It was late.

The man had only a black towel loosely wrapped around his waist as he leaned back against the headboard, eyes locked on the woman sleeping beside him. His gaze grew darker by the second.

Dark hair, red lips, fair skin—definitely a stunner.

A knock came from outside. Once he granted permission, someone slipped in with barely a sound—clearly well-trained.

"Sir, it's about time."

He nodded, stubbed out the burning cigar between his fingers, and stood up. Even with the dim lighting in the room, his commanding presence was impossible to ignore.

He took the shirt and suit handed over, waved dismissively, and the group quietly exited without a sound.

"Mmm..." the woman on the bed let out a soft noise and shifted. The silk blanket slid down, revealing the passionate marks left on her skin.

The man paused, fingers frozen mid-button. A low chuckle slipped out. So, he wasn’t always in control after all.

"Quite the little firecracker."

...

"So hot... ugh... too hot..." Whimpers echoed softly through the room.

On the big English-style bed, Vivian Miller’s cheeks were unusually flushed, her lips slightly parted. Her pale, slender arms were bound by a gray tie and raised above her head, her delicate figure fully exposed.

Her bare legs dangled slightly, long dark hair clinging to her sweaty skin like sleek black ribbons. Just one glance fired up anyone's imagination.

"Stop... ugh... don’t..." Her faint pleas slipped out unconsciously, making the man before her tense up.

One hand tangled in her damp hair, the other gripped her chin. His lips crashed down, aggressive and unrelenting. "Be good, sweetheart..."

Her hazy eyes tried to focus. Through the faint moonlight, she could barely make out his solid frame, naked and pressing down, stoking the room’s heat sky-high...

"Who... who are you?" she managed to whisper.

"Remember me. I’m—"

He leaned in, whispering two words in her ear, his intense eyes pinning her down like he could shred her soul apart.

Vivian felt as if her whole body was tossed up, again and again, waves of fire shooting through every nerve.

"Ah—"

A sharp scream sliced through the silence of dawn. She jolted awake from what felt like a nightmare, staring into the familiar calm of her bedroom. But she was drenched in sweat, her sleepwear sticking to her skin.

Everything ached, like she’d been through a war. Even the smallest movement sent pain shooting through her.

She rubbed her temples hard. What the hell was that? How could a dream feel that real?

...

And just like that, the wedding day arrived."You look amazing in that dress, sis! Daniel’s gonna be blown away for sure!" Chloe Miller strolled in, her tone lighthearted, eyes sparkling like she’d just seen a fairytale.

The wedding gown was stunning, pure white with a lace back that showed off Vivian Miller’s delicate shoulder blades and narrow waist—the long train flowed across the floor, making her silhouette soft and enchanting.

Vivian’s cheeks turned pink at her sister’s compliment. She lowered her head slightly, clearly a little shy.

In the hall, most of the guests had already arrived. Both the Millers and the Murrays were well-known families in Jinshi, so the people at the wedding were either wealthy or influential.

Vivian stood straight behind the heavy, dark-wood doors, her grip tight on the bouquet. Every step of the wedding ceremony made her heart pound harder. When the wedding march finally began, she started down the red carpet.

Daniel Murray, dressed in a black tux, looked at her with a smile. Those deep eyes were locked on her like she was the only person in the room.

"Miss Vivian Miller, do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to love and stay by his side, in sickness and health, for richer or poorer, till death parts you?" the officiant asked.

Vivian’s voice trembled slightly, her words catching in her throat. "I do," she choked out.

Then it was Daniel’s turn. His response was clear and steady. "I do."

The tall, handsome groom and his petite bride stood together like something straight out of a movie—everything seemed picture perfect.

"Now, may the bride and groom exchange rings."

Daniel gently took Vivian’s hand. He gave the back of it a soft kiss before reaching for the ring to slide onto her finger.

But just then, Vivian’s face suddenly went pale. She turned her head and clamped a hand over her mouth, barely making it in time before she threw up.

The entire room froze. Daniel dropped the ring in surprise, and confused murmurs started to rise among the guests.

"Vivian, hey, are you okay?" Daniel asked, wrapping an arm around her shoulders, clearly worried, as she kept dry heaving uncontrollably.

Chloe stepped in quickly. "She’s been having a messed-up stomach lately, keeps vomiting for no reason. We still don’t know why."

Someone from the crowd suddenly piped up, "Could Miss Miller be pregnant? If so, big congrats to you both!"

That one sentence set off a chain of surprised gasps and cheerful chatter throughout the hall, but Daniel and Vivian’s expressions changed in an instant. Because Daniel had only just gotten back from a work trip overseas a few weeks ago—and if she really was pregnant, the timeline didn’t add up.

Vivian felt her vision blur. Everything was spinning—there was no way she could be pregnant!

Although Daniel’s face twitched briefly, he put on a calm, caring demeanor almost instantly.

"Sorry, folks, Vivian’s not feeling well. I think it’s best if we take her to the hospital right away. The ceremony can wait—her health comes first." With that, Daniel scooped her up in his arms and walked straight out of the hall.