Chapter 2

Sophia was boneless in his arms, her soft lips pressed against Lancelot's Adam's apple, making him freeze.

Ten minutes ago, he'd just finished a business dinner and was planning to rest at the nearby hotel when he'd caught sight of Sophia, clearly out of her mind.

Sensing something was wrong, he'd dealt with the man who had her and was about to call a doctor to check on her condition. But then...

Lancelot took a deep breath and pulled the woman in his arms away. "Sophia, calm down. You're marrying Edward tomorrow! I'm not going to be the homewrecker."

Marriage? Edward?

Sophia's muddled thoughts cleared for two seconds before a sharp pain washed over them again.

She lifted her hazy eyes and stammered, "No... not marrying him... marry you instead, okay?"

Sophia smiled foolishly, her fingers trailing over his features, sliding down inch by inch until they stopped at his Adam's apple. "Not a homewrecker... then you can be my husband."

She acted on impulse, grabbing her phone to call the wedding planner and demand they change the groom's name to Lancelot. Not even checking if the call went through, she threw herself into his arms.

"Can we... can we make love now?" Without waiting for his answer, Sophia leaned down and kissed his lips.

The cool sensation made her instinctively slip out her tongue and lick gently.

Lancelot groaned, as if he could no longer bear it. He gripped her waist and flipped them over. "Sophia, you asked for this!"

He bit out the words and pried open her lips, plunging his tongue inside.

One second, two seconds, three seconds...

As steady breathing filled the air, Lancelot looked down to find the woman who'd been so bold just moments ago had passed out.

Her cheeks were flushed, her lips slightly parted, like a strawberry waiting to be picked.

He couldn't help but laugh in exasperation.

The next day.

Sophia woke from her drunken stupor. She sat up, holding her head, and as the memories from last night came flooding back half a beat late, she froze completely.

Oh God!

What had she done last night?

Not only had she thrown herself at Lancelot, she'd demanded they swap out the groom—to his face?

Just thinking about it made Sophia want to dig a hole in the ground and disappear into it.

Her phone buzzed. Sophia glanced at the screen. It was a message from Edward. [Soph, I have an emergency surgery. Head to the city hall first. I'll be right there.]

The text snapped Sophia back to reality.

She frowned slightly. She'd planned to refuse outright, but after a moment's thought, decided to go and make things clear in person.

Sophia hurriedly washed up and headed out. In her rush, she didn't notice the note on the nightstand.

She arrived at city hall a little after nine. She thought she was running late, but city hall closed and Edward never showed.

Sophia stood alone at the entrance, her heart tugged by an invisible thread, aching with each pull.

She returned home. There was movement outside the door.

Sophia thought it was Edward, but when she opened the door, it was his driver.

"Ms. Forbes, Mr. FitzRoy asked me to take you to the auction," he said respectfully.

At the same time, Edward called, his tone affectionate. "Soph, today's surgery was so complicated. I just finished. Come with the driver, and I'll make it up to you, okay?"

Sophia didn't refuse. She could clear things up at the auction just as well. Either way, she had to talk to him.

She got in the car.

The auction venue was luxurious and dazzling.

Among the elegantly dressed crowd, Sophia spotted Edward immediately.

He'd shed his white coat and wore a silver-gray suit, his posture tall and refined. He walked toward Sophia with his usual indulgence. "Soph, you're finally here."

He reached out to take her hand, but she subtly avoided him.

"Soph?" Edward looked confused.

Sophia didn't speak. Her gaze fell on his collar, near the back of his neck, where several scratches of varying depths betrayed last night's intensity.

Her stomach turned.

"What's wrong? Are you feeling sick?" Edward reached for her again.

"Don't touch me!" Sophia jerked back and accidentally bumped into a passing server.

The tray of drinks toppled, the wine-red liquid spilling all over Sophia.

"Soph!" Edward quickly pulled her into his arms, his eyes cold as he glared at the server. "You can't even carry a tray properly. Get out!"

Then he anxiously examined Sophia, only relaxing when he confirmed she wasn't hurt. "You're okay. I'll have my assistant bring you a change of clothes right away."

The sticky wine clung to her body. Sophia felt uncomfortable too.

She followed Edward into a lounge.

Half an hour later, there was a knock at the door.

A timid face peeked in. "Dr. FitzRoy, your clothes."

Sophia's gaze snapped to the woman's face. Her heart felt like it had been struck with a hammer, her breathing suddenly difficult. "Why... why is she here?"

Edward turned, his expression darkening. "Who told you to come?"

Dahlia's eyes reddened with fear. "I... I just wanted to help you, so I..." She looked at Sophia. "Ms. Forbes, please don't misunderstand. I'm just Dr. FitzRoy's personal assistant now. There's nothing between us..."

She was incoherent.

Sophia stiffly turned to Edward, demanding, "Why is she back?"

The three years of emotion they'd shared were real. She couldn't just let it go. More accusations lodged in her throat, unable to escape.

Why did you go to her? Why did you sleep with her? Why did you bring her back into my life?

Edward rubbed his forehead, explaining, "Soph, listen to me. Dahlia's family is forcing her into marriage. She has nowhere to go. I just wanted to help her as a friend. Besides, I'm so busy at the hospital—I do need a personal assistant. You..."

"Help? Help her into your bed?" Sophia demanded.

Edward flared up. "What are you talking about? Dahlia and I are completely innocent."

"Innocent?" Sophia scoffed. "When you two were screwing around in our wedding house last night, where was the innocence?"

Edward's pupils contracted. "You know? Last night was an accident. I..."

"What kind of accident puts a man and woman alone together in a room?" Sophia cut him off. "And what kind of accident makes you so desperate that you couldn't even wait to get to the bedroom?"

"You couldn't even wait to leave the living room?" Sophia's voice rose sharply, her disgust intensifying.

"Soph, I..."

"Ms. Forbes, I truly have no designs on Dr. FitzRoy. I just want to find work to support myself. Why can't you just tolerate me?" Before Edward could finish, Dahlia interrupted through tears.

She looked at Sophia, her eyes resolute. "If no one will have me anywhere, I might as well die!"

"Dahlia!" Edward instinctively chased after her.

The lounge fell silent. After a moment, Sophia quietly changed into clean clothes.

She pushed open the door to leave but suddenly heard movement from the storage room nearby.

Sophia turned toward the sound and through the crack in the door saw Edward pressing Dahlia beneath him, his large hands roaming her body in punishment.

"What did you say? You want to leave? Did I give you permission?" His eyes held a possessive dominance.

But Dahlia sobbed in his arms. "I just don't want to ruin your relationship with Ms. Forbes."

"Soph's very obedient. She won't suspect a thing," Edward chuckled. That unfamiliar expression made Sophia barely recognize the man who used to chase after her.

He moved closer to Dahlia, his hand sliding up her skirt into more hidden territory. "Your mouth says you want to leave, but your body's honest. What, didn't I feed you enough last night?"

"Don't... not here..."

"Relax."

The whispered exchange between man and woman slithered out like cold snakes, gnawing at Sophia's eardrums.

She watched the sordid scene inside, her eyes reddening.