...At first, her body fought hard, pushing against him with all she had. But then, her resistance suddenly weakened, turning into a faint tremble, so light that for a moment, he almost thought she was responding to his touch.

But then...

A cold, salty taste touched his lips-wet and unmistakable.

She was crying. Because of him touching her?

Was the idea of his touch that unbearable to her?

That stung-badly. Especially since she was the one who came into his life first. But looking at her, tears streaking down her face, he couldn't make himself go any further.

Damn it.

He'd always been ruthless when it came to others, never hesitating. But when it came to her, he just couldn't cross the line. She had a grip on him-heart, soul, everything. Like some curse he couldn't shake off.

Shutting his eyes tight, he let out a shaky breath and pulled away. He straightened his suit jacket, forcing back the urge to look at her one more time, and walked out in a hurry.

The room, once thick with tension, settled into an eerie silence. Ashley sat up slowly on the bed, dazed for a moment, then hugged herself tightly, curling into a ball. Raw fear and pain filled every corner of her mind.

Lucas... where are you? Please... help me.

She couldn't stop the tears-it hurt too much. Her whole body was shaking uncontrollably, like she was freezing from the inside out.

She knew crying wouldn't solve anything. She had to pull herself together.

Wiping her tear-streaked cheeks with the back of her hand, she tried hard to make sense of the chaos from today.

One second, she was at the altar getting married to Lucas. The next, this man had crashed her wedding and dragged her away like a psychopath. He kept insisting he knew her-even called her by name. And he didn't seem like he was lying. But could she really look that much like someone else? Same name, same face? How was that even possible?

It all happened so fast. Her mind was still reeling. Something had to be wrong here.

His scent was still lingering faintly on her lips, and she scrubbed at them hard, as if trying to erase everything that just happened.

The way he kissed her, so rough and desperate-it terrified her thinking about it. She was this close to... No. She couldn't go there.

It didn't matter who he thought she was or what the hell he wanted. What mattered was that she couldn't just sit around waiting for Lucas to find her. She had to get out-today.

But how the hell was she supposed to escape?

There was no landline in the room, and she didn't have her phone on her. So yeah, calling for help? Not happening. That meant she had to find her own way out. But if she just walked out the front door, she'd be spotted for sure. What now? Ashley scanned the room, her eyes finally landing on the bedsheets beneath her.

After stepping out of Ashley's room, Charles Blackwood headed back to his own. He pulled out a cigarette, slumped down by the floor-to-ceiling window, and lit up, the smoke curling slowly around him.

The tiny glow at the end of the cigarette blinked in and out like a heartbeat, the smoke wrapping around him like a fog-clouding his thoughts just as much.

God, the moment his guy told him they'd found her, he was over the moon. Then, bam-next thing he knows, they tell him she's at a church, marrying some other guy. He thought they screwed up, figured it had to be a mix-up. It couldn't be her... not his Ashley. But he saw it with his own eyes. She was really going through with it.

How could she possibly marry someone other than him?

That one sentence from her-"I don't know you"-kept echoing in his head, burning hot. It pissed him off beyond belief.

Still, no matter how mad he was, seeing her look hurt like that... he just couldn't bring himself to actually lash out at her.

Ashley, what am I supposed to do with you?

He'd been sitting there forever, lighting cigarette after cigarette, searching for an answer that just wouldn't come.

"Sir, lunch is ready," George Finley said as he walked in after knocking. "Would you like to eat now?"

Charles gave a slight nod and calmly snuffed out his cigarette.

"What about Miss Carter? Should I send someone to bring her to the dining room?" George asked.

"No," Charles said, one hand slipping into his pocket. "I'll go get her myself."

With that, he made his way toward Ashley's room.

"Sir!" the two guards at the door immediately straightened when they saw him, one of them opening the door for him right away.

Charles walked in.

Silence. The bed was empty. Completely empty. His expression turned icy in an instant.

"We've been here the whole time, sir. Miss Carter didn't leave," one of the guards blurted out, clearly panicked.

Charles didn't say a word. His fist clenched tightly at his side. He glanced at the empty bed, then strode straight to the balcony. Gripping the railing, he leaned out to look down.

Ashley was halfway down the building, using the bedsheets as a rope. Just as some sound came from above, she looked up, startled.

And for a moment-it was just the two of them, eyes locked mid-air.

Standing above, looking down at the figure clinging desperately to the bed sheet, Charles's hand gripping the balcony railing had the knuckles turning bone white.

Did she really hate him this much? Hate him enough to risk her severe fear of heights just to get away?

"What are you doing just standing there? Go stop her!" George, unsettled by Charles' terrifying expression, panicked and barked out an order.

The sudden shout only made Ashley more anxious. Her palms gripped the swinging bed sheet tighter, sweat rolling down her forehead.

She glanced up in fear-the man's eyes were still those same intense, unfathomable shadows, as if something savage lurked behind them, waiting for the chance to strike.

Her stomach twisted. She dared a look down and instantly felt the world tilt.

"You're not scared of heights, Ashley. This is nothing for you," she told herself, trying over and over to psych herself up.

But no matter how many times she repeated it, the fear didn't ease. Her legs were shaking even harder.

So much for what those so-called experts said! She cursed mentally, painfully aware that her arms were starting to go numb.

In a brief moment of distraction, she looked up-only to find he was no longer there. Her heart dropped.

She had to go-now!

No time to think, Ashley took a deep breath and started to slide down faster, eyes flicking downward for a better grip.

Just then, a flash of rage-filled eyes appeared around the corner-he was coming fast.

She gasped. That one second of panic made her grip slip. With no time to react, she lost hold completely and fell.

"Aah!"

The crash didn't come. Blinking in shock, Ashley found herself face-to-face with those same angry eyes.

Charles had caught her in his arms, holding her tight. The panic in his eyes faded-but now, it was pure fury.

"What the hell did I do that pushed you into risking your fear of heights just to leave me?"

Frozen in his arms, Ashley stared up, shocked. "Wait... how do you even know I'm scared of heights?"

The moment she said it, his lips thinned. His mood clearly didn't improve. Her heart sank a little, but she pressed on, almost at her wit's end.

"I told you-I don't know you! You've got the wrong person! How many times do I have to say it before you get it?"

"What's so great about that guy, anyway?" Rage flared in his voice-the thought of her pretending not to know him, just to marry someone like Lucas Cooper, made him boil with jealousy.

Family? Education? Looks? What was it that guy had he didn't?

"Don't you get it? It's not about Lucas being better. You just... got the wrong person, okay?!"

But Charles didn't want to hear any of it.

"Stop testing my patience just because I've spoiled you," he said coldly, pulling her tighter into his arms and striding back toward the room.

He didn't trust himself with her any longer. If this dragged on, he might just snap.

"Are you deaf or something?" Ashley thrashed in his arms, trying to break free, pounding her fists against his chest. "I'm not who you think I am!"

He ignored her completely.

Furious and helpless, Ashley yelled, "I don't know you! Can't understand English?"

Charles stayed silent, lips pressed in a firm line.

The bodyguards nearby were already sweating bullets. Anyone else pulling this kind of stunt? Their young master probably would've let them plunge straight into the ocean.

"Sir, lunch is ready." As Charles approached, George quickly stepped up, acting like he didn't notice the woman in his young master's arms punching and pinching him.

"Bring it to the room," Charles said flatly, loosening his hold on Ashley, then marched into the room with her in his arms.

"Behave yourself. Don't make me angry." He gently placed her on the bed and reached for her hand, worried the bedsheets might've scratched her palm.

But Ashley dodged.

The second her feet touched the ground again, she tried to dart past him for the door.

Her sudden move snapped that rare softness in him. Without much effort, he reached out and grabbed her back with one hand. "Still trying to run?"

"You might as well just kill me!"

Backed into the room again with the door blocked, Ashley's bright eyes flared with frustration, her cheeks flushed red with fury.

"You-" Charles clenched his jaw, all the patience and gentleness were buried deep inside, with anger ready to explode, when George's nervous voice called from the doorway, "Sir, lunch is here."

Charles took a deep breath, then another, forcing the anger down. "Serve Miss Carter."

"I'd rather starve than eat anything from you!"

"Oh yeah?" Charles didn't seem mad-instead, he smiled coldly. He yanked her back into his arms so that their bodies pressed together. "Well then, I don't mind feeding you by mouth."

"You... you wouldn't!" Ashley stared at him, speechless. Was he joking or seriously out of his mind?

"Bring the food over," Charles ordered without looking back, a cold smirk on his face.

The servant rushed the meal cart over.

He picked up a fork, stabbed a piece of foie gras and put it in his mouth. Seeing her eyes go wide in disbelief clearly amused him; the grin in his eyes deepened. He didn't chew, just held the bite as he slowly leaned in toward her.

Oh my god, he's actually doing it!

"Fine! I'll eat, okay?!" Ashley saw his face getting closer by the second. Panicked, she threw her hands between them and turned her head away.

Satisfied with her surrender, Charles finally stopped and straightened up.

"Keep an eye on her. I don't want to hear about her trying to run again," Charles told the nearby bodyguards, his tone sharp and no-nonsense.

"This is illegal detention! You can go to jail for this!" Ashley stared at him, shocked that he was still going through with keeping her locked up.

"Then let's see who's got the guts to put me in jail," Charles shot back before letting go of her and walking straight out of the room.

"Wait! Don't just leave! Let me go! What's the point of locking me up like this?" Ashley rushed forward, trying to catch up.

"Miss Carter, please stop right there," one of the guards stepped in, blocking her path politely but firmly.

"Your boss really got the wrong person! I swear I'm not who he's looking for!" Ashley raised her right hand as if taking an oath.

"Please don't make things difficult for us, Miss Carter." The guards bowed slightly and shut the door in her face.

Seriously? Is there no one here who's capable of having a normal conversation?

She turned around with a heavy sigh, staring at the now closed door.

"Miss Carter, your meal is ready." George announced, his voice formal and emotionless.

Miss Carter this, Miss Carter that. One of these days, they're gonna drive her insane with all that politeness.

Even though every fiber of her being screamed not to, Ashley reluctantly walked over and picked up the fork. She wasn't about to wait till that jerk decided to feed her himself. Knowing him, he might actually do it.

"Hey... can I borrow your phone for a sec?" She looked up at George, trying her luck.

"Sorry, Miss Carter. That's not something I'm allowed to do." George gave her an apologetic smile.

"I just remembered something urgent. It'll only take a minute, I swear!" She pressed on, unwilling to give up so quickly.

"Then I shall inform the young master. You may tell him directly," George replied, already turning to leave.

"Wait!" Ashley panicked. Bringing that guy back was the last thing she wanted. "Actually, never mind. It's not that urgent anymore. No need to bother him."

"As you wish, Miss Carter. Please enjoy your meal." George resumed his butler stance.

So much for the rescue mission. Ashley lowered her head in frustration, turning her attention back to the food on the table.

The dishes looked and smelled amazing, no doubt... but they tasted like nothing to her.

Huh... the fork?She glanced at the fork in her hand, and a sudden idea popped into her head.