"Let me go!" Ariel Ocean gasped for air, struggling beneath Rhysand Lee Golden's weight. "Who gave you the right to talk like this?"
She was furious.
Could this man even hold a proper conversation?
But no matter how hard Ariel tried to break free, Rhysand's strength easily overpowered her. Her resistance was useless.
In the chaos of their scuffle, her head tilted, and suddenly, her lips brushed against something cold and firm.
Ariel froze, her eyes widening.
Their lips had touched.
Rhysand didn't react immediately; it took him a second to process what had just happened.
His mind went blank for a moment.
Though he was always emotionally distant, he was still a normal man with natural instincts.
He had been holding back while she moved beneath him, trying not to lose control.
In the silence of the dim room, neither of them moved.
The air between them felt charged with something unspoken.
Rhysand's black eyes flickered, his warm breath against her face as he whispered, "That's..."
Suddenly, the sharp ring of his phone broke the tension in the room.
Rhysand snapped back to reality, quickly letting go of Ariel and sitting up.
He grabbed his phone, answering in a steady voice, "President Ocean, what's going on?"
"Rhysand, come quickly!" Hailey Ocean's voice sounded urgent. "Something's happened at the Blue Oasis club. I need you to deal with it."
Rhysand paused, then stood up immediately, taking off his casual shirt and slipping into a sleek black suit.
Ariel lowered her lashes, watching as he changed.
She knew this was his duty, but the sudden distance between them felt jarring.
The strange warmth they had shared just moments ago seemed like a distant memory already.
If it weren't for that phone call, she wasn't sure what would have happened next.
As Rhysand walked out of the room, Ariel felt a faint sense of loss.
His tall figure reminded her of the mysterious man who had once saved her—only to vanish before she could even thank him.
---
The next morning, Ariel received her pay for delivering daisy bouquets.
The first thing she did was go to see Butler Jorah.
"This is too much," Jorah said, flustered as she handed him the money. "Miss Ariel, I can't possibly accept this."
"Please, Jorah," Ariel insisted, pushing the money into his hands. "Rhysand has done so much for me. It's only fair that I help pay off some of his debts."
She quickly left, knowing she still had flowers to deliver.
---
By 7:30 that evening, Ariel had parked her bike outside the Blue Oasis Club, balancing a bouquet of roses in her arms.
She walked up to the fourth floor and knocked on the door of a private room. "Flower delivery."
The door opened, and there stood Hailey Ocean.
Her eyes lit up with cruel amusement. "Well, look at you," she laughed. "Delivering flowers, huh?"
Ariel hadn't expected to run into Hailey, and her stomach churned.
Hailey, however, wore an unsettling smile. "I just won the Rookie Designer Award yesterday. Come celebrate with me."
The Rookie Designer Award.
A twinge of pain hit Ariel.
That was the award she had always dreamed of winning, before life turned upside down.
She had been on track to graduate as one of the top students in her design class, but after her parents passed away, everything had changed.
"No, thank you," Ariel said quietly. "I have other deliveries to make."
"Suit yourself," Hailey shrugged, gesturing toward the room. "Just leave the flowers inside."
Reluctantly, Ariel stepped into the dimly lit room.
Smoke lingered in the air, and the atmosphere was heavy with the scent of expensive cigars.
She placed the bouquet on the table and turned to leave, but as she reached the door, Hailey blocked her path, smirking.
"In such a hurry, Ariel?" Hailey's voice was smooth, but there was an edge to it. "We should have a drink to celebrate my win."
Then, Hailey's voice lifted, sweet and playful. "Oh, First Young Master McGuire, didn't you have a thing for Ariel back in the day? Well, here she is, just for you."
At the mention of his name, Ariel's blood ran cold.
Master McGuire was notorious in Peak City for his vile behavior.
He had a history of harassing women, his family's wealth giving him a shield against consequences.
Years ago, he had pursued Ariel relentlessly, making her life miserable until she finally escaped his grip.
Hailey gave Ariel a shove, and she stumbled onto the plush sofa.
Before she could stand, a greasy, bloated hand clamped down on her wrist.
"Miss Ocean," Master McGuire slurred, his piggish eyes traveling over her. "You're looking better than ever."
Ariel's heart raced, but she kept her face calm. She had to think quickly if she wanted to get out of this.