In the bedroom, on the plush bed...

Ansaldo Hacket gazed at Ciara Ackhurst beneath him. The mole at the corner of her left eye appeared especially enticing in the glow of the crystal chandelier. "Darling, want some?"

Before Ciara could even utter a word, his lips found hers in a breathless kiss, filling her mouth with the bold taste of spirits.

What he drank was some hard liquor.

It was very strong.

Even after a mere taste left from his kiss, it was as though Ciara had just taken a stiff drink herself.

Her mind buzzed, her head spun in a light, fluttering daze.

She couldn't even tell if it was the liquor breath from Ansaldo or the overpowering and intense kiss from him that got her a bit dizzy.

The moon was brilliant and beautiful tonight, while the atmosphere was intoxicating.

Afterwards, Ciara laid lazily in Ansaldo's embrace.

At that moment, she heard a soft murmur from him before falling asleep. "Why him? What does he have that I don't?"

Ciara felt a jolt in her heart at the words, her gaze lifting to Ansaldo meaningfully.

He was drunk.

Despite her physical exhaustion, Ciara couldn't sleep. Thoughts of the recent night out with Ansaldo at the bar surfaced in her mind. When she went to the bathroom, she overheard conversations of other women in the restroom stalls.

"The woman who sat next to Mr. Hacket, is she the rumored new lover who's been with Mr. Hacket for over three months?"

"Yeah, it's her. Haven't you noticed she looks a lot like Mr. Hacket's true love?"

"If she didn't look like her, Mr. Hacket wouldn't let her stick around for over three months. But even if she resembles her, she's just a stand-in. Mr. Hacket's heart has always belonged to the other one."

"You bet. Mr. Hacket drank so much tonight because his beloved announced her engagement."

Ciara remained composed, taking a piece of paper to dab her slender fingers wet from the water.

She didn't care about others' opinions.

From the beginning of her relationship with Ansaldo, Ciara knew he had another woman in his heart. Ansaldo chose to be with her because she resembled his lost love.

After their initial night together, Ansaldo yearned to spend more time with her and made her his girlfriend.

Ciara knew the title of girlfriend was just a euphemism. She and Ansaldo were merely friends with sex, in particular.

Despite the girlfriend title, she never enjoyed the rights of a girlfriend.

Ansaldo treated Ciara well, generously gifting her luxury items when they were together.

As long as she didn't cause trouble, he would even pamper her when he was in a good mood.

Returning to the present, Ciara buried her face in Ansaldo's chest. After closing her eyes, she murmured sadly, "Ansaldo..."

The next day, in the early morning...

"As memories surge, you remain the most missed..."

A sudden and intrusive ringtone abruptly woke Ansaldo from his deep sleep.

Instantly, Ansaldo's perfect face revealed a hint of beast-like fierceness.

His brows furrowed, and he slowly opened his clear and profound eyes.

"Um..."

In the next instant, he felt something stir in his arms. Looking down, he saw Ciara, appearing soft, nestled in his embrace.

Her long lashes trembled. Her delicate eyebrows slightly furrowed as she opened her eyes.

Their eyes met.

Ciara blinked, smiling faintly, "Good morning..."

As he looked at the red love marks on her neck, Ansaldo's Adam's apple couldn't help but bob. His voice was husky as he replied, "Morning."

Meanwhile, the phone was still ringing persistently. Ciara instinctively moved to get up and answer it.

But realising she was completely naked, Ciara hesitated and said embarrassingly, "Can you close your eyes?"

Ansaldo asked in bewilderment upon hearing that, "Why?"

"I need to get up to answer the phone, but I'm not wearing anything right now." Ciara's face blushed at her own words.

Ansaldo couldn't help but laugh as Ciara's words fell.

He chuckled mischievously, "No answering phones. We have more important things to do right now!"

"But..."

Before Ciara could finish, he grabbed her phone from her hand and casually tossed it under the bed.

Then, with a swift movement, he reached out, pulling Ciara towards him by the waist, their bodies meeting once again in a familiar dance.

In the next heartbeat, his lips found hers, sealing them in a passionate kiss...