: Offering Herself as Compensation

A cave on a deserted island.

"Hot... so hot!"

Summer Monroe unbuttoned two buttons on her chest, staring at the handsome man's muscular chest and V-line on the ground, she couldn't help but swallow.

It was fine before she looked, but once she did, her whole body felt like it was on fire.

Something's wrong, she's not feeling right.

She was always detached and had never even held a man's hand, yet now she wanted to pounce on the man who saved her from the coast.

Summer struggled to maintain her last bit of sanity, closing her eyes and checking her pulse, then abruptly opened them—

She was poisoned!

She recognized this poison called "Spring," which evokes one's deepest desires.

The poison "Spring" doesn't act immediately, but as soon as one sees a man, the effects begin.

She had been separated from her family for ten years, finally finding the Stanton Family to uncover the truth about her mother's death and her abduction. However, she was assassinated by someone claiming to take her home before she could return.

She fought back successfully, but the cruise ship took on water, and she drifted to this deserted island. On the seventh day, she accidentally saved the man who washed ashore and realized she was poisoned.

The poison's name is "Spring," taking effect on the seventh day, inciting the most primal desires.

No, she must calm down!

Just then, the man groaned in discomfort.

When she picked this man up, he had a high fever, but after taking the medicine she found on the island, the fever subsided, and the man slowly regained consciousness.

That sound, though soft, drilled sharply into her mind, igniting desire throughout her body, burning like countless ants crawling over her skin.

"Damn it!"

Summer cursed, her consciousness hazy, she crawled clumsily over to the man's side.

"Hey!"

With her shout, the man slowly opened his eyes, his jet-black eyes unfathomable yet strikingly handsome.

Her gaze involuntarily slid down to his perfect eight-pack abs.

Below the abs was the enticing V-line, and she couldn't resist, reaching out to touch it.

"Woman! What do you think you're doing?" Damian Knight angrily scolded, attempting to push away the woman who had saved him, but he was weak beyond belief, his hand barely moving her.

Summer's deep eyes fixed on the man, her voice hoarse: "I saved you, now it's time to repay me with your body!"

Damian Knight blinked in astonishment.

This woman... she's unbelievable!

It's true she saved him, but who would have thought this woman was a wolf in sheep's clothing!

"Get off..." Damian Knight muttered from between clenched teeth, his voice barely louder than a mosquito's buzz.

He was too weak!

Yet the next instant, the woman leaned down and kissed his chest.

It was less a kiss, more a bite.

She clearly lacked experience in this regard, her movements awkward and rough.

"Let go of me..." Damian Knight exhaled heavily, though he was weak, that part of him was fiercely responding, his rationality muddled by the woman's chaotic actions.

He had a cleanliness obsession about these matters; if he didn't love, he'd never engage in them.

"Let go, or you'll die miserably!"

Damian Knight warned in a low voice, but the woman seemed enchanted, her actions not stopping, instead growing more intense.

He struggled to break free, hearing a "snap" as the belt was undone.

"Stop!"

Damian Knight summoned all his strength to grasp the woman's wrist.

Summer couldn't believe that she, a lifelong bachelor, was about to assault a stranger.

But at this moment, driven by the drug, she was totally unlike herself.

She furrowed her brow, warning: "Cooperate a bit! Either we die together, or I sleep with you, pick one!"

Summer sleeping with him, making him her antidote, was this man's honor!

Damian Knight was stunned, never before had anyone dared speak to him this way.

He, the esteemed CEO of Knight Group, was being forced by a woman on this deserted island!

More infuriating, he lacked the strength to resist!

However, looking at the woman's face so close, despite being covered in dirt, it couldn't hide her beautiful, alluring features—a beauty not ordinary, exceedingly aggressive, no man could resist this face.

Feeling her hand touch a certain place, Damian Knight let out a muffled "hmm," a indescribable sensation spreading from his lower abdomen throughout his body.

Suddenly, Damian Knight thought, maybe being slept by this woman wasn't so bad.

Summer's mind was a chaotic mess; hearing this, her awareness suddenly cleared.

She saw herself stripped at some point, her mind instantly blank.

Yet the man hadn't noticed her change, still staring directly at her.

Summer, enraged, reached out and slapped the man's face.

"Pa—" a crisp slap echoed in the cave, stunning Damian Knight.

"You hit me?" He couldn't believe his eyes.

Summer sneered, "Lewd dog of a man! Who else would I hit if not you? I'm poisoned, and you didn't help me stop it, instead taking advantage of my situation—shameless!"

"You..."

Damian Knight was at a loss for words, finally understanding why this woman was abnormal.

Summer wanted to continue cursing, but the drug's effect hit her again.

"No..."

Reason told her that if she sleep with this stranger, she wouldn't be whole anymore, and the culprit behind the poisoning would succeed.

Yet her body continually urged: Want...

Want this man...

Summer Monroe shook her head vigorously, but it only made her dizzier.

"No! You can't!" Summer Monroe growled.

However, the next moment, her body compelled her to speak again: "I saved you once, you save me once, we're both adults, nobody loses out!"

Damian Knight furrowed his brow: "You are really..."

Before he finished speaking, he saw the woman's originally clear eyes seemed to again be covered by a layer of white mist.

Summer Monroe leaned over to kiss his lips.

But in the next moment, Summer's peripheral vision suddenly caught sight of a rock not too far away.

A flash of insight passed through her mind, the white mist slightly dissipated, and she regained her reason.

In the next second, she gritted her teeth, grabbed the rock, and smashed it into the back of her own head—

She only felt a surge of pain, her vision went black for a moment, and she lost consciousness.

Damian Knight was surprised at the woman's actions, then she collapsed onto him like a fallen autumn leaf.

Everything happened so suddenly, Damian Knight's mind went blank for a moment.

The situation was intense, his pants were off, and at the critical moment, she actually knocked herself out?

What's going on...

But Damian Knight only felt annoyed for two seconds before regaining clarity.

He was also hazy from the fever, and actually thought that continuing like that seemed fine.

However, from the girl's words, it seemed like it was all because of some poison.

Annoyance and confusion swirled in his brain, finally turning into a self-mocking chuckle.

Forget it, let's just pretend nothing happened.

Damian Knight struggled for a while, his physical strength was also running low.

With his remaining strength, he pulled the woman to his side.

The night wind on the sea was cold, both of them covered only with jackets, fell into a deep sleep together.

...

The next day came in the blink of an eye.

Upon waking again, Summer Monroe only heard the sound of water dripping onto the ground. Her consciousness immediately cleared, and scenes of the effect of last night's drug flashed through her mind.

"Damn..."

She felt both annoyed and grateful, fortunately, she didn't take the last step and knocked herself out at the last moment, otherwise she really wouldn't be able to face anyone today.

Summer Monroe checked her pulse again, the "Spring" drug's effects lasted for one night, but she was unconscious for one night, now the effects had dissipated completely.

Forget it, just pretend nothing happened last night and try to forget it.

At this moment, there was a noisy sound of footsteps and talking outside the cave.

Someone?

She immediately sat up, noticing the man from last night was nowhere to be found, and instead, she was covered with the man's jacket.

Summer Monroe quickly put on her own clothes and cautiously walked towards the cave entrance.

Not sure if it's the man from before, or the people hunting her.

If it's the people hunting her, then... well, thank them for being so dedicated.

However, as Summer Monroe reached the cave entrance, she discovered a row of black-clad bodyguards standing there, a helicopter not far away, and the leading bodyguard was respectfully speaking to a man.

They weren't the ones hunting her, but the man from last night.

Upon hearing her footsteps, the man turned to look at her from the side.

For the first time, Summer Monroe saw the man's face in the sunlight, his features were handsome, eyes deep and black, with a powerful aura, apart from his paleness, he was no different from a normal person.

This man's physical fitness was much better than that of a normal person.

Summer Monroe didn't know how to face him for a while.

"You..."

Before Summer could speak, the man interrupted her, asking, "What do you want?"

"Huh?" She didn't catch on.

The man said expressionlessly, "You saved me, I can grant you one wish."

Is this attitude reminding her of last night or intending to forget it?

Summer Monroe's mind raced, and she finally decided to play dumb, slightly lifting her chin: "You're really rude, I saved you, is it so hard to say thank you?"

As soon as Summer finished speaking, she saw all the bodyguards looking at her in shock, as if she'd said something strange.

Contrarily, the man's expression didn't change at all, and in an unsurprised manner, he said, "You'll regret missing this chance."

Summer was infuriated, but... the wooden boat she made on the island over seven days might not hold up until she reaches land.

She gritted her teeth hard, choosing to ignore last night's happenings, and said, "My wish is, take me home."

This time it was the man's turn to show a surprised expression.

"Just that?"

"What else?"

Right now, her only wish was to leave this damn uninhabited island, then save whomever ordered her assassination and drugged her with "Spring"!

The man gave her a look as if she were an idiot, then turned to walk towards the helicopter.

Three hours later, the helicopter hovered over the skies of Crestfall.

"Is it that place?" the man pointed to a villa in the manor below.

"It should be..." Summer had no memory of her childhood, but she had looked up the Stanton Family before returning to Cathaysia.

What originally should bear her Monroe surname was now her bio father's business, who hadn't looked for her in ten years since she went missing.

Whatever happened in between, she had to find out, which was one of her reasons for hiding her identity as the richest person in the world and returning to Cathaysia.

"Let's go down." The man stiffly commanded, and the pilot immediately responded, "Yes."

: I'm Your Daddy

Stanton Manor.

The entire manor was set up for a birthday party.

Clarissa Stanton, dressed in an LV spring limited starlight gown, was surrounded by a group of socialites singing her praises.

"Clarissa, your dress is so beautiful, like a nebula!"

"This is the LV spring limited edition, right? I couldn't even get one on loan, and you bought it. Your dad really spoils you!"

"Happy birthday, Clarissa. I heard you got a role in Director Sutton's film. You'll certainly be this year's most popular actress. Don't forget about us when you're famous in the entertainment industry."

"What entertainment industry? Clarissa is just there for fun. With her status, how hard could it be to become famous?"

Amidst the adulation, Clarissa Stanton suppressed the smugness in her eyes and said, "Thank you all. Let me go check when the cake will arrive."

Clarissa Stanton returned to the villa and nearly bumped into her mother who was just leaving.

"Mom!" she whispered, pulling Stella Monroe aside to speak quietly: "Haven't the people my cousin sent returned? Today is my twentieth birthday, and I don't want people to know our family still has some wild girl abducted by traffickers!"

Stella Monroe lovingly adjusted Clarissa Stanton's skirt hem and said, "No news is good news. Don't worry, she absolutely won't come back. Even if she does return, she's been sold by traffickers to some remote mountain village. What threat could a village girl pose?"

Clarissa Stanton was completely convinced, even somewhat eager for that village girl to return.

Only by comparison could one create harm, allowing her to truly stand out as the real heiress.

"It's not good! Madam!" a servant rushed in to report: "There's a Knight helicopter parked on the party lawn."

"The Knight Family?" Clarissa Stanton's eyes lit up: "Mom, you and dad wouldn't have invited Damian Knight over for me, would you?"

Stella Monroe was equally surprised.

Although the Stanton Family is also a top company in the nation and holds its own in Crestfall...

The Knight Family stands at the pinnacle of the global pyramid, and Damian Knight is the heir to The Knight Corporation. Their family isn't worthy to invite Damian Knight to attend their daughter's birthday.

Could it be... that the business deal that Old Master Stanton discussed with the Knight Family made Damian Knight take it seriously?

"Let's go see!" Stella Monroe felt suspicious but even more delighted.

If their family could forge a connection with the Knight Family, they wouldn't have to worry for generations to come.

Mother and daughter touched up their makeup and hurried excitedly towards the lawn.

A group of Crestfall's nouveau riche had already gathered on the lawn.

As soon as Clarissa Stanton approached, she was surrounded by socialites full of envy.

"Clarissa, you actually got someone from the Knight Family to come. You're amazing!"

"This is such an important event, and you didn't even tell me. If I had known, I would have hired a professional makeup artist."

Clarissa Stanton only smiled outwardly, while inwardly feeling disdain.

The people from the Knight Family were here for her—what makeup were these people trying to fix?

It must have been that Damian Knight noticed her at the Knight Corporation's anniversary banquet last month!

She was about to become the esteemed Mrs. Knight!

At that moment, the helicopter door slowly opened.

In eager anticipation, a ragged girl jumped down from the helicopter.

Her figure was slender, but her face was covered in black soot, making her original appearance unclear. Her hair seemed unkempt for a month, sticking to her scalp, appearing very disheveled.

"This is..."

The crowd turned to Clarissa Stanton, and someone who disliked her taunted, "Clarissa, is this your esteemed guest? A... beggar?"

Clarissa Stanton was furious and walked over to question, "Who are you? How dare you attend my birthday party?"

"Birthday party?" Summer Monroe immediately recognized the arrogant girl.

Documents showed she was Stella Monroe's adopted daughter, but the detective told her this girl was her aunt Stella Monroe and her biological father Henry Stanton's illegitimate daughter.

Her biological daughter was missing, yet they hosted a birthday bash for the illegitimate one?

Ha!

"Who am I?" Summer Monroe glanced deeply at the girl and said, "I'm your dad's..."

"You—"

Just as Clarissa Stanton was about to lash out, Summer Monroe bluntly added, "Biological daughter."

The expression on Clarissa Stanton's face instantly froze, while the party guests showed eager anticipation for the unfolding drama.

Clarissa Stanton came to her senses and asked in shock, "You're... you're Summer Monroe?"

That village girl?

Indeed... very much a village girl!

Stella Monroe was relatively calm, swiftly stepping forward to say, "Summer, is that you? I've been waiting for you for so long. Poor child, you've finally come back..."

Summer Monroe curled her lips: "Auntie, I see you've been well."

Though she smiled, her tone was filled with sarcasm.

Her mother's own sister married her biological father? Her brother-in-law married the sister-in-law?

What a ridiculous affair!

There was definitely something suspicious about them!

The guests whispered among themselves: "I heard Mrs. Stanton is the sister of the former Mrs. Stanton..."

"So, this must be the Miss Monroe who was kidnapped by traffickers ten years ago?"

"The Stanton Family was originally surnamed Monroe, and Old Master Stanton was just a live-in son-in-law. After Miss Monroe's death, the family took on the Stanton name."

"There's really such a backstory? How... amazing..."

Stella Monroe felt her face burning from the whispers, and she awkwardly cleared her throat: "Darling, it's good you're back. Let me take you to clean up. Look at yourself... so dirty. Life in the countryside must be very harsh, right?"

At this moment, she still couldn't help but remind everyone that she was from the countryside; clearly, she was displeased with herself.

As Summer Monroe was about to speak, a low voice suddenly echoed from behind: "Hey."

Everyone turned to look and, seeing who had stepped out of the helicopter, was left dumbfounded.

Damian Knight!

Damian Knight, whose slightest move could cause tremors in the global economy?!

"Young Master Knight?!" Clarissa Stanton rushed forward excitedly and asked, "Are you... here for my birthday party? Thank you..."

The delight in her eyes was impossible to hide, and her face was visibly flushed with shyness.

She had originally thought Damian Knight might just send someone to congratulate her, but she hadn't expected Damian Knight himself to show up!

Her time had come, her happy life was about to begin!

If she could, Clarissa Stanton really wished to leap up and cheer.

Those around her cast envious glances at Clarissa Stanton.

Even as an adopted daughter, forging a connection with Damian Knight promised a bright future!

But in the next instant—

"Who are you?"

Damian Knight frowned, seemingly noticing Clarissa Stanton only then, with visible impatience and confusion.

Damian Knight had no idea who she was!

"Pfft..." someone nearby couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"What's this? I thought Young Master Knight came to wish Clarissa Stanton a happy birthday, but he doesn't even know who she is."

"Hahaha... I'm dying of laughter! If I were her, I'd find a hole to crawl into and seal it up with glue so I'd never come out again!"

Clarissa Stanton's expression shifted from delight to bewilderment, then from bewilderment to shame, finally glaring angrily at the two socialites who spoke.

Still, Stella Monroe reacted quickly, stepping forward to speak on her daughter's behalf: "Young Master Knight, it's such an honor to have you here. Today is my daughter's birthday; she misunderstood and thought you were here to celebrate with her. I see you're actually here to discuss cooperation with Old Master Stanton. He's upstairs, please come in and have a cup of tea."

The guests immediately curbed their mocking looks.

Having Damian Knight personally visit to discuss cooperation was also a tremendous honor.

Yet, the next moment, Damian Knight once again—

"Do I know you?"

Stella Monroe's hand, poised to invite, hung awkwardly in mid-air.

Could it be that Young Master Knight... didn't know her either??

: Waiting to See Her Embarrassed

"Pfft..." The guests stifled their laughter.

Is this mother and daughter pair here for comedy?

Stella Monroe was so awkward that her toes were trying to dig through to the Earth's core.

Damian Knight doesn't know her either, so who is he here for?

She suddenly thought of...

Everyone looked down on, including herself, they didn't care about Summer Monroe, who seemed to have come down from Damian Knight's helicopter.

Because Summer appeared so suddenly and looked so shabby, she hadn't linked Summer with Damian Knight at first.

Could it be that Summer knows Damian Knight?

Just as this thought emerged, Stella saw Damian bypass her to stand in front of Summer.

"Are you sure this is your wish? It's not too late to change it now."

Summer looked baffled, "Are you Aladdin's Magic Lamp? I told you just dropping me off would be fine."

Everyone around, including Stella and Clarissa Stanton, couldn't believe their eyes as they watched Summer and Damian Knight.

What's going on?

This beggar knows Damian Knight?

Damian's dark eyes were fixed on Summer, just as he was about to speak, Old Master Stanton's excited voice rang out—

"Young Master Knight! Why didn't you call ahead if you were coming to see me? I've been shamefully unprepared for your arrival!"

The moment Old Master Stanton spoke, he noticed everyone looking at him as if he were an idiot.

Stella closed her eyes directly.

What's happening?

Henry Stanton finally noticed something was amiss and suspiciously scanned the surroundings.

His brows furrowed immediately when his gaze landed on Summer.

"Clarissa, why did you invite a beggar to the birthday party? Get her out of here! Don't sully Young Master Knight's eyes!"

Clarissa's face stiffened, though she was a bit pleased, and she said with a complex expression, "Dad, she is..."

"Dad!" Summer interrupted Clarissa and spoke willingly, "Don't you recognize me? I'm Sadie."

Her nickname was indeed Sadie.

"Sad..." Henry's eyebrows shot up, and two seconds later, he asked in shock, "You are... Summer?"

"It's me, Dad." Summer stepped forward.

After a decade, she had no memories of her childhood, but there was something familiar about that face.

Hearing Summer's words, Henry subconsciously took a step back.

It was a kind of fear, the fear of a secret being uncovered.

Summer sharply noticed it, but she continued, unfazed, "Dad, it's been so long since we've seen each other, I missed you so much."

Henry's expression was stiff as he forced himself to pat Summer's shoulder, "It's good you came back, it's good... but why are you dressed like this? And Young Master Knight, why does he... look not quite clean either?"

Only after Henry's reminder did the crowd realize they had been so fixated on Damian Knight himself that they hadn't noticed his clothes were also crumpled, looking like they had been soaked.

Clarissa's eyes shifted suspiciously between Summer and Damian Knight.

Could there be something between these two?

However, Clarissa quickly dismissed this idea. Damian Knight's status is so prestigious that it's impossible for him to pay attention to a dirty, ugly, and foul-smelling country bumpkin like Summer.

Unless he was blind!

Stella, seeing the awkwardness of the scene, hurriedly spoke up, "Master, it seems that Young Master Knight brought our Summer back."

"Is that so?" Henry's expression showed a little less disgust towards Summer upon hearing this.

After all, when that matter happened, Summer was still young, reportedly amnesiac and couldn't have remembered.

But if they could use Summer to climb up to the Knight Family... it would surely be a foolproof deal!

Henry immediately turned with a beaming smile towards Damian Knight and asked, "Young Master Knight, so you know my dear daughter! Thank you for bringing her back. Would you stay for a meal before leaving?"

Stella also said, "Yes, Young Master Knight, we just happen to have new clothes for guests at home, would you like to change?"

Damian was about to decline.

But he had a bit of a cleanliness obsession, and wearing clothes soaked with sea water was already pushing his limits.

Seeing Damian Knight not refusing, Henry immediately made a "please" gesture and softly instructed Stella, "Make sure Summer is well groomed."

Stella, married to Henry for nearly ten years, instantly grasped the deeper meaning behind "well groomed."

They planned to use Summer to climb to higher branches of the Knight family.

Such a boon should belong to her daughter, not Summer!

When Luna Monroe was alive, she overshadowed her; after her death, she would never allow Luna's daughter to overshadow her daughter!

Stella agreed on the surface but secretly pulled Clarissa aside and said, "Take Summer to clean up and dress up a bit, and from now on she'll be your sister, get along well."

Although her words were conciliatory, the gaze she passed to Clarissa was full of hidden meaning.

Clarissa immediately understood and turned around with a smiling face, telling Summer, "Sister, let me take you to freshen up and dress up, alright?"

Summer didn't believe that this mother and daughter would be able to accept her so easily.

She didn't show any suspicion and smiled innocently, "Sure, sister."

The two entered the villa hand in hand.

The lawn party guests whispered, speculating about Damian Knight's purpose for coming.

But whatever the reason, Damian Knight's arrival meant they had to treat the Stanton family with more respect in the future.

On the second floor of the villa.

"Sister, this is the guest room; your room hasn't been prepared yet, you can temporarily use this one. The toiletries are all there, I'll go get you some clothes to wear."

"Okay, thank you."

"Ah, by the way, sister, can you manage the water heater? It's set to constant temperature, no need to adjust it." Clarissa "kindly" reminded, but didn't hide the disdain in her eyes.

Summer seemed not to notice, smiled faintly, and said, "I can manage."

She's amassed numerous identities abroad; how could she possibly not know how to bathe?

"That's good then, I'll go get the clothes for you."

Clarissa smiled and turned to leave, the moment she closed the door, her smile vanished instantly.

She pulled out a handkerchief and vigorously wiped the hand that had touched Summer's, then tossed the handkerchief to the ground as if it were some virus.

This ugly girl, she really stinks!

There's no way Young Master Knight would look at her. Her return must be an accident.

...

Inside the room.

Summer was enjoying a comfortable hot shower.

After spending a week on a deserted island, she felt like she was about to rot away.

As the hot water streamed down her face, the dirt and grim gradually washed away, revealing the pale, delicate skin underneath.

A flawless, palm-sized face emerged from the swirling mist, resembling a fairy.

Ten minutes later, Clarissa knocked on the bathroom door.

"Sister, the dress is here. Please open the door so I can hand the dress in; the shoes are at the door for you to wear afterward."

"Okay." Summer opened a small crack to take the dress inside.

She didn't see the playfulness in Clarissa's eyes.

This dress was a couture Gucci gown, even more expensive than the dress she was wearing. She had struggled to buy it.

But after buying it, she found she couldn't wear it.

While the dress was perfect, it required a particular figure.

Its design could only be carried by supermodel physiques — no extra weight, yet needing sufficient bust. Ordinary people would either look fat or unable to fill it out.

She couldn't wear it due to having no collarbone, plus thicker shoulders, which was why she wasn't wearing it today.

Once this ugly Summer puts it on, it'd surely be hilarious!