Trapped In The CEO's Game

Pain.

Every inch of Daniela Pearson's body felt like it had been crushed under a car.

She suddenly opened her eyes, only to be met with a handsome face inches from hers.

This man, Kevin Bradley, had turned into her worst nightmare three years ago.

Memories of the previous night flooded her mind, leaving her stunned. Her eyes, sharp and clear, brimmed with disbelief.

His hand was still on her waist, holding her close in his embrace.

Run.

That was the only thought racing through her mind.

She swiftly tried to remove his arm from her waist.

Maybe it was the sudden movement, but he quickly opened his eyes, grabbed her neck, flipped her over, and pinned her beneath him. His expression was hostile, filled with evident scorn and disgust.

"Daniela, so eager to jump into my bed right after your return?" he sneered.

Jump into his bed?

She hadn't even intended to meet him, much less under these circumstances.

Daniela forced a smile and said, "Mr. Bradley, I came to this hotel with my fiance last night. But here I am with you. I got the short end of the stick. I haven't even confronted you about it. Why are you upset?"

Her smile annoyed him.

"Don't play games. Keep your dirty thoughts to yourself." He leaned in, his breath warm on her face, but his words were chilling. "Katherine and I are getting married soon. If you dare to breathe a word of our affair in front of her, I'll kill you."

It was ridiculous.

What could she possibly be plotting now? Would she try to force him into a relationship again, give her all, just hoping for a fraction of his affection, like before?

Indeed, her past thoughts were quite dirty.

Despite the bitterness in her heart, she managed a smile and prodded at his ego, pretending to be confused. "Our affair? Are you referring to that time three years ago when Katherine was sick in bed and you and I were being intimate? Or last night, when I just got back to the country and you couldn't resist sleeping with me?"

"Daniela Pearson!"

His grip on her neck tightened, freezing her smile instantly. As her face turned red from the lack of oxygen, she instinctively reached for his hand around her neck.

He enjoyed the fear in her eyes, taunting her with a sneer. "Do you really think it'd be hard for me to kill you? Or maybe you believe if I strangled you and left you in the street, someone would avenge you?"

Who would care whether she lived or died?

The Bradley family was a globally recognized financial dynasty, owning banks in major cities around the world. They wielded immense power and wealth.

Kevin, the current head of the Bradley family, was known for his ruthlessness.

Who would dare confront Kevin if he decided to end her life?

Her dear brother was missing, her mother practically lifeless in bed.

Yes, her mother!

She hadn't returned for these trivial issues with him.

Daniela kept batting at his hand, convinced this man might strangle her for his beloved Katherine. He remained unemotional, but eventually, she gazed at him, a mix of helplessness and fear in her eyes.

"If you value your life, behave yourself."

He smirked with satisfaction and finally released his grip.

"Ahem, ahem..."

Grasping her throat, she coughed violently, gasping desperately for air.

Kevin got up from her side, his lips slightly parted, and said in an icy tone, "Get lost."

Daniela got out of bed and then realized her body was covered in marks, each a reminder of how wild their night was.

Ignoring the pain and her naked body, she bent over to gather her clothes from the floor. Shaking, she dressed herself piece by piece. Then, standing straight, she walked out with deliberate steps.

Only after the door was shut did tears begin to fall silently.

Having cried over Kevin for years, she thought she was immune to the pain, but she was wrong.

What rotten luck! She had endured his treatment for years, believing it was all behind her. Yet here she was, back in his bed.

After freshening up in the bathroom and washing her face until no trace of tears remained, she decided it was time to go home.

She wouldn't have come back to these despicable people if not for her mother being here.

Her mother's hospitalization and the looming medical bills were her primary concern.

With a heavy heart and her head down, Daniela exited the elevator and accidentally bumped into someone.

"I'm sorry."

Without looking up, she tried to walk past.

"Daniela, your father set up our marriage. And you turn up at the hotel with another man? Don't you have any decency?"

Her arm was seized.

Daniela paused, turned around, and finally saw the person in front of her.

A bald, middle-aged man with a noticeable beer belly, dressed in a suit, had his arm wrapped around a woman, his gaze fixed on Daniela intently.

Upon learning of her return to the country, her family quickly set up a marriage for her. This man was Neal Reid, her supposed fiance.

She removed his hand from her arm forcefully and said firmly, "Mind your words. Who told you I'd agree to marry you?"

"Your father told me himself. And look at you! Were you fooling around with some other guy?"

Neal taunted her. "So shameful. Is this what your parents taught you? Or perhaps I should show you how to properly attend to your husband-to-be."

Daniela realized the truth. She had been drugged the previous night as part of her father's scheme to force her to have sex with Neal, leaving her no choice but to marry him.

Casting a glance at the woman in Neal's grip, she maintained a courteous smile. "I'm just worried you might suffer from STD."

"What did you just say?"

Daniela's words angered Neal. He let go of the woman and pulled Daniela's hair, causing a sharp pain in her scalp.

Slap!

She slapped him hard across the face.

"How dare you hit me?"

In an instant, she was thrown to the floor. Her arms and knees ached as she hit the floor. The pain from last night returned, leaving her unable to stand for a moment.

Neal raised his hand to hit Daniela again, but before he could, his hand was halted mid-air. The next moment, he was sent sprawling to the floor.

"Who did this? Do you want to die?"

Neal lay on the floor, his face contorted in pain, looking menacing. He tried to speak again, but the sight of the man before him and the intense aura he emitted made Neal tremble and drop to his knees.

"Mr. Bradley, am I in your way? What are you doing here?"

Daniela turned her head.

Her eyes met gleaming leather shoes, long legs, a black suit jacket over a black vest, and a white shirt beneath. The stark contrast of black and white made him seem exceptionally intimidating.

Kevin's face was so impeccably handsome, it seemed without a single flaw. His eyes, as cold as lifeless glass, were set above a perfectly straight nose. His lips, thin and slightly puckered, didn't move. Yet, the detached air he gave off, coupled with an intimidating vibe that warned others to stay away, made people involuntarily shudder.

He was like a devil dressed in human skin.

Daniela scoffed internally.

In the next instant, her arm was grabbed, and she was hoisted up. Kevin, his expression cold, pulled her along.

She forcefully shook his hand away and protested, "What are you doing?"

Kevin remained silent, just staring at her with frosty eyes, his hand balling into a fist.

The air around them seemed to grow colder in an instant.

"Sorry, Neal, this is my brother-in-law." Despite the risk of aggravating Kevin, Daniela flashed a charming smile and hurried to Neal, who had collapsed in fear. Her voice, laced with a hint of complaint, said, "Kevin, I was merely joking with my fiance. Why are you trying to intervene? Look at how frightened he is."

Kevin, deeply in love with Katherine Pearson, convinced Daniela was meddling in their affair.

And now, here he was, defending her and showing concern.

Unfortunately, she didn't need his pity. All she wanted was to sever ties with him.

She prepared to make it clear to this despicable scumbag that she couldn't care less about him.

Brother-in-law.

Fiance.

These titles knitted Kevin's brows together, stirring something deep within him. He was visibly upset.

She had changed.

Before, she had adored him openly, almost nauseatingly, following his every move, affectionately calling him Kevin.

Not anymore. Now she wore a forced smile that disgusted him, or she displayed a prickly attitude, always ready for a confrontation.

His eyes lingered on Daniela's hand as she extended it to Neal, noticing the bruises on her arm-the remnants of his grip from the previous night.

She had fought fiercely in bed, hurling insults and biting him. When that proved futile, she resorted to tears and pleas.

"Daniela."

Kevin uttered her name in a cold tone, his expression unreadable. He grasped her wrist firmly, exerting pressure as though intending to break her bones.

She hesitated briefly, and then her smile widened. "My fiance is right here. What do you think he'll feel seeing you act this way?"

Her smile seemed to challenge him, as if she was sure he wouldn't dare do anything.

What gave her the audacity to tease and defy him?

Kevin released her. He then stepped on Neal's hand, the same one that had grabbed Daniela. His face maintained its usual dignified and aloof demeanor.

"Ouch! Mr. Bradley, please, I didn't mean it. I'm sorry. Daniela, I beg you, please go with him. I'll break off the engagement. My hand hurts! Daniela, I'm begging you..."

Neal's agonized cries echoed, the sound of his bones snapping beneath him, shocking everyone in the hotel.

Some bystanders contemplated calling the police, but recognizing Kevin, they decided against it and left hurriedly.

Wouldn't staying alive be the wiser choice? Then why meddle in Kevin Bradley's business?

"You seem just like him in my eyes. Do you really think I'd hesitate to lay a hand on you?" Kevin's lips curved into a slight smile, but his eyes remained cold and mocking. "Or perhaps you believe I wouldn't have the heart?"

Hesitant?

Wouldn't have the heart?

These doubts had nothing to do with Kevin. She had always been aware of how cold his heart was.

Facing the man's indifferent expression, Daniela finally gave in and moved towards the exit.

The moment Daniela stepped outside the hotel, he pushed her into a car. Her heart raced, and she immediately tried to open the car door, but he had locked it.

What was his plan?

Was he intending to get rid of her to avoid future complications?