Chapter 2
Eugene watched as Lorraine’s angry words hung in the air. His face remained impassive, gluing nothing away. With a slight ned, he said ahead.” Then he tumed and strode into the bathroom.
Lonaine sat frozen, stripgling to steady her breathing. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, fingers twisting the bedsheet into light knots
Eugene was the Moore family’s heir–twenty–eight years old and already the CEO of Moore Group. His reputation spoke for itself–ruthless in strategy, unshakable in resolve. He ruled the business world with calculated unpredictability, always staying just out of reach.
Lorraine had only met him once before the wedding
A month ago, Stephen had brought her to meet his family–Just as Eugene returned from abroad,
While everyone else laughed and chatted around the table, he sat silent. Then his eyes–cold, sharp–locked onto hers and held there.
That gaze had crawled under her skin. But when she looked again, she realized with a jolt he was staring right through her
Now, trembling in the aftermath, Lorraine couldn’t understand how their second meeting had gone so wrong
She pushed herself up from the floor, trembling with fury as she pulled her dress back on. The moment it was in place, the stormed out of the bedroom, shouting as she went, “Stephen!” Her voice rang through the empty hallway.
All she cared about now was finding Stephen. Her legs trembled, weak and shaky, but she pushed on
She flung open every door in the villa–upstairs, downstairs–but only found staff who shrank back, silent and watchful.
Lorraine’s composure shattered. She grabbed her phone and stabbed at Stephen’s number. The call connected, only to be met with the cold, automated rejection of an unavailable line.
A cold dread settled in Lorraine’s chest. This house was meant to be the home she shared with Stephen–Eugene’s presence here made no sense. And without Stephen present, the familiar rooms felt strangely alien.
The butler, Daryl, silently appeared at her side. “Ms. Shaw, breakfast is he started.
“Daryl!” Lorraine interrupted him, grabbing his arm like a lifeline. “Where’s Stephen? That man in our room wasn’t him. It was
“Shall I have your breakfast served here or in the dining room, Ms.Shaw?” Daryl’s voice remained perfectly even as he deliberately used her maiden name, deftly sidestepping her question.
“Ms. Shaw!” Lorraine repeated. “Why are you calling me that?” She was supposed to be Mrs. Moore now. That was the whole point.
Her fingers went slack. The phone slipped from her grasp, landing on her foot with a painful thud that shocked her back to the present.
Daryl retrieved the device with seamless efficiency. “Were you attempting to make a call? I’d be happy to assist.”
Lorraine’s voice cracked with desperation. I’m calling the police report Eugene for assault! Help me dial-
“Of course,” Daryl answered smoothly, his pleasant,smile never faltering. He tapped in the numbers with ease and presented the phone to her like a waiter serving fine wine. His impeccable courtesy only made him more terrifying.
A cold realization washed over her. Eugene’s casual “Go ahead” suddenly made perfect sense. The police wouldn’t help, not when he was Eugene.
The hopelessness crushed her. Tears blurred her vision as she pushed Daryl’s hand away and led to her room. With Eugene still in the shower, she snatched her purse and bolted from the house.
Chapter 3
