Chapter 2

Diana wrapped herself in the blanket, lying on her side, silently biting her nails to keep from crying.

Her mind fixated on the fact that she had entered the wrong room.

The one bargaining chip she had was now gone.

Should she get a procedure to restore her virginity?

Tears blurred her vision as the desperate thought crossed her mind.

The man beside her, his lean waist marked with scratches, lay quietly.

He glanced at her indifferently. "Name your price."

"Six million."

She had slept with the wrong person, and the deal with Frank was likely off.

With her plans in disarray, she stated her price without hesitation.

But as soon as the words left her mouth, something felt off.

The man's voice sounded familiar, as if she had heard it before.

She turned to look, and in the daylight, she froze.

She recognized the man before her.

Richard Haynes, a prominent figure at her university, the object of her long-held crush.

Someone who had left a deep impression on her since childhood.

A rush of emotions swirled in her chest, a mix of longing and shock.

As she tilted her head, Richard looked back at her.

"It's you."

His voice carried certainty, not a question.

Diana snapped back to reality, her heart trembling.

She hadn't expected Richard to remember her.

Did that mean he hadn't forgotten their past either?

Before joy could take hold, his next words sent her heart plummeting.

"The money will hit your account soon. Keep this to yourself, especially from Mila."

Diana paused, meeting his warning gaze, and nodded.

She and Mila Riley were classmates, and sometimes she crossed paths with Richard when Mila was around.

Mila was Richard's close friend, often seen together.

Gossips speculated Mila would one day be his girlfriend.

The rumors spread widely, and Richard, a man who tolerated no nonsense, never bothered to deny them, hinting at the depth of their bond.

The money was to buy her silence, for Mila's sake.

Richard stood, revealing a chiseled, panther-like physique.

His body was striking, but his expression was cold.

Seeing how quickly Diana agreed to the money, his handsome face twisted with scorn.

"My grandpa went to great lengths to bring you here."

Diana paled, her heart aching sharply.

She had liked Richard for a long time, since well before now.

At school, she had found countless excuses to be near him, but despite her beauty and academic success, her background never fit in.

Last night's rushed intimacy, now knowing it was Richard, left her heart heavy yet oddly relieved it was him.

But Richard believed she had deliberately taken advantage of his drugged state to seduce him.

A bitter, indescribable grievance welled in her chest.

Diana said nothing, lowering her head to gather her clothes.

The dress from last night, torn by Richard's roughness, barely held together.

It still covered her, but it exposed her back and thighs.

Marks from their encounter lingered on her skin.

Richard's gaze darkened, his fingers twitching slightly.

"I'll have someone bring you new clothes. Don't wear that."

Diana ignored him, slipping on her high heels.

When she didn't respond, Richard's face showed impatience.

"What game are you playing now?"

"I'm going to get my virginity restored."

She answered without thinking, still putting on her shoes.

Richard clearly despised her, and if he didn't pay, she would be left with nothing.

Her plans were incomplete, and she couldn't afford to lose her only leverage.

The air in the room grew heavy the moment she spoke.

Diana realized she had blurted out her plan.

Richard's anger turned to a mocking laugh. "You're going to restore your virginity? Are you saying I'm not good enough?"

"No, I didn't mean..."

She tried to explain, but before she could finish, he pinned her to the bed again.

"After you fix it, whose bed are you climbing into next?"

His morning arousal pressed tightly against her.

Diana's body shrank back as he pressed against her abdomen.

His words dripped with insinuation, and she searched his eyes for any trace of affection.

There was none, only possessiveness and cold dominance.

He saw her as nothing more than his property.

Just a typical male instinct.

Diana struggled to push him away. "Get off me first."

Richard stared at her, lost in thought, unmoving.

A knock came at the door. "Young master, the master says to bring Miss Davis downstairs."