Chapter 2

My final memory was Lynda swinging a heavy pipe at my face, the raging flames engulfing everything, and the front door being kicked open as Arthur suddenly burst into tears.

"Quick! Save my girlfriend! Hurry! Yvonne! I can't lose you!"

"Ah!"

With a sharp gasp, I sat bolt upright in bed.

The space beside me was empty, save for the sound of running water coming from the bathroom.

I finally managed to calm my racing heart.

Calm down, Yvonne. Don't be afraid. That was twenty years ago.

Now, they are the ones who should be terrified of you.

The phone on the nightstand buzzed. Wearing my young boyfriend's oversized T-shirt, I slid out of bed and picked it up.

"Yvonne, your new identity is ready. Go get your revenge. I'll always have your back."

Before I could reply, a pair of strong arms wrapped tightly around my waist from behind.

My twenty-year-old boy wrapped himself around me, pressing warm kisses against my ear.

"Babe, who are you talking to?"

I smiled as I looked out at the city skyline through the floor-to-ceiling windows. I turned around and tapped his handsome nose.

"Behave, Ashton."

We were on the 52nd floor of a luxury hotel. Ashton and I leaned against the glass, admiring the glittering, neon-lit city below.

"Babe, come meet my parents with me. I can't wait anymore."

His large, warm hand slipped up under the hem of the oversized shirt, instantly melting my bones and making it hard to stand.

"Ashton, do you realize I'm twenty years older than you? Not two years, not twelve."

I gave him a playful push, but my sultry tone and the red-nailed fingers brushing against his chest only served to tease him further.

"Your parents will never approve of us. They'll throw me out and tell me to stay away from you. Honestly, they might even want to kill me for corrupting their precious son."

Ashton brought my fingertips to his lips, playfully nibbling them like an obedient puppy.

"I don't care, Yvonne. I'll protect you."

"If they don't accept you, they don't accept me."

"I'll handle them. Trust me."

Before I could protest, my words were swallowed by his passionate, almost obsessive kisses.

In my eyes, Ashton was like a wolf pup. Young, but possessing immense strength and sharp instincts. He definitely inherited his parents' best genes.

Naturally, he inherited their worst traits, too.

But that depended entirely on whether he was willing to be my weapon.

His warm, wet tongue traced my earlobe and slid down to my collarbone.

My forty-year-old body was covered in the marks he had left behind—a constellation of red and purple bruises marking our wild nights.

Ashton nipped at my tongue, murmuring against my lips, "Babe, we haven't tried it against the window yet."

"Be a good girl and play along. Let's put on a show for the whole city, okay?"

"It'll feel amazing."

It was incredibly thrilling. I had no reason to refuse.

Instead, I bit down on his tongue just hard enough to draw blood.

"Let's get one thing straight. In bed, I'll play along. But once we're out of bed, you're the one who has to be my obedient little dog."

Ashton chuckled hoarsely, a sound that sent a shiver straight down my spine.

He agreed without a second thought.

"Fine by me. I'll only ever be your dog."

Amidst our heavy breaths, a layer of condensation fogged up the glass window.

Before I drifted off to sleep, Ashton held my waist tightly, whispering in my ear as if terrified I'd forget.

"Tomorrow, please come meet my parents. I'm begging you, Yvonne."

I finally nodded.

"Oh, believe me... I can't wait to meet them either."