Chapter 1 Get Out of My House
Xandra Cavendish never imagined that on the night before her wedding, her fiancé would send her into another man's bed.
After receiving a text from Lucius York, she took a cab to the Halden Grand Hotel.
Lucius was the first man who didn't mind that she had three kids and treated her with such kindness.
She was ecstatic, ready to give herself to him.
They spent a passionate night together.
Xandra opened her sleepy eyes, relishing the sweetness of the previous night.
She heard a noise at the bathroom door and called out softly, "Lucius," just as a man walked out!
The man was only wearing a towel around his waist, his damp hair dripping water.
Droplets ran down his chiseled cheekbones, falling onto his firm chest.
As he moved, his muscular legs hinted at his athletic build.
Xandra saw the man's face clearly and quickly pulled the blanket up to cover herself, shocked.
"Why is it you?"
She recognized that strikingly handsome face from before!
A few days ago, she had been harassed by a drunk while passing a construction site.
It was him who had come to her aid!
She never thought they would cross paths again, but now, what was going on?
"Who did you think it was?"
Frederick Russell's deep, magnetic voice swept over her panicked face.
"You… Why are you here? Last night, I…"
Xandra stammered.
Her weakened body kept reminding her of what had happened last night.
"This is my room. Why do you think I'm here?"
Frederick sat on the sofa, tossing the towel he'd used to dry his hair aside.
His room?
Xandra's face turned pale. "Impossible! This is the room my fiancé Lucius booked!"
"Are you sure?"
Frederick raised an eyebrow, his gaze darkening as it swept over her glowing skin.
Xandra's mind was in a whirl.
Seeing Frederick's gaze fall on her chest, she hurriedly pulled the blanket higher.
"Pervert! Get out now, or I'll report you for assault!"
"Report me?" Frederick watched her calmly.
"Should I remind you who was the initiator last night?"
Xandra choked.
Last night, she had deliberately had some drinks to muster the courage for a sweet night with Lucius.
When she knocked on the hotel room door, it was dark inside.
She thought he was Lucius, so she boldly embraced the man and kissed him.
She had indeed been the initiator!
But...
"You could have refused!"
Frederick picked up his clothes, his tone indifferent as he looked at her angry face.
"Why should I? I thought you were here to repay me."
She wasn't, she didn't mean to!
Xandra was both embarrassed and angry, her mind in chaos, wanting to leave as soon as possible.
She hastily put on her scattered clothes and quickly walked towards the door.
"Just leaving like that?"
Frederick's voice came from behind.
Xandra gritted her teeth. "We're adults. It was just a one-night stand. Consider it me repaying your favor!"
She slammed the door shut and left.
Quite the temper!
Frederick's lips curled slightly as he leisurely buttoned his shirt.
At that moment, his phone vibrated on the coffee table.
He glanced at it briefly and slid his long fingers across the screen to answer.
The voice on the other end was elderly but firm, carrying a tone of unreasonable threat.
"Ungrateful brat, if you don't find me a granddaughter-in-law soon, I'll hang myself right in front of you!"
Frederick's eyes narrowed, recalling the warmth and softness from yesterday.
He casually coaxed, "Alright, no need for the drama. I'll get married."
"Really? Which family's heiress caught your eye?"
He replied, "Does it have to be an heiress?"
The person on the other end, fearing he might change his mind, hurriedly said, "Any woman will do!"
...
In the hotel corridor.
Xandra stared blankly at the room number.
It was indeed 1802!
She hadn't gone to the wrong room!
But why wasn't Lucius inside?
She pressed her lips together, her mind filled with doubts.
Frederick was difficult to deal with, and he hadn't said a single truthful word.
She would have to go back and ask Lucius!
Determined, Xandra called Lucius, but there was no answer!
She had no choice but to leave the hotel and take a cab to Lucius's villa to get some answers!
Recently, she had been staying at his villa with her three children.
Lucius treated the children as his own and was very attentive to her.
If he found out she had spent the night with a stranger...
Half an hour later.
Xandra walked into the villa, feeling guilty.
As soon as she entered, she noticed a pair of brand-new, beautiful high heels in the entryway.
Xandra paused, her mind racing with guesses.
She quickly headed to the master bedroom on the second floor!
Before she even got close, she could hear the sounds of a man and woman entwined together inside.
Xandra's heart trembled, hesitating for a moment before finally turning the doorknob.
Those intimate sounds grew louder, painfully piercing her eardrums.
A familiar woman's laughter rang out.
"Lucius, are you really going to break up with Xandra?"
"Of course! The Cavendish family is bankrupt; she's no longer useful. I've put up with her for four years; it's time to end it."
"You really sent her to your client? How could you?"
"Why not? She's had kids. What's there to care about? My client may be old and ugly, but he's rich. He might even keep her as a mistress and give her money to support those brats!"
Brats!
Hearing that word, Xandra's body trembled.
Lucius had promised he wouldn't mind her past and would make her the happiest woman.
But now, he was cheating on her with her best friend, Vivian Cooper!
Not only that, he had set her up to sleep with another man!
Xandra was furious, grabbing a water jug from the cabinet and smashing it.
Broken porcelain scattered everywhere!
Vivian shrieked, scrambling to hide in Lucius's arms.
Lucius paused, turning to look at Xandra.
After a brief moment of surprise, his expression turned cold.
He got up, not forgetting to comfort Vivian tenderly.
Seeing this, Xandra felt a pang of pain.
"Lucius, how could you do this to me?"
Lucius sneered, donning his robe as he walked up to her.
"Xandra, let's be clear. I've always loved Vivi. If you weren't the heiress of the Cavendish family, useful to my career, do you think I'd put up with someone who's had kids?"
"Now that the Cavendish family is bankrupt, do you think a woman without a background and with kids is worthy of me?"
"You'd better call off the wedding yourself. Don't humiliate yourself. Otherwise, I have plenty of ways to ruin you!"
Xandra's fingers clenched, her eyes reddening with anger.
Four years ago, an accident left her with three children whose father was unknown.
At the time, Lucius was her boyfriend.
He didn't mind, still proposing to her.
But he said he wanted to start his business before settling down, and the wedding date kept getting postponed.
Lucius leveraged the Cavendish family's resources, quickly making a name for himself in the city.
But the Cavendish family company suddenly faced problems!
The company went bankrupt, her father was driven to suicide by creditors.
Her mother, mentally unstable from the shock, was hit by a car and became comatose.
In one night, her family was destroyed, leaving her with three children to rely on Lucius.
She thought this would be her new home.
But it was all just a ploy!
The Cavendish family's help to Lucius had become a weapon against her!
Xandra's eyes filled with tears, and she slapped Lucius hard.
"Lucius, you bastard!"
She used all her strength, making Lucius stagger.
"Xandra, how dare you hit me!"
He was furious, raising his hand to hit her back.
Xandra couldn't dodge and fell to the ground.
"Don't hurt my mommy!"
"Mommy!"
"Mr. York is bad!"
Her three children suddenly ran over.
The eldest boy, in his pajamas, rushed at Lucius, fists flying.
"Get away."
Lucius shoved him aside.
The little boy fell to the ground, his delicate face scrunched in pain.
"Chuck."
Xandra quickly helped her son up, tears in her reddened eyes.
"Lucius, how could you hit a child? Are you even human?"
"This is my house! Xandra, take your three brats and get out of my home!" Lucius yelled.