Once the toast of the city, now thedies who once fawned over him gave him a wide berth, afraid to


    even whisper his name.


    Rumor had it that the ident had robbed him of more than his consciousness.


    What a pity it was!


    Desperate times called for desperate measures, and the younger branch of the Chadwick. family found


    themselves clinging to the marriage for luck.


    Gwendolyn’s vision was obscured by a veil as Marina, a Chadwick family servant, guided her into the


    mansion. The weight of the traditional headdress bore down on her, nearly bending her


    neck.


    She was ushered into a spacious bedroom and seated at the edge of the bed..


    With a length of ribbon, Marina bound Gwendolyn’s right hand, wrapping it meticulously before


    securing the other end to the left hand of the man on the bed.


    “You mustn’t untie it. That’s the rule,” Marina warned. “If you mess this up, the consequences


    are on you.”


    Gwendolyn nodded slightly, feeling the stiffness in her neck.


    At the sight of herpliance, Marina added, “You’ll have to endure tonight with Mr. Howard. Call me if


    you need anything.”


    With those words, she closed the door behind her, leaving Gwendolyn alone in the eerie silence of the


    room, apanied only by the incessant beeping of monitors and the faint breathing of the unfamiliarOriginal content from N?velDrama.Org.


    man beside her.


    She set down her medical kit, drawing a smallfort from the faint aroma of her medicines.


    As long as she had her kit, her swith acupuncture was her confidence.


    Stiff and sore, she instinctively reached up to massage her neck, forgetting the ribbon binding


    her hand.


    A sudden tug on the ribbon sent beads from her headdress clinking together as she fell onto


    14:13


    Chapter 2


    the bed, sending the wedding veil flying.


    Shended atop a warm body, her lips identally brushing against Howard’s cheek.


    Beneath her, his features were pale and still, his eyes closed, his longshes casting shadows across


    his face. His handsomeness was almost ethereal, marred only by the scarlet imprint her lips had left on


    his cheek.


    Flustered, Gwendolyn scrambled to sit up, attempting to rub away the lipstick mark on his face. In her


    haste, her hair became entangled with the buttons of his pajamas, creating a knot she couldn’t untie.


    “Ah!” she cried out in pain as her scalp burned and her eyes watered from the struggle.


    The more she squirmed, the tighter the knot became.


    Her lips brushed his again and again in her efforts to free herself.


    If any member of the Chadwick family were to witness this scene, they’d think she was brazen, not


    even sparing a man in a vegetative state.


    I


    “I’m sorry, I have no other choice,” Gwendolyn whispered to Howard with closed eyes.


    Gritting her teeth against the pain, she straddled him and began to pull at the cor of his pajamas.


    With a ripping sound, the cotton fabric tore open, buttons scattering.


    Finally free, she sighed in relief and looked down.


    Howard slowly opened his eyes, a deep coldness swirling within them as he gazed at her.


    His torn pajamas revealed a sexy Adam’s apple and a broad chest, giving him the appearance. of


    someone who had been ravaged.


    Gwendolyn froze in shock, her legs mping around him.


    “Umm…” Howard groaned softly.