The first time Seraphina encountered Rhett was in the hazy, dimly lit lounge. The man leaned back lazily against the sofa, his gaze warm yet heavy with temptation through the veil of silver-white smoke.

Her friend joked, "Seraphina, a man with that seductive, lethal edge—how long would it take to make him yours?"

Just as the words left her mouth, a soft sigh of disappointment echoed from his direction as yet another girl was politely rejected. In that brief span of time, it was already impossible to count how many women had been turned away.

Seraphina withdrew her gaze and smiled faintly. "Three months."

Seraphina had no idea that her words were relayed back to the man himself, word for word.

"What do you say to that? Three months?"

Rhett let out a low, mocking laugh. "She won't succeed."

Everyone burst into laughter, amused that a temptress like Seraphina might finally hit a wall. But only later did they realize that his words carried an entirely different meaning.

Prologue：

Seraphina was a creature devoid of patience.

He had to calculate the timing perfectly, plotting every single step to lure her into his trap.

During her high school days, Seraphina used to receive a bouquet of baby's breath every single day. Only much later did she learn the hidden language of the flowers he had gifted her—

"I am willing to be a background character, loving you in absolute secret."

The captivating, pure-hearted heiress X The dangerously seductive tycoon.

"I bring the stars of the entire universe to give to you, yet I still feel the galaxy falls short of your beauty."

Chapter 1

The moonlight climbed past the tree line as the city below ignited in a blaze of neon.

Inside, the soft, shallow sound of sleeping breaths filled the room. Massive, double-sided floor-to-ceiling windows framed an unobstructed view of the river, capturing the shimmering currents from the sixty-second floor, which felt closer to the clouds than the earth. The city’s electric pulse converged under the moonlight like a rushing galaxy.

She slept as if cradled by the stars and the moon.

Then, a relentless, alternating ringtone shattered the silence, ruthlessly dragging her out of the comfort of her sheets.

Seraphina groaned in annoyance, blindly reaching for her phone. Her fingers tapped haphazardly across the screen; she missed the power button entirely and hit the answer key instead.

Her best friend’s voice instantly blared through the speaker. "Why did it take you so long to pick up? Princess, don't tell me you’re still asleep."

Seraphina’s eyes fluttered between staying shut and forcing themselves open, her muffled, single-syllable response carrying a heavy note of displeasure.

"Yeah."

Sensing her irritation, the voice on the other end softened considerably. "Weren't you supposed to come check out the new lounge tonight? It just so happens the high school alumni association is meeting up. You coming?"

After a long pause, Seraphina slowly pushed herself up in bed, the silk duvet sliding down to expose a sliver of her pale, flawless shoulders.

"Give me a minute to wake up."

She had pulled an all-nighter for a photoshoot and had only managed four hours of sleep.

Chloe knew her routine all too well. "You had a falling out with your studio, didn't you? Honestly, that trash place was never a good fit for you anyway. You’re a literal heiress—working for someone else just to deal with their drama makes zero sense."

Seraphina was a photographer, represented by a prominent fashion studio. Her income was tied directly to her bookings, but since she took a laid-back approach to her career and rarely accepted commercial gigs, the clients usually chose other photographers. They certainly didn't lack staff.

A few days prior, her boss, Mr. Harrison, had called her into his office. After a long, rambling lecture, he started insulting her, attempting to psychologically dominate her before crossing the line into blatant sexual harassment.

Seraphina had remained perfectly composed. With a gentle smile in her beautiful eyes, she offered a polite apology while smoothly dislocating her boss’s arm.

His agonized shrieks immediately drew a crowd of coworkers outside. Seraphina, completely unbothered, calmly pulled open the office blinds.

Under the watchful eyes of dozens of employees, while her boss gritted his teeth and screamed, expecting her to scare and let go, Seraphina did something entirely unexpected. In front of every single witness, she gracefully dislocated his other arm.

Chloe still laughed every time she thought about it. Seraphina might look like a delicate, soft-spoken girl, but she had been reckless and fiercely independent her entire life. No one dared to cross her.

Seraphina felt a bit more awake now. She slipped out of bed to get ready. "Where’s the venue?"

The lounge was newly opened by one of her wealthy acquaintances. She had agreed to step in as a temporary manager under the pretext of being unemployed and having nothing better to do, though it was mostly a favor to lend the place some elite prestige.

Chloe gave her the address. "I already sent a car for you. The Riverview Penthouses really lives up to its reputation. Even if you have the money, getting a place there is impossible. The security gate has four separate checkpoints. Since you didn't pick up, the driver was just circling outside until guards came over to demand his ID."

Seraphina’s residence was a lavish, multi-level penthouse suite, occupying the most expensive real estate in the city.

She sent a quick message to her concierge to let the car in.

"Get over here soon," Chloe surged. "The lounge is packed with attractive guys tonight. The crowd quality is insane. There’s one guy in particular—unbelievably wild. Exactly your type."

/

An hour later, at M2 Lounge.

As Manhattan’s newest nightlife hotspot, the venue combined a live music space with an upscale bar, easily topping the charts for luxury spending. The air was thick with smoke and a deafening beat. Stepping inside felt like plunging into a swirling vortex of pure adrenaline.

"I thought you said Seraphina was coming! Where is she?"

"Just be patient. An heiress like her always makes a grand entrance. Here, take my phone—I dare you to call and rush her."

"..."

The next second, the dim lighting at the entrance seemed to part.

A young woman stepped into the venue, walking against the light. She wore a pale pink slip dress, its delicate straps accentuating her flawless neckline, while the tailored fabric hugged the elegant contours of her silhouette. Her dark hair fell in lazy waves around her face, framing exquisite features. Her clear, captivating eyes crinkled with amusement, giving her the vibrant, fresh allure of a ripe peach.

With a gentle tilt of her lips, she effortlessly commanded the room.

She was the perfect blend of innocence and pure seduction.

A total temptress.

From the moment she entered, every man’s gaze followed her steps. Chloe casually scanned the room, counting at least four guys whistling under their breath, not to mention the dozens of eyes locked onto her.

"Sorry I'm late. I stopped to order drinks for everyone," Seraphina said, her voice soft and melodious, like the gentle warmth of spring.

At the edge of the dimly lit room, a fleet of glowing carts carrying Ace of Spades champagne lined up, prompting hushed exclamations from the crowd about just how much a display like that costed for a single evening.

Faced with such a vision, no one cared about the expense or the flimsiness of her excuse. Nobody wanted to ruin the mood.

"It’s been so long, Seraphina! You haven't changed a bit—still stunning and incredibly generous," a young man said, standing up to raise his glass to her.

The crowd naturally started teasing him. "Wow, if I remember correctly, our Class President used to have a massive crush on Seraphina back in the day. Feeling nostalgic, are we?"

The young man glanced at Seraphina, his tension evident, though he didn't deny it.

"It’s been years. I doubt she even remembers who I am."

The crystal glasses clinked softly.

A brilliant spark of amusement danced in the corners of Seraphina’s eyes, her voice carrying a sultry, teasing cadence. "The Class President was always so sweet to me. How could I ever forget?"

She spoke as if stating a simple fact, yet her words felt deliberately intoxicating.

The young man froze for a few seconds, his ears flushing crimson as he downed his drink in one go, unable to tell whether it was the alcohol or his racing pulse making him feel so lightheaded.

Chloe let out a quiet whistle, amused by how effortlessly the siren was stirring up trouble. "Be honest with me. Do you even remember his last name?"

Seraphina cast a casual look over the gathering. "I don't remember a single person here."

"Then why did you just..."

"I had to give him a graceful way out," Seraphina replied idly.

Her memory for faces had always been average at best. It had been seven years since high school graduation; she would have to be a psychic to remember everyone. If the reunion hadn't happened to be hosted at M2 Lounge, she wouldn't have shown up at all.

"..."

Seraphina had been the undisputed center of attention during her school days, surrounded by endless rumors, so it was inevitable that the conversation at the table eventually drifted back to her.

Someone asked, "So, Seraphina, what are you up to these days? You transferred out so suddenly right before the final exams, and nobody heard from you after that."

"She’s a photographer," the Class President answered quickly, eager to defend her. "An incredibly talented one."

"Well, of course she’s talented," another voice piped up, laced with veiled sarcasm. "Some people get to treat a career like a hobby. Didn't someone track down the production cost for her famous photo series? It was at least two million dollars. Spending two million on a single shoot—must be nice."

Chloe couldn't stand the passive-aggressive tone. "That specific piece was permanently acquired by the San Francisco Asian Art Museum. Do you even know what an elite institution like that represents?"

"..."

The speaker doubled down. "Still, it helps when you can rely on family connections to get to the top."

Another alumnus, who seemed relatively well-connected in local business circles, added, "But didn't Seraphina just have a huge fight with her agency? The CEO has been telling everyone he was assaulted by his own staff. The rumors are pretty wild."

Assaulted? The boss?

The table went quiet, shocked by the sheer audacity. They knew she could be high-handed, but no one realized she was capable of something so fierce.

Seraphina’s gaze drifted toward the girl who had mentioned 'family connections.' It was a slow, unbothered look, but it made the girl visibly flinch.

"Don't worry, I don't use my family's connections to handle people," Seraphina murmured with a light, amused laugh. "I just go by my mood."

"..."

Chloe, well-acquainted with Seraphina’s temper, smoothly steered the conversation back to safety. Still, Seraphina’s subtle threat had worked beautifully; no one dared to utter another disrespectful word.

The reunion quickly grew boring for Seraphina, consisting of nothing more than replaying past events she had zero recollection of, interspersed with guys trying to subtly ask for her contact information.

Chloe nudged her elbow. "Let's focus on something interesting."

"Hmm?"

"Look up. Second floor, nine o'clock direction."

The second floor of M2 Lounge was far more exclusive than the main level, restricted to high-profile clients with spending minimums that kept the casual crowd out. It was reserved strictly for the city's true elite.

Peering through the hazy shifting lights and the layers of the crowd, Seraphina’s eyes were instantly drawn to the man sitting in the center booth.

Amidst the decadent, chaotic ambiance, he leaned back lazily against the leather sofa. He had broad shoulders and long legs, his crisp white dress shirt undone at the top two buttons, exposing the sharp lines of his collarbone and hinting at the powerful physique beneath.

He was casually playing with a silver lighter, his dark, piercing eyes completely devoid of warmth. He exuded a dangerous, untamed aura—like a wolf surveying its territory.

Yet, it was precisely that lethal edge that made him utterly irresistible to women.

Chloe whispered, "Isn't he magnificent? That raw masculinity and wild energy... he's the kind of man you just want to ruin yourself for."

Seraphina smiled faintly. "He looks like he’s not an easy catch."

The booth wasn't lacking company. Several stunning women in revealing dresses were already attempting to catch his attention, their intentions written clearly in their eyes.

With a sharp click, a flame flared to life, illuminating the sharp, masculine angles of his jawline.

He accepted a drink from a gorgeous girl, his lips curving into a faint, devastatingly handsome smile. Through the veil of silver smoke, his gaze seemed warm, almost intimate.

That look.

It was the kind of look that could entice a woman to follow him blindly into the dark.

Even from a distance, Seraphina could imagine the deep, velvet timbre of his voice as he spoke to her, a resonant tone that would make any woman’s heart flutter.

Unfortunately, it was nothing more than a polite gesture. He accepted the glass, but offered nothing else.

One woman after another approached, only to be met with the same elegant rejection.

Chloe remarked, "His difficulty level is maxed out. Those girls were gorgeous, and he didn't even blink."

"Who says he didn't?" Seraphina countered smoothly. "He took their drinks, didn't he?"

"But he never actually drank them," Chloe pointed out. "He hasn't touched a single glass."

Seraphina watched as the rejected women reluctantly moved away, their eyes still lingering on him, desperate for even a fraction of his genuine attention.

Yet the man remained entirely indifferent, casually watching the smoke curl from his cigarette.

The warmth they thought they saw was nothing more than a beautifully crafted illusion.

Seraphina smiled, keeping her thoughts to herself.

To offer a polite, lingering hint of intimacy while delivering a cold rejection—that subtle charm was sharper than ice.

She continued to watch him, and as if sensing her gaze, he suddenly raised his eyes, his sharp look locking directly onto hers.

Stripped of the hazy nightclub lighting, his dark eyes were cold and deep, reminiscent of a vast, stormy ocean at night.

You couldn't see the horizon, nor could you fathom the depths.

But Seraphina possessed a rebellious streak. The harder someone was to read, the more she wanted to unravel them.

She refused to break eye contact. The man’s eyes crinkled slightly at the edges, shifting into an intense, suffocating depth that felt like an invitation.

It seemed as though a single misstep would drag her down into a bottomless abyss.

Seraphina curved her lips into a radiant smile, boldly returning his silent challenge.

"What are you two looking at?" Chloe asked, shivering slightly at the sudden intensity of Seraphina’s smile.

"Nothing."

Chloe’s interest was piqued. She teased, "Seraphina, a dangerous, intoxicating man like him—how long would it take you to bring him to his knees?"

Seraphina rested her chin in her palm, her slender fingers tapping lazily against her cheek like a cat playing with its prey.

Whenever Seraphina made that gesture, Chloe knew trouble was brewing.

The silk straps of her dress exposed the smooth, pale curve of her shoulder blades, matching the sudden flash of desire in her eyes, as if she were about to spread her wings in this dark space.

"Three months," she said.

Outside, a sudden rain began to fall, fracturing the reflections on the glass.

Whether it would end in seduction or surrender, no one could tell.