Chapter 1 Your Car's Ready

Rosalind Sowle fiddled with the brown envelope in her hand, her fiery gaze fixed on the man inside the Shine & Fix Garage, hefting a car frame.

Dressed in cargo pants and a black tank top, the man stood around six feet tall, with broad shoulders and muscular arms that looked wider than her legs. A streak of black grease smudged his face, enhancing his rugged charm and holding Rosalind spellbound.

Beads of sweat trickled down his face, sliding along his sun-kissed arm. Rosalind swallowed hard, her cheeks growing warmer by the second.

Her gaze drifted lower without her realizing it, only to be cut short by a cold voice. "Your car's ready."

Startled, Rosalind snapped back to reality, feeling her ears burn.

Divorced for only two hours, and here she was, already ogling another man. At 26, she'd never felt a desire this overwhelming.

"Is that guy single?" Rosalind asked, tilting her chin up as she regained her composure.

Parking the car, Dana Larson followed Rosalind's gaze before turning back with a hostile glare. "You mean Caesar?"

"Uh-huh," Rosalind replied, feigning indifference.

"Yeah, he's single," Dana sneered. "But don't get your hopes up. There's no way Caesar would be interested in someone as dull as you.".

Rosalind froze for a moment before arching an eyebrow. She looked at Dana with a smirk, clearly sensing her unease.

It was obvious that Dana cared about Caesar enough to feel threatened by Rosalind's wealth and superiority.

Grabbing her car keys, Rosalind rose to her feet and cast Dana a glance. As she walked past, she leaned in and murmured, "Even if he's not interested in my body, he might be interested in my money. I've got plenty of tricks up my sleeve, sweetie. You're still too green to be a match for me."

Dana looked ready to blow a gasket.

Outside, Rosalind took a deep breath, still in disbelief at how bold she had been. A few hours ago, she never would have dared say something so audacious and taunting.

Glancing at the divorce certificate in her hand, she felt reassured that ending her marriage was the best decision she'd ever made. She was no longer the submissive Mrs. Steele, nor did she want to be the pampered heiress of Solmere City's most elite family.

She just wanted to live as Rosalind Sowle, finally doing all the things she'd been denied for over 26 years.

It was 11:00 pm when Caesar Hampton was cleaning up his tools. Rosalind drove into the garage in her freshly washed car.

"We're closed," he said curtly without even looking up.

Rosalind lowered the window, her expression calm as she slowly said, "The tire pressure's unstable. I don't feel safe driving it. Could you please take a look?"

After a brief hesitation, Caesar looked up at her, his gaze sharp and assessing.

Rosalind seized the opportunity to introduce herself. "I'm a member here. I come in regularly for maintenance. Don't you remember me?"

In truth, Rosalind doubted he would remember her. After all, she'd only acquired the car that morning as part of the divorce settlement.

"Get out." Caesar wasted no words.

Rosalind felt a surge of excitement. Her eyes sparkled with triumph as she quickly stepped out and stood by the car.

Caesar brushed past her and leaned into the driver's seat to check the dashboard. The tire pressure light was flashing.

He quickly assessed the situation and found the issue. But when he tried to move back, he realized he was stuck—Rosalid had squeezed in beside him.

"Is it serious? I have no idea how it happened," Rosalind asked innocently, staring at him with wide eyes. Their bodies were pressed close in the narrow space by the car door.

Caesar's brow furrowed as his eyes briefly caught the tempting view down her neckline, exposed by her slightly bent posture.

He averted his gaze and shoved her aside without a second thought.

"You ran over a nail. The car's fine," he said, adding in his mind that the real problem was the driver. He grabbed his tools and headed to the rear tire.

Rosalind's ears burned as she clenched her jaw.

Dana was right—he had no interest in her, not even a little.

She glanced at her reflection in the garage's massive black glass and saw a fair, stunning woman with a beautiful figure. She couldn't understand why no man seemed interested in her, despite her looks. For a moment, she even considered hiring a male escort.

But then, the memory of what Landon Steele, her bastard ex-husband, had said when they finalized their divorce ignited a wave of anger.

There was no way she'd let her new life plans fall apart like this.

As Caesar finished dealing with the tire, he stood up and accidentally bumped into Rosalind, feeling the soft warmth of her body.

"Hey," Rosalind said, making her invitation loud and clear, "Let's see what you can do."

Chapter 2 A Bit Bland and Dull

When Rosalind woke up, it was almost noon. Seeing the empty space beside her, a blush spread across her face before a smirk took its place.

So this was the nature of adult games—leaving without a word, no matter how passionate the night before had been, with no strings attached.

However, it seemed to suit her just fine; otherwise, she wouldn't know how to face the man from the one-night stand.

Struggling to sit up, Rosalind fought the urge to curse when she noticed Caesar sitting at the small coffee table. She was surprised he hadn't left as she expected.

When she saw him holding the divorce certificate she had just obtained the day before, Rosalind's heart skipped a beat, and her gaze instinctively darted away. Her hands pulled the blanket higher in an anxious reflex.

Caesar tossed the divorce certificate onto the table, his eyes showing a flash of confusion. He didn't ask any questions, though. Instead, he said, "It fell out of your bag."

"Oh," Rosalind muttered.

An awkward silence settled in the room. She caught a hint of mockery in his gaze.

"If you feel any discomfort, go to the hospital," Caesar said, grabbing his coat.

Rosalind found him oddly intriguing. He must have been up for a while, yet he had waited for her to wake up, only to say that. She couldn't help but wonder why he was acting so distant, given how wild the night before had been.

"Hey, do you want to make this long-term?" she asked, surprising herself with the sudden question as she called out to him.

Caesar froze. He frowned as he turned to look at Rosalind on the bed, wondering if she hadn't had enough.

Rosalind tried to mask her anxiety under his stare. "You're pretty good."

Caesar's frown deepened further.

"I mean it," she added, looking serious.

Caesar averted his gaze and turned away coldly, as if he weren't the same man who had been wild and passionate the night before.

"Coward," Rosalind muttered under her breath, summoning her courage.

Caesar heard her loud and clear. He halted and turned back from the doorway.

"Are you expecting me to take responsibility?" he asked icily, acting as if a knife were pressed against his throat.

Rosalind's eyes sparkled with triumph as she laughed. "I never said that. I just couldn't get enough of your body, that's all. Don't read too much into it."

Caesar's eyes narrowed as he gazed at her with cold disdain. "Too bad you're a bit bland and dull," he said, leaving without another word.

Rosalind was left with flushed cheeks and a whirlwind of emotions.

Did he just imply she was bad in bed?

Chapter 3 Shame On You

In an upscale neighborhood, Amanda Perry was dressed in a sharp business suit, with her voluminous wavy hair cascaded over her shoulders. She had been pacing in front of Rosalind's door all morning. Finally, the woman in question showed up.

"Rosie, there you are! Your phone's been off, and you didn't come home all night. Where have you been?" Amanda asked, her concern evident.

Amanda's worried expression made Rosalind feel both embarrassed and guilty, thinking of her wild night while her best friend had been here, worrying about her.

"Shame on you, Rosalind," she silently scolded herself.

"I… I went out on a date," Rosalind admitted sheepishly, grabbing a water bottle from the fridge and taking a large gulp. Her voice was almost hoarse after a night of wild escapades.

"W-What?" Amanda's eyes widened. "A date? With who?"

Rosalind's gaze flickered nervously before she forced a casual smile. "A hot guy."

Amanda was momentarily dumbfounded before exclaiming, "Rosalind Sowle, you shouldn't demean yourself like that over that bastard Landon!" Her voice carried a note of genuine concern for her best friend.

At the mention of Landon's name, any lingering guilt or embarrassment Rosalind felt vanished completely.

"Me? For him? Ha!" She scoffed incredulously.

She admitted that it might have started out of spite, but she'd quickly become so absorbed by Caesar that she'd nearly forgotten her ex-husband's name.

"Wasn't it for revenge against Landon?" Amanda asked, still puzzled.

"Of course not. Damn it! Calling that jerk a bastard wouldn't even be insulting enough, for crying out loud! Why would I do anything stupid as revenge against him?" Rosalind snapped.

Amanda was convinced by Rosalind's disdainful tone, but she still looked confused. "Then why did you do it?"

Rosalind was baffled.

Why did she do it? Perhaps it was Caesar's overwhelming masculinity—the moment she saw him, she felt an intense desire to embrace her femininity, even if just for a fleeting moment.

"Pleasure," Rosalind replied curtly.

Letting out a sigh of relief, Amanda quickly asked, "Who did you sleep with?"

Rosalind's face flushed as she remembered Caesar's wild, commanding presence. "A… a mechanic."

Amanda's jaw dropped, her eyes widening once more. "Rosalind Sowle! How desperate were you? A mechanic?"

She had always associated mechanics with dirty, rough men. The thought of a beautiful woman like Rosalind sleeping with someone like that was simply unbearable.

"You could've told me you needed a man so badly!" Amanda exclaimed, confident that she could have found a top-tier guy from her wide circle.

Rosalind shrugged. While Caesar's job might not stand out in her social circle, he was impressive in every other way.

Amanda eyed Rosalind with an amused smirk. She tugged at her friend's shirt and peeked inside, her expression shifting to one of awe.

A flush spread across Rosalind's face. She pushed Amanda away and adjusted her clothes.

"That man is no less than any top-tier man, I tell you," Rosalind said.

Amanda couldn't help but laugh. "How can you be so sure after just one time? There are plenty of good ones out there, my newbie friend. Let me introduce you to some rich and powerful men—"

"No, thank you, Ms. Perry. I already owe you big time for helping me with the divorce. Without your legal team, I wouldn't have gotten such a good settlement," Rosalind said gratefully.

Amanda's smile vanished instantly at the mention. "That bastard Landon should be stripped of everything!" she fumed.

"That's impossible. After all, I have no claim to his company. Besides, the Steele family still does business with my mother, so it's only right to treat them with some dignity. But I'm content with what I did—taking a piece from him. You should have seen how pissed he was yesterday. It was so satisfying."

However, Rosalind still had one last regret—she hadn't found Landon's secret gay lover.

The anger still simmered inside her, and she felt a pang of self-pity as she thought about the years she'd been held back by that bastard Landon. Getting the divorce wasn't enough to erase the resentment she felt toward him.

She swore she'd destroy both Landon and his lover's reputation in their circle. If she didn't, her name wasn't Rosalind Sowle.

"Keep searching for the man in the photo," Rosalind said to Amanda. "I'll make sure he pays the price."

Chapter 4 On Your Knees

Rosalind had been having wet dreams for three consecutive nights.

She woke up abruptly to the sound of her phone ringing, her face flushing. It was still before dawn—who could be calling at such an hour?

Glancing at the caller ID, her heart sank immediately.

Of course, it was only a matter of time before her overbearing mother found out about the divorce. What was inevitable had finally come.

Rosalind drove to the Sowle residence. As her car came to a stop, a knock on the window startled her—it was her father, Hugh Gardner.

"Dad!" She quickly turned off the ignition and stepped out of the car.

Hugh gave her a glance filled with concern and pity. "Let's go inside. Your mother's been up all night waiting for you. She's still upset, so speak to her carefully, okay?"

Rosalind's heart sank further. Looking at the villa's front door, she took a deep breath and entered.

Veronica Sowle sat rigidly on the couch, her expression cold and unyielding.

Rosalind approached her cautiously and greeted her softly. "Mom."

"On your knees, then speak," Veronica commanded without a hint of warmth.

Rosalind was taken aback. Seeing Hugh's silent urging, she sighed and knelt as ordered.

"Why did you file for divorce?" Veronica demanded, her gaze sharp and stern, "I told you before—marriage is not a game! How dare you divorce Landon without consulting us!"

Rosalind lowered her head, remaining silent.

This marriage had been a mistake from the start. If her mother hadn't insisted on her marrying Landon, perhaps none of this would have happened.

"Why couldn't I divorce him if we didn't get along?" Rosalind asked, her tone firm despite the tension.

"Rosalind!" Hugh called out, fearing she might provoke Veronica further.

Veronica stood up and grabbed a rod from the coffee table. Rosalind looked up at her and asked, "Are you going to hit me like you did when I was a kid?"

Veronica's hand froze midair, startled by the fearless look in Rosalind's eyes—she had never seen such defiance in her once-obedient daughter. It was as if she were staring at someone entirely different.

Hugh quickly stepped in and took the rod from Veronica's hand.

"There, there, let's all sit and talk this through," Hugh urged. "There must have been some kind of issue between them. Let's hear what Rosie has to say."

Still fuming, Veronica sat down, her displeasure evident.

Hugh helped Rosalind to her feet, but she chose not to sit. Instead, she stood quietly to the side.

"Start talking! Why did you get a divorce?" Veronica demanded, her patience fraying. "Do you have any idea what you've done? You've made our family a laughingstock!"

Rosalind couldn't help but chuckle at the irony. Since her arrival, her mother hadn't asked how she was or if she was okay after the divorce. All she cared about was how the divorce had hurt her pride and cost her the student she'd been so proud of—Landon Steele.

In fact, Veronica had been the one who orchestrated Rosalind's marriage to Landon, arranging it the moment she graduated from university.

Having never dated anyone before, Rosalind was innocent and naive, believing Landon would make a good husband because of his family background and decent looks. Little did she know, beneath his gentlemanly facade, Landon was a truly vile man.

"Who cheated?" Veronica asked directly.

Rosalind sneered. "Who do you think?"

"Ha, do I even need to say his name?" Veronica shot back, rising to her feet and glaring disdainfully at Rosalind, as if she were a useless, second-rate item.

"You've got some nerve, divorcing a man you couldn't even keep an eye on."

Veronica's words pushed Rosalind to her breaking point, leaving her feeling utterly heartbroken over her cold, unfeeling family.

Her mother knew fully well that Landon was to blame for the divorce, yet she had the audacity to blame her for not holding him in check.

"Not everyone is as perfect as you, Prof. Sowle, balancing family and career without a hitch. I guess I just don't have what it takes. Sorry to disappoint you, professor," Rosalind said coolly.

At that moment, the air in the spacious living room grew tense and still.

"Listen to that—this is the daughter you raised!" Veronica yelled at Hugh.

Rosalind caught a glimpse of her father, his head bowed. She had never understood why he, a capable man in his own right, remained tied to her mother. Was it out of love?

"It was my decision to get divorced. If you want to know why, ask your precious student. But be warned—the answer might upset you so much it could give you a heart attack," Rosalind said, grabbing her bag and turning to leave.

"Where are you going?" Veronica yelled, her voice furious.

Rosalind's lips curved into a slight smirk. "To find someone who actually cares about me and asks how I'm doing."

With that, she walked out the door without hesitation.

Chapter 5 Pathetic Bastard

After staying home for a week, Rosalind learned the news of her divorce had gone public. Gossip spread like wildfire through her social circle, and her phone buzzed nonstop with calls and messages. But she ignored every one of them, distancing herself from the chaos.

Landon had sent her several messages—some apologetic, but most demanding she keep quiet, all for the sake of maintaining the Steele family's reputation.

What a pathetic bastard. Bold enough to come out to her but too cowardly to admit he cheated. Utterly garbage!

If only she could uncover the identity of Landon's secret lover, Rosalind wouldn't feel the need to stay as restrained as she was now.

She had spent the past 26 years being overly compliant, believing that nothing could go wrong as long as she followed the rules.

During their three years of marriage, Landon had treated Rosalind politely, giving her the false impression that he was a kind and considerate man. She had trusted him so much that she even shared her disappointments about her mother with him.

In the early stages of their marriage, Rosalind believed Landon was giving her time and space to adjust to their relationship, which explained why he hadn't made any moves. Since their marriage was arranged at Veronica's insistence, Rosalind had even felt grateful for his apparent thoughtfulness.

However, she had no idea that she was nothing more than a beard to hide Landon's true sexual orientation.

When Rosalind discovered the photo of Landon with another man, it felt like she'd been struck by lightning. Her gaze burned into the image, as if she could pierce through it with her eyes.

After everything he had done to her, he still had the audacity to ask her to help cover for him?

In the music room, Rosalind's fingers flew furiously over the piano keys, faster and faster, until she finally slammed both hands down on the keyboard. Her chest heaved with heavy breaths, yet the frustration still refused to subside.

Her phone had been buzzing nonstop for days, a clear reflection of the whirlwind of gossip swirling outside.

If it had been a divorce involving an ordinary couple running a small company, it wouldn't have made headlines. But with Veronica's reputation as a hard-nosed businesswoman and Rosalind's title as the "teenage piano prodigy", the story had become prime gossip material in the city.

"Can someone just give me a moment of peace?" Rosalind thought, exasperated.

"Rosalind! Hey, Rosalind!" Amanda's voice called out from outside the music room.

Rosalind closed the piano lid and walked out, feeling a sense of relief at the sight of her best friend.

"Why haven't you been answering your phone? The rumors are crazy! They're saying you had an affair and that you're the one who destroyed your family. Why haven't you said anything?" Amanda asked.

Rosalind paused, holding a glass in her hand, her expression puzzled as she looked at Amanda. "What do you mean?"

"Haven't you checked your messages over the past couple of days?" Amanda was dumbfounded.

"They're too annoying, so I ignored them," Rosalind replied, frustrated that the people she cared about hadn't reached out, while those she didn't want to hear from kept bombarding her with texts.

Amanda rolled her eyes and pulled out her phone, showing Rosalind a blurry photo of her and Caesar taken at the Shine & Fix Garage on the day of her divorce.

Rosalind's expression turned icy. In the photo, she was smiling flirtatiously, her hand hovering over Caesar's abs. To her relief, Caesar's face was only shown from the side.

"People are saying you're a hypocrite—pretending to be pure and innocent while actually being promiscuous—and that you were kicked out by your in-laws for cheating. Apparently, your mother's company has taken a hit because of this," Amanda said bluntly.

Rosalind's eyes flared with anger. She let out a bitter laugh before walking back to the music room to grab her phone. She called Landon.

"Well, well, look who's finally answering her call." Landon's voice grated on her like never before. "If you'd just—"

"Landon Steele," Rosalind interrupted coldly. "I'll only say this once! You have three hours. If that photo is still circulating on social media after three hours, I won't hesitate to share your photo with everyone."

She chuckled maliciously and added, "Full face."

"Rosalind, you—"

She hung up before he could finish, not interested in hearing anything he had to say.

Amanda stared at her for a moment before speaking with a doubtful tone, "I don't think Landon was the one who leaked the photo. Have you offended anyone lately?"

Rosalind raised an eyebrow. She'd always kept a low profile, never as brash as her mother. How could she have offended anyone? Unless…

"There's an international youth piano competition coming up. Bonnie Grant and I are the top candidates to represent the country. It's down to one of us." She couldn't think of anyone else she might have crossed except for Bonnie.

"Bonnie Grant? Damn!" Amanda cursed. "That woman has no talent when it comes to the piano. All she knows is how to play dirty. That disgusting bitch! With things blowing up like this, she's probably secured the spot for herself."

Rosalind sighed. "Never mind. I wasn't planning on competing anyway. But…" She looked at the photo again, irritation bubbling inside her.

Caesar's face flashed through her mind, bringing a wave of frustration. She'd only asked him for a simple favor, but now she'd dragged him into unnecessary trouble.

To think he hadn't been interested in her in the first place.

Chapter 6 Beyond Reach

Rosalind drove to Shine & Fix Garage in a different car. As soon as she stepped inside, Dana splashed her with water.

"How dare you show your face here again, you vile bitch!" Dana shouted furiously.

"Dana!" A male voice scolded her.

Rosalind removed her sunglasses and wiped the water from her face, her eyes turning slightly cold as she met Dana's gaze. Dana flinched but said nothing.

Ignoring her, Rosalind glanced around but didn't see Caesar anywhere. The man who had scolded Dana approached her and said, "Caesar isn't here."

Rosalind looked at the man; he had an impressive air about him, standing out with an unmistakable presence. From his attire, it was clear he wasn't a mechanic.

"I'm Norris Glover, the owner of Shine & Fix Garage," the man introduced himself.

Rosalind nodded casually and asked, "Where's Caesar?"

"At home, resting. Our garage has become quite the popular spot these days," Norris said with a wink. "It's a bit inconvenient for him to stay here."

A trace of guilt flashed in Rosalind's eyes. "Sorry."

"No, it's alright. Thanks to you, Shine & Fix Garage has gained some recognition in Solmere City. At this rate, we might even open a branch next month," Norris said humorously, showing no resentment.

Rosalind hesitated before finally asking, "Will he be working here again?"

Norris smiled but remained silent for a moment, studying her. Finally, he said, "Not in the near future, but who knows? He's quite skilled with repairs, and I'd be happy to have him back."

Rosalind's heart sank, feeling guilty for dragging him into this mess.

"Would you mind telling me where he lives or how I can contact him?" she asked, feeling the need to make amends.

Norris raised an eyebrow, a smile playing at the corner of his mouth. "You didn't exchange contacts?"

Rosalind shook her head.

Dana quickly stepped in, her voice sharp with fury. "Don't give it to her, Norris! Caesar's life is ruined all because of her!"

Rosalind shot her a cold glance before turning her attention back to Norris.

After a moment of hesitation, Norris went to his office and returned with a piece of paper that had a number written on it.

"I can't guarantee you'll be able to reach him, though," Norris said frankly.

Rosalind looked at the number and let out a sigh of relief, feeling content as long as she had a way to contact him.

"Thank you." Rosalind took the paper and got into her car.

Norris walked up to her and knocked on the window, saying, "Ms. Sowle, a word of advice. If you want to make amends with Caesar, you can forget it. He has a huge temper and doesn't like being disturbed. Given the current situation, I'd suggest you leave him alone if you don't want to cause more trouble."

Rosalind hesitated but said nothing. She simply nodded politely and drove away.

Taking a turn down the road, Rosalind stopped the car and looked at the number in her hand. Without hesitation, she dialed it.

To her disappointment, the phone rang for several seconds before going to voicemail.

Confident that Norris hadn't given her a fake number, Rosalind assumed Caesar was difficult to reach, as Norris had explained.

Rosalind thought for a moment and then sent a short, straightforward text message. "This is Rosalind Sowle. Please call me back when you see this."

However, she received no response to the text either.

Rosalind drove past Shine & Fix Garage several times over the next few days, but she never saw Caesar again.

Although the scandal sparked by the photo gradually cooled down—thanks to the Steele family and Sowvia Group's PR efforts—her reputation as a loose woman had spread far and wide within her social circle.

Veronica had tried to reach her many times, sending several urgent messages, but Rosalind ignored them all.

Half a month later, the organizer emailed her, regrettably informing her that her spot in the competition had been canceled.

Having anticipated this, Rosalind wasn't surprised. But Amanda, on the other hand, was furious and vowed to expose Bonnie's dark secrets.

Rosalind decided to let her have her way. After all, it was only fair for Bonnie to face the consequences of her actions, especially when they involved innocent people.

"What's on your mind?" Amanda asked.

Rosalind replied nonchalantly, "Just thinking about what good exposing her dark secrets would do. What really matters is finding a way to stop her from playing the piano for good."

Amanda swallowed hard. As Rosalind's childhood friend for 20 years, she knew Rosalind was genuinely angry this time.

After a brief silence, she asked, "Rosie, you really care about that mechanic, don't you? Have you been able to get hold of him?"

Chapter 7 This Is Solmere City

No, Rosalind hadn't been able to reach Caesar. In fact, the next time she saw him was over a month later.

That day, as she drove past Shine & Fix Garage—a habit she had picked up over time—she stole a quick glance inside. When she caught sight of the man she had been searching for, her heart skipped a beat.

Rosalind stood across the street, watching Caesar's tall figure. He wasn't wearing a tank top but a neat, athletic outfit, showing he wasn't there for work.

It had been years since Rosalind had felt nervous.

When she was young, Veronica always pushed her into competitions, which exposed her to all kinds of situations and taught her how to handle anxiety and stress. Yet, here she was, frozen with worry.

Clenching her hands into fists, a trace of heat flickered in her eyes.

She had called the number countless times over the past month, but all in vain. Many nights, she would wake up, haunted by the image of Caesar struggling with life after losing his job because of her.

However, judging by his appearance, things didn't seem as bad as she had feared. The people at Shine & Fix Garage were chatting with him jovially, making her worries feel almost laughable.

"Caesar," Rosalind called out as she entered the garage.

Caesar startled for a moment before turning to her, his brow furrowing.

Sensing the tension, Norris quickly instructed everyone to get back to work. Dana, leaving reluctantly, shot Rosalind a glare and muttered, "Shameless woman."

Soon, Rosalind was left alone with Caesar in the room. Looking at Caesar, who seemed refreshed and energized, she felt her tension melt away.

"Sorry for all the trouble," she began. "I tried to call you, but you didn't answer. If there's any way I can make it up to you, please let me know."

Caesar narrowed his eyes at her, his disdain evident.

Sensing his rejection, Rosalind reached into her bag and pulled out a check. "Just name a number. Anything within eight digits isn't an issue for me," she offered, handing him the check.

Caesar looked away, the corner of his mouth twitching into a mocking smile.

Rosalind felt a twinge of irritation. Was millions of dollars not enough to ease his resentment?

"Caesar," she called again.

Caesar lazily lifted his eyes to meet hers. "Take your money and get out of my sight," he said, his tone icy, as if their passionate night had never happened.

Rosalind had never felt so humiliated before. However, she suppressed her anger, telling herself that Caesar had every right to take it out on her, considering she had caused him to lose his job and reputation.

On top of that, if Caesar had happily accepted her offer, he wouldn't be the wild, unyielding man who had originally caught her attention.

Rosalind sighed silently and handed him her business card. "This is my contact. I'm truly sorry for what happened. If you've decided on how you want me to compensate you, feel free to reach out."

Caesar glanced at the card, showing no intention of taking it.

Rosalind, suppressing a surge of frustration, pushed the card into his hand. "I'll wait for your call."

With that, she left, feeling a little flustered. Sitting in her car, she took a moment to regain her composure.

She couldn't quite explain why seeing Caesar again gave her butterflies. Was it because of their one-night stand?

She scoffed at herself, finding it utterly ridiculous to dwell on a man just because she had lost her virginity to him.

Meanwhile, at Shine & Fix Garage, Norris watched as the BMW disappeared down the road before turning to Caesar.

"Not interested, huh? Really?" Norris asked with a smile.

Caesar shot him a cold look, taking a drag from his cigarette. "Did you find me a place to stay?" He deflected the question.

Norris forced a smile. "Cae, you're making this tough for me. Solmere City isn't exactly sprawling, you know? How about I look for something in a nearby city? I really can't keep hiding you here much longer."

Caesar's expression darkened slightly, a clear sign of his growing frustration with the situation.

Noticing his irritation, Norris's gaze fell on the business card in Caesar's hand. "If you really want some peace and quiet, why not take her up on her offer? She seems serious about making amends," he suggested.

Caesar narrowed his eyes at the card, lost in thought.

Norris snatched it from him. "Haven't you heard of Rose Studio?"

"Speak plainly," Caesar said, his glare sharp.

Norris glanced at the LED screen on a nearby high-rise, displaying a Sowvia Group advertisement.

"She's Sowvia Group's golden girl," Norris explained. "The famous heiress of Solmere City. She's been representing the country since she was young, racking up countless wins.

"Her family's business? The most influential in the city. Do you really think anyone would've made such a big deal about your affair with her—or bothered to track you down—if she weren't who she is?"

Caesar's mind wandered to images of Rosalind's defiant expression.

"You knew I was involved with her. Didn't it occur to you to dig into her background?" he asked, expressionless.

Norris smirked. "Cae, are you trying to protect her, or are you seriously that clueless? With her status, everyone shows her respect. This is Solmere City—not the north."

Chapter 8 Are You Serious About Staying Here

That night, Rosalind received a call just after she was done showering. Staring at the caller ID, she felt a mix of emotions she couldn't quite explain.

Should she feel happy? Or was it all just ironic? Men—they were all the same, wagging their tails for their benefit.

Clearing her throat, Rosalind answered the call.

"Made up your mind?" she asked, her tone haughty, bracing herself for some shameless request from the other end.

"Where's your place?" the caller asked coldly.

"What?" Rosalind froze mid-motion, the towel in her hand still.

Ten minutes later, wearing a robe, Rosalind stood at her door, staring at the tall man dressed in a leather jacket, holding a helmet and a bag.

Caesar looked detached as his gaze swept past her, taking in the rest of the apartment behind her.

After a brief hesitation, Rosalind stepped aside to let him in. Caesar entered, giving the place a quick once-over.

"Where's the guest room?" he asked, wasting no words.

Still trying to figure out his intentions, Rosalind asked hesitantly, "Are you serious about staying here?"

It turned out the compensation he wanted was simply a place to stay.

Caesar's expression remained grim. "If it weren't for that photo, I wouldn't be in a position where I can't even find a place to stay in this city. If you can make sure those people stop harassing me, I won't need to stay here."

Rosalind still doubted his true intentions.

Meanwhile, Caesar had already made himself at home, sitting casually on the couch. "I won't stay long. Once things calm down, I'll leave."

Rosalind studied him in confusion, "Wouldn't it be easier if you just took the money and left the city?"

Caesar curled his lips into a faint, mocking smile. "You must be quite wealthy, huh?"

Rosalind felt a flicker of unease but masked it with composure, settling into the single-seater across from him.

"We're both adults here. Don't tell me you came here without knowing who I am. Or… do you have another agenda at play?" she asked, her tone measured.

Caesar rubbed his chin thoughtfully, his gaze sweeping over her. "Like what?"

His question caught Rosalind off guard. She noticed his eyes linger on her figure with blatant disregard for subtlety.

Flushed, she tightened the robe around herself and snapped, "How would I know what filthy schemes you men have in mind?"

Caesar suddenly stood, picking up his bag and helmet. "What a waste of time," he muttered.

His abrupt movement startled Rosalind. Before she could react, he was already at the door.

"Where are you going?" she blurted out.

Caesar paused but didn't look back. He said, "I'm not interested in your money or your body. You're the one who asked me to come, yet you question my motives. Let's not waste each other's time. Honestly, I'm quite disappointed in you."

Rosalind wasn't bothered by his sarcastic words, but his last remark undoubtedly struck a nerve. "Stand right there!" she demanded coldly.

Yet, Caesar had no intention of stopping.

She stormed forward and blocked the door, her tone full of irritation. "How is it that a mechanic like you has a bigger temper than me, an heiress? Didn't you come here for my shelter? Is this how you beg for help?"

Caesar chuckled at her words. "Beg for help?"

Rosalind's eyes flickered as she realized she was the one in debt, not him.

Frustrated, she pushed him back. "I never said you couldn't stay. People approach me for all kinds of reasons, so you can't blame me for being cautious. You're a grown man—don't be so petty. The guest room is the second one on the right. It's late now, so we'll talk tomorrow."

With that, she quickly retreated to her bedroom.

Caesar watched her flee, a rare smirk tugging at his lips. He then glanced around the spacious, modern apartment. The decor here was just like its owner—bright and clean.