Claimed by the Man I Shouldn't Love

"Tick... tick..." Jessica Southern had never felt time crawl like this before-only twenty seconds left on the ticking bomb.

Tch, wasn't fate generous? Her fifteenth birthday brought a car crash that took her parents' lives, and shortly after, the guy she loved got engaged to someone else. Now, for her sixteenth, the universe decided to blow her up. Nice.

"Jessica! Go to hell!" The man's voice echoed harshly in her ears.

He was probably off saving his precious fiancée by now, right?

If she had any regrets in her life, it had to be this - setting up a fake kidnapping with the hope that he'd be forced to choose... her. Seriously, what was she thinking?

She really bought into the idea that he still loved her. He had spoiled her since they were kids; she had been his whole world, or so she thought. Fifteen years of being his favorite, and she bet everything on that.

Her only takeaway now? She walked right into it.

Once a man's heart moves on, even if you die in front of him, he won't blink. That's what she'd come to believe.

The countdown kept going, "10... 9..."

Mom, Dad... I'm so sorry. I still haven't found who killed you.

"Boom!" A massive explosion echoed through Clariton in Helvaria.

The headline spread fast-a Young Miss from the Southern family obsessed with Alan Knight, CEO of the Knight Group, hires fake thugs to abduct herself and the CEO's fiancée, hoping to force a choice. The twist? The "fake" kidnappers turned out to be enemies of the Knight family. In the end, both women died.

Alan, enraged and grief-stricken, hunted down every last one of them, avenging his fiancée. As for Jessica? He hated her so much he refused to let her be buried. No grave, no remains-just vanished from existence.

It was the hottest tea of the year. Everyone talked about it.

Four years later, the grandest wedding Clariton had ever seen took place in its cathedral.

The groom: Alan. The bride: Chloe Southern, Jessica's cousin.

A classic fairytale scene-handsome man, beautiful woman, walking down a long red carpet under the gaze of the world. Picture perfect.

"Alan," the priest spoke loud and clear, "do you take Chloe to be your lawfully wedded wife, to live together according to God's law, to love her, comfort her, honor and protect her?"

Alan stood there, sharp features carved like stone, icy and unreadable. Even in a moment like this, he radiated a chill that felt almost untouchable.

His eyes, dark and deep, held no light. His lips parted slightly. "I-"

"Alan!" a sharp voice cut in right on cue.

Michael Brooks rushed in, clearly out of breath, and leaned close to whisper something urgent.

"Get them! Don't let the thief escape with the files!"

"Already sent a team! I'm heading there myself!" Michael spun and dashed out just as fast.

Chloe could sense something was seriously off-the man's voice was icy, like death itself. What kind of document could have made Alan's expression change that fast?

A petite figure squeezed through the crowd of reporters, a press badge dangling around her neck.

Alan's sharp gaze instantly locked onto her, freezing on her like time itself had stopped.

Chloe noticed the man's sudden shift, followed his eyes-and froze.

Short hair just past her ears, fair skin, eyes that sparkled under neat brows, and lips tinted red with a smirk that seemed both cold and mocking.

The girl's smile deepened with sarcasm. "What's with the look, Mr. Knight? Don't tell me... you think you saw a ghost?"

"Jessica?! You're... alive?" Chloe blurted out, too shocked to wait for Alan to respond.

It was like that called him back to reality. Alan shoved Chloe's hand away and strode toward Jessica, grabbing her arm with a grip that looked like it could snap bones. His eyes had turned terrifyingly dark, like a black hole swallowing light.

"Doing this in front of your bride-don't you think that's a little messed up? Let go!" Jessica frowned, wincing at the pain, trying to pull free. She knew he hated that she lived-but seriously, was he planning to kill her in public? She'd walked in here sure he wouldn't. Now, she wasn't so sure anymore.

Feeling her tug, Alan tightened his grip instead, eyes filled with barely suppressed fury. So she finally came back. Four years, and she'd stayed away unless cornered like this?

Watching the two of them stare each other down like she wasn't even there, Chloe's heart twisted. She felt like an outsider. Like she could never really enter his world. She rushed over and clung to Alan's arm.

"Jessica, what are you doing here? You already ruined everything once-you cost Alan his fiancée, and now you're here to wreck our wedding too? He doesn't love you anymore!"

She knew what button to push-that was Alan's deepest wound. His fiancée, lost because of Jessica. Chloe threw the jab right when it would hurt the most.

Jessica let out a cold laugh and took in a slow breath. "Cost her? Oh, so you wanna bring up the kidnapping now? Perfect. I've got a few things to say too. Like maybe... who the kidnapper really was."

So what if she was here to ruin it all? Chloe thought Jessica had died, that the other woman was history. That she'd finally won. And now she dared to think she could marry Alan? Over Jessica's dead body-it just wasn't happening.

Chloe's face went pale. Her grip on Alan trembled so badly she couldn't hide it. Jessica's words hit like a blow. She didn't dare look at Alan. That name-"the kidnapper"-cut straight into her like a knife.

"I don't know what you're talking about. Whatever you say won't change the past. You were the one who got Alan's fiancée killed. That's what really happened."

Jessica just raised an eyebrow, smirk curling on her lips. "You look nervous, Chloe. I said we should talk about the kidnapping-why so scared?"

Her glare pierced straight into Chloe like a laser, unblinking and sharp.

Right then, Alan's brows furrowed. His unreadable gaze turned to Chloe, heavy with doubt.

"I didn't! Who says I'm scared? Jessica, you think anyone's gonna believe your nonsense now?" Chloe looked flustered under Alan's gaze, but she wasn't stupid-without solid proof, she didn't believe Jessica could stir up much trouble.

Jessica's heart twinged with pain-Chloe had hit a nerve. The truth of that kidnapping years ago... even if she said it now, would he believe her? But since he loved his ex-fiancée so deeply, she doubted he'd ignore what she had to say.

She shook the press badge in her hand. "I could honestly care less about your wedding. I'm just here to ask Mr. Knight how he plans on explaining his dealings with the Yorqan family."

The reporters around them, still reeling from the whole "Jessica came back from the dead" bombshell, suddenly snapped to attention at this explosive news.

The Yorqan family was infamous in finance-predatory, ruthless, gobbling up companies like it was nothing. Generations of hard work from various families had been destroyed by them. And now Alan was involved with them?

The journalists surged forward like sharks smelling blood. Was Knight Corp teaming up with the Yorqan family to take over Helvaria's major companies? If that got out, they'd become the most hated name in the country's business world.

Alan's eyes locked sharply on Jessica. The contract with Sultan had just been stolen-and here she was stirring the pot right after? No doubt about it-she was the thief.

"Don't listen to Jessica! Alan would never do something like this!" Chloe threw herself in front of him like she was ready to defend him with her life.

"Oh really?" Jessica's voice was light, but her words cut deep. "Well, I'm pretty sure that contract is with the Commercial Crime Bureau by now. Tell me, Mr. Knight, how're you feeling about that?"

Alan's lips pressed into a razor-thin line. It was a long beat before he finally spat out, voice like frost, "You've got a death wish."

Jessica let out a low laugh. "Already died once. Forgot about that, Mr. Knight?" I came back-for payback.

Just then, piercing sirens wailed and police pushed through the crowd.

"Mr. Alan, you're wanted for questioning by the International Commercial Crime Bureau regarding your alleged dealings with the Yorqan family."

"No! You can't take him! It's our wedding day!" Chloe cried out, clutching tightly to Alan, refusing to let go. She had waited so long for this-one step away from becoming Mrs. Knight.

"Chloe, let go. I'll be right back." Alan released his grip on Jessica's arm, gently pried Chloe's hands off, then patted the back of her hand softly. The cold frown he'd worn since entering the chapel finally eased a bit, and he gave Chloe a look meant to calm her down.

Standing tall with that unshakable presence of his, he followed the police with steady steps into the car. The atmosphere around him didn't slump at all-like he wasn't being taken in for questioning, just casually going out with the cops for coffee.

Chloe suddenly broke down in tears, not knowing how to deal with the mess she was left in. The grand wedding had completely turned into a farce.

Jessica didn't even glance in Chloe's direction. She walked straight through the crowd toward Daniel Cooper, her boss at the news agency.

"Mr. Cooper, I don't think there's anything more to report here. The questioning will take 48 hours."

Daniel looked like he'd just snapped out of a dream. "Jessica... you're Jessica?" His gaze faltered. He never expected this girl to be the Southern family's heiress.

Jessica gave a faint smile. "Yeah, that's me. Starting to dislike me now?" After all, who'd like a woman who caused so much trouble, even pulling off a public takedown at someone's wedding?

"No way! Why would I hate you? Actually... you're nothing like the rumors at all." Daniel quickly explained, his reaction not out of distaste, but sheer disbelief at her background.

Everyone said the Southern family's daughter was a spoiled brat, impossible to deal with-but from the time Jessica joined the news team, there'd been no sign of that. She was the most hardworking and diligent one of them all, and honestly, super grounded.

He never would've imagined Jessica could be... well, her.

"Mr. Cooper! We've got a record number of clicks on our site! That illegal deal story broke everything!" An excited assistant held up a phone for Daniel to see.

"Alright, that's it-everyone, pack up. Tonight we celebrate Jessica! It's on me!"

Cheers rang out as the team crowded around Jessica and Daniel, making their way out of the church.

Jessica sat in the car, glancing back out the window at the chapel. It still stood tall and solemn like always, untouched by the years. Fifteen years might've passed, but the place hadn't changed at all-just the people had.

The memory was still vivid: a teenage boy holding a little girl, his arms wrapped protectively around her.

"Alan, what are they doing?" the girl asked.

"They're getting married," he replied.

"I wanna get married too... That lady's dress is so pretty! I wanna wear it!"

"When you grow up, I'll marry you right here. And I'll buy you the most beautiful wedding dress in the world. So grow up quick, alright?"

He kissed her forehead-someone once said that was the purest kind of kiss.

Jessica pulled her gaze back, her eyes dry but stinging. Not a single tear came out.

At the International Commercial Crime Bureau, the interrogator politely handed over a cup of coffee. "Mr. Knight, sorry for the trouble. Now that the news blew up, we had no choice but to bring you in and go through the motions. Hope the coffee helps."

Alan's temple throbbed. The Bureau had been gunning for Sultan Yorqan for a while now, but the guy was a master of wiping his tracks-every shady takeover he pulled was airtight. The director had reached out, asking Alan to help dig up some real dirt on Sultan.

Alan had been tracking him too. Sultan wasn't just tangled up in some mess from five years ago-he was now messing with Helvaria's core industries and stepping on Knight Group's toes. Alan had every reason, both official and personal, to get involved in the case.

He'd spent over six months setting the trap, finally getting that old fox just where he wanted-only to have it all blown to pieces by this damn media leak.

"Did we figure out how she stole the file?" he asked, voice tight.

"We got it. This is footage pulled straight from your company's security system," the interrogator reported, handing him a folder. "Jessica, real name unknown until recently, posed as a journalist and used the alias Alice Bennett to apply for a clerical job at your firm. Earlier today, she slipped into your office during the shift change for security, opened your safe, and walked out with the contract between you and Sultan's company. Still no clue how she got the safe's password, though."

Alan's grip on the folder tightened, crumpling the edge slightly. Of course she knew the password-it was her birthday. He had never changed it.

"Did you find out where she was these last four years?" he asked, voice low.

Michael shook his head. "I ran a full trace on the Alice identity. It's got a totally clean record in the States. Looks legit. But creating a whole person out of thin air like that? Still no clue who pulled it off."

"Put someone on her. Also find out who's been hiding her all these years," Alan ordered.

"Alan, just watching her isn't gonna cut it," Ethan Morgan cut in, clearly worked up. "That woman's nothing but trouble. Back in the day, she-"

He stopped mid-sentence. That 'back then' was a no-go zone around Alan.

"This time she didn't just crash your wedding-she blew up our entire operation! I say we pick her up right now!" Ethan fumed, practically shouting.

"If anything happens to her now, everyone's gonna pin it on us," Michael warned quickly.

"So what? Let them!" Ethan's eyes burned with fury. "She's Richard Southern's little sister-taking her out wouldn't even be over the line!"

"Richard is untouchable for now! Jessica is his weak spot-having her gives us leverage over him. Just get someone to keep watch on her, that's enough. Has the chief been updated?" Alan asked the interrogator.

"Already done. The chief will be here shortly."

Alan nodded, closing his eyes for a moment. He leaned on his hand, rubbing the bridge of his nose, clearly worn out. She was right there in front of him, alive and real. But damn it-he'd never regretted anything more than forcing her to reappear like this.

The VIP room at the bar was buzzing with laughter and noise.

A bunch of people huddled around the table, deep into a game of Truth or Dare.

The bottle just kept landing on Jessica. No one could remember how many rounds it had pointed her way.

"Jessica, we agreed this time no skipping with alcohol! You've gotta spill-what's the real story with you and President Knight? First love, you said! Come on!" They were all gossip-hungry reporters, even more curious than most.

Ugh. That question again. Honestly, how many shots had she downed over it tonight?

She rubbed her throbbing temples and knocked back another gulp of her drink. "My first love..."

When she was born, her mom had nearly died during childbirth-she was already older, a high-risk pregnancy. Her dad, totally obsessed with her mom, blamed her for it all. If he could've, he probably would've left her on a stranger's doorstep. In the end, her mom's best friend-Alan's mom-took her in.

Well, not exactly Alan's mom... it was Alan who raised her. For fifteen years.

The whole room fell silent. Everyone leaned in, afraid to miss a single word.

"He... he was the first man I ever saw in this world. He was ten then. When I was one, he gave me a bath and saw everything. At two, we were sharing a bed. At five, he told me that when I grew up, he'd marry me. At ten, he stole my first kiss. And at fifteen, he dumped me for his fiancée and threw me out on the street. At sixteen... well, you all know, I ended up being a pawn in a bombing."

She let out a dry chuckle. Fifteen years of a gut-wrenching first love-all wrapped up in a hundred words.

Daniel frowned, her laugh tugging hard at his heart. He gripped her hand tightly, just trying to show her he was there.

Suddenly, the door banged open, slamming against the wall. A cold, intimidating man stormed in, his mere presence making the room feel a few degrees colder.

Seeing those tightly held hands, a chill flickered in Alan's eyes as he let out a low, sarcastic laugh. "Jessica, how come you didn't tell the whole story? When you were ten-you're the one who kissed me. And when you were fifteen-do you even remember why I kicked you out?"