周伊雯

After losing both parents, Clara Morgan was taken in by the Windsor family—a household bound to her by an arranged childhood marriage pact. On graduation day, she witnessed Ethan Windsor, the heir she’d secretly loved for years, entangled with the prom queen in the home. Without a word, she walked away.
Years later, fueled by quiet vengeance, Clara joined Hartwell Enterprises as the personal secretary to Sebastian Hartwell—New York’s most ruthless billionaire and its most untouchable bachelor. The night she succeeded in seducing him, regret flooded her. She sobbed and begged, but Sebastian refused to relent.

He tossed her an envelope thick with cash. "$1,000,000. Choose between contraception or abortion."
Clara swallowed her tears. "Thank you, Mr. Hartwell."
When Clara later tried to resign, Sebastian shredded her letter. "Step outside this door," he hissed, "and I’ll make your life in New York a waking hell."

Then came the tabloid scandal: photos of Sebastian kneeling in pouring rain to tie Clara’s shoelaces, his designer suit drenched. His assistant asked, "Shall we bury the headlines?"

Sebastian’s reply was ice-cold. "Pay every outlet to keep it trending—until she agrees to be my wife."

Fatal Flirtation: The CEO’s Unraveling

In the dead of night, Sebastian Hartwell sat on the bed, scrolling through files on his laptop while Clara Morgan slept beside him, her breathing steady. She was exhausted—too drained to wait for her CEO to fall asleep first.

Sebastian turned to study her. Her cheeks were flushed, profile pressed into the pillow, long lashes fanning her lids, lips parted in a sleepy pout. He found himself mesmerized, reaching out to tuck a stray lock of hair from her eyes.

Clara frowned in her sleep, hand clutching the fabric of his bathrobe near his inner thigh. "Secretary Morgan, let go."

She remained unconscious. Sebastian scowled, bending to press his lips to hers. After a lingering kiss, he pulled away; Clara licked her lips, sighed, and settled back, her features relaxing. How can she be so damn alluring?

His mind replayed her desperate words to Ethan in the corridor:

"You called me ugly and disgusting."

"When Serena Vance and her crew attacked me, yanked my hair, threw my bag—where were you?"

"When I begged you for medicine while sick, you told me to die."

Clara jolted awake at 10 AM, panic fading when she remembered Sebastian's day-off offer. The empty penthouse brought instant relief.

After a shower, she dressed in the casual clothes he'd provided: an oversized hoodie and skinny jeans, making her look like a college freshman. As she headed out, Mia Su called, voice trembling:

"Clara, help! CEO Hartwell's smashed the 9th coffee cup today…"

"Wait, the coffee was 60°C Geisha brew. The machine tracks temp."

"I know! He just says it's wrong." Mia's subtext was clear: He's pissed you're not here.

Since becoming Sebastian's secretary, Clara had never taken a day off. Now, within two hours, Sebastian had trashed his office—smashed cups, a phone, laptop, kicked a chair, and yelled at everyone, including Assistant Yan Wu.

Clara bit her lip. She needed the break—after yesterday's ordeal, hunger and exhaustion made her nauseous. "Sorry, Mia. I'm not feeling well. Tell him I'll make ten cups tomorrow."

"Get rest! We'll survive," Mia reassured her.

Clara bought fruits and supplements, then visited Attorney Richard.

The elderly lawyer beamed, removing his glasses. "Clara! It's been ages."

He had worked for Clara's father before the car accident that killed her parents thirteen years ago.

"I've been investigating the brake tampering. Without pressure, the police—"

"I know, Thank you for still caring." Clara smiled softly.

Richard studied her. "You're 24 now. Got a boyfriend?"

"Next time, come for dinner. Aunt Lisa will cook your favorites."

Stepping into the autumn afternoon, Clara basked in the sun's warmth. A boyfriend? Who would want the plaything of Sebastian Hartwell?

Would she only be free when he grew bored?

Chapter 14: When Will This End?