For five years, Christine Waltz had been secretly involved with Harry Crawford, the younger brother of her sister in-law, Jane Crawford. Harry was impossibly handsome, tall and built like a soldier, with the raw, dangerous aura of a wild young wolf.

But what truly hooked Christine wasn’t just his looks but also the contrast: this man, feared by others as a ruthless and untamable force, turned into the gentlest of puppies whenever he was with her. That stark duality hit all the right nerves in her, leaving her addicted and unable to walk away.

He knew exactly how to handle every sensitive part of her with a perfect blend of tenderness and dominance.

As she bent over to fix the bedding, he slipped behind her, arms wrapping around her waist. His breath, hot and seductive, teased her ear as his teeth grazed her earlobe. There was a forceful sensuality in his touch, yet also a surprising softness.

“You look beautiful today, darling” Harry whispered.

“Stop it, Harry…” Christine’s voice was shaky, tinged with desire and resistance.

“You say no,” he chuckled darkly, “but your body gives in with just one touch. I love how your words and reactions never match.”

Her soft moans were all the affirmation he needed.

“Your body,” he murmured against her skin, “so soft, so sweet… I’ll never stop being obsessed with it.”

Christine turned and kissed him, whispering between shallow breaths, “I’ll always stay enchanting… just for you.”

Only after rounds of heated intimacy did their passion finally begin to cool. As she helped him fasten his belt, she asked casually though her heart was not light.

“Harry, what do you think we are now?”

Harry, who had been buttoning up his shirt, paused. He gently ran his fingers through her hair and replied softly, “Trying to take responsibility for me, are you, Christine? Once we’re back from this camping trip, I’ll have a master choose an auspicious date. Let’s get engaged.”

Whenever her family asked about her love life, Christine would always dodge the question. But now she was thirty and the blind dates had begun. Their secret affair had always been mutual, a deliberate decision to stay hidden. But hearing him talk about a future together, finally eased the weight in her heart.

She picked up the clothes scattered across the floor, dressed herself quickly and headed out to the tea gathering with her friends.

They were already seated outside another tent, voices bubbling with laughter and conversation. But just as she approached, she heard Harry’s friends teasing from inside the group

“Bro, you could’ve toned it down a bit. We could hear everything earlier. When we turned around, damn, the shadow play on that tent was straight-up scandalous. When we’re young, we don’t realize how good older women are and go chasing after naive girls instead!”

“Sure, the older woman’s great but the little girl is not so bad either. Why else would Harry keep the older one on hold for five years? The Little One just needed to grow up. She will be the real sister-in-law for us.”

The Little One? The real sister-in-law for them?

Christine’s legs nearly gave out beneath her. Even an idiot could figure it out, these five years had been nothing but a cruel joke.

“As I always said, once the Little One comes back from abroad next week, Harry should break things off with his little fling, right?”

“Bro, don’t tell me you’ve actually caught feelings for Christine?”

“Feelings? Are you kidding me? At best, she’s just a casual hookup. Come on, who wouldn’t want to fool around with a beautiful woman for free? And from the way she was moaning, maybe she’s the one using him!”

“HAHAHAHA!” Their laughter echoed like knives.

Then Harry’s voice, low and calm, cut through the noise, “Sometimes, you need to try being a husband with someone... just so you can take proper care of the one who truly matters. That’s how it works, someone plants the tree, someone else enjoys the shade.”

Harry lazily blew out a smoke ring, his contempt-laced words cutting through Christine like a blade sharp, deliberate and without mercy.

Her chest tightened. The ache bloomed from her heart and spread through every inch of her body. Just as sorrow surged to the surface, she crushed it back down.

“Guys, keep talking. I’ll be right back!”

A man’s laughter rang out as he stood up. Alarmed, Christine instinctively turned away and fled behind another tent.

After what she’d just overheard being mocked as nothing more than a “beautiful sexual partner” getting caught now would be like having her pride ground into dust, stomped beneath their feet.

In a panic, she wiped at her face and felt warm tears. She hadn’t even realized she was crying.

Five years. This was the first time Harry had made her cry.

And the first time... had shattered her completely. She left the campsite in a daze, stumbling like a lifeless shell, her steps uneven as memories clawed at her like a beast from the past.

As Harry was Jane’s younger brother, Christine remembered it had all started that summer when she left Boston for London to visit Jane who was in pregnancy.

They were living under the same roof. That was when she first laid eyes on Harry who was dangerously handsome, like a star stepped out of a dream. Even in the entertainment industry, where handsome men were a dime a dozen, Harry would still be considered top-tier.

But Christine had always been realistic. She knew good looks didn’t pay bills. So, aside from the occasional silent admiration, she never let her thoughts stray into forbidden territory.

After graduating from university, she decided not to remain in Boston, where everything came with strings attached. She chose to settle U.S. instead.

Since her brother married Jane, he became a devoted husband and father by working so hard. He frequently flew back and forth between London and the U.S., managing business through video conferences. As a result, the large villa was usually occupied only by Jane and Harry.

Christine’s talent quickly earned her a position as project supervisor. One night, she decided to celebrate it by opening a bottle of wine from her brother’s collection.

Halfway through the bottle, an unbearable heat swept through her body. Her limbs went weak. She collapsed onto the living room sofa, flushed and dazed, her beauty glowing with an intoxicating warmth.

That’s when Harry walked in. He froze the moment he saw her then noticed the bottle on the table. His expression shifted.

That wine wasn’t just any wine. It was a specially prepared blend meant for romantic nights, a “couple’s wine” that his brother had warned him never to mix up. Just a glass or two was enough to ignite passion between two people. And this woman had drunk at least half a bottle.

Realizing something was terribly wrong, Christine clutched at him desperately, begging him to take her to the hospital.

Instead, Harry caught her in his arms, lowered his head to her ear and whispered, voice like velvet.

“Darling, let me be your cure.”

That night, they gave in to a feverish frenzy. Their bodies intertwined with wild hunger and Harry’s kiss marks were left all over Christine’s skin.

By morning, she woke up aching all over, her limbs sore as if they’d been disassembled and put back together. She turned to see Harry at the mirror, smiling faintly as he gently rubbed a hickey on his neck.

Mortified, she rushed to dress, wanting nothing more than to flee this nightmare. But just as she reached for the doorknob, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her back into his arms. Her head rested against his firm chest.

The steady thump of his heartbeat told her he wasn’t as unaffected as he looked. And yet, he schooled his expression and said coolly, “Christine, did you come here, get what you wanted… and now you’re just going to leave?”

In the days that followed, their relationship unfolded like a game of cat and mouse as she tried to avoid him and he relentlessly pursued her. In the end, even the most steadfast woman can be worn down by persistence, especially when that persistence comes in the form of Harry, all sharp edges and effortless charm, wrapped in luxury from head to toe. Eventually, she gave in. They began dating in secret.

For the past five years, Harry had played the role of the perfect boyfriend attentive to every detail of her life, tender in his affection and passionate when desire stirred between them.

Christine had always believed they were soulmates, two people destined to spend their lives together. All they needed was time. Once his career stabilized, they would settle down and build a future together, just like her sister-in-law and her brother had.

But now... it all felt like a cruel joke. Everything she believed everything that once felt so certain was nothing more than wishful thinking on her part.

In Harry’s heart, she was nothing more than a convenient, slightly attractive sexual partner. A stand-in. A stepping stone for another woman’s place in his life. The absurdity of it all nearly made her laugh.

She wandered aimlessly through the streets, her mind blank, until her phone suddenly vibrated in her hand.

She picked it up on reflex. It was her father.

“Christine, you promised you’d think about taking over the company. How’s that coming along?”

Christine bit her lip at the sound of her father’s voice. The metallic taste of blood filled her mouth.

She took a shaky breath and forced her voice to remain calm. “I’ll head back once I’ve wrapped things up here, Dad.”

Her father, clearly satisfied with the answer, praised her for being so responsible and thoughtful. Because after all, love may fade, but life must go on.

Or rather… her love had faded, while Harry’s love had only just begun. Human sorrow and joy never align. Christine cried until her eyes were swollen red for the man she thought loved her. Meanwhile, Harry was blushing with anticipation… for someone else.

If a relationship begins with deception, then at the very least, it should end with dignity without dragging it out into a mess of humiliation. Christine decided she would return to Boston.

From this point on, she and Harry would go their separate ways, two parallel lines destined never to cross again.

Her father had a few more words of advice, but she only half-listened. Eventually, her father sensed her disinterest and simply reminded her to take care of herself before ending the call.

Her villa stood halfway up the hillside, not far from the mountaintop campsite. Without realizing it, her steps had already carried her home.

Inside, she caught sight of a photo on her vanitym, Harry kissing her cheek, both of them smiling.

His scent still lingered faintly on her skin. The realization made her stomach churn. She stumbled into the bathroom and vomited until she was weak and dizzy. She sat there for a long time, curled up on the cold tile floor.

Finally, she gathered the strength to stand. As she opened the bathroom door, she was startled to see Harry rushing in.

“You disappeared without a word and didn’t answer your phone! Are you trying to scare me to death? Murder your own ‘husband’?” His voice was deliberately scolding, with that playful edge he always used to charm her.

Once upon a time, she would have melted. But now, she couldn't even bear to look at him.

How could he speak with such affection, how could he look at her with those teary eyes, while loving another woman?

Her throat tightened. Her voice was hoarse as she replied, “My stomach started hurting, so I came back. I had my phone on silent and didn’t hear it.”

At her words, his expression shifted to panic. “If you’re feeling sick, why didn’t you tell me sooner? I’ll take you to the hospital right now.” His concern looked so real. It would’ve fooled anyone.

Christine felt a surge of bitter amusement. His acting was flawless. If she hadn’t heard those vile words with her own ears, she might have believed him.