The room was so dark that not a trace of light could permeate its boundaries.
On the hotel's large bed, the man behaved like a beast that had been lying in wait for far too long, devouring the feast before him to the bone without any regard for whether the woman beneath him was experiencing this for the first time.
Grace Lewis couldn’t bear the intensity and passed out.
She was jolted awake again by the persistent ringing of her cell phone.
After hanging up, Grace glanced at the time and realized it was already ten in the morning!
Today was the day of her engagement party.
And her fiancé had already been cheating on her with her best friend.
They had even called her the night before to let her hear their indiscrete sounds over the phone.
Angry and hurt, Grace had gone to a bar and ended up sleeping with a handsome stranger.
Grace struggled to get up from the bed, feeling sharp pains with every movement, a testament to the man's rough handling from the night before. Her entire body was in agony.
She had to hurry to the engagement venue, or the Lewis family would be furious!
Just as she dressed and was about to dash out, Grace felt her wrist being grasped. The man in the bed opened his eyes.
"Leaving so soon?" His voice was deep and raspy.
With sharp eyes like a hawk's and refined features, he caught Grace's attention. Upon closer inspection, she noticed a subtle resemblance between his face and that of her fiancé.
Grace forced a smile, pretending not to recognize the man. She then pulled out her wallet, withdrew all the cash from it, and placed it on the bedside table.
"Last night was great. It's a shame I have an engagement to get to now. Don't worry, I'll call your services again!" she said cheerfully, masking her true feelings.
Xavier Montgomery remained unruffled; instead, he smirked coldly controlling his anger.
He placed a phone call, and shortly after, his secretary, Mason Clark, appeared with his clothes.
After a shower and dressing in a suit, Xavier exuded a demeanor of detached elegance, his gaze icy.
Before leaving, Xavier collected the stack of cash and stowed it into his bag.
"Mr. Montgomery, your nephew's engagement party with the Lewis family is about to start. Are you heading there now?" inquired his secretary.
"Mmhmm," Xavier hummed in acknowledgement.
"Mr. Hastings was wondering why you didn't show up last night," Mason informed.
Xavier didn't respond, seemingly lost in thought.
Having just arrived in Skigeth, he was unexpectedly taken to a bar by old friends he hadn't seen in years. Along the way, a girl who had indulged in too much alcohol latched onto him, resulting in a night of recklessness.
Xavier, typically known for his strong self-control and resistance to ordinary charms, found himself intrigued by the woman last night, a unique fragrance she carried that relaxed him, leaving him with a lingering fondness.
For Xavier, who often struggled with sleep problems, the previous night had been a rare occasion of peaceful rest.
Meanwhile… Grace hailed a cab on the street and provided the hotel's name.
By the time she arrived at the engagement venue, it was nearly eleven. The hall was already crowded with guests.
Grace stepped into the makeup room, barely registering her surroundings before narrowly avoiding a slap to her face. Swiftly, she caught the wrist of her assailant.
"I can't exactly wear makeup with a swollen face, can I?” Grace retorted icily to the man who had attempted to strike her.
That man happened to be her father, Zach Lewis.
Zach, his failed slap fueling his already sour mood, erupted in anger, "You dared to ignore my calls? You've got some nerve! Go immediately. If anything goes wrong with the engagement today, you'll be answering to me!"
Skigeth’s most prominent family, the Montgomerys boasted vast assets and a son, Xavier, known for his power and influence.
Grace's opportunity to marry into the Montgomery family hinged on the close ties between the families!
Rumors circulated about Xavier’s attendance at the upcoming engagement party, prompting preparations from both families. Despite the approaching wedding, neither of the key party had made an appearance, yet.
Grace gave Zach a steely stare. "Has Ryan shown up yet?"
Ryan Montgomery was the man she was set to marry.
Zach paused, indicating Ryan's absence. The Montgomery family was actively searching for him. Given that his phone turned off, it was highly possible he was planning to jilt her.
With a scoff, Grace mused, “How am I supposed to get engaged by myself if Ryan doesn’t show up?”
Zach's expression darkened. "The Montgomery family is searching for him. Get dressed and do your makeup, now!"
The makeup artist hurried over, attempting to assist in Grace’s preparation. Grace knew she had no room to refuse the arranged marriage, she informed the makeup artist, “I’ll do it myself."
Her mother had told her when she was younger that being too beautiful could bring trouble, so from a tender age, Grace had learned to apply makeup in a way that made her look ordinary.
The makeup artist might uncover secrets hidden on her face.
Suddenly, a commotion at the door drew attention. "Quick. Xavier is here."
At the mention of that name, Zach promptly took hold of Grace, "Xavier's here. Behave!”
Xavier was a name Grace was well acquainted with. He was the illegitimate child once driven away by the Montgomery family.
However, that former outcast had now ascended to a position of prominence, surpassing even the esteemed Montgomery family of Skigeth.