Ethan Blackwood gave a cold snort and leisurely straightened his suit, looking perfectly composed.
"Do you really want me to leave?" he asked with lazy amusement. "Or aren't you the one who tried so hard to cling to me?"
"Get out!" Lily Quinn had completely run out of patience. She repeated the only decision that mattered.
The corner of his lips lifted into a smile brighter than the rising sun. But the coldness and disdain in his eyes stripped it of all warmth. His entire presence radiated danger.
"Tell the person behind you," he said lightly, "that your mission was moderately successful. At least you managed to spark my interest in women."
Before he could finish, a knock sounded at the door.
Lily sucked in a sharp breath, swallowing her tears and humiliation. She wiped her face hastily with her sleeve and stared at the door in panic. Instinctively, she glanced at Ethan, unsure what to do.
His dark eyes gleamed with mockery.
"So well prepared," he drawled. "You even invited someone else. Reporters?"
Before she could stop him, his tall figure had already reached the door. With a simple twist of his wrist, he opened it.
"No!" Lily screamed inwardly, but she stood frozen, clutching the blanket tighter around her body.
A massive bouquet of fiery red roses blocked the visitor's face.
Then the flowers shifted.
"Surprise, Lily, baby!"
Her breath caught.
"Daniel?!" she cried, her voice trembling with grievance.
Daniel Hart had spent weeks planning today. He wanted to surprise his fiancée with a proposal.
But what he saw was nothing like he had imagined.
Who was this man? And why was Lily wrapped in nothing but a blanket?
His eyes landed on the faint red mark on her neck.
His expression changed instantly.
He pulled Lily into his arms, anxiety flooding his face. "Lily, what happened? Did he hurt you?"
She sobbed, unable to form a coherent sentence.
Daniel's temper exploded. He turned toward Ethan with fury blazing in his eyes.
"What did you do to my fiancée?!"
Smack.
A stack of photographs hit Daniel squarely in the chest.
His words died.
The images showed Lily flushed, hazy-eyed—kissing and clinging to a man.
The man.
Ethan.
Daniel's head buzzed violently.
"Lily… how could you?" His voice broke. "I love you so much, and you—"
"I already agreed to cooperate with the Quinn family's business deal. Wasn't that enough? Did you really have to sell yourself for money?" His face twisted in rage. "What's the difference between you and a prostitute?"
The bright red roses crashed to the floor. He crushed them beneath his shoe as if they were her.
"You disgust me."
He turned and walked away without looking back.
Lily shook her head frantically, tears streaming down her face.
She couldn't believe those words had come from Daniel. Sell herself? Prostitute?
Why wouldn't he give her even a chance to explain?
Her chest felt as if it were being torn apart. She tried to stand, to chase after him—but her legs felt like lead.
Explain?
Where would she even begin?
She collapsed to the floor, helpless.
From the doorway, Ethan let out a cold laugh.
"Nice performance. If your fiancé had slapped you, I might've believed it."
Then he stepped past her and left.
Inside a low-profile black Rolls-Royce, Adrian Cole glanced nervously at his boss.
"Sir… what are you planning to do with that woman? She doesn't seem to be—"
"Say what you mean."
Adrian hesitated. "If she's insignificant to you… may I pursue her?"
Ethan turned, amused.
"A fleeting encounter and you've developed feelings?" he mocked lightly. "If you want her, she's yours."
"Thank you, sir."
Later, in a spacious executive office bathed in golden afternoon light, Ethan sat behind the main desk, expression cold and distant.
Adrian stood respectfully before him.
"Sir, you just returned to the country yesterday. You haven't visited the old chairman yet. Should we arrange—"
"One more word," Ethan interrupted coolly, "and I'll cut out your tongue."
Adrian immediately lowered his head. Sweat formed along his brow.
Ethan reached into his suit and tossed a photograph onto the desk.
"Do what you're told."
Adrian picked it up—and stiffened.
He had thought Ethan had given up on the woman.
Apparently not.
Without another word, he left.
Ethan opened a drawer casually. Inside lay a polished nameplate:
CEO – Ethan Blackwood
He picked it up, smirking faintly.
The old man had even prepared his title in advance.
So certain he would take over.
And Lily Quinn…
Was she his congratulatory gift before assuming power?
Dusk fell.
The fading light cast a cold shadow across the room.
Lily shivered as she finally regained some clarity. With trembling fingers, she grabbed her phone and dialed Daniel's number.
It rang.
And rang.
No answer.
Her heart began to panic.
Had he truly discarded her?
Was she not even worth a single explanation?