CHAPTER 1

East London

May 1786

Evelina Belle Beaumont Huxley's heart raced with fear as she hurriedly made her way out of the brothel, eager to leave behind the tawdry world of illicit liaisons and unsavory characters.

But fate had other plans in store for her.

A stranger suddenly materialized out of nowhere and grabbed her hand, causing her to gasp in terror.

With wide-open eyes, she stared at the man, searching for any trace of familiarity or recognition. "Who are you?"she demanded, trying to wrench free from his grasp.

The man bowed his head slightly, his hooded gaze burning with a smoldering lust that made Evelina's skin crawl.

Panic surged within her as she realized that she was in grave danger.

"Good heavens! What's the meaning of this?" she cried out, her voice trembling with astonishment and fear.

The stranger remained silent, his eyes fixed intently on the area below her neckline.

Evelina's mind raced with questions and doubts as she struggled to comprehend what was happening.

"What... what do you want from me?" she asked, her voice quivering with apprehension.

"Everything," the stranger replied in a soft, metallic voice, his words dripping with a sickening mixture of desire and menace. "I want to live out every romantic fantasy I have with you. Tonight."

The word 'fantasy' echoed like a bad omen in Evelina's mind. She knew that she needed to get away from this dangerous man, that her life was in peril.

But the stranger's grip only tightened, his eyes growing more predatory with each passing moment.

With a cold, hard grip on her arm, the stranger pulled Evelina toward him. She felt a shiver run down her spine, desperation rising like bile in her throat: where was Sylvester?

The man's eyes glinted in the dim light, and Evelina could see the flicker of his desire for her - or rather, for the power he thought he held over her.

She wrenched her arm out of his grasp, her eyes darting around for any sign of help.

But there was no one.

The alley was dark and silent, and for a moment Evelina felt truly alone. Trapped.

The man's voice came low, almost sultry. "It doesn't matter who your client is, Angel. What matters is who you will be for me tonight."

Evelina's emotions churned like the sea in a storm. Fear warred with rage as she struggled to free herself from his grip. She felt as though she was drowning in his gaze, his words, his touch.

And then, like a bolt of lightning, she remembered her father's words: be strong, always.

Evelina took a deep breath, her features hardening into a mask of defiance. "I will never be anything for you. Now let me go."

Evelina's scream rent the air, a piercing arrow of sound that bounced off the walls of the alley.

For a moment, her fear blinded her to everything else, and all she knew was the pain of his grip on her arm.

She bit down on her lip, trying to contain her panic. Her father's words echoed in her mind, reminding her to remain calm, to think strategically.

But it was too late for that.

She had already made her mistake, venturing into one of the most dangerous parts of the city without any protection.

She couldn't even rely on Sylvester - where had he gone?

Evelina gritted her teeth, cursing her own stubbornness. If she had just agreed to her mother's demands, she wouldn't be in this mess.

But her resolve was unwavering. Better to be seen as a spinster than to be forced into a marriage she didn't want.

She was willing to risk everything, even her own safety, for the sake of her autonomy.

She shuddered as the man's hand began to slide down her back, his touch insidious and vile.

The warmth of his caress made her skin crawl with disgust, but a traitorous part of her body responded to his ministrations.

Evelina felt a flush spread across her face, her cheeks burning with shame and humiliation. She had never felt more powerless or vulnerable in her life.

"Please stop," she pleaded desperately. "You have mistaken me for something I'm not, and I do not belong here."

Her voice faded to a whisper as she felt the man's breath on her neck. She couldn't deny the rush of sensation that accompanied his caress.

But she refused to give in to him. He had no right to touch her.

"You're lying," he accused, his tone filled with malicious intent. "I can feel the desire in your body."

Evelina shook her head vehemently, trying to push him away. But he refused to relinquish his hold on her.

He nuzzled her neck with his nose and trailed his tongue down the sensitive skin.

She moaned despite herself, feeling overwhelmed by the intensity of his touch.

But she could not let this continue. With a sudden surge of strength, she hurled her purse at him.

The man crumpled to the ground, and Evelina watched in horror as he lay there, unmoving.

"What have you done?" Sylvester who'd suddenly reappeared, exclaimed, rushing over to check on the unconscious man.

Evelina could only stare at the man for a moment before turning on her heel and running away from the scene.

She knew she had to get out of this place, away from the danger and the temptation that had nearly consumed her.

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