Chapter 1 Chapter 1

Preston Brown, my boyfriend, was determined to claim his family's fortune. So, he arranged for his best friend to sleep with me, just to get an heir. … When I opened my eyes, I saw Preston handing the scarf I had spent a week knitting to Rowan Kerr again. "This suits you better," he said casually. "Go ahead and keep it." We were at a party, and Rowan had just gotten off a long flight. His face showed faint traces of exhaustion. Still, it did nothing to soften the sharp lines of his face or the way his black suit hugged his frame. He radiated the quiet confidence of a man in his prime. At that moment, Rowan gently swirled the glass of champagne in his hand, his gaze dark and unreadable. "Preston, I made that for you," I commented with a frown. To my surprise, Preston didn't even try to hide his indifference. His voice turned sharp as he shot back, "It's just a scarf. Rowan and I have been best friends since we were kids. We don't draw lines. What's the big deal if I give it to him?" Those were the exact words he had said in my past life. In that instant, everything clicked. I had been reborn. In my past life, Preston had lost the ability to have children after an accident. But he needed an heir to strengthen his claim in the family inheritance battle. So, he didn't think twice before sending me to Rowan's bed. Later, I got pregnant. And with that, Preston gained full control of his family's shares. Just when I thought we could finally be a real family, he locked me and the baby in a basement. There, we endured inhumane treatment every single day. Eventually, I couldn't take it anymore. I begged him to take us to the hospital. But on the way, we were ambushed. The crash had been orchestrated by Preston's mistress, Naomi Tate. As I drifted in and out of consciousness, I could faintly hear her voice. That was when the truth hit me—my child was Rowan's. All those years I had spent loving Preston had been for nothing. Regret crashed over me, and tears slipped down my face. Right then, Rowan ran his fingers lightly over the scarf before wrapping it around his neck. A beat later, he turned to me with a smile. "It really does suit me. It's warm and comfortable, too." Suddenly, the memory of the car crash in my past life came rushing back. I remembered how, as my vision began to blur, he had rushed into the wreckage without hesitation. He held me tightly and tried to pull me free. "Don't be afraid, Yolanda. I'm getting you out of here," he had said. However, my legs were completely pinned, and gasoline was seeping toward the flames. In the final seconds before the explosion, Rowan threw himself over me, shielding me with his body as the flames engulfed him. With what little strength he had left, he whispered, "Yolanda, I thought I'd never get the chance to say this, but… I love you." The memory sent a dull ache through my chest. A smile tugged at my lips as I replied, "It really does suit you. If you like it, I can knit you a sweater to match." The moment the words left my mouth, everyone—including Preston and Rowan—turned to look at me with surprise. Preston, in particular, took a sip of his drink to hide the irritation in his eyes.

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

Halfway through the party, Preston handed me a glass of wine, saying, "Yolanda, let's toast. Here's to you being by my side for every birthday from now on." I knew he had laced the drink with something to knock me out. Even so, I accepted it with a smile. The moment Preston looked away, I poured it out. Then, I slumped over the table, feigning drowsiness. … When the party ended, Preston said he'd take me home. Instead, he drove me to a hotel. I kept my eyes shut, pretending to be asleep. However, every word between him and Naomi cut through me. "Preston, your girlfriend's young and stunning. Are you really going to hand her over to Rowan?" asked Naomi. Preston pulled her into his arms and kissed her cheek. "I don't have a choice. My dad has made it clear that whoever gives him a grandchild first gets the inheritance. Word is my useless brother's already trying to knock someone up. I can't afford to wait any longer. "Besides, I've been with Yolanda for years. Sure, she's pretty, but even beauty gets old. You, though… You're sexy and smart. I just can't get enough of you." … Before I knew it, the room was filled with the wet, revolting sounds of their kisses. The noise echoed from every corner. I, on the other hand, lay there with my fists clenched. In my past life, my relationship with Preston had been a strategic alliance between our families. For the sake of our shared interests, I turned a blind eye to his behavior, so long as he didn't cross the line. But now, he was doing something this despicable right in front of me. He didn't even bother to pretend I mattered. After their little make-out session, Naomi wiped her mouth and leaned against Preston. "I'm heading back to my room. Once you've handled your business, come find me. I bought a particularly sexy nightgown. I'm just waiting for you to take it off me." Preston let out a suggestive chuckle. "Well, I can't wait to see how hot things get tonight." After the two of them left, I pushed myself up from the bed. Rage and hatred burned inside me, threatening to boil over. Suddenly, the pain from that car crash came flooding back. … I didn't know how much time had passed before I heard voices and footsteps outside the door. "I know your company's struggling," Preston began. "As long as you get Yolanda pregnant, the project is yours. I'm only giving you this because we've been best friends since we were kids. "You get to sleep with a woman and walk away with a project. It's a win-win. Don't worry. Yolanda's out cold. Just be gone before she wakes up." With that, the door creaked open. Preston walked in, steadying a slightly drunk Rowan by the arm. I quickly lay back down and shut my eyes. Preston looked down at me, his lips curling into a smug smile. Then, he gave Rowan a final reminder. "She's all yours tonight. Just do exactly as I said." Having said that, he stepped out and closed the door behind him. My stomach twisted with nerves. In my past life, I had been drugged and hadn't known a thing about what happened that night. However, this time, I was wide awake. I had no idea how to deal with Rowan. Just when I didn't know what to do, I felt the mattress dip beside me. Rowan had sat down, silently watching me. I cracked one eye open. The tenderness in his gaze didn't look anything like someone who was drunk. So, I steeled myself and decided to go along with it. I pretended to stir, then slowly sat up and wrapped my arms around Rowan's neck. My warm breath brushed against the hollow beneath his ear as I muttered, "Preston, what took you so long? I've been waiting forever." The moment I touched him, his body tensed. However, he didn't push me away. Bathed in moonlight, his chiseled features seemed veiled in mist. They were cold and sharp. I carefully tested the waters. Once I was sure Rowan was sober, I let out a breath of relief. Was he really sleeping with me just for the project? If that were true, then what did his sacrifice mean in my past life? What about the promise he had whispered to me in his final moments? Whether his feelings were real or not, I couldn't bring myself to let go. It was the only way I could survive. So, I gathered my courage, leaned in, and kissed the corner of his mouth. "Preston…" I cooed. Rowan's expression darkened instantly. "What did you just call me?" I decided to go all in. I tightened my arms around his neck, and using the most seductive voice I could manage, I whispered, "Oh, honey…" Just like that, Rowan snapped. In a swift motion, he pinned my wrists above my head with one hand. With the other, he undid the buttons of my blouse, revealing my fair skin. His breath grew ragged as he trailed kisses down my neck.

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

Rowan's company was based overseas, and he rarely came back to the country. I had only seen him a handful of times, so I couldn't understand why he had fallen for me. Just as I was lost in that confusion, his sudden, rough movement made me gasp in discomfort. Rowan let go the moment he heard me. "Sorry. Did I hurt you?" Irritated by the abrupt pause, I reached for him again, wanting more. Seeing that, he let go of all restraint. With a strength that felt almost feral, he pinned me beneath him. The veins in his forehead bulged as he drove into me roughly. Gradually, I lost myself in the pleasure. Every thrust only made me crave more. Rowan kissed me as he spoke. His already magnetic voice had grown raspier from how hard he was going. "Yolanda, do you know who I am?" he asked. I could barely think straight. In a daze, I murmured Preston's name. Rowan let out a self-deprecating laugh. "You're completely out of it. I'm guessing you won't remember anything I say tonight." Then, he lifted me into his lap. I wrapped my legs around his waist as he moved slowly, grinding against my most sensitive spot. The friction made my mind spiral. "Yolanda, I've liked you for a long time," he whispered, lightly biting my already flushed ear. My thoughts were a mess, so I didn't stop to wonder why he liked me. All I needed was for him to go faster. My legs clamped tighter around him. Rowan knew exactly what I wanted, but instead of giving in, he kept teasing me. "Say my name again," he demanded. "Preston…" I moaned. A dangerous grin spread across his face. "Wrong." He then slammed into me, hitting exactly where I couldn't take it. A muffled cry escaped me as my body shuddered violently from the impact. Tears I couldn't control streamed down my face, mixing with spit. "Call me honey," Rowan growled. His seductive voice was impossible to resist. I couldn't take it anymore. "I-I'm sorry, honey…" I whimpered. With each breathless moan, Rowan gave in to the beast inside him. He lifted me higher and drove into me with savage force. The heat between us didn't fade until well past midnight. … By the time I woke the next morning, Rowan was gone. The sheets beside me were cold. Clearly, he had left hours ago. After that, I slipped into my pajamas. Yet, they couldn't hide the marks he had left the night before. Blushing, I crept downstairs. Preston was sitting there, a contract in one hand and a cigarette in the other. The love bites peeking from his open collar said everything about how his night had gone. A beat later, he turned to Rowan with a smug grin. "Yolanda's not bad, right? Too bad she's a little tame in bed. You should give it a go with Naomi next time. She really knows how to move her hips." Rowan sat with his legs crossed, calmly reviewing the contract. He looked completely unimpressed and replied flatly, "I'll pass." Preston assumed he was just putting on a show. He let out a lecherous chuckle before saying, "Come on, it's just a woman. Try a few and you'll see what you've been missing." After confirming the details, Rowan signed his name. Then, he looked up. His voice was cold as he shot back, "I'd rather not catch anything." In an instant, Preston's smile faltered, and a look of disdain flickered in its place. Rowan closed the folder before lighting a cigarette of his own. "You've been managing this project from the start. Are you really just handing it over?""My company's too big to waste time on something this small. I heard yours has been strapped for cash. This seems like a good fit for you," Preston answered with a smile. Rowan acted like he didn't hear the condescension in his tone. However, I knew the truth. The "small project" Preston handed off would turn out to be a goldmine. It was the very thing that launched Rowan's company into the big leagues.

Chapter 4 Chapter 4

It was already noon when I finally woke up again. After getting dressed, I headed downstairs. Preston was in the living room, sipping his coffee. His disdainful remarks from the night before echoed in my mind. The moment I saw him, my gaze sharpened with resentment. Preston noticed me staring at him. He instinctively reached up to cover the love bites on his neck, but thought better of it and let his hand drop. Instead, he grumbled, "Do you know what time it is? Why are you just coming down now?" Suppressing the discomfort gnawing at me, I forced a smile. With one hand on my lower back, I strolled over and sat across from him. "It's all your fault," I whined. "You were way too rough last night. I could barely keep up. And now, my back hurts." As soon as I said it, Preston's grip faltered. His coffee mug tilted, and a few drops splashed onto his shirt. I grabbed a napkin and dabbed at the stain for him. "What's wrong?" I asked, playing dumb. His fingers tightened around the mug, his knuckles turning white from the pressure. Still, he kept his tone casual. "How did you feel last night?" I quickly covered my face, feigning bashfulness. My voice turned coy as I answered, "Honey, you were amazing. I've never felt so satisfied." Preston's jaw clenched as his teeth ground audibly. Even so, he managed to keep a composed front. "Never, huh?" I pulled my hand away from his shirt and slid onto his lap. Lifting his chin with one finger, I teased, "I mean, you've always been great. But last night was something else." I deliberately looked past Preston's darkening expression and continued reminiscing. "You were completely out of control last night. I lost count of how many times you finished, and you still wouldn't let me go." His face tensed, the muscles tightening as he fought to keep his expression in check. Even the hand holding his coffee mug trembled uncontrollably. With a loud clatter, Preston set his mug down. He then stood and straightened his clothes before muttering, "I'm heading out." I batted my lashes at him sweetly. "Okay. I'll be right here waiting for you." He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms. Without another word, he stormed out and never once looked back. … I hadn't even showered yet after everything that had happened the previous night. So, I stepped into the bathroom and turned on the water, letting it wash away the traces still clinging to my body. Not long after, I realized I had forgotten to bring in a towel. I heard footsteps outside the door. Assuming it was Preston, I called out, "Preston, can you grab me my towel? It's the pink one on the couch." There was no response, but I heard the footsteps retreat. I figured he had gone to get it. Moments later, a hand finally reached into the bathroom, holding the towel. That was when I saw the scar. It was the exact same one I had seen on the back of Rowan's hand the night before. My heart skipped a beat. As I took the towel, I didn't notice the bar of soap under my foot, and I slipped. In a flash, Rowan burst in. He managed to catch me by the waist. We locked eyes. I was completely naked, frozen in the most painfully awkward position. "I…" Rowan had just started to speak when a furious voice exploded behind him. "What the hell are you two doing?" Preston roared.