"Are you seeing someone?"

Charlee Sullivan leaned casually against a gleaming crimson sports car, her fitted scarlet dress emphasizing her striking silhouette. Her delicate face, framed by soft waves of auburn hair, radiated sophistication.

Her usually vibrant eyes now carried an icy detachment.

The man, crouched over his battered motorcycle, straightened up at her words.

Under the streetlight's glow, his rugged, undeniably magnetic features radiated an air of untamed charisma.

"I'm single," he replied, his deep baritone carrying an irresistible allure.

Charlee smirked, leaning in slightly.

Her curls tumbled forward, dusted with vibrant remnants of party streamers.

"Spend a night with me, and I'll forget about the damage to my car," she suggested boldly.

She wasn't one to forgive easily; after discovering that Liam Todd, her fiance, dared to cheat on her, she craved a way to retaliate.

And this man—his sharp jawline, commanding presence, and effortless charm—was everything Liam wasn't.

Liam, she mused, paled in comparison to this stranger, who seemed more than capable of meeting her every desire.

The man's gaze flitted between the dented luxury vehicle and his wrecked motorcycle, a flicker of amusement in his expression.

Her prized car, he thought, wasn't even worth the cost of his bike's handlebars.

With a sly grin, he pulled her into his embrace, his tone teasing but firm.

"Deal. I can't pay for your car repairs anyway. But don't complain later, little firecracker."

With that, he swept her off her feet, carrying her with ease toward a nearby hotel.

As soon as they entered the room, she shoved him onto the mattress. In a hotel celebrated for its quirky offerings, she quickly located restraints on the nightstand and latched his wrists to the headboard.

"I prefer being in control," she stated, her cheeks glowing with a provocative flush.

Despite lacking experience, her bold demeanor exuded confidence, akin to a flower blooming under dim, ambient lighting.

Her authority didn't last long, and she hardly cared whether he'd completely enjoyed the encounter.

"We're even now," she murmured, panting and disheveled.

In a swift motion, he reversed their positions, pinning her beneath him, his gaze intense with unrestrained desire.

"That's all? I recall you promising that it'd be a whole night. It's still early," he taunted.

Before she could comprehend how he escaped the restraints, she found herself overwhelmed, her rationality slipping away entirely.

Mimicking her earlier assertiveness, he covered her mouth with his palm, compelling her to endure. Tears brimmed in her eyes as she whimpered beneath his unyielding movements.

When he said a whole night, he wasn't exaggerating.

Charlee lost track of the moments she blacked out. His insatiable energy seemed endless, pushing her body past its limits.

Hours later, as she slipped back into her outfit, she couldn't summon the courage to meet his gaze.

Her hoarse voice trembled with a warning as she said, "I have the crash footage. The moment I step out, we're nothing to each other. Stay silent."

From behind her, his voice dripped with amusement, lazy yet sharp.

"Interesting. I've kept a copy of that clip, too."

Not catching his implication, Charlee grabbed her belongings and headed for the exit.

Her shaky legs almost betrayed her, threatening to collapse beneath her.

His deep chuckle echoed. "Sure you don't need more time to recover?"

What a smug bastard!

She slammed the door behind her with every ounce of strength, nearly tempted to hit him with it.

She missed the possessive glint in his eyes as he watched her leave.

In the hotel lobby, the glowing screen of a television displayed breaking headlines.

"A shocking revelation today—two elite families in Jurgh, set to unite through marriage, have faced public embarrassment. Sources claim the Todd heir stormed out of the ceremony, leaving the Sullivan heiress humiliated."

A bystander muttered, "Rumor has it the groom's quite fond of his fiancee's half-sister. Now that her parents have rekindled their relationship, who knows? Maybe he'll end up with the other sibling."

On the screen, Charlee appeared in a crimson gown, her hair dotted with celebratory confetti. The camera lingered on her frozen smile, magnifying the heartbreak behind it.

Surprisingly, after her intense encounter, Charlee realized the pain from the breakup wasn't as sharp anymore.

She had clung too tightly to Liam, convinced their years-long relationship was indestructible. She had let him take her affection for granted.

But he was never irreplaceable. Someone else had managed to fill the void effortlessly.

The stranger from last night, for instance, who possessed boundless endurance.

Charlee said, "Hello. I'd like to check out."

Distracted by a heated debate over the latest news on TV, the receptionists glanced up from their conversation. Their eyes widened as they recognized the woman from the video, forcing a slightly awkward smile.

One receptionist looked back at the screen and then at Charlee, clearly captivated by the latter's striking appearance. Her eyes flicked briefly to Charlee's neck as she processed the latter's check-out.

As Charlee drove home, she reflected on the curious glances she received from the receptionists.

Curious, she pulled out a mirror. The hickeys on her neck were hard to miss.

She reached for her foundation, carefully covering the marks. Most of them were still visible, though.

That man's stamina was truly remarkable.

He looked like he could go on forever without tiring.

Their meeting had begun with a car accident and quickly turned into a night of carefree fun. The memory brought a soft laugh to her lips.

Thirty minutes later, she steered her sports car into the driveway of the Sullivans' grand villa. At the same moment, a black Cayenne rolled in beside her.

As the car door swung open, Liam gently assisted Stacey Sullivan out, treating her with utmost care. His gaze turned cold when he spotted Charlee.

"Keep your troubles away from Stacey. We'll talk later."

His composed manner brought back memories of him setting boundaries, like prohibiting her from eating ice cream during her periods or wearing skirts to school.

There was a time she almost adored this aspect of Liam.

Now, it only disgusted her.

Facing him, she said, "This is good timing. I'm calling off our engagement."

Under the sunlight, she rose elegantly, her perfect skin radiating, her beautiful face emitting a captivating charm.

Liam was caught off guard and then noticed the love bites on her neck; his eyes filled with anger immediately.

Releasing Stacey's arm, he strode toward Charlee and seized her wrist with a grip that almost broke it.

"Where were you last night? Who is responsible for this?"

He resembled a husband who felt deceived.

Oh, the irony.

"Let go," Charlee said, her eyes cold.

"All this time, I've treated you well, yet you've acted shamelessly. To think you'd let another man's lips on your neck!" Liam refused to believe Charlee could betray him like this. He was convinced she'd asked someone to make those marks just to agitate him.

Trapped in his grasp, Charlee flashed a mischievous smile. "Oh, it wasn't just my neck. His kisses covered me completely. He whispered 'baby' with such passion as we made love."

Realizing Charlee had seen the video, Liam's hold inadvertently weakened.

"There's a reason for this. Please, don't let this hurt Stacey."

He was aware of the video then.

He certainly knew how to keep the excitement alive in the bedroom.

Charlee could no longer hold back her frustration and slapped him.

"Charlee, what's going on?" Stacey cried out as she dashed forward, encircling Charlee's waist with her arms and forcibly pulling the latter back. "Liam means the world to me, blame me if you must. He treats you so well. How could you slap him?"

Stacey's tearful plea was followed by a low, sinister chuckle.

Stacey whispered, "So, what is it like to be left alone at your own engagement? I merely scratched my wrist, and Liam couldn't stop comforting me with kisses."

A cold dread crept over Charlee, feeling like she was trapped by a venomous snake, urging her to shove Stacey away. The moment she touched Stacey's arm, Stacey screamed and tumbled to the ground, her wrist bleeding through the bandage.

"Charlee!"

Liam, seething with anger, rushed to Stacey's aid. "You owe Stacey an apology, now!"

"Don't be so harsh, Liam," Stacey said softly, holding onto Liam's hand as he pointed at Charlee, her voice tender yet pitiful. "This is on me; I shouldn't have let my feelings for you go so far. She's supposed to be your bride. It's natural for Charlee to be upset. I accept whatever comes."

Her act of pity managed to melt Liam's heart.

"Please, don't cry, Stacey," he said.

Charlee's gaze lingered on Liam and Stacey's display of affection, her tone biting as she sneered, "You do realize this is on you, right?"

Liam's eyes darkened with fury, cutting toward her like a blade.

"You've crossed a line, Charlee. Stacey is your sister. She almost died, and you still feel the need to antagonize her?"

"Sister?" Charlee's laugh was as icy as her stare. "You mean the one who seduced her sister's fiance?"

"You..." Liam's anger simmered as he steadied Stacey, leading her toward the Sullivan estate. As they neared Charlee, he turned sharply and barked, "Wait for me at the door."

He spoke with the authority of someone who expected to be obeyed, confident in her usual compliance.

But instead, Charlee strode past him without a second glance, her red dress flowing behind her.

With her sleek black heels clicking against the pavement and her crimson lips curved in disdain, she exuded an untamed elegance, like a predator that couldn't be tamed.

"This is my house," she said coolly, throwing the words over her shoulder. "You don't get to dictate what I do."

Liam froze, startled by her defiance, his eyes glued to her retreating figure.

Something about her felt different—unfamiliar.

"Liam..." Stacey's soft, delicate voice rang out beside him, pulling him back to reality.

His voice grew gentler. "That's just her way. Don't mind her. I'll handle it later and make sure she doesn't trouble you again. Let's get you back to rest."

Stacey's eyes welled up as she gripped his arm tightly, unwilling to let go.

"You said you'd stay with me, Liam," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion.

Her plea struck a chord deep within him.

He replied softly, "Of course, I will. You did all that because you cared so much for me. I'll stay by your side until you're well again."

Meanwhile, Charlee went upstairs, took a long shower, and changed before coming back to see Liam and Stacey finally entering the house together.

Standing on the balcony, she nearly choked at the sight of them embracing, their affection on full display near the doorway.

"Had enough of that yet?" she asked dryly, lounging on the sleek leather sofa, her legs elegantly crossed, exuding the air of a prowling feline.

Suddenly, a sharp voice rang out from above.

"What's your problem, Charlee? You're becoming impossible!"

Her father, Keith Sullivan's stern expression darkened as he descended the stairs, trailed by Hannah Sullivan, his former wife.

Hannah had settled in here, officially taking the title of Mrs. Sullivan in the eyes of others.

Though dressed to impress, her harsh and hostile demeanor was impossible to miss. To Charlee, it was clear as day that, like Stacey, she was utterly hypocritical.

Charlee didn't bother with an argument. Instead, she pulled out her phone, tapped a few times, and projected footage from the security camera onto the massive living room TV.

The screen revealed Stacey and Liam locked in an intimate embrace, their lips pressed together with a level of closeness that left nothing to the imagination.

"Why would you do this, Charlee?" Stacey wailed, covering her face as though humiliated, then dashed upstairs, her sobs echoing through the halls.

Anyone unaware of the full story might think Charlee had wronged her instead of exposing her.

"Stacey, don't do anything reckless!" Hannah shouted, quickly following after her in a show of concern, making sure everyone remembered that Stacey was delicate and must not be upset.

As expected, Keith lost his temper and stormed over to yank the TV's plug from the wall.

"Charlee, are you determined to destroy this household?" Keith barked furiously.

"Perhaps you should be asking Stacey that question," Charlee retorted, her disappointment cutting through her cold tone. She fixed him with an unyielding stare—one filled with bitterness, entirely void of warmth.

Since losing her mother, she had come to understand just how fragile family bonds could be.

For sixteen years, her mother had sacrificed everything to stand by Keith's side. Yet within a week of her passing, he had welcomed Hannah and Stacey into their home.

How could he be so cruel?