Trembling, Melissa poured the wine. Jarrod downed glass after glass with effortless ease, quickly finishing two bottles.

The wine packed quite a punch. As the alcohol began to take its toll, Jarrod's vision blurred, and Melissa before him increasingly resembled Nicole, who once spent days and nights by his side.

Jarrod muttered, "Nicole... Nicole..."

It wasn't the first time Melissa had heard that name. From the very first time Jarrod had ordered her to spend the entire night with him, she was forbidden to utter a word. He simply gazed at her face. He forbade her from displaying any emotion. No laughter, no tears, and certainly no sound was allowed. Back then, she had understood that she must remain silent. Making a sound would shatter the illusion that she resembled that woman.

Jarrod's lids drooped, and he possessed deep-set eyes. His Lashes weren't particularly thick, but they were long, and his neatly trimmed hair gave him a suave, icy charm.

There was no denying that men like Jarrod exuded undeniable masculinity.

For individuals like Melissa, getting close to Jarrod was an impossibility. Yet, every woman had, at some point, envisioned herself as Cinderella, always hoping for a prince to come to their rescue.

Melissa poured another glass of wine and extended it to Jarrod.

That time, Jarrod didn't take the glass but raised his gaze.

Jarrod locked his eyes onto Melissa's face. As if enchanted, he lowered his head and downed the wine directly from the glass held in her hand.

Melissa turned away, preparing to refill the wine.

A sharp shatter of broken glass broke the silence.

Jarrod forcefully wrested the glass from her grasp. Then, he swiftly reached out, gripping her throat, and pressed her down onto the sofa.

The abruptness of the action left Melissa somewhat frightened as she stared at Jarrod with wide-open eyes.

Jarrod's cold countenance seemed to undergo a sudden transformation.

In a husky whisper, he murmured into Melissa's ear, “Nicole... Nicole...”

He uttered nothing else, merely calling Nicole's name. He continued to repeat Nicole's name, his voice rough and seductive.

Jarrod was slightly inebriated at that moment, and the deep affection in his eyes proved nearly irresistible.

Even though Jarrod called out another woman's name, the affection enveloped Melissa like a net descending from the heavens, trapping her. She was willing to be taken as another woman.

Unmindful of the peril that loomed within Jarrod, Melissa boldly extended her hand, encircling her arms around his neck, and slowly leaned in, her scarlet lips approaching.