Chapter One: Whispers of the Night

"Are you sure about this? I hope you won't regret it later," Layla Hammond heard the man say as she was about to unbuckle his belt. He softly took her hand, his eyes radiating a captivating spark in the faint night, reminiscent of a deep ocean glowing under the moonlight. She could sense the allure in his gaze, almost as if it were calling out to her like sirens, but she found herself irresistibly drawn to him. She teasingly traced her fingers along his chest and abs hidden beneath his slightly unbuttoned shirt. The man's flawless body emitted a charm that was tempting for her, who was new to such intimate things. Her hand reached towards his waistband while their breath started mingling. Brushing her lips against his neck, she teasingly whispered, "Why do you ask? Are you scared?" His gaze held a mix of hidden emotions in the endless darkness that left her guessing. Finally, it seemed like he was running out of patience. He grabbed the back of her head with a firm grip and kissed her fervently, dominating her mouth as his tongue explored eagerly. The overwhelming aggression sent a wave of panic through her, causing her to reflexively turn away. In a strange twist, the face of her ex-husband, Ashton Hayes, flashed in her mind. At that moment, Layla realized that there was no going back from that night. The thought of all the years of her feelings being disregarded made her feel like nothing was worth holding onto. After tonight, everything between her and Ashton would finally be resolved. Layla's thoughts drifted back to that afternoon three days before. The sunlight filtering through the trees created a dotted pattern on the coffee table, almost like splitting Ashton's face into pieces like her faded memories. "Layla, I think it's time we get a divorce. I can't deal with you giving me the side-eye like I'm some criminal. We both know our marriage was more about money than love. I was just out having a good time at the bar. Do you really think you can control me?" Ashton casually tossed the divorce papers onto the table before taking a sip of his coffee, seemingly indifferent to how she would respond. Ironically, they had first met years ago in this very cafe. "But hey, if you feel like apologizing now and humbling yourself, maybe I'll think about changing my mind." At that moment, Layla resolved to let go. She saw through Ashton's manipulation and wasn't about to back down. "Sounds like a plan to me," Layla responded with a grin, quickly signing the papers and grabbing her bag to leave. "I'm good with the terms. That's it. I wish us both well for the future." With that, Layla walked away without looking back. It was a defining moment of decisiveness for her. Ashton's mistress, who was there to stroke his ego, couldn't help but ask, "Wait, does this mean she actually agreed to divorce you?" "She's always playing hard to get, but I've had enough of her games. Plus, there's this whole thing with her mom's will saying she needs to have a kid to get her family's fortune. I don't think anyone else would marry her besides me." Ashton shrugged off the situation, taking a sip of his coffee. To him, Layla's "attempts" to get his attention were nothing new. It's just another failed strategy to make him cave in. Unbeknownst to him, Layla, who was not far away, overheard the conversation. Facing Ashton's harsh words, she simply grinned. Little did he know that Layla wasn't into playing games anymore. Three years of back and forth was more than enough for her. As Layla left the cafe, the warm sunshine shone on her, making her feel an unprecedented sense of relaxation. She glanced back at Ashton through the window. Their eyes met, and he flashed a smug smile before signing the divorce paper. Layla realized Ashton was still as immature as ever. While Ashton was technically correct about the inheritance stipulation, Layla pondered that maybe having a child didn't have to involve marriage. With that thought in mind, she dialed her assistant, Bruno. "Bruno, can you spread the word for me through your network?" "Sure thing, Miss Hammond. What's the message?" Ashton emerged from the cafe with his lover in tow, as if he hadn't just gone through a negotiation with his ex-wife and ended a three-year marriage. Witnessing this scene, a sly smile played on Layla's lips as she instructed, slowly and deliberately, "Spread the news far and wide that I'm willing to pay top dollar for someone to have a child with me." "You're not allowed to think about any other man while you're having sex with me." Sensing her distracted gaze, he intensified his caresses on her body. Layla only snapped back to reality when she was startled by the sudden intensity. She subconsciously wrapped her arms around his neck and locked eyes with him. "You're mine, at least for tonight," he said earnestly. Their lips met once more, his touch delivering a mix of pleasure and slight pain across her body. Layla let out a gasp of surprise as the sensations brought a touch of fear. Yet, he gently but firmly guided her hands around his neck, whispering, "Don't be scared." Gradually, Layla started to relax. A sudden sharp pain jolted her as he entered her body, shattering any control she had as tears streamed down her face. He wiped them away gently, planting a tender kiss on her cheek before asking, "Is this your first time having sex? Have you never been intimate with your ex-husband before?" Ashton had once made it clear he had no interest in sleeping with her, as their marriage existed solely as an arrangement devoid of any emotional connection. He even mentioned that he would rather sleep with his lover than lie in the same bed with her. After three long years of feeling like a neglected widow, Layla had built up walls around her heart that now threatened to shut out any new emotions. Pushing his hand away firmly, she rebuked, "That's enough! That's not something you should be prying into." Ignoring her warning, he cupped her chin and brushed his fingers against her lips, murmuring, "I can't help but feel sorry for him. He doesn't realize what he's missing." Layla felt a surge of emotion as soon as she locked eyes with him. Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer as they shared another deep, passionate kiss. The symphony of their breaths and mingling bodies filled the air as the night wore on.