Chapter 1

The black limousine was hidden deep within the shadows of the trees.

Vivian Bennett was pulled into the car without warning.

The man's scorching body pressed her down into the leather back seat.

"Ah!" she cried out in shock.

Liam Sullivan's eyes burned with dark fire. "You said you wanted to help me?"

Vivian blinked in panic. "I just wanted to help bandage your wound..."

Before she could finish speaking, her skirt was torn apart.

Her fingertips touched the abnormally high heat of his chest.

Vivian froze instantly.

She finally understood what he meant by "help."

"Let me go!" She struggled desperately.

Liam leaned down and captured her lips.

The kiss was predatory, meant to destroy everything.

Vivian's mind buzzed.

She pushed uselessly against the mountainous weight of his body.

Liam was always calm and controlled.

If he hadn't been tricked, he would never have lost control like this.

But the moment this woman approached him, she had ignited his suppressed desire.

He kissed down her slender neck.

"No!" Vivian jolted awake.

She broke free and lunged for the car door.

Her fingers just touched the handle when a powerful force dragged her back.

Bang— The car door slammed shut.

Liam pulled her tightly into his arms.

"Help me..." His scorching breath burned her ear.

"No!" Vivian writhed violently in his embrace.

The man's eyes darkened abruptly.

"I'll marry you."

Three words, spoken with absolute certainty.

Vivian stood frozen in place.

Marry her?

Absurd!

As sharp pain assaulted her, she vaguely remembered a few hours earlier—

She should have realized it was a trap when Brandon White fell to the ground, clutching his arm and screaming in fake agony.

William White's slap struck her face hard.

"Who said you could touch your brother?"

One side of her cheek swelled rapidly.

"He started it..." she tried to explain.

William didn't even bother to listen.

In his heart, his son was a treasure. His daughter wasn't even worth a blade of grass.

Stepmother Linda pretended to intervene. "Vivian must have heard about being married off to the Qin family for the dowry. She took her anger out on Brandon..."

Those words completely ignited William's fury.

"Lock her in the storage room! No one lets her out without my permission!"

The dilapidated storage room reeked of mildew.

Cold wind poured in through a broken window pane.

Vivian hugged her arms tightly.

Ever since her mother died and her father remarried, she had no place in the White family.

Her stepmother, proud of bearing a son, found endless ways to torment her.

They finally dumped her with her grandmother to raise.

For over a decade, they showed no concern.

Now they suddenly brought her back, only to sell her to an old man for a dowry!

Even worse, Brandon dared to have wicked intentions toward her.

She was only defending herself when that scum performed his fake injury act.

Bang—

Vivian kicked the storage room door open.

As she climbed over the wall to escape, shouts came from the servants behind her.

"The young mistress is running away!"

"Quick, catch her!"

She fled blindly into the trees.

She vaguely saw a black car.

She had just pulled the door open when she smelled the strong metallic scent of blood.

Before she could retreat, an iron-like hand gripped her throat.

"Who are you?" The man's voice was low and dangerous.

Vivian gasped with difficulty. "I'm... being chased..."

The sounds of the White family servants searching came from outside the car.

The man's grip loosened slightly. "They're after you?"

She nodded urgently.

She thought she would be shown mercy, but instead heard his cold order. "Get out."

Vivian froze.

Getting out now meant walking right into their hands.

"Mister... let's make a deal..." She moved closer.

The man suddenly roared. "Get out!"

The menace radiating from him was almost scalding.

Vivian gritted her teeth. "I'll help bandage your wound. You let me hide here for a while?"

A hoarse question came from the darkness. "Are you sure you want to help?"

She couldn't see his expression, but she could feel his burning gaze.

"Yes!"