Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Framed in Bed, Sentenced in Court

The thunder rolled across the pitch-black sky as heavy rain poured down like it was trying to drown the entire city.

At the end of a winding mountain road, inside a secluded villa, Louise Bennett's body was pinned down by a man's overwhelming strength.

His breath brushed hotly against the shell of her ear, sending a wave of heat spiraling low in her belly.

Her mind was foggy, but she forced her eyes open, trying to focus. All she could make out in the darkness was a shadowy figure looming over her.

"Who... are you?" she rasped, her voice hoarse from the alcohol.

He chuckled lowly, then dipped his head to press a kiss to her neck. His breath was heavy, his voice dark and laced with wicked amusement.

"The one who's gonna make you feel real good."

Louise's limbs felt terrifyingly weak-she knew then, someone had drugged her.

Frantically, she reached around until her fingers brushed the bedside lamp. Gripping it gave her a flicker of reassurance.

She tried to sound fierce, though her voice trembled, "Get off me, or else-"

"Or else what?" he taunted, his hand sliding firmly around her waist.

Without hesitation, Louise gritted her teeth, swung the lamp with all the strength she had left, and smashed it against his head. He let out a groan of pain and collapsed, going still.

She didn't wait to see if he was okay. Her only thought was escape. But when she tried to sit up, her body betrayed her-she had no strength at all. Her vision swam and everything faded into black.

When she came to, flashing lights and loud voices crashed into her ears.

"Miss Bennett, why did you sleep with another man right before your engagement?"

"Miss Bennett, have you considered how Mr. Shaw must feel about this?"

Out of nowhere, a reporter shouted, "Look at that man! Someone call an ambulance!"

Louise sat up in a daze, clothes disheveled, her mind blank-until a harsh slap landed on her face.

Tears instantly welled up. "Edgar, I... I didn't-"

The disgust in Edgar Shaw's eyes was like ice. His voice was colder than steel. "Slut."

One week later, in court.

"The defendant, Louise, is found guilty of attempted manslaughter. Sentenced to three years and two months in prison." The judge's gavel fell with a final thud.

Standing at the defendant's bench, Louise stood tall. Her stunning face showed no emotion, just traces of exhaustion.

"If either party isn't satisfied with this verdict, they may file an appeal to the higher court with a copy of the judgment within fifteen days. Court dismissed."Louise turned her head toward the observation seats, her eyes locking coldly on a tall figure. The man was undeniably good-looking-sharp brows, chiseled features, that annoyingly perfect nose. But that smirk tugging at his lips right now? It was pure mockery.

He met her gaze and, with a slight curve of his lips, spat out two words: "You deserve it."

She shut her eyes, the bitterness almost unbearable. This was the man she had loved for five whole years-and now, he was the one handing her over to the law like it was nothing. With the kind of power backing his family, she had no choice but to serve time. End of story.

Before heading to prison, she'd been led into a small room. Edgar sat dead center in a chair, looking as cold and self-important as ever.

"Why?" she asked, voice low but steady. Even now, she needed to know.

His expression didn't flinch, hard as stone. "Why? Because you're filthy."

"You know I never cheated."

That set him off. He slammed his palm on the table and barked, "Didn't cheat? Then who was that woman sleeping in someone else's bed? Who's the woman plastered all over those headlines, huh?"

Louise chuckled, the hurt in her expression twisting into satire. She stared at the man she thought she knew better than anyone, suddenly realizing how wrong she'd been. Rising from her seat like a machine, she said plainly, "It was me."

"Even behind bars for three years, I won't let you off easy. You owe me."

She nodded without a word. If the heir to Shaw Group had the clout to throw her in jail, he sure as hell had the power to ruin her in there too.

She'd always had faith in what Edgar was capable of-just never thought he'd use it against her.

What set him off most was her calm. She never grovelled, never bowed her head. It drove him mad. He shook with fury and jabbed a finger at her. "Louise, there'll come a day when you regret all this. I'll be waiting when you come crawling back."

Her eyes slowly lifted as she looked him dead in the face, scanning every inch of him. "So when the entire city of Kingswell turned its back on me, believed I'd murdered someone or cheated-did I beg you once?"

She laughed when she saw him choke on his own anger. "I didn't then, and I won't now. Or ever."

"You won't, but the Bennetts will. Your folks definitely will!"

He stood up harshly, brushing past her with a venomous glare, then slammed the door behind him.

Louise felt like all the strength had been sucked from her body. Her eyes stayed fixed on that closed door. It felt like breathing in pure hopelessness.

Two guards approached, cuffed her wrists with expressionless professionalism. "Louise, charged with attempted murder. Sentenced to three years and two months."