"No! Don't kill me!"

The string in my mind finally snapped.

My will to live ignited a burst of courage.

With bound hands, I gripped him tightly.

Tears filled my eyes as I looked up at him, begging:

"Please, don't kill me."

"I'll find a way to get you the money."

"I really don't want to die in the next two years. Please."

The man lowered his eyes, gaze landing on my hands clinging to his.

He paused, eyebrows raised in curiosity, voice deep:

"What's wrong with dying in the next two years?"

I choked.

Was that the point?!

But I didn't dare not answer.

"B-Because," I lowered my head and muttered,

"The government's encouraging families to have three kids now."

"But young people generally don't want children."

"So if I die now, there's a high chance I'll reincarnate into an old-school family trying to have a third baby."

"I died young and didn't get to enjoy much in this life. Dying now just doesn't feel right."

He clearly froze.

His thin lips pressed into a line,

and the corners seemed to twitch with the hint of a smile.

I didn't notice.

Because by now the heat in my body was surging violently.

Trapped between the fear of death and of being violated by multiple men,

I quickly assessed the few cards I had left to survive.

Then, with all the courage I could muster,

I leaned forward and lightly kissed his lips:

"I'll be obedient. I won't resist."

"Whatever you want to do to me. it's fine."

The entire warehouse fell into dead silence.

The man's eyes darkened suddenly.

His Adam's apple moved slightly.

He said nothing.

I bit my lip,vaguely sensing a sliver of hope.

Bound hands lifted and fell again, wrapping around his neck.

Then I kissed him once more.

But the man gently gripped my neck and pushed me back,

putting distance between us.

He stared into my eyes, his gaze deep and unreadable:

"I wasn't planning to kill you."

"There's still time to back out. I'll find you another man."

"But once you follow me, there's no turning back."

The heat surged higher. My eyes were already glazed.

I pressed myself into his chest and shook my head:

"I'll follow you."

"No regrets."

If I'm destined to lose everything-at least let me choose someone handsome.

The next second,my lips were seized.

The man clutched the back of my head.

In the hotel bathroom, the shower roared down.

Heavy breathing and moans of passion made the air grow hotter and hotter.

My hands were pulled up above my head, my body pressed against the wall as the man took me fiercely.

Yet his fingers still had the mind to play with the ring on my hand, his lips curling in amusement:

"A flower already taken, and still daring to seduce me?"

"You really think I'm some kind of good guy?"

"Mm."

Warm water blurred my vision. My whole body was limp, barely able to stand, my mind drifting into a haze.

"No one. the ring. don't. don't want it anymore."

"Heh, no wonder it's your first time?"

The man chuckled hoarsely against my lips and removed the ring:

"You don't want it? Then give it back to him."

He let go of my arms. I slid downward helplessly, quickly wrapping myself around his muscular back.

My moans came out broken and disordered.

"Jasper Lancaster. That's my name," he whispered beside my ear, voice low and seductive. "Say it."

"Ah!" I screamed as my nails raked down his back. "Jasper Lancaster."

"Mr. Thornton～"

On the lounge chair by the beach,

a sweet, flirtatious woman lay in Calvin Thornton's arms,

softly protesting his distraction.

She leaned in, trying to kiss his lips.

But Calvin turned his head away to dodge.

He stared at the phone on the nearby table, which had remained silent. His brows furrowed tightly.

Josephine Waverly, call me one more time.

Just once more-and I'll believe you.

"You've checked your phone over twenty times in four hours. Is it really that serious?"

"If you're that worried, just go see her."

On the adjacent lounge chair, his friend Raphael Kingsley had seen everything and couldn't help but shake his head with a sigh:

"You're the one who swore to marry her back then and caught her heart."

"Then you grew up and flipped the script-acting like a heartless player who couldn't stand her clinginess and care."

"Over the years, you gained a reputation as a womanizer."

"Your mom's worried and wants to use the media to pressure you into settling down. It's only natural."

"It might not have been Josephine Waverly's idea at all."

"And let me remind you for the Nth time-people's hearts can grow cold."

"No one waits forever."

"Just how many times do you think you can overdraft on the promises you made as a teenager?"

"Don't wait until you really lose her and then regret it."

Calvin Thornton's fingers paused slightly.

He lowered his eyes and remained silent for a moment, then gave a faint, cold scoff:

"I won't regret it."

"Tying myself to one person for life? How boring."

"I wish she'd just leave already."

"Stop clinging to me with those useless childhood feelings."

"I'm so, so done with her."

Raphael Kingsley frowned.

Just as he was about to speak again, Calvin clearly didn't want to hear it anymore.

He got up, popped open a bottle of champagne,

letting the foam spray into the beach crowd already lost in revelry.

Raphael pursed his lips, cursing under his breath:

"Stupid, self-destructive scumbag."

Suddenly, a shadow fell over him.

Raphael froze and looked up-Calvin Thornton had come back.

There was mockery in Raphael's gaze.

With a cold expression, Calvin picked up his phone.

Just as he unlocked the screen-

the ringtone rang.

"Mr. Thornton," said the caller-his assistant,

"Someone just had something express-delivered to the company."

"It's for you."

"The sender is Miss Waverly."

Calvin immediately scoffed, a sneer of disdain flashing in his eyes.

Suddenly, the fact that he had been worrying about Josephine Waverly felt utterly ridiculous.

"It's a ring," the assistant paused,

"Looks like the one Miss Waverly always wore."

Calvin Thornton's pupils contracted sharply.

"What did you say? Say that again-what?"

The assistant quickly sent over a photo of the ring.

Calvin Thornton took one glance and immediately recognized it.

It was the "engagement" ring he'd given her when he confessed his feelings at sixteen.

Josephine Waverly had always worn it like a treasured keepsake.