Chapter 1

Listening to the ragged breathing and high-pitched moans coming from next door, my chest rose and fell rapidly, and I felt a fever burning through my skin.

For a woman who has been widowed for five years, those sounds were nothing short of a lethal temptation.

My hand drifted under my clothes without me even realizing it.

My heart pounded against my ribs, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t suppress the restlessness growing inside me.

Suddenly, a soft, honeyed voice drifted from outside my door.

“Clara, do you want to join us?”

My name is Clara, and I turned thirty-five this year. Ever since my husband passed away in an accident five years ago, I’ve lived in this house all by myself.

Though friends and colleagues often urged me to start dating again, I found the prospect exhausting and simply gave up on the idea. Living in such a large house alone is peaceful, but it can be incredibly lonely.

After much deliberation, I decided to rent out a spare room.

The listing was up for less than a day before I got a response.

The couple who moved into the room next door were both recent college graduates.

The guy, Liam, was six-foot-one with broad shoulders, narrow hips, and long legs. He carried himself with an athletic posture, looking like the picture of health and radiating pure testosterone.

His girlfriend, Bella, was soft and sweet, always smiling like a playful kitten.

Having two new people in the house made everything feel so much livelier.

When they didn’t go out, the three of us would often eat together in the living room.

Life was simple and enjoyable at first.

However, a new kind of trouble began to brew.

A woman in her thirties is at the peak of her desires. While I had needs, they were usually manageable.

But ever since this couple moved in, something inside me shifted dramatically.

I don’t know if kids these days are just less inhibited or if they saw me as a mother figure, but they had no qualms about cuddling and kissing right in front of me in the living room.

I watched them with a mix of envy and bitterness. It had been five years since my husband left; I had forgotten what it was like to be touched like that.

I still remember the first night. I happened to get up in the middle of the night, and a draft from an open window pushed their bedroom door ajar.

A dim light spilled out. Through the crack, I caught an accidental glimpse of Liam’s muscular frame.

He definitely had the body of someone who was disciplined in the gym.

He was hovering over Bella, breathing heavily like a wild beast.

“Baby, I can’t wait any longer.”

Liam’s voice was rough and raspy, as if a fire were burning in his throat.

For some reason, I wanted to turn away, but my feet were glued to the floor.

Liam’s strong, lean back was facing me, and I couldn't tear my gaze away.

His powerful arms were tense with veins as he hoisted Bella up. Her legs wrapped around his waist like a temptress.

They tangled together instantly, pressed tight, kissing with frantic intensity.

The room was deathly quiet, but their heavy breathing felt like it was right next to my ear. I felt a sudden, hollow ache in my lower body, and my heart tightened as if someone had grabbed it.

Liam was like a starving wolf, burying his face in Bella’s chest, his hips moving rhythmically while their moans reached a crescendo.

Listening to Bella’s sultry voice, I found myself trembling uncontrollably, my thighs clamping together tightly.

Just then, the cacophony of gasps came to an abrupt stop, and Bella collapsed onto the bed, breathless.

The moment Liam laid her down, he turned his head around.

In a split second, our eyes met!

His gaze was filled with surprise, still hazy with the lingering heat of passion.

Then, the corner of his mouth quirked up.

It looked almost like a seductive smile!

My mind went blank. Without a second thought, I bolted.

Back in my room, I lay on the bed, my heart hammering against my chest. It wasn't just because of the heated scene I’d witnessed, but because our eyes had locked.

Was that... a seductive smile?

Did Liam see me?

I could still hear faint sounds coming from next door.

Accompanied by a few breathless whispers of endearment.

Listening to them, my pulse raced, my body burned, and my hand slid under my clothes again, my legs trembling as I pressed them together.

For the first time in five years, I felt like the emptiness and loneliness were going to swallow me whole.

The feeling was becoming impossible to suppress.

I don’t know how long passed. I drifted in and out of consciousness.

I dreamt that Liam was sitting right beside me, his strong arms wrapping around me, kissing me. His passionate words were mixed with heavy, ragged breaths, and in my exhaustion...

Suddenly, I was jolted awake by a frantic knocking on the door!

My eyes flew open!

It was just a dream!

In my daze, I felt an indescribable sense of disappointment.

Then, Liam’s voice called out from outside.

“Clara, are you awake? Can I borrow your hairdryer?”

“Oh... um, sure. One second!”

I scrambled out of bed, threw on some clothes, and grabbed the hairdryer.

I opened the door, but Liam didn’t step inside. He sniffed the air near the threshold, as if catching a scent.

He glanced into my room, then fixed his dark eyes on me, and for a moment, I was distracted.

That gaze...

It was just like when our eyes locked last night―filled with that same hint of temptation!