Time-limited Lover

Game Rules

The man in thin attire knelt before the closed door in the dimly lit room. His legs had gone numb from the long period of stillness, but he dared not move. Sweat dripped from his brow, seeping into his lace shirt, outlining his well-toned muscles. The elevator at the corner chimed, and a man dressed in black with a silver mask stepped out, a sardonic grin on his face. He teased, "Did you meet anyone today?"

The young man remained silent, his furrowed brow betraying his discomfort. The man in black tried to continue teasing, but was interrupted as an assistant stepped out of the room and bowed. "My lord, the lady is waiting for you."

Silver Eagle Lord, draping his arm around the assistant's neck, raised his voice, deliberately loud enough for the kneeling man to hear, "Hans, how can there be such a despicable person in this world? The lady has already dismissed him, yet he shamelessly returns every day to beg for scraps?"

Hans maintained a polite smile and gently reminded, "It's getting late."

As Silver Eagle Lord entered, he opened the door wide on purpose. The man at the door instinctively peered inside but was immediately met with a sharp command, "Don't move!"

"How pitiable!" Silver Eagle Lord remarked with a smirk.

The door closed, and Silver Eagle Lord removed his mask to breathe, complaining, "Since you don't care for him anymore, why not just give him to me? I need someone strong for my performance."

Lady Iris handed him a glass of red wine and sat beside him. "Our contract ended long ago. I have no right to dispose of him."

Silver Eagle Lord leaned in, his smile mischievous, "Rules are rules, but even without a contract, he'd still willingly stay by your side. Why be so stubborn?"

"Entering a stable relationship requires clear agreements on rights and duties. Otherwise, it's risky for both parties," Lady Iris replied, sipping her whiskey and chuckling. "Besides, you need an obedient partner, and he's not that."

"I see him being quite obedient in your presence," Silver Eagle Lord raised an eyebrow.

"Did you not notice he's pretending?" Lady Iris pulled out a freshly printed complaint letter, with the man outside named as the subject.

Silver Eagle Lord's expression shifted to one of seriousness. Offending members of their exclusive club could be problematic.

"Perhaps we should expel him?"

"He's here because of me; I’ll just visit less often," Lady Iris shrugged and swirled her drink. "After all, the hefty annual fee shouldn’t be ignored."

Silver Eagle Lord shook his head, "You're truly a ruthless woman!"

"While you love them, you keep them close and spoil them beyond measure. When you're done with them, you discard them like trash without a second thought."

"I merely value contractual integrity," Lady Iris clinked her glass with his, her smile unabashed.

Their identical outfits spoke volumes about their deep connection.

Silver Eagle Lord murmured, "If only he were fully obedient, keeping him around wouldn't be so bad."

Lady Iris scoffed, "The sun and human hearts are equally unendurable. Everyone has a dark side, and I don't care for his."

"As long as he doesn't show it before you, what's the harm?"

Lady Iris gave him a pointed look. "Male possessiveness is ingrained in their genes. They tend to overstep boundaries."

She made it clear: his persistent pursuit, despite their relationship ending, and his potential to eliminate anyone around her if given a role, were risks she wasn't willing to entertain.

"Have you considered a long-term relationship? A serious one?" Silver Eagle Lord asked with genuine curiosity.

Lady Iris thought for a moment, then chuckled, "Maybe, but very few men accept relationships with set timelines."

"Perhaps, but what if?"

With thirty minutes left before the event, Silver Eagle Lord nodded toward the door, "What about him?"

Lady Iris slowly put on black leather gloves, selected a riding crop from the rack, and gave it a few test swings.

The bamboo crop, smooth and polished, the right thickness, felt satisfying in her grip. Its swishing sound commanded attention.

"Time's up." She gave a cold smile, adjusted her mask, and signaled for Hans to open the door.

Her sharp heels, hidden beneath a voluminous black skirt, created a heavy presence even though they were not visible.

The man was led into the room. Behind soundproof walls, no one could hear what was happening inside. Ten minutes later, she

emerged, and the man’s despondent gaze followed her, his eyes brimming with tears.

"I’ve said it many times before, the contract is over. Please keep your distance," Lady Iris said coldly.

His apologies were quick, but his repeated transgressions were tiresome.

"We could sign a new one! Three years! Five years! No! Ten years!" he pleaded, attempting to follow her, but was stopped by her icy stare.

Silver Eagle Lord, leaning against the door, mocked, "Lyon, how foolish can you be? Do you think this is some romantic love s********e people can’t be moved by pity."

He crouched down, gripping Lyon's chin and shattering his illusions. "She'll never build a relationship with anyone who doesn't sign a contract. You've crossed her line too many times. Do you really think just because you’ve spent some time with her, you're different from the others? Stop fooling yourself. You're just one among many."

Lady Iris handed the riding crop to her assistant Hans, removed her gloves, and said, "Take him out." She looked at Lyon, who had received nothing but cold glances but still stared at her with desperation, and then changed her mind, "Add a 15% service fee."

"Don’t let me see you here again, or there will be consequences." She dropped the warning without a care for Lyon's heartbroken expression and left.

Both parties to the contract should follow the rules, and endlessly clinging to someone was pointless.

As Lady Iris went downstairs, she suddenly remembered something. "What was that business trip you mentioned?"

"Oh, it's for a club. They want me to recommend someone reliable to temporarily oversee things for a few days, and the pay is quite good." Silver Eagle Lord sent her the address. "I’ve booked a business class ticket for you; you’ll leave the day after tomorrow."

"

Just in time, I need to buy a few things," she glanced at the address and added.

Silver Eagle Lord kept up with her pace and casually introduced some basic details.

"I didn’t want to trouble you, but the situation is special. I’m afraid she might cause problems. You know, Mathilde is a very troublesome woman."

Lady Iris chuckled, "I’m a troublesome woman too."

"At least for me, your pickiness is entirely bearable." Silver Eagle Lord winked and placed her hand on his arm.