Chapter 1 The Unexpected First Encounter

• Hot...
• It's so hot...
• Celeste Xenos lay on the exquisitely crafted large bed, feeling as though her entire body was consumed by an unbearable heat.
• Suddenly, a firm grip tightened around her waist, and the cold yet powerful form of a man pressed down on her.
• “Help me. I will take responsibility for you.” The man's breath was hot and urgent.
• Subsequently, the man covered every inch of Celeste's body with his kisses, tender yet fervorously.
• In the early morning, Celeste was jolted awake from a nightmarish dream.
• She sat up abruptly, clutching the blanket, her breath coming in quick gasps.
• She found herself completely bare, her body adorned with kiss marks, and beside her lay a muscular stranger.
• The man turned slightly, revealing half of his face that was as striking as an exquisite sculpture. He exuded an aura of privileged aloofness, a presence that was captivating and intimidating in equal measure.
• Incredibly, she had spent a night entangled in a mistake with a man she barely knew...
• Moreover, he seemed to be a formidable figure not to be trifled with.
• Celeste's face turned ashen with fear, tears incessantly streaming down her cheeks. She couldn't help but replay the scenes from the previous night in her mind.
• The Xenos family business was on the brink of bankruptcy, a crisis that had her father running around frantically, his hair turning white with stress. As the daughter of the Xenos family, she felt obligated to help. So, she and her stepsister, Harriet Xenos, approached Gregory Lowe, the CEO of Lowe Real Estate, seeking a partnership. At the dinner meeting, she lost consciousness after just one drink. She suspected that there was something amiss with that drink.
• As for how she ended up in bed with this seemingly untouchable man, she didn't want to dwell on it...
• At the time, Xenos Corporation was teetering on the brink of disaster, and she absolutely couldn't afford to stir up trouble.
• She intended to quietly slip away, lifting the feather quilt. However, no sooner had her foot touched the ground than she crumpled, weak and shaky, onto the floor.
• Last night, this man was incredibly intense. His unrestrained demands left her feeling sore all over.
• Bearing the humiliation and embarrassment deep within her, Celeste donned her clothes and left.
• In her haste, she completely overlooked the luxurious earring that had been left behind on her bedside...
• When she arrived at the hotel lobby, a breaking news report was being broadcast on the large screen. “Xenos Corporation has gone bankrupt. The CEO, Bryan Xenos, committed suicide by jumping off a building, plunging the corporation into a three-billion debt crisis.”
• What? Dad committed suicide!
• Celeste felt as if she had been struck by lightning. Her heartache was almost unbearable.
• Just then, a group of laborers armed with iron rods and long knives approached the hotel. “The eldest daughter of the Xenos family is here,” they said. “Bryan owes us wages and refuses to pay. We're going to sell his daughter to settle the debt!”
• Presidential Suite number 999, Royal Inn
• Leaning against the floor-to-ceiling window, Hadrian Lloyd, tall and handsome, had just finished bathing. His jet-black hair was slightly damp, and glistening droplets of water slid down his chiseled cheeks, disappearing into the firm expanse of his broad chest.
• The man's features were remarkably handsome and refined. His brows and eyes were deeply etched, and his gaze was profound, enigmatic, and sharp. He exuded an aura of chilling ruthlessness that was palpable to all around him.
• Behind him stood a group of people in black, trembling with fear.
• He subtly shifted his gaze, casting a cool, detached glance.
• “Did you find out who drugged the drink last night?”
• The CEO's personal assistant, Yves Zeller, wiped his cold sweat before stepping forward apprehensively. “We've found out, Mr. Lloyd. It was your illegitimate younger brother who had someone tamper with the drink.”
• “Heh, he must be tired of living.” A glint of deadly seriousness flashed in Hadrian's eyes. “Since he likes to get his hands dirty, have someone cut off his limbs.”
• “Understood, Mr. Lloyd!”
• Yves sighed inwardly. This illegitimate child really considers himself the fifth son of the Lloyd family, daring to scheme against Mr. Lloyd for power and profits.
• He's truly courting death!
• Hadrian casually sipped his red wine, pulling out what appeared to be a rather expensive earring from his pocket.
• “Find the owner of this earring. She is the future Mrs. Lloyd!”
• He handed the earring to Yves, a tender emotion slipping into his eyes.
• Last night, he had attended a celebration banquet as the head of Lloyd Corporation, only to be drugged by an illegitimate son. On his way back to his hotel room, he mistakenly entered the wrong room. At that time, a woman was lying on the bed. Tormented by the effects of the drug and finding the woman incredibly enticing, he succumbed to his desires. The two of them were like dry wood meeting a fierce flame, sharing a passionate night together.
• Hadrian, who had never been with a woman before, experienced the ultimate warmth last night.
• He had always kept his distance from women, even harboring some disdain for them due to his father's infidelity. However, he felt an instinctive desire to get closer to the woman he met the previous night.
• After that night, having had a taste of the sweet life, he found himself somewhat addicted.
• To him, she was different!
• Moreover—
• Hadrian's gaze briefly swept over the stark red stain blooming on the pristine white bedsheet.
• Last night, he had taken away what was most precious to the woman, and in turn, she had inadvertently saved him.
• He was determined to take responsibility for her—to marry and give her the grandest wedding!
• Upon catching sight of the tenderness in Hadrian's eyes, Yves momentarily thought his eyes were playing tricks on him. Their CEO, known for his aloof demeanor and indifference toward women, was now, surprisingly, expressing affection and asking him to find a woman.
• Last night must have been an extraordinary one for Hadrian.
• “All right. I will definitely find her!”
• Drenched in her clothing, Celeste arrived in a disheveled state outside the Schmidt residence.
• In order to evade the debt collectors from the rural workforce, she had to slip out from the back door of the hotel and cross a small river to escape successfully.
• Shaun Schmidt was her fiancé, and now, with the Xenos family in ruins and debt collectors lurking everywhere, he was the only one she could rely on.
• However, last night, she had just encountered a stranger, a man...
• Would Shaun still be willing to help her if he knew?
• Celeste hesitated before pushing open the main door.
• Upon entering the main hall, she immediately heard the passionate shouts of a man and woman.
• “Oh, Shaun, you're amazing, so comforting.”
• “Little vixen, are you enjoying yourself?”
• When Celeste heard that, a jolt struck her heart.
• That's my boyfriend, Shaun, and my stepsister, Harriet...
• When did they get together?
• As she heard the escalating sounds of commotion from within, a wave of nausea washed over her.
• Shaun had been her boyfriend for three years. Not long ago, she had just accepted his marriage proposal. Harriet Xenos, on the other hand, was her stepmother's daughter. Over the years, she had always portrayed herself as a timid and weak figure, often playing the victim to take what was hers. Now, unbelievably, she had managed to ensnare Shaun.
• Unexpectedly, Celeste lost everything overnight—her father, status as the heiress of a wealthy family, and even Shaun...
• Resentment! Grievance!
• She was determined to retaliate!
• She was determined to render Shaun impotent, unable to sleep with women in the future.
• Holding a glass of iced water, Celeste kicked open the door and splashed the entwined couple on the bed.
• “Ah!”
• “D*mn it! What the hell?”
• In the midst of the chaos, Celeste stepped forward and forcefully slapped Harriet twice.
• “You wretch! So, you want to steal my belongings that badly, huh?”
• Harriet, having been hit so hard that stars danced before her eyes and blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, still didn't forget to play the victim.
• “Celeste, Shaun and I... We just couldn't help ourselves in the heat of the moment. Can you forgive us? I'm not trying to steal Shaun from you. He's still yours...” She sobbed.
• When Shaun saw Celeste, a wave of panic swept across his face.
• “Celly, let me explain!”
• He was merely toying with Harriet. His heart truly belonged to Celeste. After all, Celeste was the legitimate heiress of the Xenos family.
• “I have nothing to say to a scum like you!”
• With a mocking glance at Shaun's weakened lower part of his body, Celeste advised, “Instead of wasting your time, you should hurry to a men's health clinic. If you're too late, the Schmidt family lineage might just end with you!”
• Having said that, Celeste departed with an air of arrogance and dominance.
• Upon being reminded by Celeste, Shaun suddenly realized that there was no response from there, and he instantly became as anxious as ants on a hot pan.
• “How are you doing, Shaun?” Harriet glanced at the man's deflated lower body, approaching with a mix of concern and apprehension.
• Xenos Corporation was on the brink of collapse, and she needed to find a new source of support.
• The Schmidt family and the wealthiest Lloyd family shared an inseparable bond. Shaun was a dependable anchor, a force she needed to hold onto firmly!
• “Get lost!” In a fit of urgency, Shaun shoved Harriet away, then hurriedly left through the door.
• Harriet fell hard onto the ground. The pain in her palm was as if she'd been pricked by a needle. Upon lifting her hand for a look, she discovered that an earring had embedded itself into her flesh.
• This...
• This is Celeste's earring!
• It was a gift from her comatose mother for her eighteenth birthday, a pair of petite earrings encrusted with emeralds and diamonds. They're simply priceless treasures!
• She must have accidentally dropped it earlier!
• It's a shame that there's only one earring. I'll have to figure out a way to sneak the other one away in the future!