Chapter 1

Sylvia Bob could feel the man across from her staring at her, his gaze unabashed and bold.

It was the kind of look that made her squirm uncomfortably, and she leaned closer to Tim Bacon, whispering, "Who is he?"

Tim, who was busy discussing a project with the CEO at the table, glanced in the direction of Sylvia's gaze.

His tone immediately became more respectful as he replied, "That's James Patience."

Sylvia's eyes brightened, though not for the reasons one might think. Before this dinner, she had overheard some of the women in her company gossiping about this name.

When they learned that her boyfriend was attending a dinner hosted by James Patience's group, they had flattered her with words like,

"Girl, you're set. Your boyfriend's lucky enough to be at a dinner with Young Master James. He's the prince of this city—

just the leftovers from his table could support your boyfriend's family for generations."

At that moment, Sylvia was also hoping Tim could secure tonight's deal.

He had brought her to this dinner precisely because of her background in accounting. Once his company was registered, she was meant to become the boss's wife.

"I'm going to offer Young Master James a toast," Tim said, gathering the courage to stand up.

Sylvia watched him nervously as he approached James Patience's seat.

Tim lowered his head, offering the wine with an ingratiating smile, mixing respect with flattery in his demeanor.

James Patience nonchalantly raised his glass and clinked it with Tim's, saying a few words before both men turned their gaze toward Sylvia.

Startled, she managed to force a smile.

James Patience flicked the ash off his cigarette, inhaled deeply, and, through the smoke, narrowed his eyes. He studied her again, his gaze intense.

His eyes were predatory, like a wild beast sizing up its prey. Sylvia felt uncomfortable as their gazes locked, and after a few seconds, she quickly looked away.

When Tim returned, she was about to find an excuse to leave, but Tim beat her to it. "Sylvia," he said, his voice pleading,

"I can't leave right now. Could you go upstairs to our room and bring down a bottle of good wine? Here's the room card."

Sylvia knew Tim often had meetings at this hotel, and he usually prepared materials in the room booked by the company. She took the card and agreed.

She took the elevator to the 23rd floor, found room 2317, and swiped the card to enter. After searching for a while, she couldn't find any wine.

Just as she was about to give up, the sound of the door unlocking caught her off guard, and footsteps came from behind.

Startled, she whipped around.

In the dimly lit room, a tall, imposing figure stood against the light, casting a long shadow behind him.

Sylvia instinctively took a few steps back, her heart racing as she looked at the man in front of her.

James Patience closed the door behind him with a soft click, and the grand suite fell into an eerie silence.

He had been watching her all evening—from the moment she entered the private room with Tim to when she sat down.

Her delicate figure, wrapped in a black dress, had immediately caught his attention.

Fair skin, a slender waist, and just the right amount of curves—enough to hold in a single hand.

Not too much to be vulgar, and not too little to be uninteresting.

Just right.

At this moment, Sylvia still hadn't realized what was going on, but facing James Patience, she couldn't help but feel afraid.

"I... I came to get the wine for my boyfriend. Mr. Patience, you're here for...?"

Her voice trembled, unable to finish the sentence.

James Patience, holding a half-finished cigarette, exhaled a cloud of smoke and, through the haze, watched her pale face with amusement.

"Didn't Tim tell you?" James walked closer.

Sylvia retreated step by step. "Tell me what?"

"He traded you for the project contract under my name," James said, his voice low and direct. "You have to sleep with me tonight."

Sylvia had nowhere to retreat. She pressed herself against the cold wall, her eyes wide with disbelief.

Chapter 2

Sylvia Bob, 25 years old, had been in a relationship with Tim Bacon for seven years, from high school through college. They were about to get engaged next month.

She had never doubted Tim's sincerity. Even after hearing James Patience's words, she tried to call him for confirmation.

The voice on the other end of the line was disconnected: "The number you have dialed is not available."

Frustrated, Sylvia was about to rush downstairs to find him when James spoke lazily from behind her.

"If you leave this room, his project will be reassigned to someone else."

Sylvia froze, her hand gripping the door handle.

If this had been in the past, she wouldn't have cared about the project's value or how it could elevate her status.

She had always been proud and couldn't tolerate such humiliation. Her upbringing wouldn't allow her to sell her dignity for a deal.

But times had changed. Sylvia needed money.

A lot of money.

Before she could think further, James extended his arm and, with surprising strength, threw her onto the bed.

Sylvia screamed in shock.

James was already on top of her, his knee forcing her legs apart as he lowered his head, whispering,

"Keep quiet. Are you afraid someone might find out your boyfriend used such lowly tactics to get wealth and power?"

Sylvia begged desperately, "I didn't know about this! Let me go find him! I need to get to the bottom of this!"

James frowned. "From the sound of it, you don't want to?"

Of course, she didn't!

But just as the words were about to escape her lips, she swallowed them back down.

James's eyes roamed over her face, neck, and chest as his voice dropped lower.

"I don't like forcing things. Your boyfriend begged me—he was desperate for wealth. T

he only thing he had to offer was you. I agreed to this deal because I felt sorry for him. Now you're the one feeling wronged?"

Trembling, Sylvia said, "People like you get everything you want, don't you? Why me? What makes me so special?"

"Your looks aren't exactly anything special," James mused, standing up abruptly. He took out his phone and dialed Tim's number.

"Mr. Bacon?" Tim's voice came through. "Everything's going smoothly, right?"

Sylvia could hear Tim's voice on the phone. It turned out he had deliberately ignored her calls.

James Patience glanced at Sylvia, speaking slowly,

"I, James Patience, never indulge in dirty business. If you didn't clarify this beforehand, then I'd suggest someone else handle the project."

At this, not only did Tim on the other end of the line panic, but Sylvia also felt an overwhelming sense of unease.

Of course, Tim had anticipated that Sylvia was waiting for money to bail her out. He even tried to reassure James on the phone, saying,

"This will not go wrong." James was about to respond when someone grabbed his wrist.

Sylvia's hand trembled as she gently held James's hand, shaking her head.

James's eyes darkened. He immediately ended the call and turned off his phone.

"You've changed your mind so quickly?" James squinted.

Sylvia stayed silent, her lips pressed together in humiliation.

James, though confused by her sudden change of heart, still felt the need to confirm, "I haven't forced you, have I?"

Sylvia choked on her words, "No... no."

"So you're doing this willingly?"

Sylvia gritted her teeth, "Yes."

"Well, since you're willing, you'd better perform well."

"I... I'll go take a shower first."

"Forget it. I'm impatient, and your slowness will just make me angry."

With that, he began unbuttoning his shirt and removing his watch, which could snag her hair.

Before Sylvia could react, he leaned down and kissed her lips, prying them open to entangle her tongue.

In this bustling world, absurd things happen all the time.

While Tim Bacon downstairs was jovially celebrating with the guests, Sylvia was upstairs, sweating in the room.

Her hair clung to her damp forehead, her body arched over the pillow, her back pressed hard by a large hand. The creaking of the bed under them echoed in her ears.

She couldn't even remember how many times she had passed out during the ordeal. Each time she woke up, he would pick her up and rock her back to consciousness.

Sylvia had never realized that such a long night could feel so endless.

Chapter 3

Eventually, she collapsed on his shoulder, repeatedly begging for mercy, and only then did he finally ask her name.

"I'm Sylvia Bob," she whispered.

"I heard Tim call you Sylvie," he murmured.

"It's... my nickname."

"Sylvie," he repeated her name softly.

Sylvia, in a haze, leaned against him, mumbling, "My family calls me Sylvie..."

James held her tightly, chuckling mockingly, "Sounds like a name for a cat or a dog."

Indeed, she had grown up like a stray cat or dog.

After the family fell apart, Tim had become her only support for survival. Yet, tonight, she realized that Tim's so-called deep affection for her was nothing compared to the allure of money, power, and fame.

When Sylvia regained some clarity, she saw James getting dressed.

She glanced at her phone — it was 12:20 AM.

James answered the phone, probably related to the party downstairs. Before leaving, he placed something on the bedside table, and without another word, walked out of the room.

Once he left, Sylvia immediately got up, her legs weak and shaky, barely able to stand.

She was filled with humiliation and anger, especially when she saw the bank card on the nightstand. She almost ground her teeth in fury.

The rich never saw the poor as real people. To them, those living at the bottom could be treated like cats, dogs, or even lifeless plants.

It was half an hour later when Sylvia returned to the party.

The table was filled with businessmen and managers, all drunk, congratulating Tim for securing a big project under James Patience's company.

Sylvia, on the other hand, stood alone in the corner, a shadow of herself.

Tim, immersed in his joy, didn't even notice her.

After a moment, Sylvia felt a sharp pain in the corner of her mouth.

She lifted her hand to wipe it and noticed a faint trace of blood. She hurried to the restroom in the private room to wash her face.

When she opened the door, she saw James washing his hands.

He glanced over at the sound of the door, and Sylvia froze in place.

"You can still get out of bed?" He wiped his hands with a paper towel and approached her, noticing the blood at the corner of her mouth.

With an ambiguous smile, he added, "You're tougher than I expected."

Sylvia kept her lips pressed together, silent. Her lower body ached, and now, seeing him, she felt a chill run down her spine.

James pulled out another tissue and started wiping the blood from her lips.

Sylvia instinctively tried to move away, but his other hand gripped her shoulder. He didn't let go until the blood was gone.

Then, he leaned in close and whispered in her ear, "You're not a virgin anymore, no need to act so pitiful."

Sylvia held her anger in check, feeling the sting as he wiped the blood roughly. When she looked up, his lips still curled with a disdainful smile. He turned and walked back into the lively party.

She turned, peeking through the slightly open door, seeing the crowd abandoning Tim to surround James, offering cigarettes and lighters.

Meanwhile, Tim, sitting alone, looked at James with envy and jealousy. He took a swig of wine, and his eyes wandered until he saw Sylvia walking out of the restroom.

Tim panicked and quickly stood up.

"Sylvie! Let me explain!" Tim rushed out of the hotel and grabbed her hand.

Sylvia pulled away with all her strength, but her legs were weak, and she winced in pain. Tim seized the opportunity and pulled her into his arms, coaxing her, "I'm doing this for our future!

After the project is done, we can buy a high-rise in the best part of the city, and I'll even buy you a diamond ring!"

"Let go of me," Sylvia said coldly.

"Sylvie, it's just this once, it's really no big deal, right? And... and it's totally worth it! You won't lose anything tonight, and I promise I won't bring it up again."

Before he could finish, Sylvia slapped him across the face.

She glared at him, "You're not human."

Tim, looking pitiful, pleaded, "I had no choice... Everyone was fighting for the project tonight, and this was my only chance.

Sylvie, you're the one who understands me best. Our seven years together, I did this for us!"