Chapter 1 Do You Want Me

Whitney Spencer was on her way to deliver some documents to the CEO's office when she got a call from the bridal shop.

"Ms. Spencer, the wedding dress you tried on last time has been altered. You can come in to try it again."

"Alright."

After hanging up the phone, Whitney knocked twice on the CEO's door. She pushed it open, only to find that Damian Howard wasn't there.

He wasn't there the last time she tried on dresses either. She had hoped he could join her this time, but it seemed he was busy again.

It was almost time to head home, so Whitney decided to go to the bridal shop on her own.

The shop was housed in a vintage building, exuding a unique artistic vibe. This was one of the top bridal shops in Seabourke.

As soon as the staff members saw Whitney get out of the car, they greeted her with respect. After all, they were well aware that she was the future bride of the heir to the Howard family in Seabourke.

"Your dress is in the fitting room at the back, Ms. Spencer."

Noticing the staff members were about to personally escort her, Whitney smiled politely. "I can go by myself."

The curved hallway was lined with beautifully crafted wedding dresses. As she walked, she admired the exquisite designs. The soft carpet almost swallowed up the sound of her footsteps.

Suddenly, familiar voices drifted from the fitting room ahead.

"Enough. Don't make a fuss."

"I'm not making a fuss! I just want to attend your wedding and be a bridesmaid. Why is that so wrong?"

The man's voice was deep and commanding while the woman's response was full of frustration.

Whitney's heart skipped a beat. Her steps grew heavier as she slowly moved toward the door of the fitting room.

The door wasn't fully closed. Through the narrow crack, she couldn't see much, but the voices were growing clearer.

"You can't," the man said.

"Why? I just want to be a little closer to you for one last time…"

"Because if you come, I won't be able to resist running away from the wedding." The man seemed to relent as he continued, "You love shopping, right? Go to Croydon for a few days. Buy whatever you want with my card. I'll come look for you once the wedding is over."

"Just what am I to you? Your niece? Or your secret lover? Just let me go..." The woman's voice broke into sobs.

The man sounded helpless but also somewhat anxious. "Didn't I tell you before? Status doesn't matter. What matters is the heart. Don't you know who mine belongs to?"

The room fell silent for a few seconds.

"Can't you just not get married?" The woman's voice softened as well.

"Stop asking silly questions. You just need to trust that I'm doing this for our future," the man responded.

As Whitney listened to their conversation, her blood seemed to rush to her head, as if a dam had broken and all her emotions flooded through her at once.

The two voices she heard belonged to Damian Howard, the man she was set to marry in a month, and Rachel Yanes, his niece in name.

Rachel was adopted by Damian's grandfather, Elijah Howard, as his great-granddaughter.

The man Whitney had loved for eight years, the one who had always been so kind and attentive to her, was cheating on her. At that moment, her world seemed to lose all its color.

Just then, from the fitting room came more rustling sounds, along with some intimate moans.

Whitney bit her lip, trying to hold back the sobs that threatened to escape.

Her vision blurred with tears. She struggled to move her legs, which felt heavy, as she hurriedly left the shop.

The sky had darkened, and the streetlights flickered on. The streets were filled with people, all of them brushing past her.

Couples off work passed by, their faces glowing with happiness. To Whitney, it was blinding. It was like a cruel reminder that her love life was nothing but a joke.

Because of the relationship between their families, Whitney and Damian had known each other since they were children. He was four years older than her, and she had always followed him around. Damian never minded and always protected her. He even scolded those who bullied her.

Looking back now, she remembered how he had always been very attentive to Rachel too.

As they grew older, Damian became more handsome and mature. His elegant and poised demeanor became more apparent. Whitney secretly began to fall in love with him. When she turned 20, Elijah arranged a marriage between her and Damian.

Whitney got what she had always wanted, and Damian pampered and cared for her in return. He even made her his secretary so that they could see each other every day.

But now, on the eve of her most important moment, she overheard those words.

The sounds of lively music and flickering neon lights drew her attention. When she looked up, she realized she had walked to the entrance of Blue Night Bar. She paused for a moment, then stepped inside.

The bartender brought her the tequila shots she'd ordered. Whitney rarely drank, but now, she was downing one glass after another.

This wasn't Whitney's first time at Blue Night Bar. The last time she was here was with Damian for one of his friends' birthday parties. Everyone had teased them into doing a cross-arms toast. Damian smiled and stopped them, claiming she couldn't drink and didn't want to scare her.

Now, she realized it wasn't out of concern for her but because he didn't want to do a cross-arms toast with her.

Whitney held the glass in her hand, a bitter smile tugging at her lips. Before she knew it, tears welled up in her eyes.

As she slowly drank, her dazed gaze happened to fall on a man sitting in the corner.

Even in the dim light, his fine features stood out. Behind silver-framed glasses, his eyes were dark and deep like an abyss. His navy blue suit highlighted his tall, lean frame.

For reasons she couldn't explain, Whitney stood up and walked toward him.

She tried to steady her uncoordinated steps as she approached him. With a slur in her voice, she asked, "Do you want me?"

Damian had never touched her. She had always believed it was because he loved her and wanted to save their first night for the most important moment. But now, she realized how naive she had been.

Well, if Damian could keep a mistress, why couldn't she sleep with a hot stranger?

The man looked up and stared coldly into her eyes without a word.

Noticing his silence, the tipsy Whitney took ten hundred-dollar bills from her bag and stuffed them into his hand. "You won't lose out."

The man finally asked, "How do you know for sure?" His voice was deep and pleasant.

Whitney's eyes, already clouded with tears, filled with a trace of disappointment. "Are you not interested in me too?"

She wondered just how much of a failure she was. Damian didn't love her, and now, this stranger didn't want her.

She turned away.

Just as Whitney took a step, the man suddenly stood up. His tall frame seemed even more striking in the dim lighting. He grabbed her wrist. "Are you sure about this?"

His unexpected movement caught her off guard.

"What's wrong? You're backing out now?" The man put on a half-smile.

Chapter 2 Who's Backing Out

"Who's backing out?" Whitney retorted. Her body swayed as she let out a tipsy hiccup.

The man gave her one last, deep look before pulling her out of the bar.

The drunk Whitney had no idea how she ended up in a black car or how she got to the hotel room.

It wasn't until the man pushed her against the wall and the coldness of it hit her back that she finally saw the warm glow of the lamps in the room.

"Turn off the lights..." she mumbled.

The man, his eyes dark as night, stared at her without reacting to her request. Instead, he said in a deep voice, "You can still back out now."

Whitney felt like he was looking down on her. It was just a one-night stand. What was there to be afraid of?

"If Damian can, why can't I?"

With that, she placed her hands around the back of his neck, straining to stand on tiptoe. She focused on his well-defined lips and kissed him. Her soft lips brushed his, but they were barely touching.

The man froze as he realized she didn't know how to kiss. Just as she was about to pull away, he gently cupped her waist with one hand and cradled the back of her head with the other.

He gently guided her into the kiss, leading her through the exploration.

Whitney felt herself enveloped in his gentleness. Her heart raced, but it gradually eased into the moment.

As things heated up, the man softly reassured her, telling her not to be nervous.

Frowning, Whitney gazed at the tremble of his long, dark lashes. His handsome face was set in a controlled expression.

A sudden intensity caught her off guard, bringing tears to her eyes. The man held her tightly.

Soon, Whitney sensed something different—her own desire for more.

The moment he glanced down and noticed her expression, he let out a low chuckle, then pulled her deeper into the moment.

…

Whitney opened her eyes to the bright light of day. Disoriented, she wasn't sure where she was at. As she sat up, the memories of the night flooded back like a tidal wave.

"Do you want me? You won't lose out."

Gosh, what had she said? She glanced at the messy bed and almost fainted.

Whitney turned to her side at once. Just as she was relieved to see the space on the bed next to her empty, the sound of water running from the bathroom echoed, and a shadow moved behind the frosted glass.

Forgetting about her discomfort, she quickly got dressed, grabbed her bag and shoes, and rushed out of the room.

As soon as she stepped out of the hotel, a cab was waiting. She immediately jumped in.

Once Whitney calmed down, her mind kept replaying the scenes from last night. She couldn't believe it. She had just slept with a stranger.

Her first kiss was gone. And... they had three rounds in one night.

By the time she reached the office, it was already past working hours.

She walked into the secretary's office, where a colleague immediately approached her. "You're late. Mr. Howard is looking for you."

At Howard Group, except for Damian's assistant, Billy Lawson, no one knew she was engaged to him.

"There was traffic on the way. I'll see him now." Whitney set down her bag and grabbed the document Damian was supposed to sign yesterday before heading toward his office.

She knocked twice, and his voice called, "Come in."

Damian was seated at his desk, going through documents. After a moment, he looked up and walked over to her.

"Why didn't you answer my calls last night?" he asked gently. His face showed a trace of concerned reproach. "I was so worried about you."

On the way over, she had seen Damian's missed calls.

She stared at his face. His expression was so genuine, as if he truly cared about her safety.

"The bridal shop called yesterday after work to say the dress was ready. I wanted you to come with me, but you weren't here. After I was done with that, I went to visit my mom in the hospital. I had my phone on silent and didn't hear it ring."

Damian gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

"The branch office had an issue, so I had to go there. You should've called me. So, how's the dress? If you don't like it, we can redesign it. There's still time."

Whitney scrutinized his expression carefully. However, she couldn't detect the slightest hint of guilt, as if everything she overheard outside the fitting room yesterday had nothing to do with him at all.

For a moment, she wondered if she had misheard. Was that person in the fitting room not Damian?

"Is something wrong?" he asked, noticing her intense stare. "You look pale. Did your mom's condition worsen?"

Whitney shook her head and said in a hoarse voice, "I probably didn't sleep well at the hospital last night."

Damian took the document from her hand and placed it on the desk. "Take the day off today. I'll have the driver take you home so that you can rest, alright?"

Whitney looked into his gentle eyes and nodded. "Okay, I'll make you dinner when you get home."

Damian ruffled her hair and smiled. "I'll look forward to it."

That evening, Whitney cooked some of Damian's favorite dishes and waited at the table. Time passed, but he didn't show up. Even when the food went cold, the door still remained silent. Just as she was debating whether to reheat the food, she received a call from Billy.

"Ms. Spencer, Mr. Howard has something to do tonight. He asked me to tell you not to wait for him and to get some rest."

Whitney hung up the phone. She sat in silence for a moment before dialing another number.

Chapter 3 Who's Most Important to Him

As the call connected, Whitney said, "Sophie, there's an important document that Mr. Howard needs to sign. Can you send me the address for his work engagement tonight?"

She called Damian's primary secretary, Sophie Tucker. She knew all of Damian's work schedules.

"Work engagement? He doesn't have any engagements tonight. He left the office early," Sophie replied.

"Really? No last-minute arrangements?"

"Even if there were, he would've called me to make restaurant reservations."

Right, Whitney had forgotten about that. If anyone wanted to dine with Damian, they had to make arrangements in advance. There would be no last-minute arrangements.

So, when Billy mentioned that Damian had something to do, it definitely wasn't work-related.

After hanging up, Whitney sat in silence for a moment, then ate her meal alone.

A work message from a colleague popped up. After she read it, she accidentally tapped into Instagram while exiting the screen.

The first post caught her eye. It was a photo Rachel had just posted.

Rachel, dressed in a hospital gown, was leaning against a man's chest with a blissful smile. The photo was captioned, "Love is knowing that you'll be right here by my side with just one call."

Although the man's face wasn't visible, Whitney immediately recognized the man as Damian.

The dark blue tie with a subtle pattern was the same one she had picked out for him two weeks ago, and it was the one he wore today.

Her heart seemed to be pierced by sharp needles. She barely managed to steady herself with her hands on the table.

A voice inside her whispered, "Are you still going to lie to yourself?"

Whitney didn't fall asleep until the early hours. When she finally woke up and went downstairs, she heard sounds coming from the kitchen.

"Morning." Damian appeared with a cup of warm milk and placed it on the dining table, where a full spread had already been prepared.

He smiled gently as he approached her and leaned in to give her a morning kiss. But as his lips neared her cheek, Whitney tilted her head.

Damian paused for a moment, then seemed to understand. "Are you upset because I didn't have dinner with you last night?"

Whitney didn't respond and refused to meet his gaze.

"A friend suddenly came back from overseas. We had dinner and played poker. By the time I got back, it was already midnight. I'll introduce him to you sometime. I'll tell him that if he wants to meet with me in the future, he'll need to ask Mrs. Howard first," Damian said in a joking tone.

Whitney swiped at her phone for a moment before turning it to face him. "Is your friend Rachel?"

As Damian glanced down at her phone, his lowered eyelids concealed his emotions.

A long silence followed.

Whitney gave a disappointed smile. "So, you were with her last night."

Damian looked up, seemingly apologetic. "Rachel got into a car accident. She didn't want to worry her family, but she couldn't handle things on her own, so she called me."

That was such a reasonable explanation.

Whitney scoffed. "I'm not blind, Damian."

In the photo, Rachel was hugging him. It was anything but innocent.

Damian glanced at the photo again and sighed. "She's been Grandpa's great-granddaughter for over ten years. She calls me Uncle Damian. How could I possibly disregard ethical boundaries? Rachel is the only surviving child of the Yanes family. Grandpa told us to take good care of her."

Rachel's great-grandfather was a wartime comrade of Elijah's. With the Yanes family passing away early, Rachel was the only one left. Out of respect for his friend, Elijah adopted her when she was just eight years old.

"We're getting married, Whitney. If I didn't love you, why would I marry you?" Damian asked sincerely.

Whitney wanted an answer for that as well. "Yeah, I've been wondering that too."

"Don't you trust me?" Damian's tone grew colder as she persisted with her questioning.

"I'm 24, not 14!" Whitney's eyes turned red-rimmed. She took a deep breath. "Let's end this, Damian."

With those words, she turned away, but Damian suddenly grabbed her arm.

"You said you're 24, so stop acting like a child. You can be mad, but only for half a day." Damian pushed the cup of milk into her hands. "Even if you're not hungry, at least drink this. We'll go to the Howard residence for lunch. Grandpa called."

He brushed it off with no further explanations. In his eyes, her emotions were nothing more than a childish tantrum.

In truth, he probably didn't care whether she believed him or not.

"I'm not feeling well. I'm not going." Whitney turned her back to him.

"Rest well. I'll pick you up at noon." With that, Damian walked out the door without giving her a chance to argue.

This was her first time seeing his domineering side.

…

In the end, Whitney went with Damian to the Howard residence.

Elijah treated her like his own granddaughter. Since it had been over two weeks since she last visited, she figured she could join him for a meal.

As they arrived, Damian reached for her hand to guide her down the car, but she pulled away, only for him to grab it again.

In the living room, Damian's parents and Elijah's third son, Derek Howard, along with his family, were all gathered. Whitney greeted each of them in turn.

At the same time, Elijah was helped downstairs by Rachel.

"Grandpa," Whitney greeted him with a smile.

"Whitney, you haven't visited in so long. Did you and Damian have a fight? Tell me. I'll put that rascal in his place," Elijah teased. His gray hair contrasted with the spark in his eyes as he gave Whitney a playful, serious look.

Before she could answer, Damian quickly defended himself, "Why would I fight with Whitney? Don't accuse me, Grandpa."

Whitney scoffed inwardly, then responded with a smile, "I'm sorry for not coming to visit you sooner, Grandpa. But thankfully, Rachel has been keeping you company."

Her gaze shifted toward Rachel.

She wore a white Chanel dress, her delicate face framed by a ponytail. Her gaze, however, lingered on Whitney's and Damian's interlocked hands. A momentary daze crossed her features.

Elijah tilted his head and smiled. "Once you marry Damian, I'll have two happy faces around me. Rachel, why didn't you greet your uncle and aunt?"

At Elijah's comment, Rachel finally came to her senses. "Uncle Damian, Whitney."

"Whitney?" Elijah corrected her. "It should be Aunt Whitney."

Rachel opened her mouth but struggled to speak, as if it were hard for her to change the way she addressed Whitney.

Damian wrapped his arm around Whitney's shoulders, a smile in his eyes. "They're about the same age, so calling her 'Aunt' might feel a bit strange. Whitney probably isn't used to it and might even think it makes Whitney sound older."

Whitney looked at Damian. His features remained calm as usual, with a hint of teasing in his expression.

The family lunch was still a while from starting, so Elijah asked Damian to join him in the study to discuss company matters.

Whitney took a walk in the backyard and was nearing the pool when she saw Rachel walking toward her.

"I didn't expect you to be so unbothered that you even came here with Damian."

Rachel, who had been soft and timid earlier, now stood before Whitney without hiding her true colors. She called Damian's name directly while lifting her chin in a mocking manner.

"What should I be bothered about?" Whitney smiled, seemingly clueless about what Rachel was implying.

Rachel sneered, "I know you saw my post. I made it visible only to you, and there's no way you can't recognize who's in the photo."

"Oh, that post." Whitney seemed unfazed. "It's just a photo. Damian is popular with women. What matters is that he knows who's most important to him."

Even if Whitney and Damian had their disagreements, she wasn't going to let Rachel get the upper hand in front of her.

Rachel's expression darkened, but a thought seemed to cross her mind. She suddenly stepped forward and whispered in Whitney's ear, "Let's see who's truly the most important to him."

Before Whitney could react, Rachel pulled her, and both women fell into the pool.

Chapter 4 Is a Thousand Dollars Enough

With a splash, Whitney hit the water.

As she went under, she heard someone scream, and her body immediately started sinking. The sudden plunge filled her nose and throat with water.

She wasn't a swimmer, so her flailing attempts to surface were chaotic and ineffective.

Amid her panic, Whitney saw a familiar figure dive in. She reached out, but Damian swam quickly in the opposite direction, as if he didn't see her.

Her fiancé—the man she had loved for eight years—chose to save Rachel over her when they both fell into the water.

The pain pierced her heart like a knife, cutting deeper than she had ever thought possible.

Stunned, her limbs stopped fighting. Whitney watched as Damian held Rachel close and guided her safely to the surface.

Suddenly, a firm grip seized her waist, pulling her up.

She turned instinctively and met a pair of deep, mysterious eyes—the same ones she had seen on that unforgettable night.

It was him!

Forgetting she was underwater, she gaped her mouth in surprise, only to gulp in more water.

Once out of the pool, Whitney coughed repeatedly. A maid wrapped a towel around her and helped her dry off.

She didn't know why that man had shown up here, but she knew she should thank him. When she looked up, though, he was already gone.

Her gaze shifted back and landed on Damian, who was hugging the pitiful Rachel.

Noticing her stare, Damian gently set Rachel down and walked over. His eyes were full of concern as he asked, "Are you okay?"

Now, he remembered she was here?

Whitney scoffed, refusing to respond.

After hearing the commotion, Elijah hurried over. When he saw the scene, he asked how Whitney and Rachel ended up in the pool.

"I saw Whitney push Rachel in," said Jenny Howard, who was standing beside Rachel. Derek's daughter, Jenny, had always been close to Rachel.

At her words, everyone's gaze turned toward Whitney.

Damian frowned and asked, "Did you push Rachel?"

"If I say no, will you believe me?" Whitney held his gaze.

"I know you've been upset—"

"Ms. Jenny, I think only Rachel and I were by the pool earlier. How did you see what happened?" Whitney cut Damian off mid-sentence. His half-spoken words had already made his stance clear. Ignoring him, Whitney turned to confront Jenny instead.

Jenny replied, "I saw it when I came out from the living room. Is there a problem?"

"The pool is quite far away from the living room, and there are many plants in the way. You must have incredible vision, Ms. Jenny."

Whitney's gaze was sharp, making Jenny feel uneasy.

"Besides, why would I push Rachel?" Whitney paused and turned her gaze to Rachel. "Did she do something to provoke me?"

Rachel visibly flinched. Coughing, she finally said, "It was just… too slippery by the pool… Whitney and I both fell by accident."

Elijah quickly instructed the maids to help the two women inside to change.

Rachel claimed to have an injured ankle. Seeing that, Damian turned to Whitney, saying, "Rachel can't walk. I'll take her in. You should dry off too."

With that, he lifted Rachel in his arms. As he walked away, Rachel glanced back and smirked at Whitney with mocking satisfaction.

Yes, Whitney didn't lose this round, but who mattered most to Damian was painfully obvious now.

After showering and changing clothes, Whitney made it just in time for the family lunch to start. Everyone was taking their seats around the dining table.

"Mr. Noel is here," the butler, Isaac Hughton, announced.

Damian's and Derek's families all stood up. Whitney looked up as well.

From behind the screen stepped a tall, graceful man. His deep-set eyes glinted behind silver-framed glasses, and his strikingly handsome features looked almost sculpted. His hair was slightly damp, as though he had just finished showering.

"Uncle Samuel, Uncle Derek," the man greeted them one by one, then moved to stand before Elijah. "Grandpa."

"Noel, how's your dad?"

Noel Howard replied calmly, "He's doing well. He and Mom went to oversee the grassroots level recently, so they couldn't make it back. They asked me to send their regards to you."

Elijah's eldest son, Beckham Howard, had a political background, so he rarely appeared at the Howard residence. Understanding the need for discretion, Elijah never pressed him and his family to visit. Instead, he often reminded his other two sons to act prudently.

"I'm doing well. Tell them not to worry." Elijah's face softened as he looked at his long-absent eldest grandson. "Are you busy with work at the institute? Your parents haven't been able to make it, and neither have you? If I hadn't called you the other day, I doubt you'd have thought to come back."

Noel lowered his long lashes and didn't try to defend himself. "I'm sorry, Grandpa."

"Dad, Noel is the chief designer at Seabourke Architectural Institute. He must be busy. Don't blame him," Damian's father, Samuel Howard, interjected. "Let's start eating before the food gets cold."

Everyone resumed their seats. Elijah, having already heard from Isaac that it was Noel who had saved Whitney, turned to Noel and said, "The person you saved is Mr. Spencer's daughter. She's marrying Damian next month. You two met when you were kids."

When Whitney saw Noel earlier, she had been stunned.

She hadn't expected that the man from that night would turn out to be Noel Howard, Damian's cousin and the eldest grandson of the Howard family.

And she had ended up sleeping with him.

Awkward, shocked, and stunned, she barely registered Damian's affectionate gestures as he placed food on her plate. She didn't even hear him when he explained that he had only gone to save Rachel because Noel had already gone to rescue her.

"Let's talk about this later," he murmured. "Don't ruin Grandpa's mood."

A nudge against her leg snapped Whitney out of her thoughts, and she finally registered Damian's whisper. She realized Elijah had been calling her.

She looked up, meeting Noel's gaze.

His cool, handsome face and deep-set eyes bore no hint of the passion from that night. There was only a detached calm now.

"I don't remember," came the answer from those strikingly defined lips.

Whitney felt lost because she had missed what Elijah had just asked.

"What about you, Whitney? Do you remember Noel?" Elijah asked.

Remember him? Of course. But it wasn't the Noel from her childhood. It was the wild, reckless Noel from that night.

Her memories of Noel from further back were vague. She could only recall him as the aloof older kid who never joined in their games.

Later, Noel's family moved away from the Howard residence, and she hadn't seen Noel since. She had even forgotten what he looked like.

Noticing her silence, Damian answered for her, "Noel hasn't spent much time here. Whitney probably doesn't remember. Don't mind her, Noel. Be sure to attend our wedding next month if you're free."

Noel's gaze lingered briefly on Whitney's face before he said, "Congratulations. I'll come if I can."

Samuel chuckled. "Noel's your cousin. Of course, he'll be there."

Noel represented Beckham. Building closer ties with him could mean favorable business policies, which would greatly benefit Howard Group under Samuel's chairmanship. This, in turn, would help secure Damian's position as heir, leaving little opportunity for Derek's family to compete.

"Alright, let's dig in." Elijah signaled for them to begin.

Whitney heaved a sigh of relief. It seemed Noel hadn't recognized her.

The dim lighting that night, coupled with her drunken state, had probably kept her identity a mystery.

After lunch, Whitney noticed both Damian and Rachel had disappeared. Not wanting to dwell on it, especially with Noel present, she decided to leave.

As she turned to go, a familiar voice sounded behind her. "Leaving? We're headed the same way."

Whitney's heart skipped a beat. When she turned to see Noel, she quickly waved her hand. "It's okay. We're not going the same way."

"Oh? You know where I'm going? Or…" He paused. A faint, mocking smile tugged at his lips, sending a chill through her. "Do you actually think a thousand dollars is enough to get rid of me?"

Chapter 5 Done Savoring

Whitney felt frozen, her body stiff from head to toe. A fine layer of sweat formed on her back.

Noel did recognize her!

The driver had already opened the back door of the car. Noel didn't look at her again. He sat down inside, leaving the door open.

He was obviously waiting for her.

Feeling guilty, Whitney didn't want anyone to notice anything unusual, so she steeled herself and got into the car.

"Where to, Ms. Spencer?" the driver asked.

"Howard Group, please," Whitney replied.

After she spoke, the car fell into pin-drop silence.

She pressed herself against the car door, leaving enough space between her and Noel for another person to sit. The atmosphere was so awkward it was almost suffocating. Whitney curled her hands on her lap. "Thank you for saving me earlier."

Noel sat with his legs crossed while leaning against the back of the chair as he looked at the design drafts on his tablet. His dark casual attire did nothing to diminish his distinguished presence. For a long time, there was no reply.

That night was chaotic, and Whitney felt she should explain herself.

She gathered her courage, cleared her throat, and began, "I had too much to drink that night, so… I'm sorry."

She turned toward him, her palms a little sweaty. "Can you just pretend nothing—"

"Did you take the pill?" Noel suddenly interrupted her without even lifting his head.

"What?" Whitney was confused.

Noel finally lifted his head from his tablet. His deep, dark eyes behind silver-framed glasses met hers.

Up close and with the daylight, Whitney noticed how striking his eyes were. His long, dark lashes framed the deep pools of his pupils, alluring in their depth and pull.

Her gaze dropped. She noticed his Adam's apple slightly visible under the collar of his shirt, the solid build of his shoulders wrapped in the shirt, and the firm chest beneath.

In an instant, her memory was pulled back to that night. His narrow waist, the defined contours of his abs...

"Are you done savoring?"

Noel's voice broke through her thoughts. The dangerous look in his eyes, coupled with his half-smile, made Whitney's face burn with heat. She hurriedly looked out the window.

The car stopped at the roadside, and the driver got out to enter a nearby pharmacy.

In a moment, he came out with a plastic bag and handed it to Noel.

Whitney glanced at the bag before it was placed right in front of her.

"Take it when you get home," Noel said.

"It's for me?" Confused, she opened the bag. She bit her lip hard when she saw what was inside. It was the morning-after pill.

Lost in the moment, he hadn't used protection during the last round that night.

An awkward silence filled the car again. Whitney felt increasingly uncomfortable. "I'll take it," she muttered.

She recalled how he hadn't agreed earlier and brought it up again, "Can you just pretend that night never happened?"

Just then, Noel received a phone call.

Whitney had no choice but to wait until he was done.

A minute later, he hung up. Instead of answering her question, he coldly said, "We're not heading the same way. Get out."

He was the one who wanted to give her a ride, but now, he was saying it wasn't on his way?

Dropped off halfway down the road, Whitney watched Noel's car drive away. This man's mood was really unpredictable. She wasn't sure what she said that offended him.

But from his attitude, it seemed he didn't want anyone to know what had happened that night either. That meant they had an unspoken understanding, right?

The entire afternoon passed without Damian returning to the company. He called Whitney once, asking why she had left without waiting for him.

"I didn't know where you were," Whitney replied coolly.

"It's fine, as long as you're back at the company. There's a new bag from Dior. I've had it sent home. See if you like it."

He didn't explain why he had disappeared. He chose to avoid the subject and quickly changed the topic, even trying to win her over with a bag. It was as if nothing had ever happened by the pool.

Whitney smiled bitterly. Only someone who didn't care would act like that.

After work, she didn't want to go back home. She moved in with Damian after their engagement six months ago. They lived under the same roof but in separate rooms. He had always been considerate and caring, saying he couldn't bear to be intimate with her before marriage.

Now, she understood that that wasn't the case at all.

Living together again felt unbearable for her. She had to move out.

When Whitney arrived at the villa, she heard a bright giggle just as she stepped inside.

"I'm so clumsy. Just wear it like that, Uncle Damian."

As Whitney turned the corner into the living room, she saw Rachel standing in front of Damian, tying his tie with a flirtatious smile.

Both of them turned when they heard someone approaching.

Rachel flashed her a sweet smile and quickly stepped forward, taking her arm. "Whitney, what do you think? Does this tie look better on Uncle Damian?"

Her demeanor was a stark contrast to how she had behaved by the pool earlier.

Meanwhile, Damian, in a gray suit and white shirt, was wearing a crooked dark burgundy tie.

The dark blue tie with a subtle pattern that Whitney had personally picked out was discarded at the foot of the coffee table.

Whitney still remembered how, when she gave it to Damian, he immediately had her tie it for him and didn't take it off for several days after.

Noticing Whitney's gaze on the tie on the floor, Rachel panicked. "I'm sorry, Whitney. I didn't know this was your gift to Uncle Damian."

She apologized, but Whitney saw no sincerity in her eyes.

"It's just a tie," Whitney said with a smile. "You two carry on." With that, she turned to leave.

"Whitney, it's just a tie. Don't overthink it." Damian blocked her path. "Rachel gave it as a gift to thank me for rescuing her."

Right, he was receiving a gift for ignoring his fiancée to save another woman.

Whitney sneered in silence.

"It's all my fault for upsetting Whitney. I'm sorry. I'll leave now." Rachel's face showed hurt as she dashed out.

Damian ordered the driver to send her back to the Howard residence, then turned to Whitney with a stern expression.

"You always want to make a scene, don't you? No matter how angry you are, you shouldn't make a scene at the Howard residence. And you left without saying anything. What would Grandpa think?"

So, he believed she pushed Rachel into the pool as a way to make a scene.

The emotions that had been suppressed for so long finally burst out. "Let him know everything, then! We'll cancel the wedding and go our separate ways!"

Damian grabbed her wrist. "I told you, Rachel is just my niece!"

"Would a niece give her uncle a tie as a gift?" Whitney wrenched her arm free. "Don't you know that only someone close to you would give you a tie?"

Damian was at a loss for words. He knew this very well, yet he was still defending Rachel. The bias was so obvious.

Whitney's heart grew cold. She continued, "Whether you believe it or not, I didn't push her. You know I can't swim."

She recalled how Damian had once forbidden her from going near water, even not allowing her to soak in the bathtub—all because he was afraid of her getting hurt when he wasn't around.

But today, he was right there with her.

"I'm moving out tonight, and I'll find a chance to tell Grandpa the wedding is canceled." Whitney pushed down the bitterness in her chest.

Her eight years of love would end today.

Seeing her heading for the door, Damian immediately caught up with her. "The wedding won't be canceled. If you don't believe me, I'll prove it to you!"

Before Whitney could react, Damian suddenly swept her off her feet, carrying her in his arms.

Chapter 6 Let's Have a Child

Whitney was forcefully thrown onto the couch. As she watched Damian rip off his tie and throw it aside, she finally understood what he meant by "prove it".

"Don't touch me!" Whitney clutched the collar of her shirt tightly, her eyes flashing with wariness.

"We're about to get married. Why can't I touch you?" Damian's eyes were bloodshot with rage.

Right after he spoke, he pressed down on her.

Whitney pushed against him with all her might. "Do you think forcing me makes it right?"

If he had wanted her in the past, she would have given herself to him without reservation because she really loved him. Now, she didn't even want him to touch her with a single finger.

"Force you?" Damian chuckled with a hint of cold mockery in his eyes. "Whitney, have you never thought of having me or touching me?"

He knew Whitney loved him enough to give up everything. His mockery cut deep into her heart.

Whitney didn't want to speak to him anymore. She pushed back with every ounce of her strength. But in the end, she couldn't overcome the difference in strength between a man and a woman.

Damian easily raised both her arms above her head and slipped his other hand under her shirt.

As his hot palm pressed against her skin, his eyes became filled with lust. "Since you don't trust me, how about we have a child? Grandpa will be happy, and you'll feel secure."

Damian's kiss came down on her. At the same time, his hand moved to unbuckle the button on her pants.

Shocked, Whitney quickly turned her face to the side. Her cheek barely brushed against his lips.

"Damian! Don't you care about Rachel?" she exclaimed.

Damian's hand froze.

As Whitney expected, mentioning Rachel would work.

The next second, Damian grabbed her chin and forcefully turned her face back to him. "Whether I care or not has nothing to do with tonight."

"You've finally admitted it..."

Even though Whitney had been mentally preparing herself, hearing him admit it still sent a pang of hurt to her chest.

"Didn't you force me to?"

After saying that, Damian continued the movements of his hand while keeping his grip on her chin. His kiss fell once more, and Whitney closed her eyes in despair.

Suddenly, his phone on the coffee table began to vibrate incessantly.

Damian was just about to kiss her when the loud buzzing interrupted him. The sound was jarring in the quiet room, as if something urgent was calling for his attention. With a sigh, he stood up to answer it.

Seizing the opportunity, Whitney quickly backed away to put some distance between them.

"Mr. Howard, Ms. Yanes said she wasn't feeling well earlier and asked me to get her some medicine. But when I came back, she was gone from the car." The driver's voice crackled through the phone.

Damian's expression darkened, and his irritation showed for the first time. "You can't even watch one person? I'll deduct a month's salary. Send me the location. I'll head there now."

After hanging up, he stood up and looked at Whitney, who was now standing far from him. "Stop throwing tantrums. Remember, only you can be my wife."

Without a word, Whitney kept her gaze fixed elsewhere.

It wasn't until the sound of the door closing reached her ears that the tension in her body finally eased. She collapsed, her entire frame going slack. If it weren't for the nearby wine cabinet, she might have collapsed completely.

She hadn't expected Damian to force himself on her.

For years, he had always treated her gently, never raising his voice. Even the smallest injury would make him ache with concern. But now, all his tenderness and care were given to Rachel. If that was the case, why was he still trying to keep her?

Was it to make her watch him fall in love with someone else? To make her suffer?

Tears rolled down her cheeks, but Whitney wiped them away. She straightened her clothes, then went upstairs to pack her things. Aside from the items Damian had given her, all she had was a single suitcase for her belongings.

She wouldn't stay here anymore.

Whoever became the lady of this place in the future would have nothing to do with her.

…

On the road, Damian received a call from his bodyguard. "Ms. Spencer left the villa with a suitcase."

The bodyguard had been watching over Whitney for him.

Damian's anger flared. "You can't even keep an eye on one woman?"

"She pressed a fruit knife to her neck. We couldn't stop her from leaving."

There was a moment of silence in the car.

Damian's voice was low but seething. "Follow her. If you lose her again, you're out of a job!"

Chapter 7 Call off Next Month's Wedding

After graduating from college, Whitney bought her own place in Coaska Heights. She had used her savings from scholarships and the prize money from winning an architecture design competition for the down payment.

Her father, Westley Spencer, didn't want her to tire herself out with the monthly mortgage and offered to pay the full amount, but she refused.

She still remembered telling him, "Don't underestimate an architect's salary. If I do well, I'll pay it off early."

In the end, not only did she leave the architecture field, but she also worked as Damian's secretary for three years. She even moved out of the apartment.

Even though it was empty, Whitney had hired people to clean it regularly.

After setting her suitcase down, she made herself a simple meal since she hadn't eaten that afternoon. Once she finished, she curled up on the couch and called Westley. "Dad, I'm going home tomorrow."

"That's great! Damian finally has some time to spare?" Westley sounded delighted. "I'll ask Rebecca to make a nice meal for you both. Come back early."

In the past, Whitney only visited home when Damian was available to join her, which was rare. As a result, she only visited home a handful of times over the years.

"Okay, I will." She didn't correct him. After all, some things were too complicated to explain over the phone.

Since Damian wouldn't agree to break off the engagement, she would have to tell Westley and ask him for help. After all, it was their families that had arranged the marriage in the first place. If Westley stepped in, Damian would have to listen.

…

The following afternoon, as Whitney drove into the Spencer residence, she saw Westley, her stepmother, Rebecca Wright, and her half-siblings, Matthew and Stella Spencer, all waiting at the door.

When she stepped out of the car, Westley glanced behind her. "Just you? Where's Damian?"

"He's probably busy," Whitney replied. He must be occupied finding and smoothing things over with Rachel.

"I prepared an entire feast. You should've given us a heads-up if Damian wasn't coming." Rebecca wasn't pleased. She had been rushing since early in the morning to prepare the meal, only to find out it was all just for Whitney.

"You always come with Damian. Why'd you come alone this time?" Stella muttered with disappointment in her eyes.

"Why don't you call him?" Whitney sneered.

She knew exactly what Stella was up to. Before she got engaged to Damian, Stella had put in plenty of effort to get close to him, but Damian had always kept his distance. If not even Whitney held a place in Damian's heart, then Stella had no chance.

"Dad, look at her! I was just curious!" Stella whined to Westley.

At that moment, Matthew approached and took the fruits and health supplements from Whitney's hands. "We're really glad you came back, Whit."

Although Matthew was also Rebecca's son, his personality was completely different from Rebecca and Stella.

Whitney could feel that he genuinely cared for her and treated her like a sister.

Without Damian around, lunch passed by much faster than usual.

Afterward, In the living room, Westley sipped his coffee.

"Whit, how are things with Damian lately? Have you been to see Mr. Howard Senior and Damian's parents? Be sure to give them my regards."

"They're all doing well." After saying that, Whitney paused. She gathered her courage before she continued, "Dad, I... don't want to get married so soon…"

Fearing his reaction, she didn't want to blurt it out directly, so she chose a softer approach. But Westley, a seasoned businessman, caught the undertone in her words immediately.

"Did you and Damian have a fight?" He set his cup down. "Couples have their ups and downs. Plus, he's running the entire Howard Group. He's bound to be busy. You need to be understanding."

In everyone's eyes, Damian was doting and gentle with her, and she was wholly devoted to him. No one would think they'd break up. If there was any tension, it would just be a minor disagreement.

Whitney clutched the fabric of her shirt.

It looked like she'd have to be more straightforward. "I want to call off the wedding next month."

At her words, Westley leaned forward in shock. "What did you say?"

Likewise, Rebecca and Stella exchanged a glance. Though surprised, a hint of delight appeared on Stella's face.

"Can you go to the Howard residence and talk to Damian's grandpa about this? Let's cancel the wedding." Whitney looked up at Westley earnestly.

Westley's expression turned solemn. His usual warmth was replaced by a stern expression.

"You want to break off an engagement over a trivial argument? Do you think this engagement is a game? When did you become so immature?"

Whitney shook her head. "It's not just a disagreement, Dad. There's a serious problem between us. I can't be with him anymore. I—"

"What problem? What could be so bad that you can't work it out?" Westley slammed his hand on the table, making everyone in the room jump.

Seeing him so furious, Rebecca quickly stepped forward and gently patted his chest to calm him down. "Why are you getting so worked up? Aren't you worried about your health?

"If Whitney is saying this, then things must be serious enough between them to cancel the wedding. They just aren't meant to be, so why push it? Just make a trip and—"

"What do you know?" Westley snapped, silencing Rebecca.

He tried to look at Whitney with as much calm as he could muster. "Whit, you know the Howard family's status. This isn't something you can just cancel on a whim. You can't just ignore our family because of what you want. Do you think we're still what we once were?"

The Howard family held a top-tier status in Seabourke's elite circles, a true powerhouse. The Spencer family had also been prestigious once, but over time, their influence had waned. They were no longer on par with the Howards.

"You've always been so considerate. Can't you work this out for my sake and for our family's sake?" Westley looked at her earnestly.

Whitney hadn't expected Wesley to plead like this. She had assumed he would side with her, no questions asked.

"What if… he's the one in the wrong?"