The Seductive CEO Forbidden Affair

The footsteps of a man echoed as he entered a seven-star restaurant. It was a luxurious establishment with service fit for a palace. The handsome man, nearing his fortieth birthday, captured the attention of the patrons inside.

His well-built physique boasted perfect proportions. A chiseled nose, thin lips with a hint of fine stubble gracing his chin and neck, adding to the masculinity he exuded. Neatly groomed black hair framed his face as Bryan took his seat at a table reserved in advance.

"You're late."

A voice came from a woman not much older than him. She was his stepmother, Jennifer Rose, only five years his senior. She had recently acquired the title of widow due to the passing of her husband, Bryan's father, just a week ago. Right beside her sat a young woman who had been staring at Bryan without blinking since his arrival.

"I've been busy, you know? Managing the company Papa left behind is quite exhausting," Bryan replied with a hint of sarcasm. It was evident that he didn't like his stepmother, who had been married to his father for five years.

Mrs. Rose narrowed her eyes in frustration. She didn't like Bryan much either, but their statuses forced her to suppress her anger.

"You know, you're not getting any younger. And it's highly unlikely that I'll be able to give you a sibling. Especially since your father's passing has left me feeling so lonely," Mrs. Rose said, her tone feigned sweetness.

Bryan curled his lips, well aware that his stepmother's words were nothing more than deliberate falsehoods.

"And I have absolutely no desire for a sibling from you."

"You always act so rudely towards me."

"Should I do otherwise?"

Mrs. Rose held her breath once more, knowing it wasn't the right time to confront her stepson. She widened her smile and turned her gaze toward the girl beside her.

"Allow me to introduce you to Lucy Mariel. She holds a master's degree in law from London and is currently building her own law firm."

"Hi, nice to meet you. I'm Lucy, and I... have liked you since the first time we met," Lucy said unabashedly.

"What... have we met before?" Bryan asked, puzzled.

"Yes, at the fiftieth anniversary celebration of your company. We even had a brief conversation," Lucy replied, blushing slightly.

"Ah, I see. And then?"

"I plan to arrange your engagement-oh, no, I mean, to host an engagement party for both of you and then a grand wedding celebration, of course."

"What?"

"You know, Bryan, we never know how long we'll live, do we? That's why you need to continue your father's lineage. I can't give you a sibling, so why don't you give me a grandchild? Even though I'm too young to be a grandmother, I'll make sure to be a loving one for your child," Mrs. Rose spoke with a triumphant smile.

Mrs. Rose knew that Bryan couldn't refuse the engagement she was proposing. Bryan had no reason to refuse, as he didn't have a girlfriend, and there were many rumors circulating that he had no interest in women at all.

Thus, this presented a significant opportunity for her to secure the heir Bryan would produce. The child of a girl who was actually related to Mrs. Rose. She made sure that all of her husband's wealth would fall into her hands. Bryan remained silent, sipping the wine already set on the table. Without a word, the night continued peacefully, with Mrs. Rose claiming victory.

A woman with long hair rushed in with all her might. Worn-out sneakers encased her small feet. In her flight, Angeline kept checking the time on her wrist and continued running into the bustling shopping center.

One of her hands held a paper bag containing an expensive dress she had obtained from a renowned boutique. Angeline paid no attention to the onlookers who were disturbed by her disheveled appearance and refusal to yield.

Her face was covered in sweat, but Angeline showed no sign of stopping. Until she saw a group of people waiting anxiously near a performance area. Angeline summoned her remaining strength and approached them.

"Why did you take so long? Don't you know the event is starting in a few minutes?" scolded the woman who had hired Angeline to retrieve her dress just ten minutes before the event was set to begin.

"I... ran as fast as I could. If you had asked me to get your dress five minutes earlier, I might have arrived sooner," Angeline replied, her breath still heavy.

"I don't care! I've already paid using an e-wallet," she said, and entered without a word of thanks.

Angeline checked her phone and smiled as she saw that the payment had been received. She walked wearily to a bench not far from where she was standing. She took out a bottle of mineral water and drank it all in one gulp.

Angeline observed the people around her, all dressed in beautiful gowns and elaborate makeup. Banners announcing a fan meeting of a Korean boy band were displayed in various places.

"Why do... they all look the same?" Angeline asked, completely unfamiliar with the entertainment world due to her busy work schedule since her school days.

It had been three months since Angeline took odd jobs after being fired from her previous workplace. A coworker had falsely accused Angeline, leading to her dismissal without severance pay from her boss. This forced Angeline, who was the breadwinner of her family, to work day and night to meet her family's needs and pay for her mother's kidney failure treatments, which required dialysis once a week.

In addition, she had a younger sibling still in high school. Angeline was willing to do any job that could provide a decent income. She had even worked as a clown for a whole day at a carnival.

Angeline's phone rang, and she looked at it, seeing an incoming order.

"A replacement driver?" Angeline murmured as she got up from her seat. Not long after, she arrived at the parking lot of the luxurious restaurant. A chauffeur approached Angeline, looking visibly pale.

"I have to leave, and I can't take my employer with me. Can you drop them off at home?" the chauffeur asked.

"Of course, I have a driver's license."

"Alright, I've already paid you upfront. So, make sure to get them home safely."

After waiting in the car for an hour, a man approached and knocked on the car window. Angeline promptly got out and opened the back door.

"Who are you?" Bryan, who turned out to be the employer of the chauffeur that Angeline was replacing, asked.

"Hello, I'm the replacement driver who will take you home. Please get in," Angeline said weakly.

Bryan gave her an unfriendly look, especially since Angeline's pale appearance made him hesitate.

"I'll drive myself. Just go," Bryan ordered and closed the door that Angeline had opened.

Angeline was surprised and remained silent, not moving an inch.

Bryan walked closer and tried to pull Angeline away from her spot. However, as Bryan was about to get into the car, Angeline immediately held him back.

"Let me take you, sir. I promised to get you home safely," Angeline said confidently.

"Don't you have a mirror?" Bryan asked, bewildering Angeline.

"Am... am I too pretty as a replacement driver?" Angeline asked innocently. Bryan looked at her in surprise.

"Your face is so pale, like a dead person's!"

"I'm not dead."

"And I don't want to die yet. So, go home. I don't want to get into an accident because you're driving with that face," Bryan pushed Angeline again, but Angeline held onto Bryan's body.

"I can't! Sir, please let me take you," Angeline pleaded with a pitiful expression.

Bryan sighed, his phone rang, and he had to answer it. Feeling incapable of driving and in a hurry to get home, Bryan reluctantly allowed Angeline to drive his car while he continued his phone call.

With permission granted, Angeline skillfully drove the car smoothly and safely. Despite her pale face, profuse sweating, and the car's air conditioning being quite cold, Angeline remained focused without the slightest error.

Even when overtaking or making turns, she did so seamlessly without any mistakes. Unbeknownst to Bryan, who was busy on the phone with his client, he was quite impressed. Angeline didn't look like a rookie driver at all; she appeared very professional.

A few moments later, their car had entered Bryan's driveway. Angeline got out first and opened the door for Bryan.

"Have a good rest, sir," Angeline said, nodding slightly.

"Thank you for getting me home safely," Bryan said and handed her a hundred-thousand-dollar bill.

"A tip for you," he added, and Angeline accepted it with a broad smile.

"Thank you again."

Angeline walked away from the scene, while Bryan continued to gaze at her with an inexplicable look. As Bryan turned and took only three steps, he was startled by a rather loud thud.

Bryan turned around to find the source of the noise, becoming even more surprised when he saw Angeline lying unconscious on the ground. He quickly walked towards her.

"Hey, are you okay?" Bryan asked, trying to shake Angeline's body. There was no response. Bryan touched Angeline's face, which was now very pale, warm, and covered in sweat.

Bryan reluctantly carried Angeline inside his house. He placed her on the living room sofa and called a doctor he knew.

An hour later, Angeline began to regain consciousness. Her eyes slowly opened, and she was surprised to find herself in an unfamiliar place.

"Are you awake?" a man's voice sounded as he entered the room, carrying a package in his hand.

"You fainted on the street. Why did it have to be at my house?" he asked again, making Angeline look at him in bewilderment.

I'm... at your house?" Angeline asked, realizing who was in front of her.

"Yes. Hah... the doctor has examined you, and you... malnourished, exhausted, and even anemic. What's going on with you? How could you work in such a condition?" Bryan scolded, appearing irritated despite not caring about Angeline.

"Ah... I'm sorry for inconveniencing you, sir. I... will pay for everything, but can it be in installments?"

Bryan stared at Angeline blankly, but deep down, he was very surprised. His first concern was the medical expenses he would have to cover for her, not the details of her health.

"Eat first, and then you can go," Bryan said, indicating the package he had brought. However, Angeline didn't take the package. Instead, she reached for her phone and immediately checked it.

"OH MY GOODNESS! I lost a lot of jobs; why did I have to faint like this?" Angeline exclaimed and quickly got out of the bed she had been resting on, rushing to leave.

Bryan held Angeline's hand and remained silent for a while until Angeline pulled her hand away.

"Thank you for helping me. Please contact me for the medical expenses through your driver, sir. Excuse me," Angeline said, pulling her hand and heading for the guest room she had used.

Bryan still stood there in silence. He wanted so badly to ignore Angeline, even though he knew her condition. But after a while, Bryan began to feel anxious and uncertain. Eventually, he followed Angeline, who was already at the doorway.

"How much?" Bryan asked, stopping Angeline in her tracks.

"What?" Angeline turned to look at Bryan, puzzled.

"How much... is your fee? Per hour? Or per job? I will pay you."

Angeline looked at him, not understanding at first, but a moment later, she was shocked, covering the front of her body by crossing her arms.

Bryan stopped and sighed, rubbing his forehead with his right hand, which he had slipped into his pants pocket. He couldn't believe that Angeline would think so far into his previous statement.

"What do you mean, sir? I'm not an escort! Even though I desperately need money, I still have my dignity. I may accept all kinds of jobs, but not serving men like you!"

Hearing that, Bryan couldn't help but laugh. Angeline was briefly enchanted by Bryan's increased handsomeness, which doubled when he laughed like that. Since their first meeting, Bryan had seemed cold and very serious.

"Why are you laughing? Do you think this is a joke?" Angeline asked angrily.

"Ah no... sorry. I didn't mean to offend you. And I didn't think you would believe I would pay you for... doing that. I just want you to finish your meal. If you leave in that state, I'm sure you'll faint on the street."

"What?"

Bryan continued, "Consider your doctor's fees paid if you finish the meal I bought for you and don't forget to take the medicine the doctor prescribed. I don't know why I have to care about you like this."

A few moments later, Angeline finished eating a bowl of warm porridge and immediately took her medicine. Meanwhile, Bryan was busy with his tablet. Suddenly, a message came in from Mrs. Rose, his stepmother.

Bryan hesitated to open the message and simply put down his tablet. His face once again turned cold and serious.

"Thank you for the porridge and medicine. Is my debt paid now? If so, I'll take my leave," Angeline said after washing her bowl and plate.

"Why do you work odd jobs like this? You even agreed to be a substitute driver. What if I were a bad person?" Bryan asked, stopping Angeline from leaving.

"I'm just a hard worker willing to do anything to earn a living. My mother is sick, and we have no one else to rely on. If it's not me, then who?"

"Anything... as long as it pays?"

"Yes."

Bryan fell silent for a moment, thinking seriously while walking closer to Angeline. He put his hands in his pockets and stopped just one step away from where Angeline stood.

"In that case, would you be willing to work for me? At least for one year?" Bryan offered.

"What kind of job are you offering?"

"Marry me and give birth to a son for me."

Angeline was shocked to hear Bryan's proposal.

"Marry me and bear me a son," Bryan said.

Angeline was shocked to hear Bryan's words. She couldn't believe how a man who appeared significantly older than her could casually say something like that. The anger she had suppressed was now resurfacing. It was as if she finally understood why he had prevented her from leaving earlier when she had wanted to.

"You're insane," Angeline muttered, and without another word, she stormed away.

"No matter how much, I'll pay you. I'll even give you a house, a car, or a store after our contract ends," Bryan said.

Angeline momentarily stopped, but she refused to be seen as cheap, and she continued walking away. In fact, she was so emotional that she slammed the door quite hard.

"Hah... what did I just say?" Bryan mumbled as he rubbed his face. It was as if he hadn't realized he had said something outrageous. However, there was no regret in his expression. He looked serious again and walked to his room to rest.

As the day grew late, Angeline, who was walking to find public transportation, felt a mixture of frustration and sadness. She couldn't believe she had encountered a man who, despite appearing much older, had made such strange and inappropriate remarks.

Despite her desperate need for money, Angeline was not a woman who would sell herself just to make a living. Slowly, tears welled up in her eyes as she began to lament her unlucky fate and how she had been treated so poorly.

Suddenly, her phone rang, and Angeline answered it immediately.

"Hello, is this Angeline?"

"Yes, that's correct. Who is this?"

"We're from the police. Are you Michael Bastian's sister?"

"The police? Yes, I'm Michael's sister. What's happened to my brother?"

Angeline was startled by the explanation from the police officer who called her. With tears streaming down her face, she hung up the phone and hailed a passing taxi.

"Please take me to the police station," Angeline requested, struggling to hold back her tears. Her head was beginning to ache, and the weight of the situation felt overwhelming.

The problems just seemed to keep coming. Angeline's only sibling, who was still in the 11th grade of high school, was now at the police station. Angeline couldn't believe it and never expected her brother to be involved in a drug-related network.

The police informed her that her brother had tested positive for using illegal drugs and would be detained. Angeline had just arrived at the police station and immediately sought out her brother, who was already in custody.

"Sis Angeline! Please help me, sis. Get me out of here, sis. I didn't know it was illegal drugs; they set me up, sis! Please, I don't want to go to jail," Michael pleaded with tears in his eyes.

Angeline looked at him, holding back her own tears. She knew her brother was not lying. He had been working hard to collect recyclables after school to make some money. So, how could he have ended up in this situation?

"Officer, I know my brother is at fault, but you heard him yourself-he was framed. He didn't know what he was drinking was illegal drugs. I beg you, please release my brother," Angeline pleaded desperately.

"I'm sorry, but we have to proceed according to the law. Your brother was caught with drug dealers and drug users."

"Isn't there any other way, officer?"

In that moment of desperation, a man in a suit arrived and immediately approached one of the plainclothes police officers who were there. They whispered to each other, and the man in the suit handed over a briefcase measuring 30*30. After the officer opened it, he immediately smiled broadly.

Not long after, the man who had been apprehended with Michael was released without any punishment. Angeline and Michael, who witnessed this, were bewildered.

"Alex, release me too! You didn't say it was illegal drugs!" Michael shouted desperately, trying to hold onto Alex's arm. However, Alex rejected him and even kicked Michael before leaving the cell.

"How could you release the man who framed my brother? While my brother is still detained?" Angeline challenged the police officer who had received the briefcase full of money.

"If you want your brother to be released without charges, bring us fifty million. Oh, no... it's been more than three hours now, and it's a new day, so make it a hundred million. If it goes on for another day, add fifty million more. You can do the math until the prosecutor takes him to court, can't you?"

The police officer who said this just walked away. Angeline tried to restrain him and was pushed until she stumbled. She attempted to seek help from other police officers there, but they all seemed indifferent, as if Angeline was invisible.

Michael sobbed in sadness, begging to be set free. Angeline once again lamented her fate, feeling utterly helpless.

In the morning, Angeline had already been searching for another job to raise the money needed to free her brother. She spent the entire day looking for work and collecting all her earnings, but it was still far from enough to secure her brother's release.

Three days had passed, and Angeline had only managed to collect five million by working tirelessly without rest. She was on the side of the road, eating a piece of bread and sipping from a bottle of mineral water.

"If this is all I can make in a day, when will I be able to gather enough? How many hundreds of millions will it be by tomorrow? What should I do?" Angeline wondered aloud.

By chance, Angeline spotted a car that looked similar to Bryan's. She stared at it curiously, wondering if the person inside was the same man she had met before. The car stopped in front of a luxurious restaurant, and a man got out.

Unfortunately, the man was not Bryan, leaving Angeline somewhat disappointed. However, a moment later, she shook her head, determined not to be tempted by Bryan's offers from that day.

"I need to work even harder; I know I can do it," Angeline said to herself as she checked her phone again for job opportunities.

Then, a call came in, and it was from the hospital where her mother was. Angeline answered the call in surprise and immediately hailed a taxi to rush to the hospital.

Upon arriving at the hospital, Angeline hurriedly sought out the doctor who was attending to her mother.

"Doctor, what happened to my mother?" Angeline asked, her face pale, and her breath uneven.

"Your mother suddenly vomited blood. We have checked, and your mother's condition is very unstable. Her kidneys are very serious and must be operated on as quickly as possible," explained the doctor.

Angeline was shocked and confused. While she was having trouble finding money to free his younger brother, at that very moment his mother had to undergo surgery which required a huge amount of money. Problems kept happening in his life.

Angeline had run out of thoughts, as if she had reached a dead end. Her thoughts were out of control. She really wanted to scream and blame people. However, she knew that it wouldn't change anything.

Angeline was on the overpass, below there were many large vehicles going quite fast because the road was empty. Angeline's eyes were empty, she looked very frustrated and depressed. The burden of her life has never diminished in the slightest. This made she want to give up and think about ending her life.

Angeline looked down more than ten meters away. She no longer has the will to live.

"Will death end everything? Can I be at peace by dying?"