Chapter 1

"No! You're planning to divorce him. If something happens now, can you still get the divorce?" A voice screamed in her head, making Nancy Taylor freeze.

She tried to get up with the last bit of rationality she had, but the guy beneath her was strong, making her unable to break free. As the drug kicked in, Nancy lost control. Her eyes glazed over as she stared at the man's tightly closed lips, and she couldn't help but swallow.

Earlier, Nancy had stumbled into the room and found the guy asleep on the bed. She meant to wake him up but ended up pushing him over and falling on top of him. Just as she was about to leave, he suddenly grabbed her hand. The touch on her wrist made Nancy want more. She felt like her body was on fire and let out a painful moan.

Nancy thought, 'After marrying him, I didn't get any benefits. It's not too much to let him serve me once, right? We're still legally married, so this is normal. I was just drugged; he'll understand. Just this once. And I'm so beautiful, he won't lose out.'

With that thought, Nancy's last bit of rationality vanished. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and kissed him. Just as she imagined, he tasted amazing.

A kiss wasn't enough to quench Nancy's fire. She slipped her hand into his shirt and started to caress him. Surprisingly, the guy had a great physique. Under her teasing, his desire began to rise. He opened his eyes and looked at the woman above him, but all he could see were a pair of beautiful eyes.

Nancy's inexperienced kissing and clumsy teasing made him uncomfortable. He flipped her over, pressing her beneath him, and kissed her deeply. His large hands roamed over Nancy's tender thighs, moving upward. Under the influence of the drug, Nancy didn't find anything wrong. Instead, she went along with his actions, eagerly trying to unbutton his shirt but failing. He pressed down her restless hands, sat up, and took off his shirt. Then he removed Nancy's clothes piece by piece. When they were both naked, his eyes darkened.

"Hurry up..." Nancy writhed. The drug made her extremely uncomfortable. She grabbed his hand as if it were the only water in a desert.

Hearing Nancy's plea, he no longer hesitated and leaned down. At the moment of entry, both of them couldn't help but let out satisfied moans. Nancy, relieved by the drug, even shed a couple of tears.

At first, Nancy enjoyed it. The drug's effect brought immense pleasure to both of them. But gradually, she noticed something was off about him, thinking, 'Isn't he supposed to be on the brink of death? How could he have such stamina?'

Nancy was shocked. When she married William Brown, she only knew he was a man who could die at any moment. He was even unconscious in the ICU on their wedding day. Five years later, not only was he still alive, but he looked amazing and was a beast in bed. Was that frail body just an act William had put on?

Noticing Nancy's distraction, William sped up his movements, leaving her no room to think about anything else. When he finally slowed down, Nancy took advantage of the dim light from the bedside lamp to see his face clearly.

It wasn't the pale, sickly face she had imagined. Instead, it was chiseled and incredibly handsome. No one would think such a man was terminally ill.

For a moment, Nancy felt a bit sorry for him and sighed inwardly, 'He's so handsome, but his life is tragically short. Who is he? He can even make my usually arrogant adoptive father so fearful!'

As his movements quickened, Nancy had no chance or energy to think about anything else. She clung to his shoulders, her body moving in sync with his, both of them lost in the sea of desire.

After a night of madness, they fell into a deep sleep.

When Nancy woke up, it was already daylight. Her head was pounding, but the events of last night were crystal clear. She shook her head and looked around, wanting to drink some water to soothe her hoarse throat. There was bottled water on the TV cabinet. She tried to get up to get it, but the discomfort from below made her fall back onto the bed. Her waist ached, and her legs were weak. Her throat was also hoarse.

William, who was supposed to be weak, was so vigorous. Could he have been drugged too?

Looking at the sleeping William on the bed, Nancy felt very conflicted.

Five years ago, under her adoptive father's coercion, she married William. Who knew that in five years, they wouldn't see each other even once, and their first meeting would lead to this?

She hadn't planned to meet William, but her grandmother's words changed her mind. Her grandmother said, "Nancy, you two are legally married. No matter what, you should meet and talk. Say what needs to be said. As for the divorce... I respect your decision."

So she agreed to meet William. But before meeting him, her adoptive father invited her to dinner, threatening and bribing her, essentially telling her not to offend William and to try to please him. During the meal, he even showed her a rare bit of kindness, so Nancy drank a few sips of wine without any guard. Now she realized he must have drugged the wine.

The father she once respected turned out to be a sinister man.

Nancy stopped thinking about it. She endured the discomfort, got dressed, and drank a bottle of water. When she looked at the welcome card on the table, she was stunned.

It read: [Dear Mr. Smith, welcome to your stay...]

"Mr. Smith?" Nancy rubbed her eyes and looked again. The card indeed said Mr. Smith, not Mr. Brown.

Nancy was dumbfounded, thinking, 'I have entered the wrong room and slept with the wrong person! What should I do now?'

---

Chapter 2: Search Every Nook and Cranny to Find Him

Nancy glanced over at the guy snoozing on the bed and thought, 'So, he's not William. No wonder he's so strong and doesn't look sick at all.'

Remembering their wild night, Nancy felt a pang of guilt. She quickly got dressed, grabbed her bag, and planned to sneak out. But then she hesitated. It felt wrong to just bail since she was the one who barged into the wrong room and ended up with the guy.

So, she took off her necklace, pulled out the only five hundred bucks she had, placed them on the table, and scribbled a note: [Sorry, Mr. Smith. I didn't mean to offend you. This necklace is a token of my gratitude.]

Nancy thought, 'The necklace is pretty pricey, so he should be cool with it. Plus, he had a good time last night too, so it's not like he's losing out.'

With that, she slipped out.

Once outside, Nancy checked the room number. It was 2906, not 2806 like her foster dad had told her. She must've been too out of it from the aphrodisiac last night.

Back at the Davis Villa, Nancy took in the familiar surroundings, feeling a surge of emotion. Nancy grew up beside her grandmother, and although her parents spent little time with her, they were generally kind and would occasionally show the typical care of regular parents. Unfortunately, the moment they learned she wasn't their biological daughter, they turned their backs on her.

When Nancy returned to the country, she didn't want to go back to the Davis Villa. However, her grandmother mentioned how much she missed her, so Nancy decided to stay for a few days.

After their biological daughter, Jennifer Davis, returned, Nancy's foster parents' attitudes changed completely. Fortunately, her grandmother always stood by her side. Nancy didn't want to upset her grandmother, so she decided to come back.

With her grandmother's health declining, Nancy wanted to spend more time with her and show her love and support.

At that time, Jennifer's annoying voice piped up from behind, "Mom, why is she here?"

Nancy turned around and saw her adoptive mom, Lillian Perez, and Jennifer, lugging big bags. She gave them a slight nod.

"Nancy, you're here," Jennifer said.

Lillian rolled her eyes and said, "Why are you greet her? That ungrateful brat hasn't even had the decency to call me 'Mom' after all these years."

Just then, Nancy's grandmother, Penelope Taylor, came out. When she saw Lillian and Jennifer, her face immediately soured. She scolded, "What's all the noise about? Nancy grew up by my side. You only remember her when it's convenient for you. Now you say such things without feeling ashamed."

Lillian's face turned red and white, but she didn't dare to say anything to Penelope. So she turned her gaze to Nancy and asked, "Didn't you say you'd never come back? It's only been a few years. Has life been tough since you left the Davis Villa?"

Nancy ignored her, walked over to help Penelope sit down, poured her a glass of water, and then looked at Lillian, saying, "I've been doing quite well these past few years."

For some reason, Lillian got even angrier seeing Nancy's calm demeanor. From a young age, Nancy was never particularly likable. When Lillian found out that Nancy wasn't her biological child, she felt relieved, realizing that it was no wonder they hadn't bonded.

After discovering her real daughter, Lillian became even more distant towards Nancy.

Lillian thought, 'Nancy has a big temper. She dared to talk about cutting ties just because we made her marry the guy from the Brown family in place of Jennifer. Jennifer has suffered for so many years outside, while she enjoyed life at the Davis Villa for so long. What's she dissatisfied with?'

Jennifer had already sized Nancy up from head to toe. In her imagination, Nancy should be living a miserable life. However, Nancy looked healthy, and her clothes didn't seem cheap. She looked elegant and refined. This made Jennifer feel a bit inferior.

Jennifer felt a bit indignant, but she didn't show it. Instead, she smiled sweetly and said gently, "Nancy, I'm relieved to see you're doing well."

"No need," Nancy said coldly, "Stop pretending. Disgusting."

Lillian always disliked Nancy. Now her words made her even angrier. She pointed at Nancy and started cursing, "Jennifer is kindly concerned about you, and you not only don't appreciate it but also speak so harshly. Is this what you learned abroad?"

"Mom," Jennifer held Lillian's hand and said, "Don't be angry. It's all my fault. I took away you and Dad, and the happiness that should have belonged to her. I understand why she doesn't like me. Mom, don't blame her."

These words made Lillian feel even more sorry for her. Lillian thought, 'Jennifer has suffered so much because of my negligence. After she came back, she didn't blame us but always reminded us to treat Nancy well. But Nancy doesn't appreciate it at all. She's simply ungrateful.'

Lillian patted Jennifer's hand and said lovingly, "Jennifer, how can you think that way? These things were always yours. She just enjoyed them for a while because of her luck. You don't have to feel guilty about this. Understand?"

Their act made Nancy roll her eyes several times.

Penelope took a slow sip of water and then said slowly, "No wonder you're mother and daughter. Your acting skills are equally terrible."

Nancy couldn't help but laugh.

Lillian was angry but didn't dare to say anything in front of Penelope. She could only glare at Nancy fiercely.

After Nancy left, Edward slept for a long time in the room, until his assistant arrived to wake him up.

"Mr. Smith, it's a call from Monica Smith."

Edward took the call, and Monica's voice came through. "You little brat, why didn't you answer? So, did you meet her last night?"

Edward asked, "Who?"

Monica said, "Your wife, of course! Didn't I tell you yesterday? Even though you haven't met her, you've at least got a marriage certificate. Can't you put her in your thoughts just a little?"

Edward, who had still been a bit groggy, suddenly came to his senses. Monica had indeed mentioned that his unfamiliar wife would come to see him, but he hadn't paid much attention to it.

Five years ago, Edward had suddenly fallen ill, and renowned doctors both at home and abroad had been helpless. In despair, Monica invited a recluse master to cast his fortune. The master said that Edward was destined for trouble but that it could be averted—by changing his name and marrying a woman with a favorable destiny aligned with his.

So Monica found a woman, and the master determined her compatibility with Edward, leading Monica to take their documents and register the marriage.

Although Edward had never believed in such superstitions, he was in a coma at the time and had no idea about these events. By the time he woke up, everything was already settled. Later, he went abroad to recuperate, which was why he had never had the chance to meet his legal wife.

To avoid complications, his family had also kept his true identity hidden.

"I don't know her. Haven't met her," Edward said before hanging up the phone.

No wonder Monica had been advising him to return to the hotel for rest last night; it turned out she had already made arrangements. Luckily, he had changed to another room to sleep.

In fact, five years ago, Edward hadn't fallen ill but had been poisoned by someone. Over the years, doctors had tried various ways to rid his body of the toxins, and Edward was much better now, though he still experienced occasional health issues and needed to take medication regularly. The side effect of the medication was that it often left him unconscious after taking it.

"Mr. Smith, are you okay?" the assistant asked cautiously.

Since entering the room, he had sensed something was off. Edward's clothes were strewn across the floor, and the air was thick with an ambiguous scent. When Edward got up to answer the phone, the blanket had slipped down to his waist. The marks on his neck and chest left little to the imagination about what had happened in the room last night.

Hearing the assistant's question made Edward recall the events of last night. After drinking a bit, Edward had begun to feel unwell and had intended to return to his room to rest, but after noticing the strange looks from his clients, he had switched rooms. After taking his medication, he fell asleep. In his dreams, he seemed to see the girl from six years ago again. That night, they had been entwined on the bed, desperate to merge into one. However, last night's dream felt different—it was far too vivid, and he could even remember the feel of her skin.

Upon seeing the scene in the room, he realized everything from last night wasn't a dream after all.

'Damn it! Despite being cautious, I still fell into a trap,' Edward cursed inwardly.

He said, 'I'm fine. You can go out now."

The assistant replied, "Alright, call me if you need anything."

As Edward turned to grab his phone, he noticed a necklace and a stack of bills on the bedside table, with a note underneath. The words on the note nearly made him laugh in anger.

"A token of appreciation," Edward scoffed. "What does she take me for?"

The bills filled Edward with a sense of humiliation; he had ended up in bed with a mysterious woman and been treated like a gigolo. It was an utter disgrace!

Recalling what had happened six years ago, a murderous intent slowly rose in Edward's eyes.

He took out his phone and called his assistant. "Find out who the woman who showed up in my room last night is, now! I want her located, even if I have to dig through the earth!"

---

Chapter 3: The Most Prestigious Man in Harmony City

The room was thick with tension when the servant announced, "Mr. Davis is back."

Penelope grabbed Nancy's hand. "Nancy, let's go eat."

At that moment, Billy Davis walked in. Billy, the head of the Davis family, had an air of authority that used to scare Nancy when she was younger. But today, he smiled warmly at Lillian and Jennifer, only to turn icy when he saw Nancy.

"What are you doing here?" he demanded.

"I invited Nancy. Be polite," Penelope shot back, giving Billy a stern look.

Billy might have been the boss of the family, but he knew better than to cross his mother. Penelope had a lot of sway in the Davis household.

Still, Billy couldn't bring himself to be nice to Nancy. Unexpectedly, his plan from last night had flopped, and now he was getting heat for it.

"Why didn't you meet William last night?" Billy asked coldly.

Nancy ignored him, focusing on her food. Her calm demeanor made Billy see red. He snatched her fork and slammed it on the table. "You messed everything up and still have the nerve to sit here?"

Penelope snapped, "What are you doing? So what if she didn't go to meet William? She can meet him next time."

Billy explained helplessly, "Mom, I talked to her nicely last night, and she agreed. But then she ended up in another man's bed. The Brown family is mad at me. I'm innocent!"

Nancy's face darkened. Just as she was about to speak, Penelope slammed the table and shouted, "Stop talking nonsense. Nancy grew up with you. Don't you feel guilty for slandering her? Innocent? I don't think so!"

Billy didn't back down. "Everyone knows what she used to do. It's not surprising for a woman with no sense of propriety. Mom, you've spoiled her too much, and that's why she never learns."

In Billy's mind, Nancy must have been with some guy last night. He had spiked her drink to make sure she ended up with William, thinking it would prevent her from asking for a divorce. But she didn't meet William or leave the hotel. She must have been with another man.

Nancy looked at Billy. "Seems like you're really interested in what I did last night. Upset your plan didn't work? You don't want me to divorce William, so you did something despicable, right?"

Billy was flustered. "You're talking nonsense!"

Nancy shot back, "You know if I'm talking nonsense. Don't shout at me again. I've already repaid everything I owed you!"

After saying that, she stormed out.

At that time, her phone rang. It was Howard Miller, and Nancy answered.

Howard asked, "Ms. Taylor, have you thought about what I mentioned before?"

Nancy replied, "Mr. Miller, you're so enthusiastic that I'm a bit flattered."

Howard said, "Ms. Taylor, Starglow Art School really needs talents like you. Ever since I heard you were coming back, I've been so excited. If you don't join Starglow Art School, I'll be really disappointed."

Nancy laughed. "Alright, I'll stay at Starglow Art School for a while."

Howard replied, "That's awesome! Actually, I have another favor to ask."

Nancy said, "Go ahead."

Howard asked, "Can you start this afternoon? There's a little girl who's a real handful. None of our teachers can handle her, but her parents are very influential, and we can't afford to upset them."

Nancy agreed, "I get it. I'll come over this afternoon."

Howard said excitedly, "Thank you so much. You're really saving me here. I'll be waiting for you at Starglow Art School this afternoon. Don't worry, we'll treat you well."

Nancy replied, "Thanks, Mr. Miller."

The atmosphere at the dining table grew tense as Jennifer silently observed it all, a faint, enigmatic smile playing at the corners of her lips.

"Dad, Grandma, don't be angry. Nancy didn't do it on purpose."

"Jennifer, you're so sensible," Billy sighed. "We've wronged you. How's your job going? If it doesn't work out, you can work at the Davis Group. No need to struggle outside."

Jennifer shook her head. "No need, Dad. I want to challenge myself, but Starglow Art School is tough to get into. I heard Grandma has connections with the founder..."

She looked meaningfully at Penelope, and Lillian quickly added, "Penelope, please help Jennifer. She really wants this job."

Penelope snorted. "Starglow Art School isn't for just anyone. With her abilities, she shouldn't have such unrealistic dreams."

Jennifer's eyes welled up with tears.

Billy felt heartbroken. "Mom, please help Jennifer. She is your own granddaughter!"

Penelope couldn't stand Jennifer's fake sweetness, but they were family. If Jennifer landed a good job, she'd have better prospects for marriage. So, she agreed.

Seeing Penelope nod, Jennifer beamed. "Thank you, Grandma."

Inside, Jennifer was thrilled. She didn't care about the job at Starglow Art School; she wanted to become a piano teacher for the Smith family. Her real target was Edward Smith, the most prestigious man in Harmony City.

---

Chapter 4: Enemies Meet Again

The stuff that went down at noon didn't really mess with Nancy's mood. By the afternoon, she was right on time at Starglow Art School, and there was Howard, already waiting for her at the entrance.

"Ms. Taylor, I've been looking forward to your arrival," Howard said with a smile.

Nancy replied, "You're too kind, Mr. Miller. You've been in touch with me for a while now, and I couldn't turn down your kind invitation. But just so you know, if I don't teach well, you can't blame me."

Howard chuckled, "Ms. Taylor, you're too modest. You're a student of Mike Harris. If you can't teach well, then no one in the world can."

Mike Harris was a big deal, an internationally renowned pianist who barely took on any students. Howard had always wanted to get Mike to visit Starglow Art School, but it never worked out. Mike had fame and fortune and wasn't interested in a place like Starglow Art School, which didn't have international recognition. Trying to lure him with money was a no-go.

After some polite chit-chat at the entrance, Nancy followed Howard into Starglow Art School. As the top art center in Harmony City, the office building of Starglow Art School was as fancy as a palace, and the teachers there were all from prestigious backgrounds, each with an air of sophistication.

Nancy followed Howard into the office, where two people were already sitting on the sofa. They were old acquaintances of Nancy.

"What are you doing here?" Lillian asked, surprised.

Nancy shot back, "This isn't your home. If you can come, so can I."

Seeing Nancy's calm demeanor, Lillian felt a surge of frustration but, with others present, she could only glare at Nancy.

"Mom," Jennifer grabbed Lillian's hand and said, "Nancy must be here for an interview. She just got back to the country and probably needs a job. Don't be so harsh."

In Jennifer's mind, Nancy must have had a tough time without the Davis family's help over the past few years, which made sense for her to be job hunting now. She didn't believe Nancy could be working here. After all, Nancy hadn't even graduated from college and wasn't even qualified to be a cleaner here.

Lillian snorted, "What qualifications does she have to work here?"

Howard frowned at them and asked, "Who are you? Why are you in my office?"

It was then that Lillian and Jennifer noticed Howard standing nearby. They guessed he must be the person in charge of Starglow Art School and immediately put on ingratiating smiles.

Lillian quickly approached him and greeted, "You must be Mr. Miller. My mother-in-law was an old friend of your father's. She knew you when you were just a kid. Jennifer, greet Mr. Miller."

"Hello, Mr. Miller," Jennifer said.

Nancy sneered, "So you're here to claim kinship."

Lillian retorted, "What are you talking about?"

Howard interrupted her, "Alright, everyone, please calm down. Let's sit over here for a while."

The secretary brought water and snacks, and the four of them sat on the sofa, facing each other.

Howard first looked at Lillian and asked, "You are from the Davis family, right?"

Lillian replied, "Yes, it's impressive that you remember, Mr. Miller. Since your father moved to Novaria, our families have had little contact. We should keep in touch more often and not let the old relationships fade. What do you think?"

Her words seemed sincere, but Howard only felt a cold laugh inside. The Miller family had provided a lot of help when the Davis family was developing. But after his father moved abroad, the Davis family disappeared and never set foot in the Miller Villa again.

Howard kept his cool and asked, "You're right. So, what brings you here today?"

Lillian smiled and said, "Mr. Miller, this is my daughter, Jennifer Davis. She just graduated from Phoenix City Music University with a major in piano. I heard you're looking for a piano teacher. What do you think of her?"

Jennifer sat gracefully on the sofa. When Howard looked her way, she flashed a shy smile and said, "Mr. Miller, I was the top of my class in piano. Teaching kids would be no problem. How about I perform for you now?"

Howard shook his head. "That's impressive, but Mrs. Davis, I'm sorry. We've already found a piano teacher."

Lillian was taken aback and asked, "Who is this outstanding pianist that has earned your favor, Mr. Miller?"

Howard replied, "It's Ms. Taylor here. She's a student of Mr. Harris. Not only is she excellent at playing the piano, but she's also outstanding in other areas."

Lillian and Jennifer were floored. They thought Nancy was here job hunting, but it turned out she had already been hired for the piano teacher position Jennifer wanted. They wondered if Nancy had pulled some strings with Penelope.

Lillian rolled her eyes and scoffed, "Who's Mr. Harris? Never heard of him."

Nancy burst out laughing, and even Howard had to stifle a chuckle.

"Wait," Jennifer suddenly caught on and asked, "Mr. Harris, do you mean Mike Harris?"

"Yes, the international piano master Mike. You're studying piano, and you don't even know him?" Howard said slowly.

Of course, Jennifer knew. She had dreamed of studying with Mike, but no one could get her into his circle. She couldn't fathom how Nancy managed it.

Jennifer felt a pang of disappointment. She was convinced Nancy must have used some shady tactics to get this opportunity.

Jennifer said, "Nancy, I didn't expect you to be Mr. Harris's student. It seems you've been doing well these past few years, meeting someone who could help your career. But we didn't know that and were still worried about you."

Lillian, who hadn't grasped who Mike was, got angry after hearing Jennifer's words and snapped, "So that's why you haven't had any news these years. You were out there doing disgraceful things. Nancy, do you want to ruin the Davis family's reputation?"

Nancy shot back, "Ma'am, my last name is Taylor. I have nothing to do with the Davis family."

Howard, losing patience, said, "Enough, Mrs. Davis. You've been shouting in my office since you came in and being rude to the teacher I hired. I've tolerated it long enough. Now that I've hired a piano teacher, please leave."

Lillian, still not ready to give up, reminded, "Mr. Miller, my mother-in-law..."

Howard cut her off, "Mrs. Davis, your mother-in-law's relationship with my father is their business. Now, Starglow Art School is under my control. To be honest, your daughter's current level is not enough to teach here. She should practice more and try again in a few years."

Though Howard's words were polite, Lillian and Jennifer felt humiliated, especially with Nancy there. It was like a slap in their faces.

"Please leave," Nancy said with a mocking smile.

Lillian's and Jennifer's faces turned grim, but they didn't dare lose their temper. They could only glare at Nancy before leaving.

Howard looked at Nancy apologetically and said, "Ms. Taylor, I'm sorry you had to go through that."

Nancy shrugged. "It's nothing. I should thank you for standing up for me, Mr. Miller. Let's talk about work now."

"Alright, let me tell you..."

---

Chapter 5: It Turns Out to Be Him

After spending the whole afternoon chatting with Howard, Nancy got a pretty good idea about the student she was going to teach.

The little girl's name was Juliana Smith. She came from a single-parent family, which made her a bit quirky. She had gone through several teachers, but none of them worked out. Besides, her parent had sky-high expectations for the teacher. Howard had no choice but to find Nancy.

At first, Nancy wasn't too keen on the job, but after hearing about Juliana's situation, she got interested. Besides learning piano abroad, she had also taken psychology courses, and this seemed like a perfect case for her.

At 7 PM, Nancy arrived at the Smith Villa in the city center. This was the most upscale area in Harmony City, and only wealthy families like the Smiths could afford houses here. The Davis family didn't have that kind of money or status.

The lesson was actually set for 7:30 PM, but since it was Nancy's first time there, she showed up half an hour early to get a feel for the place and to understand Juliana's personality.

The servant quickly left after bringing Nancy to Juliana's room, like there was something scary inside.

Nancy stood at the door, where a woman and a girl were sitting by the desk. The woman was speaking, clearly trying hard to keep her cool, "Juliana, I've told you many times that the adjacent numbers are the ones before and after this number. Let me ask you again, which two numbers are next to 5?"

Juliana replied, "8 and 9."

The woman got even more frustrated, asking, "Are you doing this on purpose?"

Juliana said indifferently, "Yes, is there a problem?"

The woman threatened, "Juliana, if you keep this up, I'll tell your dad that you're an idiot."

"You dare," Juliana said confidently, "I'm my dad's child. If you say I'm an idiot, you're saying my dad is an idiot. Then you'll see what happens."

Emily Lewis was about to lose it. Juliana was always like this, unresponsive to any teaching, and she would scribble on her homework. Moreover, Edward didn't care and insisted that Juliana just hadn't developed an interest in learning yet, even questioning Emily's teaching abilities. If this continued, Emily might lose her job.

Emily pleaded, "Juliana, I'm begging you, can you tell me what it would take for you to study properly?"

Juliana replied, "I just won't study. I know very well what you're up to."

Emily retorted, "I just want you to study well. What else could I want?"

Juliana denied, "No, you want to be my stepmother, but I will never agree to that, and my dad won't like you either."

This made Emily's face look a bit unpleasant and she asked, "Why?"

Juliana replied, "Because you're too ugly."

Nancy, standing outside the door, couldn't help but laugh, which Emily heard. Her face twisted with anger and she thought, 'It's one thing for Juliana to mock me, but even an unknown woman dares to laugh at me. Moreover, how am I ugly? I was the most beautiful girl in the physics department back in the day!'

"Who are you?" Emily asked unkindly.

Nancy greeted, "Hello, I'm the new piano teacher. Are you not finished here yet?"

She smiled, but Emily felt uncomfortable, thinking she was too beautiful, which made Emily feel a sense of crisis.

Emily mocked, "Piano teacher? You dressed like you're here to talk business."

Today was Nancy's first day on the job. She wore a simple light khaki collared dress, a casual business style. She initially thought they were all here to earn money and should work together to educate Juliana, but now it seemed unlikely.

Nancy said, "Really? But your clothes do look like a teacher's style, very mature and steady."

Emily was pleased with her flattery, saying, "Dressing appropriately in teaching is most important."

"Are you stupid? She's saying your clothes are tacky." Juliana laughed, holding her stomach, and Nancy couldn't help but chuckle.

Emily's previously smiling face instantly turned sour, and she said angrily, "Juliana, I will tell your dad about your recent behavior, and also report what this new piano teacher has said to him. Miss, today is your first day at the Smith Villa, and it might be your last."

"I'm so scared." Nancy pretended to be very scared.

"So scared." Juliana echoed.

At that moment, Emily felt that these two people looked a bit alike, both in appearance and expression. She shook her head to dismiss this absurd thought, then left the room with a lot of resentment.

After Emily left, Juliana crossed her arms and looked at Nancy with her chin up, saying, "You're my new piano teacher? Let me tell you, I actually hate the piano the most. Although you helped me teach that annoying jerk a lesson just now, it's impossible to make me learn the piano."

"Then you don't need to learn," Nancy also crossed her arms and said, "During piano lessons, you can do whatever you want, and I won't care."

Juliana was overjoyed. "Really?"

"Really." Nancy nodded.

"Why?" Juliana asked.

Nancy replied, "You've never worked, so you don't understand. For adults who have to work, there's nothing better than getting paid without having to do any work."

Juliana's eyes widened, and she asked, "Aren't you afraid I'll tell my dad?"

Nancy said confidently, "No. If you tell your dad, you'll have to change piano teachers again. They won't be as easygoing as I am and will definitely force you to learn the piano. You wouldn't be that stupid, right?"

"Of course not." Juliana pouted. Although not having to learn the piano was delightful, she still felt something was off.

"That's good. You go play, and I'll play on my phone for a while." Nancy said, took out her phone from her bag, and started playing games, as if she had completely forgotten what she was there for.

Seeing this, Juliana also took out her toys and started playing. After a while, she looked up at the time and realized it was almost 9 PM. She said anxiously, "Stop playing. My dad is coming back soon. Teach me something quickly, or I won't be able to explain."

"OK," Nancy put away her phone and said, "But I don't know your level yet. How about you play a piece for me first?"

"Alright," Juliana replied and reluctantly started playing.

Edward walked in just as this scene unfolded. It was unexpected for him to see Juliana, who usually disliked learning the piano, sitting quietly and playing.

After finishing the piece, Juliana turned and saw Edward at the door. She jumped off the chair and ran to hug him, shouting, "Dad, you're back!"

Edward said, "Yes, I'm back. Why are you so well-behaved today?"

Juliana replied, "Because you told me to study well. Are you tired today?"

The scene of the father and daughter hugging and talking was very heartwarming, but Nancy had no interest in appreciating it because this man was the same one she had spent a wild night with last night!

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Can't wait to know what's next? Tap to continue!

The story unfolds with you as the main character — play now!

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

My head pounds like a war drum, my body aches in places I didn’t know could hurt. Sunlight cuts through the blinds, illuminating dust motes dancing above the rumpled sheets. And then I see him—half-naked, face buried in the pillow, muscles taut even in sleep. Not William. Never William. The man I married was supposed to be dying. This one looks like he could conquer kingdoms.

I scramble to remember: the dinner, the wine, the sudden heat flooding my veins. My foster father’s smile as he poured. A trap. I meant to go to room 2806. I ended up in 2906. One wrong turn, one drugged sip, and now I’ve slept with a stranger.

I grab my clothes, heart racing. But on the nightstand, a welcome card mocks me: Dear Mr. Smith. Smith? As in Edward Smith? The man whose name headlines every business journal? The single father everyone in Harmony City whispers about?

I freeze. If this is his room… then who am I running from? And what happens if he wakes up?