My Manipulative Tycoon's Relentless Desires

In a hotel room, Irene Dixon perched on the edge of the bed, her head spinning. She clenched her teeth, struggling to maintain consciousness.

Her life had spiraled into chaos when her father was jailed on murder charges, and the shock had triggered her mother's illness, landing her in the ICU.

Amid this turmoil, her father's former allies were twisting the knife. Disregarding her father's significant help in the past, they spread malicious rumors and absconded with the company funds, all for their own gains. Consequently, many business partners were withdrawing, demanding both contract cancellations and damages from the Dixon Group.

Overnight, the Dixon Group was saddled with a debt of 380 million dollars, teetering on the edge of collapse.

Determined not to let her parents' life's work disintegrate, Irene felt compelled to take on the overwhelming challenge. The Dixon Group's salvation seemed to hinge on securing a lucrative deal with the Swan Mountain tourism resort hotel project. However, the project's manager was avoiding her, and without securing the project's initial deposit within three days, the Dixon Group faced bankruptcy.

In her desperation, Irene sought help from her estranged husband, Cade Hudson.

The Hudson Group was a powerhouse in Eimwell, with the Hudson family holding prominence for over a century.

Years ago, Irene's mother had saved Cade's life, prompting Damien Hudson, Cade's grandfather, to orchestrate a marriage between Cade and Irene once they were of age.

Their marriage, however, existed only on paper. They had never held a wedding ceremony nor consummated the union. Cade had departed for business shortly after their marriage and hadn't returned for two years.

Now, desperate for an introduction to the elusive project manager, Irene reached out to Cade, who shockingly proposed that they first consummate their marriage.

Accepting a glass of wine Cade had sent over, Irene took the room key he provided and headed to the designated room, her body strangely warming. She hadn't been intimate with men before and couldn't suppress her nerves.

As Irene waded through a fog of drowsiness, a man approached her. He arched an eyebrow and murmured, "You're quite beautiful, and you have a lovely figure."

Instinctively, Irene leaned into the man's touch, clutching his hand and whispering, "Cade..."

The man's face hardened immediately, and he scoffed. "You're calling another man's name in my bed? Is that appropriate to you?"

Confused, Irene looked up at the man, her thoughts increasingly clouded. Yet, when she saw him moving to leave, she impulsively reached out and clung to him from behind, pleading, "Don't go!"

The man paused, turning to face the drunk Irene. Her delicate features and half-lidded eyes, highlighted by a faint blush at their corners and an unintentionally alluring look, stirred a sense of familiarity in him. He gazed at the strange woman before him, who had somehow found her way into his room, and a fleeting memory crossed his mind, but before he could focus on it, he felt her grip tightening around his waist.

The man chuckled and said, "Alright. Just don't regret this later." With that, he embraced her, gently pinched her chin, and their lips met as they fell onto the soft bed.

As he thrust into her aggressively, the sharp, woody aroma of his cologne filled the air, and her grip on his robe tightened as she let out a soft moan.

The sound she made served as a catalyst, drawing out a stronger reaction from him.

He released her, gazing down at her now tousled appearance, then removed his robe and tossed it aside.

Slowly, he pushed his shaft deeper inside her for a few more inches.

A pained groan escaped Irene as tears began to gather in her eyes.

As the man propped himself up by resting his muscular arms near Irene's face, she caught his hands, her voice breaking as she implored, "Please... Be gentle..."

"Okay," he whispered, lightly kissing her lips before lifting her legs across his arms.

Their shadows entwined endlessly in the dimly lit room.

Irene chewed on the blanket's edge, her tears saturating the pillow beneath her. Overwhelmed by a confusing fusion of pain and novel pleasure, panic surged within her.

Lifted abruptly, Irene clung to the man, her cries echoing in the room.

As time seemed to stretch indefinitely, he eventually released her, panting heavily. When he turned her to face him, he discovered she had fainted. He tutted, carefully wiped away a tear from her eyelashes, and tasted its salty bitterness. "Did it hurt that much?"

Her tears dampened his earlier enthusiasm and passion. The man stood up and walked to the bathroom.

The sound of water cascading in the bathroom filled the otherwise quiet room as Irene laboriously pried her eyelids open. She was anxiously awaiting a definitive response from Cade.

Fighting through her discomfort, Irene rose from the bed, her feet touching the chilly floor, and leaned on the table for support as she moved toward the bathroom door. Just then, her phone began to ring. The screen showed Cade's name.

Confusion washed over Irene. Cade was supposed to be in the shower. Why would he be calling her now? Uneasy, she answered the call. "Cade, I've complied with your request. When are you going to hold up your end?"

Cade's voice, full of mockery, came through the speaker. "When did I ever say I'd help you? I only told you to meet me at the hotel, and I'd consider it."

Irene's grip on the phone tightened. "And? Have you decided?"

"My decision is no," Cade responded crisply.

"You're going back on your promise?" Irene's face grew stern.

"You sound upset. But remember, you're my wife. Isn't it my right to have sex with you?" Cade's laugh had a biting edge. "Oh, and I forgot to mention something. The man with you last night wasn't me."

Irene's breathing grew rapid, her voice shaky. "What do you mean? This shouldn't be joked about, Cade."

Still laughing, Cade retorted, "I'm quite serious. It wasn't me with you last night."

Irene's phone slipped from her trembling hand. She stooped to pick it up, but before she could, a shadow fell over her.

Irene looked up to see the man who had stepped out of the bathroom. He was shirtless, scratches visible on his chest.

It was blatantly obvious now. Cade had tricked her. He had feigned a desire to be intimate with her, but in reality, he had sent her to another man's bed.

In a panic, Irene's eyes darted from the man to her phone. She longed to confront Cade about his actions. But the call had already ended, leaving her with only the automated message stating his number was unreachable. Cade had blocked her.

Suddenly, Irene felt moisture on her face. She touched her face, only to realize tears were streaming down her cheeks. The startling realization slowly sank in for her. For heaven's sake, she had been intimate with a stranger!

Suddenly, the man said, "I didn't realize it was your first time. I might have been too harsh."

Irene's complexion turned ashen. She bowed her head, unable to confront the bitter truth.

Without warning, she found herself being lifted and gently placed back onto the bed. The linens retained marks from the night before, sending a wave of shame through her that turned her stomach.

The man let out a laugh and tossed a box in front of her. Inside were birth control pills.

Irene felt mortified. The situation was unfolding contrary to her expectations. Instead of sharing intimate moments with her husband, she spent a passionate night with a stranger and received pills from him.

Irene's hands shook as she reached for the box.

"I wouldn't mind if you were to have my child, but..." The man grasped her chin, forcing her eyes to his. "Considering everything, it's wiser for you to take these."

Surprisingly, Irene detected a hint of tenderness in his tone. Consoled by the stranger she had been with, she felt an ironic twist of self-derision.

"I'll take them," Irene uttered in a raspy voice. "This was a mistake. I thought I was with my husband..."

"I assumed you did it deliberately, given how bold you were," the man said, folding his arms and watching her casually.

"I had no clue. My husband gave me the room key," Irene confessed, closing her eyes and pressing her nails into her palms, feeling a throbbing pain.

An eyebrow arched and a smile spread across the man's face. "You made a poor choice in selecting your partner. Your husband sent you to my bed for some advantage."

Irene immediately picked up on the sarcasm in his voice. She inhaled sharply. "This is none of your business!"

He settled into a chair leisurely across from her. "Given our recent encounter, if you're facing troubles, I might be able to assist."

Only then did Irene raise her eyes to his, taking in the precise symmetry of his features-his prominent nose, sleek jawline, and the slight curl of his lips. Even behind glasses, his eyes sparkled with allure.

This man's looks easily outshone Cade's. Just standing there, he would be the center of attention.

Yet, to Irene, this man was nothing but a captivating scoundrel.

Irene quickly looked away. She was well acquainted with stories of men pursuing personal gain, even if it meant sending their wives or daughters to other men's beds, but she had never seen such behavior firsthand. Today she was living it. Cade's despicable act of sending her to this man's bed spoke volumes-this man wielded considerable influence and power.

A chill ran through Irene. She avoided his gaze, fearing he might read her thoughts. She wavered for a moment. If Cade was unwilling to assist her with her family's plight, perhaps this man might...

Driven by this notion, Irene found herself asking, "How exactly can you assist me?"

The man's eyebrow arched as he gently caressed her cheek, saying, "For instance, I can get rid of your husband for you. Additionally, I'm prepared to assist you further, though those services would come at a price. How about you become my lover?"

As he proposed, his grip suddenly tightened around her neck, as though threatening her life if she declined.

Irene fought to remove his grip, struggling for breath. What a lunatic! "I doubt you're short on female company. Moreover, I'm married. Look elsewhere."

"I find you particularly captivating," he retorted. His eyes roved over her features as he extended a business card. "Consider it."

Irene shot him a fierce look. "I am not that sort of woman!"

"It doesn't matter to me what sort you are. I'm merely making a genuine proposition. Instead of being exploited by your undeserving husband, why not entertain my proposal?" He leaned back, tilting his head slightly. "You stand to gain far more with me than with him."

Irene seethed with anger.

"Furthermore, he's never shared your bed. Don't you think he might be seeing someone else?" Observing that Irene hadn't accepted the card, the man smirked derisively. "Take your time to decide. I can wait for you."

Irene reluctantly picked up the card, reading the name Braydon Scott. The recognition clicked. He was the heir to the influential Scott family of Oglario.

Oglario, a hub for political and business elites, boasted the Scott family as one of its premier dynasties. Braydon was their prodigy.

The Scotts were connected to both the upper level and the underworld. Though they claimed to be upright businessmen, their involvement in dubious activities was an open secret.

Irene realized she had entangled herself with a truly powerful figure.

Braydon turned and walked away, leaving Irene frozen in a bewildered state. "You'll find some clothes on the sofa that should fit you," he mentioned casually as he departed.

The door shut behind Braydon, and Irene stood motionless, her rapid breaths eventually subsiding. She collected herself, changed into fresh clothes, retrieved her bag, and proceeded to the Hudson Group building.

Known as Cade's wife, Irene's arrival made the receptionist immediately rise, her voice tinged with nervousness. "Mrs. Hudson, to what do we owe the pleasure?"

Ignoring the greeting, Irene headed straight for the elevator, pressing the button for Cade's floor. As she opened the door, the sounds of suggestive moans paused her steps. Frozen, she overheard a conversation.

"Using Irene as leverage with the Scott family will undoubtedly seal the deal." A woman let out a breathless, playful laugh.

Cade's response was dismissive and calculating. "Keeping her virginity was just a strategy to extract maximum benefits. And it has indeed paid off."

"When will you divorce her then? I've been waiting too long," the woman complained.

"Soon," Cade said gently. "Once the deal with the Scott family is secured, I'll separate from her. You are the one I truly love, not her."

"But she is far prettier than I am..." the woman murmured uncertainly.

"To me, you are the most beautiful. She's nothing more than a strategic asset," Cade replied.

A cold realization dawned on Irene, prompting her to decide against entering. Turning back, she noticed the receptionist by the door, her eyes full of sympathy.

"Mrs. Hudson, is everything alright?" the receptionist asked worriedly.

"I'm fine," Irene responded, moving swiftly past the receptionist and out of the building.

Once outside, Irene looked up at the towering edifice, the sunlight overwhelming her vision. She shielded her eyes with her hand, tightened her grip on her purse, and walked away determinedly without a backward glance.

Engulfed in her reflections, Irene meandered into the street, pondering why misfortune seemed to exclusively target her, leaving her feeling overwhelmed. Her thoughts consumed her to the point that she failed to see the traffic light switch to red.

Just as Irene ventured a few steps forward, the piercing blare of a horn jolted her back to the present. Before she could react, a car sped directly toward her.

Suddenly, a firm grip seized her arm, pulling her back with considerable force. She narrowly dodged the oncoming black car, escaping unscathed.

Furious, the driver lowered his window and yelled, "Go kill yourself someplace else and leave me out of it!"

Pulse racing and face drained of color, Irene turned to thank her savior, only to find herself at a loss for words upon recognizing the man before her.

"Dying for a man who's not worth it doesn't seem rational, does it?" Braydon commented.

Brushing his hand off, Irene staggered back slightly. "I never said I wanted to die."

"Really? Crossing on a red light seems pretty definitive to me," Braydon mocked. "Seems like you don't care much about your life."

"It's none of your business!" Irene retorted, her already foul mood further soured by his words.

"Well, it becomes my business when your actions could cause me problems," Braydon said, scratching his chin.

As tears welled up in Irene's eyes, Braydon, recalling the previous night, awkwardly cleared his throat. "You're quite bold to attempt such a thing. If only you'd shown that bravery against your husband, I'd have a higher opinion of you."

"Your opinion means nothing to me. Just go away!" Irene said, turning her back and bursting into tears.

Without hesitation, Braydon walked away.

Standing still for a moment, Irene considered her situation. Realizing her reliance on Cade was futile and facing urgent issues at the Dixon Group, she made up her mind. She called out after Braydon, "Wait!"

But instead of stopping, Braydon continued on his way.

Left without support in Eimwell, Irene reflected on the last two years filled with ridicule and disdain from those she once considered friends and relatives, who now avoided her as if she brought bad luck. The notion of being someone's lover had always repulsed her, yet faced with her current predicament, she found herself compelled to compromise.

Irene hurried after Braydon. Clad in high heels and battling discomfort, her progress was slow and labored. She managed a jog and called out, "Wait! I need to speak with you!"

Braydon, however, increased their distance.

Caught up in her rush, Irene neglected to watch her step, and her heel snagged in a crack. She crashed to the pavement. A sharp pain radiated through her ankle as she cried out.

Braydon paused, turned around, and looked at her dismissively. "You look so miserable."

Despite her painful predicament, she reached for his hand. "Is your proposal still open?"

Braydon rubbed his chin, giving it some thought. "Which proposal?"

Feeling small and exposed on the crowded sidewalk, Irene's embarrassment was evident. She lowered her voice, saying, "The help you offered earlier. I need an introduction to the person overseeing the Swan Mountain project."

He remained silent, so she hurriedly added, "You mentioned I should take time to decide. I've thought it over. I'm ready to accept your terms to be your lover."