The atmosphere in the master suite shifted from cold to suffocatingly hot in seconds. The steam from the shower l pushed him too far. MichaelHi wasn't a man who took insults lightly.
"Wait! Michael," But her protest was silenced as his lips crushed hers, stifling any further argument. He moved with a ruthless, calculated grace, pinning her wrists above her head with one hand. Evelyn shook her head frantically, her wet hair lashing against the tiles, but her body was already betraying her, responding to the raw heat radiating from him.
The last time, lost in a drug-induced haze at the hotel, she had been a passenger in her own body. This time, her mind was crystal clear. She could feel every inch of him, the scent of expensive soap and dark intent filling her senses.
In a moment of desperation, she bit down on his lower lip. The metallic tang of blood bloomed between them, but Michael didn't flinch. He pulled back just an inch, his thumb tracing the wound on his lip before smearing the crimson drop across her cheek.
"The last time we met, you treated me like a common escort and left me a ridiculous note," The man growled, his voice a low, jagged vibration against her ear. "Then you had the audacity to strike me. Tonight, Evelyn, the interest on those debts has come due."
He didn't care that she had used him as an antidote that first night. He only cared that she thought she could disregard him in that manner, and walk away.
"I was wrong! I'm sorry!" Evelyn gasped, her resolve crumbling under his gaze. "Please, just let me go!"
"Too late," he whispered.
The bathroom was filled with the sounds of her protests that slowly, inevitably, melted into breathless pleas for mercy. By the time the sun began to peek through the curtains the next morning, Evelyn could only mutter a single word 'cruel" before falling into a deep, exhausted sleep.
She didn't wake up until three in the afternoon. The bed beside her was cold; The man had long since vanished.
Dragging her aching body to the bath, Evelyn stared at the marks he had left on her skin, violent purples and deep blues that looked like a map of his possession. She touched a mark on her collarbone, wondering if she was truly prepared to sign her life away to a man who was more predator than protector.
But she was cornered. He had already "claimed" her twice; at least a marriage certificate turned a scandal into a contract. It was better to be a legal wife than a disposable mistress. Grandma would have hated this, she thought bitterly, but Grandma isn't here to protect me anymore.
She dressed quickly, forced down a few bites of the lunch the housekeeper provided for her and went to find Michael. She found him in his study, surrounded by monitors and documents she had no idea about.
"We need to go," she said, her voice sounding steadier than she felt.
The man looked up, a flicker of surprise in his dark eyes.
" Are you in such a hurry to become Mrs. Thorn?" The man question.
"I just want to get it over with before the bureau closes," she lied, avoiding his gaze.
He stood up, his eyes trailing down to the scarf she had tied around her neck to hide his handiwork. A slow smile touched his lips. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you enjoyed last night so much you're rushing to secure your spot in my bed every night."
"In your dreams!" she snapped, though her heart did a traitorous flip.
"If you don't deny it, I'll take it as a 'yes,'" he countered, grabbing his keys.
Before heading to the Civil Affairs Bureau, The man took a detour. He drove the car to the front of the Meyers Mansion, Evelyn stared at the yellow police tape and the official court seals on the doors.
Without a word, Michael stepped out, tore the seals away as if they were nothing, and produced a key.
"How... how do you have that?" she whispered, following him inside. "The bank seized everything."
"There isn't a lock in this city I can't open, Evelyn. Now, go find your documents."
The house was cold and silent, a ghost of the life she used to have. Evelyn hurried to her father's study, tears blurring her vision as she found the family registry in his desk. She took one last look at her bedroom, everything was exactly as she'd left it for the party, a life that felt like it belonged to a different person.
When she came back downstairs, she saw the man waiting by the door, and for a brief second, the gratitude she felt outweighed her fear. He had given her back a moment of her past. One day, she vowed, I will buy this house back myself.
They reached the bureau just as it was about to close for the day. The process was low-key, professional, and fast.
'Evelyn Meyers. Michael Thorne. Married.'
That evening, the celebration was just as practical. Michael drove her to a Mall, bypassed the crowds and parked in a private underground bay. They took the elevator to of the top floors.
Evelyn had shopped here before when she was the "Princess of Meyers Corporation" but the atmosphere felt different today. The sales staff nearly tripped over themselves when they saw Michael. He radiated the kind of wealth that didn't need to check a price tag.
Evelyn stood by the glass counters, her mind racing. She still didn't understand why he wanted this. Was it really just because of their first night? She wasn't naive; a man like Michael Thorn could have any woman in the world, women with more power, more grace, and fewer problems than her.
Does he just want to own the daughter of his rival? she wondered.
"Evelyn. Focus." The man's voice cut through her thoughts. He pointed to a display of rare, princess-cut stones. "What do you think of this one?"
"Good evening, Madam," the sales associate gushed, her voice trembling with excitement. "This here, is the Saints crown Jewel, a rare red diamond. She gestured to a delicate piece of diamond laying on its rag and Evelyn stared at the ring. It was breathtaking. It was looked regal, yet modern, much like the man standing beside her.
"Pack this up, we will take it with us" The man noticing her fixed stare at the Ring gestured to the sales attendant and went up beside her.
"A ring this expensive? Evelyn gasped and turned to him. "It's really not necessary, Michael." Evelyn muttered her breathe spiking up. This marriage was a contract, a means to an end. Why mark it with something that cost more than most people earned in a lifetime?
"Do you want to try it on?" The man Questioned, but didnit wait for her answer. Taking her hand in his, be slipped the ring into her finger. It was a perfect fit. The deep red of the stone contrasted beautifully with her fair skin, catching the overhead lights and casting prismatic sparks across her face.
"Don't take it off," The man said, pulling out a card from his wallet. He handed it to the stunned assistant without a second glance.
"Sir, this ring cost Two-hundred-million dollars. the girl stammered, her eyes darting between the card and the man who looked like he was buying a pack of gum. "Are you certain?"
"Yes" The man replied, his voice was flat, bored by the astronomical figure.
"Wait!" Evelyn tried to intervene. "Michael, that amount is too ridiculous.."
The man turned his gaze on her, a sharp, silencing look that froze the words in her throat. She bit her lip and retreated into a frustrated silence. Arrogant. Overbearing. Tyrant. She cursed him in her head as he walked to the register to input his PIN.
On the way back to the car, Evelyn walked several paces ahead of him, her shoulders tense with indignation.
Michael watched her from behind, a faint, amused tug at the corner of his mouth. He followed the angry little woman at a leisurely pace, enjoying the fire she still had left in her.
When they reached the Car, Evelyn marched to the rear door and climbed in, refusing to look at him.
"Move to the front," Michael said, his voice dropping to a dangerous, low frequency.
"No." She stared out the window, her arms crossed.
"Evelyn," he said, leaning into the back seat, his presence suddenly suffocating. "I don't mind a repeat of this morning right here in the parking garage. Move. Now."
The threat hung in the air, heavy and dark. Evelyn's eyes snapped open. She scrambled out of the back and slid into the passenger seat, slamming the door behind her. Michael climbed into the driver's seat, his expression smug, and started the engine.
Evelyn had always been a princess. People obeyed her. But since meeting this man, she felt like her life was being rewritten by someone who delighted in breaking her world apart.
As the car accelerated out of the garage, it swept past a white Ferrari. As the woman who sat by the passenger seat caught a glimpse of the luxury car flying pass them, Her eyes widened in shock.
Tanya Banks was certain. 'That plate number was only identified to the Thorns and the woman in the passenger seat was the very person who was supposed to be ruined and missing: Evelyn Meyers.'
"What are you looking at, Tanya?" Tail question, his brow furrowed as he parked the Ferrari.
"I... I think I just saw Evelyn," Tanya murmured, watching his reaction closely and Tail's face darkened instantly. The mention of his ex-girlfriend was the last thing he wanted to hear. To him, the Meyers family was a sinking ship he had successfully jumped off. "Don't ruin the mood by talking about her. She's probably hiding in some slum by now."
He pulled Tanya toward the elevator, heading for the top floor. He wanted to buy her a piece from the Saint's collection to celebrate their "new beginning."
When they reached the Saint's collection counter, the atmosphere was buzzing. The staff were huddled together, whispering frantically.
"A two hundred million deal... in under three minutes!"
"Did you see the man? He was gorgeous! And the woman... she looked like a queen."
Tanya cleared her throat, annoyed by the lack of attention. "Excuse me. I'm looking for the Red Saint Diamond. My fiancé wants to see it."
The sales girl looked up, her expression apologetic. "I'm so sorry, Miss Banks. That ring was just sold five minutes ago."
"Sold?" Tanya's voice rose an octave. She had been eyeing that ring for months, waiting for Tail to finally have the Meyers' assets in hand to pay for it. "Who bought it?"
"It was the lady who was here with you last week picking out birthday gifts," the sales girl said innocently. "The one whose husband just paid the full amount without even asking for a discount."
Tanya's face went pale, then twisted into a mask of pure disbelief. "Evelyn? You're telling me Evelyn Meyers just bought a Two-hundred-million dollar ring?"