Chapter 1 You Have Exquisite Taste

"We've found proof that Mrs. Wells' husband has been unfaithful, Mr. Lawson."

At the golf course, Julian Lawson halted his swing, his lips twisting into an indifferent grin. "Just take it to her."

He envisioned Sienna Wells' beautiful face marred by tears, the image rendering her quite fragile and broken.

He found the idea rather exhilarating.

Julian adjusted his collar and took a powerful swing, the golf ball tracing a flawless trajectory.

The caddy exclaimed with joy, "That's a perfect hole-in-one!"

With satisfaction, Julian handed the club back to the caddy. "Hand out two million in bonuses, split it among everyone here."

As the group erupted with cheers, he left.

Later that night, Julian was in his office perusing documents when his assistant burst in.

"Mr. Lawson..." Eric Sutton called out.

Without raising his eyes, Julian said, "What's the problem? Any issues with the Wells family? Go check on it, ensure Sienna's alright."

"It's not that!" Eric looked seriously worried. "Mrs. Wells has gone to the Windward Oasis!"

Julian slammed the contract shut. "A disabled person at a nightclub? What is she doing, disco dancing?"

Julian took off his glasses, his expression growing stern as he strode out.

Eric scrambled to follow. "The Windward Oasis isn't just any nightclub."

Julian stopped short, his gaze fixed on a large painting in the hallway.

The portrait showed a young Sienna at eighteen, wearing a ballet outfit and dancing under a spotlight, her presence ethereal and utterly captivating.

His expression tightened. What was Sienna doing at the nightclub?

Upstairs in the Windward Oasis, Sienna sat quietly in the luxurious suite.

Her wheelchair seemed more like an iron prison, confining her motionless body and her spirit, which was fading slowly.

Up until this evening, she had considered herself fortunate.

Her legs were paralyzed, yet she believed she had a devoted husband. That compromising video, however, shattered her peace like a harsh slap of reality.

Now, she discovered that both her love and her closest friend had betrayed her by having an affair.

Overwhelmed by grief, Sienna covered her face, her eyes too dry to shed tears.

Footsteps sounded as the door swung open.

Straightening herself, Sienna adjusted her posture. "Zoe has informed you of what I need, hasn't she?"

The silence that followed made her tighten her grip on the armrests.

"I'm willing to pay, but remember, tonight stays between us, or else... or else I'll make sure you regret it," she continued.

Her frustration was palpable; it was too gentle to sound threatening.

Then, a hand landed softly on her shoulder.

Sienna tensed up immediately!

The hand slid to her chin, its warmth and the roughness of calluses brushing her skin.

She frowned slightly. "You should have smoothed your hands before coming."

The hand paused.

Taking a deep breath, Sienna pulled a blindfold from her bag and tied it around her eyes.

With the blindfold on, she could avoid the pitying stares at her legs.

For this brief encounter, she preferred ignorance about his identity; her motive was revenge, not romance.

"You can start."

Julian was no stranger to challenging situations, yet his heart raced.

He stepped in front of her and chuckled.

The image of a sad frog on her blindfold met his gaze.

Did she enjoy quirky things like this? He realized he might not know her as well as he thought.

When the blindfold suddenly came off, Sienna tensed. "What are you doing here?"

"That frog isn't exactly romantic," he commented, his voice deep and soothing, reminiscent of a piano's lower chords.

Doubt flickered in Sienna's mind. Her friend Zoe Owen had promised to find her a young virgin, but this man was flirtatious and anything but innocent.

Before she could think further, a soft handkerchief covered her eyes.

She caught a faint whiff of a Fougère fragrance, reminiscent of ferns, hearty and resolute.

"You have exquisite taste," she remarked.

"Thanks for the kind words."

Suddenly, she found herself being gently placed on a soft bed.

Sienna braced herself, wary of the pain she had been warned would come with her first experience of intimacy.

Expecting him to undress her, she was surprised when he kissed her instead.

His kiss was gentle and respectful, filled with an odd devotion.

It was nothing like her aggressive first kiss at eighteen, which had left her with bruised lips.

That night had been so dark that she couldn't see the face of the person who stole her first kiss.

Her wandering thoughts snapped back as the man in front of her lifted her skirt. Ready for his scorn, she was instead met with admiration.

"Beautiful."

Beautiful? How could he find beauty in her scarred legs?

In a trembling voice, she asked, "Don't these scars look more like a worm to you?"

"No, they're beautiful, resembling the elegant stem of a rose."

And with that, he kissed the scars.