Cayden had meticulously planned his encounter with Renee the day before, orchestrating the coffee spill at Starbucks just to initiate a conversation.Ever since Tony played that voice recording for him, Cayden had been obsessed with the idea of possessing Maya. The way she spoke, her presence, her reputation—it all fueled his desire. He swore he would have her, no matter what it took.Tony, ever the mastermind, had suggested the perfect strategy: use Maya’s best friend, Renee, as a pawn to get closer to her.The plan was set in motion that very night. Cayden seduced Renee, drawing her into his web. But his motives weren’t purely about pleasure. He had leverage—damaging information about Renee’s husband that could ruin his career. With that threat hanging over her, Renee had no choice but to comply with his demands.Forcing a smile, she introduced them. "Maya, meet Cayden Huxley—the architect I mentioned earlier. He’s one of the most sought-after talents in the industry. I thought he’d

Raindrops continued to fall against the car window, the soft patter blending with the quiet hum of the night. The spot where Cayden had pulled over was shrouded in darkness, with barely any light reaching them.Inside the Aston Martin, the world outside felt distant. The heavily tinted windows ensured that no one could see in, and when Cayden switched off the headlights, the entire car sank into an eerie silence, like a hidden sanctuary where nothing could be seen or heard.Maya felt strangely safe in this secluded space. No one outside would be able to see anything, no matter what happened between her and Cayden.Their hands remained intertwined, fingers locked tightly together like lovers.Maya hesitated for a moment before finally speaking. “Cayden, I won’t lie… I do feel good about you too. You’re incredibly handsome, and you come from a powerful family. Which girl wouldn’t like you?”She let out a soft sigh before continuing, “But we’ve only known each other for a few days, after

Noticing Maya’s unusually strong reaction, Ethan studied her carefully before asking, "Maya, what’s wrong? You seem... unsettled. Do you know Cayden Huxley personally?"Maya’s heart pounded, but she forced a smile, shaking her head a little too quickly. "No... of course not. I’ve just heard Tony mention him before, that’s all."Ethan narrowed his eyes slightly, as if weighing her response, but he didn’t press further.Wanting to change the subject, Maya quickly asked, "Hubby, will the company be alright now that the Huxleys are deliberately targeting us? They seem really powerful, and if they’re going after us with full force, won’t it be difficult to fight back?"Ethan leaned back in his chair, his expression calm yet resolute. "Based on that 43-page short-selling report, the Huxleys have one goal—to bring Walt Disney Corporation to its knees. They want us bankrupt, gone, erased from the market. And I won’t lie, with the amount of financial power they hold, it wouldn’t be difficult f

Charleston sighed deeply, his voice filled with both understanding and wisdom.“Ethan, I had a feeling something like this might happen when the System first decided to place you as a live-in husband. Women are one of the greatest trials a man will face in his life, and experiencing betrayal isn’t necessarily a bad thing—it’s a painful but valuable lesson.”He paused before continuing, his tone more solemn.“I just didn’t expect you to fall so deeply for Maya Reynolds.”Charleston's words carried a hint of regret as he admitted, “She wasn’t the one I originally intended for you to marry. My plan was for you to wed an ordinary woman, someone simple and sincere. But your second brother thought that was unfair—he insisted on choosing a beautiful wife for you, thinking it was already difficult enough for you to endure three years as a live-in husband.”A bitter chuckle escaped him. “Now, it seems his good intentions have only caused you more pain.”Ethan remained silent, but deep down, he

Ethan was seething with rage, his fury so intense that he couldn’t think straight. No man in his position would be able to.Without hesitation, he grabbed his phone and dialed Mr. Ferragamo."Mr. Sinclair, what can I do for you?" Ferragamo asked respectfully.Ethan’s voice was laced with venom. "I want Tony West found. Scour every inch of Los Angeles. And when you find him—castrate him."That bastard had humiliated him once, having an affair with Maya while they were married. Then, he had the audacity to run to New York and bring Cayden Huxley into the picture, making a fool of him all over again.He deserved far worse than just castration.Ferragamo hesitated. "Mr. Sinclair, but didn’t you already make peace with the West family? If I recall, Marissa Huxley even… offered herself to you as compensation for her son’s actions. Hasn’t this matter been settled?"He knew Ethan to be a man of his word—someone who never went back on an agreement. If Ethan had given Marissa his word, why was