The return of the rebellious bride.

The loud sound echoed, shattering the tranquility of the ordinary room in a mid-range hotel. It was like a strange rhythm disrupting Ryan Blake's peaceful life, jolting him awake from a deep slumber. In what seemed like an instant, he opened his eyes wide, the morning light streaming through the window flooding the room, making everything sharper.

He groggily sat up, a pounding headache making its presence known, taking him a while to get his brain functioning coherently again. As his vision cleared completely, he glanced around, jolting once more as he realized he was in a completely unfamiliar place.

"What on earth is happening? Where am I?" Ryan wondered to himself as he slowly reached for the edge of the bed to rise. Suddenly, a chilling sensation swept over him, causing Ryan to shiver slightly. Feeling disoriented, bewildered, and suspicious, he looked down at his body only to find himself naked, with just a lone pair of underwear covering his modesty. The sense of deprivation, loneliness, and disorientation engulfed him, pushing him to contemplate his current predicament.

"Calm down, Ryan; let's use your brain to figure out what's happened and what's happening," he reassured himself, attempting to steady his mind and think rationally. However, the mental strain inevitably led Ryan to bring his hand up, roughly rubbing his face.

In his mind, Ryan felt a relentless worry; questions about this place, about why he was here, and about what had happened kept flooding in, disturbing him.

Despite feeling exhausted and bewildered, the grip of curiosity and determination still rose within his heart, compelling him to face the challenge of this mystery.

Upon reflection, Ryan came to a conclusion: There was only one scenario that could have occurred, and he was laughing at himself as he realized that he had indulged in a night with a stranger. This was a serious mistake that Ryan had never made before. Over the years, Ryan has always kept himself away from mundane desires, steering clear of fleshly temptations. Yet, on a normal night, everything suddenly changed. It all happened due to alcohol and arousal-inducing substances. Ryan seethed with anger, blaming himself. The main reason Ryan got caught up in these things was because of news about an arranged marriage. For years, Ryan had been trying to please his father, but he never gained his respect. Moreover, his life was tightly controlled and scrutinized by his father. The same applied to his marriage. Upon learning that he was to marry a girl chosen by his father, Ryan felt disillusioned and disappointed, leading him to decide to have a drink to ease his emotions. Little did he know, he would end up in trouble like this.

There was something peculiarly fuzzy about the events of last night that left Ryan puzzled. Normally, Ryan would maintain moderation and never drink to the point of losing consciousness. It was highly likely that he was either drugged or tricked into consuming some sort of illicit substance.

If that were the case, then who would dare to do such a thing? Ryan knew he had crossed paths with quite a few individuals who might hold a grudge against him, making it difficult to pinpoint the culprit.

Ryan held his head in his hands, groaning in frustration. He tried to recall every detail of last night's events in order to find a reasonable solution. Unfortunately, his memory was not cooperating well.

Was Ryan's conclusion correct? What actually happened last night?

Damn it! Ryan slapped his forehead, blaming himself for not being vigilant enough to prevent such a calamity from befalling him.

Now, what should Ryan do? If the person involved is not of legal age, Ryan will face even more trouble.

"Ryan, you idiot," Ryan muttered. "You shouldn't have gone to the bar in the first place."

Suddenly, the bathroom door swung open gently, casting a gradually brightening light into the dimly lit room, illuminating the figure of an incredibly beautiful, alluring yet entirely unfamiliar girl to Ryan. She was wearing a bathrobe, her head wrapped in a soft towel, still damp from the shower. Caught off guard by her sudden appearance, Ryan forgot to shield his body.

Silence fell as their eyes met. Ryan felt the enigmatic presence of this girl deeply ingrained in his mind, like a mystery waiting to be unraveled. As for the girl, she seemed slightly flustered upon seeing Ryan's lack of clothing. Trying to maintain composure, she broke the silence with a gentle voice while her eyes glanced elsewhere.

"Hello, I hope you'll forgive me; it seems the noise earlier woke you up."

Seeing the girl avert her gaze, Ryan furrowed his brows suspiciously, but as soon as Ryan looked down at himself, he understood the reason. Momentarily flustered, Ryan hastily searched for his clothes but found none. Eventually, Ryan gave up, putting on a casual demeanor and ignoring the girl's embarrassed expression. He simply thought, The girl must have seen his naked body last night, so there was no need for him to feel embarrassed unnecessarily.

"How are you feeling? Did you sleep well last night?" When Ryan remained silent, lost in his thoughts, the girl kindly inquired further, pretending to be natural, as if she hadn't seen anything. Her sweet smile momentarily stunned Ryan.

"Last night?!" When reminded, a surge of memories slammed into Ryan's mind. He recalled going to the bar last night and then leaving with a girl. Ryan was fuzzy on the details of her appearance, but he was certain she was a beautiful woman. The evidence was right in front of him now: a girl with smooth white skin, delicate features, elegance and refinement, and a subtly oval face.

"Where am I? Who are you? How old are you?" Ryan spoke up, his voice tinged with skepticism and coldness. "Last night, did we...?"

Ryan trailed off, feeling his question was redundant and unnecessary. Considering his current situation and appearance, Ryan should trust his own conclusion.

Nevertheless, seemingly understanding the meaning behind the question and showing some sympathy towards Ryan's bewildered state, the girl responded warmly.

"This is Hotel A, and you're in my room. As for age, I think that's a rather important question. So, I'll politely decline to answer."

"Where are my clothes?" Ryan asked, searching the room once again in hopes of finding them. Unfortunately, Ryan couldn't find his clothes, but his wallet and phone were also missing.

"Your clothes were dirty, so they've been sent for laundry. Just wait a moment; I'll contact reception to have them brought up for you."

Before Ryan could voice any objections or ask further questions, the girl added:

"The bathroom is over there if you need to use it."

With that, the girl disregarded Ryan, walking towards the phone placed on the table, picking it up, and dialing the hotel reception's number.

On the other hand, Ryan brushed aside his embarrassment and awkwardness, instead displaying a bewildered expression in the face of the girl's friendliness and enthusiasm, especially her captivating smile. He thought that logically, after last night, the girl should have appeared uncomfortable or embarrassed, perhaps even playing the victim or demanding compensation from Ryan, insisting that he take responsibility for their actions. That would have been the scenario Ryan expected.

According to Ryan, if the girl was a virgin or underage, she would have been more coy and persistent, determined to achieve her desires no matter what. Thinking this through, Ryan glanced back at the bed, checking for any signs of virginity. Luckily, apart from some wrinkles, the bedsheet looked quite clean. Ryan breathed a sigh of relief, knowing the girl wasn't a virgin. If she wasn't a virgin, it would be easier to handle, Ryan believed. Moreover, in this situation, Ryan wasn't necessarily at fault, as he believed the girl had seduced and trapped him in bed.

Everything needed to be thoroughly understood, and Ryan had to wait to see what this girl wanted before finding the appropriate approach. However, due to his impulsive, arrogant nature, instead of observing and waiting, Ryan acted rashly. At this moment, Ryan had no idea that he might regret what he was about to do in the future.

"How much do you want?" Ryan's voice rang out, catching the girl's attention.

The girl had just finished her call and was placing the phone on the table when she heard Ryan's question. She immediately turned to look at Ryan, slightly surprised to see him still standing there instead of heading to the bathroom, as she had assumed. She tried to process what she had just heard.

"What are you talking about?" She furrowed her brow, puzzled.

"I'm asking how much for last night?" Ryan reiterated patiently, his face suddenly becoming so cold that it made the onlookers uneasy. Ryan looked very serious, but the other party made a bewildered and slightly embarrassed expression. After a moment of thought, the girl reluctantly confirmed,

"You're talking about money."

Ryan smirked, pleased and feeling somewhat relieved. 'Thank goodness, the girl finally stopped pretending to be innocent.'

"That's correct," Ryan emphasized, adding, "Don't pretend like you don't understand. And don't put on that fake surprise. It makes me feel disgusted."

Suddenly confronted with harsh words, emotions surged fiercely within the girl. They boiled and were about to explode. Ryan's words truly touched upon a person's dignity. Moreover, they were seen as deliberate insults. She couldn't believe her enthusiasm and goodwill were being trampled on without mercy. And to top it off, Ryan dared to belittle and humiliate her honor. She wondered who could endure this situation. Even the most generous person wouldn't spare forgiveness for someone as ignorant as Ryan.

"What happened last night was a mistake; I had no idea whatsoever. I was drugged," Ryan bluntly explained the situation. "So, don't expect me to take responsibility for marrying you. Tell me, How much money do you want to spend to end this?"

Knowing Ryan hadn't finished speaking yet, the girl remained silent, listening intently.

"You sure know who I am and know about my life. And I bet you're the culprit who set me up," Ryan concluded based on his personal speculation. This made the listener feel unfairly accused and framed.

"What are you trying to tell me? I really don't understand what you're talking about," the girl pretended to ask, unable to believe the harsh words Ryan just uttered. She was being falsely accused by Ryan, a crime she did not commit. Not only that, Ryan used a stubborn attitude, asserting without providing any evidence. This was difficult to accept.

"In summary, how much money do you want to end this? Tell me, I don't have time to beat around the bush with you."

Ryan calmly stated, disregarding the girl's furrowed brows. In Ryan's mind, the girl in front of him was pretending to be innocent and blameless. And according to that logic, Ryan forcibly persuaded his mind not to believe the girl.

"You must have misunderstood something. I'm not the kind of person you're talking about."

Suppressing her anger, the girl tried to explain herself while Ryan shook his head with a mocking smile. Ryan possessed an aura of authority and elegance. He seemed unwilling to yield to or humble himself before anyone. He also didn't listen to others' reasoning or even the truth. Ryan only trusted his own conclusions and deductions. This was Ryan's fatal weakness. Knowing this, Ryan's personality has always been like this, making it very difficult to change.

"Not like that, huh?" Ryan raised his voice, deliberately mocking the other person. "Who knows, a few months later you might come to me, claiming that you're pregnant with my child and demanding that I take responsibility. Otherwise, you'll come to see me with the police, accusing me of sleeping with a minor."

Ryan's imagination was truly astonishing, and the girl couldn't hide her admiration.

Ryan didn't care about the other person's attitude, scoffing and commenting further, "Let me tell you, your foolish, mediocre plan won't affect me at all. Many people like you have used that idea, but all have failed miserably, some even living in regret for the rest of their lives."

The girl was belittled by Ryan, and for a moment, there were no clear signs of reaction anymore. Perhaps she was too stunned to respond. In her thoughts, she didn't know who the man in front of her was, but he was so arrogant and disdainful, to the point of being detestable and deserving of curses.

"Furthermore, before you do that, you should know that I'm not someone who is easily threatened or negotiated with by anyone," Ryan boldly declared, regardless of whether his words caused harm to the other person or not.

"Listen to this." Finally, after patiently listening to what Ryan had to say, the girl spoke while stepping closer, facing Ryan with the hope of having a straightforward debate between them: "I don't know who you are. And I have no ill intentions toward you. Regarding last night, I'll tell you." The girl presented herself confidently, hoping to successfully persuade Ryan to listen to her. However, Ryan bluntly extinguished the girl's good intentions.

"Don't even try to lie, fabricate, deceive, or gain my sympathy," Ryan declared without hesitation. "I've met plenty of people like you. You won't succeed."

"People like me?" The girl snapped, emphasizing her words. "What do you mean, who am I?" Enduring Ryan's rudeness and terrible attitude, the girl exclaimed in frustration, "What do you know about me?"

"Of course I know," Ryan confidently replied. "You pretend to be innocent and pure on the outside, but inside you're scheming and cunning. You're lazy and only interested in pleasure. You're the kind of person who specializes in seducing wealthy men for money." Ryan used harsh words, incredibly arrogant: "I'm rich and famous. If you don't know about me, then that's the most laughable thing in the world."

"Oh Lord, what sin have I committed to deserve this unjustified humiliation?" The girl wondered to herself. They had only just met for a few minutes, and yet Ryan dared to arrogantly pass negative judgments on her. Ryan was truly skilled at stirring up animosity and resentment. It seemed like Ryan's talent was to make others dislike him. Taking a deep breath, she reluctantly surrendered to Ryan's irrationality and delusions of power. There was no point in saying anything now; Ryan remained stubborn, clinging to his misguided and ignorant thoughts.

"Remember what I told you, so you don't do anything foolish that would make me destroy you, understand?" Ryan continued the attack verbally, inadvertently provoking the girl further. Unable to ignore Ryan's disrespectful attitude and the venomous words he directed at her, the girl decided to retaliate.

"You seem quite arrogant and conceited," The girl's voice dripped with sarcasm. Ryan could see the flames of indignation and frustration rising within her. "What's there to be proud of, to boast about being a careless, irresponsible person? Are you perhaps mentally ill, hence the rude and thoughtless behavior?"

Ryan listened, feeling deeply angered by the girl's insult. But he decided not to retaliate against her contemptuous attitude. He knew better than to argue with women, especially those with malicious intentions, only seeking to harm and trap him.

"Let's cut to the chase. How much money do you want? Speak up." Ryan reiterated sternly, lacking patience.

"Fine." The woman's tone sharpened, her eyes blazing with anger. It was clear that what Ryan had just uttered was crude, offensive, and not in line with his refined appearance or any semblance of education. "Unfortunately, I won't be able to erase last night from my memory, and I'm also regretful that I can't simply erase it."

Ryan frowned as he recalled the events of last night. What exactly happened last night? Ryan desperately wanted to know, but he couldn't remember clearly; the details were fuzzy. Asking the girl would be a shameful act. Ryan saw it as humiliating himself. So he wouldn't ask. Absolutely not. Someone as dignified as Ryan couldn't give others a reason to ridicule him, could he? It was precisely this outdated, childish thinking that made Ryan behave so poorly. Instead of inquiring and understanding the situation clearly, Ryan stubbornly stuck to his own preconceptions.

"What do you want?" Ryan asked impatiently.

"The day I met you and realized how pathetic you are, a despicable person," the girl added with emphasis. "Someone is even worse than garbage."

Ryan clenched his fists, restraining his anger at the mockery.

How dare she? Ryan muttered to himself. No one has ever dared to have such an attitude towards Ryan before. Is this girl exceptionally bold or simply foolish, not knowing her place and daring to offend Ryan Blake?

"I promise to forget your ugly face." The girl concluded with a mocking tone. "Now you can leave. The door is over there; just go straight. I won't escort you."

After speaking, the woman brushed off Ryan by stepping towards the wardrobe. She busied herself choosing a suitable dress, paying no heed to Ryan's lingering presence.

Ryan wasn't surprised or startled to see the woman calmly ignore him. Despite knowing he was provoking her, Ryan refused to back down.

"I admire your decisive decision. Now, let's talk price," Ryan said, immediately drawing the woman's incredulous gaze. Ryan simply wanted to wrap things up cleanly, leaving no aftermath, hence his continued verbal attack on the woman.

"I said leave. Are you deaf?" the woman asked, irritation evident in her voice.

"I'll leave after settling everything conclusively," Ryan replied arrogantly.

How long did Ryan intend to prolong this pointless affair?

It seemed Ryan wanted to drive others insane. Why did he stand there blankly when he was told he could leave? Was everything resolved, or was the woman mistaken? Ryan wasn't satisfied with the woman's simple and noble approach, was he?

Perhaps so. Looking at Ryan's expression now, it was like he wanted to eradicate weeds to the root. Ryan had to have the upper hand to feel at ease. It was all for Ryan's dignity. Additionally, it seemed Ryan still didn't fully trust the woman, believing she was plotting something.

"What a tough nut to crack!" the girl silently remarked about Ryan.

In that case, there was no need to waste any more tolerance on someone who was undeserving. She would teach Ryan a memorable lesson. Without any hesitation or respect for her opponent, the girl bluntly confronted Ryan.

"Alright then, if you have such good intentions, I'm also willing to accommodate you. So, how much are you willing to pay me?" She asked indifferently. "One, two, three, four, five, six... pick a number?"

"Finally, the true nature is revealed," Ryan smirked inwardly, feeling victorious, as his thoughts once again proved to be accurate. "Women are indeed nothing but gold diggers, bait, seducing men."

"I'll meet your demands accordingly," Ryan replied.

"Wow!" The girl feigned admiration. "You're so generous."

Curling his lips into a contemptuous smile, Ryan responded without hesitation, "So, how much do you want? Just give me a specific number you prefer."

Indeed, Ryan had plenty of money, and the petty amounts in his account were enough to cover such trivial matters.

"He dares to be arrogant with me." The girl's face flushed with anger at being provoked by Ryan. "That damn jerk. Just wait and see."

"Just a friendly price. One followed by seven zeros," the girl raised her index finger.

$10 million, an amount far below Ryan's standards. Seeing Ryan staring intently and hesitating to nod in agreement, the girl urged:

"Quickly hand over the money, and we'll go our separate ways. Rest assured, I'll never show up in front of you again. And I'll handle it discreetly if, unfortunately, I become pregnant with your child. And most importantly, I'm not a minor."

'Pregnant? That'll never happen,' Ryan scoffed inwardly at the girl's naive thoughts. Ryan was currently using contraception, so he was confident that he wouldn't impregnate anyone.

Unconcerned with Ryan's expression, the girl mocked him further. "Regardless, having a child like you would be no different than committing a crime-a major one at that. The child would inevitably inherit some genetic traits from its father. Imagine a child inheriting the traits of its terrible father, ultimately being shunned and scorned by society. Sooner or later, it would tread the path of wrongdoing. Not to mention, it's highly likely to resent me in the future. Why bring it into the world only to be rejected by society and without a father? Then, how would I explain to it about its father, someone not worth mentioning? Someone is worse than garbage."

Ryan felt bitter hearing the distant tale spun by the girl, filled with venomous words and inflicting terrible wounds. This girl was far from what her appearance suggested. Angels, indeed, could come disguised as demons from heaven. That's why Ryan dared not escalate the situation. Partly out of fear that the girl might have hidden cameras in the room to capture the entire extortion process, making Ryan vulnerable to blackmail. Partly because Ryan knew he was in the lion's den without a means to call for help. Who knows if there were some thugs waiting outside, ready to rush in if Ryan physically harmed the girl while filming and taking pictures to post on social media? Ryan's image and reputation would take a significant hit. So it was best to avoid scandals and controversies-a practical solution indeed.

Ryan preferred to deal with things straightforwardly, although reality often proved otherwise. It could be said that Ryan's imagination and deductive abilities had reached a sublime level, truly at the pinnacle.

"You can't afford to pay me." The girl pressed on as she noticed Ryan lost in thought.

"Not at all. I will compensate you as requested," Ryan replied decisively. He truly wanted to end this quickly, hence his easy compliance coupled with a stern warning. "Remember to stick to your words. If you dare to play any tricks behind my back, or if, by some chance, this incident is exposed after I leave, I swear you'll live to regret it."

Ryan's voice was chilling, his demeanor as sharp as steel and as cold as iron. When Ryan was serious, he truly looked terrifying.

"Oh, you're so fierce. You're scaring my fragile, delicate heart." The girl pretended to tremble, but her smirk betrayed her true feelings. With a casual shrug, she indicated that she understood Ryan's threats.

"I've heard enough. Now hand over the money and get out of here," the girl snapped, her attitude hostile, driving Ryan away.

Ryan suppressed his anger inwardly. He didn't bother with any further interaction with the girl. Out of habit, Ryan instinctively reached for his wallet, but to his horror, he realized he was shirtless. He glanced down at himself, suddenly horrified to remember his almost naked state.

The anger that had consumed Ryan moments ago quickly shifted to tension and anxiety.