"Not only that, you’re also jealous of Su Yu, even jealous of Mira (Secretary Jin). It’s because... they’ve obtained things that you believe rightfully ought to be yours. That’s why you’re acting like a child who can’t get their candy, deliberately causing trouble, hoping to catch my attention, right? Little Annie of Manhattan."

Anne resembled a cat whose tail had been stepped on, those ever-wild eyes for the first time, showing a hint of panic after having all her thoughts seen through.

"What the hell are you talking about? That’s ridiculous!" (你他妈在胡说八道些什么?简直荒谬!)

She practically screamed in retort.

Tang Song reached out, gently lifting her delicate chin with his fingertips, a gentle yet irresistible gesture.

Forcing her to meet his gaze.

"You’re in love with me, Anne."

"When did it start? Let me think..."

"...Was it during those days at Huaqiao City in Shanghai?"

He paused, the pad of his thumb lightly rubbing over her full red lips.

"It seems your body is far more honest than your mouth."

"Don’t be so full of yourself, Song! (别太自以为是了,宋!) I admit, you do have a certain allure. But that’s purely physical, like... it’s like my interest in a well-cooked steak! That’s not love! Absolutely not!"

She attempted to deconstruct the emotion he exposed with a frivolous analogy to safeguard her dignity.

In her view, falling in love with a man, especially being publicly exposed as now.

It’s tantamount to announcing defeat in this game of mutual conquest, something she absolutely could not accept.

Tang Song’s hand slowly moved down, tracing her delicate collarbone, her heaving chest.

Finally, it came to rest on her waist, taut and flexible from years of fitness.

The distance between them instantly shrank to an imperceptible closeness.

The aggressive scent of top-tier perfume mixed with her own pheromones flooded his nostrils.

Tang Song gazed into her eyes that pretended calm, his voice softened, "You must understand one thing. To me, you’re interesting and useful, but you’re not irreplaceable."

Feeling the slight tremble in the body in his arms.

He continued, "For instance... your two sisters, who are always striving for attention at the Ivy League. They’re young, smart, and obedient."

"Ha! With them?! What qualification do they have to compare with me?" Anne laughed scornfully; her pride wouldn’t allow her to retreat for a moment.

"But you also came from that phase," Tang Song interrupted her, a deep and fathomless glint flashing in his eyes, "Anne, you’re ambitious and courageous; I admire that about you. So, I understand you very well, even more than you know yourself."

"You’re someone who refuses to stay put. For example, the summer of 2016, when you were fighting for control of the Kate family’s ’Emerging Markets Fund in Asia,’ the unscrupulous methods you employed against your more competent cousin..."

Tang Song’s words continued.

Anne’s pupils suddenly contracted, her body stiffened.

"And also, your secret apartment in London, the one covered in Mira’s college photos, and even containing the ballet shoes she once wore... Would you like Mira to visit it?"

Tang Song lowered his head, his warm breath softly grazed her ear’s outline, yet his voice carried a cold warning:

"I hate trouble. Anne, if you want to get what you desire from me, you must first learn to submit."

Time seemed to stand still.

Anne was rigid in his embrace, completely still.

A surge of inexplicable, shameful embarrassment mixed with enormous frustration exploded from her heart, rapidly spreading to every part of her body.

Her carefully painted red lips trembled violently, trying to say something in rebuttal.

But ultimately, she only managed to grit out, "Then what about you? Can you say you have no feelings for me at all? During those days in Shanghai, I could feel it, you liked me!"

She attempted to find some emotional solace in equality.

"First, tell me," Tang Song’s voice was calm and indifferent, as if her emotions weren’t even within his consideration, "do you understand my meaning?"

Anne met his gaze for a moment, finally lowering her head slowly.

Yet deep inside, the reluctance and anger were strangely replaced by an even stronger sense of pleasure after complete conquest.

The Tang Song before her was filled with extraordinary charm.

Scene after scene flashed rapidly through her mind.

As a large consortium existing for nearly a century, the Kate family gradually split into independent small units, with family members prioritizing self-preservation.

In the vast Kate family, neither she nor her father Creel were particularly outstanding.

To climb higher and get more, there was no choice but to use any means necessary.

Until she met this unbelievably powerful man in front of her through Mira.

With his meticulous "cultivation" and step-by-step covert arrangement, her life truly entered a "cheat mode."

Originally responsible for only a portion of the family trust business, she achieved remarkable success again and again in the unpredictable capital markets.

Subsequently, she deeply participated in founding Meditation Capital with spectacular performances, instantly earning a great name on Wall Street, becoming a significant figure in the global financial scene.

Ultimately, she emerged effortlessly as a prominent heir among many in the Kate family.

Successfully helping her father secure that management authority of the key trust symbolizing core power.

She and her family finally stood in the most eye-catching position within that giant family.

In her eyes, Tang Song was mysterious, noble, silent, and even ruthless,

Her feelings for him were worship, longing, and fear.

So, in reuniting with him, seeing his change, hearing about his romantic affairs, the long-suppressed desire for conquest within her completely erupted.

Perhaps also hoping to see a different side of him again.

And then... to be conquered.

She struggled to choke out, "...I understand." (我明白了.)

Hearing the response he’d wanted, Tang Song’s lips curled into a light smile, capturing her lips.

"Good girl. (乖女孩.) I like this version of you."

"Tonight, you’re just my audience; you can applaud, admire, but you’re not allowed any extra actions."

"Otherwise, I’ll be angry."

His lips were warm and soft, yet bore an irresistible strength, slowly grinding, tasting, as if inspecting conquered territory.

Anne leaned against him, forced yet indulgingly enduring.

Looking at his face, and his deep eyes.

A more intense than ever before, numbing current exploded from the point of their connected lips and teeth, quickly sweeping through her whole body! 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Her mind went blank, long eyelashes trembled ceaselessly, finally closing slowly.

"...Yes, Master..."

"So, what do you want me to do next?" (那么...接下来,你希望我怎么做?)