Cassie could hardly believe her luck. She was just about to get a divorce and came out for a night to forget everything, only to stumble right into the arms of the man she had been supposed to get engaged to years ago.

It almost felt like fate was playing a cruel joke on her.

She considered slipping away quickly, but the way Jasper was looking at her made her hesitate.

With one arm braced against the wall, Jasper leaned in close, his eyes clouded but locked onto hers.

Was there a flicker of recognition in them, or was she imagining it?

It seemed unlikely that he recognized her. After all, she had run out on him the very day they were supposed to get engaged; they had never met before. If it weren't for all the magazine covers and television interviews of him, she doubted she would have even recognized him tonight.

Before Cassie could gather her thoughts, Jasper's hand clamped down on her shoulder. His fingers slid up her back, and without warning, his burning lips crashed into hers.

Cassie froze, stunned as her eyes widened.

In her shock, Jasper took full advantage, pressing in and deepening the kiss.

"Jasper!" Cassie exclaimed, wrenching her head away as she dug her nails into his wrist. "Snap out of it! Look at me! Do you know who I am?"

Judging by the fog in his eyes and the wild way he moved, it was obvious to her that he wasn't himself—someone must have drugged him.

Right now, she didn't have the time to think about who was responsible. Every instinct screamed for her to run, but the guilt in her chest made her feel reluctant to just abandon him like this.

After all, she had already abandoned him once two years ago, leaving him humiliated. Their families had managed to stay on good terms, but her guilt lingered.

Jasper's striking features drew closer again, and this time, he didn't aim for her lips; he bit her cheek.

"Ouch!" Cassie exclaimed in pain. She hadn't expected him to bite her so hard, and she was certain it left a mark.

Jasper's hand inched beneath her shirt, but Cassie avoided his touch and dug her fingers deep into his side.

The sudden jolt of pain snapped Jasper out of his daze.

His eyes cleared, sharp and focused as he stared at Cassie.

Before Cassie could catch her breath or say a word, several men hurried over.

"Mr. Sullivan, are you okay?" one of them asked, panic written all over his sweaty face. It was clear that things had spiraled far beyond their control—someone had managed to drug their boss right under their watch.

"Take me to the hospital. Now. And she's coming with us," Jasper ordered, forcing the words out before everything went black and he fainted.

Cassie wanted no part in any of this, but it was obvious Jasper suspected her involvement in the matter and didn't want her running off. He probably worried she'd spread word of what had happened if she left.

Understanding his reasoning didn't make her feel any better. If she left now, what about Shawn?

He was still at their table, waiting for her to return.

With no other option, Cassie waited for the moment the group focused on Jasper. As they passed the front desk, she managed to leave a message for Shawn, telling him something had come up and that he should head back without her.

Those men barely noticed her quick move. In moments, she was whisked out the front door and into a black Rolls-Royce waiting by the curb.

As soon as he was settled in the car, Jasper began to stir. He fumbled for Cassie's shoulder, holding on tightly, then moved in even closer. Cassie looked at him, bewildered, as he suddenly pressed his face to her neck and sank his teeth into her skin.

"Ouch!" She winced in pain.

Why on earth was Jasper biting people when he was drugged?

Cassie's cry of pain didn't elicit any reaction from the others in the car. They pretended not to notice anything.

Otherwise, once Jasper recovered, they would face severe consequences.

Jasper leaned in once more, and with Cassie cornered against the seat, she had nowhere to escape. He began to cover her earlobes, cheeks, and lips with rough, desperate kisses...

Just as he was about to do more to her, Cassie seized his hand, forcing him to stop.

She shouted at the front, "Drive faster! Mr. Sullivan needs treatment now!"

By now, she could no longer pretend she didn't know him. If they didn't hurry and get Jasper to a hospital, she was afraid he might cross the line.

While the car sped along, Jasper sat so close to Cassie that she could feel the intensity of his gaze, as if he might devour her at any second. Still, something in him fought back against that urge. He squeezed his eyes shut and clenched his fists, struggling to control himself.

Cassie felt stuck, not knowing what to do now. She considered pushing Jasper away, but the car was packed with his men, and she doubted she could defeat them all in a fight.

The idea of Jasper making a move on her unsettled her, making her heart race with anxiety.

Yet as she studied Jasper's face more closely, she realized it was not so bad to be kissed by him.

No one in Neerdale could rival Jasper's looks. He had sharp, striking features and eyes that drew people in, his nose and jaw perfectly sculpted. By comparison, Jordy looked downright unattractive. Perhaps her previous admiration for her "savior" had clouded her judgment, leading her to convince herself to escape her engagement to Jasper and run to Jordy.

Cassie just hoped that Jasper wouldn't remember she was the one who had run away from their engagement when he recovered.

Otherwise, she'd be in for a world of trouble.

As these thoughts tumbled through her mind, the Rolls-Royce rolled to a stop right in front of Central Hospital.

The moment the door swung open, Cassie spotted the medical team already waiting outside.

Clearly, someone had given them a heads-up.

Face red with embarrassment, Cassie wrestled Jasper off her and pressed him down on the waiting stretcher.

But Jasper's hand clamped onto her wrist with an unyielding grip, refusing to let go.

Finally, after the doctor administered two sedatives, Cassie managed to pry herself free from his grip.

She tried to slip away while everyone's attention was on Jasper, but before she could escape, one of Jasper's men walked over and blocked her path.

"Miss, you can't leave yet," he said.

Cassie instantly wished she had left Jasper in the hallway before anyone saw them.

"I'm a mess right now, and my clothes are sticking to me. I need to change," said Cassie.

"You may change in Mr. Sullivan's VIP hospital room. Someone will bring you something to wear in a moment."

The man's voice was firm enough to shut down any attempt at protest.

Jasper had clearly trained his subordinates well.

Muttering curses under her breath, Cassie trailed after the man into the hospital.

Inside the VIP hospital suite's bathroom, she slipped into the fresh clothes they brought. When she stepped out and faced the mirror at the dressing table, a long sigh escaped her.

Nothing about tonight had gone right. Jasper had kissed her, and now, she was stuck in the hospital. She could only hope Shawn got her message and went home so he wouldn't end up tangled in this mess. Jasper must not find out who she really was. If he did, the situation would become embarrassing.

Unfortunately, things didn't go as Cassie hoped. When Shawn didn't see her return, he went to the front desk and got her message. Once he realized she had left, something about the situation made him uneasy. He tried to use his status as a member of the powerful Lloyd family to access the surveillance footage in the club, but he failed.

That denial told him everything he needed to know.

If his family's influence wasn't even enough, then the situation had to involve Jasper, the man who owned the Apex Club.

Worried that Cassie might be on the receiving end of some kind of revenge from Jasper, Shawn called his brother right away. After laying out what had happened as quickly as he could, he added, "Brenton, do you think Jasper would actually go after Cassy just because she ran from their engagement two years ago?"

Brenton Lloyd didn't waste a second before replying, "You are overthinking this. I'll take care of it. Just go home."

"Alright," Shawn said.

A long sigh slipped out as Brenton ended the call.

He immediately dialed a number and waited for the line to connect. After a brief pause, someone picked up, their voice rough and unmistakable.

"I'm at Central Hospital," said Jasper, not bothering with pleasantries. He clearly knew what this call was about.

With his cigar burning down between his fingers, Brenton exhaled slowly and replied, "Mr. Sullivan, sorry about my sister causing you trouble tonight. I'll go and pick her up soon."

Jasper's eyes lingered on the screen of his phone, his expression impossible to read.

"We've caught them, Mr. Sullivan," one of his men announced.

He glanced at the closed bathroom door, swallowing hard before his voice turned low.

"Alright. Did you deliver the clothes?" he asked, his voice thoughtful as if he'd been mulling the question over.

The subordinate paused, then followed Jasper's gaze before replying, "Yes, Mr. Sullivan. We handed her the change of clothes already."

The words had just left his mouth when the bathroom door swung open.

Cassie stepped out, sensing a shift in the room's atmosphere.

She glanced up, finding every pair of eyes in the room fixed on her.

Jasper, who was lying on the hospital bed, looked at her with intensity.

A prickle of unease sent Cassie stepping away slightly, her gaze turning wary.

Jasper looked pale, but the coldness in his demeanor remained unchanged.

Forcing a small smile, Cassie said, "Well, now that you're okay, I should get going."

She hurried for the door, only to have her path blocked before she could reach it.

"Mr. Sullivan would like to have a word with you."

A word?

She had nothing to do with Jasper's incident this time. What could he possibly want to discuss with her?

Was this about payback? Could he have figured out who she was already?

Cassie's thoughts tumbled over each other, but she managed to keep her expression calm.

She turned to look at Jasper.

"So, Mr. Sullivan, what do you want to talk about?"

Jasper gave no answer. Instead, he waved his hand, signaling for the others to leave.

Everyone stationed by the bed stepped out, leaving only Cassie and Jasper in the room.

Even as color drained from his cheeks, Jasper held himself with that authoritative aura. Still, he was less intimidating since he was sitting in bed, leaning against the headboard.

In this state, he seemed more approachable.

Cassie wondered if he could still care about a failed engagement that had happened so long ago.

Covering her mouth, she cleared her throat and raised her voice. "Mr. Sullivan?"

Why had he asked for her to stay? What could he possibly want?

Narrowing his eyes, Jasper asked, "You have nothing you want to say to me?" His voice held a cold tone.

Cassie froze for a moment.

What could she possibly want to tell him? Every part of her just wanted to leave.

Perhaps because of her nervousness or guilt, she didn't move to leave.

Standing in front of the man she had once abandoned, she felt uneasy.

"I don't have anything to say. Mr. Sullivan, I'm just someone who happened to pull you out of trouble. I expect nothing in return from you, so if we're done here, I'll take my leave," she said.

She made sure to remind him that she was the one who had saved him this time, hoping he wouldn't make things difficult for her, and made another move for the door.

A cold, humorless chuckle cut through the air before she could reach it.

When she looked back, Jasper's gaze locked onto her with a strange, knowing look.

It was like he was sizing her up.

Cassie stiffened, uneasy and unsure of what was running through his mind.

Did he recognize her after all? What was that smile hinting at? Was this meant to scare her?

Even as confusion churned inside her, Cassie kept her expression polite and steady.

"Is there anything else you need, Mr. Sullivan?" she asked.

Jasper's faint smile vanished as he glanced at the chair near his bedside. "Come here and sit down."

His words left little room for argument, his tone sharp and commanding.

Had it been anyone but Jasper, Cassie wouldn't have bothered to respond. She would have walked right out the door.

But the one talking was Jasper, the Lloyd family's business ally for years. Breaking off the engagement had already soured things with him. One misstep now, and her family might be affected.

She couldn't tell if Jasper had figured out who she really was.

Still, playing it safe seemed the wiser choice.

Clenching her hands, she walked over and sat down on the chair.

Her lips stretched into a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

"Mr. Sullivan, you're still recovering. I really wouldn't want to disrupt your rest by being here," she said.

Without so much as a flicker of emotion, Jasper glanced at her. "You're not disrupting my rest."

Cassie fell silent at that.

Sitting beneath his unreadable stare, she felt her nerves fray.

Did he know who she was after all?

That couldn't be possible... could it?

She studied his expression for any hint, but his icy exterior never cracked.

Someone like Jasper wouldn't let her off easily if he had pieced things together. That realization eased some of her worries.

She drew a slow, silent breath, feeling just a bit more at ease.

Yet every time she tried to offer a polite excuse to leave, Jasper brushed it aside, making it clear he had no intention of letting her leave.

Jasper kept his eyes shut as he rested, while Cassie fidgeted in her chair.

Although neither of them said a word, the tension between them was unmistakable.

After a moment, Jasper peered at Cassie, noticing how she never stopped shifting.

He chose not to break the silence, just looking at her.

Feeling out of options, Cassie grabbed her phone and quickly texted Shawn, hoping he'd come to her rescue.

Her message had just gone through when footsteps echoed in the corridor.

Was Shawn already here?

Cassie stood up, hope flickering in her eyes.

"Sit back down." Jasper's voice cut across the room, cool and commanding.

Cassie shot him a quick look but didn't argue, letting herself fall back into her seat without a word.

It took a moment for it to hit her—why did she obey him like this?

Cassie didn't get a chance to think of an answer.

The door flew open, and Brenton walked in, holding his coat.

"Brenton!"

Overcome with relief, Cassie forgot to worry about Jasper discovering who she was. She dashed over to Brenton, squeezed his hand, and tried to tell him with her eyes just how much she needed his help now.

"I can't believe you are here!" she exclaimed in joy.

Earlier, she had really feared she would be trapped here forever.

Brenton drew Cassie behind him, facing Jasper as he spoke. "Mr. Sullivan, it's been a while."

Their families did business together, but since signing the last contract, there hadn't been much reason to meet.

Jasper glanced from Cassie to Brenton, his face giving nothing away. He acknowledged Brenton with a small nod. "Yeah. It has been some time, Mr. Lloyd."

Cassie blinked in surprise, looking quickly from Brenton to Jasper, uncertainty flickering in her eyes.

Ever since Brenton showed up, Jasper had kept his composure, showing no surprise. It seemed he had figured out who she was all along.

So, he had clearly made her stay deliberately; he was making a point, settling the score in his own way.

Cassie couldn't help but fix her gaze on him, but Jasper sat unmoved, his face betraying no emotion.

Brenton, no stranger to Jasper's coolness after years of business interactions, saw nothing unusual in his frosty manner.

"I appreciate you watching over my sister, Mr. Sullivan. If she's crossed any lines, I hope you'll forgive her," he said.

Jasper's attention shifted to Cassie's wrist, but his face stayed calm, impossible to read.

With Jasper's silence hanging in the air, Brenton continued, "If there's nothing else, I'd like to take her home."

Finally, Jasper lifted his chin and looked Brenton straight in the eye. "Alright. Goodbye, Mr. Lloyd."

Once outside the hospital room, Cassie followed Brenton, her mind spinning.

That was it? Jasper had just let her leave? Then why had he tried so hard to make her stay earlier?

Inside the car, Cassie couldn't keep her thoughts in. "Brenton, did our family do something to upset Jasper?"

Brenton shot her a sideways glance and answered, "Apart from the engagement falling through, we did nothing wrong to him."

Cassie let out an awkward laugh at that, touching her nose. "He kept telling me to stay earlier. For a moment, I thought he planned to get back at me."

Brenton let out a dry laugh. "He is not the type to hold grudges like that."