Stephan's question from yesterday? Felicia remembered perfectly: "Felicia, did you steal my jacket that day?" He referred to the morning after the engagement banquet. She’d known he suspected her, but lacking evidence, she’d dismissed it. His persistence surprised her.

Felicia wasn't about to confess. Affecting innocence, she replied, "How could that be? Why would I steal your jacket? Mr. Russell, you must be mistaken." She silently congratulated herself. Stephan’s gaze held hers, but she remained unwavering. Her expression conveyed sincerity.

He was amused and angry. Stepping closer, he said, "Alright. Let me ask a different question then."

Felicia’s heart pounded. A bad feeling washed over her. "The person in my room that night... It was you, wasn't it?"

He advanced, trapping her against the wall. The once spacious room felt confined, the scent of disinfectant replaced by his faint, cool fragrance—surprisingly pleasant. Beside the six-foot-one Stephan, she felt small and vulnerable.

He pressed, "On the night of October 30th, at Pristine Hall, were you the one who barged into my room after I had been drugged?"

Felicia’s pupils dilated. It wasn't his bluntness, but his distortion of events that enraged her. "You shamelessly twisted your words! You dragged me in there! I haven't even gotten a chance to protest, and you're…" Her confession spilled out.

Realizing her mistake, she instinctively protected her neck, anger bubbling to the surface. "We're adults! It was a one-night stand, so why are you clinging to this? I won't be responsible for you, and I don't need you to be responsible for me! We owe each other nothing, so just forget about it!"

Sounding aggrieved, she muttered, "I'll just consider it a nightmare."

She didn’t notice the fleeting smile in Stephan’s dark eyes. But at her final words, his expression hardened. A nightmare? He thought. She was charming, but maddening.

Still fuming, she murmured, "Yes, it was like a nightmare. It's really no big deal…" Then, Stephan's gaze darkened. He gripped her chin, lowered his head, and silenced her with a kiss.