Chapter 1 Tempting Him
The amber lighting in the presidential suite cast an intimate glow across the spacious room.
On the king-sized bed, Scarlett Mellon, head spinning from alcohol, traced her lips along the handsome stranger's throat, her movements deliberately seductive.
Earlier that day, she had stumbled upon her husband, Wesley Ross, at the hospital with his mistress, who was getting a prenatal checkup. The mistress was pregnant.
He'd rather father a child with his mistress than with her, his lawful wife.
He claimed she was "tainted," that touching her made him sick.
Four years ago, right after their wedding, Scarlett's father, Owen Mellon, had been suddenly arrested. While desperately searching for information about his case, she'd been drugged and assaulted at a hotel one night, losing her virginity to an unknown attacker.
After that, Wesley never touched her—no, that wasn't quite right. Wesley had never touched her at all.
But if her husband wouldn't touch her, surely someone else wouldn't find her so repulsive.
Someone like this man beneath her, who was far more attractive than Wesley could ever hope to be.
Though they'd only just met at the bar, his looks were truly one in a million.
After Scarlett's teasing kisses, the man suddenly flipped their positions, pinning her beneath him.
The tension between them was electric.
When he hesitated to continue, Scarlett wrapped her pale arms around his neck, tilted her face up to kiss him, and whispered enticingly, "I'm clean, I promise."
"Are you sure about that?" His deep voice was beautiful, but his question made her think he found her dirty too. The rejection stung, mingling with her desperation.
"Do you think I'm dirty too?"
Whether it was her tears or her words that affected him, he finally lowered his head to kiss her.
Their lips had barely touched, the kiss growing passionate, when a loud bang interrupted them.
"Security check. Open the door."
The lights flicked on. Scarlett's alcohol-fogged mind cleared instantly as she looked up, falling into the dark depths of this stranger's eyes, feeling like she might drown in them.
Her heart raced traitorously. She'd never been in this situation before and had no idea what to do. The knocking continued insistently.
The man finally got up to answer the door.
Scarlett took the opportunity to sit up, head still spinning as she leaned against the headboard. Her body felt weak, yet she wrapped her arms around herself nervously.
How had she ended up in this situation with a stranger?
"Mr. Boleyn, excuse me." A voice came from the doorway.
"Come in and check?" The man's invitation carried an unmistakable authority beneath its casual tone.
"Everyone knows Mr. Boleyn doesn't entertain women. Sorry for the disturbance."
The voice disappeared as the door closed.
Scarlett exhaled in relief, then felt embarrassment and helplessness wash over her. Her first attempt at something like this, and they'd been interrupted by a security check.
"Shall we continue?" The deep, seductive question floated to her ears.
Scarlett looked up. The man was leaning against the liquor cabinet by the door, his long legs crossed casually. His posture was relaxed yet somehow regal and untamed.
His narrow eyes studied her playfully as he twisted the ring on his left hand—an incongruous gesture that somehow perfectly blended bad-boy charm with untouchable sophistication.
This was the first time she'd encountered a man like him. Not only was he devastatingly handsome, but he possessed a unique allure that masked the sharpness beneath.
That's why she'd approached him at the bar.
She had mistakenly assumed he was just a male escort working there.
But from what had just happened, he clearly wasn't an escort—his identity was far more significant.
If a man like him discovered she was a married woman trying to seduce him, she'd probably be unable to show her face in this city again.
She stood up unsteadily, wringing her hands anxiously.
"I'm sorry, I've had too much to drink."
"Getting scared now?"
The man approached her with elegant strides, his fox-like eyes watching her with amused skepticism.
Her heart raced wildly.
Especially when he stopped in front of her and she caught the scent of his cologne mixed with his natural pheromones. Whether from the alcohol or his proximity, her heart pounded even more erratically.
He gripped her chin, letting out a soft, mocking laugh. "Weren't you quite eager to seduce me earlier?"
His tone wasn't harsh or gentle, but carried both seduction and warning.
She swallowed nervously, unable to read his intentions but knowing she couldn't risk angering him. She offered a diplomatic excuse.
"The security check earlier—it wasn't safe."
The man chuckled softly, his mockery subtle. "And if it were safe, you'd sleep with me?"
Scarlett's head was tilted back, forced to meet his gaze. The corners of her eyes were tinged with red as she stared at him directly, resembling a frightened rabbit—vulnerable and irresistible.
She didn't answer, and he didn't press her further. He released her chin and returned to the liquor cabinet.
The clink of a bottle against glass filled the silence as the strong scent of whiskey permeated the air, making Scarlett's headache worse.
She was caught in an awkward position—she couldn't leave because the security team might still be outside, but staying without continuing their encounter left them as two strangers in an increasingly uncomfortable situation.
After what felt like an eternity, the man's emotionless voice broke the silence.
"They've gone."
They—meaning the security team.
He was telling her it was safe now, asking indirectly whether she wanted to continue or leave.
Scarlett quickly grabbed her purse, making her decision. "I'm sorry for the trouble."
The corner of the man's mouth curved into a mocking smile, but he said nothing. Scarlett took his silence as acceptance and headed for the door.
When she successfully exited the room, she sighed in relief and hurried toward the elevator.
Inside the room, after finishing his drink, the man moved from the liquor cabinet toward the bathroom. Halfway there, something sharp dug into his foot. He lifted it to find a silver bracelet gleaming on the floor.
He crouched down and picked it up. It was definitely a woman's accessory, and no woman had been here except Scarlett.
He stood and tossed the bracelet onto the nightstand.
Scarlett left the hotel and had just hailed a taxi when her best friend, Briar Reed, called.
"Scarlett, where the hell did you go? I've been looking everywhere for you!"
Scarlett didn't know how to explain what had just happened. After sliding into the cab, she answered casually, "Briar, I'm heading home."
Tonight, feeling miserable, she'd let Briar drag her out for drinks. Then she'd spotted that man at the bar and approached him, wanting to forget everything in a meaningless hookup.
On the other end, Briar, relieved that Scarlett was safe, hung up.
Scarlett leaned against the car window, gazing blankly at the neon lights outside—flashing on and off, on and off.
Her life had gone dark four years ago and never brightened again.
Four years later, she was still drowning in that deep, dark pool, unable to escape.
She closed her eyes, and tears slipped from the corners, disappearing into her hair amid the colorful reflections from outside.
When she entered the Ross mansion, she found Wesley's mother, Opal Adams, sitting on the sofa, her eyes bulging with accusation as she slammed her hand on the table.
"Been out finding yourself a lover, have you?"
Scarlett was exhausted and had no desire to engage. As she headed for the stairs, she replied flatly, "I was out with a friend."
"Stop right there."
Opal rose and rushed over, pointing at Scarlett with disgust. "You reek of alcohol. Clearly not with any 'respectable' friend."
"It's been four years. You've only given Wesley a daughter, not a son. You should be worried—when that mistress's baby is born, don't make a scene when it's brought into the Ross family."
Scarlett paused on the stairs. The harsh white light made her face look ghostly pale as she laughed bitterly. Wesley must have sent Opal to test her reaction!
"What are you laughing at? You think I'm making this up? Let me tell you the truth—Wesley's mistress is pregnant, and if it's a boy, he'll be acknowledged as a legitimate Ross heir. If you accept this gracefully, you'll be considered reasonable. If not, you can get out of the Ross family."
Scarlett stared at Opal's face in disbelief. Were they planning to bring the illegitimate child home for her to raise?