Adam winced from the pain. Celine was still there—always there. With a swift motion, he pushed her back onto the couch; her body sank into the cushions. Just as she was about to sit up, his tall, imposing frame pressed down on her, pinning her against the couch. Celine’s hands pressed against his firm chest as she frowned. “Adam, what are you—”

Before she could finish, her lips were sealed. Adam had lowered his head and captured her mouth in a deep kiss. Her eyes widened in shock. The last time they had been this close was back in that village, when he had forced himself on her. After returning, they had kept their distance. But now, his familiar scent—intense yet domineering—crashed over her again as he pried her lips apart and invaded her mouth. Celine felt her mind go completely blank.

“Adam, let go of me!”

She struggled fiercely, her hands pushing against his black suit jacket. Her fingers brushed against the cold metal of the tassel brooch pinned to his chest. The chilling sensation startled her for a second. Celine’s resistance seemed to have ignited something in Adam. His throat burned as he continued to claim her. Afterward, his lips slowly wandered to her cheeks and earlobes. “Adam, stop! What are you doing? We’re already divorced!” Her fingers reached for the buttons on her clothes.

Just then, a phone rang. Celine fumbled for her phone and glanced at the screen. It was a call from Perry.

“Adam, Perry’s calling. If you don’t stop, I’ll answer it right now.”

Adam pinched her cheek and let out a low chuckle. “So, you’re into this kind of kink?”

Celine frowned. “What did you say?”

Adam smirked, his gaze falling on the phone screen displaying Perry’s name. “Letting your new boyfriend listen in on a live broadcast of you and your ex-husband. Does that excite you?” Celine’s mind went blank. Shame and fury surged through her. How could he say something so shameless? Her clothes were already messed up, her shoulder exposed, and her hair in disarray. Meanwhile, Adam’s suit remained flawless, not a wrinkle in sight. He exuded his usual composed arrogance as he provoked her subtly.

“Go ahead, answer it,” he taunted. “Let Perry see who’s better—me or him.”

Celine was utterly speechless. She swung her hand and landed a harsh slap across his face. This time, he didn’t dodge. A crisp sound echoed in the room as his handsome face turned slightly. Slowly, he turned back to her and said, “That’ll be one time per slap. If you want to hit me again, then we’ll be doing it twice tonight?”

Celine was once again rendered speechless. Adam lowered his head. This time, he moved downward. She struggled, but with his weight pinning her down, it was impossible to push him away. Her hands tangled in his short hair, gripping it tightly and pulling his head away from her. “Adam, what the hell is wrong with you! If you need to satisfy your needs, why are you coming after me? Do you think I’m a pushover? There are many beautiful women out there. Don’t tell me you’re short on women. Why are you…” She really didn’t understand why he kept pestering her. That woman in the red dress tonight was so beautiful, her body so flexible and alluring. Why didn’t he take her home?

Instead of answering, Adam’s hand slid behind her, unfastening the delicate clasps of her lingerie. Celine bit her lip as Perry’s call continued ringing in the background. Without further hesitation, she rejected the call.