"Mr. Kensington, the results are in. She's clean," the bodyguard respectfully informed the man on the phone at the hospital examination room entrance.
Katherine Thornton lowered her head and stood in the crowded corridor, trying to ignore the curious gazes of passersby. Crushed by her mother's medical bills and her father's gambling debts, she reluctantly agreed to Nathan Kensington's terms.
"Send her to Mission Hills Court," Nathan's deep voice came through the phone.
Mission Hills Court.
In the dim light, Katherine huddled nervously under the blanket. The man standing by the bed was exceptionally handsome, with deep, cold eyes. Katherine knew he was Nathan Kensington—some even called him the king of Teijo City. As Nathan lifted the blanket covering her body, Katherine felt exposed under his dark gaze. He leaned in for a hot kiss and whispered in her ear, "Don't cry. You volunteered. Remember, not everyone is qualified to get into my bed…"
Katherine jolted awake, the last words Nathan said before she passed out still echoing in her ears. Slowly turning her head, she found Nathan sleeping beside her, momentarily stunned.
Time had flown by, and it had been three years since she first met Nathan, serving as his personal secretary and becoming his lover.
Unexpectedly, last night she dreamt of their first encounter.
Rubbing her throbbing head, Katherine was about to sit up when Nathan's phone rang.
"Speak," he murmured, holding the phone close to his ear, his profile etched with sharp and decisive lines.
Yet even so, Katherine could still discern the voice emanating from the other end.
"Mr. Kensington, I've checked. That woman is not the one you're looking for."
In an instant, Nathan's deep gaze grew even darker.
Watching the shadows deepen across the man's face, Katherine felt a twinge of bitterness in her heart.
Having been Nathan's lover for three years, she knew he had been searching for a particular girl.
A girl who had saved his life when they were children, then disappeared without a trace, yet remained on Nathan's mind to this day.
Sensing Katherine's gaze, Nathan glanced sideways, his voice gravelly. "Leave."
Katherine said nothing, moving mechanically like a puppet devoid of emotions, she got out of bed, picked up her clothes from the floor, and walked barefoot to the guest room.
Entering the bathroom, she turned on the shower, letting the water spray against her face.
The man's demeanor saddened her, yet Katherine understood all too well that she had no right to be sad.
In the vast expanse of Teijo, Nathan held sway as an undisputed king.
And her presence by his side now was solely due to a crimson birthmark on her right earlobe, resembling that of the girl Nathan had been seeking.
In Nathan's eyes, she was not just his chief secretary but also a substitute for the elusive first love he had been chasing, a plaything he could dismiss with a flick of money whenever he pleased.
And she had forsaken her pride to while away her youth by his side.
Katherine knew she had no right to turn away.
Because she needed money, lots and lots of money to support the large family she left behind.
When Katherine emerged from the shower, Nathan strode out of the bedroom as well.
Clad in an impeccably tailored suit, he exuded an air of aristocratic aloofness, his striking looks impossible to ignore.
As their eyes met, Katherine, as usual, informed him, "I'll go to prepare breakfast."
Nathan cast a cold, indifferent glance at Katherine before turning and heading downstairs.
By the time Katherine brought out the freshly brewed coffee and breakfast, Nathan's assistant Ryan had already entered through the door.
He placed a black medicine bag in front of Katherine. "Ms. Thornton, your medication."
Katherine hesitated for a moment, then placed the meal in front of Nathan before responding faintly, "Understood."
She took out a white pill and swallowed it expressionlessly.
Watching Katherine ingest the medication, Ryan then exited the villa to wait outside.
Katherine glanced at Nathan, who sat expressionless on the sofa, and reminded him from afar, "Mr. Kensington, breakfast is ready."
Nathan set aside the newspaper and walked over to the dining table, taking a sip of coffee before lazily lifting his gaze to Katherine.
"Staying by my side is your voluntary choice, but as I mentioned before, you need to know your place and rein in your emotions. They're too blatant."
Despite Katherine's adeptness at concealing her feelings, they always seemed to betray her in Nathan's presence.
She sat across from Nathan, feigning nonchalance as she picked up her coffee.
"Mr. Kensington , you're overthinking. I was merely pondering today's schedule, a bit absentminded, perhaps."
So what if he noticed? She would simply deflect.
She refused to let even a shred of her dignity be devoured.
Nathan remained silent, the atmosphere at the breakfast table heavy and stifling.
...
Eight o'clock.
Ryan drove the two of them to the company building.
As the flagship enterprise of Teijo, Nathan's company towered in the heart of the city, exuding an aura as bold and flamboyant as Nathan himself.
As Katherine was about to get off the car, Nathan suddenly tossed a document her way.
"There's a soirée tonight. I need you to attend on my behalf. Secure Matthew's contract, and you'll receive a bonus of five hundred thousand."
Katherine froze, staring in astonishment at the contract in her hands.
For her, this was a hot potato.
Matthew, the CEO of RT Group, an international corporation headquartered in Teijio.
Anyone who fell into his hands would not emerge unscathed.
If she went alone, it would be akin to walking into the lion's den.
Yet the temptation of the five hundred thousand bonus was too great for her to resist.
With this money, she could cover her mother's medical expenses and her father's debts.
"If you're unwilling, you can refuse," Nathan said, his tone indifferent as he gazed coolly at Katherine.
Katherine remained silent for a moment, gripping the contract tightly. "I'm willing."
As the words left her lips, Nathan suddenly smirked.
Though he said nothing, Katherine felt a wave of disdain emanating from him.
Indeed, in Nathan's eyes, Katherine was nothing but a woman who loved money above all else.
Evening approached.
Katherine changed into a conservative yet elegant outfit and arrived at the Azure Hotel with the contract in hand.
During the half-hour journey, Katherine busied herself with mental preparations.
But as she stepped into the hotel elevator, Katherine couldn't shake off the feeling of panic.
Because when she contacted Matthew earlier, he chose to meet her in the presidential suite, not downstairs in the private rooms.
Matthew's intentions were clear as day.