CHAPTER 2: CHAPTER 2: WE USED TO BE SO CLOSE

Chloe Preston saw his smug face and pouted. "So what if you’re rich?"

Donovan Xavier didn’t respond, just smiled languidly.

In the end, Chloe Preston chose to compromise. "Just one night." He really was impressive with his wealth. Her little startup company was struggling with its operations and was short on funds; she was worried sick every single day.

"Two nights," Donovan Xavier countered.

"Fine," Chloe conceded, "but no funny business. And you are definitely not to touch me." She knew him all too well. If she didn’t lay down the rules beforehand, he would definitely try something. That man had no boundaries and was always trying to get handsy with her!

「Twenty minutes later.」

Donovan Xavier drove her back to his apartment. It was already dark, and rain was falling outside. Chloe Preston stepped inside and glanced around. The place was huge, but it felt cold and impersonal.

Donovan Xavier led her to the sofa and shrugged off his overcoat, his expression weary. "Don’t stand on ceremony here. You can go anywhere, touch anything."

Chloe Preston looked at him. "Where do I sleep?"

"There are plenty of guest rooms. Take your pick."

He seemed much gentler now, no longer so cold and unapproachable. For a moment, Chloe was struck by a strange illusion—the feeling that this man actually still cared about her. But how could that be? He was only playing with her. There was no way he could actually care.

Donovan Xavier didn’t spare her another glance. He put down his phone and turned to leave.

"Where are you going?" Chloe asked.

Donovan Xavier paused, turning back to face her. He raised an eyebrow, his eyes glinting with amusement. "The bathroom. For a shower." He leaned in slightly. "Want to join? I don’t mind. We could save some water."

Chloe’s face flushed red, and she quickly lowered her head. There he goes again, being improper. And what about her? Why did she have to run her mouth like that? She should just glue it shut tomorrow!

「Five minutes later.」

Chloe Preston was lazing on the sofa with nothing to do when a phone suddenly started ringing on the table. It was Donovan Xavier’s. Chloe glanced at it casually; the call was from someone named Faye Hughes.

The phone rang for a while before falling silent, only to start ringing again a few seconds later. It rang a total of five times. The person on the other end must be really anxious.

When the phone began to ring yet again, Chloe got up and walked toward one of the guest rooms. She didn’t know what was wrong with her, but her heart suddenly felt heavy. The ringing was probably just too annoying.

Nearly half an hour passed...

In the guest room, Chloe Preston sat by the floor-to-ceiling window, quietly watching the rain fall outside.

CLICK. The door opened.

Donovan Xavier walked in. He was tall and powerfully built, holding a bottle of whiskey and two glasses. He was shirtless, revealing broad shoulders and a narrow waist wrapped loosely in a white towel. The lines of his muscles were fluid and powerful, and the grooves of his abs were sharply defined. He was the very picture of sensual allure, radiating raw power.

Chloe Preston looked up, her gaze colliding with his deep one. An instant later, she tore her eyes away. That man! He really wasn’t treating her like an outsider at all!

Donovan Xavier walked over and sat down beside her, looking to be in a very good mood. Chloe felt a wave of discomfort and cleared her throat. "Can you please put on some clothes?"

The cool moisture on his skin mixed with his unique masculine scent, throwing her thoughts into disarray. He must be doing this on purpose! I have to stay calm. I can’t let him seduce me.

Donovan Xavier’s eyes narrowed into a smirk. "It’s not like you haven’t seen it before," he said, his tone laced with amusement. "Besides, how many times have you touched me? You ruined my innocence long ago."

Chloe was speechless. "..."

He poured the whiskey, handing a glass to her. "Have a drink?"

Chloe took the glass, an eyebrow arched delicately as her red lips parted. "Drinking for no reason? What are you scheming?" Her eyes were like shimmering water, carrying a hint of flirtation that was utterly captivating.

Donovan Xavier met her gaze, his voice magnetic and languid. "To get you drunk, so I can have my wicked way with you." He made no attempt to hide his intentions, his eyes gleaming with a raw, possessive desire for her.

Chloe propped her chin on her hand and gazed out the window, changing the subject. "Someone called you a little while ago."

"Oh? Who?"

"Faye Hughes."

"Did you answer it?"

Chloe looked back at him, her voice playful. "No. I was afraid someone might get the wrong idea."

Donovan Xavier reached out, snaking an arm around her slender waist and pulling her onto his powerful lap. "Since when do we need to worry about people getting the wrong idea about us?"

He lowered his head, his nose gently brushing against hers.

Chloe’s breath hitched. A knot of panic formed in her stomach as she pushed against his chest. "Don’t get handsy. We’re not that close."

For a moment, the light in Donovan Xavier’s eyes dimmed. "Not close? We used to be so good together."

Back then, her eyes and her heart were filled with only him. She never argued, never caused drama, and wasn’t the least bit spoiled. Her only quirk was how she loved to cling to him. She was just so, so good. Even their friends said she loved him too much—loved him down to her very bones, as if she could never bear to leave him. He never could have imagined that one day, she would be the one to break up with him. She had left so cleanly, without a single trace of reluctance.

Chloe lowered her gaze, hiding the emotion in her eyes. Her voice was soft and low. "You said it yourself—that was then. We’ve been broken up for four years." There was nothing between them now but a shared past.

Donovan Xavier said nothing, simply staring out the window as he sipped his drink. After a long silence, he lowered his gaze, his voice deep and raspy. "I looked for you."

No one knew that on the third night after she left, he had gone completely mad, tearing the entire city of Kryton apart to find her. But he had found nothing. She had deliberately hidden from him, deliberately put distance between them. He hadn’t understood why she left; he’d thought she was just throwing a tantrum.

Chloe’s heart gave a sudden, violent tremor. Her nose tingled with the urge to cry. She dug her nails into her palms, her voice catching. "I didn’t ask you to..." Why would he look for her? Didn’t he have no intention of marrying her? Wasn’t she just a game to him? Maybe he just hadn’t been finished playing with her yet.

Donovan Xavier looked at her, his hand reaching out to touch her.

Chloe scrambled to her feet, avoiding his touch as tears welled in her eyes. She shouldn’t have agreed to stay here today. Getting tangled up with this man again was definitely a mistake. Right now, her mind was a chaotic mess, and all she wanted to do was run.

Chloe turned her head away, biting her lip, not daring to meet his eyes. "I don’t want your money anymore. I... I’ll just get a hotel."

With that, she strode to the door and opened it, ready to leave. In the next instant, a hand seized her wrist. Donovan Xavier clamped his other hand around her slim waist, trapping her forcefully in his arms.

"Thinking of leaving? Too late." He glared down at her, his eyes blazing with tyranny and dominance. "This is my apartment. Once you’re in, there’s no leaving!"

Chloe struggled. "Then... then you get out! I want to sleep!"

"We’ll sleep together."

Donovan Xavier swept her up into his arms and carried her over to the bed, tossing her onto it. He leaned over, pinning her down.

Chloe’s eyes widened in panic as she fought against him. "Donovan Xavier, are you crazy? Don’t use being drunk as an excuse to get wild with me!"

Donovan Xavier’s gaze deepened. He held himself back, his voice low and strained. "I can get a lot crazier. Want to find out?"

He lowered his head and kissed her gently.

"Chloe," he murmured, "it’s been four years. I’ve missed you so much. Please... don’t reject me, okay?"

「The next day.」

When Chloe Preston woke up, she was in pain. So much pain. Her whole body ached. He’d been an absolute animal last night. It was enough to kill a person!

She turned her head. The space beside her on the bed was empty. Typical man. Gets what he wants, pulls on his pants, and runs.