Chapter 1 The Clandestine Relationship

In the grandeur of the Morris Mansion.

"Are you out of your mind? This is the Morris Mansion..."

Chelsey Howard found herself being pulled into the lounge by a man, her dress soon torn to shreds.

She trembled, trying to dodge his advances.

Her flushed cheeks only fueled the man's wildness.

"What's so scary?" He sneered, his satisfaction palpable as he watched her reaction. His actions grew more frenzied, and Chelsey found herself nearly slammed against the wall several times.

He didn't stop until he heard a voice greeting Kaden Morris nearby. Abruptly, he pinched Chelsey's waist, hastily ending their escapade.

He withdrew, leaving Chelsey, who had been standing there trembling, finally crumpled to the floor.

Luckily, a mirror stood before her, allowing Chelsey to tidy herself up. She gazed at her reflection, her face seemingly stained with rouge and her clothes in disarray. And there, standing behind her, was Trevor Morris, impeccably dressed and radiating a gentle, handsome allure.

He was Chelsey's cousin, and in reality, he was the head of the Morris family. He had a lot of power and always stood out, whether among the Morris family or outside it.

He was unlike Chelsey.

Chelsey's mother had remarried Cary Morris, Trevor's uncle, making Chelsey part of the Morris family.

But since Cary had passed away, the family had treated her and her mother, Gabriella Morris, with nothing but disdain.

The household staff whispered about Gabriella and Chelsey bringing bad luck to Cary.

The vast difference in their status had prevented Chelsey from ever daring to openly confess her love to Trevor.

Their relationship had been a tangled mess for the past two years.

On the day of her graduation, Chelsey had heard rumors of the Morris family arranging a marriage for Trevor. Upset, she had indulged in a few glasses of wine at the party.

To her surprise, Trevor had been at the bar that evening, and in her inebriated state, Chelsey had approached him, declaring her desire to be his woman.

Trevor had simply extinguished his cigarette and looked at her with eyes as fathomless and cold as an abyss, or a flame that threatened to consume her.

Thereafter, he had taken her away, and they had spent the entire night together, cementing her status as his lover.

Afterwards, Chelsey had remained apprehensive, knowing the peril of provoking Trevor.

Their relationship could not be made public, as Trevor would never get serious about her.

Yet, she loved him dearly and was reluctant to let him go.

They had been wrapped up with each other until now.

He was about to tie the knot and start his own family. Word was, Kaden had found a good match for him this time.

He didn't mention it because he believed that their relationship had to remain clandestine, leaving Chelsey forever in the shadows.

Was she his secret lover? Or was she merely his mistress?

If their relationship was doomed to be unequal, Chelsey refused to play the part of the meek accomplice any longer.

So, last weekend, she mustered the courage to message Trevor, wanting to end their illicit affair.

But he had not responded.

She went back to the Morris Mansion in the evening and ran into him. As she was passing by, he suddenly grabbed her wrist and pulled her into the lounge.

Chelsey's reverie was shattered by the ringing of her phone, Gabriella's name flashing on the screen.

Chelsey knew all too well that Gabriella had likely arranged another blind date for her.

Since her stepfather's death, her mother had been in an awkward position in the Morris family.

To Gabriella, Chelsey was her last hope to remain in the Morris family, to be respected, and to continue her extravagant lifestyle.

Chelsey hesitated to answer, fearing what her mother could say.

But the phone kept ringing. Trevor frowned impatiently. She had no choice but to answer.

The room was silent. Chelsey put the phone closer to her ear to keep Gabriella's voice from being heard.

"Didn't I tell you about that young talent? Have you forgotten? His family is not as powerful as the Morris family, but he's quite well-known in Kerton. He's the only son, and if you marry him, you'll live a good life! Rest well these next few days and look your best. You'll meet on Saturday. I'm sure he'll like you..."

Chelsey glanced at Trevor from the corner of her eye, feeling guilty, and quickly hung up, praying he hadn't heard.

"A blind date?" Trevor chuckled.

She gripped her phone tightly, her palms sweaty. He had heard everything.

Before she could respond, he spoke coldly. "You're in such a rush to find someone new before I even agree to end things? Am I dead to you, Chelsey?"

Her heart trembled. Summoning all her courage, she looked up at him. "But you're getting married, aren't you?"

Trevor didn't deny it but replied lightly, "You're overthinking it. It changes nothing."

Clenching her fists, she tried to steady herself. "But I don't want to be a mistress. Women only have a few years of youth. My mother says the guy has a good background. I should try dating him."

"A good background? How good should it be?" His tone was a mix of anger and mockery.

"Of course, he's not as great as you. But should I stay single forever?"

"Chelsey, you've learned to talk back. Impressive!" Trevor sneered.

With her head lowered, she fumbled with the buttons on her shirt, her fingers turning pale.

She had heard Kaden had chosen several women for him, and Trevor had picked the most beautiful one.

What right did he have to blame her now?

Chelsey murmured, "I made a mistake two years ago. I shouldn't have provoked you."

Trevor looked down at her, his voice cold. "Do you regret it?"

Tears welled up in her eyes, but she refused to back down. "Yes, I regret it."

He chuckled, grabbed her chin and lifted it up. With his high status, he was the focus of everyone's attention. Now, he was silently mocking her.

"It's too late for regrets."

The atmosphere was so cold she could barely breathe.

Suddenly, the bell rang, shattering the icy tension.

It was Trevor's phone.

A woman's voice could be faintly heard on the other end.

Chelsey couldn't make out what she was saying, but Trevor remained silent throughout.

After hanging up, he opened the door and left, leaving Chelsey staring at the open door, lost in her own thoughts.

Was that his fiancée?

So, it was over between them, right?

Her heart ached, a lump forming in her throat.