"Don’t touch me, stay away! Get away from me…"

In the dimly lit room, Evelyn Grace scrambled toward the edge of the bed, panic written all over her face. But every step she retreated, the towering shadow of the man loomed closer.

Like a predator closing in on its prey, ready to tear her apart.

"Don’t come any closer… Please, I’m begging you…"

A low, raspy chuckle echoed in the darkness, filled with disdain and menace.

The man’s strong hand grabbed her chin suddenly, forcing her to face him. His face drew closer, inch by inch, his scorching breath washing over her. "You dared to provoke me, huh? Now you have to pay the price."

Price? What price?

Evelyn’s mind was a chaotic mess, paralyzed by fear. She flailed her hands desperately, struggling. "No, don’t…"

Her words were cut off, swallowed by an overpowering force, leaving her utterly powerless to resist.

"No!"

Her eyes flew open as she woke with a start. Sunlight poured in through the car window, so bright that she had to shield her eyes.

Her face was pale, a fine layer of cold sweat clinging to her skin. Fear still lingered in her eyes, unmistakably shaken by the nightmare.

It was that dream again. The same terrible dream.

But the aching pain in her body served as an unforgiving reminder—a cruel confirmation that what happened last night wasn’t just a nightmare.

And then there was his voice from last night, full of rage and menace as she fled, wounded and terrified: "I won’t let you get away with this!" He wouldn’t let her go. This wasn’t just an empty threat.

Because Evelyn Grace could feel an overwhelming sense of danger from him, something she couldn’t possibly fight against.

He might come for her soon.

Her fingers trembled uncontrollably, and she instinctively covered her head, trying desperately to piece together what had happened that night. But the alcohol had blanked out her memory. No matter how hard she tried, she just couldn’t remember.

She had no idea who he was or how she had managed to anger him.

“Miss Grace, we’ve arrived.”

The driver’s words pulled Evelyn out of her thoughts.

She blinked in surprise, then glanced out the car window, seeing the upscale coffee shop ahead. Uneasiness crept into her chest.

She was about to meet her fiancé, the man she was scheduled to marry tomorrow—Ethan Hughes, South City's most prominent heir of the Hughes family fortune as well as the current CEO of Hughes Group.

The word on the street was that, in just five years, Ethan had transformed Hughes Group from a domestic powerhouse into a global business empire, earning himself a legendary reputation. His methods were relentless, tough, and unforgiving, leaving no room for negotiation. Just hearing his name instilled fear in others.

Countless socialites and daughters of wealthy families had dreamed of winning his favor and becoming the Hughes family’s daughter-in-law. But the one who had been granted this honor turned out to be Evelyn Grace, whose family background was nothing extraordinary.

The only reason she was chosen was because she had been handpicked by Mrs. Hughes as the future granddaughter-in-law.Evelyn Grace had no idea why Ethan Hughes wanted to see her the day before their engagement, but for her, it was the perfect chance.

The chance to call it off.

Even though this engagement was something countless women dreamed of, after the humiliation of being violated the night before, there was no way she could go through with it.

But how was she supposed to tell a man like him, a man who stood at the very top of the world, that she wanted to break it off?

Feeling uneasy, Evelyn adjusted the silk scarf around her neck, carefully hiding the marks left by that man the night before.

...

The Clyde Café, a luxurious spot known for catering exclusively to the elite, was eerily quiet. There wasn’t a single customer around, not even a waiter.

At a private, secluded table by the window sat a man with an air of effortless elegance. His dark striped suit fit perfectly, outlining his tall, lean frame. One leg rested casually over the other, showcasing his long, straight legs.

And above that—his face. A face so strikingly handsome that it could drive any woman wild. His defined jawline, thin yet alluring lips, sharp nose, and those deep blue eyes that seemed to gleam with raw intensity.

One look was enough to take someone’s breath away—and send shivers down their spine.

He held a cup of coffee in his hand, his lips slightly curled into a faint, icy smirk that exuded a chilling dominance.

“Still haven’t found her?”

Victor Stone, his assistant, flinched as if struck. He immediately bowed deeply, beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead. "Sorry, sir. The surveillance footage from the hotel you were in the other night was deliberately destroyed. We can't determine who entered your room, and it's unlikely we'll have her identity by tomorrow."

Not being able to confirm meant that the bride-to-be couldn't be replaced with her for tomorrow’s engagement banquet.

But Ethan Hughes was never a man to accept defeat—especially when it came to something, or someone, he wanted.

And she had caught his attention. There was no way he'd let her off easily. What happened that night? That was only the beginning.

"One month."

Ethan's cold laugh carried a chilling determination as his eyes gleamed with resolve. "Find her. Use any means necessary."

"Then... what about the engagement tomorrow?"

Ethan shifted his gaze out the window toward the Bentley that had just pulled up outside. A faint, sardonic smirk tugged at his lips.

It seemed plans would need a slight adjustment.

---

Evelyn Grace walked into the coffee shop. There wasn’t a server in sight, but a man who looked like some kind of assistant stood straight and poised, clearly waiting for her.

"Miss Grace, sir is inside. Please follow me."

"Alright."

From arranging a driver to picking a private location and even assigning someone to guide her, all these gentlemanly gestures from her fiancé only made Evelyn even more uneasy.

If he wanted to discuss their engagement details later, how on earth was she supposed to bring up breaking the engagement?

Keeping her head down, Evelyn walked nervously. Her heart seemed moments away from leaping out of her chest until a pair of polished leather shoes appeared before her, halting her steps.

She’d arrived.

There was no avoiding it now—it was time to face reality. She clutched her handbag tightly, forcing a smile as she lifted her head.

“Hello, Mr. Hughes.”

Evelyn hesitated for a moment. She hadn’t expected her fiancé to be this handsome, like a model who had stepped right out of a magazine. Handsome wasn’t even the right word; he was stunning, with an air of sophistication and a commanding presence that made him seem untouchable—almost otherworldly.

And here she was, planning to break off their engagement. It felt like committing some kind of sacrilege.

Cold sweat started to form on her forehead, her nerves bunching into tighter knots. Her throat felt like it was clogged with a heavy stone, making every attempt to speak a struggle.

“I came here today because... I wanted to talk about our engagement…” she began, her voice trembling.

“Forget it. I’m not going to marry you.”

Ethan cut her off sharply, his tone as curt as a command. There wasn’t a trace of negotiation in his words.

He took a sip of his coffee, his eyes not even flicking toward her.

Evelyn froze, her mind blank as his words echoed in her head. He wasn’t going to marry her? Was he serious? That... that was exactly what she had come to say!

Trying to keep a lid on the strange feeling of relief bubbling up inside her, she forced herself to speak. “So… you brought me here to talk about calling off the engagement?”

“The engagement will proceed as planned. In a month, I’ll make an announcement about canceling it,” Ethan said plainly.

Only then did he finally look at her, briefly, as if granting her some sort of reluctant acknowledgment. He slid a check across the table toward her, his actions calm and deliberate, like everything was already decided. Evelyn Grace stared at the number on the check in shock.

One, two, three, four, five, six zeroes!

She had never seen so much money before, let alone money that could potentially be hers.

Swallowing hard, she forced her gaze away from the check and asked, “Why wait a month to cancel the engagement?”

Wouldn’t calling it off before the engagement save both sides the trouble?

“That’s none of your business.”

His voice was detached, cold, and utterly dismissive.

Ethan Hughes stood, ignoring her entirely as he strode towards the door with his long legs.

He clearly had no patience for her, his only interest being the woman from that night.

He’s leaving, just like that?

Evelyn stood frozen, staring at his retreating figure, struggling to process what just happened.

He called her here, didn’t even stay for a full minute, spoke just three sentences, and then left.

Talk about efficiency—she hadn't even agreed yet!

But…

Maybe this was for the best. Playing along with Ethan Hughes for a month and parting ways afterward—it would all be over soon.