Chapter 3: Chapter 3
653 words<html><head></head><body><p>Adrian Sinclair tightened his grip.</p> <p>He pulled her toward the sofa.</p> <p>Leaning in close.</p> <p>"Three years apart."</p> <p>"You've grown quite a temper."</p> <p>His palm pressed against her waist.</p> <p>Rubbing through the fabric of her dress.</p> <p>Anna Ross's breath hitched.</p> <p>Her lips were sealed by his.</p> <p>His hand wandered over her body.</p> <p>Fingertips burning with heat.</p> <p>"You curse so fiercely."</p> <p>"Yet your body tells a different story."</p> <p>"These three years."</p> <p>"Did no man satisfy you?"</p> <p>Anna's cheeks burned.</p> <p>The meeting room felt suffocating.</p> <p>A fine sweat dampened her back.</p> <p>Her voice trembled.</p> <p>"What do you want?"</p> <p>"I'm your uncle's stepdaughter now!"</p> <p>"How dare you—"</p> <p>Adrian gave a low laugh.</p> <p>His eyes darkened.</p> <p>"A stepdaughter."</p> <p>"Beyond my reach?"</p> <p>"I don't even regard Howard Lowell."</p> <p>"Much less you."</p> <p>He nibbled her earlobe.</p> <!-- /22796784223/Netlink/arkmoremoney.com/banner_2 --> <p>His hand moved toward her zipper.</p> <p>"Just catching up."</p> <p>"And settling our score from three years ago."</p> <p>"Why resist?"</p> <p>"In the past."</p> <p>"You loved this the most."</p> <p>The Ross family had fallen long ago.</p> <p>The Sinclairs were New York's elite.</p> <p>As the heir, Adrian had every right to arrogance.</p> <p>But what did that have to do with her?</p> <p>Three years ago, he was the one who spoke cruelly.</p> <p>They had been broken up for years.</p> <p>What gave him the right to seek revenge?</p> <p>Anna raised her hand to strike.</p> <p>He caught her wrist.</p> <p>A sharp pain bloomed on her neck.</p> <p>The zipper slowly descended...</p> <p>Anna's eyes reddened.</p> <p>Struggling was useless.</p> <p>She bit her lip in despair.</p> <p>A knock sounded at the door.</p> <p>"Mr. Sinclair."</p> <p>"I'm the vice president of the branch."</p> <p>"Here to deliver documents."</p> <!-- /22796784223/Netlink/arkmoremoney.com/banner_in_article_1 --> <p>"Are you available?"</p> <p>Adrian paused.</p> <p>Anna shoved him away.</p> <p>She frantically adjusted her dress.</p> <p>Her eyes blazed with fear and anger.</p> <p>The man's lips curved.</p> <p>His voice returned to cool detachment.</p> <p>"Come in."</p> <p>The vice president entered.</p> <p>Meeting Adrian's icy gaze, he instinctively looked down.</p> <p>"Mr. Sinclair."</p> <p>He noticed Anna's disheveled state.</p> <p>But didn't dare ask.</p> <p>While the vice president reported, Anna quickly left.</p> <p>She walked the streets for a long time.</p> <p>When she finally gathered her thoughts, she stood outside the Lowell manor.</p> <p>The night was deep.</p> <p>Anxiety coiled in her chest.</p> <p>If her stepfather learned she had left Adrian, he would take it out on her mother...</p> <p>She hesitated.</p> <p>Headlights suddenly flashed.</p> <p>A black Maybach pulled up nearby.</p> <p>Adrian stepped out.</p> <p>Anna instinctively retreated.</p> <!-- /22796784223/Netlink/arkmoremoney.com/banner_in_article_2 --> <p>He caught her wrist.</p> <p>His voice was warm, almost amused.</p> <p>"You've had a long day."</p> <p>"Let me take you to dinner another time."</p> <p>Anna froze.</p> <p>The manor lights turned on.</p> <p>The housekeeper greeted them with a smile.</p> <p>"Miss Anna, Mr. Sinclair, you're back?"</p> <p>"Madam and Mr. Lowell have been waiting."</p> <p>Anna had no choice but to enter with him.</p> <p>The living room was brightly lit.</p> <p>Howard Lowell and her mother sat on the sofa.</p> <p>Howard frowned.</p> <p>"Why are you back so late?"</p> <p>Anna's fingers trembled slightly.</p> <p>Adrian calmly removed his coat.</p> <p>"We visited the company."</p> <p>"Then explored San Francisco."</p> <p>"I was concerned for her safety alone."</p> <p>"So I brought her home."</p> <p>Howard relaxed.</p> <p>He offered a false smile.</p> <p>"Young people enjoy their fun."</p> <p>"Thank you, Adrian."</p> <!-- /22796784223/Netlink/arkmoremoney.com/banner_in_article_3 --> <p>"Stay the night."</p> <p>"The housekeeper will prepare a guest room."</p> <p>Anna's heart sank.</p> <p>Adrian nodded in agreement.</p> <p>He sat down comfortably.</p> <p>"Grandpa wants me to meet Chloe Valentine."</p> <p>"I may need to impose for a few days."</p> <p>A flicker of suspicion crossed Howard's eyes.</p> <p>But he couldn't refuse.</p> <p>He instructed the housekeeper to prepare a room.</p> <p>It happened to be right next to Anna's.</p> <p>Anna paled.</p> <p>Howard probed about company matters.</p> <p>But Vivian Lowell watched her daughter.</p> <p>Her eyes filled with alarm.</p> <p>Distracted, Anna excused herself to go upstairs.</p> <p>She was about to lock her door and wash up.</p> <p>Her mother entered.</p> <p>Vivian grabbed her hand.</p> <p>Her voice shook.</p> <p>"What happened with Mr. Sinclair?"</p> <p>"What are those marks on your neck?"</p> <p>Anna looked in the mirror.</p> <p>A vivid love bite marred her neck.</p> <p>Her heart turned cold.</p> <!-- /22796784223/Netlink/arkmoremoney.com/banner_5 --> </body></html>