"This is the last time." Fiona looked at the man pressing her against the couch, her eyes misty with tears, her voice sincere and pleading.
The man's dark eyes deepened with anger, and he quickened his movements, possessing her even more thoroughly.
Grasping his suit jacket, Fiona felt like a lone boat adrift in a vast, turbulent ocean, tossed by relentless waves. As the pleasure overwhelmed her, she could only bite her lip, suppressing any whimpers that threatened to escape.
Outside the lounge, the sound of people was loud and lively. Although the door was locked, Fiona still worried that someone would notice how long she and Rick had been inside.
Today was the wedding of Rick's father, Tom, and her mother, Emma.
In just one hour, she and Rick would become step-siblings in a newly blended family. No one knew that, for the past two years, she had secretly been Rick's lover.
Fiona had joined Rick's company right after graduation, starting as an intern at the bottom rung of the corporate ladder. Thanks to her strong skills and abilities, she steadily rose through the ranks to become Rick's executive assistant.
At first, she had no romantic thoughts about Rick, her cold and distant boss. Even though he was tall, handsome, and as flawless as a masterpiece of divine creation, she kept her professional and personal lives separate. She also knew very well that a man like Rick was out of her league.
Everything changed two years ago when she accompanied Rick on a business trip to Tongcheng. She accidentally witnessed her first love cheating on her with her college roommate. Devastated, she drank too much and stumbled into the wrong hotel room—Rick's room. That was the night their relationship took a dramatic turn.
Later, Rick asked her if she would be willing to be with him.
At that time, Fiona's sister had a heart condition that required long-term treatment and medication. During that difficult period, Rick went out of his way to help by contacting specialists and providing support, bringing warmth and hope to the sisters' lives.
Fiona thought, why wouldn't she agree?
Rick was handsome, skilled, wealthy, and well-connected—a far better option than her stingy and useless ex-boyfriend, who had only ever complained that her sister was a burden.
Out of a desire for revenge and a sense of giving up, Fiona agreed.
From that moment on, their relationship spiraled out of control.
For the past two years, during the day, she was his secretary, handling the company's affairs. At night, she was his lover, their bodies entangled to satisfy their physical needs.
They didn't talk about feelings, and they never spent the night together. After every encounter, Rick would always leave first.
Though their relationship remained in the shadows, it was without emotional burden.
Fiona had originally thought that this arrangement would continue until one day Rick found his true love and needed to marry, at which point they would part ways.
But unexpectedly, their parents fell in love first.
Fiona's mother, Emma, worked as a caregiver at a luxury nursing home, where she met Rick's father, Tom. Five years earlier, Tom and his wife, Tina, had been in a car accident. Tina had been left in a vegetative state, while Tom was left paralyzed from the waist down, confined to a wheelchair and living in the nursing home. The trauma had made Tom bitter and withdrawn.
Emma was his caregiver. Five years younger than Tom, she had endured an unhappy marriage and many hardships, but she remained optimistic, cheerful, and romantic. She often took Tom outside the nursing home to enjoy the mountains, the rivers, and the changing seasons. She even took him dancing in his wheelchair.
Slowly, Tom's heart began to heal, and he fell deeply in love with her.
Not long after Tina's passing, Tom proposed to Emma.
When Fiona learned that her mother and Rick's father were together, she told Rick that they needed to end their secret relationship.
She said, "We don't have any real feelings, but our parents do. They're in love, so we should step aside for true love."
Rick was furious. Perhaps he thought he was the one in control of their relationship, and it wasn't Fiona's place to end it. However, after much insistence on her part, he finally agreed to revert to a purely professional relationship, returning to the roles of boss and secretary.
Fiona thought it was all over. But today, when she stood beside her mother in her white dress and called Rick "brother," he gave her a cold smile. Then, taking advantage of a moment when no one was watching, he pulled her into the lounge and claimed her once again...
Afterwards, Fiona lay limp on the sofa, watching Rick straighten his suit jacket, feeling deeply uneasy.
She was truly afraid that if her and Rick's relationship were to be exposed, it would impact her mother's marriage. Her mother had endured repeated domestic abuse from her father and had worked tirelessly for their sake. After finally finding true love and beginning a new chapter of happiness in her life, Fiona didn't want to become an obstacle to her mother's path to happiness.
"Rick, this is the last time, okay?" she pleaded.
Rick looked down at her with a cold, distant gaze, as if from a high, icy precipice.
"You don't need to keep reminding me that this is the last time. You're just a tool for release. Do you think I can't find anyone else?" With that, Rick slammed the door and left.
Fiona watched his retreating figure, her heart suddenly aching as if pierced by a sharp blade.
That same kind of pain had last appeared two years ago when she caught her first love cheating.
How could this be? Her relationship with Rick was supposed to be transactional, so why did her heart hurt so much?
Could it be that she had fallen in love with Rick?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The wedding was a lawn ceremony.
As Fiona adjusted her wrinkled dress from being handled by Rick and walked out of the lounge to the outdoor venue, Rick was already standing in the sunlight, impeccably dressed in a suit. Many guests wanted to approach and speak to him but were intimidated by his commanding presence and dared not come close.
It was no surprise that these people were so opportunistic. Since taking over the company, Rick had led the entire group to unprecedented heights. Today, he was a man whose slightest frown could influence the economic direction of Rongcheng. Naturally, these powerful and wealthy figures did not want to miss any chance to ingratiate themselves with him.
Fiona averted her gaze and took her seat in the guest area.
Three minutes before the wedding ceremony was set to begin, her mother, Emma, was standing at the end of the red carpet, holding the arm of Uncle Dave. Beneath the white veil, Emma's face radiated happiness.
Fiona felt genuine joy for her mother.
Emma, reaching middle age, was still able to find her own happiness, which demonstrated that as long as one does not give up, there is always a chance for a new beginning at any stage in life.
As the wedding march began, the host's voice rang out loudly, "Wait a minute!"
A clear female voice suddenly cut through the sweet atmosphere.
All the guests turned to look. At the back of the seating area, a young woman with two bodyguards stood there.
It was Rick's sister, Anna.
Anna was dressed in a black gown and carried a photo of their mother, Tina. She strode down the red carpet.
A murmur of disapproval spread among the crowd. It was a wedding, after all, and she was wearing black and carrying a memorial photo—how inauspicious.
"Anna, what are you doing?" Tom, seated in his wheelchair, shouted angrily.
"Dad, don't get angry." Anna looked at Tom, unafraid. "You're getting married, right? In the past, whenever you chose a shirt color or a tie style, Mom would advise you. Such a major event as this wedding, shouldn't Mom have a say? Otherwise, with your old, failing eyes, how could you tell the difference between people and ghosts?"
"Listen to what you're saying. I think you've gone mad!"
"Am I the one who's mad, or are you? You keep saying you love Mom, and yet, just after she's gone, you're eager to marry this old vixen!"
"Shut up!"
"I won't! " Anna pointed at Emma. "This old woman must have used some trick to charm you! You're blinded by her! Do you really think she wants to marry you for your age or because you can't walk? She's just waiting for the day when you're gone to claim our family's fortune! This kind of woman is the typical example of being poor, ghostly, and greedy!"
In the audience, some people had already quietly pulled out their phones, recording the scene.
Fiona immediately looked at Rick. Rick was very particular about the Zhang family's reputation. Under normal circumstances, he would never allow such a commotion to happen at an event like this.
But today, Rick remained seated, watching his sister Anna's outburst with a calm demeanor, unmoved. He showed no intention of stopping her.
Fiona suddenly understood. Neither of these siblings genuinely welcomed her mother Emma into their family.
"Anna, please don't say that. Your father and I truly love each other. When I met him, I didn't know who he was or whether he had money. I truly love him for who he is," Emma, in her wedding dress, rushed in front of Anna to explain.
"Really? If you're not after the money, then sign this agreement now." Anna took out a document from her bag and held it up. "Sign it in front of everyone and guarantee that you and my dad will only have a wedding ceremony and not register the marriage. Even if you separate later, you must ensure that you won't take a single penny from our family's assets!"
Emma's face faltered as she looked to Tom for help.
Tom was about to intervene but was blocked by Anna's side. "What? Afraid to sign? Didn't you say you're not after money, just him? After the wedding, my dad will be yours— isn't that enough?"
With so many eyes on her, Emma was left with no way out. To prove her sincerity, she had no choice but to nod. "Fine, I'll sign."
Emma took the pen from Anna and signed her name on the document.
"Anna, I've signed. Can we proceed with the ceremony now?"
"No!" Anna pointed to the photo of their mother, Tina. "If you want to join our family, you must bow three times to my mother's photo!"
This is simply too much!
Fiona couldn't bear to see her mother Emma being treated this way. She stood up and walked over to Anna.
"Miss Anna, there are many guests here. For the sake of Tom and Mr. Rick's reputation, please stop this disturbance," she said softly, just loud enough for Anna to hear.
"Threatening me with my brother? Do you think I'm afraid?" Anna glared at Fiona. "You're just a little secretary. It's one thing to use my brother's name to intimidate others, but today, you're trying to scare me with the same tactics. You're not any better. You want to join the Duan family and enjoy wealth and honor with your vixen mother, right? Then you should kneel and bow to me until I'm satisfied before you're allowed to enter!"
"My mother isn't interested in your family's wealth and honor, and neither am I. If you continue to make a scene, don't blame me for being impolite." Fiona leaned closer to Anna's ear and said in a softer voice, "You were at the bar during the drug scandal recently, weren't you?"
Anna's face turned pale instantly. "I wasn't there. Don't make up lies."
"The people who came to pick you up that day were arranged by me. Also, I have the original surveillance footage from that night... If you don't want to be implicated and questioned by the police, you'd better listen to me and stop causing trouble."
Anna fell silent, her bravado vanishing.
Seeing this, Fiona turned to the guests and offered a graceful smile. "Miss Duan says she's tired. I will take her to rest."
With that, Fiona made a "please" gesture toward Anna.
Reluctantly, Anna followed Fiona off the stage.
As the host quickly took the opportunity to smooth things over and continue the wedding, Anna clearly was not willing to be controlled so easily.
When they reached the poolside, Anna suddenly shouted, "Ah! Murder! Help!"
"Anna, please don't say that. Your father and I truly love each other. When I met him, I didn't know who he was or whether he had money. I truly love him for who he is," Emma, in her wedding dress, rushed in front of Anna to explain.
"Really? If you're not after the money, then sign this agreement now." Anna took out a document from her bag and held it up. "Sign it in front of everyone and guarantee that you and my dad will only have a wedding ceremony and not register the marriage. Even if you separate later, you must ensure that you won't take a single penny from our family's assets!"
Emma's face faltered as she looked to Tom for help.
Tom was about to intervene but was blocked by Anna's side. "What? Afraid to sign? Didn't you say you're not after money, just him? After the wedding, my dad will be yours— isn't that enough?"
With so many eyes on her, Emma was left with no way out. To prove her sincerity, she had no choice but to nod. "Fine, I'll sign."
Emma took the pen from Anna and signed her name on the document.
"Anna, I've signed. Can we proceed with the ceremony now?"
"No!" Anna pointed to the photo of their mother, Tina. "If you want to join our family, you must bow three times to my mother's photo!"
**
This is simply too much!
Fiona couldn't bear to see her mother Emma being treated this way. She stood up and walked over to Anna.
"Miss Anna, there are many guests here. For the sake of Tom and Mr. Rick's reputation, please stop this disturbance," she said softly, just loud enough for Anna to hear.
"Threatening me with my brother? Do you think I'm afraid?" Anna glared at Fiona. "You're just a little secretary. It's one thing to use my brother's name to intimidate others, but today, you're trying to scare me with the same tactics. You're not any better. You want to join the Duan family and enjoy wealth and honor with your vixen mother, right? Then you should kneel and bow to me until I'm satisfied before you're allowed to enter!"
"My mother isn't interested in your family's wealth and honor, and neither am I. If you continue to make a scene, don't blame me for being impolite." Fiona leaned closer to Anna's ear and said in a softer voice, "You were at the bar during the drug scandal recently, weren't you?"
Anna's face turned pale instantly. "I wasn't there. Don't make up lies."
"The people who came to pick you up that day were arranged by me. Also, I have the original surveillance footage from that night... If you don't want to be implicated and questioned by the police, you'd better listen to me and stop causing trouble."
Anna fell silent, her bravado vanishing.
Seeing this, Fiona turned to the guests and offered a graceful smile. "Miss Duan says she's tired. I will take her to rest."
With that, Fiona made a "please" gesture toward Anna.
Reluctantly, Anna followed Fiona off the stage.
As the host quickly took the opportunity to smooth things over and continue the wedding, Anna clearly was not willing to be controlled so easily.
When they reached the poolside, Anna suddenly shouted, "Ah! Murder! Help!"
Before Fiona could react, Anna grabbed her sleeve and deliberately pushed and shoved her, then fell into the swimming pool.
With a splash, water flew everywhere.
Seeing Miss Anna fall into the water, the guests and staff at the ceremony rushed over, jumping into the pool one after another to rescue Anna. It was Rick, her brother, who was the last to come forward.
Within three minutes, Anna was pulled out of the water.
"Cough cough cough…" Anna clutched her neck, appearing as if she had almost drowned.
"Rick, Fiona bears a grudge against me for disrupting the wedding and wants to take revenge on my mother. She just pushed me into the pool to kill me. You know I've always been terrified of water! When she pushed me, I thought I was going to meet Mom in heaven! Boo hoo hoo…"
Anna cried pitifully, clearly trying to play the victim.
The surrounding people began to express their sympathy for Anna, condemning Fiona for being ruthless and malicious, accusing her of intending harm against her stepsister during her mother's wedding.
"Rick, I didn't push her. She jumped in by herself. I didn't even touch a single strand of her hair!" Fiona explained to Rick.
She knew that while Anna's blatantly false claims might deceive others, they could not fool Rick. For one, Anna's fear of water was clearly fake; she had won a swimming championship during her freshman year, and Rick himself had awarded her the prize.
Now, it depended on whether Rick would side with Anna or clear Fiona's name.
"Rick… you have to stand up for me!" Anna clung to Rick's leg.
Rick glanced at Fiona, who looked at him with a pleading expression.
Fiona knew that Rick's attitude would directly determine how this matter would be resolved. She hoped he would downplay the situation to allow the wedding to continue.
Unfortunately, Rick completely ignored her.
"Alright, I'll take care of it," Rick said, patting Anna's head and speaking in a deep voice. "Call the police! And get an ambulance to take Miss Anna to the hospital for a check-up!"
"Yes, sir."