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On a New York-bound flight, Arthur meets Throne Tech heiress Anya, who offers a fake marriage to escape an arranged union. Arthur refuses, yet upgrades her investment bid to $100 billion. Later dumped by his fiancée Serena, Arthur is defended by Anya. At a grand gala, Arthur reveals himself as Titan Group's CEO. He funds Anya, and the two choose to build a new life together.

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On a New York-bound flight, Arthur meets Throne Tech heiress Anya, who offers a fake marriage to escape an arranged union. Arthur refuses, yet upgrades her investment bid to $100 billion. Later dumped by his fiancée Serena, Arthur is defended by Anya. At a grand gala, Arthur reveals himself as Titan Group's CEO. He funds Anya, and the two choose to build a new life together.

She woke up in an interstellar beast-world novel as the fake heiress everyone hated—a spoiled, low-ranked female doomed to a brutal ending. The real heiress would return in two years, so she got to work fast: stealing opportunities, making money, and building connections with anyone powerful enough to keep her alive. She wouldn't touch the heroine's chosen men, but the ones the heroine kept around and never valued? She took every last one. ===== "Your Highness, take a look at this one. He's strong and sturdy." "And there's this one. He's thinner, but very attractive." "This one over here is very timid. Perfect if you enjoy something unusual..." People hurried to crowd around Ella Morgan, their faces glowing with eager flattery. Everyone knew that Ella, the third Princess, despite being only a C-level female with weak spiritual power, always spent money lavishly without hesitation. In their eyes, there was only one reason she would appear in a small market like this. She had obviously come to choose a few males as her servant. Their constant chatter made Ella's head pound. It had been three days since she transmigrated into this werecreature universe. In her previous life, she had been an ordinary office worker, squeezed dry by endless overtime until she worked herself to death at her desk. When she first woke up and realized she had become a princess, she nearly wanted to celebrate with ch**pagne. Unfortunately, that excitement disappeared the moment she absorbed the memories of this body. She realized she had transmigrated into a novel. She had read this novel before. The story centered around the true princess of the Central Empire, an S-level female who had been separated from her family and raised elsewhere. After finally returning home, she was treasured by her parents, adored by her two older brothers, and became deeply involved with more than a dozen exceptional males. Back then, Ella had enjoyed reading it quite a lot. Watching so many outstanding males grow jealous and compete for the heroine's affection had been undeniably entertaining. But the problem was that she had not become the heroine. She had become the fake princess, Ella. Even while reading the novel before, Ella had disliked this character who shared the same name as her. It wasn't even because the character was especially evil. Compared to typical villainesses who poisoned people, framed others, or hired assassins, the character had never committed any unforgivable crimes. She was merely obsessed with handsome males, spoiled by her status, and burdened with weak spiritual power. Even so, the author of the novel seemed determined to pour every ounce of malice onto her. The moment the true princess returned, the parents who had once spoiled Ella immediately viewed her as a fraud who had stolen their daughter's place. Her two older brothers, who had once protected her so fiercely, began to resent her for taking everything that rightfully belonged to their real sister. The males Ella had once admired turned against her with cruel words, while the nobles who had once flattered her openly ridiculed her. Later in the story, even after the character Ella experienced a dramatic rise in spiritual power and became a rare S-level female, she still lost completely to the heroine's overwhelming plot armor. In the end, everything was taken from her, and she was exiled to the Barren Star. Meanwhile, the heroine was living a sweet and carefree life. Back when Ella read that ending, it had infuriated her. She had never expected that one day, she would have to face that fate herself. After transmigrating, she spent a long time thinking things through and came to one conclusion. The story had only just begun. She still had a chance to change her future. There were still two full years before the real princess returned. And Ella's spiritual power had not gone through its second awakening yet. She was still only at C-level. What she needed to do now was secure enough resources to protect herself before the real princess came back. Money? Because of her weak spiritual power, the old Ella had developed a habit of spending recklessly to hide her insecurity. Even with an enormous monthly allowance, almost nothing remained in her account. Power? Although the old Ella was a female, who had a high social status in this universe, her spiritual power was painfully weak. On top of that, she had been spoiled as a princess and refused to take on any responsibilities, leaving her without any real authority in the empire. Ella spent the entire night thinking before finally setting her sights on the males. She planned to compete with the real princess for them. Naturally, she had no intention of fighting over the male leads who were completely devoted to the heroine. The males she wanted were the important characters who didn't end up with the heroine. To put it simply, she planned to win over the males the heroine had overlooked. For example, Kyson Howe, the heroine's most loyal guard later in the story. Kyson came from the family of a convicted traitor. Two years ago, his family collapsed. Some relatives were executed, while the rest were exiled. As for him, he was reduced to a mere servant. In the original novel, after the heroine bought him and treated his injuries, Kyson became deeply devoted to her. Now, Ella was here two years before the heroine would arrive. Getting Kyson to pledge that loyalty to her sounded like a great idea. With that thought, Ella continued walking deeper into the market. In the novel, Kyson was described as a werewolf. Ella searched for nearly ten minutes but still could not find any werewolf. The male beside her continued rambling. Ella interrupted him coldly. "Do you have any werewolves?" The male paused for a moment at her words. At that moment, another male nearby, who had failed to squeeze through the crowd earlier, suddenly brightened. "Your Highness, I have exactly the one you're looking for!" Ella lifted a brow and tipped her chin slightly. "Lead the way." The male instantly bent over with eager politeness and hurried to guide her farther into the market. At last, they stopped in front of a door. With a flattering smile, the male pushed the door open. "This one is tough and can endure all kinds of labor. He's still young, too. And he's really cute..." Kyson listened quietly as the male listed his so-called "merits." He wondered who had come for him this time. Suddenly, light poured into the room, so bright that he instinctively narrowed his eyes. Through his blurred vision, he could barely make out a slender figure standing outside. A sweet, clean scent drifted through and rushed into his nose. Kyson forced himself to lift his head, trying to see the female more clearly. Under the glare of the light, all he could distinguish was a pair of eyes that suddenly seemed to shine brightly. Then, he heard her clear voice. "I'll take him!" Chapter 2 We're Done The male was quick to read the situation. The moment he noticed the satisfaction in Ella's expression, he immediately raised the salary. Ella didn't find it unacceptable. There were a hundred thousand coins left in her account. Without hesitation, she handed over her bank card. The male accepted it with a wide grin. "Get out! Greet your new employer!" The silver-haired young male remained motionless, and the male lifted his foot, about to kick him. Ella immediately placed her hands on her hips and snapped, "How dare you kick him? Who gave you permission to touch what's mine?" The male instantly bent over in apology and retreated a step. "Please forgive me, Your Highness." Ella signed the contract, excitement rising in her ch**t. Her plan had succeeded! "Let's go," she said to Kyson. From Kyson's position, all he could see were a pair of slim ankles and the gently swaying hem of her dress. He forced his stiff body to crawl after her. After only a short distance, the footsteps ahead suddenly stopped. Kyson's body instantly tensed. He prepared himself for the pain that was about to come. Ella looked down at him and let out a quiet sigh. She lowered her gaze toward Kyson. "Can you stand straighter?" For a moment, Kyson almost failed to process her words. Then, he gave a small nod and tried to straighten his back. Ella quietly let out a breath of relief and led him outside. The moment they stepped out of the market, a bright female voice suddenly called out, "Your Highness!" Ella looked up instinctively. A young female with a ponytail was hurrying toward her with obvious delight written across her face. It was Zoey Dixon, the old Ella's closest friend. Ella looked away indifferently, her expression turning cold. A low gr**n suddenly sounded behind her. She turned around at once and saw Kyson's body swaying unsteadily. She quickly reached out to catch him. The pain from Kyson's injuries had made him dizzy for a moment. When his thoughts finally cleared, he realized he had collapsed into Ella's arms. Shock filled his widened eyes as he immediately struggled to stand upright again. Unfortunately, his weakened body failed him, and bl**d from his wounds smeared onto her clothes. This was bad. Kyson froze completely, not daring to move another inch. Males were naturally tall and big, and supporting him took more effort than Ella expected. She immediately gestured for a nearby guard to bring the car over. Feeling Kyson trembling against her, she assumed he was just too weak. By then, Zoey had already reached them. "Your Highness, I finally found you! Why did you come to a place like this?" Zoey's voice sounded warm, but her face showed clear disapproval. The moment her eyes landed on Kyson, disgust appeared in them. "This kind of place doesn't suit you at all! And you're even getting close to a servant like him. If Jonathan finds out about this, he'll dislike you even more!" Ella gave her a faint glance. Taking that as encouragement, Zoey continued, "Honestly, I think you should spend more time learning royal etiquette. Be more elegant and gentle. That's the kind of female Jonathan likes!" Ella finally lost her patience. "Shut up," she said coldly. Zoey was stunned into silence by her harsh attitude. Ella ignored her reaction. This so-called best friend came from an insignificant family with little status. Her spiritual power was just as weak as the old Ella's. Because they shared similar circumstances, the old Ella had treated Zoey as a close friend and cared deeply about her. Unfortunately, this friend had always relied on the old Ella's identity as a princess to benefit herself. She constantly used Jonathan Ford, the male the old Ella liked, to manipulate her. After the true princess returned, Zoey was also the first person to betray her and side with the heroine instead. Ella had no interest in maintaining this fake friendship. Right now, all her attention was focused on the male leaning weakly against her. The guard arrived and helped the half-conscious Kyson into the car. Ella stepped forward to get in as well, but Zoey suddenly blocked her way. "Your Highness, what is wrong with you today? I'm only saying this for your own good. If you keep refusing to listen to me, Jonathan will never pay attention to you again!" "Enough. I heard you already," Ella said and waved her hand impatiently. "Now move. You're blocking my way." Zoey stared at her in pure shock. In the past, Ella would have panicked the moment Jonathan was mentioned. As long as it involved him, she would obediently listen to every word she said. So why was Ella acting so differently today? "Your Highness! It's Jonathan's birthday party tonight. We're already running late. You should ditch this male and go to the birthday party with me now." Ella did not even bother looking at her. "You can go on your own. Move." Zoey was taken aback, embarrassment flashing across her face. Without the accompany of a royal, someone of her status would never be allowed into Jonathan's birthday party. For a moment, she even suspected Ella was deliberately humiliating her by doing this. Zoey clenched her teeth and threw out her final card. "Your Highness, if you refuse to listen to me, then I'll never talk to you again!" Only then did Ella finally look at her. She pointed at herself and asked, "What did you just call me?" Zoey blinked in confusion. "Your Highness..." "That's right," Ella replied with a faint smile. "So what gives you the right to order a princess like me around?" Zoey's face instantly turned red with humiliation. Ella brushed past her and stepped into the car. Furious, Zoey rushed to the door and shouted, "What is this supposed to mean? I'm your only friend!" The car window slowly lowered. Zoey's eyes brightened immediately, thinking Ella had changed her mind. But Ella leaned halfway out of the window and said, "Oh, right. I almost forgot to mention it. I don't think you're qualified to be my friend anymore. We're done. Also, make sure you return all the clothes, handbags, jewelry, and money you've borrowed from me over the years." "What... what are you talking about..." Ella's smile widened. "If you refuse, I'll have my eldest brother deal with your family." The car window rolled back up, and the hovercar quickly disappeared. Zoey remained standing there in a daze. She felt certain that Ella had gone crazy. *** Kyson thought he must be dead. Otherwise, why would someone be treating him so gently now? Ella pulled her hand back with a sigh. After returning home, she had tried using her spiritual power to soothe Kyson. Unfortunately, the results were barely noticeable. He still had not opened his eyes. Letting out another sigh, Ella took out the medical kit and personally tending to Kyson. Chapter 3 The Expensive Gift This wasn't something Ella should've handled herself, but she didn't trust anyone else to do it. She was worried rumors would start spreading. Especially if her eldest brother, Chris, heard about this. Although the old Ella was a useless female at this time, her father doted on her, and her mother was also very patient with her. Her second-eldest brother, Ricky Morgan, was an oddball in the royal family. He spent his days in the entertainment industry and rarely returned home. Still, they were close enough. But her eldest brother, Chris Morgan, was completely different. He was extremely stern. He was ten years older than her and currently served as a major general of the empire. He was stationed in the border sector year-round, but whenever he occasionally returned to Capital Star, his discipline toward the younger generation was so harsh that it bordered on unreasonable. Even the old Ella, despite being a female, couldn't escape it. She was terrified of him. If Chris found out she'd bought a male servant and kept him at her side, he would definitely scold her. So, Ella hid the unconscious Kyson in her room. The technology in this world was highly advanced. The medicine used to treat wounds came in the form of a nano-repair spray that could quickly stop bl**ding and stimulate cell regeneration. However, no matter how advanced the technology was, it still couldn't remove the pain caused when the medicine stimulated the wounds. "Ugh!" His eyes flew open, and he instinctively struggled, his arms lashing out in resistance. "Ouch!" A female's startled cry rang out beside him. Kyson immediately froze, cold sweat spreading across his body. He wondered if... in his struggle just now, he had accidentally hurt the female who had taken him in. Ella hadn't expected Kyson to accidentally hit her. Only after a while did she finally recover enough to straighten herself. When she looked back, her gaze met Kyson's half-open eyes. Ella bent down slightly until her face was close to his. "You're awake?" Kyson still looked somewhat dazed. Ella picked up the spray bottle and shook it lightly. "I'm applying the medicine to you now. Bear with it for a bit, and don't move." Kyson remained silent. His unfocused eyes stayed fixed stubbornly on her. In fact, he couldn't see clearly at all. Ever since suffering a head injury, his vision had remained blurry. But his hearing was perfectly fine. She was going to treat his wounds? For a moment, Kyson thought he must be dreaming. His whole body stiffened as fear crept into him. He was afraid the dream would suddenly shatter. Seeing that Kyson had gone still, Ella hurriedly finished applying the medicine. After treating his wounds, she looked at him and said, "Can you stand up? If you can, go sl**p on the sofa." Only then did Kyson slowly realize this might not be a dream after all. Even in his dreams, he wouldn't dare imagine a female telling him to sl**p on a sofa in her own room. Still dazed, he slowly pushed himself upright and tried hard to make out Ella's appearance. Ella pointed toward the sofa across the room. "Go." The sofa was large enough for him to lie down comfortably. Kyson moved slightly and realized his wounds had even been treated and wrapped with bandages. He nodded awkwardly and made his way forward. Then came a dull thump as his head slammed hard into the leg of a table. Only then did Ella realize something wasn't right. She walked over to Kyson and waved a hand in front of his eyes. Kyson's unfocused gaze shifted faintly. "You can't see clearly?" she asked. Kyson hesitated briefly before giving a small nod. A complicated look crossed Ella's face. She hadn't expected Kyson to have problems with his eyesight. In the original storyline she remembered, the heroine's rescue of him had only been mentioned briefly. Most likely, his eyes had later been healed by the heroine's spiritual power. But Ella couldn't do that. She didn't possess that level of spiritual power. Ella sighed to herself. The gap between a heroine and someone like her-a side character-was just too wide. After letting out another quiet sigh, she helped Kyson lie down on the sofa. "Just sl**p here for tonight." Kyson's body remained stiff as he lay there. Ella tossed a thin blanket over him before climbing into her own bed and shutting her eyes to rest. She was completely exhausted. Anything else could wait until after she woke up. Kyson lay motionless on the sofa for a long time, not daring to move. He hadn't expected this kind of reaction from her. This female had treated his wounds and even allowed him to sl**p on the sofa... Was this real? Kyson couldn't tell anymore. Exhaustion finally overtook him, and he slowly closed his eyes. Even if something waited for him tomorrow, at least tonight, he could rest for real. Not long after Ella fell asleep, the sharp ringing of her communicator jolted her awake. Still half asleep, she accepted the call without even checking who it was. "Hello?" A loud voice immediately burst from the other end of the call. "Ella! It's almost midnight already! Weren't you supposed to personally deliver Jonathan's gift? If you don't get over here now, you'll miss your chance! I've already covered for you for a long time, so where are you?" It was Ricky. Ella sat up groggily as the relevant memories slowly surfaced in her mind. Jonathan was an unfavored male from a noble family, the Ford family. By relying on the old Ella's status as a royal princess along with her popularity and resources, he'd managed to become a fairly well-known celebrity in the entertainment industry. The old Ella was one of Jonathan's most devoted fans. Every year on his birthday, she personally handled everything and showered him with ridiculously expensive gifts. Last year, she had given him a limited-edition Star Sea series hovercar, but Jonathan had complained that it was too flashy. So after learning from that mistake, the old Ella decided to give him something more practical this year. She'd asked Ricky to order a spiritual power bond crystal from another sector for her. It was said to help nourish a male's spiritual power, and it cost her a full one million coins. One million coins! Thinking of that, Ella became fully alert in an instant. "Ricky! You didn't give him the gift yet, did you?" Ricky let out a snort. "Now you're panicking? There are only eight minutes left before midnight. Hurry up and get over here already. I've brought the crystal with me. I'm just waiting for you to hand it to him personally." "Don't give it to him!" Ella nearly screamed. "Just wait for me! I'm coming right now!" But Ricky apparently didn't catch the rest of her shouting and abruptly ended the call. Ella jumped out of bed, threw on some clothes in a rush, and sprinted out the door. On the sofa, Kyson slowly sat up, confusion filling his face as his unfocused eyes stared toward the direction she'd disappeared. *** The party hall blazed with bright lights, and beautifully wrapped gifts were piled high in the center of the room. The guests kept glancing toward the second-floor terrace. Leaning lazily against the railing, Ricky casually held a small gift box in his hand. Excited gasps rose from the crowd below. "Oh my God! That's Prince Ricky! He's so handsome!" "Wait, aren't you a male, too? Why are you acting this excited? Ah! He just looked over here! He looked at me!" Clearly bored, Ricky tossed a few charming looks toward the crowd before withdrawing his gaze again. He sneered inwardly. If his sister hadn't begged him to show up at Jonathan's birthday party, a superstar like him would've never attended an event like this. And after making him come all the way here, Ella herself hadn't even appeared. Once he got home, he was definitely going to scold her for this. "Your Highness," someone called out behind him. Ricky turned his head, and annoyance immediately flashed across his face when he saw who it was. At some point, Jonathan had walked up behind him. As a male werepavo, Jonathan was undeniably good-looking. He was tall, with delicate skin and eyes that naturally gave him a gentle appearance. But Ricky still caught the trace of arrogance hidden in his gaze. "Princess Ella still hasn't arrived?" Jonathan asked, unable to hide the impatience in his tone. He found the situation strange. Every other time, Ella would've arrived long ago. But today, there was still no sign of her now. Ricky was losing patience as well. He lifted his hand, ready to hand the gift box directly to Jonathan. Once the gift was delivered, he could finally leave this place that made him uncomfortable all over. But just as he was about to pass over the box, an anxious voice suddenly rang out. "Wait!" Chapter 4 Ready To Choose A Prime Mate Ella's shout rang through the banquet hall, instantly drawing everyone's attention toward her. Under the stunned gaze of the entire crowd, she rushed onto the terrace, grabbed the gift box straight out of Ricky's hands, and clutched it tightly against her ch**t. Thank goodness. She'd made it in time. Ricky stared at her in surprise before slowly looking her over. "What exactly are you wearing?" A coat tossed over a nightgown. Was this supposed to be some new trend? Ella was still catching her breath when another voice suddenly interrupted with clear dissatisfaction. "Your Highness, you're late." Ella turned toward the speaker and finally got a proper look at the male standing beside her. Jonathan was tall and lean, with handsome features. Unfortunately, he wasn't remotely her type. Jonathan frowned slightly as he looked at her. "Your Highness, why did you come dressed like this?" Attending a banquet without even wearing a formal gown was an outrageous breach of etiquette. Ella paused for a second. The audacity of him! She was a princess, yet he dared to speak to her like this? If not for the expensive gift, she wouldn't even have bothered coming here tonight. Still, Ella kept a polite smile on her face. "Sorry about that. I was in a bit of a hurry when I left home." Beside them, Ricky silently turned his face away, his expression dark. He'd disliked watching his sister chase after this weak-looking male for a long time already. Unfortunately, Ella had always been hopelessly devoted to him, so he could only pretend not to care. He genuinely couldn't understand what Ella saw in Jonathan. In his opinion, if she really wanted Jonathan, all she had to do was pressure the Ford family a little, and Jonathan would've been her mate. Noticing Ricky's dark expression, Jonathan suppressed his irritation and decided not to pursue the matter of Ella arriving late. He generously let the issue slide. "It's fine. I'm happy you came, Your Highness." His eyes shifted toward the gift box in Ella's arms. Zoey had already told him that Ella had asked Ricky to order an extremely valuable bond crystal for him. He was waiting for Ella to personally hand over the gift. Ella blinked her wide eyes and spoke with visible nervousness. "I... I have something I need to tell you." The terrace wasn't far from the main hall, so the guests below heard her clearly. Instantly, they exchanged amused looks and let out knowing chuckles. Here it came again. Everyone assumed Ella was about to confess her love to Jonathan all over again. Every year on Jonathan's birthday, something like this would happen. Every year, Ella confessed her love and got rejected. And after every rejection, she ended up crying. The males who had witnessed this before were already used to it and practically treated it as part of the entertainment. But to everyone's shock, Ella hesitated briefly before continuing, "I came here today because I want to make things clear between us. We shouldn't keep seeing each other anymore. I can't keep fooling around like this." Jonathan stared at her in disbelief, convinced he'd heard her wrong. "What did you just say?" The surrounding guests instantly became interested. Something felt completely different this year. Had Ella suddenly changed her approach? Ella kept a serious expression as she spoke sincerely. "My mother has already started arranging a future prime mate for me. You know my spiritual power is weak, so my future prime mate will already be making a sacrifice by bonding with me. If I continue getting involved with other males, it'll hurt him. I've thought about it carefully, and I think I should start behaving more appropriately from now on. After all, if I keep getting tangled up with other males, my prime mate will suffer because of it. I can't do that to him. Don't you think I'm right?" Everyone present was completely stunned. The banquet hall fell silent in an instant. So everything Ella had done for Jonathan before had only been her... fooling around? And she valued her future prime mate this much? Thinking about it carefully, everyone started to envy her future prime mate. If Ella could lavish that much money and attention on Jonathan when she was merely "fooling around" with him, then once she truly chose a prime mate... just how much she would spoil him? Several young males immediately sensed an opportunity, and the way they looked at Ella quickly changed. Even Ricky was shocked. He snapped his head toward his sister in disbelief. Jonathan's face shifted from shock to humiliation before finally hardening into a cold expression. "Oh? Is that so?" he sneered. "Your Highness, what does your decision to choose a prime mate have to do with me? Choose whoever you want. Honestly, I'm curious myself to see how many males would actually want that position." He thought she'd gone crazy. Was she trying to play hard to get by doing this? This wasn't even the first time she'd done something like this. Every other time, she'd come back after a few days to apologize to him. But today was his birthday, and she was embarrassing him in front of everyone. A prime mate? She was nothing more than a useless female with C-level spiritual power. Who would want to be her prime mate? Ricky had finally heard enough. He looked at Jonathan coldly and said, "Forget everyone else. You're not even qualified to stand among the candidates." Inside, he cursed Jonathan repeatedly for daring to speak to his sister so arrogantly. Jonathan froze immediately, his face turning dark. His lips twitched slightly, but in the end, he didn't dare argue with Ricky. Ella might indulge him, but Ricky absolutely wouldn't. Not only was Ricky a prince, but he also possessed enormous influence in the entertainment industry. He simply couldn't afford to offend someone like Ricky. Ella nearly applauded Ricky on the spot, cheering wildly for him in her heart. Below the terrace, the guests had already started whispering among themselves. "Exactly. A royal female choosing a prime mate is a serious matter. The Ford family's status is still too low, and Jonathan's background isn't nearly good enough for that..." "What happened to Her Royal Highness this year? Why did she suddenly fall out with Jonathan?" "Didn't you hear what she said? She's done playing around. Hey, do you think I'd have a chance if I tried becoming her prime mate?" "You? Forget it. The prime mate of a royal female has to come from a first-class noble family..." As those scattered conversations drifted upward, Jonathan's expression turned stormy. For years, he'd worked desperately to make people forget that his father had once been nothing more than a servant. But now, all those efforts had been ruined. Meanwhile, Ella's full attention was fixed on the crystal in her arms. After saying everything she needed to say, she linked arms with Ricky and prepared to leave, even politely saying goodbye to Jonathan before going. "Now that everything's settled, Ricky and I should head back. Goodbye." With that, the two of them left the banquet under the watchful eyes of the entire crowd. The moment she climbed into the hovercar, Ella hugged the gift box and patted it with relief. This was worth about one million coins. She'd almost handed it away for nothing. But in the next second, Ricky snatched the box straight out of her arms. A faint smile appeared on his face. "Alright. Start talking. What exactly is going on with you?" Ella immediately fell silent. She looked at Ricky's handsome face and quickly searched through the old Ella's memories. Fortunately, although the old Ella had spent the past few years in a rebellious phase, she'd always been extremely close to Ricky. He'd spoiled her almost without limits. So, Ella copied the attitude of the old Ella from her memories, straightening her back with stubbornness. "Everything I said was true. You don't believe me?" Ricky narrowed his eyes. "Weren't you completely obsessed with your Jonathan? Just last month, you got into a huge fight with Mom over him and refused to accept anyone else as your prime mate." Ella touched her nose awkwardly. That was true. Because of that matter, the old Ella had argued fiercely with her mother last month, then stormed out of the royal palace and moved into her current house. Ella let out a dry laugh. "I was just... a little resistant to marrying a total stranger." Ricky thought for a moment and replied, "So as long as the male isn't a stranger, you're willing to accept it?" Ella nodded so fast that it was almost frantic. "I'll fully cooperate with the arrangements!" Jonathan honestly wasn't wrong about one thing. There probably weren't many noble males willing to become her prime mate anyway. And even if there were, she'd only just reached the age for bonding. There was still plenty of time before she actually had to deal with the matter. Ricky stared at her for a while before muttering under his breath, "How did you suddenly become this sensible?" Then, he tossed the gift box back into her lap. Ella immediately hugged the box tightly like it was a treasure. Just as she finally relaxed, Ricky casually dropped a bombshell. "Perfect timing. You'd better behave yourself these next few days. Chris is being transferred back to Capital Star soon to report on his duties. Don't let him catch you causing trouble again." Ella instantly felt her scalp prickle with dread. "Soon? When exactly is he coming back?" she asked. "Probably in about three days. He'll stay in Capital Star for about half a month, so you'd better behave." Ricky paused when he noticed the panic written all over her face. "You already did something bad, didn't you?" Chapter 5 Kyson Is Having A Fever Ella immediately shook her head and repeatedly insisted that she'd been behaving perfectly well. Ricky still looked doubtful, but he only gave a casual nod. "Relax. Haven't I always cleaned up your messes for you? Even if something bad really happens, just push the blame onto me. I'll handle it." Ella was genuinely touched. She immediately wrapped herself around Ricky's arm and shook it lightly. "You're seriously the best brother in the world!" Ricky went still for a brief second. At some point, his sister had gradually become quieter and more distant. It had been a very long time since she'd acted this close to him. Now, with her hugging his arm and speaking to him in such a soft tone, she reminded him of the little girl who used to cling to him when they were children. The thought made the corners of Ricky's lips curve upward slightly, and his mood instantly improved. *** The hovercar slowly stopped in front of Ella's house. Still unwilling to give up completely, Ella climbed out while holding the gift box up toward Ricky. "Are you absolutely sure this crystal can't be returned?" "Something like this can't be returned. Just keep it for yourself." The moment Ricky finished speaking, he watched his sister's face visibly collapse in disappointment. Only then did he remember that, with how weak her spiritual power was, she probably wouldn't even be able to activate the crystal properly. "Well... you can at least keep it as decoration," he added sympathetically. Ella stood there and watched Ricky's hovercar disappear into the distance. Finally accepting reality, she turned and walked back to her house. It was already deep into the night, and the entire place was dark. She shut the door behind her and turned around, only to freeze in shock. Kyson was standing a short distance away, silently watching her with his gray-blue eyes. Ella stared at him in confusion, unable to understand why he was standing there instead of resting. Moonlight streamed through the window, and under the pale glow, she noticed a pair of wolf ears had appeared on top of Kyson's head. They twitched faintly. At that moment, Ella still saw him as the future loyal guard. It instinctively lowered her guard. She even stepped closer in concern. "Your ears... why are they-ah!" Before she could finish speaking, Kyson suddenly staggered forward and threw himself at her. Ella was too stunned to react in time. "What are you doing?" Only then did she slowly realize how st**id she had been. She had actually allowed an adult male to stay alone with her in the same room. To hide him and take care of him secretly, she'd even dismissed all the guards stationed around the house. She'd completely forgotten that Kyson was destined to become the heroine's loyal guard, not hers. "Kyson! What are you trying to do? Just let me go!" But no matter how loudly she shouted, Kyson gave no response. "Kyson, I saved you, and this is how you repay me?" She couldn't understand it at all. Perhaps because Ella struggled too hard, Kyson unconsciously used more strength to hug her. Ella shuddered at the scorching heat pouring off him. Why was his body so hot? Then, a terrible realization hit her-he was having a fever. This was a critical detail she'd completely forgotten. In this world, male spiritual power was naturally unstable. At certain periods, they would experience a fever due to hormone instability. The period could last anywhere from one to three days. If a male going through it didn't receive soothing from a female, his spiritual power could spiral completely out of control. Kyson was actually having a fever right now? Panic instantly flooded Ella. Her spiritual power was pitifully weak. There was no way she could soothe him. Kyson felt as though his entire body had been dragged into a raging storm of heat. He'd already exhausted nearly all his strength trying to hold onto the only thread of reason he had left. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he vaguely understood what he was doing, but he couldn't stop himself. The scent coming from the female before him was unbearably attractive. It made him want to get closer to her. Kyson lowered his head instinctively and rubbed against her cheek, using his face to wipe away the tears running down her skin. With trembling fingers, Ella reached for the communicator wrapped around her wrist. Right now, all she wanted was to eliminate the threat in front of her. Just as she was about to activate the sequence, a strained whimper sounded beside her ear. A moment later, something warm and wet landed on her neck. He was crying? Ella was stunned. Her eyes met Kyson's. Those gray-blue eyes were overflowing with tears, completely filled with despair. Ella froze. In the end, she still couldn't do it. Blaming herself for being too soft-hearted, she desperately tried to gather the tiny amount of spiritual power inside her body to soothe him. Kyson's body suddenly trembled violently. He panted a few times, his breathing rough and uneven, before gradually calming down. Then, almost unconsciously, he lowered his head and rubbed affectionately against the side of her neck. Ella's body slowly relaxed. After a long while, Kyson held the unconscious female in his arms, bewildered. He recalled the burst of fragrance that had suddenly spread through the air earlier... What exactly was that? Why had the spiritual power raging inside him calmed down just because of that scent alone? And why hadn't she ki**ed him? ...... What happens next? Available chapters here are limited, click the button below to install the App and enjoy more exciting chapters (Automatically jump to this novel when you open the app) &5&

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The Supreme Wastrel

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With only three months left before the divorce, she was dr**ged and ended up spending a reckless night with the husband she had never met in three years of marriage. She fled in panic, but he found the family locket she left behind—and began searching everywhere for her. ===== Juliana Stevens woke up and discovered she had spent the night with a man. Silence filled the room. The air still carried traces of what had happened the night before. Her eyes landed on a business card lying on the floor. It had fallen from the man's suit jacket. The moment she read the words on it, her breathing stopped, and her thoughts froze. The card bore the name: Adrian Spencer, CEO of Spencer Group. He was known as the richest man in Eleyton, the city they were currently in, and one of the most influential business tycoons in their state, Arcridge. What stunned her the most was that this man was actually her husband, the one she had been married to for three years without ever meeting. Their first encounter had happened under these circumstances. Adrian remained asleep. The face before her was nothing like the ugly man people often described. His features were striking. He had a straight nose and well-shaped lips. Everything about his appearance seemed almost too perfect to be real. People also claimed he was ruthless. Yet as he lay there, he looked refined and distinguished instead. It appeared that those stories weren't true after all. Juliana tightened her grip on the blanket. Anxiety and confusion made her heart race. Their marriage had been forced by their families. Even their marriage registration had been handled by Adrian's grandfather, Hugh Spencer. That was why she didn't know what her husband looked like until now. In another three months, the agreement that bound them together would come to an end. She had been counting down the days until she could finally be free. During the past three years, Adrian had never shown up, which made her believe he disliked this marriage just as much as she did. The memory of the previous night made her let out a frustrated gr**n. Why did this have to happen when there were only three months left before their divorce? Now, she could only hope that Adrian hadn't seen her face last night. A storm of emotions swept through her. Juliana jumped out of bed, gathered her clothes from the floor, and got dressed as quickly as she could before rushing out of the room. Keeping her head lowered, she rushed out of the hotel when her phone suddenly rang. It was her best friend, Maia Palmer. "Anna, weren't we supposed to have a meeting at the studio this morning? Why haven't you arrived yet?" From her father, Juliana inherited both a sharp business mind and a gift for design. She skipped several grades, earned her master's degree ahead of schedule, and received multiple international awards for jewelry design. To the public, she was known as the vice president of Stevens Group. However, she also had another identity that very few people knew about. She was the founder and owner of one of the industry's leading jewelry design studios. Over the last two years, the studio had grown into a globally recognized name. Today, she was expected to lead a meeting for the launch of a new product line. Right now, however, she had no interest in dealing with work. Reaching the roadside, Juliana flagged down a taxi. "Maia," she said as she climbed into the car, "I'm not feeling very well today. Let's move the meeting to tomorrow." After ending the call, she turned to the driver and said, "Garden Apartments, please." During the ride, Juliana tried to piece together everything that had happened the previous night. It was the annual gala of Stevens Group, and she'd lost her bearings completely after only two glasses of w**e. She remembered wanting to return to her hotel room and rest, but her dizziness became so severe that she couldn't even find her way back. Then she ran into Adrian in the hallway. Somehow, she ended up following him into a room. Normally, she could handle al**hol very well. A few drinks were not enough to affect her. Then another memory surfaced. The previous night, her half-sister, Janessa Stevens, had accidentally spilled her drink and brought her a replacement. Could the second drink be sp**ed? While she was still thinking about it, a call from her uncle, Louis Stevens, came through. As soon as she answered, his furious voice blasted through the phone. "Juliana, come home this instant!" ... Back in the hotel room, the man who had been fast asleep began to wake. His eyes opened little by little before he pushed himself upright. The blanket slipped down, revealing the firm lines of his body and his defined a*s. A sharp look entered Adrian's eyes as he surveyed the room in silence. He stepped out of bed, picked up a bath towel from the floor, and secured it around his waist. Disorder filled the room, and the woman was nowhere to be seen. His face immediately turned grim. At that moment, a knock sounded at the door. "Come in," he said. The door swung open, and his assistant, Rylan Jenkins, entered the room. "Mr. Spencer," he greeted respectfully. Without delay, Adrian asked, "Did you see a woman leave this room?" Rylan shook his head. "No, Sir." The look on Adrian's face became even colder. He walked across the room and noticed a pendant lying on the floor. Its workmanship was exquisite. Some characters had been engraved on the back, but years of wear had made them impossible to read. She must have forgotten it here. Adrian frowned, closing his fingers around the pendant. The events of the previous night surfaced in his mind. During a business dinner, he had unknowingly drunk a glass of w**e that had been tampered with. After realizing something was wrong, he returned to his hotel room and intended to wait until the effects passed. Before he could get inside, however, he crossed paths with a woman in the hallway. The instant they made contact, a powerful urge rose within him and overwhelmed his self-control. He never even had the chance to see her face clearly before the two of them ended up inside the room he had reserved. Given the situation-a dr**ged man and a woman in the same room-everything that followed seemed unavoidable. Adrian's thoughts drifted back to the woman's uncertainty and vulnerability from the previous night. No matter what, she had helped him during a moment when he couldn't control himself. He needed to find her and make it right. Adrian placed the pendant in Rylan's hand and spoke in a cold tone. "Find out who that woman is." Chapter 2 Harm From Her Own Family As soon as Juliana walked through the front door to the Stevens estate, a harsh male voice exploded through the room. At the same time, a glass was hurled straight toward her head. "Where have you been? Janessa said you didn't come home all night. Have you forgotten that you're a married woman?" Juliana quickly moved aside. The glass brushed against her cheek before it smashed against the pillar behind her with a sharp crash. Louis sat in the middle of the couch in the living room. Anger covered his face. Beside him sat his wife, Sharon Stevens, and their daughter, Janessa. The sight of the family of three made Juliana let out a mocking laugh. When she was still a child, her father lost his life in a plane crash. Not long after his death, her mother, Sharon, married Louis, her father's younger brother. Together, they took control of her father's company and later welcomed a daughter named Janessa. From then on, Juliana never truly felt like she belonged in that house. "Juliana, we tried calling you all night, but we couldn't get through. We were worried sick about you." Wearing a white dress, Janessa rose from her seat and linked her arm through Juliana's. Then her eyes landed on Juliana's neck. Suddenly, she pulled open Juliana's collar and let out a startled scream. "Oh my God, Juliana! Did you spend the night with a man?" Both Louis and Sharon immediately came over. The moment they noticed the ma**s on Juliana's neck, their expressions turned grim. Anger filled Sharon's face as she lifted her hand and sl**ped Juliana. "Juliana, is this what I taught you? Have you learned nothing except how to f**l around with men?" Pain spread across Juliana's cheek, and a trace of bl**d appeared at the corner of her mouth. She slowly turned her face back toward Sharon. Her eyes were cold. "Mother, are you judging me before asking what actually happened?" A trace of hesitation appeared on Sharon's face when she saw the pain in Juliana's eyes. Louis struck the table with his palm and shouted, "If the Spencer family hears about this scandal, our entire family will be finished. You shameless woman, how could you betray your husband?" Juliana met his anger with a cold laugh. "When Hugh came looking for a bride for his grandson, the person he chose was Janessa. You're the one who forced me to marry in her place. If this family goes down because of it, I don't care." "You..." Louis choked on his words. Her response left him speechless, and his face turned red with fury. Sharon looked at Juliana with disapproval. "Juliana, don't speak to your uncle that way." Ignoring Sharon completely, Juliana shifted her attention to Janessa. "You switched my drink last night. You're the one who set me up." Janessa lifted her head and blinked innocently. "What are you talking about? Why would I do that to you? What would I possibly gain from setting you up?" Juliana narrowed her eyes while she looked straight at Janessa. If the man from last night hadn't been Adrian, everything would have ended for her once the Spencers learned the truth. Janessa had never gotten along with her. She knew Janessa would have been more than happy to watch her fall apart. By then, Louis had already told a servant to bring him a whip. Putting on the air of the family head, he snapped, "Juliana, I'll make sure you learn your lesson today. After this, you'll know better than to bring trouble to this family again." From the side, Janessa watched with cruel delight. Her eyes showed nothing but contempt for Juliana. Louis lifted the whip. But before it could strike, Juliana reached out and caught it. Then she yanked it out of his hand and swung it straight back at Janessa. Janessa failed to move away in time, and a bl**dy mark appeared on her arm at once. She screamed, "Juliana, have you lost your mind?" Shock froze Louis for a moment. Then he pointed at Juliana and shouted in fury, "How dare you touch Janessa!" Juliana faced them with cold eyes. "You'd better keep your precious daughter in line. If she tries to play tricks on me again, I won't let her off this easily." After saying that, she threw the whip aside. She brushed off her hands as though she had touched something filthy, then turned and marched out of the house. Behind her, their angry shouts and curses followed, but she didn't look back. Once she returned to her own apartment, Juliana felt drained in both body and mind. Everything that had happened the previous night was still stuck in her thoughts, bothering her until she couldn't settle down. While changing her clothes, she realized the pendant she always wore was gone. She wondered where it could have dropped. She searched every corner of the apartment, but she still couldn't find it. Then a scene from last night suddenly came back to her, and she went still. The pendant must have fallen off inside the hotel room. Without hesitating, Juliana grabbed a coat and hurried out of the apartment. That pendant had been left to her by her father, and it meant everything to her. No matter what, she had to recover it. Soon, Juliana arrived back at the hotel. When she noticed that the room door was slightly open, she assumed Adrian had already checked out. The moment she walked into the room again, her eyes landed on the large bed that was still in disarray. Heat instantly rose to her cheeks. Memories from the previous night remained clear in her mind. Forcing those thoughts aside, Juliana started looking around the room for her pendant. Even after searching every corner of the room, she still came up empty-handed. Had Adrian picked it up? If he used that pendant to figure out that she was the woman from the previous night, she might not be able to divorce him smoothly in three months. She made up her mind that she couldn't allow him to learn who she was. Just then, a series of steady footsteps sounded from outside the room and drew closer to the door. Chapter 3 A Dangerous Reunion Juliana's breathing stalled. Her heart pounded wildly against her ch**t as she held her breath. A single thought crossed her mind-had Adrian returned? She quickly moved to a nearby table and acted as though she was a hotel housekeeper cleaning the room. A tall man entered the room with a subordinate following behind him. The man's presence filled the room with authority. After giving Juliana a measured look, he asked, "Are you here to clean the room?" Juliana silently drew in a breath. Forcing herself to remain composed, she turned toward him and nodded. A black dress shirt covered Adrian's broad frame, hinting at the firm mu**les beneath it. Every line of his handsome face appeared sharp and defined. There was a natural authority about him that was impossible to ignore. When his eyes settled on her, they were cold and piercing. Juliana's hands tightened into fists. On the surface, she appeared calm, but countless thoughts were racing through her mind. Would he recognize her? What should she do if he did? To her surprise, Adrian only spared her a brief glance before shifting his attention elsewhere and heading toward the couch. A small sigh escaped Juliana's lips. At least he hadn't recognized her as the woman from the previous night. Taking a seat on the couch, Adrian tossed a project proposal toward his subordinate and said coldly, "Do it again. If I see another mistake like this, you're fired." "Yes, Sir." Sweat broke out across the subordinate's forehead. His hands trembled as he accepted the proposal before quickly leaving the room. Watching from beside the table, Juliana couldn't help thinking that Adrian's temper was terrible. At that moment, Adrian spoke again. "Bring me a glass of water." The subordinate was already gone. That meant he was talking to her. Juliana walked over to the minibar and poured a glass of water. Suddenly, a thought entered her mind. What if Adrian had already found the pendant she lost? Hope flickered in her eyes. Holding the glass, she turned around and headed toward him. As soon as she got close enough, she pretended to lose her footing and spilled the entire glass of water onto him. The front of Adrian's shirt was drenched in an instant. Irritation immediately appeared on his stern face. Just as his anger was about to surface, she hurried toward him and began brushing at his shirt in a panic. "Sir, I'm so sorry! Are you okay?" While pretending to wipe away the water, Juliana quickly searched him for any sign of her pendant. The moment her fingertips brushed against the firm mu**les of his ab**men, a powerful hand suddenly locked around her wrist. Without warning, Adrian pulled her toward him. Juliana wasn't prepared for it. She slammed straight into his ch**t. Before she could react, his large hand wrapped around her throat. A dangerous look flashed across Adrian's eyes. "You snuck into my room," he said in a cold voice. "What exactly are you looking for?" Juliana tried to break free, but his grip around her neck held her firmly in place. His strength was overwhelming, and she could barely breathe. Only after her face turned red from lack of air did Adrian finally release her and shove her away. Juliana staggered backward and crashed onto the floor. A low gr**n escaped her lips. As he listened to her struggling to catch her breath, Adrian studied her more carefully. It suddenly struck him that her breathing sounded remarkably similar to the woman's from the previous night. Back then, the room had been dark. All he remembered was a slender body, and br**thless sounds that lingered in his memory. Rubbing her sore neck, Juliana slowly pushed herself off the floor. "You've got the wrong idea," she remarked. "I just came here to clean the room." Just as Adrian was about to say something, another knock sounded at the door. His assistant, Rylan, stuck his head inside. "Mr. Spencer," he said respectfully, "the person you asked me to bring is here." Adrian briefly looked at Juliana before signaling for them to come in. Rylan stepped into the room, and a young woman in a white dress followed behind him. Standing quietly to one side, Juliana studied the newcomer. She caught the woman's shy looks toward Adrian. She also noticed the ma**s on the woman's neck that were impossible to miss. Everything about the woman suggested she had recently been in**mate with someone. People often said Adrian had no interest in women. Now, it seemed those stories were completely untrue. A man with his status and influence would never be short of women wanting to be around him. For some reason, that realization eased Juliana's worries. If he already had plenty of women in his life, there was no reason for him to dwell on what had happened between them last night. After the woman entered, the look Adrian directed at Juliana became even colder. Despite all the rumors surrounding him, women constantly tried to use him as a stepping stone. In his eyes, Juliana was no different from the rest. Turning to Rylan, Adrian instructed, "Throw her out." Before Rylan even had a chance to react, Juliana had already started moving toward the door. "There's no need for that," she replied. "I know the way out." Without waiting for another word, she turned around and quickly left the room. Since the pendant wasn't on Adrian, she needed to figure out where else she might have lost it. Believing he was a womanizer, Juliana became even more determined to end their marriage as soon as possible. Chapter 4 The Wrong Girl Adrian leaned back into the couch and brought a ci**rette to his lips. Sm**e drifted upward, softening his features and making his already striking face seem distant. Across from him, the woman kept glancing over with unease. His silence pressed on her, leaving her too intimidated to speak. After a short pause, Adrian lifted his eyes and studied her closely. "Tell me your name." "Lydia Scott," she answered. She remained standing, lowering her gaze as she looked at him. A faint blush spread across her face. Adrian's attention shifted when he noticed the m**k just beneath her collar. "Why did you leave so early this morning?" he asked. Lydia quickly went over everything in her mind. She had been at the hotel with a client the night before and left early this morning. Later, Rylan found her and showed her a pendant, asking if it belonged to her. It looked valuable, so she claimed it was hers. After confirming the timeline, he brought her here. By now, she was nearly certain they had mistaken her for someone else. But the man in front of her was wealthy and attractive, and she didn't want to let that slip away. Lydia looked up, her voice soft and vulnerable. "It was my first time. I got scared, so I left." Adrian watched her in silence. Something about her didn't match the woman from last night, yet he couldn't explain it. After a while, he said, "Miss Scott, I'll take responsibility for what happened. Tell me what you want." A spark of excitement appeared in Lydia's eyes. "I want to stay by your side," she said in a quiet voice. Adrian's expression tightened slightly. The woman who had left without a word had caught his interest, but the one standing in front of him now only made him feel indifferent. He looked at her and said flatly, "I'll arrange a place for you. You'll be compensated well, and everything will be taken care of." "Thank you, Sir." Thrilled, Lydia nodded obediently. Once Lydia left, Adrian pressed his ci**rette into the ashtray and looked toward Rylan. Understanding the signal, Rylan began speaking. "The hallway cameras were under maintenance last night, so we have no footage. I checked the front desk records. Her check-in and check-out times match perfectly. I also looked into her background. She's a dance major at a university and comes from an average family." He took out the pendant and placed it on the table. "Should I return this to her?" Adrian's eyes lingered on the pendant. They had found the woman, yet something still felt off. After a long moment, he finally spoke. "I'll keep it for now. Give her whatever she asks for." Meanwhile, Juliana stepped out of the hotel when Louis called. She ignored it several times before finally picking up. "What do you want?" Louis sounded serious now, without the earlier anger. "The preliminary designs for the Willow Villa project are ready. I heard Hugh hasn't been well. You should take the files and visit him." Juliana let out a short laugh. "You don't actually care about me visiting him. This is about the project, isn't it?" Back when she married Adrian three years ago, Louis took that chance to approach Hugh and secure an investment from Spencer Group into Stevens Group. Many of Stevens Group's projects depended on that funding to keep going. This year, they entered the real estate market, and Hugh entrusted them with the Willow Villa project, putting in three hundred million dollars. It gave the company a major advantage. "Stop making this difficult, Juliana," Louis said over the phone. "This project affects Stevens Group's future. You need to go to the Spencer estate immediately." He ended the call right after. Juliana thought it over. This could work in her favor. She could use this visit to bring up a divorce with Hugh. Once she made up her mind, she went to the Stevens Group headquarters, picked up the design drafts, and then headed straight to the Spencer estate. Since Hugh fell ill, he rarely left the house, and this would be her first visit there. "Anna." Juliana had just arrived at the gate when someone called out to her. She paused and turned toward the voice. Nathaniel Quinn approached her, dressed in a white suit, a polite smile on his face. "I thought I was mistaken. I didn't expect it to be you. What are you doing here?" Juliana felt a hint of surprise. Nathaniel was the successor of Quinn Group. The Quinn and Stevens families had worked together before, so they were on friendly terms. His mother also happened to be Hugh's goddaughter. Her marriage to Adrian wasn't public, so the Quinn family had no idea. Juliana offered him a polite smile. "I'm here to see Hugh about work." Nathaniel's eyes shifted to the folder in her hands. He was aware of the collaboration between Spencer Group and Stevens Group. "I was at Stevens Group's annual party last night. I tried to find you, but you weren't there. Where did you go?" He fixed his eyes on her, waiting for an answer. Juliana's expression remained calm. "I wasn't feeling well, so I left early to rest." He pressed on. "Where did you go after that? Who were you with?" Juliana frowned slightly. "Why are you asking me that?" For a brief moment, unease flickered across Nathaniel's face before he covered it with a smile. "It's nothing. I was just curious." Just then, the sound of cars approaching reached them. Chapter 5 Stay Over A convoy of black luxury cars rushed forward, carrying a clear sense of authority. Standing in the middle of the road, Juliana barely had time to react before Nathaniel pulled her aside. His hand caught her at the waist to steady her. "Watch out," he cautioned. The cars passed them and lined up in front of the villa ahead. At the same time, the household staff hurried out, their expressions filled with respect. A bodyguard stepped out first and opened the rear door of the center car. A sleek black leather shoe stepped onto the pavement, and a tall figure rose from the car behind it. It was Adrian. When Juliana saw him, surprise flickered in her eyes. In the next moment, Adrian's cold gaze shifted toward them. His eyes landed on Nathaniel's hand, which still rested at her waist. A faint crease formed between Adrian's brows. It was her again. It seemed she wasn't focused on just one man. In his eyes, she would chase anything tied to money and status. Juliana silently cursed her timing. Of all days to run into him, it had to be today. She had thought he rarely visited his grandfather. Without hesitation, she pushed Nathaniel's hand away and stepped back. By then, the staff had already gathered around Adrian and greeted, "Welcome back, Mr. Spencer." Nathaniel stepped forward as well and greeted him. "It's been a while, Adrian." Adrian's expression remained unreadable as he looked at Juliana, though his words were directed at Nathaniel. "Did you bring her here?" Nathaniel glanced back at Juliana and smiled. "No. She's here to..." Adrian didn't wait for him to finish. He turned and walked straight into the villa. The grey-haired butler and the rest of the staff followed behind him. Left standing there, Nathaniel turned to Juliana and said, "That's Hugh's grandson. He just got back from abroad." Juliana nodded slightly and lowered her gaze, hiding the emotions in her eyes. Not long after, Nathaniel received a call and had to leave, so Juliana entered the villa alone. Inside the villa, Adrian was nowhere to be seen. The butler approached her. "Ms. Stevens, we've been expecting you. Mr. Spencer is waiting in the study." "I understand." Juliana nodded and followed the butler upstairs. A strong scent of herbal medicine filled the study. Resting on a lounge chair, a man in his sixties lay back with a thin blanket over him. His figure looked gaunt, and his face carried a pale, sickly tone, yet there was still an air of authority about him. Juliana stepped closer and placed the folder onto the coffee table. "Mr. Spencer, I've brought the preliminary designs for the Willow Villa project." Hearing her voice, Hugh slowly opened his eyes. A trace of warmth appeared in his otherwise imposing gaze. "So you've come, Juliana." "How have you been feeling lately?" Juliana asked politely. He straightened slightly in his chair and smiled. "Did Louis send you here?" Juliana lowered her eyes and remained silent. He noticed her reaction but didn't press further. Instead, he let out a quiet chuckle. "We haven't met often these past three years, but I've been paying attention to you. You've done well." Raising her head, Juliana met his eyes and said, "You gave me your word. After three years, you'd allow me to divorce." A sharp look flickered in Hugh's eyes. "That time hasn't come yet, has it? What I said still holds." At his response, Juliana felt a quiet sense of relief. Hugh picked up the folder and skimmed through it. "I'll review this and give you an answer tomorrow. Stay here tonight. Adrian just returned, so you can use this chance to meet him." Juliana's heart sank at the suggestion. She had no desire to see Adrian at all. She said quickly, "I think it's better to take things slowly. We barely know each other." Hugh didn't push her on that, but he didn't let her leave either. "It's late, and traveling alone isn't safe. Stay here tonight. We can discuss the meeting another time." Juliana was about to refuse again when Hugh suddenly began coughing violently. The butler rushed in at once with medicine and water. Hugh glanced at him. Understanding the signal, the butler turned to Juliana. "Please stay for the night, Ms. Stevens." Seeing how weak Hugh looked, Juliana couldn't bring herself to refuse. Not long after, a maid guided her to a room. The space was large and quiet. She stepped inside, but the sound of running water reached her ears from the bathroom. Confusion crossed Juliana's mind. It sounded like someone was already inside. The bathroom door suddenly slid open. A tall figure stepped out. She didn't have time to get out of the way and bumped into the man's ch**t. Adrian had just come out of the shower. He wasn't wearing anything. For a moment, he froze, clearly not expecting anyone to walk into his room. The instant Juliana looked up, she froze. Adrian stood there, fresh from the shower, completely unclothed. A sharp g**p escaped her as heat rushed to her face. Without thinking, she turned and rushed toward the door. She barely managed to crack it open before his arm shot out and slammed it shut again. The clean scent of his body wash reached her as his firm frame pressed against her back. "You still want to pretend this wasn't intentional? Now you've taken it a step further and walked straight into my room." Juliana's heartbeat pounded wildly. Every muscle in her body tensed. ...... What happens next? Available chapters here are limited, click the button below to install the App and enjoy more exciting chapters (Automatically jump to this novel when you open the app) &4&

The Supreme Wastrel

On a New York-bound flight, Arthur meets Throne Tech heiress Anya, who offers a fake marriage to escape an arranged union. Arthur refuses, yet upgrades her investment bid to $100 billion. Later dumped by his fiancée Serena, Arthur is defended by Anya. At a grand gala, Arthur reveals himself as Titan Group's CEO. He funds Anya, and the two choose to build a new life together.