When we were young, Jaylin had always had a crush on me.
He filled his diary with expressions of love for me.
His room was adorned with my portraits, each one drawn by his own hand.
The naive boy would create chances to run into me, casually asking, “Classmate Bai, would you like to go out with me?”
Our relationship soon became the talk of the school.
My father slapped me hard across the face. “Rachel, you can date anyone, but you must not date anyone from the Reynolds family!”
The Bennetts and the Reynolds were bitter enemies, two families at odds with each other.
I secretly hid my feelings for Jaylin, intentionally keeping my distance from him.
The more he loved me back then, the more he hated me now.
At night, his tall figure loomed over me.
I looked up at him, “Mr. Jaylin, can we end this clandestine relationship?”
Jaylin’s lips curled into a mocking smile. “Rachel, you have no choice! One word from me, and the Bennetts will have no foothold left in New York.”
The lifeline of the Bennetts was in his hands; with one word, he could make them disappear from New York.
Jaylin kept me by his side, only to humiliate me.
If I provoked him, the consequences would be unimaginable.
His hair was damp, sharp droplets falling onto my shoulder, sliding down my skin.
I was pinned beneath him, forced into a humiliating position to look up at him.
He ran his fingers over my lips, his voice laced with gravity, “Next month, I’m getting engaged to the Sharpes’ daughter. You’d better behave and not think about causing trouble.”
News of the Reynolds’ impending marriage to the Sharpes had already made headlines in major media outlets.
I raised my misty eyes, “Since you’re getting engaged, why are you still entangled with me?”
Jaylin’s voice turned cold, icy as steel. “Rachel, this is what you owe me!”
“What you owe me can never be repaid in this lifetime!”
I had no strength to argue back.
So, I took the initiative to wrap my arms around his neck, kissing his cold lips.
His deep eyes ignited with emotion; he wrapped his left arm around my waist, his heat quickly enveloping my lips.
His gaze was profound and burning, yet devoid of any tenderness.
With a hoarse voice, laced with a hint of mockery, he said, “If your father knew his daughter was my lover, would he be furious?”
I huddled my shoulders, tears silently sliding down.
Jaylin’s voice was casual as he answered himself, “Of course not. Because to protect the Bennetts, he willingly handed you over to me!”
My father’s company had suffered a cash flow crisis, and no bank was willing to lend him money to tide him over.
In desperation, he thought of a plan.
“Rae, didn’t Jaylin used to like you? Go ask him to spare the Bennetts.”
“Even if I had something with Jaylin, that’s all in the past.” I didn’t want to tarnish the beauty of those memories.
My father questioned me sternly, “I’ve raised you for over twenty years; what’s wrong with you sacrificing a little?”
To atone for my father, I took the initiative to find Jaylin.
I promised him I would be his secret lover.