She felt her sanity unravel, consumed by the fire in his eyes.

Frustration coiled inside her as she realized,

trapped in the heat of his presence,

she was utterly defenseless.

Still, she forced herself to hold his gaze, refusing to waver.

She couldn't afford to lose.

🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀

Arden parked the car in front of the apartment. The girl beside him sat stiffly, her face flushed with embarrassment, her head bowed so low it seemed almost buried in her chest.

"Don't overthink it; it's really nothing," Arden said, his voice calm as he waved the bill in his hand. "You paid for it. I did what I had to do. We're square."

He gently reassured her, concerned that her shame might drive her to do something drastic.

The girl lifted her head, her large, watery eyes gazing at him, brimming with helplessness. Her expression was heartbreakingly vulnerable.

Arden reached out, cupping her face as he pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. His thumb brushed away the tears streaking her cheeks. "Don't worry," he said softly. "I won't tell anyone—not Sandra, not even Ryo. This will stay between us, just our secret."

He watched as April walked into the building, her slender figure disappearing behind the entrance. 

Leaning back in his seat, Arden exhaled slowly, his gaze lingering on the spot where she'd been moments before. Absentmindedly, his thumb grazed his lower lip, tasting the lingering salt of her tears on his fingertip.

He had clearly underestimated her—she was a rare gem, far more captivating than he'd initially thought. No wonder Ryo couldn't leave her alone.

Arden smirked faintly, though a trace of frustration lingered in his eyes. It was cruel irony that, in his current condition, he couldn't partake in the feast laid before him.

For the first time, he had ensured a woman was completely satisfied, yet he himself was left starving—unsatisfied and yearning.

When April, trembling and tear-streaked, had begun unbuttoning her shirt, his head throbbed with pain. Whatever medication the doctor had prescribed to reduce swelling and ease his injuries caused by that violent girl had an unintended side effect. It seemed to awaken every nerve in his body to temptation, except the one part that mattered most, which stubbornly refused to respond.

The result? He had been left physically incapacitated, yet in April's eyes, he had somehow come off as noble, helpful, and selfless in a time of need.

On any other day, he would have seized the opportunity—explored her desires, shown her exactly what she had been missing.

Just thinking about the woman responsible for his predicament made Arden's jaw tighten.

After confirming over the phone that the ice cream he had painstakingly prepared had already been eaten, he had been eagerly awaiting the moment Sandra would come crawling for his help—his perfect chance to humiliate her, to settle the score. But when he finally called, expecting to hear the desperation in her voice, she was no longer home.

For a brief, unsettling moment, Arden's mind spiraled. Had Sandra gone to another man to resolve her frustrations?

No.

She hadn't eaten the drugged ice cream. She had escaped unscathed.

At least the spiked dessert hadn't been entirely wasted. It had led to him rescuing a distressed girl, burning with unexplainable desire and on the verge of calling 911 for help.

Arden couldn't understand how Ryo had never managed to conquer April. She was the type to believe anything you told her, her body melting at the slightest touch. If only Sandra were as obedient and easy to manage as her roommate, life would be far less complicated. There would be no need for constant cajoling and coaxing—everything would fall neatly into place.

Yet Arden knew why Sandra captivated him. It wasn't just about bending her to his will. It was the challenge. It was her defiance, her fiery, unyielding spirit that fueled his desire to conquer her.

From timid, introverted girls to reserved married women, Arden had always been drawn to the most challenging conquests. Yet here he was, undone by a girl who had left him powerless—a feeling he loathed. The indignity was unbearable.

🎬🔀

The girl who had left Arden so vexed had no clue that her enemy was staring furiously at her window. Nor did she know that her roommate, April, hadn't come home all night. 

She lay in another man's bed, her mind blank, her gaze fixed on the curtains. All she could focus on was the steady rise and fall of the man's chest, the quietness of the room, and the overwhelming feeling of emptiness that lingered within her.

Just hours ago, under the flickering neon lights, she had spotted a sports car passing in the distance. A sudden tightness gripped her chest, and without thinking, she pulled Yao closer, using him as a shield between herself and the passing vehicle.

Sandra had no idea of the chain of consequences her choice had set in motion.

Before she could pull away, Yao, driven by a surge of passion, pulled her into a heated embrace, deepening the kiss with burning intensity.

The sting of her bruised lips jolted her back to reality. She hadn't responded, but she hadn't pushed him away either. She remained frozen, caught between conflicting emotions, her mind racing as her heart struggled to understand the moment unfolding before her.

Yao felt Sandra's stiffness, but he misread it to shyness and nervousness. Lost in the euphoria of finally kissing the lips he had longed for, his thoughts were clouded with desire, and his mind couldn't clear itself. The overwhelming joy of the moment drowned out any concerns, and he pulled her closer, unable to resist the urge to deepen their connection.

As Yao drove Sandra back to his place, he couldn't stop stealing glances at the quiet girl in the passenger seat, worried that she might suddenly disappear. When Sandra reached out to pat his face and told him to focus on the road, the softness of her touch snapped him back to reality—it was real!

When they arrived at his place, Yao took Sandra's hand as they walked inside. His roommate, playing video game with his friends in the living room, exchanged a knowing smile upon seeing their clasped hands.

Sandra hesitated, but Yao tightened his grip and gently pulled her toward his bedroom.

Before the door was fully closed, Yao had already pinned her against it. The sound of the lock clicking shut was quickly followed by Sandra instinctively dodging his kiss, only to bump her head against the door.

From outside came a teasing voice: "Take it easy, Yao. We're still here!"

Yao growled over her head, "Get lost!"

Sandra pressed her hands against Yao's chest, feeling the rock-hard muscles beneath her palms and the frantic beat of his heart pulsing under his skin.

A sudden fear gripped her, but Yao didn't give her time to hesitate. His hand slid into her hair, cradling the back of her head as he leaned down to kiss her.

Sandra's thoughts wandered. She suddenly remembered her first kiss with Arden in that hotel room—a kiss that had swept through her like a raging storm.

By the time she came back to her senses, Yao's arm had tightened around her waist, lifting her off the ground. With a half-spin, she found herself falling backward onto the soft bed.

"Yao, don't." Sandra caught his hand that was groping around her waist.

He propped himself up on his elbows, his eyes burning hot with desire.

"Too fast, Yao, too fast." She lay there, breath shallow, her chest rising and falling rapidly.

He grabbed her hand, pulling it to his mouth for a light kiss before interlacing their fingers, pressing it gently to the pillow beside her ear.

"I'm sorry, Sandy." Yao sighed softly, slowing his breathing as he tried to calm himself. "I couldn't help it."

In the end, nothing happened. Yao hugged her from behind, and they lay together in silence, fully clothed, until dawn.

Neither of them slept. Yao didn't want to sleep. Sandra couldn't sleep.

A thought flashed through her mind. 

If the person holding me right now were Arden, how good would that be?

She licked the wound on her lip, which had begun to heal, and whispered to herself.

Sandra, be realistic.

🎬🔀

After more than two weeks of frustration, with Arden's meticulous care and attention, his manhood had finally regained its vigor.

Admiring himself in the mirror, Arden felt a sudden urge to test his prowess. The first name that came to mind was Sandra.

Just the thought of her made his teeth clench. Since turning fourteen, he hadn't gone more than ten days without indulging in life's finer pleasures. For someone so accustomed to such luxuries, the past two weeks had been nothing short of pure torture.

He had mentally concocted countless ways to exact revenge on her, but none seemed satisfying enough to quell the simmering anger inside him.

This time, he swore, if he didn't teach her a lesson, he wouldn't deserve his family name.

Grabbing his phone, he dialed Moya's number.

"What's the most ruthless way to get back at a woman?" Arden asked, his voice sharp with determination.

Moya barely hesitated before answering, "Let her fall in love with someone she shouldn't."

🎬🔀

"Sandra, someone's looking for you downstairs."

Sandra walked to the window and spotted the eye-catching SVJ. 

Her brows furrowed.

"Tell him I'm not—"

Before she could finish, the car door opened, and a long leg stepped out, adorned in high heels.

A woman?

The woman was stunning, with a tall, perfectly proportioned figure. Dressed in luxurious, fashionable attire, she exuded a sensuous aura that was impossible to ignore. She turned heads among the passing students, regardless of gender.

The oversized sunglasses covered half of her face—a detail that sent a flicker of recognition through Sandra's mind. It reminded her of someone else.

"Excuse me, are you... looking for me?" Sandra straightened her back, unwilling to lose ground in demeanor.

The woman removed her sunglasses—a mixed-race beauty with striking, sculpted features—and unabashedly examined Sandra from head to toe. Her gaze was sharp, almost X-ray-like, making Sandra squirm uncomfortably.

Just as Sandra was about to lose her patience, the woman smiled. "You must be Sandra."

Sandra nodded.

The woman gave a knowing expression. "No wonder our Arden can't stop thinking about you."

Her tone bore an uncanny similarity to Arden's. Sandra glanced at the car's license plate—it was indeed that SVJ.

So, this woman is his "dinner companion"? Is she here to claim her territory?

"What do you want?" Sandra asked, her guard going up.

The woman bit the tip of her sunglasses and sighed dramatically. "Oh dear, I'm just here to take a look. Arden has been ignoring all his girls for the past two weeks."

All his girls? Sandra felt a pang of irritation. She, too, had been ignored for the past two weeks. Did it really warrant a personal visit?

"So, you're here to settle scores?"

The woman chuckled. "I was just curious. What kind of woman could make Arden act like a cat whose tail has been stepped on?"

Close enough—except his tail grew in front.

Sandra's lips twitched, but before she could retort, the woman smirked. "Alright, I've seen you. Time for me to go—it'd be awkward if I ran into Arden like this. Nice meeting you, beauty. Bye!"

Sandra stood there, surrounded by the lingering exhaust fumes of the sports car, completely stunned.

What just happened? This woman came and left without even introducing herself.

Judging by the tone of the woman's voice, Arden would likely appear soon. There was no avoiding him today—she had a class to teach.

If she couldn't escape, she'd prepare for battle.

Before Sandra even entered the building, her phone rang. A small Volkswagen pulled up beside her, though she didn't notice.

"Sandy, how long will your class be today?"

Her slender fingers absently toyed with the decorations on her phone case. "Should end around 4:30. Why, do you have something planned?"

"Dinner tonight, together?"

"Sure."

There was a brief pause on the other end before a lowered voice, tinged with secrecy, whispered, "Sandy, I miss you."

Sandra smiled faintly and said, "See you tonight. Bye."

Looking at the new phone Yao had just given her as a gift, Sandra thought to herself, Trying to slowly accept someone didn't seem too bad.

"How sweet," came a voice from behind, laced with mockery.

Sandra didn't turn around; she already knew who it was. Her scalp tingled.

So fast. Luckily, that woman had warned her earlier, giving her time to prepare. She'd been dodging him for two weeks and almost thought she'd gotten away with it.

"You sound so sweet when you talk to him," Arden said as he got out of the car and walked around to face her, looking like an aggrieved husband. "Why are you always so harsh with me?"

To deny in front of me that the man was your boyfriend, while being so intimate behind my back—doesn't that mean I was being cuckolded?

"Did you sleep with him?" Arden asked bluntly.

Sandra's gaze flickered, but she refused to answer. "What I do is none of your business."

Arden's lips curled into a smirk. "Oh, but it is."

"Filthy!"

"All men are the same. Isn't he filthy?"

Sandra bristled. "Yao is nothing like you!"

"Funny." Arden leaned in slightly, his suggestive gaze sparkling with mischief, "Because if I remember correctly, you seemed to really enjoy it when I was being 'filthy' with you."

Sandra clenched her fists, heat rising to her face. She had let him get under her skin again. Without another word, she turned away, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a response.

"What's your new phone number?" Arden asked, pulling out his phone.

Sandra, now calmer, tilted her head and gave him a wry look. "What's the point? I'll just block you anyway."

Arden squinted, leaning in ever so slightly. His voice dropped, laced with menace. "Little kitten, it's only been two weeks, and you've already forgotten." He smirked, his tone possessive. "I am your man."

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

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