire! Last warning—let me go or I'll kill you!" Stefan kept struggling against her touch, but he seemed to be denied his strength—his haughty face was flushed, and he felt an indescribable delight.He cursed under his breath—the woman was strong despite her slim build, and he almost felt as if he was being crushed under a mountain."Let you go? No way… you came to
Stefan wondered how the hell things had turned out like this.Right now, Renee Everheart should have been beneath him and completely at his mercy… but it was the other way around!Paying her back for her antics?! He would thank the gods if he could just escape her clutches!"What do I want? You still don't get it, do you?" Renee asked, whipping out her phone and turning on the camera. "Tell me where you're keeping Jovan or let him go, and I will release you. Otherwise…""Otherwise what?""Every netizen will watch as I take off your clothes, layer by layer… and then eat you up!" Renee smirked, eager to get going. The Hunt family was a dynasty that treasured their reputation, so one could only imagine the sensational headlines that would ensue if their heir was filmed on livestream, tied up and stripped naked!Renee was naturally convinced that Stefan would obey her with the utmost compliance."So? Are you afraid yet? I'm ready to give up when you are," she told him."Whatever,"
Stefan stared at Renee, who was on the verge of a breakdown."I won't tell you where Jovan is even if you were naked," he told her evenly. "Because I have no idea where he is."He finally admitted the truth since things were getting out of hand. With the ridiculous thought processes that Renee's mind appeared to be prone to, one of them would soon be driven insane!Renee was half-undressed and froze right then. "What are you talking about? What do you mean you don't know where he is?""He never stays put like you, and I guess he's now actually missing. It only begs the question of why you came to me at all," Stefan replied, leaning back against his seat with an impassive look, staring at her contemptuously as if she was an idiot."How could you not know?! When that explosion happened, the chauffeur clearly heard the person who abducted Jovan say, 'Mr. Hunt sends his regards'! And there is no other Mr. Hunt except you!""Why me? There are plenty of Mr. Hunts across the globe," Ste
"Are you going to kill me if I refuse to tell you?" Stefan asked with a vague smile, fearless even as she stared at the knife in Renee's hand."I won't kill you—but I'll skin you and watch you bleed! You'd wish you were dead… unless you return my brother!" Renee was not joking—Quinton was her flesh and blood, a progeny of their parents. She would never allow anyone to hurt him!"You seem more agitated," Stefan pointed out, still unfazed. "Does that mean your brother is more important to you than your own partner?""Yes!" Renee readily admitted to it. "Family is more important than anything. If you lay a finger on him, I won't hesitate to kill you.""What if your brother hurts the love of your life?" Stefan pressed.Renee frowned, but said with a cool glare, "If that does happen, I will die with my beloved, and let my brother live!"She had no chance of knowing back then that it was an exchange that would become very relevant years down the line!Nonetheless, Stefan calmly said,