Brian stood in front of the window, overlooking the garden below. An inner turmoil was going on inside him. The room was dark and the only light came from the lit cigarette held between his fingers. His jaws were clenched together making his aura look more domineering. His mind darted to the thought of that woman he had made his wife. He couldn't understand how she could affect his heart so much. When he saw her at the coffee shop, getting cozy with that man, something unusual shifted inside him. It surprised him more when she allowed that man to hold her hand and touch her hair. The way she smiled at him, it made Brian unreasonably angry. His phone rang suddenly. He glanced at the screen before answering the call. "Jaime, how is it going? Have you got any information?”. "Mr. Clark, his name is Toby Brown, the Deputy CEO of Smith Group," Jaime answered. Brian had asked him to investigate this particular person without telling him the reason. Jaime was slightly confused. They had no business relationship with the Smith Group. Why was Brian interested in the Smith Group's Deputy CEO?. "Toby Brown? The Deputy CEO of Smith Group. " Brian repeated Jaime's words. His eyes narrowed at the mention of Toby's name and position. Toby. Wasn't this the same man she was mentioning that night? Apparently she missed him so much. "Yes, he joined the Smith Group three years ago. After his engagement with Molly Smith a year ago, he had been promoted to. the Deputy CEO post a month ago. Toby is close to the Woodsen family as well. " Jaime informed Brian. It wasn't difficult for him to investigate and find everything about Toby. He thought, perhaps, it was because of the Woodsen family, and Toby's relationship with them that Brian asked him to find out. details about Toby. Brian fell silent. So these two were childhood friends turning lovers. Although Toby was engaged to Miss Smith, he still met with Arlene. Perhaps, he didn't love his fiancee. "Mr. Clark?”. When Brian didn't respond after a long time, Jaime called out his name. "Send his details to me by tomorrow morning. Brian wanted t o know everyth ing about him. Ayla still wasn 't over last ni ght's incident. Standing in front of the mirror the next morning, she observed t he marks Brian left on her skin

She chose a high-neck ed dress and a coat to cover up those marks. When Ayla left her r oom, Maria was the f irst one to see her. She looked at Ayla and noticed how h aggard she looked. In the morning, when Maria was cleaning the villa she saw the mess in the dining room and guessed what might have happened . last night. The servants’ house was at a certain dis tance from the main villa. Unless Brian called them urgently via the intercom, they were not a llowed to come over past midnight. "Mrs. Clark, are y ou okay?" Maria a sked with concern. Ayla nod ded. "I' m fi ne. She couldn't hide in her room forever. She'd have t o face it sooner or later. Maria fe lt sorry for her. "Mrs. Clark, you look ti red. I am making breakfas t. Please wait a little. A few minutes later, Brian c ame downstairs. He stood at the lowes t step of the stairs and called, "Arlene!" . Ayla was sitting at the dining t able, face down. She was, in fact, slightl y distracted. "Ar len e!" . When she didn't respond, he ra ised his voice. It was evident that he was disp leased with her. Ayla jumped up in fright and turne d around at once. She froze se eing him sco wling at her. She was still scared by w hat happened last night, b ut she couldn't avoid him. She walked tow ards him in tr embling steps. "Mr . Cla rk. Her vo ice wa vered. Glancing at his indignant face, she realized it'd be useless t o try to explain things to him. Because he w ouldn't belie ve it anyway. Also, he was a dange rous man and she sho uld never offend him. "Are you planning to meet your lover again today? Aren't you satisfied already after yesterday?" Brian noticed the clothes she . wor e to day. She wore a high- necked dress and a coat to cover the marks he del iberately and intentionally left. "I wo n't go out. Ayla knew that he wouldn' t let her go out today. So , she gave in voluntarily. Bria n no dded

"G oo d. Then he sneere d, "Make me a cup of coffee. "Ye s, s ir. Ayla immediately went to the kitchen and pr epared coffee for him. She didn't know how he liked h is coffee to be. So, she asked Maria a nd made the coffee as per her instruction. Few minutes later she served a cup of coffee in front of him and stood aside like a servant. She dreaded his reaction . What if he would be dis satisfied with the taste? . "Arlene, has Clayto n called you recentl y?" Brian asked her. Clayton love d his daught er the most. He must have contacted her. H e must have discussed his es cape plan with his daughter. Ayla tensed up at the sudden mention of Clay ton. She shook her head. "No, he didn't c all me. Clayton would never call her. She'd never be equal t o his biological daughter. " No ?" . Raising his eyebrows, Brian asked, "So, he won't try to stop me and let me do whatever I want to you? If he hasn't yet called you, . it means, he doesn't even care for you an d your well-being. No matter how you are l iving, he doesn't care. So, you want me to . believe that Clayton doesn't love his only daughter? Alright, I might even believe that lie. But you can't forget that you have been . sold to me. Without my permission, no one can touch you. Ayla clenched her fists, but said nothing. Brian continued, "If you dare to go out an d try to meet another man again, I'd give you two choices only. Either Clayton dies or . To by . Ayla's face turned pal e when she heard the l ast sentence of Brian. How did he find o ut Toby's name? H er blood ran cold. Would he make Toby lose everything he had now? At that exact time Jaime came in with the documents of Toby. He saw Ayla standing aside with a pale face and gave her a smirk. As he handed the documents to Brian , he said, "Mr. Clark, here are the documents of Toby that you wanted. Brian picked up a p hoto of Toby and lo oked at it intently. "This man has a fiancee, do you know that?” . Although he said the words in a flat t one, they dropped on her like a bomb. Sh e couldn't even stand steadily anymore