ay, her voice firm but controlled

ue. How are you any different from your aunt, who's always scheming to climb the social ladder? A golden oppor

e. "I'm fully aware that your family is out of my league

t I meant," he said, his voice almost coaxing. "As long as you stay by my side, I can give you anything-except the title of my wife. I know I've done things that crossed the line, an

ce cutting as she interrupted him. "You're

nciated each word. "To be exact, I'm not interested

is hand, which had been resting on the car door, froze. A faint trace of

n's blunt rejection. "Not interes

photos from his pocket and flung them at her, his

the ground, some landing f

er Griffiths, her classmate. Recently, she had been spending more time with Alexander due t

ld. "I know the Wheeler family has influence, but don't involve my cla

frame loomed over her, his voice dropping to a menacing tone. "If you want him to graduate without any trouble, yo

expression twisting into one of profou

taken aback by the sheer lo

had always been compliant and meek. At her worst, she would only fl

ng the scattered photos one by one before tossing the

ave. Her voice was steady but laced with quiet sarcasm. "Jerald, yo

into the black veil of the night. By the time Je

uttering a string of curses before sto

black limousine opened, and a

cattered across the pavement. The heavy summer air carried a faint, unpl

unhurried steps, bending down to retri

haded campus path, sunlight filtering through the branches above, castin

tos, his fingers brushing l

ive with a luminous warmth. Was s

shadowy corner, her breathing shal

effortlessly refined, his presence commanding, even in the dilapidated surroundin

ath that elegant exterior lay a h

up, his gaze locking directly o

in the dark, full of bloodlust and

ar prickling her skin. She spun on her he

ince broken. After just a few steps, her knees buckled, and s

ame flooding back, an avalanche of pain and s

ed through the door of her tiny rented apartment, he

y furnished, its simple decor cast in

glow of a solitary light hel

the pavement, but Grayson stood motionless,

umbrella in hand. "Sir, it's get

ht. His voice was calm, measured. "Look into h

uch left to investigate. Jerald has driven away almost everyone a

, the only visible sign of reaction. He finally

ow?" Grayson asked,

s older than Ms. Mars

t gathering information on eligible young women from prominent fami

tly, "Yes, sir. But... don't forget

t, his tone colder than the rain

ke feeling as though her body

d it burning hot, a deep throb

d, she checked her tempera

drifting in and out of restless sleep until the afternoon. When she finally

d over a dozen missed calls and a

seconds, indecision gnawing at her. Finally, s

heeler Mansion, surely her path would

. It was her best friend, Leanne Briggs. The second she answered, Leanne

, Cathryn arrived at

serene, with only a few patrons scatte

ly landed on a young man

d over, extending her hand confi

ning his features. He stood, taking her hand w

ve him a clean, understated charm. His shy smile and ge

t resemblance to someone from her past-a boy who

ne now, taken from

es washed over Cathryn, leav

. Barnett," she said, her voice steady but apologetic. "I'm not actually Leanne. She's my best friend. I'm

ruptly when Cathryn grabbed a magazine from the ta

flickering in his expr

he could disappe

here? Of

Grayson, exuding his usual air of cold elegance. But this time, he wasn't alone. Beside him st