Chapter 2 Does My Motive Really Matter

As Yvonne's legs gave out, she held onto Clayton tightly. Wrapping her legs around his waist, she hoisted herself up and kissed him fervently.

"Does my motive really matter? What's truly important is that you're incredible," she murmured, a gentle smile playing on her lips.

Cradling his neck, her words were a breathy whisper close to his ear. "Clayton, let's lose ourselves in the moment. Spare the questions..."

In response, Clayton's gaze grew intense. He gripped her hips, lifting her effortlessly and walking towards the bed, his touch growing more urgent. His bold movements sharply contrasted with the backdrop of cheerful music and laughter spilling over from the hotel's banquet hall.

Later, Clayton scooped Yvonne up and took her to the bathroom. By the time she returned to the room, freshened up, he was already putting himself together again.

He stood by the window, the very picture of refinement in a crisply tailored suit, gold-rimmed glasses resting on his nose, fastening his cufflinks. The fiery passion they had shared seemed like a faint echo now.

Yvonne gazed up at Clayton, taking in his polished appearance. It was hard to reconcile the sophisticated man before her with the scandalous acts he had just committed. Who would have thought that Clayton, appearing so refined, had been entangled with his nephew's ex?

Clayton gave a wry smile. "That took less time than expected."

He checked his watch and moved closer, his breath warm against her ear. "I got carried away and ripped your dress. I'm going to head down first. Someone will come up soon with a fresh outfit for you. Be sure to cover up properly. We wouldn't want any... marks to show."

His gaze lingered on the faint bruises adorning Yvonne's collarbone, his breathing shallow for a moment.

Wrapped in a bathrobe, Yvonne reclined on the bed, a frown creasing her forehead. "I don't feel like attending their engagement party tonight."

It was supposed to be her special moment with Louis, but her half-sister Malinda Lawson's unyielding pursuit had drawn him away. Now, to show up as a guest seemed like a cruel twist of fate for Yvonne.

Clayton's voice dropped to a coaxing murmur. "What happened to that daring spirit you showed earlier? Wasn't this whole charade to spite Louis?"

He positioned himself by the bed, his hands braced on either side of her, his tone laced with a mocking edge. "You've gone to great lengths. Don't you want to find out if you still hold any place in his heart? I expect to see you at the party in thirty minutes." His voice took on a steely edge as he spoke. "If you're not there, our deal is off."

Clayton exited without another word, leaving Yvonne by herself in the room. She gazed blankly ahead.

As she pondered, doubts about her dealings with Clayton began to surface—was allying with such a dangerous man truly wise?

Yet, with her options dwindling, she found herself unable to weigh the risks any longer. Clayton was her final and sole hope in these desperate times.

Only by holding fast to him could she hope to extricate herself from her troubles and recover what was rightfully hers and her mother's.

Just then, a knock interrupted her reverie while she was toweling off her hair.

"They don't waste time, do they?" Yvonne muttered under her breath. With her hair in wild disarray, no makeup, and the lingering ache from Clayton's intensity, she was in no state to receive guests.

Expecting Clayton's assistant, she was taken aback when she opened the door to find Malinda, the true centerpiece of tonight's engagement party, standing before her.

Midway through her makeup session, Malinda, always willful and indulged, heard the buzz of a new message on her phone.

It was a sighting of Yvonne escorting Louis into a secluded suite, where they had remained for several hours.

Seething with anger, Malinda didn't hesitate. She stormed upstairs and burst into the suite, where she found Yvonne, her appearance tousled and telling tales of a recent, fervent encounter. Malinda's face was a mask of fury as she confronted Yvonne.

"Where is he? Where have you hidden Louis?"

Yvonne returned her gaze with a chilling indifference. "Why would I know his whereabouts? After all, haven't you snatched him away from me already? If you've lost track of him, why come to me?"

Yvonne and Louis had been promised to each other since childhood through a family arrangement. However, Malinda, daughter of a mistress, had stealthily entered Louis's life, engaging in secret rendezvous with him for months.

With Louis missing and their engagement party looming, Malinda had the gall to come seeking answers from her? Yvonne's response was a scornful chuckle. Despite her low status within her family, she would never lower herself to claim someone Malinda had already slept with.