Chapter 1

"Are you nervous to see me?"

Anna Ross stared at the figure in the black suit approaching her, her back ramrod straight.

She never expected to run into her ex, Adrian Sinclair, at the family dinner hotel arranged by her stepfather.

"You—"

She instinctively stepped back, but before she could finish, he had already seized her wrist, slamming her against the cold tiles of the restroom wall.

"Three years apart, and you can worm your way into an event like this? Anna Ross, I underestimated you."

His warm breath brushed her cheek. Adrian looked lazy, but his eyes held a frosty chill. "Who's your sponsor now? Do tell."

"I don't have one!"

Her eyelashes fluttered as she denied it vehemently. Adrian abruptly tightened his grip around her waist.

He lowered his head, biting the soft skin of her neck, his voice low and dangerous. "Why pretend with me? I know exactly what you're like."

Pain spread from her neck. Humiliated and furious, Anna struggled desperately to break free, but she feared her family in the private room next door would notice the commotion.

She could only hiss in a low voice, though it trembled badly. "Let go! Are you insane?"

The corner of Adrian's mouth lifted. Noticing her panicked glances toward the door, he increased the pressure of his hold. The platinum ring set with a sapphire on his finger swayed slightly.

So afraid of being seen?

What kind of man is she with now?

Remembering her resolute breakup three years ago, and recalling how he had just seen her step out of a Mercedes-Benz behind a portly, older man, a dark fury surged in his eyes. His hand abruptly pushed up her skirt.

"Serving an old man is worse than being with me. I'll double whatever he pays you."

His fingers pressed against her inner thigh. The cold gemstone made her shudder. "Or do you prefer older men?"

"Shut up!"

Anna's chest heaved. She raised her hand and slapped him hard across the face.

After all these years, this man's words were still so vicious and cruel! Absolutely hopeless!

The crisp sound of the slap echoed. His handsome, arrogant face reddened instantly.

Adrian's eyes darkened. He pressed his tongue against his cheek, his fingers suddenly clenching.

"You're willing to latch onto an old man for money, but you play the innocent with me?"

He pinned her wrist with one hand, bending to press her against the sink. He bit her lip harshly, his large hand moving directly toward her waist.

Anna fought back frantically, but it was useless.

The butler had said the family dinner was about to start when he picked her up. If she didn't appear soon, the Lowell family would come looking. If they saw this scene, how could she and her mother ever face them?!

Her eyes reddened, but she didn't dare cry out for help. She could only press her knee against him, trying to stop his advance.

But his hand had already slipped under her skirt...

"Don't!"

Tears rolled down Anna's cheeks. She bit her lip until it bled. Adrian watched with mockery in his eyes, his fingers hooking onto the flimsy fabric, ready to tear it away.

Her heart turned to ash. Suddenly, a phone rang.

The man glanced at the caller ID on the screen. His eyes turned cold. He finally released her and turned to answer the call.

She couldn't hear what was said, but Anna clearly felt the chilling aura around him intensify. He let out a cold laugh and responded indifferently. "Right away."

Hanging up, he gave her a deep look before turning and leaving.

Shaken, Anna hurriedly straightened her clothes.

Her phone vibrated on the vanity. She composed herself and answered. Her mother's dissatisfied voice came through. "Where are you? The butler said he picked you up ages ago. Does it take half an hour to fix your makeup? All your father's relatives are here, waiting just for you. Is this appropriate?"

Anna cursed Adrian a thousand times in her heart. "I'm coming now."

After hanging up, she confirmed she looked presentable and walked into the adjacent private room with feigned composure.

But when she saw the figure next to her stepfather, her heart clenched violently!

Adrian Sinclair sat at the head of the table, his expression indifferent, leisurely wiping his fingers with a napkin. Though casual, he exuded the noble air of someone in power.

Why was he here?!

"Anna's here? Let me introduce you, sweetheart."

Her stepfather, Howard Lowell, smiled insincerely and waved her closer. "This is your eldest cousin, Adrian Sinclair. Coincidentally, you both attended Stanford. He was two years ahead of you."

Then he looked at Adrian, piling on a fake smile. "Adrian, you're close in age. Get to know each other better in the future."

Anna kept her head down, not daring to look up. She felt the man's gaze on her, cold and piercing.

The corner of Adrian's mouth lifted. His eyes swept over her and Howard, a hint of a mocking smile playing on his lips. "Oh? So this is the little cousin brought by the new wife my uncle just married?"

He rubbed the sapphire on his ring, his tone meaningful. "And my alumni... What a remarkable coincidence."

Anna's pupils constricted.

Adrian Sinclair was the ruthless, merciless eldest nephew her stepfather had spoken of?

She knew the Lowell family was powerful. Howard was the only son of the family patriarch, with two younger sisters.

But the current acting CEO of Lowell Enterprises was Howard's eldest nephew.

The patriarch believed his son was useless and his daughters only knew how to enjoy themselves. He originally wanted to assess the grandchildren, but Howard was diagnosed with a low sperm count. Neither of his wives had borne children.

The hope of inheriting the family business fell on the outstanding grandson from a young age.

Naturally, Howard was unwilling. He secretly obstructed his nephew while trying every possible way to have an heir.

Otherwise, her mother couldn't have married into the Lowell family while pregnant, bringing her, the extra baggage, along.

Their eyes met. Anna looked into his icy gaze, clenched the hem of her dress, and lowered her head further.

Howard didn't suspect anything, only thinking his timid stepdaughter was embarrassingly inept. He frowned slightly.

"What's wrong with you? Your father is introducing family, and you don't even say hello?"

Seeing the tense atmosphere, Vivian Lowell hurried forward to smooth things over, protectively cradling her slightly swollen belly. She linked arms with Howard and grabbed Anna's hand, pinching her wrist covertly. She smiled at Adrian.

"Adrian, Howard often praises how capable you are. Anna is just shy. Please be understanding."

Adrian withdrew his gaze and gave a slight nod, his expression unreadable. "It's nothing. You're too kind, Aunt Vivian."

Red marks already showed on Anna's wrist from her mother's pinching. She forced herself to calm down and mustered a well-behaved smile. "Hello, Cousin Adrian."

No one noticed the dark glint in Adrian's eyes.

His relationship with Howard had always been strained. Ever since the patriarch appointed him CEO, this uncle had repeatedly set obstacles, even once intending to kill him.

He'd heard earlier that Howard had married a young wife who brought along extra baggage, but he hadn't paid it any mind. If not for the patriarch's order, he would never have come here.

When he saw Anna, he thought she was here with an older man. He never expected... she was his uncle's stepdaughter.

"You're too polite, cousin."

The smile on his lips deepened, his voice tinged with amusement. "I didn't know your identity earlier. My apologies for the offense in the restroom."

Both Vivian and Howard were stunned. Had these two already met?

Remembering Anna's long delay in the restroom, Howard looked thoughtfully at them. "Oh? What happened in the restroom?"

Anna met Adrian's teasing gaze, and her heartbeat suddenly accelerated.