Chapter 1

Isabella Hart had been raised to be dutiful and well-mannered, the very picture of a good daughter. Yet, she fell for Adrian Sterling, a notorious playboy known to everyone in their circle.

She went to great lengths to become his girlfriend. To stay by his side, she learned every position he desired in bed. She indulged every one of his fantasies, submitting to his constant demands.

In the heat of their passion, he'd lean close and whisper in her ear, "Babe, you're amazing. You're a fast learner.

"Relax… Don't bite so hard.

"That's it. I love you so much."

Isabella had been with Adrian longer than any of his past flings. Even his friends were starting to think the notorious playboy had finally settled down. But that night proved them all wrong.

After sharing a heated moment by the floor-to-ceiling windows, he took her to a private gathering. Inside the private room, flashing lights and deafening music blended into the usual blur of indulgence and temptation.

Adrian laced his fingers through Isabella's and led her to the main seat.

Just then, a sharply dressed man slid over with a devil-may-care grin. "It looks like you've finally turned over a new leaf, Mr. Sterling."

Adrian smiled and raised their clasped hands. "She's the love of my life."

The two men clinked glasses and laughed before speaking in Vallesian.

"Adrian, have you really fallen for her?" he asked. "And what about your fiancee? She's from the Monroe family, a perfect match for you. Your wedding's in ten days. Are you planning to call it off?"

Adrian raised a brow and chuckled.

"Yes. I did fall in love… with her body," he replied. "The wedding's still on. Plus, I'll only marry someone of equal standing. As for her… She's just a plaything."

Isabella sat frozen beside him. Her hand clasped with his could still feel the warmth of his palm, but her heart felt like it had plunged straight into an icy abyss.

The word "fiancee" echoed in her head, and her thoughts scattered. Adrian had a fiancee? And Isabella had been nothing more than a plaything to him? But what truly shocked her wasn't that. It was the phrase "the Monroe family's daughter was his perfect match".

As far as she knew, only the Monroe family in Silverpeak had the status to be considered equals to the Sterlings. The Monroes had one son and one daughter, but the daughter had never appeared in public.

And Isabella was that daughter, the Monroe heiress by blood and name, though she'd taken her mother's last name since childhood. Her face went pale as she sank into the chair.

Adrian noticed something was off and gently patted her head.

"Babe, we're discussing a collaboration, and some terms are a bit technical. I'm not trying to speak in a language you can't follow."

A wave of hopelessness sank into her chest. Her throat tightened, but she forced herself to stay calm.

"It's fine. You two go ahead. I'm going to the restroom."

She stood, her steps unsteady as she left the room.

Standing at the sink, Isabella stared at her pale reflection. Tears slipped down her face before she could stop them.

As the Monroe family's daughter, she was fluent in eight languages. How could she not understand Vallesian?

Three years ago, she saw Adrian at an auction and fell for him instantly. But his reputation as a notorious playboy made her father, Robert Monroe, strongly oppose it.

To get his approval, she had gone on a hunger strike. In the end, Robert couldn't bear seeing her suffer and relented.

He allowed Isabella to pursue Adrian, but only if she kept her identity as the Monroe family's daughter a secret. He needed to be sure that Adrian loved her for who she was, and not for her family name.

For the past three years, she hadn't contacted anyone from her family. Now, the weight of unanswered questions and heartache threatened to overwhelm her.

After a moment's hesitation, she pulled out her phone with trembling hands and called her brother, Damien Monroe.

The call was connected almost instantly, and a man's slightly trembling voice came through. "Bella?"

Hearing that familiar voice again made her eyes sting. She opened her mouth but forced the tightness in her throat down.

"Damien, it's me. Do you have a new sister? Or… did Dad have another daughter? Have you really decided you don't want me anymore?"

"How could you think that?" Damien's anxious voice came from the other end of the phone. "I'll always only have you as my sister."

Before she could respond, there was shuffling noise on the other end of the line, followed by Robert's raspy voice.

"Bella? Is that really you? I only have you as my daughter. You'll always be a Monroe."

The urgency in his voice hit her like a jolt. Warmth and familiarity flooded through the line, and her heart stopped sinking.

She tried to hold back the tears, but her breathing came in shaky gasps.

"No matter what happens, our door is always open to you," Robert added. "I've been waiting for you to come home."

Isabella wiped the tears from her eyes, took a deep breath, and pushed down the bitterness rising in her chest as she made her decision.

"Dad… I want to come home."

Robert answered immediately, his voice bright with relief, "That's great! I'll send the private jet to pick you up now."

She shook her head, then remembered he couldn't see her.

"No need, Dad," she said, choking slightly. "I still have things to take care of. Give me ten days. I'll come back on my own."

After hanging up, Isabella's eyes were red and swollen. She turned on the faucet and splashed cold water on her face.

The door behind her suddenly swung open, and a pair of large arms wrapped around her waist. Those arms carried a familiar warmth that seeped through the thin fabric of her clothes, making her tense body tremble slightly.

"Babe, are you unwell? Why have you been in here for so long?" Adrian asked.

His voice was as gentle as ever, with concern woven through it.

Isabella slowly turned around. Ignoring her red-rimmed eyes, she looked straight into his gaze with stubborn defiance.

"Will you marry me?"

Chapter 2

Looking into Isabella's red-rimmed eyes, Adrian's heart inexplicably skipped a beat. The next second, a carefree, alluring grin spread across his lips.

"If I don't marry you, are you trying to make me stay single forever?"

He released his hold on her waist and instead took her cold hand, pressing it against his chest.

"I'm sorry, babe. The fact that you're asking me this means I've let you down. I haven't made you feel secure enough in this relationship."

Adrian guided Isabella's hand down along his chest until it reached his zipper. "Feel it, babe. It only responds to you."

Feeling his hardness beneath her palm, she jerked her hand back like she'd been shocked. She stumbled back half a step, her lower back hitting the sink.

"I get it," she said. "It's too stuffy here. Let's go."

Adrian chuckled, lacing his fingers with Isabella's and leading her out. But instead of returning to the private room, he took her to his Maybach and pinned her down beneath him in the back seat.

"Babe, you started this fire. You have to put it out…"

His warm breath ghosted across her ear, making her tremble. His lips found her neck as he undid her blouse's buttons.

Her mind was in chaos. Just as she was about to push him away, the sharp ring of his phone cut through the moment.

Adrian had no intention of answering, but Isabella picked up his phone from where it had fallen and held it out to him. "Answer it. What if it's urgent?"

His refusal caught in his throat when he saw the caller ID, instantly changing his mind. "Alright. Whatever you say, babe."

He pressed a light kiss to her forehead before stepping out of the car.

Through the window, Isabella watched Adrian answer the call, as a soft, warm smile spread across his face.

A moment later, he opened the car door again, his eyes softening with a hint of apology as he looked at her.

"Something came up at work. I'll have the driver take you home, okay?"

Isabella forced a smile and shook her head. "No need. I'll take a stroll, then hail a cab home."

Adrian stroked her head affectionately. "Alright, babe. Go home early, and remember to text me as soon as you return."

She nodded and got out of the car. Standing in the street, she watched his car disappear into the distance, then hailed a cab.

"Follow that Maybach up ahead."

Isabella couldn't think of anyone besides his fiancee who could make Adrian smile like that or make him leave in such a hurry.

The driver didn't ask any questions and stepped on the gas.

As the Maybach pulled up smoothly in front of an upscale apartment building, she recognized the place and felt confused.

Before she could process it, Adrian had already stepped out. He leaned against the car door, his eyes brimming with unconcealed anticipation.

A moment later, a delicate, graceful figure threw herself into his arms. They embraced tightly, and he pressed a kiss to the woman's forehead. The restraint and tenderness in his eyes were something Isabella had never seen before.

Seeing them so intimately made her stomach twist, each moment sharp as a knife. But when she saw the woman's face, Isabella was dumbstruck.

Adrian's fiancee was none other than the impoverished student she'd been sponsoring for years—Samantha Monroe.

15 years ago, Isabella spotted a little girl scavenging for food during a trip. The girl was barely eight and as fragile as a kitten.

Isabella's heart had ached for her. Since they shared the same family name, she decided to sponsor her, a commitment that lasted more than ten years.

Ever since that trip, Isabella never saw Samantha again. Instead, they only communicated online. As Samantha grew older, her requests for money increased, but Isabella never suspected anything.

When she learned Samantha was coming to Northwell to study, Isabella even lent her one of her own apartments. To avoid disrupting her life, Isabella rarely contacted her. But Samantha often shared updates about her life with her.

Isabella never imagined that Adrian's fiancee would be Samantha. But before she could think further, the Maybach drove off, and she quickly urged the driver to follow.

Later, the car pulled into the estate's compound. He got out first, then opened the car door for Samantha, as a gentleman would.

Adrian's parents were waiting at the entrance, their faces beaming with smiles at the sight of them.

"Mr. and Mrs. Sterling, sorry to bother you again today."

"Why are you still addressing us like that? You should be calling us Mom and Dad now."

Isabella stood quietly a short distance away, her expression unreadable as she watched them. She had been dating Adrian for three years, yet she'd never met his parents.

Every time she suggested it, he would tell her to wait for the right moment. It turned out he wasn't waiting for the right moment, but was waiting for the right person.

Isabella's heart clenched with a raw ache so profound that she couldn't draw a full breath. She wanted to rush forward and demand answers, but she realized she didn't even have the right to question him.

While suppressing the heartache, Isabella waited quietly in the distance. As night deepened, she finally saw the two figures again.

Samantha nestled in his arms while Adrian gazed down at her, his eyes brimming with tenderness. When they returned to the car, he pulled out a diamond necklace and put it on Samantha's neck.

Isabella immediately recognized the piece. It was unmistakably crafted from top-quality diamonds.

She looked down at the bracelet on her own wrist and saw it was made of mere diamond chips. It finally dawned on her that the one she was wearing was a complimentary gift that came with the necklace.

She stood there, frozen, torn between wanting to cry and wanting to laugh. Her body ached all over, but somehow, in the cracks of that pain, her heart finally found a strange kind of calmness.

That night marked the end of Isabella's three-year relationship. She turned to leave, but her legs wouldn't carry her.

Meanwhile, after settling into the driver's seat, Adrian caught sight of a familiar figure through the windshield.

Chapter 3

Isabella remained by the roadside. Though her eyes were red and swollen, she could no longer shed a single tear.

Suddenly, a group of thugs staggered over.

"Hey, miss. Why are you crying all alone here? Did your boyfriend dump you?"

The others snickered along.

"Yeah. You cried so sadly. Let us play with you. We promise we'll cheer you up."

They surrounded Isabella, grabbing her arms to drag her away.

Inside the car, Adrian suddenly slammed on the brakes.

Samantha asked curiously, "Do you know that woman?"

Annoyance and a pang of heartache warred in his eyes. After a moment's hesitation, he replied in a low voice, "No."

With that, he resumed driving. But as he passed Isabella, his gaze met her red-rimmed eyes.

The instant their eyes met, Isabella's heart skipped a beat. She watched helplessly as Adrian drove away, her heart sinking with a pain that made her feel almost paralyzed.

But she had no time to dwell on it because the thugs were already pulling her into the depths of the woods. She struggled desperately and screamed for help, only to be met with a vicious slap across her face.

Blood instantly trickled from the corner of her mouth. Her vision swam with black spots, and she collapsed to the ground.

The thugs weren't finished as they dragged Isabella deeper into the forest. The skin on her exposed arms and legs was scraped raw by sharp stones, leaving a trail of shocking bloodstains on the ground.

While enduring the excruciating pain, Isabella fumbled frantically for anything she could use as a weapon. Finally, her fingers closed around a rock. As one thug leaned over her, she smashed it into his head, leaving a bloody gash.

But she was alone. Even with a weapon, how could she possibly overpower several grown men?

Soon, Isabella's strength gave out. The thug she'd injured picked up a rock and hurled it at her. Blood streamed down her forehead, clouding her vision. The last thing she heard before losing consciousness was the sound of fabric tearing.

When she woke up, the first she saw was the familiar ceiling of her bedroom. Seeing her awake, Adrian, who had kept vigil by her bedside all night, immediately grasped her hand.

"Babe, you're finally awake. Thank goodness I got there in time. Are you hurt anywhere else?"

Her scattered gaze slowly focused. Isabella blinked with effort, her eyes meeting Adrian's worried ones. Her heart and nose ached, and tears instantly welled up.

"Adrian, shouldn't you explain yourself?"

She bit her lip, her voice emerging hoarse and ragged.

Meeting her accusing gaze, Adrian pressed his lips into a thin line, his eyes dark and unfathomable.

"You should understand the gap between us. As the heir to the Sterling family, I could never marry a wife with no status or background.

"Samantha is the Monroe family heiress. I need to marry her, but that doesn't mean I intend to end things with you. Don't worry. I won't let her find out about you."

Looking into his serious gaze, Isabella was momentarily stunned. Fighting the pain in her throat, she asked persistently, "Then, what am I to you? Your mistress?"

Even though she had already decided to leave, she needed to hear it from him.

"Labels don't apply to what we have, babe. You just need to know that I love you," Adrian said gently, reaching out to stroke her cheek.

Isabella turned her head away. Hearing that, she felt like she was pulled down by a huge boulder. She turned back to him and said flatly, "I don't want to be someone else's 'mistress.' So, let's end this."

Adrian's expression instantly hardened, his gaze turning sharp. He pinched her chin, forcing her to look at him. "Don't make a big deal out of this. I've already said that even if I get married, it won't affect what we have."

His tone was casual, his expression mild, yet the possessiveness in his eyes burned more intensely than ever.

Seeing the stubborn defiance in her eyes, Adrian raised an eyebrow with a captivating grin.

"It seems you're not ready to accept reality yet, babe. In that case, I'll just have to persuade you the old-fashioned way…"

With a click, he pulled off his belt and tossed it aside. Realizing his intent, Isabella struggled wildly, but he easily pinned her wrists. No matter how she fought, it was useless.

"Get off me!"

"Stop struggling, babe. I don't want to hurt you."

With that, he lowered his head, his lips capturing hers in a deceptively gentle kiss.

"Don't leave me…" Adrian whispered in her ear, his voice laced with a sickly possessiveness.

The sound of tearing fabric filled the room. Isabella closed her eyes in agony.

Chapter 4

The fabric ripped away, exposing Isabella's scarred body as fresh blood oozed from the wounds.

Seeing the horrifying sight, Adrian's hand froze mid-motion. A flicker of remorse crossed his eyes. "Babe, I'm sorry…"

After that day, he stayed glued to her side, as if fearing she would leave him. To her, it felt less like companionship and more like house arrest.

On the fourth day, Adrian dropped to one knee before her, holding up a diamond ring.

"Babe, my wedding is in six days. You may not be the bride, but you'll always have a place in my heart."

Isabella let out a choked, humorless laugh. She looked at him with her large eyes as if he were a ridiculous joke. Yet, she still nodded and let him slide the ring onto her finger.

Satisfied with her compliance, Adrian smiled and pulled her into an embrace. "Good. That's more like it."

For the next two days, they slipped back into their old rhythm of apparent affection, as if nothing had ever happened between them.

By the sixth day, Adrian was convinced she wouldn't leave. He finally relaxed his guard and stopped confining her.

The moment he left the house, Isabella began preparing her own set of "gifts" for him, to be delivered on his wedding day.

That night, he did not return home.

In the early morning, Isabella was jolted awake by a bucket of water thrown over her. Her eyes flew open, the searing pain from her wounds bringing instant clarity. She quickly realized it wasn't just water but was saltwater.

"Well, look who's awake?"

She lifted her head toward the voice. Standing before her was Samantha, wearing a triumphant smile, flanked by two burly men.

Isabella recognized them instantly. They were the bodyguards she had personally and carefully selected for Samantha years ago.

Back then, Samantha had tearfully complained about being stalked and harassed. Out of pity, Isabella had immediately arranged for these two men to protect her. She never imagined her kindness would be used against her like this.

Samantha stood with her arms crossed, looking down at Isabella with utter contempt.

"Samantha, have you lost your mind?" Isabella snapped, trying to get up to rinse the saltwater off in the bathroom.

But as she reached the door, Samantha grabbed a fistful of her hair and yanked her back.

She sneered. "It seems the lesson I arranged for you in the park wasn't enough. Why didn't those lowlifes finish you off?

"You knew Adrian had a fiancee, yet you still shamelessly clung to him here. You lower-class trash are all the same and willing to do anything for money, aren't you?"

Isabella's heart sank. So, the thugs in the park had been Samantha's doing. But she had no energy to process the betrayal now because the saltwater burning into her wounds was causing spasms of agony.

"Let go of me!" she shouted, shoving Samantha away and stumbling into the bathroom, locking the door.

She turned on the shower, letting the warm water stream over her battered body.

Samantha, pushed off-balance, fell hard to the floor. Enraged, she let out a sharp, cold laugh and barked at the bodyguards, "Drag her out here!"

The two men quickly obliged, kicking the bathroom door open and hauling a struggling Isabella back before Samantha.

Isabella collapsed to the floor, pain and despair twisting inside her. The "blade" she had once given Samantha for protection was now being plunged into her own flesh.

"Isabella Hart, right? All you want is money, isn't it? Here, take it," Samantha said, pulling a thick wad of cash from her bag and hurling it at her face.

Blood gushed from the wound, mingling with the water droplets on Isabella's body and dripping to the ground. The overwhelming pain began to cloud her mind.

"Samantha, do you even know who I am? I—"

Isabella's words were cut short by a sharp slap across her face. Samantha stepped closer, yanking Isabella's hair again.

"I don't care who you are. I am the Monroe family's daughter and Adrian's fiancee. What exactly do you think you can do to me?" she hissed, her fingers tangling in Isabella's hair, and her eyes glinting with jealousy.

"Your hair is so well-maintained. It must have cost Adrian a fortune."

With that, she took out a bottle of super glue and poured the entire contents over Isabella's head.

The thick, sticky liquid oozed down her scalp and face, forcing her to squeeze her eyes shut. She stumbled, trying to fight back. But Samantha grabbed her and dragged her out of the bathroom, then flung her violently toward the staircase.

"You pushed me. Now, I'm going to push you down these stairs," Samantha declared.

While enduring the excruciating pain, Isabella glared up at Samantha with fierce defiance.

"You're not the Monroe family's daughter. Instead, you're just a vicious thug. Aren't you afraid Adrian will see your true colors when he gets back?"

Isabella's words struck a nerve. Samantha's already twisted expression contorted further with fury. She suddenly raised her foot and kicked Isabella forcefully.

Isabella tumbled straight down the stairs like a rag doll. She collided with each hard step, each impact sending white-hot pain through her body. The pain was so intense she could barely breathe.

Suddenly, the front door burst open, and Adrian stood in the doorway.

Lying in a crumpled heap at the foot of the stairs, Isabella blinked with immense effort. Her blurred vision met his bloodshot eyes.

She saw him rush forward, only to watch him stride right past her. He went straight to Samantha, his expression softening as he began speaking to her in low, gentle tones.

Isabella's eyes widened in disbelief. Then, darkness swallowed her consciousness whole.

Chapter 5

When Isabella regained consciousness, she was lying on a large bed in a room she didn't recognize. Just as confusion swamped her, she saw Adrian asleep beside her.

His profile was as gentle and handsome as ever, and for a moment, it felt as if everything that had happened was just a nightmare. She lifted a hand, reaching to touch his face. But the movement tugged at every wound across her body, and sharp pain shot through her, dragging her back to reality.

Sensing her motion, Adrian's eyes snapped open. He tenderly grasped her hand. "Babe…"

Tears welled up in Isabella's eyes, spilling uncontrollably. She shook off his hand and struggled to sit up, but then froze the moment she did. Her thick, flowing hair that should have tumbled over her shoulders was gone.

Her hands trembled as they reached for her head. The unfamiliar touch of her bare scalp sent a shiver down her spine. Where lush, seaweed-like hair had once covered her head, there was now only smooth skin.

Ignoring the tears streaking her face, she turned her head, staring defiantly into Adrian's eyes. "My hair… What happened to my hair?"

Meeting her accusatory gaze, his heart clenched. A trace of guilt shadowed his features.

He pressed his lips together, speaking softly, "Your hair was covered in superglue. It was impossible to wash out, and my fiancee was very upset when she saw it. We had no choice but to shave it all off."

"But don't worry," he continued, his hand rising to cup her face, his thumb gently wiping away tears that only fell faster. "I've already commissioned a custom wig. It will be exactly like your previous hair…"

"Adrian, are you satisfied now? Is this the result you wanted?" Isabella's voice cracked. "Your 'love' only brings me pain, and you're a liar."

Her words tumbled out incoherently, large tears rolling down her cheeks. No matter how she raged and insulted him, Adrian listened quietly to her outpouring of pent-up emotions.

Seeing fresh blood seep through her bandages from her struggles, he stood and fetched the gauze, carefully re-dressing her wounds.

His bangs fell forward, shadowing his eyes, so Isabella couldn't see his expression. All she knew was that his movements were gentle and focused.

The relentless blows pushed the turbulent emotions inside her toward a breaking point.

"I'm not interested in being your mistress. Let's break up. It's better for both of us."

His Adam's apple bobbed, and a chill hardened his eyes.

"No way." His tone was calm, almost dismissive. "The second you leave me, some man will use you and toss you aside. Whether you like it or not, staying with me is your best option."

Meeting her still-defiant gaze, Adrian rose. He cupped her face, forcing her to look at him. "Babe, you are forever mine. I won't let you leave me, even if I have to chain you."

Isabella's heart skipped a beat. She looked down and saw a tracking device locked around her ankle.

"Adrian, what the hell is this? This is a crime," she spat, glaring at him in fury.

Facing her accusation, Adrian only chuckled as his fingers stroked her cheek. "I'm just keeping the one I love by my side forever. How is that a crime?"

He leaned in as if to kiss her, but a sudden, urgent ringtone cut through the moment. The name "Samantha" flashing on the screen tempered the madness in his eyes.

He simply said, "Get some rest."

With that, he turned and left the room.

The door slammed shut, leaving Isabella alone. She groped around the bed for her phone, her panic rising, only to find it gone.

She scrambled to her feet and searched the room for a way out, only to discover in horror that all the windows were sealed shut. Besides the locked door, there was no escape.

Helplessness clawed at her chest. In a sudden surge of rage, she grabbed a nearby lamp and smashed it to the floor. Anything within reach—glasses, the first-aid kit, decorations—became targets for her raging pain.

She didn't know how much time had passed when she finally collapsed from exhaustion.

Then, Adrian's voice came through a speaker in the room. "Are you feeling better now, babe? Don't think about leaving. This room's under full surveillance and has no blind spots. I can see your every move. Get some rest. I'll see you in the morning."

Isabella slumped to the floor. Slowly, she calmed down, and her eyes gradually cleared. She was completely isolated.

Knowing it was pointless to make a scene, she crawled back into bed, pulled the covers over her head, and fell asleep.

When Isabella woke up, Adrian was sitting beside her with a smile. "You're awake?"