Chapter 5

Ariella opened her mouth, wanting to apologize, trying to earn a reduction on the six-month sentence. But pride got the best of her. Rather suffer a few more months than say one soft word to that hypocrite. "As you wish!" she ground out the words through clenched teeth. "You don't sound thrilled. Shouldn't you be thanking me for giving you more time to make me fall for you?" Lucian lifted her chin, locking eyes with her, his gaze piercing. Truth was, extending the deal wasn't just about wanting more time with her body - though that was part of it. What really got under his skin was how this girl had been at his side for nearly two years, and he still couldn't catch her slipping. No way he was gonna let that stand. As the new head of the Sterling family, he couldn't lose to a rookie like her. Lucian lived for this kind of game. His plan? Make her hate him to the core, make her fall stupid in love, and then get all her secrets. And in the end... crush her. Make her pay for every bit of deception. "I used to be grateful to you..." Ariella's eyes were clear, no sign of lying. She wanted to explain herself, but only got halfway before the look in his eyes shut her up. "Go on. Why stop now?" "You wanted me just to satisfy your appetite, didn't you? There's no point in talking-we both know words don't mean anything between us." Her tone was flat, even a bit dismissive. That triggered something in him. Again. He shoved her onto the bed, hands rough as he started yanking at her thin nightgown. Ariella grabbed his wrist tightly, panicked. "Easy! Stop tearing my clothes-I gotta pay for those." "Oh? You broke because I didn't give you cash?" He suddenly froze, staring at her like he'd caught her red-handed. He'd given her a card before, set a spending limit-yet she never used it. Even the slippers, towel, toothpaste, and toothbrush she used, she paid for herself. He'd assumed she had some pride, but now... maybe not? Ariella looked at him like he was speaking another language. Honestly, it felt like they operated in different realities. Or maybe he was just clinically insane. Guy twisted everything she said. Her reaction made Lucian lose his cool again. This time, with a sharp tear, her nightgown went, followed by her silk underwear. "Can we not do this tonight? I don't want Fiona to hate me," she muttered. "You don't get to say no!" She bit her lip hard, refusing to give in, no matter how much it hurt. Just hold on... She shut her eyes tight, enduring everything in silence. When it was over, she slowly got up to take a long shower. But before she could, Lucian zipped up and shoved her back down on the bed. She was naked. He looked completely put-together. The world was never fair. Her face was flushed from their intimacy, but there was no joy in it-only misery. It annoyed him more than he expected. He'd meant it as punishment, but seeing her that way made something twist in him. He'd wanted her to feel good in the end. Too bad she clearly didn't care. "Was it really that awful for you? Then why try to seduce Ryan? You know the guy only thinks with what's below the belt." "When did I ever seduce him?" she shot back, frowning. "I saw it! Don't play with fire. Stay the hell away from him!" His voice was low and threatening. They had a deal: during the agreement period, even holding hands with another man was off-limits-because he had a cleanliness thing. Yet he could mess around with his wife and still treat Ariella like this? She had boundaries too! "Don't worry," Ariella replied coolly. "If there's nothing else, I'm taking a shower and going to bed. You can see yourself out." As she stood, he caught her and pushed her back down again.