Sorry Ex, Your Dad Chose Me

"BREAKING NEWS: Ian Wright and Scarlett Hayes are engaged. The powerful match could reshape the business world!"

On the massive LCD screen, Ian stood beside Scarlett. Camera flashes went off nonstop around them.

The television replayed the same footage over and over. Elyse Miller sat on the sofa, eyes red and swollen after hours of crying.

With a click, the villa's front door swung open.

Ian stepped inside, a faint smell of cigarette smoke clinging to him. He loosened his tie and glanced at the empty dining table. His brow furrowed. "Why isn't dinner ready yet?"

Elyse turned toward him. The raw, red rims around her eyes were impossible to miss.

The usual gentleness was gone from her striking face. So was the quiet deference she had always shown him. Only a deep stillness remained. "Ian, we're done."

Ian stopped halfway through taking off his suit jacket. Then he gave a short, sharp scoff.

He crossed the room in a few long strides and stopped in front of her. He took her chin between his fingers and tilted her face up. "Are you jealous?"

Elyse jerked her head aside and pulled free from his touch.

"Elyse, don't make a scene." Ian's tone was dismissive. "This is nothing but a strategic marriage. It's a business alliance between our companies. You know my father would never let me marry an orphan with no status. But none of that changes how I feel about you. You'll always be the one I love."

Ian then leaned in to kiss her.

Elyse shoved him away with all the strength she had.

She rose to her feet and stared at him with cold disappointment. "Then what you call love is worthless."

Ian lifted one hand and idly played with a strand of her hair. "Don't start getting greedy, Elyse. You only got together with me because I'm a Wright, didn't you?"

Elyse slapped him hard across the face.

Her hand shook, and her red-rimmed eyes were fierce. "You've gone too far, Ian!"

Ian ran his tongue along the inside of his cheek. When he faced her again, his eyes had turned dark. "You haven't seen how far I can go. You haven't even finished college yet. If you leave me, my family will cut off your financial support immediately. You won't last a single day in Afordale without us. Don't make a decision you'll regret."

Elyse's chest clenched painfully. She stared blankly at the man in front of her.

This was the boyfriend she had loved for three years.

Back then, her exceptional grades had earned her special admission to Afordale's most prestigious school.

But entering the campus as a poor scholarship student had made her an immediate target. She was isolated and bullied from the start.

Ian had been the only bright spot in that miserable time. He had protected her from the constant cruelty around her.

She hadn't learned until later that the Wright family had been paying for her education all along, or that Ian was a member of that family.

When he pursued her with such passion, she believed he was her salvation.

After spending three years as his secret girlfriend, she finally understood how he had always seen her. In his eyes, she was nothing but a social climber and a gold digger chasing money and power.

The realization hurt so badly it felt as though something in her chest had torn apart. The pain left her unable to breathe.

"I will never regret it." Elyse's red eyes blazed as she spoke. Every word was deliberate and final.

Elyse turned to leave, but Ian's cruel voice stopped her. "Developers have been asking about the land under the orphanage. They want to buy it, demolish everything, and redevelop the entire property. I wonder what will happen to all those children when it's gone."

Elyse stopped cold. She couldn't make her feet move.

She spun around and glared at him with pure hatred. "Don't you dare go after that orphanage, Ian. If anything happens to those children, I swear I'll make you pay."

Ian saw her panic and slowly smiled. He stepped closer, and his voice dropped into a teasing drawl. "And how exactly are you going to make me pay, Elyse?"

He stopped directly in front of her and ran his fingertips along her cheek. "All I have to do is lift a finger, and you won't have any way to fight back."

Elyse turned her face away from his touch in disgust.

Ian didn't seem bothered. "If you want me to leave the orphanage alone, it's simple. Stop talking about breaking up, stay by my side, and be good. Do that, and I promise I won't let anything happen to the orphanage."

Fresh tears filled Elyse's eyes. "You're being such a jerk."

Ian lowered his head and breathed in the scent of her neck. His eyes shone with smug satisfaction. "How else am I supposed to keep you under control without using a few tricks? Now, quit throwing a tantrum. And don't forget the gala tomorrow night. Make sure the Spencer family signs that contract."

Elyse secretly sneered at him. So that was the real reason he had rushed over.

Spencer Pharmaceuticals ranked among Afordale's leading pharmaceutical companies and had negotiated several major projects with Wright Group.

Everyone believed Ian's business skills had secured those deals.

What no one knew was that Spencer Pharmaceuticals had originally offered her a position as a pharmaceutical R&D specialist. She had turned it down because she wanted to help Ian. Only then had the Spencer family agreed to work with him instead.

Just then, Ian's phone buzzed.

He checked the screen. His brows drew together ever so slightly. "Something came up at the office. I need to go."

With that, Ian grabbed his suit jacket and hurried out before Elyse could respond.

Elyse watched Ian leave. The tears in her eyes slowly dried, and her gaze turned cold as ice.

Ian thought he could control and threaten her as much as he wanted simply because she had come from nothing. But he made a serious mistake.

Elyse's voice was ice-cold. "So you want that deal? I'll make sure it falls apart."

Elyse arrived at the gala early the following evening because she had no intention of entering with Ian.

Her main reason for coming was to find someone from the Spencer family and withdraw from the partnership she had recently negotiated.

She had barely found a place to sit when an excited voice caught her attention. "I heard some huge news. Michael Wright is returning to the country for an arranged marriage!"

"So did I. His father is supposedly dying, and his mother forced him to agree."

Another guest chimed in, "Everyone in our circle is talking about it. Apparently, Michael's health has gotten so bad that he looks ancient. He isn't even forty, but people say he resembles a frail old man. I can't wait to see what he really looks like."

Hearing Michael's name made Elyse lower her gaze. None of the rumors were new to her.

Michael had created his own business empire at eighteen and later became the youngest person to reach the top of the world's rich list.

Despite his fame, no one in the highest levels of society had ever seen his face.

That was also the year he had adopted Ian, who had been five years old at the time.

People described Michael as ruthless, distant, and impossible to predict. Rumors also claimed he was obsessed with cleanliness and couldn't tolerate women. More than thirty years had passed without a single woman appearing beside him.

"Wait until you hear this part. Michael's father might not survive this time. His younger half-brother, the illegitimate son who was sent overseas, is coming back too."

"Of course he is. He probably wants his share of the Wright family fortune!"

Elyse lifted an eyebrow. Things were about to become much more complicated for the Wright family.

Aaron Spencer's assistant approached her moments later. "Ms. Miller, Mr. Aaron Spencer would like to discuss the partnership with you. He's waiting in the lounge upstairs."

"Understood." Elyse rose and followed the assistant to the second floor.

Aaron greeted her with a smile. "Ms. Miller, our last project succeeded because of you."

He invited her to sit on the nearby sofa and handed her a glass of wine. "The drug wouldn't have been nearly as effective if you hadn't discovered the error in the research data. You're still in college, yet your ability already matches that of leading medical professors. Ian has no idea how fortunate he is."

Elyse couldn't return his smile despite the lightness in his voice.

"I kept my promise. This is the five-year strategic partnership agreement between Spencer Pharmaceuticals and Wright Group." Aaron pushed the contract across the table.

After looking down at it, Elyse placed her palm on the document and slid it back. "I'm sorry, Mr. Spencer, but I won't be signing this," she remarked firmly.

Aaron raised an eyebrow. "Is there a problem with the agreement?"

Elyse shook her head and looked directly at him. "I've decided to leave Wright Group. I won't be working for Ian anymore."

Ian's engagement had dominated the news yesterday. One look at Elyse's face was enough for Aaron to understand.

His fingertips tapped lightly against the sofa's armrest before a slow smile appeared. "Then perhaps you and I should discuss working together instead."

The offer surprised Elyse.

Aaron noticed her reaction and continued, "I've told you this before. We wouldn't have expanded our partnership with Wright Group without your contribution. Healthcare isn't their area of expertise."

Elyse pressed her lips together. "I'm not looking to join another company right now. I want to spend my final-year internship concentrating on pharmaceutical research."

Her hesitation didn't surprise Aaron. "If you reconsider, you can contact me whenever you like, Ms. Miller," he suggested with a warm smile. "There will always be a place for you at Spencer Pharmaceuticals."

His confidence in her touched Elyse. She lifted her glass. "Thank you for believing in me, Mr. Spencer."

Aaron raised his wine and touched the rim against hers. "Here's to putting Ian behind you and moving on to something better."

The mention of Ian caught Elyse off guard. Her hand slipped, spilling most of the red wine down her dress.

She grabbed several napkins and quickly pressed them against the stain.

Aaron placed his glass on the table. "There's a spare outfit in the room beside mine. My assistant can take you there."

"I'll find it myself. Thank you, Mr. Spencer." Elyse left the lounge and checked the doors on both sides of the hallway.

The door to her left stood slightly open, so she pushed it wider and entered without hesitation.

Elyse had no chance to take in the room. Someone grabbed her wrist and yanked her inside so hard that she stumbled.

Alarm raced through her. She spun toward the door, but a strong arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her back.

"Help-" Her cry ended when someone covered her mouth with a forceful kiss.

Shock widened Elyse's eyes.

Elyse had never kissed anyone before.

She had dated Ian for three years, but her reserved nature had kept their relationship from going beyond an occasional hug.

Now a stranger had taken her first kiss without warning.

Elyse fought at once and pushed hard against his chest.

Michael was barely aware of what he was doing. The moment his lips touched hers, the fever raging through his body eased and gave way to a dizzying sense of relief.

A light jasmine scent lingered on Elyse's skin, and it made him hold on instead of releasing her.

"Please... help me." His deep voice came out rough and strained.

"N-no! Stop!" Elyse braced both hands against his shoulders. His body felt painfully hot even through his shirt. "Sir, you need to control yourself!"

Her resistance made no difference. Michael was far stronger, and she couldn't break free from the kiss.

Soon, the struggle left her breathing uneven.

Unfamiliar heat spread through Elyse's body. His kisses caused physical reactions she neither understood nor wanted.

Her knees buckled beneath her, but Michael caught her before she fell. He lifted her to his chest and carried her toward the bed.

The mattress sank when he placed her down, and the impact made her bounce slightly. His body followed, trapping her beneath him.

Michael laid a burning hand against her waist and fought to restrain himself. "I'll make this up to you."

Elyse tried to answer, but her voice broke into frightened pleas.

The last of Michael's control gave way. He tightened his hold on her waist and forced himself on her.

By morning, Elyse's entire body ached as though she had been torn apart.

For several seconds, her mind remained empty. Then broken pieces of last night rushed back all at once.

She had entered the wrong room and spent the night with a stranger?

Elyse scrambled out of bed, pulled on her clothes, snatched up her phone, and rushed toward the door.

"Planning to leave without a word?" Michael's voice made her stop.

Elyse flinched before turning around, then froze when she saw him.

He sat bare-chested on the bed with the sheet gathered around his narrow waist. Muscle defined his broad shoulders and strong arms, which made it clear that he trained regularly.

Faint lines of his abdomen remained visible above the sheet.

His face shocked her most. Every feature looked sharp enough for a movie screen, and he was so handsome that she struggled to look away.

"Are you finished staring?" Michael asked without emotion.

Elyse quickly looked away. "About last night... I entered the wrong room. None of this was supposed to..."

Michael assumed she was the woman his mother had chosen for him, and his tone turned cold. "How much do you want?"

The insult erased the fear from Elyse's eyes.

She reached into her bag, pulled out two hundred dollars, and threw the cash onto the bed. Contempt filled her gaze as she looked him over. "That's all last night was worth."

Before Michael could respond, Elyse turned around and left the room.

His eyes settled on the cash scattered across the sheets. A brief laugh escaped him because he couldn't believe what she had done. No one had ever treated him with such disrespect.

Moments later, someone knocked on the door.

"Come in," Michael instructed coldly.

Jack Thomas, his assistant, opened the door and entered. "Mr. Wright, this was my mistake. I didn't expect your mother to put an aphrodisiac diffuser in the room."

Michael lifted one hand to silence him. "Save the excuses."

Jack bowed his head at once. "I stopped the woman your mother arranged to send last night. The young woman who entered this room wasn't part of the plan. She came in by accident."

Surprise flashed across Michael's face as he looked up. "My mother didn't send her?"

"No. I reviewed the security footage. She left the lounge reserved for the Spencer family and entered this room by mistake."

Michael frowned. Had he judged her entirely wrong?

His gaze moved to the empty side of the bed. A small dark red stain stood out against the white sheets.

He pressed his fingers against his temples as he felt a headache coming on.

"Mr. Wright, should I take care of her before this causes trouble?" Jack asked cautiously.

Michael looked at the two hundred dollars on the bed. "Find out who she is, but don't do anything without my permission."

A chill passed through Jack. "Understood."

Elyse had barely escaped the hotel when her phone began ringing. Ian's name appeared on the screen.

His angry voice came through as soon as she answered. "Elyse! I've been calling you all night. Why didn't you answer? Stop sulking already. You got the Spencer family to sign the contract, didn't you?"

Her fingers tightened around the phone. "No, I didn't. I'm done helping you."

Ian immediately lost his patience. "Keep playing these games, and you'll regret it."

He ended the call without another word.

Elyse hadn't recovered from the threat when her phone rang once more.

She saw the caller's name and answered at once.

Panic filled the voice on the other end. "Elyse, something terrible happened at the orphanage!"