Aleah leaned against the cold silk wallpaper in the hallway, her heart pounding in her chest, because she had just told a shocking lie.

To escape the shadowy gazes of the nightclub, she announced to everyone that she was Kaden Knight's girlfriend.

That powerful heir to a wealthy family who could control everything.

However, he himself was unaware of this.

Now all she has to do is slip out of the side door of the VIP area and disappear into the Las Vegas night, and the lie will vanish with her.

Suddenly, a hand grabbed her wrist.

Aliya's heart sank. A chilling fear gripped her as she was abruptly pulled aside and dragged into a dimly lit private lounge in the hallway.

The door clicked shut behind her.

The man's heavy breathing surrounded her ears, and his hand wrapped around her waist, an aggressive embrace coming from behind.

In an instant, Aleah's ear tips turned red.

Because she clearly felt that something unspoken was awakening behind her legs!

She stumbled, her hip hitting the armrest of a soft leather sofa. Panic gripped her. It must be that man in the hallway!

She had just escaped the man who had been harassing her with ill intentions. He hadn't given up yet.

A soft laugh pierced the darkness. The voice was deep, carrying a lazy and mocking tone.

The figure moved, holding a metal lighter in his hand, which clicked as it was opened and closed. The brief flash of the flame illuminated his sharply defined, undeniable jawline.

Alya's pupils contracted.

She recognized the face. It was the face gazing at the reader from the cover of a business magazine—Kaden Knight himself!

Her blood froze in her veins. Her mind went blank. Every bit of good fortune she thought she possessed shattered in that silent moment.

Kaden Knight stood up. He was tall, casting a long, intimidating shadow that seemed to engulf the room. He walked slowly toward her, a predatory smile playing on his lips.

“My…girlfriend?” he asked. His voice was a deep, pleasant baritone, yet it sent a chill down her spine.

"How come I never knew I had a girlfriend?"

Alia forced her body to thaw. Denying it now would only make things worse. She had to keep up the act.

“Kaden,” she managed to say, forcing a weak smile. “You scared me.”

He stopped directly in front of her, so close that she could faintly smell the expensive tobacco and cologne emanating from his clothes. The air crackled with his presence.

He didn't speak. He just looked at her with his deep gray eyes, peeling away her composure layer by layer, as if he could see through every desperate thought in her mind.

Beads of sweat appeared on her palms. She forced herself to meet his gaze, trying to project the playful annoyance of a caught-out, coquettish girlfriend, rather than the raw fear of a conman cornered by his target.

Suddenly, he smiled genuinely. He reached out and gently tucked a stray strand of her long hair behind her ear.

“You have a lot of guts,” he said softly.

Alia's breath caught in her throat. She had no idea what he was planning.

He leaned down, his lips brushing against her earlobe. His warm breath made her neck tremble.

“So, my girlfriend,” he whispered, his voice like an alluring poison. “What’s your name?”

This question was a devastating blow to her, shattering her last shred of fragile composure. She wasn't just caught lying. She had fallen into a trap far more dangerous than that.

Her lips parted, but no sound came out. Her face drained of color, becoming pale and stiff.

Kaden straightened up, his eyes scrutinizing her panicked expression with the satisfaction of a cat toying with its prey.

There was a rapid knocking on the door, followed by the suppressed anger of the person she was lying to, who was loudly complaining to the club manager.

Kaden's playful expression vanished. His eyes turned cold. He glanced at the door, then looked at Alia.

With a swift movement, he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her tightly against his strong body. He held her close, like a possessive, inescapable cage.

Aliya froze, her thoughts a jumbled mess of confusion.

Kaden unlocked the door and opened it. Standing outside were a terrified club manager, Sean, and the stubborn playboy, his face now etched with disbelief.

When they saw this, their eyes widened: Kaden Knight, the untouchable industry giant, was holding Alia as if she were some precious treasure.

Kaden's cold, disdainful gaze swept over the wealthy young man. He didn't say a word, but the warning was clear.

Then, he looked down at the stiff woman in his arms. In front of everyone, he leaned down and kissed her lips.

Deep, insane.

Finally, in a shocked silence in the corridor, he uttered the words that would decide her fate.

"Honey, we should go."

Kaden ignored the shocked faces behind them. His arm, like a steel belt, encircled Arya's waist, guiding her through the long, luxurious corridor toward a private elevator.

Her body stiffened completely, pressed against his firm chest. She could feel his strong, steady heartbeat against her cheek, a stark contrast to the chaos in her mind.

We're doomed!

That was the only thought in her mind.

She tried to break free, but it was a small and futile struggle.

His arms tightened, holding her firmly against him. "What? Want everyone to know you're a liar?"

He whispered in her ear, his voice carrying a low, threatening tone.

Arya froze instantly. She had no choice. She was his prisoner, and her only option was to obey his orders.

The elevator doors slid open, and he led her inside. In that small, mirror-filled space, his presence was overwhelming, suffocating.

As the elevator ascended smoothly, she finally found her voice. It was dry and hoarse. "Where are you taking me?"

“It’s us,” Kaden corrected, a mocking smile playing on his lips. “Of course, it’s to introduce you to my friends. After all, as my 'girlfriend,' I have to introduce you to everyone, right, hmm?”

Arya's heart sank. She remembered that kiss.

I recall his reaction to me.

This seemingly aloof and unapproachable tycoon in business magazines is actually so vulgar!

Aria didn't dare say much, after all, she had taken advantage of him first.

The elevator led directly to a rooftop club, a more private and luxurious space than the VIP area downstairs. Music and the sound of conversation drifted towards them.

Kaden didn't give her time to react and led her directly into the crowd.

His arrival was a big deal. Everyone turned to look. When they saw Arya nestled comfortably beside him, the room fell into a brief, shocked silence, quickly replaced by a murmur of whispers.

“Kayden, who is this?” a man in a custom-made suit asked, his gaze sweeping over Aria with undisguised curiosity.

Kaden pulled her closer, a possessive yet intimate gesture that everyone could see. “Arya,” he said simply. That one name, spoken in his assertive tone, said it all.

Arya was forced to play her part; she looked up and gave the crowd a stiff, polite smile. She felt like he was the prize he had just won and was showing off.

He led her through the party, and people kept coming up to greet him. During each interaction, he kept her close, branding her in their minds: this was Kaden Knight's woman.

She quickly realized he was using her. He was cleverly using her as a buffer, a shield against advances from socialites, and an excuse to shorten conversations with business partners.

She suddenly realized. He needed a shield. And she, this swindler who had walked right into his trap, was the perfect candidate.

A strange calm enveloped her. As long as she was useful, she was safe for the time being.

She began to cooperate actively. When someone spoke to Kaden, she would give a subtle smile or stand quietly to the side, playing the role of an affectionate and obedient girlfriend.

Kaden noticed the change in her behavior. A hint of approval flashed in his eyes, mixed with a deeper sense of amusement.

During a break, he handed her a glass of champagne. "Good job," he said softly.

Arya took the glass, her fingertips brushing against his. She met his gaze, her voice soft as a whisper. "Yes, this is my new job, isn't it?"

Her bold answer made him laugh—a genuine, deep laugh. He leaned closer, his words like a lover's whisper. "Then I hope you'll be satisfied with the salary."

Her heart skipped a beat. She turned around and took a big gulp of champagne to hide the sudden flush on her cheeks.

The alcohol assaulted her empty stomach and taut nerves, rushing straight to her head. Her face flushed, and the party lights began to blur.

She tried to remain calm and stood straight beside him, but her consciousness grew increasingly blurred, and her legs became unsteady.

Kaden noticed her slight swaying. He frowned slightly and discreetly placed a hand on her waist to steady her.

He interrupted the conversation. "It seems my female companion can't hold her liquor."

Ignoring the curious stares, he put his arm around her and half-carried, half-lifted her towards the exit.

Arya's consciousness is fading.

She vaguely felt herself being taken away from the noisy party, the cool night breeze caressing her skin, and being crammed into the plush leather back seat of a luxury car.

Her last clear thought was their destination, a place that filled her with a new wave of fear: Kaden's penthouse suite!

Kaden swiped a key card, and the door to the penthouse suite swung open, revealing a breathtaking panorama of the Las Vegas strip through floor-to-ceiling windows.

He didn't bother with gentleness. He half-dragged, half-tossed the barely conscious Aleah onto the enormous sofa in the center of the living room.

The impact forced a pained grunt from her lips. The fog in her head cleared slightly, and she struggled to sit up, her limbs feeling heavy and uncooperative.

Kaden ignored her, walking over to the sleek, built-in bar. He poured himself a glass of whiskey, the amber liquid catching the light. He leaned back against the counter, his sharp eyes fixed on her.

"Sobering up yet?" His voice cut through the quiet room. "We can talk about what you really want now."

Aleah pressed her fingers to her throbbing temple, fighting a wave of dizziness. "I don't know what you're talking about," she mumbled, the lie weak on her tongue. "I just had too much to drink."

A cold, humorless laugh escaped him. He set his glass down with a soft clink and advanced on her, moving with the deliberate grace of a predator closing in.

He crouched in front of the sofa, bringing his face level with hers. His gaze was as sharp as a blade. "Is it for money? Fame? Or were you just trying to use my name to get out of some trouble?"

Her heart pounded against her ribs. The pretense was useless now. He had her trapped. A reckless, desperate energy surged through her.

She met his gaze, a spark of defiance in her eyes. "What if I said all of the above?"

A flicker of surprise crossed his face, quickly replaced by a look of intense interest. "A big appetite."

He reached out, his fingers closing around her chin, forcing her to look directly at him. "But what makes you think I'll give you any of it?"

Her body trembled, a reaction to the alcohol, the fear, and his proximity. But she didn't look away. "Because you need me," she said, each word precise. "You need a 'girlfriend.' A shield. And tonight, I was the only one qualified for the job."

Kaden's pupils contracted. He hadn't expected this. He hadn't expected this seemingly harmless woman to see through his game so quickly.

The air in the room grew thick with a dangerous, electric tension.

He released her chin, only to brace his hands on the sofa on either side of her, caging her completely in his shadow.

His face lowered toward hers, their breaths mingling in the small space between them. He was so close she could feel the heat radiating from his skin. "You're smart," he rasped. "But smart women sometimes have very short lifespans."

Aleah could see her own terrified reflection in the dark gray of his eyes. She fought the instinct to squeeze them shut.

"I just want to survive," she whispered, the words carrying a raw vulnerability she hadn't intended to reveal.

That flicker of weakness seemed to strike a chord in him. The aggressive advance paused, his expression turning complex, unreadable.

Just as the tension reached its breaking point, Aleah's stomach lurched violently.

She shoved him, hard.

Caught off guard, Kaden stumbled back a step. He stared, momentarily stunned, as she scrambled off the sofa and bolted toward the bathroom.

The sound of violent retching echoed from the other room.

Kaden's brow furrowed in disgust. He stood frozen for a moment before following her.

He found her collapsed on the cold tile floor, clutching the base of the toilet, her body wracked with spasms. The defiant, challenging woman from the living room was gone, replaced by a pale, wretched girl.

He leaned against the doorframe, watching in silence as she finished, slumping weakly against the cool porcelain, her face as white as a sheet.

After a long moment, he turned without a word. He returned from the kitchen area with a bottle of water, twisted the cap off, and held it out to her.

Aleah looked up, her vision blurry. She saw the bottle, then his impassive face, and a wave of confusion washed over her.

She didn't take it, just stared at him with wary eyes.

Kaden's patience snapped. He thrust the bottle into her hand. "Drink it. Then go to the guest room and sleep. I don't want my sofa smelling like you."

He turned and walked away, leaving her with the cold bottle and his even colder words.

Doesn't he do anything to himself?