Chapter 1 Whispers in the Darkness: A Hidden Agony at the Sapphire Hotel

It was 7 pm on a Wednesday night, and Estelle Macclain showed up on time at the Sapphire Hotel.

Her phone beeped, Estelle clicked opened her Whatsapp, there was a message from Bennett Macclain "Estelle, thanks for agreeing to help Dad. I'm stuck in a bit of traffic, you just go straight in first"

Estelle slowed down her pace, wondering how to greet Jonathan Lamont when she saw him later

They'd been married for three years, but they had never met in person. It was clear that Jonathan didn't agree and even hated this marriage

Can't blame Jonathan, though. The Macclain's family business was in crisis when they knocked on the Lamont family's door, asking them to fulfill their original marriage agreement. The Lamont family's eldest son was already married, so the marriage fell on the younger son, Jonathan. It made sense that he was unwilling to do this.

Naturally, the Lamont family wouldn't be that easily to be manipulated. They gave out three hundred million as dowry to help the Macclain family go through the crisis, but only on the condition that the marriage would be dissolved automatically in three years.

Three years ago, she wasn't yet of legal marriage age in Country C. The two went to V City to get their certificate. To be precise, neither of them showed up. Each party sent people with their documents to handle the paperwork.

As soon as they got married, Jonathan went to M Country and had stayed there until now. Just three months before the dissolution of their marriage. His intention was pretty obvious.

Unfortunately, today, her father needed to bring her to ask for his help again for their business.

Estelle scoffed and raised the corner of her lips. How was she going to introduce herself later? "Mr. Lamont, hello, I'm your wife!"

Should he show her the respect that she deserves?

Rumor had it that before Jonathan went to M Country, he was a notorious bully in J City, ruling J City with an iron fist, and he was ruthless and decisive in his actions.

But a few days ago, she saw Jonathan on a TV finance channel. He didn't look like what she had imagined. He was in an expensive business suit, although he looked proud, his demeanor was elegant and steady.

She hoped today he would show the same grace and poise as he did on TV, sparing her from embarrassment.

The entire Sapphire Hotel was luxuriously decorated with a classic elegance. It felt like a mansion. Estelle went to the Pearl Place's third floor according to the room number Bennett gave her.

The third floor was all suites with carpeted wooden floors and dim lighting, incredibly quiet.

Outside of the suite, Estelle inconspicuously took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

The door was slightly ajar, and as she touched it, the golden door opened a crack automatically. Estelle was

taken aback.

Was Jonathan waiting for her?

Out of politeness, she knocked on the door again.

There was no answer.

Estelle raised an eyebrow and walked a few steps inside. She discovered that only the entrance hall had a dim light. The inside was pitch dark.

Anybody in here?

The suite was large with a living room in the middle and a leisure room and bedroom on both sides.

She had entered the living room when an uneasy feeling emerged. She was about to turn back when she suddenly heard the sound of water and a low, painful voice coming from the bedroom "Come in

Estelle's instinct told her that she should leave without hesitation, but she stood in the dark for three seconds before heading towards the bedroom

"Is it Mr. Lamont? What happened to you?" Estelle pushed open the bedroom door and asked softly.

Suddenly, a hand reached out and pulled her directly into the bathroom. The man had one hand against the wall and use another hand choke her neck. His voice, suppressed with pain but still cold and furious, said, "You dare to drug me? Are you out of your mind?"

The living room still had some light from the windows, but the bathroom was pitch dark.

Estelle endured and didn't fight back. Her throat was constricted, her voice hoarse and calm, "Not me

"Then who are you?"

The man seemed to have been soaked in cold water for a long time, his body icy, but his breath scorching Estelle was somewhat stunned in the exchange of cold and heat.

In the darkness, they stared at each other silently. The man's breathing grew heavier with each breath, as if he had reached his limit. The hand choking her throat suddenly put around her neck, and he kissed her hard.

His lips were ice-cold and overbearing!

Estelle's eyes widened in shock as she stretched her leg against the man's body with all her strength.

The man's strength and speed were no less than hers. His long leg pressed against her knees as he hoarsely, said, "Help me, and whatever you need, I'll compensate you later!"

Estelle took a deep breath quietly, never had she ever imagined that she would encounter a situation where Jonathan had been drugged.

In the darkness, the man's breath enveloped all her senses. She weighed the options of helping him or leaving. him to find some other women when his all-encompassing kisses landed.

Estelle had forgotten how they got from the bathroom to the bedroom. While she was still hesitating whether to resist or to surrender, the man had already pulled her into the erotic abyss before she could say no.

It was not like she hadn't thought about this., But it was in no way under such circumstances.

The short time tangling with him in bed felt like an eternity compared to their three years of marriage.

After it was over, someone happened to enter the suite, approaching the bedroom, "Mr. Lamont?"

"Don't come in here!" The man's voice was deep, carrying a hint of S**y laziness after being satisfied.

The footsteps outside stopped abruptly.

A moment later, Jonathan got up, put on a bathrobe, didn't even look at the woman on the bed, and walked out. Estelle pulled the quilt up to her neck, noticing a beam of light shining through the ajar door from the illuminated outside.

Jonathan went to the living room, leaned on the couch, his handsome face expressionless, his eyes showing at touch of laziness.

The assistant approached, asking, "Mr. Lamont, are you alright?"

Jonathan had suddenly left the party earlier and didn't allow anyone to follow him. After more than two hours without hearing anything from him, the assistant couldn't help but come to check. Just now, he seemed to

have heard the sound of two people's breaths?

Jonathan slightly pinched his brow, "It's fine."

The assistant snapped back to reality, "Bennett booked room 1009 at the Diamond Inn and wants to meet you at nine o'clock sharp. It's almost time"

Jonathan casually asked, "Which Bennett?"

After he said that, he seemed to remember, and asked indifferently. "Hasn't it been three years already?"

The assistant replied, "It's still a few months away"

Jonathan's tone was mocking. "What's the difference then?"

The assistant said, "Bennett has called several times to see you. He probably has a favor to ask of Mr. Lamont" Thinking of the woman in the room, Jonathan felt somewhat irritable, "He already sold his daughter once Now he wants to sell her again? Who does he think he is, expecting me to always indulge him? Or does he think his daughter is worth a fortune and can always sell her for a good price? No way!"

The last two words were cold and ruthless!

Inside the bedroom, Estelle heard every word of the outside conversation. Her slightly flushed face turned pale gradually. If Jonathan found out that the girl lying on his bed was Bennett's daughter, he would probably be

even more sarcastic about that "sell" word!

She endured her discomfort, got up from the bed, found her clothes and put them on, then casually took something from her pocket and put it on the table.

Without looking back, she walked straight to the balcony, pushed open the window, and jumped down.

After a few spins in the air, the girl landed on a bluestone path several meters away. Her slender figure quickly disappeared into the dim lights.

Jonathan and the assistant talked about some other things outside. Finally, Jonathan ordered, "Find out who played dirty at the party today."

The assistant was momentarily stunned, then immediately understood and replied solemnly. "Yes!"

Jonathan got up and went back to his bedroom. He glanced at the bed in the dim light and said indifferently, "Get up, take the money, and get out of my life!"

There was no answer. Jonathan frowned and turned on the light. Under the dim glow, the bed was a mess, but the girl had disappeared!

He turned to the bathroom, and it was also empty.

His narrow eyes flashed a hint of surprise. Was the person he just slept with was a ghost?

However, he distinctly saw the bloodstain on the bed.

Jonathan furrowed his brow, turning to look at the cabinet opposite the bed. He slowly walked towards it. picked up the thing under the vase, and his face instantly darkened.