Landon Prescott was the boyfriend I tricked into a relationship. He was deaf. My absolute favorite thing to do was take out his hearing aid when we were tangled up in the sheets, whispering filthy things right into his ear. Until I discovered he was actually the sole heir to the Prescott empire. So, the night we broke up, things got incredibly ugly. Landon, his eyes red and furious, told me to get the hell out. So I did. It wasn't until three years later, when news of his impending engagement broke, that I finally dared to sneak back to Chicago. Landon looked at me, his face cold and utterly unreadable. But the second we were alone, he turned around and bound my wrists with his leather belt: "Where do you think you're running to this time?" "My... fiancée." 01 I lowered my head, pretending to adjust my camera settings. My palms were already slick with sweat. I didn't expect to run into Landon so soon. "Mr. Prescott, don't let Piper's age fool you. She's practically swept every international photography award over the past few years," Monica, the senior editor, patted my shoulder and joked. "It took a small fortune to poach her all the way from Los Angeles." "I promise you won't regret agreeing to let us shoot your first-ever magazine cover." Landon Prescott's gaze swept over me coolly, completely devoid of emotion: "Is that so?" "Then I'll leave it in your capable hands, Ms. Collins." It was the most standard, corporate pleasantry imaginable. I lowered my voice, trying to make it sound richer, or at least different from how I sounded years ago: "Of course, Mr. Prescott." Landon nodded, not sparing me another glance. I lowered my eyes, my eyelashes trembling slightly. He hadn't recognized me. Makes sense. I had changed my last name. A medical mask covered half my face, and based solely on my outfit, no one would ever connect the person standing here with the bright, arrogant Piper from the past. Throughout the entire shoot, Landon was incredibly cooperative. With just a slight prompt from me, Landon would flawlessly hit the perfect angle. Behind me, the crew was buzzing with whispers: "Mr. Prescott's physique is insane, right? I'm literally drooling." "This Piper Collins is no joke. No wonder Monica paid top dollar for her. Her grasp of anatomy and muscle structure is incredible! Just looking at the monitor, you can feel the raw sexual tension radiating from him under that shirt." I suddenly zoned out. My memory flashed to a younger boy with a flushed neck, completely bare. Even though I had painted him countless times, he was still painfully shy. Of course, that was only during the first half. I don't know why, but every time I reached the latter half of the painting process, the location would inexplicably change. The bedroom, the sofa, the bathtub, against the floor-to-ceiling windows. It always ended with me exhausted to the bone—more exhausting than drawing ten anatomy sketches! I angrily kicked him: "Landon, you do this every single time!" "I'm never painting you again! I'm finding a new model! One with an eight-pack!" Landon gripped my ankle and said nothing. After a long moment, he leaned down and kissed the corner of my mouth: "Piper, I'm sorry." I paused. Is he recognizing his mistake and promising to change? The next second, Landon took out his hearing aid. Four boxes of condoms, all different flavors. I didn't get out of bed for a week. Dammit, and he even apologized. How polite of you. But eventually, we still broke up. That night, things got incredibly ugly. Landon's eyes were red-rimmed, his voice freezing cold: "Piper, this is the last time. I don't give second chances." I kept my head down and gave a low "Mhm." Landon clenched his jaw, scoffing: "Fine. Get the hell out." "Don't ever let me see your face again." "Otherwise, I swear I'll kill you." 02 During a break in the shoot, I found a moment to go back to the equipment room to grab a lens I had left behind. Behind me, a shadow fell over me. A familiar woody fragrance drifted into my nose. I turned around stiffly, feigning composure: "Is something wrong, Mr. Prescott?" Landon looked down at me, his gaze exactly the same as years ago. I held my breath, my fingernails digging fiercely into my palms. I can't lose my cool. "Nothing." "Just looking around." Landon's eyes were pitch black, his smile faint: "But you, Ms. Collins. What are you so nervous about?" I covered my trembling right hand: "The camera is heavy. Holding it for too long makes my hands shake." "Is that so?" I lowered my head: "Mr. Prescott, if there's nothing else, I'll head back to the set to prep." Without waiting for his reply, I turned to walk away. "Ms. Collins," Landon called out, stopping me. "If someone who betrayed you suddenly appeared in front of you again, what would you do?" 03 My breakup with Landon was ugly, but it could definitely be categorized as a betrayal. And knowing Landon's personality, if he had recognized me, he would have exposed me immediately. He wouldn't be acting this cold and detached. I steadied my breathing, turned slightly, and spoke with a smile, adopting a purely professional tone: "Mr. Prescott, while I don't know the history between you and this person, I believe people should always look forward. There's no need to stay fixated on the minor details of the past." "Minor details? You're very magnanimous, Ms. Collins." Landon curled his lip. "But what if I insist on holding onto it?" "Mr. Prescott, that is your private matter. I am just a photographer; I'm afraid I can't help you there." Landon stared at me without speaking. My feigned composure felt like it was going to shatter at any second. After a long pause. "True," Landon smiled. "Just a photographer." 04 The entire shoot went very smoothly, wrapping up an hour earlier than scheduled. After seeing Landon off, I started packing up my gear. Zoey, a production assistant, ran over, grabbed my arm, and dragged me toward the door: "Piper, hurry! Something big is happening outside!" "What's wrong? Did someone—" My words caught in my throat. The plaza outside the studio was covered in roses, with candles spelling out my name in the center. How should I describe it? It was incredibly tacky. I had already rejected Wyatt three times, but he still wouldn't give up. He even orchestrated this massive, public scene, creating a completely humiliating situation for me. No one knew how awful my face looked under my mask right now. I'm allergic to pollen. Thank God I was wearing a mask. I turned to leave, but Wyatt blocked my path. He held a bouquet of flowers: "Piper, I really, really like you." "I promise I'll treat you well." "Just say yes, please?" For a moment, my mind drifted. I had said those exact same words to Landon once. 05 My initial attraction to Landon was purely superficial. Out of all the people I had ever met, only Landon perfectly matched my ideal type. A bartender at a club, yet he had an aura that screamed 'do not approach.' He wore a hearing aid, which only added to his cold, fragile aesthetic. It was only later that I found out the club belonged to the Prescott family. I was obsessed. I used every trick in the book—relentless pursuit, deception, persuasion. Finally, I managed to coax him into my bed. That night, I whispered so many sweet nothings into his ear: "Landon, I really, really like you." "Landon, I promise I'll treat you so well. The absolute best." "Landon, let's be together, okay?" Landon lifted his head from my neck, his dark eyes staring intensely into mine: "Do you really... like me that much?" I didn't have the mental capacity to analyze the turbulent emotions in his eyes: "Mhm. Really." Landon's voice was hoarse: "If you promise me that you will only ever love me for the rest of your life, then we'll be together." At the time, I didn't think deeply about his use of 'the rest of your life.' I lifted my head and bit his lip: "Okay, only you." It was only after we got together that I realized Landon's cold, ascetic persona was a complete act. He was greedier than anyone. I loved taking off his hearing aid during the heat of the moment and whispering dirty things in his ear, screaming recklessly. Watching him try to endure it, even though he couldn't hear. I was arrogant and had a terrible temper. Landon accommodated me, coaxed me, and let me do whatever I wanted. It made me believe we really would be together for the rest of our lives. Until I accidentally saw a photo of Landon and his father on his phone. A summer afternoon, Landon's fingers gently running through my hair. The warm hum of the hairdryer next to my ear. It turned out Landon's last name, Prescott, was the Prescott family. My heart felt like it had been plunged into an ice bath. 06 The cheering crowd snapped me back to reality. At some point, Wyatt had dropped to one knee. "Say yes! Say yes! Say yes!" More and more people gathered. The cheers grew louder. More and more people were pulling out their phones to record. My cringe reflex was in overdrive. I took a deep breath, reining in my temper: "Wyatt, I—" My wrist was suddenly clamped in a vice grip. Long, bony fingers squeezed so hard it hurt. I looked up. Our eyes locked. The dark, elongated eyes, like spilled ink, felt like a massive net, threatening to swallow me whole. Landon's tone was freezing: "Piper, we're going home." 07 "What? Afraid I drugged it?" An entire table of food, and every single dish, even the soup, was loaded with chili peppers. I'm the one who loves spicy food. Landon always preferred mild flavors. I paused, completely unable to read Landon's current intentions. And this apartment—the one we used to share—was actually bought by Landon. I stood up: "Thank you for getting me out of that situation today, Mr. Prescott. It's getting late, I should be going." Landon looked up at me, scoffing: "Mr. Prescott? Piper, you're really quick to draw a line in the sand, aren't you?" "Since you're back, shouldn't we catch up?" I lowered my eyes: "We have nothing to catch up on." "Nothing?" Landon's jaw tightened, his voice dripping with mockery. "Right. After all, even if I died right in front of you, you probably wouldn't even blink." Landon stared at me, his face as coldly composed as ever, but the veins on his neck were bulging. I looked at him and said softly: "Landon, we are both adults. There's no need to hold onto the past—" "The past? You're calling everything we had 'the past'?" Landon interrupted me, his tone hardening. "Piper, you never fucking loved me at all, did you?" "If you didn't love me, why did you ever come near me?" Landon gripped my wrist, his eyes dark and brooding: "Piper, I warned you." "If I ever saw you again, I'd kill you." "You won't do it, Landon," I met his gaze. "I know you." "You know me? What do you know about me?" "That I'm obedient? Innocent? Compliant? Generous?" Landon scoffed. "I was faking all of it, Piper." "It was just a disguise to please you." "Ruthless, selfish, and vindictive. That's who I really am." I took a deep breath and said quietly: "Landon, it was my fault for suddenly appearing and bothering you." "I'll go to the agency tomorrow and resign. I promise that after—" "Piper." Landon's face darkened, his words spoken through gritted teeth. "I really want to cut you open to see if you even have a heart." The grip on my wrist tightened. The distance between us vanished, our breaths mingling. In Landon's eyes, desire churned. I struggled fiercely: "Landon, let me go!" The tension was like an arrow about to leave the bowstring. The next second, Landon's pupils abruptly dilated. He suddenly released me, a storm of emotions raging in his eyes. After a long pause, Landon curled his lip. I couldn't tell if he was mocking me or himself: "Fine. Well done, Piper." 08 Landon slammed the door as he left, locking me inside the apartment. I only then realized my phone must have fallen out in his car. The clock ticked past 3:00 AM, and Landon still wasn't back. The closet was lined with rows of brand new women's sleepwear, all thin and provocative. This wasn't my style. It must be for Landon's fiancée. Landon was getting engaged. He owned countless properties; why did he have to bring her here to live? A wave of sour bitterness filled my chest. I violently slammed the closet door shut and went to the bathroom to wash up. While washing my face, I noticed several red spots blooming on my neck and collarbone. I belatedly remembered the bouquet Wyatt had shoved toward me. Dammit. Not only did he humiliate me, but he gave me an allergic reaction. The bedroom door was suddenly pushed open from the outside. Landon, his steps unsteady, walked toward me. The smell of alcohol instantly filled my nose. I scrunched my nose: "Why did you drink so much?" Landon's voice was hoarse: "After you break up with him, we can pretend everything between you two never happened." I was stunned: "What does that mean?" Landon's eyes were tinged with red as he chuckled softly: "What? You can't bear to part with him?" I dried my hands: "Landon, you're drunk." Landon stared at me. The next second, he violently yanked me toward him, turning his head to bite and suck on the side of my neck. A sharp pinch of pain accompanied a tingling sensation. Landon bit down hard: "Piper, if you were going to mess with me, why didn't you go all the way?" "Why is there someone else?" I instantly realized what he meant and hurriedly explained: "Landon, I didn't sleep with anyone else." I pushed him away, creating some distance: "Look closely at these red marks. They're not hickeys, it's an allergic reaction! A pollen allergy." Landon's cold fingertips traced along my neck, inch by inch. After a long pause, he spoke: "What about me? Do you want to sleep with me?" I froze, not fully processing his words. The next second, Landon pulled off his belt and bound my wrists. The world spun, and my back hit the cold porcelain of the bathtub. I struggled to prop myself up: "Landon, snap out of it. You're getting engaged." Landon turned on the water valve, and warm water flowed over my legs. "Yes. So, do you accept my proposal?" Landon looked at me, enunciating every word, "My fiancée." I was instantly stunned: "The engagement news... was a fake story you released?" "If it wasn't, how could I get you to come back?" Landon took off his hearing aid and placed it on the shelf. "Piper, I warned you." His long legs stepped into the bathtub, kneeling on either side of my waist as he leaned down: "If I ever saw you again." "I would definitely kill you." 09 My brain buzzed, blood rushing to my head. With Landon's strength, he could absolutely do what he said. I frantically raised my hands to stop him from getting closer: "Landon, let's go somewhere else and talk properly, okay?" As soon as the words left my mouth, I realized my mistake. Landon... couldn't hear. But the next second— Landon grabbed both my wrists with one hand, pinning them above my head, and leaned in close to my ear: "As long as you promise you won't pass out halfway through, I'll talk to you." I froze instantly, feeling like I'd been struck by lightning: "Y-you... you can hear me?" Click. The lights went out. The darkness, accompanied by the damp, rising steam, amplified every sensation. Landon chuckled softly: "I never said I couldn't hear." "It's true that I couldn't hear very well when I took the hearing aid out initially, but someone was always so unapologetically loud." In the darkness, his voice carried a seductive, alluring tone: "I liked it very much." ? So all those dirty things I used to say... Landon heard every single word, loud and clear? My face instantly burned. A million imaginary Barbie Dreamhouses were being built by my curling toes. How should I put this? I wanted to run, but I couldn't. I had no choice but to try a Hail Mary. I pitched my voice higher, faking a tearful, pitiful whimper: "Landon, my wrists hurt." "Let me go, please?" Landon paused, the grip on my hands subconsciously loosening. This trick always worked flawlessly. I seized the opening and aimed a vicious kick at Landon. But as if he had anticipated it, he caught my leg mid-air. Landon's fingertips lightly grazed the sole of my foot: "Baby, it's not a good habit to kick people." "I'm not letting you escape this time." The world spun again as our positions reversed. The water splashed against my waist, a tempestuous storm. Landon's hand pressed firmly down on my lower back: "Piper, say my name." I bit my lip and turned my head, refusing to answer. Landon didn't get angry; he abruptly sat up. The sudden movement brought tears to my eyes: "Landon, you're a fucking bastard!" Landon's tense body pressed against the shell of my ear, his voice hoarse: "Baby, you're so beautiful." ? He actually used the dirty words I used to say against me. A raging hurricane. Landon gave me no room to breathe. I dug my nails fiercely into his back. Heavy breathing, accompanied by the frequent flashes of white light in my mind. Again and again, hovering on the edge of the abyss. Landon kept talking, but I couldn't hear clearly anymore. My bones felt like jelly, and my vision began to blur. "After all these years, you still haven't improved," Landon lifted me from the bathtub, a clear note of pleasure in his voice. "Hold on tight. If you fall, I'm not catching you."
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