01
On the day I was to marry Finn, I received an anonymous photo.
It showed Finn in bed with a young woman.
Two bare bodies entwined.
So sensual and decadent.
I stared blankly at the photo for a while, then went straight to the groom’s dressing
Finn was passionately kissing the girl from the photo.
The others in the room whistled in appreciation.
room.
Someone remarked enviously, “Finn’s the man – getting wild on his own wedding day.”
Another chimed in, “Wedding or not, Finn does what he wants. Who can stop him?”
As the kiss ended, Finn released the breathless girl with a look of satisfaction. He declared defiantly, “Marriage is so boring. If my family wasn’t forcing me, who’d want to marry a dull woman like Mia? She’s like a block of ice – enough to freeze a man to death.”
Someone laughed suggestively, “How exactly is she dull, Finn? Care to share?”
Finn kicked him playfully. “So curious? Why don’t you go find out for yourself?”
“You’re… not angry?”
“Why would I be?” Finn said carelessly, arm around the girl’s waist. “As long as you don’t find her boring.”
A dense, gnawing pain spread through my heart.
I walked in with an icy expression. The room fell silent.
The man who had been speaking turned red, trying to cover. “Hey, Mia, we were… just joking…”
I stood before Finn, staring at him unblinkingly.
He released the girl’s waist and smiled faintly. “Since you heard, I might as well be honest.”
I clenched my fists tightly, nails digging into my flesh. But I felt no pain, my face betraying no emotion as I nodded. “Go on.”
“I’m marrying you because of family pressure. We both know that.”
“Daisy is the one I love.”
Finn stroked the girl’s hair tenderly. “I can’t give her marriage, but I can give her a ceremony.”
He took out a dazzling wedding ring and put it on the girl’s finger.
“Wear this ring for now, as if I married you.”
Everyone in the room looked at me with pity and sympathy.
This was the ring the Foster family had custom–made for me at great expense, now on another woman’s hand.
A sharp pain pierced the depths of my heart.
My nose stung with the urge to cry, but I found no tears would come.
I spoke softly, “Finn, you don’t want to marry me… do you?”
He scoffed, “You’re only realizing this now?”
His cold attitude brought forth the weariness I had long suppressed.
I smiled faintly, so light it could blow away in the wind. “Then… let’s not get married!”
With that, I turned and left as Finn stared in shock.
Passing the bridal dressing room, I cut my white wedding dress to pieces.
I had sewn that dress myself, stitch by stitch.
What a pity I would never wear it now.
I also removed my engagement ring and tossed it among the dress fragments.
After taking care of these things, I left the wedding venue.
Before leaving, I sent apologies to both families.
After sending the messages, I turned off my phone.
I went to Harbor to stay with my best friend, Summer.
“Oh my god, Mia, you actually ran away from your wedding?”
After the initial shock, Summer clapped excitedly. “That’s wonderful! I always said that Playboy Prince of Aeura Finn wasn’t good enough for you You’ve finally come to your senses.”
Tve got a super eligible bachelor for you. I’ll introduce you tonight.”
I quickly waved my hands in refusal
12:51 PM
But Summer was never one to take no for an answer.
She immediately arranged for her husband to invite Ethan out for billiards.
At the private billiards club.
As soon as I got out of the car, I noticed an overly intense gaze fixed on my face.
Summer quietly pinched me. “Mia, do you know Ethan? The way he’s looking at you is far from innocent!”
In the flickering night lights, he stood illuminated.
I had to squint to make out his features.
He had handsome brows and eyes, broad shoulders and a narrow waist, lean and tall.
Though dressed simply in athletic wear, he carried himself with extraordinary grace.
His sharp aura was softened by the sandalwood prayer beads on his left wrist, giving him an otherworldly air.
I searched my memories but couldn’t recall knowing such an incredibly handsome man.
“I don’t know him.”
D
Summer whispered in my ear, “Ethan is known as the ascetic guy of Harbor. He’s famous for his self–restraint – puts that playboy Finn to shame. Since he’s interested in you, don’t miss this chance!”
As we whispered to each other, Ethan had already walked up to us.
Summer smiled at him. “Ethan, Mia and I aren’t very good at billiards. You can teach her later, and my husband will teach me.”
Ethan’s gaze never left my face, making no attempt to hide his interest.
His directness made me blush.
I lowered my head to hide my shyness, but I didn’t miss his deep, mellow voice. “Alright.”
“Thank you!”
Even if embarrassed, my ingrained manners made me look up to thank him.
Suddenly I met those deep onyx eyes. The man let out a meaningful chuckle from deep in his throat.
“You’re welcome.”
For some reason, my heart started racing.
Coming back to my senses, I found Summer whispering in my ear, “Mia, sticking with that playboy for over 20 years – aren’t you sick of it?”
“Now that you’ve escaped that scumbag, you need to find someone amazing to start your new romance.”
“Darling, you’ll regret it for life if you don’t sleep with a prime catch like Ethan.”
My cheeks burned as I stammered, “How do you know he’d want to sleep with me?”
安
Summer clicked her tongue. “The way he looks at you, he practically wants to devour you. How could he not want to?”
“Trust me, I sleep with my husband 18 times a day. I’ve got way more experience than you.”
Dropping that bombshell, she happily left with her husband in tow, leaving Ethan and me alone.
Another low chuckle rumbled in his throat. “Mia, come with me.”
Though a simple phrase, coming from his lips it took on an ambiguous tone.
Wasn’t he supposed to be the most restrained man around?
Why was he calling me Mia so intimately?
My face flushed red with heat as I obediently followed behind him.
In the spacious billiards room, there was only one table.
Ethan took Summer’s request seriously and began teaching me billiards in earnest.
He stood behind me, his chest against my back, arms encircling me as he corrected my posture.
“Plant your feet firmly. Lean forward a bit more. Raise your hips higher.”
Look up. Focus on the far end of the cue.”
“Don’t be nervous. Loosen your grip, don’t hold it so tight,”
“Yes, that’s right. Loosen up a little more!”
Ethan’s hot breath on my neck made me feel as if I was being kissed.
His low, husky voice said things that could easily be misinterpreted.
“Raise your hips higher, spread your legs wider. That’s it, a little wider…”
These suggestive words conjured inappropriate images in my mind, startling me so much that my legs went weak.
Ethan’s quick reflexes allowed him to catch me in his arms, preventing me from falling.
“Mia, are you alright?”
I looked up and our lips collided.
12:51 PM
My heart raced.
His Adam’s apple bobbed.
The atmosphere turned intimate.
A flutter of excitement.
As if bewitched, I didn’t push him away but leaned in closer.
I had only intended a light taste.
But Ethan’s eyes suddenly darkened as he deepened the kiss.
He kissed me until I was nearly breathless.
อ
In a daze, he lifted me into his arms and carried me to his luxurious private room.
His passionate breath engulfed me once again.
Waves of tremors coursed through my body.
I melted like water in his arms, letting him have his way with me.
D
At the final moment, beads of sweat rolled down his forehead. Breathing heavily, he restrained himself and asked with utmost seriousness. “Mia, my family rule is one partner for life. Are you sure about this decision?”
The men of the Rivers family in Harbor were pursued relentlessly by women.
Not just because of their personal excellence, but also because of the Rivers family rule.
One partner for life – once committed, it was for a lifetime, with no breakups or divorces.
I didn’t know why I had become this lucky one.
But I felt as if Ethan truly loved me deeply.
His eyes reflected only my image as if I had occupied them for a very long time.
“Mm!”
Enchanted by his eyes full of deep love, I nodded instinctively.
The next second, his body sank down.
I let out a pained whimper, which he swallowed with his kiss…
