In the dimly lit corner of the nightclub, Ella faced Eden's condescending expression. He was reeking of alcohol and also carried a faint smell of tobacco.

In the past, Ella used to dislike the smell of cigarette smoke and was glad that Lucien didn't smoke. She believed him to be the cleanest man in the world, as he was not addicted to alcohol, didn't smoke, and didn't indulge in gambling. He was polite and courteous to everyone.

But now she knew that the vilest parts of a man were the parts you couldn't see.

Ella's throat tightened slightly as she started to grow anxious.

This situation was entirely different from the encounter they had in her back garden earlier tonight. Back then, Eden was angry, but right now? This wasn't just anger. This was something threatening.

Strangely, she didn't find the smell of tobacco stinky at all. Instead, it was a scent that was so deliciously masculine.

Eden was truly a demon on earth.

"Miss Ford," Eden's voice was magnetic and seductively enticing, "Did you use tongue?"

"Huh?" Ella was taken aback by Eden's sudden question. She didn't understand what he meant.

At that moment, all of Ella's senses were intensely focused on the hot breath coming out of Eden's mouth. It was so close that it hit her face, leaving her feeling parched and speechless.

"Did you use your tongue when you kissed Lucien earlier?" He asked, though he didn't sound like his usual self.

Ella's eyes turned cold.

How could this bastard say that so… openly? And with such a straight face?

"I don't like it," Eden mumbled when she still didn't respond.

Ella was confused. She wasn't sure if what Eden didn't like was using her tongue or simply kissing Lucien at all.

Suddenly, she felt his soft lips against hers, and her whole body tensed.

For a long moment, Ella couldn't tear her eyes away from Eden's face. She observed him closely, taking in the details of his features. His long, thick, and upturned eyelashes caught her attention, and she noticed how delicate and flawless his skin appeared, without any visible pores. Ella couldn't help but wonder if this was the kind of skin a man should have.

Just then, Ella remembered something Cendy said a while ago. That Eden was a sub…

If that was really true, then he would be the world’s most beautiful sub…

"Mmm..." Ella's heart fluttered.

For a moment, it was a simple kiss. Eden's lips were pressed against hers. Neither of them moved, savoring the feeling for a few seconds.

Then, Eden opened his mouth just enough to bite Ella's lower lip.

Ella clenched her fists. Eden's mouth tasted of wine, and instead of feeling disgusted, Ella starts feeling like she might be getting drunk on his lips alone. She knew she should resist, but she couldn't. She didn't want to.

Eden's tireless kiss lingered for a long, long time. When he finally pulled away, Ella's lips were red and swollen, and her face was so red that she wouldn't be surprised if her nose started bleeding.

She never expected this—never thought she'd let Eden kiss her—but now she wanted it. Ella wanted to kiss him again, to kiss him deeply.

Even though they had pulled apart, Ella could still feel the lingering touch of his kiss.

Her eyes glazed over and her heart started racing. Eden's slender fingers gently stroked her lips. Right now, this sweet tenderness was completely different from the man she knew.

Whether this was Eden's raw and vulnerable self, or this was a brief lapse in Eden's reserved and domineering nature, this man was foreign to her.

His gorgeous lips parted, and he said, "Such soft lips… Don't let another man touch them anymore."

Underneath his gentleness, there was a fiercely possessive instinct, and it was almost impossible to resist.

It took a few minutes, but Ella finally came back to her senses. Eden truly lived up to his reputation after all.

How did she get addicted to his lips so quickly? She couldn't have pushed him away if she wanted to…

But at last, she was able to compose herself.

"Eden, we might've agreed to marry, but we don't belong to each other," Ella reminded him.

The gentleness on Eden's face vanished instantly, and his expression turned cold, showing a shadow of the man Ella remembered from before.

"So you're rejecting me," Eden said coldly.

"I'm only reminding you," Ella replied calmly, "I don't want you to have a misunderstanding."

Eden's face darkened.

Ella pretended not to notice Eden's displeasure and continued to speak matter-of-factly, "In short, regardless of whether it's before or after marriage, we should respect each other's lifestyles. You can continue wooing as many women as you'd like and I won't interfere. I only request that you keep your distance from me."

"So I can put my hands on thousands of other women once we're married, but I'm not allowed to touch a hair on your head. Is that right, Miss Ford?"

"With a life as interesting as yours, I'm sure you wouldn't want to turn your back on a forest for one crooked tree."

"You don't know me. What makes you so sure?" Eden asked. His tone shifted into something more defensive.

"Because I won't let myself belong to another man again," Ella told him straightforwardly.

She wouldn't fall in love again.

Ella reflected on her past experience in love, realizing how deeply she had been hurt and cheated in her previous life. After trauma like that, she had no desire to be emotionally involved with anyone, including Eden. To her, their relationship was simply a business deal, and once it was over, they would go their separate ways.

"I'll give you a golden future, Eden," Ella had promised him, but she didn't need anything from him in return. As long as she didn't fall in love with him, she was invincible.

Besides, she probably couldn't fall in love even if she wanted to.

Eden's laughter had an alluring yet unsettling quality to it. As he stepped away from Ella, a smile played on his lips, leaving her with mixed feelings. There was something about that step back that made Ella sense an aura of nobility and gentlemanliness emanating from him, deep within his very being.

Eden held a genuine respect for her, unlike Lucien.

"A 'golden future' isn't all I want," Eden said.

Ella stared at him expectantly.

"I want…" Eden trailed off. He couldn't bring himself to say it.

She just looked at Eden and turned away.

His tall, upright posture gave him an air of shifting loneliness. This man certainly had a talent for acting.

But what if…

No. There was no need for her to think too hard about it.

In this life, she won't make the same mistake twice.