Chapter 1: Framed
"Help me..."
Emily Harrison pleaded, her voice trembling.
Her body burned with heat, and her small hands boldly climbed up the man's neck.
Her eyes were hazy.
She stood on tiptoe, about to press her crimson lips to his.
Just as they were about to touch, Mr. Alexander Hunter turned his head to avoid her.
Emily's mind had already been clouded by the drugs.
She looked at him with an expression full of grievance.
"I just want to kiss you... just one kiss..."
Her voice was soft and pitiful, her eyes filled with tears.
Mr. Alexander Hunter was on the edge of losing control, his body stiff with effort to resist.
His deep gaze locked onto hers.
"I’ll take you to the hospital."
Emily cried, "No, I don’t want to go to the hospital. I feel like I'm burning alive, woo..."
She felt unbearable discomfort, as though thousands of ants were gnawing at her insides, and only being close to this man could bring her any relief.
Mr. Hunter grabbed her hand, his iron-like grip steadying her shoulder.
"Calm down, go to the corner of the wall and stay there. Keep your distance from me."
He was also affected, struggling with an immense amount of restraint.
The heat of her body pressed against his was pushing him to his limits.
Emily pouted. "No! I don’t want to stay away from you, I want to stay close!"
Without knowing where the strength came from, she pushed Mr. Hunter to the ground and threw herself on top of him.
She desperately ripped at his black vest.
The thin fabric was torn into tatters, hanging uselessly on his chest.
She bit and nipped at his skin.
Mr. Hunter reached to push her away, but she slapped him hard.
Like a child refusing to give up their candy, her anger flared.
Mr. Hunter endured, and endured, but in the end, he couldn't take it any longer.
He grabbed her waist and sprang up.
Emily immediately wrapped her legs around his waist.
"I feel so bad, please help me..."
Mr. Hunter looked at her deeply.
"It was your choice. Don't regret it."
"I won’t regret it..."
Emily was thrown onto the large bed.
Mr. Hunter's eyes burned with intensity, like a beast just released from its cage.
...
After a whole night of relentless passion, the presidential suite in the six-star hotel finally fell silent.
In the morning, Emily woke up with pain.
Her body felt as though it had been crushed, sore and aching all over.
She pushed herself up, and though she hurt, she felt clean and refreshed, as though she had taken a shower.
She remembered that she had slept with a stranger last night, and afterward, he even carried her to take a bath.
Feeling awkward, she tugged at her hair.
"Are you awake?"
A deep, magnetic voice suddenly rang out.
Emily quickly shrank back into the blankets.
With her bright, almond-shaped eyes, she stared at the man emerging from the bathroom.
He was shirtless, only a towel wrapped around his waist. His abs were well-defined, and his skin was a healthy bronze. His muscular arms were as thick as her thighs, giving off an undeniable strength.
And those large hands...
Her mind involuntarily recalled last night's scenes.
Those powerful hands gripping her delicate legs, holding her waist, then grabbing her arms...
Mr. Hunter noticed her staring at him and realized he was half-naked. He turned and went outside.
Two minutes later, he returned dressed in a suit.
The man in a suit exuded a completely different charm. He wore only the suit jacket, which still allowed his strong chest to be visible.
His presence was filled with a strong, irresistible aura—every woman’s weakness.
Emily couldn’t bear to look, too embarrassed to even peek, and quickly pulled the blanket over her face.
Mr. Hunter said, "Even if you regret it now, it’s too late. You were the one who insisted."
Emily peeked out, her head poking from beneath the covers. "I don’t regret it."
Although she had been drugged, she remembered everything that happened last night.
It was her who had clung to him stubbornly.
When he suggested going to the hospital, she cried and refused.
She remembered how she had torn at his clothes in desperation.
The details, the heated sweat, the soft moans...
The more she thought about it, the redder her face became.
Mr. Hunter watched her for a moment before placing a business card on the nightstand.
"I have things to attend to. This is my card. It has my name and contact information. If you need anything, feel free to call me."
"I’ve ordered breakfast for you, it’s on the table outside. Eat before you leave. If... you’re too tired, just rest here a little longer."
Emily nodded drowsily.
Mr. Hunter quickly left the room, and Emily let out a sigh of relief.
She picked up the business card from the nightstand and glanced at it.
Mr. Alexander Hunter...
She put it down after just a glance.
Turning her head, she saw her clothes neatly folded on a nearby chair.
She hadn’t expected him to be so considerate.
For some reason, she felt that Mr. Hunter looked familiar, as if she had seen him somewhere before.
She couldn’t place it, so she decided not to think about it.
After getting dressed, she went out to have breakfast.
The hotel-provided breakfast was delicious.
After eating, she felt a little more energetic, though her body still ached, especially in some places.
She grabbed her bag and pulled out her phone.
She opened it to find dozens of missed calls, all from her father, Edward Harrison.
Nervously, she dialed his number.
The phone immediately erupted with Edward Harrison’s roar.
"Emily Harrison, who the hell were you with last night in the hotel? How could I have such a disgraceful daughter like you? I should have killed you when you were born! I regret raising you! Get back here right now!"
"Dad, how did you know I was in a hotel room with someone?"
"Do you think your dirty little secrets stay hidden? You disgraceful child, you’ve embarrassed me completely."
Emily explained, "Dad, I was drugged last night."
"Shut up! Making excuses for your shameful behavior? Just like your mother, no dignity at all!"
Emily’s heart clenched in pain.
She felt so wronged. Instead of caring for her, her father insulted her, accusing her of being undignified.
"Dad, it’s true..."
"Stop talking, get back here immediately! Don’t make me come get you myself."
With a sharp click, Edward Harrison hung up.
Emily curled up on the sofa, crying.
After a long while, she wiped away her tears, packed her things, and got ready to leave.
She glanced at the business card, but didn’t take it.
It was just a one-night affair.
There was no need to contact him again.
At the hotel front desk, she asked for the surveillance footage from last night’s banquet hall.
She was told the footage was broken and still under repair.
Her heart sank.
Without the footage, she couldn’t bring those who had wronged her to justice.
"Do you have the footage from the 36th-floor hallway?"
The front desk clerk responded, "Sorry, ma’am, the footage from the 36th-floor hallway was also broken last night."
Such a coincidence was impossible.
Emily knew in her heart that the person who framed her had erased the evidence.
Her anger burned.
She clenched her fists, her face cold as ice.
She walked out of the hotel, aimlessly wandering the streets.
After an unknown amount of time, she flagged a cab back home.
She knew exactly what kind of scene she was about to face when she got there.