Her Sister's Ruinous Gambit

Zach's breathing was ragged, his face contorted with fury. He looked like a cornered panther, poised to strike.

Victoria was collapsed on the carpet, unconscious, a bleeding gash on her forehead.

I knew it. I knew she would never succeed.

For now, it was just a taste of his anger. But once Zach sobered up, I knew she would be utterly ruined.

I let out a slow breath, about to slip away, when a hand like an iron vise clamped down on my wrist.

The next second, Zach was dragging me into the presidential suite next door.

I was still wearing my sunglasses, but even through the dark lenses, I felt his searing gaze lock onto mine.

The hotel lights were dim, casting long shadows across the walls. He pinned me against the wall, his voice low and hoarse, thick with the drug's heat.

"Your scent… citrus and cedar… it’s so damn familiar. Who are you?"

Even in the fog of the drug, there seemed to be a hint of… longing in his voice. As if he was trying to solve a puzzle that had plagued him for years.

I froze. There was no way I could answer. We had spent weeks together—if I spoke, he would recognize me instantly.

I couldn't let anything happen between us. If it did, I'd end up just like Victoria.

I struggled to break free, but even drugged, Zach’s strength was unyielding, holding me fast. I didn't stand a chance.

I opened my mouth to scream, but he suddenly leaned down, his hot breath fanning my ear as he whispered, "Your eyes… they're so beautiful…"

His trembling fingers traced my cheek, his touch surprisingly gentle for a moment.

"I've been dreaming of eyes like these," he murmured, more to himself than to me. "But that's impossible… isn't it?"

I went rigid. For a split second, I thought he knew.

Then, he ripped off my sunglasses and kissed me with an almost punitive force.

Panic surged through me. I quickly slapped the light switch, plunging the room into darkness, but after that, there was no escape.

The next few hours were a blur of darkness and pain. It wasn't until deep into the night that Zach's crushing grip finally loosened, his strength fading.

In the darkness, just before he lost consciousness, I heard him whisper something that made my heart stop: "Don't leave me… please…"

His voice was so vulnerable, so different from the cold, feared heir everyone knew, that for a moment I almost reached out to comfort him. But I caught myself just in time.

Every part of my body screamed in pain, but I forced myself to get up and get dressed.

I wasn't Victoria, living in some delusion where a ruthless tycoon falls for a naive girl. I wouldn't let myself be trapped in her mess.

So while he slept, I slipped out of the room. I didn’t hesitate or look back, forcing myself to pretend none of it had ever happened.