Chapter 1 Get Out of My House

Xandra Cavendish never imagined that on the night before her wedding, her fiancé would send her into another man's bed.

After receiving a text from Lucius York, she took a cab to the Halden Grand Hotel.

Lucius was the first man who didn't mind that she had three kids and treated her with genuine kindness.

She was ecstatic, ready to give herself to him.

They spent a passionate night together.

Xandra opened her sleepy eyes, relishing the sweetness of the previous night.

She heard a noise at the bathroom door and called out softly, "Lucius," just as a man walked out!

The man only had white towel around his waist, his damp hair dripping fresh from the shower.

Droplets ran down his chiseled cheekbones, falling onto his firm chest.

Every step revealed the sheer size of him — powerful legs, a broad chest, arms that looked carved from stone..

As he got closer she finally saw his face clearly. Xandra's smile vanished. She yanked the blanket up to her chin.

"Why is it you?"

She recognized that strikingly handsome face from before!

A few days ago, she'd been harassed near a construction site by a drunk man.

This was the stranger who had come to her rescue.

She never thought they would cross paths again, certainly not like this. What was going on?

"Who did you think it was?"

Frederick Russell asked. His voice deep and magnetic. While his eyes swept over her panicked face.

"You ? why are you here? Last night, I..."

Xandra stammered.

Her weakened body kept reminding her of what had happened last night.

"This is my room. Why do you think I'm here?"

Frederick sat on the sofa, tossing the towel he'd used to dry his hair aside.

His room?

Xandra's face face went pale. "Impossible! This is the room my fiancé Lucius booked!"

"Are you sure?"

Frederick raised an eyebrow, his eyes darkening as it swept over her glowing skin.

Xandra's mind spun.

Seeing Frederick's gaze fall on her chest, she hurriedly pulled the blanket higher.

"Pervert! Get out now, or I'll report you for assault!"

"Report me?" Frederick watched her calmly.

"Should I remind you who initiated things last night?"

Xandra choked.

Last night, she had deliberately had some drinks to muster the courage for a sweet night with Lucius.

When she had entered the hotel room, the room had been dark.

She'd assumed the man inside was Lucius, so she boldly embraced and kissed him.

She had indeed been the initiator!

But...

"You could have refused!"

Frederick picked up his clothes, unbothered by her angry expression.

"Why would I? I assumed you were here to repay me."

She wasn't, she didn't mean to.

She felt humiliated and furious. Silently, she got out of the bed holding the sheets firmly around her.

She hastily grabbed her scattered clothes and dressed quickly. Then headed towards the door eager to leave.

"Just leaving like that?"

Frederick's voice came from behind.

"We're adults," she said through clenched teeth. "It was a one-night stand. Consider us even."

She slammed the door shut and left.

Quite the temper.

Frederick's lips curled slightly as he leisurely buttoned his shirt.

His phone buzzed on the coffee table.

He glanced at it briefly before sliding his fingers across to answer.

The voice on the other end was old but sharp, carrying the particular edge of someone accustomed to getting their way.

"Ungrateful brat! Find me a granddaughter-in-law, or I'll hang myself right in front of you!"

Frederick thought of the warmth and softness from the night before.

He casually coaxed, "Alright, no need for the drama. I'll get married."

"Really? Which family's heiress caught your eye?"

He replied, "Does it have to be an heiress?"

The person on the other end, afraid he might change his mind, quickly said, "Any woman will do."

...

In the hotel corridor.

Xandra stood staring at the door.

It was indeed 1802!

She hadn't gone to the wrong room!

So why hadn't Lucius been inside?

She pressed her lips together, her mind filled with doubts.

Frederick was impossible to read and hadn't given her a straight answer.

She needed to ask Lucius herself.

Determined, She called him. No answer.

She had no choice but to take a cab to his villa. She needed an explanation.

She had been staying in his villa for a while with he three children.

Lucius had always been attentive — treating her children as his own, patient and warm.

If he found out she had spent the night with a stranger...

She arrived half an hour later, guilt sitting heavy in her chest as she walked into the villa.

As soon as she entered, she noticed a pair of unfamiliar brand-new, beautiful high heels in the entryway.

Xandra paused, her mind racing with a million explanations..

She quickly headed towards the master bedroom on the second floor.

Before she even got to the door, she could hear the breathless moans, the low groan of a man, the creak of bed springs.

Xandra's hand trembled as she reached for the door knob, hesitating for a moment before finally turning it.

Those intimate sounds grew louder, as she stepped closer piercing her heart..

A familiar woman's laughter rang out.

"Lucius, are you really going to break up with Xandra?"

"Of course! The Cavendish family is bankrupt, she's no longer useful. I've put up with her for four years. I'm done."

"You really sent her to your client? How could you?"

"Why not? She's already had kids. What's there to care about? My client may be old and ugly, but he's rich. He might even keep her as a mistress and give her money to support those brats."

Brats.

That word made her body tremble.

Lucius had promised he would never hold her past against her. He had promised to make her the happiest woman.

And now he was in bed with her best friend — Vivian Cooper.

Not only that, he had set her up to sleep with another man!

Xandra was furious, She seized a water jug from the cabinet and hurled it to the floor.

Pieces of porcelain shattered across the room.

Vivian shrieked, and scrambled to hide behind Lucius.

Lucius turned slowly to look at Xandra.

His expression shifting from surprise to cold indifference.

He got up and wrapped a comforting arm around Vivian before looking at Xandra.

Xandra felt a pang of pain as she watched the tenderness he showed Vivian.

"Lucius, how could you do this to me?"

Lucius sneered, pulling on his robe as he walked up to her.

"Let's be honest, Xandra. I've always loved Vivi. If you weren't the heiress of the Cavendish family, useful to my career, do you think I"d choose a woman with someone else's children ?"

"Now that the Cavendish family is bankrupt, do you think a woman without a background and with kids is worthy of me?"

"You'd better call off the wedding yourself. Don't make this more embarrassing than it has to be . Otherwise, I have plenty of ways to ruin you!"

Xandra's fingers clenched, her eyes reddening with anger.

Four years ago, an accident left her with three children whose father she didn't know.

At the time, Lucius was her boyfriend.

He'd said he didn't mind. He'd even proposed..

But he had insisted he wanted to start his business before settling down, and the wedding date kept getting postponed.

All along, he had been using her family's connections to build his business. Her father's resources. Her family's name. Now he was fully established in the city.

Then the Cavendish company faced financial problems.

The company went bankrupt, her father was driven to suicide by creditors.

Her mother, broken from the shock, was hit by a car and became comatose.

In one night, she lost everything. She had to rely on Lucius to care for her children.

She thought this would be her new home.

But it was all just a ploy!

The Cavendish family's help to Lucius had become a weapon against her!

Xandra's eyes filled with tears, and she slapped him with everything she had.

"Lucius, you bastard!"

Lucius staggered backwards.

He straightened, his face dark with rage.

"Xandra, how dare you hit me!"

He raised his hand. She didn't move fast enough. The blow sent her to the ground.

"Don't hurt my mommy!"

"Mommy!"

"Mr. York is bad!"

Her three children suddenly ran over.

The eldest boy, in his pajamas, rushed at Lucius, fists flying.

"Get away."

Lucius shoved the boy aside without a second thought.

The child hit the floor, his delicate face crumpling in pain.

"Chuck."

Xandra scrambled to her son, pulling him into her arms, tears streaming.

"Lucius, how could you hit a child? Are you even human?"

"This is my house! Xandra, take your three brats and get out of my home!" Lucius yelled.