Lydia looked outside. The once-bustling street was now eerily quiet. It was rush hour. Vendors should have been seizing the moment to rake in profits, not closing shop all at once. The only explanation? Eugene had orchestrated it all.”You’re truly despicable,” Lydia’s disgust deepened.Eugene, far from being ashamed, looked proud. “Thanks for the compliment. I paid each vendor two thousand dollars to clear out. Now, you have two options: willingly be with me, or be forced to.” One way or another, he was determined to have Lydia.Lydia’s hand moved to her bag’s zipper as she scoffed. “I’m not choosing either.” S~ᴇaʀᴄh the ƒind ηøᴠel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.She was human, not about to be treated like a captive animal. Eyeing her chance, she began to unzip her bag to retrieve her pepper spray, but Eugene moved in, wrapping his arms around her from the side.He buried his face in her hair, inhaling deeply. “Mmm, you smell amazing, my dear. You’re getting your divorce next week, right? How about you marry me on the same day?””Get away!” Lydia kicked backward, trying to land a blow.But Eugene anticipated her move, grabbing her leg and running his fingers along it. “Looks like you’re eager to be with me already. I want you so badly. Let’s just make it happen right here. It’ll be thrilling.”He’d originally planned a lavish night for her a luxury hotel, a bed scattered with rose petals, a starry ceiling, a romantic dinner, and candles. But Lydia was being “difficult.” A wild cat like her needed to be “tamed” to learn her place. “Eugene!” Lydia fumed. “Do you realize you could go to jail for this?”Eugene laughed even harder, hishand inching up her leg. “Once we’re husband and wife, would you really be able to send me to prison? By tomorrow, you might already be carrying my child. You’d never denyyour own child a father.”His tone was smug, certain. To him, a woman would ultimately cave, softened by the bond with her child, no matter how tough she claimed to be.”Eugene, I truly regret ever beingfriends with you. Calling you ananimal is an insult to animals,” Lydiahissed, realizing just how much stronger he was. She couldn’t pull her leg free, so she frantically fumbled inside her bag for her pepper spray. She knew it was in there, but the more panicked she felt, the harder it was to find it.”I never wanted to be just your ‘friend.’ I want you,” Eugene sneered, even running his tongue along her calf.The wet sensation made Lydia’s skin crawl. She nearly vomited.Finally, she grasped the pepper spray. However, before she could pull it out, a man burst into the alley, landing a hard kick on Eugene. HePinned Eugene against the wall, fists raining down on him. “Quincy?” Lydia blinked, hardly believing her eyes. It really was him.He had appeared like a hero, saving her from the nightmare she was trapped in. “Run!” he commanded.