Chapter 1 The 22nd Floor Escape

The Universal Grand Hotel, a luxurious landmark in Astria. Room 2201. A woman dressed in striking red lay on the bed, her crimson attire as vibrant as flames, her beauty as pure as snow—so breathtaking it could steal anyone's soul. Slowly, the woman opened her eyes, sensing something strange about her body. Her expression shifted. Had I been set up? What shocked her even more was the presence of a man standing beside her, staring at her with an intense gaze. In front of the bed, a large video camera stood ominously. Faced with this scene, even someone as composed as she was broke into a cold sweat. Tomorrow was supposed to be her engagement day. She knew her enemies wouldn't let her off easily, but she hadn't anticipated them going this far, this ruthless! "You're awake, huh? Let's get started, then," the man sneered as he moved closer, twirling a fruit knife in his hand. Cold-blooded. Cruel. Violent. "Hey, the woman's awake," came a voice from the bathroom. There was someone else in the room. The conversation sent chills down her spine. Even in such dire circumstances, Serena Wren couldn't stay still. Her inherent restlessness wouldn't allow it. In the next instant, she leaped up, yanking the bedsheet and flinging it over the man approaching her. The sheet obscured his vision, and she grabbed anything she could find around her, hurling objects at him, successfully halting his advance. Taking advantage of this moment, she darted toward the balcony. As long as the drop wasn't too high, she would jump. It was her only way out. But when she opened the window and looked down, she couldn't help but gasp sharply. She looked down at the dizzying drop. It was the kind of height that promised broken bones, maybe even death. The man glared at her, his voice dripping with malice. "This is the 22nd floor. Go ahead, jump. I got paid tonight to get the job done. Do you think you can escape so easily?" But in the next moment, he saw her still climbing onto the windowsill and leaping off without hesitation. Did she really just jump from the 22nd floor, with no warning at all? The man's face twisted in shock, and he rushed to the balcony, only to discover that she hadn't jumped down. Instead, she had leaped onto the balcony of the adjacent room. For some reason, the design of the building left the two balconies unusually close, and the window in the other room happened to be open. "Boss, that's Mr. Damien Ashford's room," the man who had come out of the bathroom suddenly went pale. The Ashfords were untouchable in all of Astria, and Mr. Damien in particular was like a cold, merciless king. Provoking him was equivalent to seeking death. The man's expression darkened further. In the neighboring room, the lights were off. Serena assumed no one was inside. But the moment she landed, she crashed hard into a man's chest. The man, fresh from the shower and clad only in a robe, was suddenly exposed. The force of her collision, their stumbling struggle, and his instinctive grab for her sent the robe flying. And just like that, Damien was pinned beneath her. His breath carried a cold, crisp edge, mixed with a unique scent that was intoxicating, wrapping around her senses and enveloping her completely. Serena looked up at him. She couldn't make out his features clearly, but she felt herself growing dizzy. The man's eyes narrowed, his expression unreadable in the darkness. But the icy chill radiating from him spread instantly, exuding a palpable sense of danger. Had a woman just climbed into my room through the window? Unfortunately, Serena wasn't aware of the danger. All she knew was that the close proximity was easing the discomfort she had been feeling. The next second, her red lips parted, and she kissed him. The man's cold eyes darkened. As her lips slowly moved upward, the frigid aura around him seemed to heat up slightly. He lowered his gaze, observing the woman. Damien's surprise was evident for a brief moment. He could tell the woman in his arms wasn't herself. Her actions made it obvious she had been set up. Serena lifted her head slightly, her lips finally landing on his. But then, she suddenly bit him. Serena smiled, satisfied. Damien stared at her, his eyes deep and shadowed, his lips curving into a faint smile. "What are you doing?" Serena's awareness was starting to return. She blinked, looking at him, though the darkness obscured everything. Her voice was now hoarse and raspy. "Isn't it a bit late to ask that?" His alluring lips curved into a faint, rippling smirk. This woman had climbed into my room on her own, pinned me down for quite a while, and now she was asking what I was doing? Damien had to admit that she had succeeded in piquing his interest. Never had he thought a woman could make him lose control like this. In his twenty-four years, no woman had ever been close to him—because no woman had ever done this to him. Lowering his head, he captured her lips again, his sudden desire even surprising himself. ... When Serena woke up, she felt a moment of confusion, the memories from before flashing rapidly through her mind. She had been set up, then climbed through the window into this room, and then ... ? Sensing the presence of someone beside her, she blinked, quietly swallowing. At this point, the best thing she could do was leave as quickly as possible! Well, that was the plan.