Chapter 1


    After a passionate rendezvous, ra’s skin shimmers with an understated glown held her close,


    his slender fingers tracing the contours of her delicate features. In the depths of his mesmerizing


    eyes, there was a tenderness that she had never seen before.


    ra was left utterly spent by their lovemaking, but at this moment, she felt deeply cherished.


    However, before the afterglow of their desire could fade,n’s phone began to ring. ra’s heart


    skipped a beat at the sight of the caller ID. She tightened her grip onn’s arm and looked up at him


    with pleading eyes, “Can you not answer it?”


    Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    The call was from Heidi,n’s long–time sweetheart. Since she’d returned stateside less than a


    month ago, there had been several cries for attention, masquerading as suicide attempts.


    ra knew all too well that Heidi’s antics were deliberate, butn didn’t seem to care about ra’s


    feelings. He pushed her away without a second thought. The warmth of their recent intimacy was


    completely gone as he eagerly answered the call.


    ra couldn’t make out what was said on the phone. She only saw the waves of emotion churning


    inn’s deep–set eyes, darker than the night outside.


    After hanging up, he quickly dressed. “Heidi’s causing a scene again, threatening to hurt herself.


    I’ve got to go check on her.”


    ra sat up in bed, her skin now flushed and marked with the evidence of their love. Her gaze was


    intense as she watched him. “But today is my birthday. You promised to spend it with me, and I


    have something important to tell you.”


    Before ra could react, the bedroom door mmed shut. Soon after, the sound of a car engine


    roared to life outside.


    ra reached under her pillow and pulled out a small, exquisite box. Inside were two matching


    rings, which she stared at with misty eyes.


    Three years ago, when a thug cornered her in an alley, it wasn who came to her rescue, and he


    got injured in the process. She had volunteered to stay and care for him.


    One night, after a bit too much wine, he slept with her. Ian had asked her then if she wanted to date


    him, but he made it clear he wasn’t offering marriage. Without hesitation, ra had agreed,


    becausen was the man she had secretly adored for four years.


    From that day, she wasn’s efficient and attractive secretary by day, and by night, his obedient


    lover.


    She naively thought thatn loved her and that he was hesitant about marriage because of issues


    with his family. She spent a whole day preparing a proposal setup, hoping to break through his


    emotional barriers.


    But Heidi’s call shattered ra’s illusions.


    Perhapsn wasn’t against marriage. It just wasn’t ra he wanted as his wife.


    With a bitter smile, ra packed away the rings. She dismantled all the decorations on the patio


    herself.


    Driving off alone, she had not gone far when a sharp pain struck her lower abdomen, followed by a


    warm flow running down her thighs.


    She looked down and saw that the white leather seat was stained with blood. A bad premonition


    washed over her. She immediately calledn.


    n, my stomach hurts. Can youe get me, please?”


    ra, seeing more and more blood, started to cry out in fear, Tan, fes not lying My stomach really


    hurts, and I’m bleeding so much.”


    She couldn’t finish her sentence before being met with his callous reply “ra, Heidi’s life is at


    stake, and you have the nerve to make a scener


    Stunned by his words, it took her several seconds to respond. Sheughed weaky, a pallid smile on


    her face “You think I’m being unreasonable?”


    Isn’t that what this is?” His voice wasced with annoyance and a chilling detachment that stabbed


    right through ra’s heart.