Chapter 1

Sitting on the hospital corridor bench, Serena Judd trembled uncontrollably.

She had just encountered a creep.

She had worked overtime until midnight. Exhausted, she dragged her weary body back to her rented apartment. Just as she was about to take out her keys, someone suddenly covered her mouth and nose from behind.

Serena struggled with everything she had, but her attacker dragged her toward the stairwell.

A warm, repulsive breath brushed against her ear. "You smell amazing."

That revolting voice coiled around her like a venomous snake, suffocating her with every word.

In sheer terror, Serena had thrown herself backward, dragging the man down the stairs with her.

She was lucky—only a few scrapes and bruises.

However, the creep wasn't so fortunate. He cracked his head on the way down and lay motionless long enough for her to escape.

After giving her statement at the police station, Serena went to the hospital herself. She kept glancing at her phone, which displayed the message she had sent to Justin Farrow hours earlier—it remained unanswered.

"Ms. Judd?" A familiar voice broke through her haze.

Serena looked up to see Justin's assistant, Zane Sullivan, staring at her in shock. "What happened to you?"

"Just ran into some trouble." Serena tried to force a smile, but the effort froze halfway when she spotted the intimate pair behind Zane.

Justin was dressed in a sleek black suit, with a delicate young woman nestled close at his side. One of his arms rested protectively on her shoulder.

He saw Serena too. "What the hell happened to you?"

Usually polished and composed, Serena now looked disheveled. Her long hair hung in a tangled mess, and her white suit was streaked with blood and dirt. A faint scrape marked her fair forehead.

She turned her face away. "I texted you. Didn't you see it?"

"What text?"

Just as he was about to take out his phone, the woman beside him, Candice Ashton, let out a pained cry, "I don't feel so good, Justin."

His expression immediately softened. "Let's get you checked out."

Before leaving, he said casually, "Zane, stay here with Serena."

Serena kept her head lowered the entire time without a word.

When they were out of sight, Zane finally explained, "Ms. Judd, today is Ms. Ashton's birthday, so Mr. Farrow went over to celebrate. She seemed to have had a bit too much to drink and was feeling unwell, so Mr. Farrow took her here. Please don't misunder—"

"Why are you explaining to me?" Serena cut him off. "It's not like I'm anyone to Justin."

Zane fell silent.

By the time he snapped out of it, Serena had already disappeared into the examination room.

Her injuries weren't serious, though her calf injury was more severe. Fortunately, there were no fractures—just soft tissue bruising and some contusions. She was prescribed topical medication.

As she walked out, she saw Justin leaning against the wall in the hallway.

Candice was gone, along with his expensive suit jacket.

He was dressed only in a white shirt with the collar slightly unbuttoned. His sharp collarbones and defined Adam's apple were visible.

With his phone in hand, he was scrolling through Serena's earlier messages.

"Someone's following me. Can you come pick me up?"

Justin frowned. His handsome face was tinged with surprise. "You really ran into a creep?"

"Bad luck, I guess." Serena's tone was as calm and detached as ever.

No one would've guessed how terrified she'd been at that time. The fear and desperation she felt still haunted her whenever she thought back on it.

Now, she was as composed as a machine.

Justin stepped closer and brushed her messy hair back into place. His fingers lingered on her cheek, as if to soothe her. "Are you okay?"

Her eyes flickered. But before Serena could answer, he added, "So… did he mess you up?"

Her expression turned to ice in an instant, and she smacked his hand away.

"Angry?" His voice carried a hint of indifference.

"It's Candy's birthday today. I couldn't ruin the mood. Besides, who would've thought you'd actually encounter a creep?"

Serena's lips curled into a mocking smile. "Yeah, shame on that creep for picking the wrong day and interrupting your fun."

A trace of irritation flashed across Justin's face. "Well, since you're fine, I'll get going."

And with that, he left.

Serena limped to the pharmacy alone and filled her prescription. Just as she was about to leave, Zane stopped her.

He avoided her gaze. "Ms. Judd, Mr. Farrow has arranged for another doctor for you. You should go see them."

"I've already seen a doctor," she said, puzzled.

It wasn't until Zane led her to the gynecology department that she realized what Justin had in mind.

Zane's voice came from behind her. "This was Mr. Farrow's request, Ms. Judd. Please don't put me in a tough spot."

Serena glanced to the side, her long lashes framing eyes that gleamed with an icy glint. "If we're doing this, let's do it right. Tell Justin I want the full VIP checkup package. The most expensive one."

…

When Serena left the hospital, she called Justin.

He answered quickly, but her voice was icy. "Mr. Farrow, if you wanted to know whether someone violated me, you could've just asked. No need for all this roundabout nonsense. It's such a waste of money and effort."

There was a brief silence on the other end, followed by Candice's soft voice. "Um… Justin's in the shower. Did you maybe misunderstand something?"

Serena froze.

The autumn night carried a biting chill. Standing alone on the deserted street, she felt the wind cut through her thin clothes and chilled her to the bone.

Her voice remained steady. "There's no misunderstanding. Just tell Justin I think he's disgusting."

She hung up right after.

…

Candice set the phone down as she heard the bathroom door open.

Justin walked out, towel-drying his hair. His strikingly handsome face turned to her. "Who was it?"

"Ms. Judd," Candice replied with an innocent smile. "She seemed upset. She said a few things, then hung up. You should call her back. Aren't you two childhood friends? Maybe you should check on her."

Justin shook his head. "It's fine. She's tougher than you think."

After saying that, he grabbed his jacket and slung it over his arm. "I should go now. The meds are by the nightstand. Make sure to take them."

"Okay." Candice looked up at him, her expression sweet and gentle. "It's all my fault for spilling milk on you and making you late."

"It's not late. Get some rest." Justin ruffled her hair and turned to leave.

Outside, his phone buzzed with a message from Zane. It was a report of Serena's gynecology checkup.

She was still a virgin.

A faint smile tugged at his lips, and the irritation he'd felt earlier finally faded.