Two strong arms caught her mid-fall, sweeping her clean off her feet. She gasped, startled, and looked up.

Lorenzo.

“What the fuck?” she muttered.

He stared down at her, both stunned and pissed. “Did you just curse at me?” he growled. “Do you even understand what those words mean?”

“What, you think I don’t? I speak English, you arrogant ass.” She narrowed her eyes, unflinching. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

"There it is again," he muttered, clearly annoyed. “That mouth. Don’t use words like that. I’m not used to hearing it from you.”

“What’s it to you?” she shot back, squirming in his hold. “Let me go. Let me go, Lorenzo!”

But Lorenzo didn’t let go. He held her tighter and carried her straight to his car.

He slid into the back seat, pulling her into his lap.

Krystal fought him, twisting in his grip, trying to break free.

“Let me go, you maniac!”

His hands slid down her legs—checking her knees, her ankle, her thigh.

She slapped his chest. "Stop touching me, pervert!" she snapped, the alcohol slurring her voice slightly.

"Are you hurt?" he asked, ignoring her outburst. "You almost hit the pavement. Did you twist your ankle?"

“I said let go!” she hissed, trying again to break free. But he grabbed her jaw gently, turning her face toward him.

"You’re drunk out of your mind," he muttered. "Why the hell did you drink so much?”

She turned, glaring into his eyes and hissing, “None of your business. Let go of me.”

She reached for the car door, trying to escape, but he slammed it shut before she could, gripping it tight. In one swift motion, he yanked her closer to him, pulling the ribbon from her hair and wrapping it around her wrists, tying them together.

She twisted in his lap, her shocked eyes snapping up to his. “Are you insane? What the hell are you tying me up for? I’m calling the cops!”

His patience snapped. He grabbed her roughly, pulling her even closer, their chests pressed together, their faces just inches apart.

“Go ahead,” he growled. “Let’s see who dares to punish me for tying up my wife.”

She let out a shaky breath, visibly getting more agitated. Narrowing her eyes, she leaned in, wrapping her bound arms around his neck. Her lips brushed close to his ear.

Then suddenly, she slipped closer to his lips, her tongue flicking the corner of his lips. His body tensed instantly.

“Since I divorced you, I’ve had so many men around me.” She tilted her head with a smirk curling at the corner of her mouth. “Older, younger, pretty boys with abs and charm—calling me honey, baby, darling.”

His jaw clenched like stone, fury blazing in his eyes as he pinned her with a deadly stare.

“So you’ve been having a damn good time after leaving me, huh?” he snarled. “If you’re this lustful and foul-mouthed now, what the hell were you pretending to be for the last two years with me?”

She slowly pulled her arms back and muttered, “Yeah, I was pretending. Pretending to be sweet, kind, gentle. Pretending to love you. So what?” She raised a brow at him, challenging.

His fists clenched. His jaw was burning with tension as he stared at her like he could snap. “Krystal Moretti,” he bit out, “we’re stillfucking married.Did you forget that? And you’re out heremessing with other men? What do you think I—” He took a deep, shaky breath. “What do you think Grandpa is going to say when he finds out?”

She let out a small laugh, cold and careless. “You’re worried about what Grandpa will think of me? Did you think about him when you were hooking up with Esther? Aren’t you the one in love with her? The one having an affair? Then why the hell are you here bothering about me?”

Lorenzo swallowed hard, his eyes darkening with something deeper than anger. For a second, all his fury cracked, revealing pain.