nt comple

gered around Alina, and her

physical contact with women, he didn'

st as quickly as

's eyes. To his own surprise, a sudden sen

ust be losin

t was that? Were you trying to seduce me so

idn't r

posure so steady it was hard to believe she w

er-his "face" wasn't real. It wa

understand you don't wish to marry. However, marrying me would ben

woman who had ever dared to speak to him s

d. "What exactly do you

er brothers. Someone like you-capable, competent-would naturally be a threat

pened, heavier now, more dangerous. She w

?" Kellan asked, his

s family's servant," she replied,

an asked in a low voice,

answered plainly. "I need the l

ith it, Alan, Jessica, and everyone else who looked do

d nothing

denly pulled he

f surprise es

breath hot against her skin. "You wanted a partnership

ght it-a faint rustle outside the door. Someone was

ned. "I... I d

p gaze. "Don't know how? And yet you were with Alan all thos

e flushed e

ver gone beyond brief touc

ng for marriage, but now she realized he had b

ughts, Kellan lowered his head

Alina, and a soft, unintenti

e froze

d with greater intensity, his kisses growing deepe

e uncontrollably, as though

tes did the footsteps o

turning to its usual cold indifference.

dy isn't fully recovered, so you should

said flatly, his voice

ompletely speechless. He truly wa

thoughts, her phone buzzed rep

creen and saw the

Hayes! I told you your life belongs to her family. Yo

ately and apologi

ayes, you are nothing! Trying to climb your way u

th a barrage of crue

cut through A

residence alongside her mother, Kristy

d more weight than hers, and she

ays to humiliate her, yet Kris

first, and whenever trouble

ater, when she had enough to take them both away, Kristy insulted h

ty's extreme loyalty to Jessica

e showing her bathing at home. Halfway through, a man broke in and tr

Worse still, Kristy had also allowed the man inside. For Jess

pt through Alina, as though he

r eyes red but dry, not

no response. After a long pause, he sai

her voice rough. "She'

n someone undeserving. From this mo