The year Arthur loved me the most, I became his uncle's kept woman. The older, dominant man smiled carelessly and told him: "Consider this your first lesson. What you value is nothing but a plaything in the eyes of others." Arthur hated me to the core. In the end, he agreed to go abroad and accept an arranged marriage. On the day of his grand wedding. I boarded a flight out of the country as fast as I could. With Arthur successfully married, my contract with his young uncle was over. That cold, unfeeling man would no longer protect me. If I stayed in the country, Arthur would kill me. 1 [Oh my god, I just got news, Arthur is coming back to the country tomorrow.] [What? @Chloe, sis, take care of yourself!] [What is she afraid of? Doesn't she have him protecting her? No matter how much Arthur hates Chloe, she's still his uncle's woman.] [Ah, that's true.] I looked at the messages in the group chat, my face turning pale. It wasn't like that at all. "What's wrong?" The man closed his laptop, reaching out to caress my waist, his voice indifferent. I looked up, meeting those pitch-black eyes. "Arthur is coming back?" I asked softly. A half-smile played on the man's lips: "Why, missed him?" I leaned into his embrace, silent for a long moment, then smiled and acted spoiled: "What if he comes back to get revenge on me? You have to help me." Alexander Vance pinched my chin, saying carelessly: "He wouldn't dare." I instantly froze. How is that possible? I still haven't forgotten the look in Arthur's eyes back then. Besides pain, there was overwhelming hatred. Towards Alexander, and towards me. Thinking of this, I subconsciously shivered, then shook Alexander's arm, "Better safe than sorry. Anyway, when he comes after me, you have to stop him." Alexander didn't answer. His long, elegant fingers untied the ribbon at my waist. With a gentle tug, the bow came undone. "Is this the gift you mentioned this afternoon?" he chuckled. He didn't answer me directly. Which was an answer in itself. But I was truly worried. I knew full well that Arthur had a terrible temper and always held a grudge. I held Alexander's hand, looking at him stubbornly, wanting a definite promise. The smile in Alexander's eyes cooled. He said calmly: "Know your place." ...Know my place. Even though Alexander was only seven years older than Arthur, he was the younger brother of Arthur's father, Arthur's biological uncle. And even the reason I was kept by Alexander's side was for him to pave the way for Arthur. I quieted down and let go of his hand. The next second, Alexander swept me into his arms and threw me onto the bed. 2 My first meeting with Alexander was at Arthur's twentieth birthday party. Arthur held my hand and introduced me to Alexander: "Uncle Alex, this is my girlfriend." Alexander, who had been conversing with others with a lazy expression, slightly turned his head upon hearing this. I chimed in: "Hello Uncle Alex, I'm Chloe." The man casually swept his gaze over me, didn't respond, and turned back. Arthur pulled me away, scoffing: "Don't mind him, my young uncle is just like that, looks down on everyone." I nodded, "Seems like your whole family is like that." Arthur wasn't happy about that. He pinched my cheek, "Haven't I been good to you?" I smiled and didn't argue. But actually, when Arthur and I first met, he acted so arrogant, never looking anyone in the eye. At the birthday party, Arthur held my hand tightly. He introduced me to everyone he met as his girlfriend. No matter how many people hinted, overtly or covertly, that the Vance family had already found him a fiancée, he completely ignored them, and so did I. So much so that later, I was invited to the top-floor office of the corporate tower. A secretary respectfully placed a contract in front of me. Alexander lifted his eyelids: "Arthur is young and hasn't seen much of the world. You two aren't a match." He wanted me to leave Arthur. I flipped to the price page of the contract and smiled: "Too little." Then I held up five fingers to him. The man's face was cold, showing no emotion: "You're not worth this price." "Really?" I curved my eyes, drawing out the end of my sentence, "Am I really not worth it? Uncle—" The atmosphere almost froze. Alexander narrowed his eyes. After a long time. He tapped the table, and the secretary took the contract away. The air conditioning in the office was strong, or perhaps the oppressive aura around Alexander was too intense, making one feel uncomfortable all over. But I still looked at him with a smiling face. This was also the first time he looked me directly in the eye. Alexander smiled, a very cold smile, completely devoid of emotion. But his tone softened as he told the secretary: "Draft a new contract." —A sugar baby contract. Alexander wanted to use concrete actions to tell Arthur. A woman like me wasn't worth it. That day. Arthur excitedly went to find Alexander: "Uncle Alex, Valentine's Day is coming up, what do you think I should get..." He pushed open the office door. Alexander had me wrapped in his arms. Arthur's footsteps froze in place. I looked up and said to him apologetically: "I'm with your uncle now." Arthur stared at me in disbelief. Unable to accept it, he smashed several vases in a row, then asked me with a cold laugh: "Should I call you Auntie now?" Alexander caressed my neck, "She's not worthy yet." Arthur was stunned. The older, dominant man smiled carelessly and told him: "Consider this your first lesson. What you value is nothing but a plaything in the eyes of others." The corners of Arthur's eyes reddened. He pushed Alexander away. Then he gripped my shoulders tightly, his voice trembling: "I cherished you so much... why, why did you betray me?" He was very strong, it hurt so much I gasped in pain. I still managed to wipe the tears from the corners of his eyes. I didn't ask him, since he cherished me, why was he kissing another woman when I was most worried about money? I will never forget the look in Arthur's eyes when he left. Besides pain, there was only overwhelming hatred. Later I learned. He agreed to go abroad and accept the arranged marriage he had always refused. But I thought, after Arthur went abroad, Alexander would kick me to the curb. I never expected that I would stay by his side for four years. Later I understood. Alexander was waiting for Arthur to get married. Waiting for Arthur to obediently marry the perfect match chosen by the family and have children, waiting for the dust to settle. As long as I was by Alexander's side for even one day. There was absolutely no possibility between Arthur and me. 3 I wore a short cocktail dress, holding onto Alexander's arm. In the bustling, lively banquet hall, the lights were brilliant, accompanied by soothing, melodious music, glasses clinking. I secretly gritted my teeth. What was the point of me, the ex-girlfriend, attending Arthur's welcome-back party? But Alexander insisted on bringing me. Along the way, people greeted Alexander, and he casually nodded to all of them. Until we saw the person at the center of attention not far away. My steps halted. Alexander glanced at me, his dark eyes unfathomable, his smile faint: "Afraid to go over?" I was silent for a moment, but still walked over holding his arm. Arthur, holding a wine glass, raised his eyes. Watching Alexander and me walk towards him step by step. Four years had passed. Arthur had matured a lot. The former flamboyance was gone, replaced by an indescribable, complex aura. He spoke calmly: "Uncle Alex." The hatred and hysteria from four years ago were gone, calm without any ripples. Ultimately, they shared blood, they were uncle and nephew. No matter the hatred, four years had dissipated it. "Long time no see." Alexander spoke indifferently. Arthur nodded, suddenly smiling, "Yes, it has been." As he spoke, an elegant and beautiful woman appeared gracefully, walking up to Arthur. She first reminded Arthur to drink less, then smiled and looked over: "Mr. Vance." Alexander nodded, "Just call me Uncle Alex like Arthur does." The woman smoothly adapted: "Uncle Alex." Alexander gave a "Hmm." I supposed this was the fiancée they had carefully selected for Arthur. I kept my eyes down, trying my best to minimize my presence. Unexpectedly, Arthur didn't speak. Instead, his fiancée smiled and said: "This must be Miss Chloe? I've heard so much about you." With that, she raised her glass to me, "A toast to Miss Chloe." A waiter came over with a tray holding exactly five glasses of liquor, all full. I twitched the corner of my mouth: "Is this... for me to drink all of them?" She smiled warmly: "To thank you for taking care of Arthur in the past years." I picked up a glass and sniffed it gently. Extremely high-proof liquor, definitely not something meant to be consumed at a banquet. This was prepared specifically for me. My alcohol tolerance had always been low. If I downed these five glasses, even if I didn't end up in the hospital, I'd throw up everything I had, and it would severely damage my stomach. With so many people at the banquet. She just wanted to humiliate me. Whether it was to get revenge for Arthur's past or to establish her authority as the future Mrs. Vance. Arthur glanced casually, then looked away. I turned to look at Alexander, meeting those pitch-black eyes. Alexander didn't stop her. His fingertips carelessly caressed the cutout on the waist of my dress. He tacitly agreed. He tacitly allowed Arthur's fiancée to embarrass me. I tilted my head back and downed the glass in one gulp. The moment the liquor rolled down my throat, it felt like swallowing red-hot iron nails, incredibly spicy. The alcohol content was even higher than I imagined. The corners of my eyes heated up uncontrollably, and the edges of my vision started to blur. Damn. It tasted awful. Just one glass and I wanted to throw up. The waiter handed the second glass to me. My fingertips trembled, and I decisively fell into Alexander's arms. He caught me. "So dizzy..." I whispered. Alexander didn't speak, but his thumb wiped away the tears at the corner of my eyes. The remaining four glasses were forgotten. The woman could only smile: "Our wedding is next week, you are welcome to attend." My voice was hoarse as I said: "Happy wedding in advance." As for the wedding, I couldn't attend. The day of their wedding was also the day Alexander would transfer my final payment. So my flight out of the country was also booked for that day. 4 Just one glass, and my stomach was already churning. For the rest of the banquet, Alexander kept his arm around my waist, and I didn't say another word. As the event was winding down, my steps had already begun to falter. Alexander carried me directly to the presidential suite on the upper floors of the hotel, remaining silent the entire time. I don't hate Alexander. Not because I took his money, but because my hatred is insignificant to him, so why waste my emotional energy? But the good thing is, I still have money to take. A cold ex turned into warm cash. Thinking of this, I chuckled groggily. When Alexander finished his shower and came out wrapped in a bathrobe, this was the scene he saw. "What are you laughing at?" His voice was deep. Propping my head up, I lay on the bed and looked up. The man's bathrobe was tied loosely, revealing a large expanse of his chest, even faintly showing his abs. He sat down next to me carelessly, his gaze falling on my face. I couldn't exactly tell him I was imagining a beautiful future abroad with all that money, could I? I gently played with his fingers, "If it weren't for you, I would have passed out drunk down there today." Then, I beamed at him: "Thank you." Did you catch the sarcasm? If I hadn't been quick-witted enough to fall into your arms, I would have drank myself to death. Alexander paused. He looked at me for a long time, finally pinching my chin and kissing me. ... When I woke up again, it was past midnight. My stomach still felt uncomfortable. I carefully slipped out of Alexander's embrace. Thankfully, he didn't wake up. His brows were slightly furrowed; he wasn't sleeping very peacefully either. I threw on a coat, opened the door, and planned to go to the convenience store to buy some porridge. Only to see a figure leaning against the wall in the corridor. The person was holding a cigarette, his expression indifferent. Hearing the noise, he turned, and our eyes met. There were two presidential suites on this floor; maybe he was staying in the other one. I moved my lips, but ultimately didn't say anything, bypassing him to walk towards the elevator. My wrist was grabbed, and I stopped. He didn't speak either, and the two of us just stood there in a stalemate. Finally, I broke the silence: "You never used to smoke." He tugged at his lips: "People can't stay in the past forever." I gave a soft "Hmm." Arthur lifted his eyelids, his tone calm: "Mia was very happy tonight. If you had finished the wine, she would have been even happier." I froze for a second, realizing he was talking about his fiancée, Mia. I didn't know what to say and tried to pull my hand away. But he wouldn't let go, "It's so late, where are you going?" Me: "Stomach hurts, buying porridge." A trace of mockery flashed in Arthur's eyes, and he sneered: "Chloe, you brought this on yourself." He scoffed: "You are nothing in Alexander's eyes." Of course I know that. But I can't admit it! After all, Alexander is still my sugar daddy right now. I smiled, looked into Arthur's eyes, and said earnestly: "You misunderstand him. I didn't drink the remaining four glasses, and that was all thanks to him." Yeah, because when I fell into his arms, he didn't push me away. "Really?" Arthur seemed to be mocking my naivety, "Then did you know that Alexander is getting married?" ...What? I was stunned. Seeing through my expression, Arthur said lazily: "He didn't tell you, which is normal. Saves him the annoyance of you making a scene." I paused, digesting this for a moment. Then I sighed in my heart. This day was bound to come. I'm leaving on the day of Arthur's wedding anyway. As for whether Alexander gets married, or who he marries, it has nothing to do with me anymore. After a long silence, I finally noticed Arthur's gaze fixed heavily on my neck. I looked down. ...A reddened hickey. He reached out his hand. I took a step back, my spine hitting the cold wall. Arthur planted one hand on the wall and pinched my jaw with the other. He said darkly: "Can that old man satisfy you?" Gritting my teeth, I tried to push him away, but he grabbed my wrist behind my back: "You're crazy!" Arthur's nose brushed against my cheek, and he enunciated every word: "Chloe, you are a fickle, unfaithful woman." But after saying that, he leaned in to kiss me. Right then. My phone rang in the empty hallway. It was Alexander's custom ringtone. Arthur's movements stopped. The ringtone kept playing, like a symphony of death. My fingertips trembled, and I finally pressed the answer button. Alexander's calm voice came through the receiver: "Get your ass back here." Those few words seemed to come from not far away, echoing in the spacious hallway. I abruptly looked up. The cold-faced man stood at the door of the suite, looking at Arthur and me with emotionless dark eyes. I didn't know when Alexander had come out, or how much of our conversation he had heard. My heart sank halfway. Alexander had caught me entangled with Arthur. He wasn't going to deduct my pay, was he? I silently walked towards Alexander. Arthur watched coldly, then turned and went back into the other suite.
? Continue the story here ?? ? Download the "MotoNovel" app ? search for "392082", and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel