After her shower and getting changed into a fresh dress, Celeste walked into the villa to find the huge living room completely empty. Not even Sophie Larkspur was around.

Maynard explained casually, "Oh, madam, everyone went to that exercise thing. Mr. Shaw took the lady and Miss Grace with him. As for Master Liam... I'm afraid no one quite knows where he's run off to again."

Celeste frowned slightly. "What about Ethan?"

Her so-called husband. The firstborn of the Shaw family. The man who was destined to spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair.

"Master Ethan? Haven't seen him all day," Maynard replied honestly.

"Got it."

She headed up the spiraling staircase to the second floor and stopped outside the bedroom she remembered sharing-on paper-with Ethan. Knocking twice and hearing no response, she pushed the door open herself.

If Ethan had been inside, he'd probably snap at her with a cold, "Get out!"

Which meant he clearly wasn't here.

Oddly enough, she felt a little relieved. Like a weight had lifted off her chest.

She frowned again, wondering why the girl who owned this body before seemed to fear her husband so much.

But before she could even finish pushing the door open fully, a dark figure shot out from behind her. With a loud bang, the door slammed shut, and a strong force twisted her arms and slammed her against the wall.

Her mind just-blanked.

"Let go of me! Who are you?" she yelled, struggling hard, but her body was completely overpowered. She twisted to look back, but all she could catch was a black blur.

The man's chest was nearly pressed against her back; one hand pinned hers while the other roamed far too familiarly.

"Who am I? Come on, sister-in-law, already forgot me?"

There was a couple seconds of silence before his voice came low and twisted with amusement. He leaned in closer. "It's only been three years. Want me to help jog your memory a bit?"

That voice-it was like something crawled straight out of the shadows, making her skin crawl with icy dread.Her wrists were twisted behind her back, and just a turn of the head made that sharp, bone-deep pain spike through her.

She practically blurted out, "Liam Shaw?!"

In Celeste's mind, Liam had always been the playboy of the Shaw family-changing girlfriends more often than outfits. There was even a time a pregnant woman showed up, claiming to be carrying his baby.

With Mr. Shaw doting on him endlessly, Liam had pretty much been running wild. And three years ago, he'd tried to force himself on her.

She barely escaped that time, cracking a bottle over his head before he backed off.

Now it was happening all over again?!

"Yeah, I heard you are getting out today, so I came back early," Liam said smoothly, grinning as he edged closer, a mocking gleam in his eyes.

"Three years, huh? You've been married into the Shaw family that long and you've never had a shot at happiness, have you? Bet my brother never even touched you. I remember your wedding night-you two slept in different rooms. He was already half-dead back then, probably can't even function down there. But me? Stick with me and you'll at least have someone looking out for you around here."

"Oh... really? You swear? No one would mess with me again?" Her voice was syrupy sweet, trying to play along, though her body language still screamed resistance.

If it were the real Celeste, she'd go down swinging to keep her dignity. But the one in control now knew better-sometimes pretending to give in worked way better than fighting back.

Sure enough, Liam totally bought the act. His grip eased up, letting his guard down.

His face, handsome but dangerous, broke into a smug smile. He reeked faintly of alcohol, the smell clinging to him.

"Of course. At least I wouldn't dump you in jail and forget about you for three years like my brother did. Cold as ice, that guy-don't you think? C'mon, I've waited three damn years. Let me finally have you."

As he spoke, he scooped her up in his arms without waiting for a response, taking just a few quick steps to the bed before leaning over her again.

"W-wait, hold on!" she gasped, pressing a trembling hand against his chest to stop him.

"What now?" Liam frowned, clearly running out of patience.

"I'm on my period... Not a good time," she said, trying to brush him off.

She really was. Found out while she was showering.

But Liam didn't buy it. He stared at her with narrowed eyes, clearly thinking it was just an excuse.

"Seriously?" His lips curled up slightly, impossible to tell what he was thinking.

"Dead serious." Her face was all sincerity.

Liam went quiet for a beat, then suddenly chuckled, an amused glint in his eyes. "Celeste, it's been three years and you're still so naïve... Do you think I'm that easy to get rid of?"

Celeste was speechless. So now he assumed she was lying?

"You're smarter now," he said, tracing her collarbone with a finger, slowly moving down. His touch made her tense up instantly.

Was this guy... serious?

Psycho!

Staring up at Liam from this close, Celeste caught the movement of his hand heading somewhere way out of line. His low, velvety voice brushed against her ear. "One quick check and I'll know for sure..."

Her whole body went rigid.

Just then, the sound of wheelchair wheels scraping the floor cut through the air-sharp and clear.

Celeste instantly realized what was happening. Liam reacted faster, springing off the bed and hurriedly straightening his clothes.

Right on cue, his eyes met those of a man sitting in a wheelchair.

As Ethan took in the scene-the tossed-up room, Liam clumsily buttoning up, Celeste sitting up from the bed-his expression darkened, like a thundercloud ready to burst.

"What do you think you're doing?" Ethan's voice was like ice, layered and cold, enough to send chills down anyone's spine.

Spending every day in isolation, shut in with a broken body-you'd be cold too. Ice cave vibes? Nailed it.

"B-Bro... What are you doing here?" Liam stammered.

He thought Ethan was locked in his study all day. That's the only reason he dared sneak into the master bedroom to mess with Celeste at all.

"This is my room." Ethan rolled his wheelchair forward, every inch he moved bringing with it a biting frost.

But as intimidating as that was, someone else clearly had it worse.

Liam had always been scared of his older brother. Back in the day, Ethan moved with sharp precision, known for his ruthlessness and record-breaking achievements. They even called him the "Cold-Blooded Devil."

If not for that tragic accident during a training exercise, Ethan would still be one of the big names in Yannburgh.

Even now-paralyzed, stuck in a chair-he still radiated that same intense presence.

"I'll ask again. What exactly were you two doing in here?" His voice, still icy, now held a clear note of impatience.

"It's not what it looks like, I swear!" Liam's weak protest only made things worse. In front of Ethan, he turned into a total coward.

Celeste couldn't help but sneer inwardly. Here he was acting all dominant with her, but in front of Ethan, he shriveled up like a scared little pup?

Then Ethan's eyes, guided by the light in the room, fell on her. Her delicate, flawless face. The few years of prison had left her slimmer, more fragile-collarbones prominent.

"If he won't talk, then you explain," Ethan said, voice cutting like frost, completely devoid of warmth.

Celeste froze.

He wanted her to speak?

But what was there for her to say?

"Nothing happened between us," she said honestly.

Liam visibly let out a breath of relief. Seeing Ethan still looking pissed, his expression dark and unreadable, he quickly added, "Yeah, bro, she just got out-I was just here to welcome her back, that's all."

Welcome her back? What, by dragging her into bed?

Seriously, could he be more obvious?

"But, if you'd shown up just a little later, maybe something really would've happened," she added calmly, like it was no big deal.

The room suddenly felt suffocating. Ethan's hand gripped the wheelchair handle so tightly his knuckles turned white, eyes locked on Celeste's indifferent face. He couldn't believe she just came clean like that. So straightforward? Really?

Liam's face turned ghostly pale. He practically jumped up. "What the hell are you saying?!"

"Wasn't that what you just said? That nothing beats dumplings when it comes to food, and nothing beats a sister-in-law when it comes to fun? You said since your brother's crippled, you'd 'perform the husbandly duties' for him. You even promised to treat me well if I gave in-what's the matter now? Getting cold feet already?"

Celeste looked a little wounded as she said it, deliberately dragging out the word "cripple" while glancing at Ethan.

Liam freaked out, stammered, "You... You... You..." Too scared to even glance at Ethan, like he was scared he'd be torn apart right then and there.

What shocked him more than Celeste's blunt confession... was how the once gentle and quiet woman could lay it all out like this-right in front of Ethan!

The post-prison version of her? Totally unhinged.

"I-I mean, I admit I had thoughts, okay? But she wasn't feeling well! We didn't actually-"

Celeste wasn't even mad. She stared him down like she'd just figured him out. So this guy only acts brave when someone's weak, huh?

All bark, no bite.

What a waste of that dangerously pretty face.

But hey, maybe this little drama would actually make her life a bit more fun.

"Get out!!" Ethan barked, voice low and shaking with rage as he rolled his chair forward.

It was terrifying-like his voice had crawled out of hell itself. Even Celeste's back went cold. No wonder she used to be scared of him-he really did give off major bomb-waiting-to-explode vibes. The deadly kind.

Liam shot her a vicious glare, cursing her silently-next time, he'd make her pay-but in front of Ethan? He didn't dare let out so much as a breath. On his way out, he even tripped, scrambling out like his butt was on fire.

Now it was just the two of them-the air thick and quiet.

"I... um..." she started, unexpectedly flustered. For some reason, her heart was pounding like crazy. Really? Getting nervous over a man in a wheelchair?

'Get it together, Celeste.'

"Hey, long time no see..." she finally blurted out. As soon as the words came out, she felt like shoving her foot straight into her mouth.

Ethan stared at her coldly, saying nothing.

That look... it chilled her all over.

Still silent?

"Well, since it's sunny out, maybe I could push you outside for a bit?" From what she remembered, he used to really want that.

But the second her hand touched the wheelchair, he suddenly grabbed her wrist hard-and then, without warning, his rough palm clamped around her neck.

The pain hit her first, then the lack of air.

Her face quickly turned red and purple.