Carmen felt a sudden jolt in her heart.

However, she leaned closer to Jayden, mischievously tugging at his earlobe with her teeth, setting the tone. "Jayden Montgomery, you know I'm blatantly trying to seduce you. Aren't you worried?"

Jayden was taken aback by her boldness.

He chuckled, a rich and alluring sound. "What do you think?"

His voice was deep and sexy, carrying an undeniable magnetic appeal.

Carmen's eyelashes fluttered subtly, and she teased, "I think you might just have a thing for me, right?"

"A woman like you? Hard for any man to resist," Jayden raised an eyebrow, his gaze intent and intense. "Unless..."

"Unless Bo Montgomery is less of a man!" Carmen teased, moving closer to his lips. But suddenly, Jayden's hand cradled the back of her head, drawing her in as his enticing lips claimed hers...

It was hard to say how much time passed until an unexpected voice broke their passionate kiss. "Jayden, there you are. Everyone’s waiting for you to join them for drinks."

The unexpected female voice made Jayden furrow his brows.

He turned to face the woman who had interrupted, his dark eyes glacial, casting a chilling glare. "What do you want?"

Under Jayden's icy gaze, the woman seemed to shrink slightly.

But she mustered a gentle smile. "Jayden, everyone is in the private lounge waiting for you. Reece asked me to see when you'd be joining us."

Carmen recognized the familiar voice and slowly turned.

A face with perfectly done makeup came into view.

It was someone she knew—Lilly Hicks, who had often teamed up with her ex-friend Ellianna to cause her grief.

Looking at Lilly, it was clear she had designs on Jayden, too.

Carmen certainly wasn't going to let this woman lure Jayden away!

So, she kissed his tempting collarbone again and said in a sultry tone, "Sweetheart, how about we head to the hotel now?"

Her voice was smooth and enticing, sending Jayden's pulse racing.

Women generally didn't pique his interest.

But Carmen ignited something primal within him!

"Alright!"

His eyes flared as he looked at the woman in his arms, the heat radiating outward. In an instant, he lifted Carmen and strode away, not sparing Lilly a second glance.

...

When Carmen came back to her senses, they were already in a posh suite.

As soon as they entered, Jayden laid her on the couch, engulfing her with fervent kisses.

Carmen felt swept away by ocean waves, her body weak and defenseless, her breath quickening.

His distinct masculine scent filled her senses.

The scent was so familiar.

In a daze, his strong hand grasped her slender waist.

Carmen tensed up unexpectedly, her voice timid yet inviting, "Can we... wait a little longer..."

Her voice was slightly husky and trembling, yet deeply alluring, fueling Jayden's raw desires.

Jayden gently lifted her chin, leaving a trail of kisses on her neck, his sultry and resonant voice whispering in her ear, "Not scared anymore?"

Carmen’s lashes fluttered, but she answered daringly, "I’m not scared."

Yet her evident tension didn’t escape Jayden’s observant eyes.

He paused momentarily.

His eyes focused intently on her. "You haven’t been with Bo Montgomery, have you?"

Carmen's delicate features suddenly tightened as she frowned. "What are you implying?" she asked sharply.

He couldn't possibly think she was the type of woman who would sleep around indiscriminately, right? Yet the memory of her bold actions from the previous night, how she had brazenly flirted with Jayden Montgomery, made her question her own motives. Could she blame him for underestimating her?

Jayden watched the rollercoaster of emotions flicker across her face, barely parting his lips to speak. "Is it really that hard to understand? Let me demonstrate."

With that, he leaned in, his lips brushing against her neck before trailing down to her collarbone…

Carmen felt a wave of anxiety. But as Bo's words echoed in her mind, insisting she'd never find a man better than him, a fierce determination took over. She wrapped her arms around Jayden with newfound resolve, mirroring his movements by kissing his enticing throat and whispering in his ear, "Jayden, I've never been with Bo. You're my first."

Jayden's eyes sparked with intrigue. Was this her first kiss too?

In the next instant, he lifted Carmen, carrying her towards the bedroom. Though he wasn't often involved with women, he was far from celibate. He liked her, and she had come to him willingly. He wasn't about to let her slip away.

Inside the bedroom, clothes began to drop away one by one as the intimate mood intensified. Carmen found herself nervously licking her lips, captivated by the sight of Jayden standing before her—his tall frame, toned legs, and chiseled chest.

Suddenly, a ringtone broke the romantic ambiance, coming from the phone Carmen had casually discarded on the nightstand. Jayden's dark eyes flickered with annoyance.

Seeing her sister Sarah's name flashing on the screen, Carmen instinctively reached for it, but Jayden's firm hand intercepted hers and tossed the phone aside.

His voice was low and sultry against her ear, "I don't like interruptions when I'm busy."

"Jayden, I…" Carmen began, but her words were silenced by his irresistible kiss.

With each soft, lingering kiss, Carmen slowly surrendered to the moment…

An hour later, Jayden slipped into the bathroom, leaving Carmen sprawled on the bed, legs still trembling. Despite her exhaustion, the memory of their time together brought a blush to her cheeks. It hadn't been the rough experience she had feared—rather, it was tender, attuned to her emotions, guiding her to new heights of pleasure. She felt a sense of joy she'd never known before.

"Riiiiing!"

The phone on the floor rang again, insistently. Carmen pulled herself from beneath the covers, stumbled, but ignored the pain in her legs as she reached for it. Over forty missed calls—each from her sister, Sarah. Lost in the world with Jayden, she hadn't heard them earlier.

Taking a deep breath, Carmen dialed her sister back. "Sarah, why are you calling so late? Is something wrong?"

Her voice came out ragged and strained, catching her off guard.

"Carmen, where are you right now?" Sarah's voice on the other end quivered. "Did you… did you really go to a hotel with someone?"

Carmen hesitated but quickly realized that Lilly Hicks must have tattled to her sister, trying to sabotage her chance with Jayden. Had she answered her sister's calls earlier, she wouldn't have had her moment with Jayden, giving Lilly what she wanted.

Oddly, Carmen felt thankful that Jayden had tossed the phone aside. The experience had been a joyful revelation. She didn't feel like she had lost anything.

Sleeping with Jayden Montgomery was the aspiration of many in their social circle, and she had achieved it effortlessly.

"Sister," Carmen decided not to conceal the truth any longer. "I'm at a hotel with my boyfriend. No need to worry."

Jayden emerged from the bathroom just in time to hear her words. From his vantage point, he could see the graceful curve of her back and the elegance of her form, stirring something deep within him.

Her allure made him want more.

But he didn't want her first time to be marred by a negative aftermath. He tamped down his urges, returning to the bathroom again to cool off.

On the call, Sarah's voice cracked with emotion, "Carmen, since you split from Bo, there haven't been any other men. Why did you lie to me? Don't you know how important a woman's honor is? You might regret this forever!"

"Sarah, I'm sorry." Carmen's eyes teared up as she struggled to keep her voice steady. "I know lying was wrong, but I had my reasons. And I don't regret tonight. I'll take responsibility for my choices."

After hanging up, Carmen realized her whole body was trembling. Her family was everything, something she couldn't disregard. She knew her sister couldn't understand her decisions and was disappointed, but there were paths she had to walk, decisions she had to own.

"This card has five million dollars. You might need it," Jayden spoke in his deep, alluring voice from behind her.

Carmen turned to face him, stunned by the view—Jayden standing there with just a towel around his waist, his fit body gleaming in the light.

But her eyes quickly locked onto the credit card he held out, and her face drained of color. Her heart felt pierced by a painful thorn.

She had thought his gentleness in bed meant she was special to him, but now he seemed to see her as just another woman he'd bought.

They were all the same, she realized. Jayden's practiced moves indicated he did this often.

Yet, remembering her original reason for seeking him out, Carmen forced a thin smile. "Mr. Montgomery, I'm not here for money."

If Jayden could help her uncover the evidence of Winfrey International's plan against her family's company, it would bring justice for her father.

"Then why are you here?" Jayden's gaze chilled.

So she did have an agenda.

Carmen noticed the sarcasm lurking in his eyes but boldly held his gaze. "Jayden, I heard you work with Winfrey International. Could you possibly…”

“No,” Jayden cut her off sharply, "Five million—not enough?"

Did she intend to involve another man?

Carmen felt her heart constrict slightly. Perhaps she had overestimated herself. After a moment, she answered evenly, "If Mr. Montgomery won't assist, I won't press. As for the five million, keep it for yourself."

Momentarily forgetting her vulnerable state, Carmen dressed nonchalantly, radiating self-assurance.

Before leaving, she dug into her purse for some hundred-dollar bills and tossed them onto the bed. "But you were great. Consider this a tip."

With those words, she walked out without a backward glance.

Carmen Pierce left the hotel without a backward glance. Jayden Montgomery watched her disappearing figure, then looked at the hundred-dollar bills scattered on the bed, a complex expression flashing across his face. Despite the hardships her family was facing, she had rejected his five-million-dollar offer without hesitation.

Was her interest in him merely a tactic to sway a major player like Vanguard Inc.? She seemed different from the girl he used to know.

By the time Carmen made it out of the hotel, her legs still trembling, it was already 1:00 AM. Gazing at the empty street, her emotions broke free, and she crouched down, sobbing softly.

What she'd thought was a transaction of intimacy had turned into nothing but degradation. Under the dim streetlight, her shadow stretched out, long and alone.

"Young lady, why are you sitting here crying all by yourself? Did something happen?" asked an older woman, a street cleaner, as she approached, unable to ignore Carmen's distress.

Through tear-filled eyes, Carmen looked up at the woman, her voice thick with emotion, "My father was wrongfully imprisoned, and now my sister and I are barely holding on. Everyone just wants us to fail. I feel like I'm about to break."

For the past year, Carmen had kept up a brave front for the world, but she was suffocating under the pressure. Confiding in a stranger might be the only way she could truly express her despair.

The woman offered comforting words, "Life is full of challenges, dear. No one's life is perfect, but every hardship is a chance to grow and move forward. Stay strong. It will get better."

Since the troubles began, those around Carmen either mocked or abandoned her. She never expected a stranger to offer the encouragement she so desperately needed. Maybe, she thought, kindness still existed in the world.

Wiping her tears, Carmen nodded firmly, "Thank you, ma'am. I will get through this."

Indeed, every challenge was a stepping stone. If her first attempt to win over Jayden had failed, she'd find other ways to succeed. If all else failed, she'd win him over in other ways. She could tell he was intrigued by her.

By the time Carmen hurried back to her rented apartment, it was already 2:00 AM. She opened the door to find her sister, Fiona, sitting on the couch. Fiona wore a thin camisole, her typically lively face looking pale, and her eyes were red and puffy, as if she'd been crying.

Carmen hesitated briefly before approaching her sister, asking softly, "Fiona, what brings you here?"

"Who was that guy?" Fiona asked, her voice gentle yet firm. Despite their current situation, she always remained composed, never raising her voice with Carmen.

But as Carmen met her sister's disappointed gaze, she felt a pang of guilt, like her heart was being crushed.

"Jayden Montgomery," Carmen admitted, not intending to hide anything.

Fiona's expression grew more serious, "Carmen, do you know what kind of man Jayden Montgomery is? Getting involved with him could bring you unforeseen trouble."

Carmen replied calmly, "Fiona, I found out that the person who framed Dad has connections with Montgomery Enterprises. I need to get close to Jayden to uncover the truth for Dad."

Fiona interrupted, her eyes brimming with tears, "But Carmen, I don't want you to sacrifice your happiness. You deserve to find a man who truly loves you, to lead a peaceful life. That's my wish and Dad's wish too, you understand?"

"True love?" Carmen scoffed, as if it were a joke, "What is love worth? How many unfaithful lovers have there been throughout history? Just like you and Ben Castleton..."

The room went silent for a moment. Fiona trembled slightly, recalling how she once thought marrying Ben would be her lifelong happiness, only to be left disgraced.

How could she judge Carmen when she had no right to?

"I'm sorry, Fiona..." Carmen regretted her words, realizing she had hit her sister's sore spot.

"Carmen, you're right," Fiona said softly, "But because of my own unhappy marriage, I don't want you to go down the same path. Jayden Montgomery is not someone you should get involved with. Promise me, don't continue this relationship."

Carmen dodged the subject, "Fiona, I'm tired. I need a bath."

With those words, she turned and left, unwilling to burden her sister any further. She had chosen this path, and she would see it through, no matter how tough it got.

Suddenly, her phone, resting on the coffee table, buzzed with an incoming message.

"Carmen, please, listen to me..." Fiona called out, picking up the phone. As she did, an automatic video began to play.

It showed her husband, Ben Castleton, involved with another woman.