It's sweltering, causing Regina Valrose to feel like she might evaporate.
A red ribbon blindfolded her, and as she tried to remove it, a hand stopped her. Fear and tension gripped her as she asked, "Who are you?"
The person looming over her remained silent.
But his grip on her wrist tightened, his knuckles turning white, veins bulged on the back of his hand, betraying his restrained fury and the urge to possess.
Regina's attempts to cry out were reduced to feeble moans.
The closeness made her acutely aware of the searing heat radiating from him.
"Philip?"
Her tentative voice caused his eyes to turn deep and dark, the room filling with a dangerous tension.
Suddenly, he began to kiss her. The kisses growing more forceful, more desperate.
She felt herself being swept away in a tide of desire that seemed to have no end.
The winter in Oriant was marked by an unrelenting deluge that lasted a full week.
Regina hurriedly made her way into the Peace Club, seeking shelter from the relentless rain.
Philip Sterling's birthday celebration was in full swing, and perhaps some guests had yet to arrive, as the door to the private room was slightly ajar, offering a glimpse of the joyous gathering inside.
As Regina reached for the door, she saw Philip lounging on the sofa, cigarette in hand, engaged in casual conversation with his friends. Coincidentally, their discussion turned to her.
"Mr. Sterling, what's going on with your girlfriend? She's late on such an important day."
In their circle, the term "girlfriend" was rarely used.
Women came and went in their lives, and it wasn't uncommon for them to have multiple companions at once.
Everyone was aware of this, but they seemed to think Regina was different from Philip.
After all, she bore a striking resemblance to Claudia Sharp and had been by Philip's side for so many years.
Prompted by a recent rumor, someone couldn't resist asking, "Mr. Sterling, is it true that you're about to marry Regina?"
The question stirred something in Regina's heart.
She had met Philip during her sophomore year at college, and it had been six years since then.
She awaited his response with a glimmer of hope.
Philip casually blew out a puff of smoke and scoffed, "I'm tired of her. I'm not crazy enough to marry someone I'm already weary of for a lifetime.
"I have no idea what my family is planning. I am getting married, but she can't be my wife."
Most of these marriages were alliances, and the woman who would become Philip's wife would have to come from a background that matched his family's.
Regina stood stiffly at the doorway, his words echoing like thunder in her ears.
Regina closed her eyes, suppressing the pain, and pushed the door open. Ignoring the various gazes, she walked straight towards Philip.
In that moment of eye contact.
His expression remained indifferent and disdainful. He didn't care if Regina had heard his words.
Regina, on the other hand, seemed unaffected. She hadn't forgotten her purpose for being here today. She didn't even have time to get angry; instead, she impatiently asked him, "You promised me that you would visit Tasha today. I waited for you at the hospital all day, but you never showed up."
"Regina," Philip's eyes filled with disdain. "You've been by my side for so many years, but you haven't made any progress. Today is my birthday, and you want me to see a dying person at such a happy time. How rude of you."
She felt her whole body go cold, staring at him motionless.
She heard him say that he was tired of her and had never thought of marrying her.
He despised her grandmother, the person who loved her the most and referred to her as someone who was dying.
She didn't know when the man who had saved her slowly became a complete stranger to her.
"Tasha's condition is getting worse, and she has been wanting to see you."
Regina's words were interrupted by Philip's impatience.
"Regina, are you done? Don't be a killjoy."
Regina wanted to make one last effort. She reached for his glass. "You've been drinking too much; it's not good for your health, you..."
Philip suddenly raised his hand, and the glass shattered on the floor!
The loud noise instantly silenced the private room. Philip was furious, and everyone held their breath, very afraid.
Regina's mind went blank, her hand hanging by her side clenched into a fist, yet her expression remained calm.
"Is there some misunderstanding between us lately?"
Philip just felt that she was particularly difficult to deal with tonight, and he felt a little bit discomposed. The words he had kept hidden for a long time finally came out. "You look like her a lot, but you're not her after all. After all these years, I realized that I still don't love you.
"For so many years, you might have wondered why I never touched you. It's not because I can't bear to touch you, just because I don't want to."
With tears in her eyes, Regina looked at him in silence.
It wasn't until this day that Regina learned that Philip had a first love whom he loved very much, and she was just a ridiculous substitute.
What's even more ridiculous is that everyone knew it a long time ago, and she was the last to find out.
But why did he say that he didn't even want to touch her at all?
Wasn't it Philip who had sex with her that night?
Humiliated in public, Regina didn't want to bring up those past events in front of so many people. She suppressed the bitterness in her heart and just turned around.
"Fine, I won't bother you anymore, never again."
He watched her leave. There were whispers and gossip about her.
"Mr. Sterling, how can you be so heartless? She looks really upset. Aren't you going to comfort her?"
"Why?" Philip had drunk too much tonight, for real. His body was burned out, and his emotions were out of control already. He shook his head heavily and said indifferently, "She will come back whatever."
Philip was really excellent, with power, and was good-looking.
Over the years, many women had been entangled with him, and Regina was just one of them.
'She will come back.' Philip closed his eyes, feeling irritated and restless in his mind.