Ariella Rios was ravaged through the entire night.

Three years. She had long lost count of how many nights had ended like this-her body aching, her heart numbed, all because of the same man - Lucian Sterling.

Every time she whimpered in pain, he only grew rougher, as if her suffering fed some twisted desire in him.

Was it conquest that drove him? Or... was it love? She didn't know anymore.

They said the deeper the love, the wilder the passion. But if that were true, then why did his love feel more like punishment? Was it possible to love someone so much that you destroyed them in the process?

"Tell me, baby... you still want me, don't you?"

"Be honest. You'll never forget me - not in this lifetime."

"Remember this - no man touches you but me. Ever."

His voice still lingered in her ears, rough and low with heat - the kind of possessive whispers he breathed against her skin in the throes of passion.

Every time Ariella thought about it, her cheeks would flush crimson, her heart pounding like a traitor in her chest.

Dragging her exhausted body, Ariella showed up for Fiona Ross's wedding-her best friend. She hadn't met the groom before. Fiona insisted on keeping it a surprise. She hadn't even dropped a hint about who he was.

But nothing could've prepared Ariella for this.

The man Fiona just married was the same one who'd been in her bed last night-the man who'd shared her body for three whole years.

Lucian.

He liked his steak medium rare, had a faded birthmark on his thigh, and always frowned a little when thinking.

Ariella thought she knew him so well... Yet now she realized she didn't even deserve to know he was getting married. And of all people-he'd married Fiona.

Pain stabbed through her chest. Her fingers twisted together without her noticing. She wanted to scream at him, to ask how he could lie to her like this, but she knew she had no right.

Just for a second, she forced herself into calm. She slapped on a gentle smile, turning to Fiona with soft eyes, pretending everything was fine. "Congratulations, Fiona."

Fiona beamed, turning to her new husband. "This is my bestie, Ariella!"

Lucian looked at Ariella like she was a complete stranger. Cool, composed, not a flicker of recognition in his eyes.

"Hi, I'm Lucian," he said politely and reached out his hand.

Her palm was clammy with sweat, and the moment their fingers touched, she panicked and pulled back like she'd touched something scalding.

Ariella avoided his eyes. She was terrified one slip in her expression would tip Fiona off.

But Lucian? He was ice-calm, collected like always, not even a crack in his mask. Of course he wouldn't give anything away-not to the woman he just vowed himself to.

A strand of hair had stuck to Fiona's face. Lucian leaned in and gently moved it aside. He did it so carefully, like her face was glass. Like she might break.

Ariella's heart clenched. He'd never treated her with that kind of tenderness. She always thought he was cold by nature-but nope. Clearly, he had it in him. Just... not for her.

Her mind went numb. Like a puppet, she let someone guide her to a seat inside the hotel banquet hall.

The hall buzzed with excited chatter. People gushed about the bride and groom-their backgrounds, their looks, how perfect they were together.

But Ariella couldn't bring herself to smile. If this was Fiona's husband-someone so good at lying and cheating-then how could she feel happy for her?

He'd hidden this from them both. That alone said everything.

She couldn't just tell Fiona the truth about her and Lucian-that would blow everything up. So, she quickly shot a message to Dominic, hoping it wasn't already too late.

Just as she hit send, the wedding march kicked in. Guests rose to their feet, welcoming the bride and groom with cheerful applause.

Fiona's father, face full of pride, gently placed his shy, beaming daughter's hand into Lucian's. He looked every bit the perfect groom-calm, elegant, all smiles. The applause felt like it would never end.

But Ariella couldn't shake the feeling that he'd been scanning the room for her. Probably just her imagination. After all, when she looked at him, he was gazing at his bride like she was his whole world.

The ceremony went on. The hostess brought out the wine for the traditional toast-it was almost done. But where the hell was the guy she arranged to mess things up?

She couldn't stand watching Lucian putting on that charming gentleman act anymore. It made her stomach turn. Quietly, she stood up and stepped away from the crowd.

In the restroom, she pulled out her phone to call Dominic, finger hovering over the screen-then suddenly, a warm weight pressed against her back. A man's arms wrapped tightly around her.

She jumped, about to scream, but a familiar hand covered her mouth. She knew that scent all too well. Who else could it be but Lucian?

Wasn't he supposed to be still out there, toasting his bride? What the hell was he doing here? Did he just ditch the ceremony?

"You... weren't you out there doing the wedding toast?" Her voice shook as she asked.

Warm breath near her ear, then his low, hoarse voice: "I want you. Now."

The cold bluntness of those words shattered any illusion she had that he might've been here for her. For a second, she thought he came to call things off for her. What a joke.

Her brows furrowed, heart sinking, she turned to face him, disbelief in her eyes. She wanted to ask if he'd gone insane.

But he didn't care what she had to say. He tightened his grip around her waist and shoved her further into the restroom with a few harsh steps before turning the lock behind them.

To make his next move, he yanked his hand away from her mouth-his other hand already trailing up her thigh underneath her skirt.

"I don't want this!" she growled, pushing back. It was the first time she'd ever said no to him. First time she'd resisted.

Especially today. He was her best friend's husband now. It was their wedding. If she gave in, what little self-respect she had left would be gone.

"You don't get to say no to me," he murmured again into her ear.

Yeah... She never had that option. One word from him, and her father's fate was sealed...

"Please. Let me go. She's my best friend. If not for me, at least think about her, can you?" Her voice trembled with desperation, tears blurring her eyes.

He could hate her all he wanted, but what he was doing now-here, on their wedding day-this was beyond cruel.

But it was like he didn't even hear her. He grabbed both her wrists with one hand, held them tight, and pushed his other hand deeper-

It hurt. Her body hurt, but her heart? That was a thousand times worse.

He never cared what she wanted. Never once. Maybe to him, she wasn't even as valuable as a stray dog.

She'd thought his marriage meant she could finally walk away. Turns out, she couldn't have been more wrong.

"Don't blame me for wanting you here. You're the one who dressed like this - tempting me the way only you know how.

"Tell me... was it on purpose?" he whispered, voice thick with desire, even as he kept going.

Ariella shut her eyes tight, lips trembling. Her fingers clung to the bathroom door for support as hot tears silently hit the cold white tiles one by one.