Whispers of a Forgotten Night

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That night a year ago, I lost control after getting drunk. It became the beginning of my nightmare.

A year later, I carefully orchestrated my approach to New York's wealthiest man, Adrian, solely to use his power and influence to reclaim the assets my stepmother and stepsister had seized from me.

He was cold and arrogant, yet gradually took the bait as I played hard to get.

Just when I thought victory was within my grasp, my father exposed my dark past right in front of him. "She was violated, and she has mental problems..."

Adrian's gaze turned ice-cold in an instant. "I can make you Mrs. Knight, and I can just as easily strip that title away."

But what came next was even more devastating. His first love suddenly appeared with a five-year-old girl, the child timidly calling out to him. "Daddy..."

And the secret I'd buried deep in my heart was enough to destroy everyone.

The person who slept with me that night a year ago was Adrian.

A cold smile curved my lips as I raised my hand to cover my lower abdomen.

There was a long scar there.

Left behind from childbirth.

Lydia POV

"Let go of me... you can't..."

I struggled to push him away, but he caught my wrists with one hand and pinned them above my head against the sheets.

The man on top of me clearly had no intention of letting me go.

His other hand traced down along my waistline, his palm burning hot, yet pressing down with alarming force, as if trying to weld me into his body.

His breath brushed against my ear, hot and heavy, each exhale seeming to scorch my skin.

"Behave."

His voice was rough and fierce, carrying an irresistible sense of oppression.

I clenched my teeth and twisted harder, but he only pressed down more heavily in response. His knee forced my legs apart, cutting off all escape routes.

The natural disparity in strength between men and women. I was no match for his power...

One year later, New York's wealthiest family, the Knights, held a ball.

I scanned the crowd, quickly picking out the most striking man in the room. Adrian Knight.

Adrian, heir to the Knight family, was currently conversing with his friend Jackson. Jackson's gaze inadvertently met mine.

I heard Jackson ask involuntarily.

"Did the Knights invite her?"

Following Jackson's line of sight, Adrian looked toward me.

Adrian's handsome brows furrowed slightly.

"Do you know her?"

"Daughter of Marcus Reed, Lydia. Pretty bold reputation, the promiscuous type, countless men around her. She's probably here tonight hunting for a new target."

Jackson's assessment of me was extremely unfavorable.

I noticed Adrian's gaze on me, so I took the opportunity to lift my dress hem, swirling the red wine in my glass. The crimson liquid shimmered with an alluring gleam, radiating a provocative air.

I deliberately moved closer to Adrian. The moment I neared him, my ankle twisted slightly, and my body fell against Adrian's chest, the red wine spilling onto his suit...

I immediately apologized in alarm.

"I'm so sorry... I spilled on you..."

Adrian's voice was extremely soft.

"It's fine."

I endured the weight of Adrian's gaze.

"How about I help you clean it in the restroom?"

At that moment, Adrian's deep eyes flowed with unfathomable light, invisibly filling me with endless fear.

But I had to remain composed.

After a moment, Adrian nodded.

"Alright."

"Sir, please remove your jacket."

At the restroom entrance, I paused.

Adrian removed his suit jacket and handed it to me.

I dampened a handkerchief and carefully cleaned Adrian's jacket.

After finishing cleaning Adrian's suit, I smiled lightly as I handed it back to him and apologized again,

"The jacket is clean now. I'm sorry for the trouble."

Adrian accepted it with elegant composure, his gaze at me seemingly carrying a hint of predatory intent.

"What's your name?"

Clearly, my appearance had left an impression on Adrian.

"Lydia."

Then I said.

"It's an honor to meet you today. I'm truly sorry for causing you trouble, Mr. Knight."

Adrian seemed somewhat surprised.

"You know who I am?"

I smiled.

"In all of New York, who wouldn't know Mr. Knight? You're the dream man thousands of women chase after."

But I understood the art of advance and retreat. The next second, I stopped lingering,

"Mr. Knight, I should go now. I was too forward today. Please forgive me."

Adrian nodded elegantly, his gaze at me meaningful.

My heart beat faster and faster.

I quickly left the party venue and got into my family butler's car.

The Reed family butler was loyal to me and very attentive to my affairs.

"Did you meet Adrian? What was his reaction?"

Lydia POV

In this moment, I breathed a sigh of relief.

"I did meet him."

I was a bit uncertain.

"But I'm not sure what his reaction will be. Adrian is unpredictable, his thoughts so composed they're hard to read, but undeniably, he's very gentlemanly."

After all, my appearance today was quite abrupt and forward.

But without being abrupt and forward, how else could I have a chance to get close to Adrian?

The butler knew my current situation was dire. After careful consideration, he offered a suggestion.

"Miss Reed, why not choose a different target? Adrian is cold, arrogant, and unfathomable. He's a powerful figure beyond our ability to control. It won't be easy to hook him. This kind of person is beyond our reach."

The butler suggested I should lower the difficulty for myself.

I shook my head.

"If I really want to overcome my current predicament, I need exactly Adrian's power and authority. The difficulty may be high, but I still want to give it a try."

I wasn't actually certain, I could only approach it with an experimental attitude.

After all, the more composed and reserved Adrian was, the higher the danger coefficient.

He was like a predatory king, with everything under his control, possessing a chilling coldness.

The butler was helpless and fell silent.

I continued with my instructions.

"Keep tracking Adrian's movements. I need to constantly infiltrate his circle and make him notice me."

After leaving the party, I returned to the Reed house. In just the few days I'd been away, the villa had been nearly emptied.

"What's going on?"

I couldn't believe the scene before me.

I didn't have long to wonder. My father was already moving antique paintings and scrolls from the study....

I quickly approached him.

"Dad, what happened? Why has everything here been moved out?"

"I sold this place."

"What right do you have to sell it! This villa is my mother's property, left to her by my grandparents."

Marcus didn't take my anger seriously.

"You still have the nerve to ask what right I have. If you'd been willing to date Mr. Henderson last time, would the Reed family have been reduced to selling the villa?"

It was better when Marcus didn't bring up that incident. Once he mentioned it, I flew into a rage.

"Mr. Henderson, that old geezer, is about your age, isn't he? You wanted me to be with him? What were you thinking!"

"Lydia, I was doing this for your own good..."

"For my good, you should have had Clara marry that old creep, not set your sights on me."

Marcus's face looked quite bitter.

"Lydia, I know you have some prejudice against your stepmother and sister, but they love you..."

"I've already reached my limit tolerating you bringing those two bitches into our home. Now you want to sell the only thing my mother left behind? Aren't you afraid of divine retribution?"

"You cheated on my mother, had a bastard daughter outside who's already grown, and now you want to take her inheritance too. If you had any shred of humanity, you wouldn't touch this villa."

My attitude was clear-I absolutely would not compromise.

Marcus's expression was equally determined.

"It's already sold. The contract is signed. Tomorrow the buyer moves in..."

"Who the hell did you sell it to!"

I couldn't help clenching my fists.

"Lydia... we need to solve the Reed Corporation's current difficulties."

"No matter what excuse you give, no one is touching my mother's villa. Especially not you."

With that, I turned to leave. I knew I wouldn't get any real answers from Marcus. I could only investigate myself.

"Lydia, where are you going? Stop right there. Can't you show some consideration for my feelings!"

Marcus's voice was full of helplessness.

I used to be too considerate of Marcus, which is why I tolerated him bringing his mistress and daughter home.

My stepmother and stepsister were diligent and kind in front of Marcus, but behind his back, they schemed and harmed me at every turn.

Now they'd even set their sights on my mother's inheritance.

The butler rushed to report the situation to me.

"Miss Reed, I heard the villa was sold to Mr. Damien Cross. Tomorrow, Mr. Cross will be moving into the Reed house."

"Him? Why would Damien Cross want to buy our villa?"

I knew Damien Cross, the man the butler mentioned.

We'd crossed paths once before. This man was a tyrannical rogue, his methods utterly shameless and despicable.

The butler shook his head.

"I haven't investigated the specific circumstances yet. Should I go dig around for information first..."

But I couldn't wait.

"Never mind that. Help me check Damien Cross's schedule. I need to see him immediately."

Two hours later, the butler handed me an invitation to a party Damien Cross would attend:

"Tonight's party invitation. Damien Cross is confirmed to attend. You can make contact there."

I gripped the invitation tightly. After dressing up elaborately, I headed to the party venue.

I changed into a sexy, daring dress.

The moment I entered the ballroom, I spotted Adrian.

Lydia POV

This time, my target in the crowd was Damien Cross.

In a corner not far away, Damien was sipping red wine, surrounded by two women, a picture of evil arrogance.

I walked toward him. When Damien caught sight of me, his expression turned wickedly gleeful, staring at me with a thoroughly depraved look.

Then Damien gestured for the two women beside him to leave.

He didn't seem at all surprised to see me here, as if he'd expected me to come looking for him.

I asked directly.

"Mr. Cross, may I speak with you privately?"

"Talk? Of course we can."

An evil expression crossed Damien's face, suddenly covered with a thick layer of menace. He handed me a drink.

"Drink this, then we'll talk."

Damien's gaze swept over me with casual insolence.

I took the glass and downed it decisively.

"Can we talk now?"

Damien wore an ambiguous smile, grinning like the Big Bad Wolf.

"Go ahead. What do you want to talk about?"

"About our villa. Please, Mr. Cross, be magnanimous and give it up. We're not selling anymore. Please be accommodating and return it to the Reed family."

But Damien remained unmoved. His brows were raised in a wicked smile, making him look even more ruthless.

"What the hell is your Reed family? What do you take me for! You say you're not selling, so you're not selling?"

I clearly sensed his anger and pleaded again.

"Sir, it's not like that. Our family didn't communicate internally. The decision not to sell is our fault, so we can compensate you according to the contract price..."

I was very anxious.

After all, the evil emanating from Damien made him seem like a predatory hungry wolf, filling me with panic.

Sure enough, before I could finish speaking, Damien's long arm reached out, pulling me into his embrace, causing me to crash squarely into his chest.

"What are you going to compensate me with?"

I was completely at a loss, leaning against Damien, our bodies uncomfortably close.

I instinctively struggled, but Damien held me fast, preventing me from moving an inch.

"Please don't do this. I'll find a way to compensate you. Please return the villa to us. Tomorrow morning, I'll transfer the money to your account."

I was determined to get the villa back.

But Damien's expression hardened, a slow, sinister look creeping over his face.

"What if I don't want compensation?"

Suddenly, I sensed trouble brewing.

Even though I was afraid, I could only continue negotiating with Damien in a reasonable tone.

"Then what are your conditions? I'll try to meet them, as long as you don't buy our villa."

Damien's expression became thoroughly vile, a cynical smile appearing.

"Sleep with me right here, and I'll return the villa to you."

As he spoke, Damien's eyes stared at me like a tiger eyeing its prey.

My fear surged to the extreme-just as I'd suspected, this guy was no good person.

"You're joking, right? You can have any woman you want... Someone like me who's been with everyone, you wouldn't be interested."

I deliberately degraded myself, trying to make Damien let go.

But Damien came on strong.

"I've played with all kinds of women, but I've never played with trash like you. I want to try something fresh."

In this moment, no matter how calm and composed I tried to be, I couldn't handle a rogue like Damien.

Despite struggling desperately, I still couldn't escape Damien's grasp.

"What, playing hard to get with me, huh?"

"If you touch me, aren't you afraid of ruining your reputation..."

"I'll tell you straight-I've had my eye on you for a long time."

I couldn't push Damien away. Just as I was about to become fish on the chopping block, left to Damien's mercy, a familiar voice rang out.

"You seem to be in good spirits."

The voice drifted over, low and slightly cold, carrying an invisible sense of oppression.

When Damien looked up and saw Adrian approaching, he immediately released me and rushed forward to greet Adrian.

"Adrian."

I took the opportunity to break free, turning my back to both Damien and Adrian, completely unprepared for Adrian to be here.

As I turned my back to Adrian, my spine felt as if ignited by a scorching heat...

But Adrian brazenly wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me close without any pretense, reaching up to adjust my neckline, blocking Damien's lascivious gaze.

"Some women are off-limits to you."

Adrian's voice was gentle and soft, yet concealed an extremely powerful warning.

Lydia POV

Hearing this, Damien looked at Adrian with shock and surprise in his eyes,

"You two... Adrian, you and her... how is that possible?"

Adrian's lips curved slightly.

"Mr. Cross, if you've set your sights on someone I care about, you'd better watch yourself."

Damien naturally understood that Adrian was someone he couldn't afford to provoke, yet he was unwilling to accept it.

"Adrian, this woman... being with you isn't appropriate. Everyone knows how rotten and promiscuous she is."

How disgusting, Damien-could I really be worse than him!

Adrian still held me close, their proximity intimate, yet his words carried a sharper edge,

"Don't provoke her."

Immediately, Adrian led me away. My tightly wound heart finally relaxed somewhat.

Once out of Damien's line of sight, I expressed my gratitude.

"Mr. Knight, thank you for earlier."

At close range, Adrian's gaze seemed particularly sharp.

Adrian's words carried a hint of anger.

"Are you very familiar with Damien Cross?"

Familiar enough to let yourself be pressed under him like that?

I could tell Adrian seemed angry.

"Not really familiar, just acquainted."

"Just acquainted, and you'll throw yourself at him?"

I was speechless.

After a moment of silence, I continued.

"There was something I needed his help with."

Adrian's steady gaze fixed on me.

"As long as someone can help you, you'll do anything they ask?"

This unexpected encounter today had left Adrian somewhat displeased.

I clearly caught his displeasure.

"Actually, Mr. Knight, you want to ask if I'm as everyone says-if I'll sleep with anyone, right?"

I simply admitted it.

"That's right. I am that kind of loose woman."

"So now you're blaming me for ruining your good time just now?"

Adrian's words involuntarily gained an edge of irritation.

Hearing his words, I understood that in Adrian's mind, I was a very casual woman.

At a moment like this, denial was meaningless.

I smiled.

"Mr. Knight, you helped me out of that situation just now... could it be you're interested in me?"

Adrian didn't answer, remaining somewhat calm, watching Lydia as if enjoying a show.

With Adrian's silence, I cautiously moved closer to him.

At my approach, Adrian didn't immediately refuse. Instead, his eyes seemed to spark with deeper meaning.

We leaned very close together, like intimate lovers.

"Sir, if others saw us this close together, they'd definitely misunderstand our relationship..."

Adrian raised an eyebrow.

"Isn't that what you want?"

"So clever-you guessed right. What woman in New York wouldn't want to be connected with you?"

"Including you?"

"Of course. I'm one of them."

I was increasingly undisguised about my ambition regarding this man, desperate to attach myself to him.

In my peripheral vision, I noticed Marcus Reed approaching with Clara Reed in the distance.

When Clara saw me so intimately close to Adrian, jealousy was obvious on her face.

"Dad, how can Lydia be with Mr. Knight? They look very close."

Clara was quite agitated.

They quickly came over, interrupting our eye contact.

"Hello, Mr. Knight."

Adrian and I turned around simultaneously. I happened to see my father Marcus right in front of me, with Clara behind him.

Marcus directly ignored me, fawning over Adrian in greeting,

"Mr. Knight, I'm Marcus Reed. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Adrian nodded slightly in acknowledgment, their greeting exchanged. His manner remained elegantly composed, thoroughly gentlemanly.

Marcus seized this opportunity to introduce Clara to Adrian.

"Mr. Knight, this is my daughter, Clara Reed. She's about to graduate from university. Clara, come here and greet Mr. Knight."

Clara took happy little steps forward, joyfully greeting Adrian,

"Mr. Knight, hello. I'm so happy to meet you."

Clara's brief words couldn't conceal her excitement. Her alluring eyes stared straight at Adrian, never looking away.

I was ignored, completely disregarded by Marcus. In Marcus's eyes, Clara was his only daughter.

Adrian didn't resist the introduction to Clara. At least from my perspective, even though he knew Marcus and Clara had ulterior motives, he still indulged them.

My mood immediately plummeted, and I walked away alone.

Lydia POV

After leaving Adrian's line of sight, I drank alone, both dejected and full of resentment.

After greeting Adrian, Clara came to provoke me, her tone contemptuous.

"Drinking alone? In a bad mood?"

"Get lost."

I had no pleasant expression for Clara.

Clara and I were the same age. Every time I saw Clara, I couldn't forgive my father's infidelity.

This meant that when my mother was still pregnant with me, Marcus had already betrayed her.

Clara dropped her earlier obedience in front of Adrian, becoming supremely arrogant and unbridled.

"Lydia, I totally understand your terrible mood. But sorry, from now on you'll have plenty more occasions to feel depressed."

Clara's raised brows were full of mockery toward me.

"I'm warning you, Adrian is mine. Don't you dare set your sights on him! Dad won't take your side. With your stinking reputation, what man would want you? Let alone someone like Adrian."

Clara's words enraged me, instantly igniting a flame of fury.

"My bad reputation-you know perfectly well who's been working behind the scenes to create it."

I detested Clara's hypocritical face.

Clara was so obedient and sweet in front of the elders, but privately before me she was utterly arrogant and unbridled.

"Do whatever you want. Anyway, Lydia, you remember this-whatever belongs to you, I'm going to destroy it all. Just like your mother's company and assets-everything that originally belonged to you, I'm taking it all."

Clara's eyes were full of viciousness.

"Whatever you have, Lydia, I'll destroy it. If you want to latch onto Adrian, you don't have a chance. You're notorious-Adrian would never be interested in you."

I was furious, unable to tolerate her any longer.

"Damn it, pretending in front of Dad, showing your vicious side to me-someone like you, you think Adrian would be interested? Dream on!"

Clara couldn't stand being provoked. The next second, she viciously splashed the wine in her hand at me.

"Who the hell are you to say whether he'd be interested? You bitch..."

The dress I'd carefully selected was now stained with a wet patch from Clara's splash.

I flicked the water droplets off my dress with my hand.

Clara became even more arrogant.

"Want to hit me? Lydia, I know you're ruthless."

"Since you know I'm ruthless, you still provoke me? Looking for death."

I couldn't bear it and slapped Clara across the face.

Clara's peripheral vision caught sight of Marcus approaching in the distance. She immediately dropped her earlier arrogance.

"I'm sorry, Lydia. I didn't mean to. Let me help you clean it. Please forgive me..."

Regardless of why Clara's attitude changed so rapidly, I spoke without restraint.

"Still pretending? Bitch, you're as shameless as your mother."

"Lydia, stop it! Aren't you ashamed of making a scene!"

Marcus rushed forward to intervene, grabbing my wrist just in time.

The moment my wrist was seized, sparks flew.

"Blaming me without knowing the truth-no wonder those two bitches have you completely fooled. The Reed family falling to this state today-you deserve it."

These words immediately turned Marcus's face green.

"You wretched girl..."

"You've never treated me like a person. You tried to set me up with a disgusting old man older than you, yet you're pairing Clara with Adrian. We're both your daughters-why treat me this way!"

I completely disregarded how many people were watching this spectacle, my emotions somewhat out of control as I shouted.

Clara added fuel to the fire, apologizing humbly and pitifully.

"I'm sorry, Lydia. It's my fault. I was too careless. Let's go to the restroom together. I'll change clothes with you-just please don't be angry with me anymore."

Clara's pitiful appearance immediately drew murmurs from the onlookers.

"Isn't that the Reed family's eldest daughter? She's exactly as the rumors say-shrewish and violent."

"It was just an accidental stain on her clothes. Is it necessary to strike out like that? So uncultured."

"No wonder her father doesn't like her. Who would like a daughter like that?"

Voice after voice of contempt for me entered my ears. I knew I'd been tricked.

Because of my momentary loss of composure, everyone was now pointing fingers at me.

I could even imagine this was deliberately staged by Clara for Adrian to see...

Marcus still defended Clara.

"Lydia, be reasonable, will you? Can you stop targeting Clara at every turn? Clara treats you, her sister, so well. How can you be so heartless toward her..."

"Fine, consider me heartless then. So while I'm still speaking nicely, hand over the Reed company. You three have been occupying what belongs to my mother-don't you have any shame?"

My hatred for Marcus couldn't be extinguished. The more I thought about it, the angrier I became, and the angrier I got, the less I could forgive him.

Hearing this, Marcus looked around at the surrounding crowd of onlookers, feeling utterly humiliated. He lowered his voice to scold me.

"Haven't you made enough of a scene? Isn't the spectacle big enough? Get home right now..."

Lydia POV

But the flames of anger in my heart couldn't be extinguished. I might as well make things even bigger.

"Afraid of being laughed at? Marcus Reed, you yourself are a joke. You built your fortune on my mother's family, yet you deceived and betrayed her. Now you shamelessly and righteously occupy her family's assets!"

"Even if you want to hide these things, you can't. Everyone knows you, Marcus Reed, are a scumbag who abandoned his wife and daughter and cheated constantly."

The moment my words fell, a stinging pain shot through my face...

Only Marcus himself knew how forceful this slap was.

After all, blood immediately trickled from the corner of my mouth.

"Go home immediately. Don't embarrass me anymore."

Marcus sternly rebuked me. Probably because they'd attracted too many onlookers, Marcus absolutely had to maintain his dignity as a father.

Clara pretended to be kind, exclaiming in alarm.

"Lydia, you're bleeding. Let's go outside. I'll treat your wound."

I rejected Clara's attempt to help me.

I said to Marcus.

"How many times have you hit me now? Since the first time you slapped me in my life, I've considered whether I should twist off that hand you used to slap me... These years, it's only with that kind of mentality that I've been able to survive."

"Lydia... you..."

These words undoubtedly made Marcus's face extremely ugly.

And I didn't linger at the party, quickly leaving.

I didn't want Adrian to see me in such a wretched state.

However, I didn't expect that Adrian had witnessed our family conflict from a corner...

The only place I could go was to my good friend Melissa's place.

Melissa looked at the red, swollen five-finger mark on my face. At this moment, I was truly in a wretched state.

Melissa was indignant on my behalf.

"That damned Clara, I'm going to beat her up. If she dares resist, I'll beat her twice."

Saying this, Melissa really was about to go settle accounts with Clara.

But I stopped her in time, grasping her wrist.

"If it's only a lesson of this degree, I seem to be at a disadvantage."

"What do you want to do? I'll help you."

Melissa knew everything about my situation, fully aware of the suffering I endured in the Reed household.

I was clearly the legitimate heiress, yet Clara and her mother harmed me relentlessly.

"Earlier I asked you to investigate Adrian. Any progress?" I said.

Melissa was a daughter of the Lewis family. Investigating matters wasn't difficult for her.

However, Melissa looked troubled.

"Are you really sure you want to seduce Adrian? He's not easy to hook."

My attitude was resolute.

"I wasn't this determined before. But now that Marcus is trying to set Clara up with Adrian, I have to win him over."

Thinking about how Marcus always favored Clara, resentment surged in my heart.

"Whether you can win him over is still unknown. I heard Adrian keeps his distance from women, has no interest in them. The information I have shows he's never been ambiguous with any woman. Are you sure you can do this?"

Hearing Melissa say this, the difficulty was quite clear.

I was determined.

"No matter how hard it is, I have to try. I absolutely can't let Clara get there first."

I encouraged myself. "I must marry Adrian!"