Chapter 3
Adrian Sinclair tightened his grip.
He pulled her toward the sofa.
Leaning in close.
"Three years apart."
"You've grown quite a temper."
His palm pressed against her waist.
Rubbing through the fabric of her dress.
Anna Ross's breath hitched.
Her lips were sealed by his.
His hand wandered over her body.
Fingertips burning with heat.
"You curse so fiercely."
"Yet your body tells a different story."
"These three years."
"Did no man satisfy you?"
Anna's cheeks burned.
The meeting room felt suffocating.
A fine sweat dampened her back.
Her voice trembled.
"What do you want?"
"I'm your uncle's stepdaughter now!"
"How dare youโ"
Adrian gave a low laugh.
His eyes darkened.
"A stepdaughter."
"Beyond my reach?"
"I don't even regard Howard Lowell."
"Much less you."
He nibbled her earlobe.
His hand moved toward her zipper.
"Just catching up."
"And settling our score from three years ago."
"Why resist?"
"In the past."
"You loved this the most."
The Ross family had fallen long ago.
The Sinclairs were New York's elite.
As the heir, Adrian had every right to arrogance.
But what did that have to do with her?
Three years ago, he was the one who spoke cruelly.
They had been broken up for years.
What gave him the right to seek revenge?
Anna raised her hand to strike.
He caught her wrist.
A sharp pain bloomed on her neck.
The zipper slowly descended...
Anna's eyes reddened.
Struggling was useless.
She bit her lip in despair.
A knock sounded at the door.
"Mr. Sinclair."
"I'm the vice president of the branch."
"Here to deliver documents."
"Are you available?"
Adrian paused.
Anna shoved him away.
She frantically adjusted her dress.
Her eyes blazed with fear and anger.
The man's lips curved.
His voice returned to cool detachment.
"Come in."
The vice president entered.
Meeting Adrian's icy gaze, he instinctively looked down.
"Mr. Sinclair."
He noticed Anna's disheveled state.
But didn't dare ask.
While the vice president reported, Anna quickly left.
She walked the streets for a long time.
When she finally gathered her thoughts, she stood outside the Lowell manor.
The night was deep.
Anxiety coiled in her chest.
If her stepfather learned she had left Adrian, he would take it out on her mother...
She hesitated.
Headlights suddenly flashed.
A black Maybach pulled up nearby.
Adrian stepped out.
Anna instinctively retreated.
He caught her wrist.
His voice was warm, almost amused.
"You've had a long day."
"Let me take you to dinner another time."
Anna froze.
The manor lights turned on.
The housekeeper greeted them with a smile.
"Miss Anna, Mr. Sinclair, you're back?"
"Madam and Mr. Lowell have been waiting."
Anna had no choice but to enter with him.
The living room was brightly lit.
Howard Lowell and her mother sat on the sofa.
Howard frowned.
"Why are you back so late?"
Anna's fingers trembled slightly.
Adrian calmly removed his coat.
"We visited the company."
"Then explored San Francisco."
"I was concerned for her safety alone."
"So I brought her home."
Howard relaxed.
He offered a false smile.
"Young people enjoy their fun."
"Thank you, Adrian."
"Stay the night."
"The housekeeper will prepare a guest room."
Anna's heart sank.
Adrian nodded in agreement.
He sat down comfortably.
"Grandpa wants me to meet Chloe Valentine."
"I may need to impose for a few days."
A flicker of suspicion crossed Howard's eyes.
But he couldn't refuse.
He instructed the housekeeper to prepare a room.
It happened to be right next to Anna's.
Anna paled.
Howard probed about company matters.
But Vivian Lowell watched her daughter.
Her eyes filled with alarm.
Distracted, Anna excused herself to go upstairs.
She was about to lock her door and wash up.
Her mother entered.
Vivian grabbed her hand.
Her voice shook.
"What happened with Mr. Sinclair?"
"What are those marks on your neck?"
Anna looked in the mirror.
A vivid love bite marred her neck.
Her heart turned cold.