Caroline studied Bradley and suddenly realized that no matter how much he pretended, that raw, predatory edge was a part of him. It was etched into his bones.

She lowered her gaze and fumbled for an excuse. "Isn't your birthday coming up? I just wanted to plan a little surprise."

"Carol, you've always known what I want, haven't you?" He tightened his arms around her waist.

"When are you going to make us official and give me a title?"

Every year on his birthday, he would ask the same thing. She had thought that it was because he adored her. Now she suspected that he just wanted to humiliate Edmund by parading her in front of him.

Caroline pushed a hand lightly against his shoulder. "Soon."

She thought, "Soon we won't be anything at all."

On his birthday, Bradley's friends threw him a party at a private club.

As soon as Bradley and Caroline stepped into the club, someone came up and called him away. He turned back and said, "Go ahead to the private room and relax for a bit. I'll just pick someone up and be right back."

She nodded and followed the server down the hall. When she opened the door, the room was dim, and cigarette haze curled in the air. A dozen men with dyed hair sat around a table, gambling.

She frowned and instinctively stepped back.

Just then, a tattooed hand clamped her wrist. The man checked her out and whistled. "Holy crap, she's fresh like the rumors say she is. It's our lucky night, guys!"

"Let go! My boyfriend is right outside! Don't touch me!" Caroline fought to pull free, but someone shoved her onto the couch, and her head slammed into the armrest, causing her to be dizzy.

She felt like a piece of meat thrown to a pack of wolves. Hands groped at her body, making her stomach twist in disgust.

She struggled wildly and shouted Bradley's name, but her cry was silenced by a brutal slap across the face.

Her cheek instantly swelled, and blood seeped from the corner of her mouth.

"Shut up! You were delivered here by Bradley himself. Last time, he cracked Gregory's head open over a woman. We abducted the woman, and he promised us this in return."

At that, the man pinched her waist and laughed lecherously. "For this price, Bradley really went for it, huh?"

"Get off me! Don't touch me!" Caroline slapped his hand away, and the tears she kept fighting back finally streamed down her face.

"You bitch! Why are you acting all high and mighty?" Lucian Vasquez cursed and then punched her in the gut. The pain folded her over, and she gasped for air.

"Alright. Don't wreck her." Gregory Middleton, the man who seemed to be in charge, spoke up. He poured three full shots of liquor and shoved them toward her. "You ruined our mood. Drink these, apologize, and we'll let you go. Deal?"

Caroline stared at the cups. She knew that they were laced with drugs. There was no way she could walk out of that room whole.

What crushed her even more than the danger she was in was realizing that Bradley could actually do this to her.

They had been together for four years. After all that time, anyone would have developed feelings, even if it was just out of habit.

However, it seemed that he didn't have a heart at all.

Her chest tightened. She clenched her fists until they ached, wiped her face, and stood. "Fine. I'll drink. But you have to keep your word."

The men parted to make a path for her.

Caroline stepped forward, and as she passed the doorway, she suddenly yanked it open and tried to run. "Help—"

Her cry was cut short with a muffled sound. Someone had grabbed her by the hair and dragged her back.

"Don't want to play nice? Fine. Have it the hard way!" Lucian sneered, forcing a glass of liquor against her lips and making her choke it down.

The burning liquid made her cough. Tears and liquor smeared her face and soaked her blouse.

In the chaos, someone tore at her clothes. The room erupted with whistles and jeers.

Humiliation flooded through her, and silent tears slid down her cheeks.

Just as despair threatened to drown her, the door was kicked open. Bradley charged in like an avenging demon. He grabbed a bottle and smashed it against the small man pinning Caroline down. The man screamed and fell.

The others grabbed weapons. Bradley vaulted over the main table and pressed a knife to Gregory's throat. "Let her go, or we all die. Gregory, you've seen a lot of women. You're not one to die for pleasure, are you?"

Someone shouted for Bradley to drop the knife.

The tension in the room was razor-sharp.

Then, from downstairs, came the wail of police sirens.

Gregory raised a hand and laughed. "Hey, it's a lawful country. There's no need for knives and blood. We were just joking around. Come on, guys. How could you rough up such a pretty woman? Let her go already."

The crowd parted on instinct.

The moment Caroline fell into Bradley's arms, her body gave out. Her vision blurred, and everything went black.

When she opened her eyes again, she found herself in a hospital bed.

The hospital room was empty and still. It was so quiet that she could hear the muffled voices coming from the hallway outside.

"Brad, didn't we agree that Caroline was supposed to take Crystal's place as payback? She's Edmund's precious daughter. If he finds out that a group of men assaulted his favorite daughter, he'll go insane.

"He'll come after whoever's behind it, and the two families will tear each other apart. We'd be killing two birds with one stone.

"But why did you change your mind? Calling the cops was already doing her a favor. But you? You stormed in and trashed Gregory's place. If the police hadn't shown up, you'd be dead right now.

"Do you think Gregory's just going to let that slide? You risked everything for your enemy's daughter. Have you lost your mind?"

Bradley flicked ash from his cigarette without saying a single word.

The men exchanged uneasy looks until one finally spoke. "Brad, don't tell me that you've fallen for Caroline. Her dad killed your father in that car crash, remember? You spent years plotting your revenge, and now you're in love with his daughter?"

Caroline clapped a hand over her mouth to stop the sound that almost escaped.

"No! It can't be true. Dad couldn't have killed anyone!" she thought.

Although Edmund was a businessman, he was a man of principle—honorable, fair, and never one to abuse his power. He had treated Bradley like a son all these years, never favoring his own children over him.

She didn't think that a man like that could be a murderer.

The voices outside faded into a dull hum, drowned out by the ringing in her ears. Tears slipped silently down her cheeks.

Just then, footsteps approached. Caroline quickly wiped her face and shut her eyes.

A second later, the door opened. She could feel Bradley's gaze burning into her from beside the bed.

After a long pause, he leaned down and brushed a fingertip across the corner of her eye.

Caroline rolled onto her side, hiding her face in the pillow to soak up the tears she couldn't hold back.

She wouldn't believe anyone again until she uncovered the truth herself.

Her injuries weren't serious. Early the next morning, Bradley discharged her and drove her home.

The moment the door opened, Caroline froze. Sitting on the couch was the woman she had seen in his arms at the hospital.

Chloe called out warmly as she waved Caroline over. "You're back, Carol! This is Crystal Hall, my best friend's daughter. Her mom's in the hospital, and since we live close by, I told her to stay with us for a while."

Crystal Hall politely rose to her feet. "Hello, Caroline. I'm sorry for intruding."

Caroline's gaze lingered on Crystal's face for a second before she nodded lightly.

When breakfast was ready, everyone took their seats as usual. Chloe and Crystal chatted animatedly about the past, laughing together.

Caught up in the conversation, Chloe suddenly laughed as if she had remembered something. "Oh, that reminds me! Crystal and Brad were actually promised to each other when they were children..."

The moment Chloe finished speaking, Caroline felt a burning gaze on her.

She lifted her eyes calmly and met Bradley's dark stare.

Without missing a beat, Caroline lightly remarked, "Is that so? It sounds like a good match."

Bradley's expression instantly turned cold.

Chloe, however, was delighted. "So you think so too, Carol? I knew that my taste in daughters-in-law wouldn't disappoint!"

Crystal blushed. "Chloe, that was just a childhood joke."

"Joke or not, it might be fate. Brad's at the age to start dating, and if—"

"Mom." Bradley's tone carried a warning.

Edmund put down his cutlery at the right time. "Let the young people handle their own matters. If it's meant to be, it will be. Carol, come to my study after you eat."

"Alright," Caroline replied.

After finishing her meal, she followed him to the study. They discussed details about the upcoming engagement announcement, and by the time she stepped out, it was already noon.

The house was quiet. Caroline figured that Chloe and the maid were probably napping.

She closed the study door and had just turned toward her room when strong hands suddenly pinned her against the wall.

Then, a rush of desperate kisses fell against her skin.

She bit her lip hard to keep herself from crying out.

Edmund was just a wall away. If he opened the door, he would see everything.

Caroline tried to twist away, struggling against Bradley's grip. But the more she resisted, the rougher his kisses became.

She instinctively opened her mouth to bite him, only for him to bite her first. Pain shot through her lip, and a soft sound escaped her as tears welled in her eyes.

"Bradley, are you insane?"

His voice was low and sharp. "'A good match? Why didn't you make a sound? Maybe they should all come see who's actually my girlfriend!"

Caroline turned her face away. "It's just an act. Why did you take it so seriously?"

He pressed his forehead to her neck, his voice softening. "I don't like it. Don't say things like that again. I know you blame me… I'm sorry. I didn't protect you. It won't happen again."

She stood still. She couldn't tell if he was being sincere or simply pretending, but it no longer mattered.

She had made a mistake once, and that was enough. Loving the wrong man was a mistake she would never make again.

Over the next few days, Bradley barely left her side. Yet ever since Caroline had asked for his phone's passcode, getting hold of his phone had become nearly impossible.

With only three days left before the banquet, anxiety gnawed at her.

That night, she deliberately drank more than usual at a gathering. When Bradley drove her home, she leaned in and kissed him.

Bradley quickly took control. He gripped her waist with one hand as he deepened the kiss.

Caroline fumbled to pull off his jacket, but just as everything was about to spiral out of control, she turned her head sharply, dodging his burning lips. Her voice was low and unsteady. "Go take a shower."

He froze mid-motion. Propping himself up, he stared down at her from close range. His eyes were still clouded with desire. They also showed a flash of surprise at being stopped so suddenly.

His throat bobbed as he swallowed hard. Then, he slowly let her go and strode toward the bathroom.

As soon as the sound of running water started, Caroline slipped out of bed, grabbed Bradley's jacket, and pulled out his phone.

Her pulse thundered in her ears. With trembling fingers, she found the hidden album in his phone's gallery and deleted every single video within it.

When she emptied the trash, a weight finally lifted off her chest.

She carefully put the phone back just as the sound of running water stopped.

Bradley emerged, water still dripping from his hair. Before Caroline could say a single word, he pulled her in by the waist and pressed her back onto the bed. His kiss was warm and damp against her lips.

She pressed her palms against his chest. "Wait—"

He kissed her harder, cutting her off, until a sharp ringtone shattered the moment.

He paused, his brows drawing together in irritation. He was clearly annoyed by the interruption.

But the ringtone kept blaring relentlessly. He finally let go of Caroline and answered the call.

Whatever he heard made his face drain of color. The passion in his eyes vanished, and was replaced by a dark, cold edge.

He hung up, threw on his clothes, and yanked Caroline by the wrist toward the door.

Bradley yanked her wrist so hard that it hurt. She instinctively tried to pull free, but his grip only tightened.

She asked, "Bradley, what the hell is going on?"

"Crystal's been taken. They're demanding you in exchange."

Caroline's heart dropped when she heard that.

She looked at him. "So? Are you going to trade me for her?"

He avoided her gaze. "You're Edmund's daughter. They won't actually hurt you…"

His tone was calm and gentle, but every single word he spoke landed like an icicle, driving straight into her heart.

"Bradley, you should be calling the police instead of handing me over!"

"If I call the cops, she could die. She's fragile and easily scared. You'll be fine. You just need to stall them. Once she's safe, I'll come for you."

Caroline interjected, "No. If you're really using me to save Crystal, we're done!"

"Carol, don't be childish right now!"

But before she could respond, pain exploded at the back of her neck. She stared at Bradley, stunned, as her vision went black and her body collapsed.

When she opened her eyes again, what she saw made her blood run cold.