The Traded Bride

"Lillian! You gotta help me!"

"You're the only one who can save me now!"

Adam Hill was on his knees, desperately pleading with Lillian Hill. His gaze was filled with urgency and helplessness as if Lillian was his last hope.

And in fact, she was.

But Adam's request was outrageous—he wanted his cousin to spend time with a man.

Lillian stared at her cousin, unsure of what to do. She glanced over at Alexander Sinclair, who was sitting nearby, watching everything with a blank expression.

Lillian hesitated when a bodyguard stepped forward. He grabbed Adam by the arm and effortlessly lifted him, intending to take him away.

"Lillian! Help me!" Adam screamed, his fear evident as a dark stain spread on his pants.

Lillian closed her eyes, unable to bear the sight of Adam's pitiful state. Cold sweat beaded on her forehead. She couldn't believe how things had gotten so bad. Just that morning, everything had been peaceful.

The previous day, she had closed a big deal, and Adam pleased with her success, had taken her and their friends to the city's most luxurious bar to celebrate. To get the party going, they ordered a bunch of bottles at their table, and everyone kept drinking and having a blast.

As the night wore on, the alcohol and the bar's atmosphere led everyone to let loose. Drinks flowed freely, and Lillian ended up getting so drunk that her mind started to blur. She vaguely remembered hearing her friends asking where Adam was.

Struggling to stay alert, she looked around and saw Adam leaving with a woman. She tried to follow but was stopped by a friend.

"Let them be. It's consensual."

"Yeah, maybe he'll bring you a new sister-in-law!"

Lillian, still dazed, understood a bit more. She knew Adam's lifestyle and was aware that, while he was a flirt, he wouldn't do anything illegal. Trusting that Adam knew the place better than she did, she continued to enjoy the night with her friends.

When she woke up the next morning, she saw a message from Adam with a room number. Without suspicion, she bought breakfast and headed to his room. But as she approached, she saw the door had been violently broken open.

Rushing inside, she found Adam disheveled and a familiar-looking girl trembling.

"What happened?" Lillian asked, still sounding innocent.

The man who had been facing away turned around, and Lillian gasped. He was tall, dressed in a tailored suit, exuding an air of restraint. More importantly, she recognized him—her boss, Alexander Sinclair, the unseen ruler of the city.

Of course, Lillian, at her level, had never interacted with such a high-ranking boss, only seen his face in Forbes and other magazines. But what was her boss doing here?

The next moment, Andy Dalton crawled towards Alexander, clutching his pristine suit pants, tears streaming down her face.

"Alexander, let me explain... I was drinking with friends last night and somehow woke up here. I don't know what happened. You have to believe me."

Alexander frowned slightly, a look of disgust crossing his face. He yanked his pants free from Andy's grip without a word.

Seeing this, Andy's gaze turned hateful as she looked at the trembling Adam behind her.

"Alexander, it was him! He drugged my drink and assaulted me. He even tried to blackmail me afterward. You came just in time. Kill him!"

Lillian, listening, finally understood. Adam, drunk, had sought a partner, not realizing the woman he chose was Alexander's fiancée.

Adam, still shaking, widened his eyes at Andy's accusation.

"Andy, what are you talking about? Last night, you were the one who wouldn't let go of me."

"How did it turn into me forcing you? Get your facts straight! If you hadn't clung to me, I wouldn't have even looked at you!"

Andy's face turned pale with anger. She glanced nervously at Alexander, who was nonchalantly playing with his phone, seemingly uninterested in the argument or the infidelity.

Stung by his indifference, Andy stood up, righteously declaring, "Don't accuse me! I would never do that. Just look at you. You don't seem like a good person. You must have had bad intentions!"

"Ms. Dalton, you are shameless!" Adam retorted. "You were the one who wouldn't let me go last night. Now that your boyfriend is here, you want to pin the blame on me? Dream on!"

Lillian's face flushed as she glanced nervously at Alexander, who remained calm, still engrossed in his phone, ignoring the argument.

As the argument escalated, Alexander gave a signal, and the bodyguard grabbed Adam, dragging him away.

"What are you doing?" Lillian and Adam asked in unison.

The bodyguard closest to Alexander spoke, "Anyone who goes after Mr. Sinclair won't end well."

Lillian was hit with a wave of regret. If she had stopped Adam earlier, maybe none of this would have happened.

"Serves you right for taking advantage of me!" Andy said, looking at the terrified Adam with satisfaction.

Adam, enraged by Andy's smugness, found a burst of strength and broke free from the bodyguard, lunging at Andy.

"You backstabber, I fell for your trap!"

As the two began to scuffle, Lillian rushed to intervene. But both of them are too angry to listen to Lillian, and they even push Lillian down.

Just as Lillian braced for the hard floor, she felt a warm, firm touch. She turned to see Alexander had caught her.

Alexander's expression darkened, and Lillian quickly pulled away, apologizing, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to."

The lingering warmth from Alexander's touch made Lillian blush. But seeing Adam being restrained again, screaming in pain, she felt a pang of guilt.

"Stop! It hurts! Lillian, help me! I'm your cousin! You can't just watch me go down like this!"

Lillian's face turned pale at Adam's cries. She clutched her skirt, seeking some comfort.

After a moment, as Adam screamed again, she turned to Alexander, "You said if I... if I used my body to repay, you'd let my cousin go."

Alexander's eyes gleamed with amusement. He didn't answer directly but asked, "Are you questioning me?"

Lillian fell silent. She knew she had no leverage to negotiate with someone like Alexander. But Adam was her uncle's only son. She and her brother had been taken in by her uncle after their parents died.

Steeling herself, Lillian said, "Stop! I agree!"

Her voice choked with emotion, her eyes red as she looked at Alexander.

"I agree to your terms."