Chapter 10
Beli Mansion
till there, dressed in elegant, beautiful clothes, her makeup la
owlers, scaling for 1 than to t
fi fch like she was still the wanan selaid nahi barn his arms the moment be depped through the door, playbally complaining in a soft voice alena
how late lir wits
She rubbed her temples, trying
“Do you want something in eat Geral! Or maylar I can prepare une odes far you, or a nutritious meal?” Erhan asked casually, his expression caliu, as though nothing immstaltun
Elven was confused. She pressed her lingers to her louclical, realizing it was still burning boat
“What time is it?” she askeid, her voice hourse as if someone were squeezing hier flaroat.
ced a hand on her forcficail. “Almind ten. You’ve been asleep since last night”
display of gentleness jolted her memory.
remembe
She had called him three times. He hadn’t picked up even otice. Instead, he was photographed by reporters at an auction, escorting an actress home and buying her an extravagant set of jewelry.
Two weeks later, that same actress became the face of funovion Group.
make a scene alunt it. She wasaft even Ethan’s official girlfriend. She was merely a bird kept in a gilded cage, a woman paid for laer silence and compliance..
Someone like her had no claim in love or loyalty. And once she recovered, she’d even thought about how to win his favor again.
Gwen fumbled around the bed for her phone. Ethan’s calm vaire
p to see her j
She looked up to
“Looking for this?”
phoose spinning Lazily between his fingers. The en pink phone case looked absurdly out of place in his hands,
snapped. She hadn’t checked her messages all night and had no idea how Beatrice was doing.
unhurried. “If you want updates, eat your breakfast best
“Tine. I’ll have cereal” Gwen replical. She knew him too well to waste time arguing,
Lilian gave a quick order, and soon a bowl of cereal was laconigli
Flora Lee the housekeeperwho’d cared for Gwen for three years, knew her preterners well.
Gwen had no complaints-(the cereal was perfectly prepared, melting in her mouth with bust the right texture.
Erluan sot nearby. dring as she took small bites.
“Five bites and your te full? Loven a local cuts more than that? Ethan sand, his expression darkening.
Gwen wiped her mouth and met his gaze. “Whether or not I eat is my business. That my grandmother is innocent. She’s old–it you cut off her medication and forer her out of the hospital, she’ll ddic
“Given that I’ve been with you for three years, can we just past ways peacefully
pleaded.
“I stayed by your side all night, and this is the heat thing you want to say when you wake up?” Eilan’s lips cutled tu j cold, uworking smile. His fingers traceilalong her check, feeling the softness of her skin beneath has touch
“Gown, have you forgotten what puu said when you crashed at any feet, begging me to take you in?” he asked
Gwen’s beautiful face went pale, the memory cuting through her like a blade.
Hack when the Leblanc family went bankrupt, their shareholders presses relentlessly, and her family’s villa was seizeil
Left with nowhere to go, she stayed with friends, enduring thu
muucking squeers alsnit her fallen status. In the end, she sought refuge with her
Chapter 10
uncle, Vincent Loomis,
Every night was a harrowing blend of confusion, bitterness, and longing for her family
For the first decade of her life, she had lived carefree, basking in every joy the world had to offer. It was only when disaster struck that she learned the true depth of pain and darkness.
When her family was pack of wolves.
was prosperous, her beauty and youth were envied as priceless assets. In poverty, those same
same traits t
turned her
er into prey amidst a
One evening, she fl
fled from a VIP
com a VIP lounge filled w
At that time, she had two choices either let Vincent sell her to older men in exchange for resources or find herself a stronger, more reliable
benefactor
illed with predators, disheveled and desperate, collapsing at Ethan’s feet. “Mr. Raymond, please help me?“.
He glanced down at her, tilting her chin upward with the tip of his polished leather shoe. “Move aside. Don’t block my way.
She clung to his leg casting aside her pride and dignity. Til repay you. I’ll work hard to earn it back. Mr. Raymond, I’m begging you!”
He sneered. Tve seen countless people like you. Didn’t George teach you to bring your best bargaining chip to the negotiation table?”
In that moment, she understood exactly what he wanted. But before she could process it, he scoffed and walked away,
“Mr. Raymond, please let me stay by your side. I want to be your woman,” she begged.
Ethan, lofty and untouchable, chuckled coolly. The number of women who want to be mine is too high to count. What makes you think you’re qualified?”
Wiping the tears from her face, Gwen replied. “I have my looks, my figure. I’ve never had a boyfriend. From head to toe. I belong to you alone. Mr. Raymond, Is that enough?”
Ethan didn’t respond, merely casting a brief glance at her face before walking away
When she was about to be dragged back into that lounge. Chris appeared and pulled her out of the chaos,
It was on this very bed that she became Ethan’s woman. That night, he said he needed to see what she got, and he did it over and over again. Gwen had clung tightly to Ethan, Rivermoor’s towering pillar of power. For three years, he had indeed shielded her from harm. “Back then, I did say I wanted to stay with you for a lifetime–but that was on the condition that you were single, Gwen sighed.
Ethan’s lips curved into a mocking smile. “What’s this? Trying to reclaim your dignity now? Or are you just negotiating for a higher price? Gwen chuckled bitterly. “Oh, come on. Stop beating around the bush. Just say it–you haven’t had your fill yet, or maybe you’re still upset I dared to fight back”
“If you’re so clear about it, then what are you trying to do now? Think you can challenge my authority?” Ethan asked, his voice sharp.
Fire flared in Gwen’s chest “I’ve been with you for three years. It’s fine if you don’t love me, but do you have to strip away even the basic respect?” “You’re about to get married, and you still can’t leave me alone? And what did my grandmother ever do to deserve this?” she continued. “Your grandmother didn’t do anything wrong, Ethan said coldly. The one at fault here is you–thinking you’re urter than you really are.” Gwen’s chest rose and tell with rage. She threw the covers off and swung
ng her legs over the bed, intending to leave.
“Where do you think you’re going? Did I say you could leave?” Ethan stopped her mediately.
“You want money, right? If I could sell myself to you, there must be plenty of others willing to pay. I’ll take my grandmother and leave right now.”
out the bed
She had barely taken two steps before Lahan grabbed her wrist and yanked her track, pinning her outo il “Anil who do you think you’ll turn to Sean Lewis?” Ethan’s voice dripped with fary. “You think Sean would risk going your so–called charm?”
going against me just for the sake of
was Sean giving her a ride home that day for
It dawned on Gwen then–every move she made had been under Ethan’s watchful eye. All it had taken w Ethan to assume something was going on between them
“What does Sean have to do with any of this? Gwen retoned angrily.
2/3
Chapter in
ence mapped “WE
THE
potrive, his words laced with.
arou wont derje warla yeni, rar de abe just and intereded? No, poorer Teej suck runinge my life
