In the bathroom, the light was a soft, warm yellow.
Through the transparent glass, the man's strong physique was visible. The hot water cascaded from above, streaming down his well-defined muscles, exuding raw masculine allure.
As soon as Miranda Lewis stepped inside, she was met with this scene. Her delicate face instantly flushed red, and she quickly turned her back to the bathroom, feeling flustered.
Her mother had urged her to confirm the nature of her relationship with her fiancé tonight. But at this moment, all she felt was nervousness and fear.
"Mr... Mr. Lance, how much longer will you be? I need to speak with you."
Her voice was soft and hesitant. Inside the bathroom, Sebastian’s sharp eyes darkened, and his broad back tensed abruptly.
"Get lost."
The words were cold and cutting, but beneath them was a restrained intensity, as though he was enduring something unbearable.
Miranda trembled in fright, instinctively wanting to run.
But then, she remembered the dire situation at home and froze.
"Mr. Lance, I know you don’t approve of the marriage arranged by my grandfather, and you don’t accept me now, but..."
Miranda spoke cautiously, oblivious to the towering figure emerging from the bathroom.
"We can take our time to get to know each other. After all, the wedding is al—ah!"
Before Miranda could finish her sentence, a cold, powerful hand suddenly gripped her shoulder. The next moment, she was pushed onto the bed.
Everything spun in chaos. Before she could react, a chiseled face appeared right in front of her.
His eyes were deep and unreadable, his features sculpted to perfection—every contour sharp and flawless.
"But this wasn’t her fiancé.
This was her fiancé’s Ninth uncle—, Sebastian Lance!
Sebastian, the ruthless president of Lance Enterprises, was a legendary figure in the business world.
It was said that he was cold and merciless, capable of causing financial turmoil with a mere frown.
Rumors also claimed he despised women who dared to provoke him, and those who did… simply disappeared.
Miranda heart pounded in panic. How could it be him? She quickly glanced around, realizing that the room was unfamiliar.
Oh no! In her nervousness, she had entered the wrong room!
Her face turned as pale as a sheet. "N-Ninth Uncle, I’m so sorry! I came to the wrong room. I’ll leave right away."
She frantically tried to push him away.
However -
His tall, commanding presence caged her in.
"Woman, I gave you a chance. You chose to stay."
His voice was low and dangerous, like a predator that had been restrained for too long—suddenly unleashed at the scent of blood.
"Ah! No… please Help..." The unexpected pain made Miranda's face pale and tears welled up in the corners of her eyes.
He was her fiancé’s uncle. How could this be happening?
Despair, agony, and humiliation consumed her.
After a long time, the long storm stopped.
Miranda had fallen into exhaustion, her fragile body trembling.
The man's dark gaze flickered before his expression returned to its usual cold indifference.
His eyes lingered on her delicate face—her fair skin, soft lips, and long lashes. She wasn’t the type of woman who would normally captivate him, yet, for some reason, he couldn’t look away.
For thirty years, he had endured a peculiar condition—a monthly affliction that brought him unbearable pain.
Tonight was one of those nights. He had attempted to numb himself with cold water as always, but the moment he heard her voice, his control shattered.
She was the first woman who had ever affected him this way.
It felt as if the bitter cold had suddenly collided with a scorching sun, igniting something inside him.
After a long moment, the man exhaled deeply and reached out, gently wiping away the tear stains at the corners of her eyes. He then pulled the blanket over her before turning away and heading back into the bathroom.
The moment the bathroom door closed—
On the bed, Miranda's eyelashes fluttered as she slowly woke up, her vision hazy.
The room’s cold, modern décor came into focus, and the distant sound of running water filled her ears.
As memories of what had just happened resurfaced, her face turned deathly pale, and an overwhelming sense of grief and helplessness swelled in her chest.
She once believed that love was something she could choose, that she would one day be with the man she adored.
But after everything her family had gone through, she had already given up on love and accepted a marriage of convenience.
And now, this had happened...
The man who had taken everything from her wasn’t even her fiancé—but his uncle!
What should she do now?