Chapter One: The Tiresome Game

Lucas Winter has returned home.

As his secret lover, Avery Cole was promptly picked up and brought to Mansion No. 8.

According to their agreement, before seeing him, she must be thoroughly cleaned, devoid of any scent from perfume or cosmetics. She was well-acquainted with his rules, so upon entering the house, she headed straight for the bathroom to cleanse herself completely, put on an ice silk nightgown, and walked barefoot towards the bedroom on the second floor.

The man was sitting in front of his computer, handling business affairs, his long fingers tapping on the keyboard. Hearing the noise, he looked up and gave her a cold glance.

"Come here."

His voice was deep and icy, like a frozen lake in winter, without a hint of warmth.

Avery knew his temper—unpredictable and moody. She dared not hesitate and quickly walked up to him.

Before she could steady herself, Lucas grabbed her waist, pulling her into his embrace. His fingers pinched her chin, forcing her to look up, and then fiercely kissed her lips, aggressively prying open her teeth.

Lucas Winter never wasted time on tenderness. He appeared noble and chaste, but when it came to this...

He had just returned from a three-month business trip abroad, and having not touched a woman for so long, it was clear that he would not let her go easily tonight.

Indeed—

When Avery woke up again, the spot beside her was empty, but the sound of water dripping echoed from the bathroom.

She was slightly stunned.

Previously, he never stayed over; each time after they finished, he would leave immediately, even looking at her once more seemed superfluous. But tonight, he was still here?

She struggled to sit up, supporting her sore body, and waited quietly.

A few minutes later, the water stopped. The bathroom door opened, and Lucas emerged, wrapped only in a towel around his waist. Water droplets slid down from his hair, tracing over his firm chest, disappearing into the grooves of his abs. His physique was almost perfect, broad shoulders tapering to a narrow waist, with sharp, sexy muscle lines.

His well-defined face remained stern, his deep blue eyes like ice-covered deep seas, revealing no emotion.

He glanced at her, his tone indifferent:

"You don't need to come anymore."

Avery froze.

"What?"

Lucas didn't look at her again, instead retrieving a document from his suit pocket and tossing it onto the foot of the bed.

"The contract is terminated early."

Avery stared at the "Lover Agreement," her fingertips trembling slightly.

He wanted to end their relationship.

After five years, she should have anticipated this day, but she hadn't expected it to be so sudden—no reason, no explanation, as if casually discarding a toy that no longer interested him.

Suppressing the surging pain in her chest, she looked up at Lucas, who was buttoning his shirt, and forced a smile:

"The contract only has six months left, can't we wait a bit longer?"

The doctor said she had at most three months left. She had wanted...to stay by his side until the end.

Lucas did not respond, merely gazing at her coldly, his eyes showing no trace of attachment, as if she were nothing more than a passing stranger.

His silence spoke volumes.

Avery took a deep breath, picked up the contract, and laughed lightly, pretending to be carefree:

"Don't be so serious, I was joking."

She paused, adding: "Actually, I've wanted to stop for a while now. Ending things early actually comes as a relief to me."

Lucas's movement of fastening his cufflinks paused momentarily, his eyes meeting hers sharply.

"You've wanted to stop?"

Avery shrugged, her tone light: "Of course, I'm already twenty-six. I can't be your secret lover forever, right? I should have my own life, date, get married..."

Getting married and having children was an impossibility for her. But at least, she could leave gracefully.

She tilted her head and smiled at him: "Since the contract is terminated, can I start dating others now?"

Lucas stared at her for a few seconds, then picked up his Patek Philippe watch from the bedside table and turned to leave.

"As you wish."

Those were his last words.

The moment the door closed, Avery's smile completely crumbled.

Lucas Winter despised others touching what belonged to him, yet hearing she wanted to be with someone else, he didn't even raise an eyebrow.

It seemed...

He truly had grown tired of her.