Secret Pleasure

The height of summer in New York, afternoon thunderstorms come as they please.

Elena Lin clutched her soaked dress hem, standing pathetically in the gloomy corridor of the Sterling Mansion. Today was supposed to be the day of her engagement to Julian Sterling, but just half an hour ago, she had seen Julian with another woman in the dressing room with her own eyes.

She had escaped, but got lost in this giant labyrinth.

At the corner, a half-open door emitted a faint scent of agarwood. Elena didn't care about politeness and pushed the door open.

"Julian? Is that you?" Her voice trembled slightly.

The room was dimly lit, with only the occasional flash of lightning from outside illuminating the interior. A man sat on the leather sofa, a point of crimson between his fingers flickering in the darkness.

Hearing the voice, the man slowly looked up.

It was an extremely handsome yet extremely cold face, with features as deep as if carved by a knife, and the eyes behind gold-rimmed glasses exuded a coolness that saw through the world.

Elena's breath hitched, her legs feeling as if they were nailed to the spot.

It wasn't Julian Sterling.

It was Silas Sterling.

Julian's uncle, the true power-holder of the Sterling family, the man known to the outside world as the "Living King of Hell."

"Rushing in so recklessly, is this how Julian taught you?" Silas's voice was deep and pleasant, yet carried a sense of pressure that made one shudder.

Elena instinctively took a step back, her wet back pressing against the cold door. "I... I'm sorry, Uncle, I entered the wrong room."

She turned to escape, but behind her came the sound of the man rising unhurriedly.

"Stop."

Silas walked up behind her, his tall figure completely enveloping her. He reached out, his cool fingertips passing through her wet hair, finally stopping at the side of her fair neck, slowly stroking it.

"Crying?" He asked knowingly, his voice carrying a hint of playfulness. "For someone like Julian Sterling, is it worth it?"

Elena's eyes turned red, and she bit her lip in silence.

Silas leaned down, his warm breath pouring onto her earlobe, his tone becoming exceptionally dangerous: "Elena, since Julian can't give you the dignity you want, why not... try with me?"

Elena's eyes widened in horror. "Uncle, I'm Julian's fiancée!"

"Fiancée?" Silas let out a low laugh, which sounded particularly abrupt in this quiet afternoon. "After today, you won't be."

The rain in New York fell heavily, as if wanting to drown the entire city.

Elena Lin clutched that soaked contract, shrinking in the first-floor lobby of the Sterling Group. She had originally come to find her fiancé, Julian Sterling, but his phone had been unanswered.

"Miss Lin?"

A low and magnetic voice sounded from behind.

Elena's body stiffened, and she turned around to meet a pair of eyes as deep as ink.

Silas Sterling, Julian's biological uncle, the true power-holder of the Sterling family. He was currently stepping out of the private elevator, followed by a group of solemn-faced executives.

He was wearing a dark gray handmade suit, sharply tailored, making his figure appear even more upright. Even just standing there, the sense of pressure from someone in power was enough to make one suffocate.

"Mr... Mr. Sterling." Elena lowered her head, nervously clutching her clothes.

Silas's gaze lingered on her soaked shoulders for a moment, his brow slightly furrowed. "Where's Julian?"

"He... he might be busy," Elena answered softly.

Silas didn't ask more, walking straight to the black Rolls-Royce parked at the entrance. Just as Elena thought he was about to leave, the window rolled down, revealing his cold face.

"Get in, I'll take you."

Elena was stunned. "No need, Mr. Sterling, I'll take a taxi..."

"Miss Lin, my patience is limited."

That was the first time she heard him speak in such a commanding tone. For some reason, Elena walked forward as if possessed and opened the passenger door.

At that moment, she didn't know that what she had opened was actually the door to the abyss.

The car was filled with an extremely faint woody scent, Silas Sterling's characteristic fragrance.

The windshield wipers moved rhythmically, washing the windshield.

Elena Lin sat in the passenger seat, feeling the air was terrifyingly oppressive. She didn't even dare to turn her head to look at the man beside her, only staring at the street scenes receding rapidly outside the window.

"Cold?" Silas suddenly spoke.

"No... not cold." Just as Elena finished speaking, she couldn't help but sneeze.

The temperature in the car was instantly raised by a few degrees. Silas's long fingers tapped lightly on the screen, and then, a suit jacket carrying his body temperature fell onto Elena's lap.

"Put it on."

"Thank you, Mr. Sterling." Elena reached for the jacket, her fingers inadvertently touching the back of his hand.

It was a sensation like an electric shock.

Elena suddenly withdrew her hand, her cheeks burning.

"Elena Lin, are you afraid of me?" Silas seemed to have noticed her abnormality and asked in a low voice, the end of his tone rising slightly, carrying an inexplicable hint of teasing.

"No... no."

"Julian should have told you that I have a bad temper." Silas turned his head, his deep gaze fixed on her face. "But as long as you're obedient, I'm not scary."

His voice echoed in the small cabin, carrying a mysterious allure.

Elena's heart beat like a drum. She looked at the man's perfect profile, and Julian's words surfaced in her mind: "My uncle is the most cold-blooded and heartless person; remember to take a detour whenever you see him in the future."

But now, not only had she not taken a detour, she was even sitting in his car.