Chapter 1 Engagement Party

Verena Wheeler found herself in a challenging situation when she attended her boyfriend Blaine Yates's engagement party, only to discover that she was not the intended fiancee.

Despite the awkwardness, Blaine seemed unperturbed and even raised a toast to Verena upon her arrival.

In a moment of frustration, Verena resorted to drowning her sorrows in alcohol and ended up wrapping her arms around the waist of Blaine's brother, Jeffrey Yates.

"Are you certain you want to kiss me? Do you realize who I am?" Jeffrey asked.

Despite her intoxicated state, Verena couldn't help but find Jeffrey captivating. With misty eyes, she acknowledged his attractive features and enchanting voice, making it difficult for her to resist.

As she looked up at Jeffrey, Verena declared, "I can see you clearly. You are Blaine's brother, Jeffrey!"

Jeffrey held a significant position as the president of SwiftGlide International, a key player in the southern economy.

"Are you certain you still want to kiss me?" Jeffrey inquired in a magnetic and hoarse voice, his expression squinted in contemplation.

Verena playfully traced the contours of his Adam's apple, a move she had picked up from a video tutorial.

"Yes, I have my hands on your waist. Don't you feel the tension? Are you impotent?"

Verena reasoned that if Blaine could become engaged to another woman, then why couldn't she explore intimate encounters with someone else?

Men were never immune to such situations, especially considering her appealing features—a sweet face coupled with a voluptuous figure.

In the midst of the warm and charged atmosphere, Jeffrey found himself surprisingly aroused, despite not being inherently promiscuous.

"I think I should show you whether I'm impotent or not." Jeffrey leaned in and passionately kissed Verena.

The intensity of their kiss persisted as they made their way to the car.

Inside the car, the intensity grew even more profound, bringing them to the brink of sexual release.

However, the influence of alcohol led Verena to inadvertently disclose her true intentions.

"If I can't be your wife, then I can be your sister-in-law!" she declared with a hint of mischief.

Her revelation abruptly halted Jeffrey's advances.

After a moment of contemplation, he leaned against the driver's seat and lit a cigarette. Arching an eyebrow, he questioned, "So, are you seeking revenge by throwing yourself at me?"

Verena, feeling the weight of the awkwardness, found herself almost sobering up.

Yet, instead of attempting to defend herself, she opted for a lighthearted response. "Will you be my accomplice in this endeavor?"

"No ties between us, don't even think about it!" Jeffrey playfully pinched her cheek and curtly ordered, "Step out of the car."

Verena had anticipated such a response. After all, Jeffrey was the coveted match for numerous young women from esteemed families, and others sought him solely for carnal pursuits.

Verena, she acknowledged, was inconsequential in his world.

As she awkwardly exited the car, the silver-gray Maserati swiftly departed, leaving a trail of dust lingering in her mouth.

This abrupt dismissal brought Verena back to sobriety, making her realize the impropriety of her actions.

Blaine, her current lover, stood between her and Jeffrey, and the close call she just had with his brother was quite ludicrous.

Fortuitously, Verena considered herself spared from any further interaction with Jeffrey.

Yet, fate had other plans, as she unexpectedly crossed paths with him again the very next day.

In that moment, Verena found herself immersed in a social event for the Oasis Group's new project. The effects of alcohol had left her in a state of inebriation, and she was unexpectedly pulled into an elevator by none other than Jackson Hopkins, the head of Dukwoo Company.

"Mr. Hopkins, I really can't handle any more drinks," Verena slurred, her voice soft and disoriented.

"It's fine. Join us at the nightclub and watch us drink our hearts out. Ms. Wheeler, do it as a small favor for me?"

Jackson's gaze lingered on her attractive visage and her inviting figure which was draped in a pearly pink dress that accentuated her curves.

Verena felt a discomforting intensity in Jackson's eyes and longed for a swift escape.

Just then, Jeffrey and a cadre of entrepreneurs stepped into the elevator.

Jeffrey scanned the scene casually, leaving Verena unsure if he had spotted her.

Instinctively, she lowered her head, desperately avoiding Jeffrey's attention.

Fortunately, Jeffrey seemed oblivious to her presence. While the entrepreneurs engaged in warm banter, Jeffrey maintained a chilly demeanor, offering only a few curt words.

"The lady is quite the looker. I've heard whispers of her stellar educational background."

"It doesn't matter what we think. It all hinges on Mr. Yates' opinion. Clearly, she's here for him."

Eavesdropping with keen interest, Verena discreetly cast a glance in Jeffrey's direction.

Unintentionally, their eyes locked.

"If I sleep around, I might fall ill."

Jeffrey regarded Verena impassively, his gaze lingering just briefly before diverting away.

"Exactly. Mr. Yates can have his pick of any woman. Why choose someone random with no background?"

"Let's make sure these women don't dampen Mr. Yates' spirits at future dinners."

The entrepreneurs echoed Jeffrey's sentiments while Verena was visibly disconcerted.

A sense lingered within her that Jeffrey's recent words had been a pointed jab in her direction.

Just then, the elevator doors slid open.

Jackson placed a hand on Verena's shoulder, uttering, "Excuse us, please."

However, her response was swift, shaking off his touch like a startled bird.

"Don't act like this. Show some respect," Verena said to Jackson.

She feared both being exploited and the watchful eyes of Jeffrey, who might misconstrue her as someone who got around.

Undeterred, Jackson dismissed her concerns and continued to drape his arm around her shoulder.

"You agreed moments ago. What's with the sudden change of heart?" he exclaimed.

In that moment, his grip tightened, rendering Verena unable to shake him off.

As he attempted to lead her into the nightclub, a wave of despair washed over her. Just when all seemed lost, an unexpected force wrapped around her waist, pulling her into sturdy arms.

A frigid voice resonated from above her head, cutting through the chaos.

"She asked you to show some respect. Didn't you hear her?"