Luke deliberately emphasized the word "remarkable." In his eyes, Gillian became irresistible in the heat of passion.

Neither Ashton nor Kenneth sensed that anything was off, but Gillian's complexion turned ghostly.

Luke's gaze bored into her, so intense it made her want to shrink away.

Yet escape wasn't an option. Any sudden move or hint of anxiety might tip off the Moore family, and that thought held her in place.

Determined not to betray herself, Gillian pulled her lips into a careful smile, ready to offer a polite reply. Before she could utter a word, Luke cut in, "She's a little too fragile for my taste, though. Can't quite keep up."

A surge of cold dread went through Gillian, draining every bit of color from her face.

What game was Luke playing at now? Was he about to spill everything?

Terror clawed at her chest. Every instinct told her to silence him, to stop his reckless words, but she didn't dare to even glance up for fear he'd catch her eye and start taunting her.

Ashton's brow creased with suspicion. "What are you getting at, Luke?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Luke grinned, mischief flickering in his eyes. "She's clinging to you, looking like she might faint any second. That's the image of a delicate girl if I've ever seen one."

Only then did Ashton realize how pale Gillian looked, her fingers ice-cold against his skin.

"She's probably still feeling the effects from drinking too much earlier," Ashton said quickly. "She hasn't bounced back yet."

In front of Kenneth, Ashton spoke with quiet concern, his words gentle and reassuring. "If you're really not feeling well, I'll take you home now, alright? You have work tomorrow, don't you?"

Gillian managed a stiff nod. "Alright."

Kenneth offered a few words of concern and let Ashton lead her out.

With her gaze fixed on the floor, Gillian followed Ashton, a sense of discomfort prickling beneath her skin.

In the car, Ashton barely looked at her. He drove in silence, cold and distant, showing none of the warmth he displayed in public.

Before, Gillian might have tried to say something to lighten the mood or win him over. Now, after learning how he truly felt about her—and everything that had happened—she had no desire to reach out.

Back in her room, Gillian hurried straight to the bathroom.

Red marks stood out on her skin in the harsh light. She silently thanked herself for wearing a long dress with sleeves that day. If she had worn anything less, those bruises would have been on full display.

Luke's hands on her waist, the rough way he bit and kissed her everywhere—those memories made her shiver.

There were still faint stains of blood on her underwear, and even a gentle touch sent sharp pain through her body. She turned the water on as hot as she could stand and scrubbed her skin repeatedly.

The more she thought about Luke, the angrier she became. She swore she'd never let herself fall into his arms again.

The red welts stared back at her from the mirror, and Gillian's hands balled into fists.

Without a second thought, she grabbed her phone and scheduled a hymen repair surgery.

Her family's company remained in limbo, anxiously awaiting financial backing from Moore Group.

Because of that uncertainty, Gillian had no choice but to keep up the appearance of her engagement, even knowing full well that Ashton wanted nothing to do with her.

Once the tension eased a little, she stretched out on her bed, hoping for a bit of peace. Just as she reached to power down her phone, a new notification flashed across the screen.

A friend request had appeared from someone with a blank, jet-black profile picture. The name attached was simple—just "Luke."

Her heart skipped a beat when she saw it, and she found herself staring at the screen, breath coming a little faster.

Without a second thought, she ignored the friend request, shut off her phone, and tossed it aside. Exhaustion pulled her under, and she soon drifted off to sleep.

By the time morning came, Gillian had already messaged her department, telling them she needed the day off. She didn't go to the hospital where she worked. Instead, she drove to a medical facility known for strict privacy, high fees, and a solid reputation.

This hospital had quietly gained prestige and was now giving the city's top medical centers a run for their money.

With a mask covering her face, Gillian kept her head down and took a seat in the lounge, waiting patiently for her number to be called.

She barely had time to settle in before overhearing two nurses whispering nearby. One grinned and said, "Did you see that airline captain earlier? He looked like he stepped right out of a magazine. I heard we're doing physicals for civil aviation now, and honestly, his abs were worth the extra work."

"Shush, he's coming this way!" the other whispered in alarm.

Gillian glanced up, just as a handful of tall men strode out of the exam rooms.

At the front of the group walked a man who commanded attention without even trying. The crisp white shirt and tailored black slacks did nothing to hide his powerful frame—broad shoulders, lean waist, and impossibly long legs that made him look every bit the part.

Gillian's breath caught as she recognized him right away. That face was unmistakable. It was Luke.

Her thoughts spun out of control.

Instinctively, she pressed her hands together so tightly that her knuckles turned white, desperately hoping to vanish before he noticed her.

They hadn't spoken much in the past, but Luke's reputation preceded him. She had heard more than enough rumors about his cold, unyielding ways.

The idea of Luke learning she was here for something as private as hymen repair sent a chill down her spine.

Before she could think of a way to slip out unnoticed, a nurse rushed in, waving a medical form and calling out, "Patient No. 7! Gillian—"

Luke froze the moment he heard her name. His brow creased, and he spun around.

Gillian's thoughts vanished in a rush of panic, but her body took over on its own.

She shot to her feet and strode over, lowering her voice as she cut off the nurse. "That's me. I'm patient number seven," she said.

Although the nurse looked at her with confusion, she kept quiet and waved for Gillian to come into the exam room.

With her head lowered, Gillian sneaked a glance toward Luke. Her fingers curled into her palms so tightly her nails left marks.

Thankfully, Luke simply threw her a glance before looking away. It seemed he hadn't recognized her.

Relief swept through her, and she let out a quiet breath.

Inside the room, the nurse handed her some paperwork. After Gillian filled it out, the nurse nodded toward the exam table behind the curtain and told her to lie down. Then the nurse stepped out to call for the doctor and begin preparations for the pre-surgery checkup.

Gillian lay back, nerves twisting inside her, and gripped the bedsheet so hard her knuckles turned white.

Minutes crawled by until finally, she heard footsteps approach.

A tall figure stepped in, dressed in a white coat with his face hidden behind a mask and glasses. He glanced at the chart and looked down at her. His voice was cold and flat. "Miss Gillian Brown? You're here for hymen restoration surgery, right?"

Gillian's anxiety grew sharper once she realized the doctor was a man.

"That's right, but is there a woman doctor available?" she asked, voice tight.

He let out a quiet laugh. "There aren't any female doctors on duty today. If you want to wait, you'll have to come back next week."

Gillian pressed her teeth into her lip until she tasted blood.

A week felt endless, and the thought of Luke saying something about what happened between them made her stomach twist.

Gillian forced herself to accept the situation, swallowing her nerves as she nodded. "Alright. Just get it over with."

He snapped the folder shut and answered with a brisk, "Go ahead and undress."

Even though her skin prickled under his stare, she turned away and slowly lifted her dress, slipping out of her black lace underwear with trembling hands.

The doctor kept his eyes fixed on her, his expression unreadable.

As soon as she settled back on the table, shaking all over, he pulled on gloves and reached out for her thigh.

Rubber fingertips, icy against her skin, sent a shiver down her spine. Instinct took over, and she pressed her knees together.

He let out a dry laugh. "I can't do much if you're locking your legs like that."

Something about his voice stirred a strange sense of familiarity, but she couldn't quite place where she'd heard it before.

Clenching her jaw, she forced herself to open her legs, even though every nerve screamed at her to stop.

His cold touch grazed a tender spot, and a mocking noise slipped out from behind his mask. "That's some swelling. Looks like you've had quite the night."

Frozen with embarrassment, Gillian's whole body tensed, pain mixing with a humiliating tingle right where he touched her.

It was obvious the swelling was from what happened with Luke the previous night. Was it really still this bad after so many hours? The jerk.

Annoyance bubbled up inside Gillian. She turned her face away, praying the exam would finish fast so they could get on with the surgery and put this ordeal behind her.

The doctor showed no signs of stopping, his finger moving with deliberate slowness. "So, have you been seeing a lot of action lately?" he asked.

A foreign kind of discomfort made her whole body tense, though, to her shame, her body still reacted under his touch.

Her breath came faster. Desperate to keep some dignity, she tried to squirm away from his hand. "That isn't any of your business, is it?"

The doctor pressed a palm to her abdomen, keeping his voice perfectly steady. "It actually is. Before surgery, I need to ask about your recent activity. If we skip these questions, any complications would be on your head, not mine."

Although Gillian was a doctor herself, she'd never rotated in gynecology and didn't know exactly what to expect.

Even so, she recognized that these questions were necessary before the procedure. Since he kept things strictly professional, she forced herself to bear the discomfort and answered, stiff as a board, "No, it's not a regular thing. Only happened once."

He raised his eyebrows, probing deeper. "How many partners have you ever had? And was it always safe?"

Gillian sucked in a breath, and then answered quietly, "Just one, and as far as I know, it wasn't violent."

A deep, quiet laugh rumbled from his chest. "Is that so? Funny, I figured someone like you had plenty of options. But it turns out I'm the only one. Planning to hurry through this surgery so you can chase after Ashton and land a wedding ring?"

Gillian's heart skipped a beat as he peeled off his mask and glasses, finally revealing his face.

"Luke!" she cried out, stunned.

Gillian's whole body tensed as she tried to squeeze her legs shut. "What are you even doing in here? This isn't your place. The real doctor is supposed to show up any minute. How dare you!"

"And why wouldn't I dare?" Luke smirked, easily catching her wrist and letting his touch linger in her private part, only making her more anxious.

It turned out, Gillian's attempt at privacy had backfired. She had no idea the hospital belonged to Luke.

The moment she booked her surgery, he got the news straight from his staff.

Leaning closer, Luke's eyes glinted with mischief. "So, Dr. Brown, are you satisfied with my examination? Should I keep going?"

A wave of dread washed over Gillian, making her skin crawl.

"Just let me go." She fought to keep her voice from cracking. "I don't want this. Not here. Don't lay a finger on me!"

"Oh, you want a change of scenery?" Luke only grinned wider, tightening his hold on her waist before leaning in, his breath hot against her ear. "Tell me where and I'll take you there myself."

Fear and embarrassment left her shaking as she struggled to pull free, but she didn't dare to make too much noise and attract attention.

Suddenly, her phone vibrated.

As Ashton's name flashed on the screen, Gillian froze. Before she could react, Luke grabbed the phone and answered the call.

Ashton's voice crackled through the phone, sounding confused. "What took you so long to pick up? You're supposed to be at the hospital, right? Why are you off the clock?"

Caught off guard, Gillian stared at Luke, who wore a smug look that made her nerves fray.

He kept his hand moving over her skin, each touch making it harder for her to breathe, her heart thumping wildly.

Leaning in, Luke let out a low, taunting whisper. "So, he's never touched you? Why don't we give him a reason to wonder what he's missing?"

Gillian's pulse hammered in her ears.

Just the thought of Ashton finding out about what happened yesterday made her panic. If things spiraled out of control, she knew she'd lose her engagement—and the only person who might help her with her family business.

Desperate to keep things together, she forced out a response, voice trembling. "I, uh, I've got some errands... That's all."

She tried to steady her breathing. "Why all the questions, Ashton?"

Ashton's confusion deepened. "My grandfather's getting checked up at your hospital today, so I thought I'd stop by to see you. Is something wrong? You sound different."

Blood rushed in her ears as Gillian searched for a believable excuse.

Without warning, Luke's fingers pressed harder, sending a jolt of sensation through her. She couldn't stop a strangled moan from slipping out.

The line went silent before Ashton's tone turned ice cold. "Gillian, who's with you right now?"

Gillian recoiled from Luke's smug grin, snatching her phone and shrinking into the farthest corner she could find.

"I tripped and dropped my phone, that's all. Earlier, I was just talking business with some of my dad's old friends," she blurted out, scrambling for any excuse.

Trying to change the subject before Ashton could pry further, she quickly switched to a softer tone. "No one was willing to invest, Ashton. I was hoping maybe you—"

Keeping one wary eye on Luke, she pressed her palm over the receiver, ready to stop him from causing any more trouble.

Ashton, still suspicious, felt something was amiss. But the moment Gillian mentioned investments, his patience wore thin.

"I've already told you, things like this take time. I don't want to talk about it right now," he said with a hint of annoyance. "If you're not actually working today, let's catch up another time. I need to stick with my grandfather for his check-up. I'll talk to you later."

The call ended abruptly. For a moment, Gillian just stood there, barely able to breathe as relief swept over her.

Luke didn't move, his smirk never fading. "All that panic—admit it, the danger is half the fun."

Gillian's grip on the phone tightened, knuckles white. "You're twisted, Luke! No one in their right mind would want their reputation ruined with such a reckless move!"

"I don't have much of a reputation left," said Luke, edging closer with laughter dancing in his eyes. "And I wouldn't mind dragging you down right along with me."

Gillian realized then that Luke was truly unhinged.

She tasted blood from biting her lip, backing away until the cold wall stopped her escape. Fear knotted in her stomach as Luke closed the distance.

His hand was inches from her chin when, out in the hallway, a nervous voice interrupted.