Secret Love Scheme

Alison Grey appeared punctually outside the Ritz Hotel at seven o'clock on Wednesday evening.

Her phone beeped, and she opened WhatsApp to see a message from Matthew Grey: "Alison, thank you for helping Dad. Unfortunately, I'm stuck in traffic, so please go inside."

When they met later, Alison slowed and wondered how to greet her husband, Alexander Rosier.

They had been married for three years but had never met before. She knew that Alexander was resistant to this arranged marriage from the start.

It wasn't his fault, though - The Grey family's company was facing a crisis at the time and shamelessly requested that The Rosier family fulfill their previous agreement of an arranged marriage. Unfortunately, the eldest son of The Rosier family was already married, so it fell upon Alexander as the second son to take up this responsibility even though he was reluctant.

The Rosier family gave a wedding gift of three hundred million US dollars to help The Grey family through their difficulties but also made a condition that the marriage would automatically be dissolved after three years.

Three years ago, Alison wasn't yet legally old enough to marry. So they registered their marriage in Las Vegas, with representatives from both sides presenting each other's identification documents instead of attending themselves.

As soon as they got married, Alexander went off to Australia and only returned now with just three months left until their divorce was finalized - clearly preparing for its dissolution.

Unfortunately, Today, her father needed her help again for business reasons, which meant returning to him.

Alison wryly smiled, thinking about introducing herself later: "Hello, Mr. Rosier! I am your wife!"

Would he look at her properly?

Alexander is dominant in finance circles and ruthless in his decision-making process.

However, a few days ago, when she saw him on TV discussing financial matters, he seemed different than she had imagined. He was dressed in an expensive business suit, and although he appeared proud, his demeanor was elegant and calm. She hoped that Today he would also be as dignified and cultured as he was on TV so she wouldn't feel too embarrassed.

The entire Ritz Hotel is decorated with a classical atmosphere. Alison went to the third floor according to the room number given by Matthew. All the rooms on this floor are suites with wooden beds covered in carpets, dimly lit lamps, and tranquil surroundings.

When she arrived at her suite's door, Alison took a deep breath before knocking.

The door was slightly open, but when she touched it, the redwood door automatically opened wider - which surprised her.

Was Alexander waiting for her?

Out of politeness, Alison knocked again several times, but there was no response. Alison raised an eyebrow, then pushed open the door and walked two steps inside, only to find that only one lamp in the foyer illuminated everything else remained dark.

No one here?

The enormous suite has a living room between two leisure rooms on either side leading into bedrooms. She had already walked into the living room when suddenly feeling uneasy about something made her turn around just as she heard the water running from one of the bedrooms, followed by a painful low-pitched voice saying, "Come in!"

Alison's alertness told her that now would be an appropriate time to leave without hesitation. However, after standing still for three seconds in darkness, she decided to walk towards where she heard Alexander's voice coming from.

"Is that you, Mr. Rosier? What happened?" asked Alison softly upon entering his bedroom doorway.

Suddenly an arm reached out directly, pulling her into his bathroom while pressing against the wall with one hand while choking her neck tightly with another; his voice suppressed yet furious: "How dare you drug me! Do you want to die?"

There were lights outside shining through windows into their living room but inside the bathroom, it was pitch black.

Alison endured without fighting back as her throat was being squeezed tightly. Her voice became hoarse yet calm: "It wasn't me!"

"Who are you?"

The man seemed to have been drenched in cold water for a long time, and his whole body felt icy cold while his breaths were hot and heavy - alternating between hot and cold. Alison was somewhat stunned. In the darkness, both of them silently faced each other, with the man's breathing becoming heavier by the second until he suddenly hooked her neck with one hand, then lowered his head to kiss her forcefully.

His lips were ice-cold and domineering! Alison widened her eyes instantly and then kicked hard toward his body. But, despite Alexander's strength and speed not being inferior to hers, he suppressed her knees with his long legs while hoarsely saying: "Help me! I'll compensate you for everything you want afterward!"

Alison took a deep breath inwardly; she never expected to encounter such a situation where Alexander had been drugged.

In the darkness, the man's breath enveloped all her senses. She debated whether to help or let him find someone else when his overwhelming kisses rained down on her.

Alison had already forgotten how they got from the bathroom to the bed in the bedroom. While she was still wavering between resistance and compliance, the man had already pulled her into an irresistible abyss.

She had considered facing this kind of scene after they married, but not under these circumstances. The abyss was like a world of fire and water; she felt she had experienced more than three years' worth of time.

When they stopped, someone came in with footsteps approaching the bedroom. "Mr. Rosier?"

"Don't come in!" The man's voice was low and lazy after sex.

There was suddenly no sound outside.

After a moment, Alexander stood up, put on his bathrobe without looking at the woman on the bed, and walked out. Alison pulled the blanket to her neck and saw the light coming through a crack in the door from outside.

Alexander went to sit on the sofa in the living room with his sharp-featured face showing no emotion. Then, finally, his assistant asked him, "Mr. Rosier, are you OK?"

At a party earlier that night, Alexander suddenly left without letting anyone follow him for over two hours; he wasn't sure what he had heard just now - it sounded like two people breathing.

"I'm fine," Alexander said while pinching his brow.

The assistant snapped back to reality from their imagination: "Matthew Grey booked room 1009 to meet you at nine o'clock."

"Which Matthew?" Alexander asked casually before remembering something else: "Hasn't it been less than three years?"

"A few months left," replied his assistant.

"What difference does it make then?" sneered Alexander sarcastically.

"Matthew has called several times wanting to see you; I think he needs your help," explained his assistant.

Thinking about Alison lying on his bed inside made him uneasy: "He sold me one daughter before, and now he wants to sell another? He's too arrogant. Does he think I'll always be at his beck and call? Or does he think his daughter is so precious that she can always fetch a good price? No way!"

The last two words were said ruthlessly and coldly!

Inside the bedroom, Alison heard their conversation. Her face turned pale from blushing earlier. If Alexander found out that the girl lying on his bed was Matthew's daughter right now, the word "sell" would perhaps sound even more ironic! She got up while enduring discomfort all over her body, put on her clothes, and took out something from her pocket, which she left on the table. Then, without looking back, she walked straight towards the balcony, opened the window, and climbed out.

Alexander and his assistant continued talking about other things outside. Then, finally, Alexander ordered: "Go find out who drugged me tonight."

"Yes!" replied his assistant.

Alexander went back to the bedroom, but there was no answer when he told Alison to get up with the money and leave without ever appearing in front of him again. The bed was messy, but there was no sign of the girl from earlier! Finally, he turned around to look at a cabinet opposite it, strolling towards it before picking up what was under a vase - His face instantly darkened.