Chapter 1

The neon lights of The Royal Club flickered at midnight as Emily Smith dragged her exhausted body through the grand entrance.

The night breeze carried a chill. She pulled out her phone to call a ride.

A black Range Rover glided silently toward her. The window rolled down.

"Get in." William Johnson's voice was colder than the night air.

Emily tightened her grip on her phone. Just an hour ago, in the VIP lounge, she had watched this man wrap his arm around her cousin's waist.

"No, thanks..." she instinctively refused.

Yet, against her better judgment, she opened the back door.

The scent of cedar filled the car. William's long fingers rested on the steering wheel.

"Address."

"Xiawei Village," she answered, naming the rundown rental complex in the city's slums.

The car merged into the night. His sharp profile reflected in the rearview mirror.

Twenty minutes later, they arrived at the shabby apartment building.

Emily thanked him and stepped out, but the Range Rover's taillights remained on.

When she turned, she met William's unfathomable gaze.

"Would you like to come up for tea?" The words escaped before she could stop them.

William chuckled, retrieving something from the glove compartment and slipping it into his suit pocket.

In the elevator, his body heat radiated through his shirt. The moment her key turned in the lock, he pinned her against the entryway wall.

The door slammed shut. A searing kiss followed.

Emily remembered the nude sculpture at the gallery yesterday—modeled after her, credited as her boyfriend's latest masterpiece.

The irony? When she stormed in to confront him, she found him entangled with the model in the flesh.

"Focus," William murmured against her ear.

The night stretched endlessly. At dawn, Emily staggered out of bed, legs trembling.

The bathroom mirror revealed red marks scattered across her skin. When she emerged, William stood impeccably dressed in the morning light.

"First time?" He exhaled a smoke ring.

Emily turned away. She would never forget the way William had looked during his speech as the student representative years ago—back when she was a freshman and he a senior.

"You can leave now."

He stubbed out his cigarette in a disposable cup. At the door, he paused. "Take the pill."

The moment the door clicked shut, Emily slid to the floor. On the nightstand, the opened condom box was missing two.