The presidential suite was suffused with a thick, oppressive heat, the air heavy with the sound of their bodies colliding. Kael moved over Marina with the ruthless precision of someone who was used to getting exactly what he wanted, when he wanted it. His grip on her waist was firm, almost possessive, each thrust a deliberate assertion of dominance.
"Faster," he ordered, his voice low and commanding, lacking even the slightest trace of tenderness. Marina responded without hesitation, her body instinctively following his lead. But Kael wasn't interested in her. She was just a tool, a body to sate his cravings. He wasn't looking for intimacy—only release.
The shrill buzz of the phone broke the rhythm of their urgent movements, shattering the moment. Kael's jaw tightened, frustration flaring at the unwelcome interruption. But he didn't stop. His body was consumed by a singular need, the demand for control and pleasure eclipsing everything else.
With a growl of irritation, he pulled away and snatched the phone from the floor. It was his father. His posture shifted slightly, the change so subtle it almost went unnoticed. He clenched the phone tightly as he pressed it to his ear, forcing himself to mask the irritation that threatened to boil over. He had no patience for this, but he couldn't afford to ignore his father—not now, not ever.
"Kael," his father's voice came, calm and measured, "How are you? Are you handling everything? Don't push yourself too hard."
Kael's lips curled into a thin smirk, his voice betraying a hint of annoyance. "Why the late call?" he asked, though his tone remained outwardly respectful, his patience worn thin. He wasn't in the mood for a fatherly check-in, but he couldn't afford to let his father see that.
"I had something to discuss," his father replied, a note of concern in his voice. "But I can see you're... busy. I'll call you tomorrow. Don't overdo it, son."
Kael's gaze flicked to Marina, still watching him, her silent presence only adding to his unease. He couldn't let his father suspect anything. "Alright, I'll talk to you tomorrow," Kael replied, his voice sharp but measured. "But, Dad, you really should sleep. Don't stay up too late, alright?"
A brief silence followed before his father's voice came through, steady and authoritative. "I'll take care of it. Good night, Kael."
Kael ended the call, tossing the phone back onto the floor with a flick of his wrist, his attention snapping back to Marina. He had no patience for distractions, no room for anything that might derail his future. His father didn't need to know about his indulgences, and Kael wasn't going to let them affect his plans. The empire would be his—and no one, not even a fleeting woman like Marina, would stand in his way.
His gaze returned to her, cold and dismissive. "You're still here?" he muttered, his voice rough with indifference. To him, she was just another body, a temporary pleasure, nothing more.
Kael grabbed her by the shoulders, pushing her back onto the bed with a cold, calculated force. "Don't move," he ordered, his voice low with authority. Marina complied immediately, her body responding to his command, but Kael didn't care whether she wanted it. He was taking what he wanted, when he wanted it.
His lips crashed against hers in a hard, bruising kiss. His hands roamed over her body with practised efficiency, moving in a way that conveyed possession, not passion. There was no love here—only control, only the rush of getting what he desired. Marina's soft gasps and whimpers of pleasure only fed his ego, but they meant nothing to him. She was a tool, a temporary fix for his unrelenting cravings.
"Do as I say," he growled against her neck, his fingers digging into her skin as he held her down. "Don't stop. Don't even think about it."
She nodded, unable to do anything but obey. The rawness of it all, the intensity of his dominance, left her with no choice but to follow his commands. For Kael, there was only his pleasure—and anyone who was caught in his web was just a means to that end.
After another round of rough, controlled pleasure, Kael finally pulled back, his satisfaction fleeting. He had no time to dwell on anything else. His mind shifted back to his future, the empire he would one day control. But for now, he had to keep playing the part—the responsible son, the dutiful heir. He had to keep up the façade. Because the empire would be his, and nothing—especially not a fleeting woman—would stand in his way.
Meanwhile, far from the shadow of the empire Kael was moulding, a young woman's journey was quietly unfolding. Her path, though unwritten, was already set in motion, unknowingly drawing her closer to a world far beyond her understanding. The threads of fate, delicate and unseen, were weaving together in ways she couldn't yet comprehend, preparing for an encounter that would alter the course of both their lives—though neither of them had the faintest inkling of it, not yet.
"Nervous?" Lila held Serena's hand when she noticed that her body tensed.
"Yes. This is my first flight. And it feels so surreal," Serena said, looking out at the clear sky through the plane's window. She felt a mix of excitement and unease, a nagging feeling deep in her heart that something unexpected was about to unfold. But she couldn't know then that her instincts were right—her life was about to change, starting today.
Six hours later, at the airport.
"Welcome back, young mistress, and good evening, Miss Serena," said Mr. Chen, an elderly butler who had been with the Valen family for over twenty years. He bowed respectfully to both of them. He had been briefed about Serena's arrival and was there to greet them at the airport.
"Uncle Chen, where are Mom and Dad? They didn't come to fetch me?" Lila asked, noticing the absence of her parents. It was unusual; they had always been the ones to greet her, no matter where she travelled from.
"Please forgive me, young mistress. Your parents are occupied with important matters that require their attention today," Mr. Chen explained, his voice gentle and respectful. He opened the back door of the car for them to get in.
Serena noticed that the old butler seemed to hesitate, taking an unusually long time to close the door before returning to his seat and starting the engine. His actions made her feel uneasy.
'What's going on?' Serena wondered, glancing at Lila, who was busy posting pictures on Instagram, excitedly sharing her return home with her followers. Serena decided to push her growing concern aside and closed her eyes to rest, hoping for a moment of peace. She hadn't slept much the night before, her mind preoccupied with the upcoming interview with Lila's father. It was a huge opportunity, and though she tried not to expect too much, she knew she had to give it her all. This could be her chance to step outside of her comfort zone.
The drive back to Lila's house felt unusually long due to the heavy traffic, and Serena's headache worsened as time passed. She wished for a quick arrival, eager to rest. Looking out the window, she noticed the sky had darkened.
'Looks like it's going to rain tonight,' she thought, sighing softly. First, the flight had been delayed, and now they were stuck in traffic. It seemed like everything was working against them. What a start to her arrival.
"Uncle Chen, why are we taking this route? You've never used this way before," Lila asked, her voice full of concern. Serena's uneasy feeling grew stronger. Something was off.
"Lila, I don't know why, but I have a bad feeling. Does something wrong happen to Auntie and Uncle?" Serena looked at Lila, her face filled with genuine worry.
Lila could only shake her head, a growing tension building inside her as she tried to push aside the feeling of dread.