Chapter 2: Simply Being a Commodity Would Be Boring

The butler, dressed in a sharp suit, was waiting at the door to greet them. "Welcome back, sir."

His gaze flicked briefly over Chloe, a flash of surprise registering on his face before he smoothly recovered his composure. Smiling politely, he said, "Good evening, Miss Chloe."

Chloe froze for a second before a smile touched her lips. "Good evening."

Alexander gave a slight nod to the butler, casually wrapping an arm around Chloe’s waist as he pulled her inside.

"Sir," the butler followed behind, "Miss Chloe’s clothes have already been delivered to your master bedroom."

"Mm," Alexander hummed, his arm remaining around Chloe as his step didn't miss a beat.

*So that’s why he knew about her.* Chloe’s lips twitched slightly. For Alexander's people to handle the affairs of a insignificant mistress so efficiently... was somewhat different from what she had imagined.

It felt natural to follow him into his bedroom. The entryway led into a small sitting room, which opened up to the main sleeping area and a walk-in closet. Her clothes were neatly laid out on the leather bench at the foot of the bed. Everything had been prepared: pajamas for tonight, a dress for tomorrow, and a paper bag beside them... likely containing undergarments.

This was... far too thoughtful.

Alexander walked up behind her silently, placing his hands on her shoulders. Bending down, he whispered ambiguously near her ear, "Go take a shower."

Chloe’s body stiffened for a split second before her lips curled upward into a gentle curve. "Alright."

Tonight, "alright" was the word she had used the most.

It seemed to foreshadow that, from now on, "alright" was the only response she was allowed to give this man.

The pajamas were surprisingly conservative—a button-up set made of pink silk, fastened all the way up, completely modest. Was this some kind of twisted, alternative kink of the tyrant?

Something inside her that had long been extinguished was slowly stirring back to life.

---

With her long hair still half-damp, Chloe walked out of the bathroom to find Alexander leaning back on the sofa in the bedroom, drinking red wine. He had changed into dark silk pajamas, likely having showered in the outer bathroom.

Catching her exit out of the corner of his eye, Alexander gestured to her. "Come here."

Chloe wore a perfectly tailored smile—neither stiff nor overly suggestive—the dimples on her cheeks pooling like a spring of charm. She sat on his lap naturally, leaning close as her warm breath hit his skin like whispered pillow talk.

Alexander raised an eyebrow slightly, finding her reaction entirely novel. The beauty mark beneath his left eye shifted with his expression, dispersing some of the darkness in his pitch-black eyes. He lazily wrapped an arm around her waist, raising the wine glass to her lips. His gaze swept over her shapely lips with a look that was borderline frivolous.

"Want a sip?" his voice was slow and careless.

Chloe glanced up at him, obediently taking a small sip. The rich, smooth wine glided down her throat, soothing the tension that had gripped her all night.

Alexander turned the glass slightly, placing his lips right where hers had just been. He drained the remaining wine without taking his eyes off her face for a single second. The crimson liquid poured smoothly into his mouth, and as his throat bobbed twice, Chloe thought she heard a faint sound of swallowing.

She froze for a moment. This deliberate gesture acted as a prelude to what was about to happen next. A delicate blush flared across her cheeks on cue, throwing her forced composure to the wind and leaving her exposed for his appreciation.

Alexander set the glass down on the small side table, leaning back casually to observe her with a composed, expectant look, as if waiting to see her next move.

Faced with a man whose emotions were impossible to read, Chloe naturally reached up, unbuttoning her pajama top from top to bottom. Her movements were slow and casual, yet incredibly captivating. Distant memories flashed through her mind, leaving a fleeting sting of pain, but they didn't stop her hands.

Alexander’s eyes slowly narrowed into slits. Just as she unbuttoned the middle one, he suddenly scooped her up in a princess carry and threw her onto the bed without a shred of gentlemanly grace.

The next second, his imposing frame loomed over her. Chloe took the opportunity to wrap her arms around his shoulders, a subtle curve rising on her lips, though her rapid breathing betrayed her composure. She quietly admired the shadowy desire seeping into his cold face, keeping the indifference and disgust deep within her heart completely hidden.

Alexander’s appreciative gaze felt heavy and inescapable. His index finger slowly traced down the center of her neck.

"Mr. Alexander," Chloe suddenly called out.

The moment the words left her mouth, she paused for two seconds, having no idea why she had even called his name.

All she knew was that a scene from her past suddenly surfaced before her eyes—

*Inside a wrecked, chaotic apartment, a struggling woman was dragged back into the bedroom by her hair as a man hurled curses. Standing outside the room, she couldn't escape the shrieks and cries no matter how tightly she covered her ears.*

"Hmm?" Alexander didn't stop. His gaze landed on the beauty mark on the side of her neck, and he suddenly bit down on it—almost like a form of punishment.

Chloe gasped softly with a sharp *"Hiss."* Looking up, she unexpectedly collided with a wave of possessiveness in his eyes so intense it was frightening, blended with a dark, innate gloominess. It was so stubbornly suffocating, like a giant cage descending from above.

Though pain brought moisture to her eyes, she clung to Alexander and let out a soft, muffled laugh. "That hurts... Mr. Alexander."

Alexander stared at her intently. Chloe couldn't read the emotion in his eyes, but she could tell it was far from pleasure.

*Why?* she wondered.

While her thoughts were in disarray, his slightly rough index finger brushed against the middle button of her pajamas. Chloe unconsciously tensed up.

The next moment, however, Alexander began buttoning her pajamas back up, one by one. Astonished and surprised, she still asked in a tender, lingering tone, "What's wrong?"

He dropped a quick, light kiss on her lips. Then, using a low tone like a lover's whisper, he murmured in her ear, "Do you have any idea how full of holes your acting is?"

Chloe: "..."

Her eyes widened, bit by bit. *Bad acting? He actually said her acting was bad?!*

Her well-hidden temper finally let a hint of a prickly "cat tail" slip through her amber eyes.

Alexander suddenly burst into an unprovoked laugh, pinching her chin. "See? Isn't this much cuter?"

Not knowing if his words had given her courage, Chloe let out a light laugh. "I didn't expect Mr. Alexander to have such... unique taste..." She dragged out the end of her sentence with a subtle curve, making the sarcastic tone sound as sweet as sugar.

In Alexander’s pitch-black eyes, an almost sadomasochistic excitement flared across his features.

Chloe carefully weighed his temperament in her mind. *Did the big boss prefer the troublesome, dramatic type?*

For some reason, after this interaction, the heavy stone pressing on her heart felt noticeably lighter.

As the last button was fastened, a bizarre urge to win suddenly took over her mind. Boldly grabbing Alexander’s collar, she pulled him down and kissed him.

Alexander’s eyebrows arched slightly, and he instantly took control. His broad hand cupped her arm beneath the long sleeve, slowly moving upward to pull up the fabric, creating an instant flurry of intimacy.

His long fingers brushed gently across her cheek before cupping the back of her head. Then, without warning, his grip on her hair tightened, his lips and tongue losing all restraint in a wild, chaotic frenzy. It was entirely unpolished, yet overwhelmingly aggressive and intense.

Chloe’s brows knitted tightly together, feeling a sudden pang of regret for her foolish provocation. When it came to this... she was no match for this man.

The dark, rapacious desires trapped within the cage broke free—wanting to invade her, possess her, and lock her away so she belonged exclusively to him. Alexander’s eyes scanned every inch of Chloe’s face, stopping abruptly when he sharply caught a deeply buried hint of fear beneath her captivating, charming expression.

"Mph!" Chloe instinctively covered her mouth, her light cat-like eyes staring at him in disbelief, a faint sense of vigilance flickering within them.

...He truly was impossible to handle!

Yet Alexander let out a merciless, mocking laugh. Tugging forcefully on a strand of her hair, he leaned in casually against her ear. "Shall we discuss the rules of staying by my side?"

Her scalp was pulled with just enough force—not painful, but enough to make Chloe feel the edge of danger. Yet this very danger... caused a thrill of pleasure to shiver through her heart, igniting a competitive desire against the man in front of her.

Once the sting on her tongue subsided, Chloe licked her lower lip and spoke, "What rules?"

She wasn't surprised. Their relationship was nothing more than a short-lived game. Since she had already stepped into the pit, she might as well dive in completely and play it well.

Otherwise... simply being a commodity would be boring.

Alexander extended his thumb, using the pad to gently stroke the faint teeth marks he had left on the side of her neck, his touch carrying an ambiguous tenderness. Yet his voice dragged out in a cold, matter-of-fact tone: "No kissing scenes, no bed scenes, and I don't want to see rumors connecting you with any man other than me anywhere..."

Chloe waited for him to continue, but realized he seemed to have finished, feeling a strange twinge of disappointment. Smiling, she countered, "Is that all?"

As a mistress, these demands weren't unreasonable, nor were they difficult to meet. What surprised her even more was that, given his reputation for being ruthless and decisive, he hadn't dictatorially forbidden her from acting in those kinds of dramas altogether.

She even harbored a ridiculous thought: *Could this be Alexander’s first time taking a mistress, making him inexperienced? Pretending to be a tyrant listing out terms, yet not actually knowing what kind of contract to draft for such an agreement.*

This thought made Alexander’s image unexpectedly cute—though "cute" was a word that shouldn't belong anywhere near him.

"That's all." Alexander cast a glance at her. "Move into the estate tomorrow."

"...Alright." Chloe still felt a bit skeptical, probing softly, "Then what do I need to do?"

She was suddenly a bit lost. What exactly did he want her for? Men who sent her signals were, without exception, after her looks, yet he didn't seem particularly interested in her body.

He couldn't possibly be keeping a decorative vase for nothing.

Alexander slowly twirled a strand of her hair around his index finger, his tone laced with amusement: "On call at all times. Eat together, sleep together."

Chloe’s eyebrows twitched slightly, and she answered submissively, "Understood."

*What kind of requirement was that?*

Her earlier suspicion popped right back into her mind.

Chapter 3: A Peeker Discovering the Tyrant's Secret

"However—" Alexander leaned down, kissing the corner of Chloe's lips. Leaning close to her ear, his voice sounded eerie and dark: "If you make a mistake, you will be punished."

Chloe had expected as much. She blinked her eyes. "What kind of punishment?"

Alexander gently caressed her cheek, his fingers sliding down to the bite mark on her neck and pressing hard. Watching her brow furrow in pain, he suddenly burst into a quiet laugh. His hushed tone carried an uncharacteristic excitement: "Disobedient cats... should naturally be locked away, shouldn't they?"

Chloe's eyelids twitched uncontrollably as she felt the sheer terror of this man once more. *So freedom... only exists once?*

A spine-chilling fear mingled with a thrilling rush of excitement inside her. She felt like a dancer performing with demons on the brink of hell—terrified, yet unable to resist the dark fascination pulling her in.

He tapped her chin lightly and whispered, "Goodnight."

Chloe offered a gentle response. "Goodnight, Mr. Alexander."

The next second, Alexander turned over, pulling her tightly against his side. He clasped one of her hands in his and closed his eyes.

The air grew quiet. Soon, steady breathing echoed beside her. It was very light, almost imperceptible if not for the absolute silence of the night.

Chloe listened intently for a moment, left both shocked and speechless.

*How could his sleep quality be this good?*

She reached up to touch herself; nothing had changed. So was the problem with her, or was something wrong with him? Naturally, she maliciously hoped it was the latter. For such an arrogant, matchless man to have a fatal flaw—that would make things far more interesting...

Wouldn't it?

She couldn't fall asleep; the presence of the man beside her was simply too overwhelming. Every atom in the air was thick with discomfort, as if countless delicate feathers were scratching at her heart and liver, harassing every single pore on her skin. It was infuriating.

Once she confirmed he was fast asleep, Chloe no longer had to suppress her disgust at being touched. She tried to pull her hand away with unconcealed impatience, only to find he was holding it in a vice-like grip, impossible to shake off.

It was as if he was afraid she would run away in the middle of the night.

Chloe felt like a peeker who had finally stumbled upon the dark tyrant's secret—it was fascinating beyond measure.

She had assumed sleeping beside a man she detested would mean a sleepless night, yet when she closed her eyes again, she drifted off quite quickly.

Except in the dead of night, Alexander held her so tightly that she woke up feeling suffocated. Chloe thought the big boss had woken up, succumbed to another sudden bout of psychosis, and was about to cause trouble again. She didn't want to drag her sleepy body through another performance.

Yet he didn't seem awake at all. He just clung to her fiercely, muttering a single phrase over and over in his sleep: "Don't leave..."

It lacked the eerie terror of the previous night, replaced instead by an indefinable panic and a desperate, cornered reliance. It reminded Chloe of someone—though, of course, it couldn't possibly be him.

By comparison, she still preferred the gentle temper of her little mute boy, whom she could knead and tease as she pleased, she thought dully.

Pinching or kissing him when he wasn't looking would make his whole face flush red with anxiety. And if he couldn't resist the teasing and accidentally offended her, she would pretend to be angry and aggrieved. The sight of his flustered face—wanting to speak but unable to—excited her malicious urge to win more than anything else.

So she had repeatedly played that cruel joke, over and over, until he completely vanished from her life...

At the same time, she couldn't suppress her curiosity: *What kind of enchanting woman could make a man feared by so many yearn for her like this, even crying out for her in his midnight dreams?* Truthfully, as a woman, she felt a flick of disdain toward it all.

---

When Chloe woke up the next morning, the room was still pitch black. She picked up her phone to check the time—it was eight o'clock. Whenever the window sheer drifted lightly, a stray beam of sunlight filtered through.

She glanced toward the outer room and curled her lip. *The light-blocking curtains in Alexander's home were remarkably effective.*

As expected, the other side of the bed was already empty. A figure of his stature was likely busy around the clock. Her phone was flooded with missed calls, all from her manager. She didn't even need to think to know how ecstatic the woman was. Chloe was in no hurry to return the call.

When she went downstairs, Chloe was surprised to find Alexander still at home. Dressed in a formal black suit, he was sitting by the dining table. He looked as though he was waiting to have breakfast with her before heading to the company.

It seemed his "eat together, sleep together" rule from last night wasn't just empty talk.

"Meow~"

A white cat jumped down from the sofa and sauntered over to her feet with graceful cat steps. A pair of amber eyes stared up at her, brimming with "arrogance," as if inspecting this newcomer.

Chloe was surprised, her interest piqued as if discovering something fun. She hadn't expected someone like Alexander to keep a cat.

The butler, Uncle Zhang, greeted her: "Good morning, Miss Chloe."

"Good morning." As a mistress, she felt not the slightest guilt about putting her benefactor on hold on her very first day. Stepping forward with light steps, a soft smile curved on her lips. "I'm sorry, I woke up late."

Alexander didn't look as tyrannical as he had last night. "Didn't sleep well last night?" he asked casually.

Chloe paused for a second before answering honestly, "Yeah. I'm not used to sleeping in a different bed."

After their brief "clash" last night, she knew full well there was no need to lie or sugarcoat things in front of him.

Alexander gave a low "Mm," as if it were merely a passing question.

The two ate in near total silence. Between them stood a glass vase holding a few stems of striking wild roses. Likely just picked, the irregular petals were still dusted with morning dew, drawing Chloe's gaze repeatedly.

Alexander spoke up out of nowhere: "Uncle Zhang, throw the flowers away."

Chloe: "..."

*Why vent his temper on a bouquet of flowers first thing in the morning? Flowers are most captivating in the morning—men who ruin beautiful things are the absolute worst.*

Uncle Zhang, however, was thoroughly accustomed to it. Taking the "ill-fated" wild roses, he tossed them directly into the trash bin. Judging by his practiced movements, this lord had done his fair share of petty deeds in the past.

Before leaving for the company, Alexander gestured for Chloe to come over.

Exercising her full professional etiquette, Chloe got the hint instantly. She leaned in submissively and offered him a deeply alluring farewell kiss.

Alexander kissed the corner of her mouth, but didn't pull away immediately. Resting his forehead against hers, he stared deeply into her eyes, making the beauty mark beneath his eye look extraordinarily affectionate.

A sudden surge of emotion broke through the dam. Restraining the deep-seated craving seeping from his bones, his fingertips trembled as he touched her face, as though terrified the person before him was merely a hallucination.

His voice carried an unusual, pleading tenderness: "I'm sorry about last night..."

"Chloe, don't be mad, okay?"

"Don't think about leaving..."

He sounded like someone consumed by the anxiety and insecurity of retrieving something lost.

God knew how much effort it had taken for him, sitting at the dining table, to convince himself to keep waiting rather than going upstairs to confirm whether everything last night was just a dream.

Chloe's brow twitched. Even she felt a chilling, spine-tingling sense of danger. To be so tyrannical last night, only to apologize from such a low stance today... It reminded her of those psychotic male leads in American dramas who would drop to their knees and apologize immediately after abusing the heroine.

*This game is getting really interesting,* she thought.

Chloe tilted her head in feigned confusion, asking with a sweet smile, "Why are you apologizing, Mr. Alexander? Wasn't that within the rules of the game?"

No matter what kind of man he was, she had no way out the moment the game began. Besides, she hated throwing down her armor and fleeing like a coward. The game difficulty had simply increased—what was the big deal?

The next second, Alexander snapped out of his illusion. As if the man humbly apologizing a moment ago hadn't been him at all, he let go of Chloe and said unhurriedly, "Have someone take you back to your old place and move all your belongings here."

Chloe nodded. "Alright."

---

Just as she was preparing to step out, a man wearing glasses appeared in the living room, offering her a polite smile: "Miss Chloe, my name is Ethan. I will be your private assistant from now on."

Chloe let out an understanding "Ah," and smiled. "Please take good care of me."

*Do mistresses get such high-level treatment nowadays?*

Ethan smiled politely. "Taking care of you is my duty."

While Chloe maintained a proper smile on her face, she was secretly curling her lip. Under the tyrant's oppressive aura, the people around him were bound to be utterly dull.

Then again, this might be Alexander's intention. With his intense possessiveness, he certainly wouldn't allow her to get close to any other men. In that case, why hadn't he just assigned her a female assistant?

Compared to men, she much preferred the gentle, clean presence of women.

Ethan spoke up suddenly: "Miss Chloe, shall we head to your former residence now?"

Chloe gave an "Mm" and said in her usual tone, "Yes, let's go pack up my things."

Ethan: "Understood."

As she walked out the door, the white cat ran over, meowing to see her off. Its crystal-clear amber eyes stared at her, its big round pupils proudly writing: *This cat wants to go out too!*

Ethan added at the right moment: "Her name is Sweetie."

*Could it be a coincidence?* Chloe raised an eyebrow. "Did Mr. Alexander name her?"

Her mother used to like calling her Sweetie, too. She hadn't expected a man like him to keep a cat, let alone give it such a... delicate name.

Ethan gave a affirmative "Mm."

For some strange reason, Chloe's mood lifted. She bent down and gently petted the cat's head, though her words were playfully mean: "I'm going out now. Too bad Sweetie can't come along."

"Meow!" Sweetie flew into a rage, letting out a sharp meow and smacking Chloe's hand with a paw.

*Just like her master—what a terrible temper.* Chloe's heart went cold, and she instantly took a dislike to the cat as well.

---

Her former residence was located at Luming Heights, a place where many celebrities resided. Given that she was currently at the center of a PR storm, combined with what happened last night, the outside of the complex was likely crawling with waiting reporters.

Thinking about the recent rumors made Chloe inevitably irritable, her lips pressing tightly together.

Ethan was indeed an exceptionally capable private assistant. As if reading her mind, he spoke up: "Rest assured, Miss Chloe. The reporters outside the complex have already been taken care of."

Chloe offered a quiet "Oh," her heart stirring slightly. Although Alexander was volatile, he was almost too attentive to an insignificant mistress.

Even though reporters were guaranteed not to catch anything today, the internet was already in an uproar over last night's events.

A major entertainment influencer posted:

*SHOCKING! Scandal-plagued starlet Chloe catches the eye of Alexander from the Alexander Group! Everyone knows Mr. Alexander harbors a legendary 'white moonlight' he's driven crazy over. Could it be... Chloe bears a resemblance to her?*

—"Makes sense. Otherwise, why would a big boss like Alexander take a liking to a homewrecker?"

—"Wahhh, I know! He's truly devoted to his lost love. I've seen him at galas multiple times wearing a cheap five-cent hair tie on his wrist!"

—"Just a substitute. Just wait! Once Lord Alexander gets tired of playing with her, she'll be kicked to the curb sooner or later!"

—"There's no official conclusion on Chloe being a homewrecker yet, right? Stop spreading rumors."

—"There's video proof, what other conclusion do brainless fans want? [Old man looking at phone on subway.jpg]"

—"If it were fake, would the husband not say a single word? Just letting his wife trash her online?"

—"Looks like someone's about to be revived again."

—"Anyway, I'm boycotting her completely."

—"Boycott x10086."

---

Back at her old apartment, everything remained exactly as she had left it yesterday, a jacket casually thrown across the sofa.

Chloe returned her manager Chen Jie's call first. "Sister Chen."

Chen Jie was predictably ecstatic: "Chloe, where are you right now? Mr. Alexander's estate? You've really made it big!"

"Bring up your recent rumors with Mr. Alexander. To him, a matter like this isn't even worth mentioning!"

"This is fantastic! You're finally turning things around!"

The corners of Chloe's lips curved slightly into a lazy smirk. "I'm packing my things first to move into Alexander's place."

Chen Jie gasped in surprise: "You're going to—"

Without waiting for her to finish, Chloe impatiently hung up the phone. With Ethan standing right there, she had no intention of making a fool of herself in front of an outsider.

Chapter 4: Men... Truly Are Just Like Savage Dogs

Although Alexander had intended for Chloe to live at the estate, Chloe viewed this relationship as nothing more than a boring game. As a result, she only packed a few clothes, ready to pull out at any moment.

She didn't run into any reporters when she entered the complex, but on her way down, she encountered someone completely unexpected.

"Chloe!"

Seeing Chloe step out of the building, a man standing outside called out to her.

Chloe’s brow twitched imperceptibly before she masked her usual disgust for him with an expression of surprise. "Ryan? What are you doing here?"

Ryan, looking every bit the refined gentleman, pressed his lips together as he stared at her with a look of serious urgency. "Chloe, I need to talk to you."

Chloe cast him a couple of glances, a half-smile curling her lips. "I don't think there's anything left for us to talk about."

Ryan persisted, "Chloe!"

A flash of irritation crossed Chloe’s brow. Just as Ethan was about to step in, she waved her hand and said, "Give me a minute. I'll say a few words to him."

"Alright." Ethan swept an indifferent glance over Ryan, a faint, almost invisible blue light glinting off one edge of his gold-rimmed glasses. Withdrawing his gaze, he politely stepped aside.

"What is it? Speak."

Chloe had zero patience for dealing with an ex-boyfriend she had broken up with ages ago. Although he had begged her to get back together recently, watching his pathetic performance—resembling a child caught red-handed trying to trick an adult—suddenly piqued her interest.

Ryan’s eyes locked almost immediately onto her neck, where even a silk scarf couldn't hide the faint bite mark. Driven by a resentment he didn't even realize he harbored, he questioned her with an expression of dramatic disbelief, "Did you really become Lord Alexander's woman?"

Then, his tone turned furious: "Do you have any idea what you're doing? You're selling yourself out!"

His blatant stare reminded Chloe of a stray dog that hadn't gotten its fill of meat—greedy, wild, and utterly repulsive. She pulled at her silk scarf, her tone soft and sweet in stark contrast to her contorted inner thoughts: "That doesn't seem to have anything to do with you."

Ryan immediately pressed, "How does it not? I genuinely love you!"

Chloe lowered her gaze and remained silent for a moment. Trembling, she lifted her eyelashes, the moisture in her eyes threatening to spill over as she put on a deeply pained act: "But... you have no way to stand up to Mr. Alexander..."

"I..." Ryan’s heart softened just as expected. Yet, knowing he couldn't possibly go against Alexander, he hesitated for a long time. Still, the overwhelming lust for the prize won out. After his moment of hesitation, he declared with intense passion, "Wait for me, Chloe! I won't just stand by and watch you stay with a murderer!"

"A murderer?" Chloe’s expression turned instantly horror-stricken. "Really? That's terrifying..."

Ryan let his lips curve into a self-satisfied smile, though he wasn't entirely sure himself. "It should be true... That's what everyone says."

"That's what everyone says?" Chloe lowered her head, her long hair parting naturally to reveal the elegant curve of her neck beneath the sunlight—a curve lined with soft, impossibly delicate baby hairs.

She whispered softly, "Right now, everyone says I'm a homewrecker seducing a married man. Do you think I'm a homewrecker, too?"

Faced with such a heartbreaking sight, Ryan answered without a second thought, "Of course not! I believe you're not that kind of person."

"That's good." Chloe slowly raised her head, thoroughly enjoying the joke of the self-absorbed man before her. Yet her gaze remained intently focused on Ryan as her lips curled into a gentle smile. "How wonderful... Someone actually believes in me."

Ryan seemed to drown in those soft, affectionate eyes, a wave of guilt and shame rising in his heart. At the same time, he felt immensely encouraged. Passion and distress mixed on his handsome face: "Wait for me, Chloe! I'll rescue you from this hellhole soon!"

By the time he regained his composure, Chloe had already turned away, leaving him with nothing but a fragile yet mesmerizing silhouette—one that gave him a haunting fear that she might drift away at any second.

---

Chloe’s gaze casually flicked toward Ethan’s glasses, and she let out a soft laugh. "Let's go," she said gently.

Ethan replied, "Yes, Miss Chloe."

Every single word of that conversation had been transmitted through the signal and fed straight into Alexander’s ear. The woman's soft voice scratched at his eardrums like a cat's paw. Inside his meticulously designed office, the man's dark pupils shifted slightly, his lips curling into an intriguing arc.

After signing a few documents on his desk, he lazily rotated his executive chair, looking out through the one-way glass wall at the bustling city of the metropolis below. The Alexander Estate rested far off on that mountain in the distance.

*What a playful little cat...*

*Being so gentle with someone else... she deserves a lesson.*

Alexander pressed the intercom to call Ethan in, his expression unreadable. "Postpone this afternoon's meeting and tonight's dinner. I'm going back to the estate."

Ethan groaned inwardly, though his face remained a picture of professionalism. "Understood, Mr. Alexander."

*So this is what they call 'the king neglecting his duties for a beauty'?* Who could have guessed that the ruthless Lord Alexander—a man who had once dumped red wine over a beauty trying to throw herself at him—would have a day where he was captivated by a woman?

Remembering something, Ethan suddenly spoke up, "Mr. Alexander, regarding the online rumors about Miss Chloe, should we handle them?"

Alexander lifted his eyelids, a half-smile on his face. "Are you that free?"

Ethan paled in shock. "I'll take the files out right away!"

*The mind of a ruler is truly impossible to fathom.* He had thought that since Alexander finally found a substitute, he would hold her in high regard and resolve small rumors without a second thought. Yet Alexander hadn't even brought it up.

---

At the estate, Chloe was preparing to hang her brought-along clothes in the walk-in closet. Stepping inside the master bedroom's closet, she raised an eyebrow. Alexander's closet fit every standard for a ruthless CEO—clean, crisp, and organized. Surprisingly, his shirts were strictly black and white, hung with absolute precision on opposite sides.

It looked almost like... clothing belonging to two completely different people.

Last night and this morning, Alexander had worn black both times.

Chloe merely swept a brief glance over it before casually looking away, appearing completely uncurious.

The moment she turned around, she collided directly with a man’s inscrutable gaze. Startled by Alexander standing behind her like a spectral ghost, Chloe stumbled on the flat floor, nearly bowing to him in a dramatic courtly gesture.

...*What terrible luck.*

Fortunately, Alexander caught her just in time. His deep, cool voice, mixed with a faint scent of pine, wrapped around her ear in teasing amusement: "So excited to see me?"

Suppressing the intense malice in her heart, Chloe leaned into him, offering him a bright, shadowless smile: "I didn't expect you to come back so early, Mr. Alexander."

Alexander’s gaze swept over the newly added women's clothing in the closet—their vibrant colors creating a stark visual clash against the dull, dark environment. Then, his eyes fell onto Chloe’s face. Without warning, he lowered his head and bit down on her lips.

Just like yesterday, there was no tenderness at all. Forcing her lips open, he gave her no room to react or resist, brandishing his mouth inside hers with near-cruel intensity.

Pushed repeatedly against the wardrobe behind her, Chloe was surprised by how well she adapted. Putting on a proper "frightened" act, she submissively responded, pretending to crave a touch of gentleness.

Clutching the man's lapels, her mind and body felt split into two separate entities. Her body obediently cooperated with him, while her heart harbors a venomous disgust. *Men... truly are just like savage dogs. Any little thing can trigger their instincts.*

Inside the closet, a strange, intoxicating scent seemed to ignite as passion and desire burst into flames in a flash. The air grew thick with the smell of pine and crisp green citrus.

A moment later, Alexander pulled back an inch, his heavy gaze sweeping over Chloe's features. Resting his head against her neck, he closed his eyes, greedily listening to her ragged breathing.

"Do you feel wronged?" he asked softly.