The evening wind carried the scent of charred wood—a smell that never quite left this place, even after ten years.Kai Walker stood motionless among the skeletal remains of what had once been the Walker family estate. Blackened beams jutted from the earth like broken ribs. Weeds had claimed the foundation, nature slowly erasing the evidence of that terrible night. But Kai remembered. Every detail was seared into his mind with the same permanence as the scorch marks on the stone pillars.He crouched, fingers brushing against a fragment of porcelain half-buried in the dirt. His mother's favorite teacup. The delicate blue pattern was still visible beneath a decade of grime.Mother. Father. Mei.The fire had taken everything. His parents, his younger sister—all vanished without a trace. The official report claimed their bodies were consumed by the flames, but Kai had never believed it. There were too many inconsistencies, too many unanswered questions. Someone had orchestrated that fire,

The taxi crawled through Meridian City's morning traffic. Kai Walker sat in the back seat, watching the skyline shift from shabby mid-rise buildings to gleaming corporate towers.The driver, a middle-aged man with graying temples, kept glancing at the rearview mirror. Finally, curiosity got the better of him."Zenith Corporation, you said?" He eyed Kai's plain black t-shirt and faded jeans. "You work there?""No.""Job interview?""Not exactly. Just going to take a look." Kai's gaze remained fixed on the approaching skyscraper. "The CEO there works for me."The driver's chuckle died in his throat. His eyes flicked to the mirror again, this time with something between pity and amusement.Poor delusional kid. Probably watched too many CEO dramas. The driver shook his head internally. Next he'll tell me he's secretly a billionaire."Right. Sure he does, kid," the driver said aloud, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "And I'm best friends with the mayor. You need me to drop you at a hospital

The Hartley estate sat on the north side of Meridian City, surrounded by high walls and wrought iron gates. Vincent's car idled at the curb."Last chance," Vincent said from the driver's seat. "Let me come with you. The Hartleys are traditional, having someone of my status vouch for you would—""No." Kai opened the door. "I'm here to break off an engagement, not propose. The fewer people involved, the better."Vincent frowned. "Break it off? Kai, the Hartley family's daughters are what half the men in Meridian City dream of. And you want to walk away?""Yes.""At least think about it. Settle down before building your career. You need someone to take care of your life. A good wife—""Vincent." Kai's tone left no room for argument. "I'll handle this myself."He stepped out and closed the door. Vincent watched him for a moment, then sighed and drove away.Kai stood alone on the quiet street, staring at the iron gates. He just hoped his fiancée wasn't Lila's sister. Sleeping with your si

The marriage certificate felt like a brick in Kai’s pocket. He stood on the sidewalk outside the registry office, watching people stream past—normal people living normal lives. Twenty-four hours ago, he’d been planning revenge. Now he was married to a woman who looked at him like he was trash.“Well?” The grandfather’s voice boomed behind them. “Now that it’s official, you two should spend time together. Lila, take your husband for a walk. Get to know each other.”Lila’s smile looked like it hurt. “Grandfather, I really should—”“I insist.” The old man’s tone left no room for argument.She turned without a word and started walking. Kai followed, keeping a few steps behind. The grandfather waved them off like he’d just orchestrated the romance of the century.Half a block later, Lila stopped so abruptly Kai nearly collided with her.She spun around, eyes cold. “Let’s be clear. Yes, we’re legally married. Yes, I signed that paper. But don’t get any ideas.” Her voice dropped. “My grandfa

She was serious.Kai frowned and took half a step back. The thought This woman plays dirty had just flashed through his mind when Maya borrowed the momentum and sprang into the air, a vicious flying kick sweeping straight at him.She was far lighter than a typical power-type fighter. Her waist drew a taut, dangerous arc in midair. Faster than the blur of her leg was the scent that hit him first—strong, aggressive, rolling toward him like a wave of heat.The crowd below instantly erupted.“Nice!”“This one’s over!”Everyone was convinced—there was no way Kai could dodge again.But he did.Kai twisted hard, forcibly shedding the impact. As Maya landed, he instinctively reached out and steadied her arm to keep her from losing balance.That instinctive move was where things went wrong.The opposing forces collided, and Maya was pulled straight into his chest. A soft yet overwhelming impact slammed into him; her lips brushed past his neck, her warm breath grazing his skin.The ring fell in