“No! Let me go!” Xylia pleaded desperately.
Aciel only smirked.
“You like me, don’t you?”
Xylia froze in shock.
She never expected Aciel to realize her feelings so easily.
Seeing her reaction, Aciel’s smirk deepened.
“Since you like me,” he said arrogantly, “I’ll allow you to become my girlfriend if you satisfy me.”
His silver eyes darkened.
“You should feel honored. Most women beg me to sleep with them.”
SLAP!
The sound of Xylia’s palm striking his face echoed sharply throughout the penthouse.
Aciel’s head turned slightly from the impact.
Meanwhile, Xylia trembled with anger.
How could he treat her feelings so cheaply?
How could he look down on her like that?
“You’re an asshole!” she yelled furiously.
Tears immediately filled her eyes.
“My feelings aren’t that shallow! I’m not one of those women you can casually play with!”
Before Aciel could react, Xylia suddenly gathered all her strength and kicked him hard between his thighs.
Aciel immediately collapsed onto the floor with a painful groan.
Xylia didn’t waste another second.
She ran toward the elevator as fast as she could.
The moment the doors closed behind her, tears finally streamed down her face uncontrollably.
She felt so stupid.
So foolish.
Chelsea warned her about Aciel countless times, but she refused to listen.
And now— she finally realized how deeply she had fallen for him.
Her chest hurt unbearably.
As if her heart was being ripped apart from the inside.
Meanwhile, inside the penthouse, Aciel slowly sat up while wiping the blood from the corner of his lip.
The metallic taste only fueled his anger further.
Xylia was the first woman who had ever rejected him.
And also the first woman bold enough to slap him.
Aciel’s silver eyes darkened dangerously.
“I swear…” he muttered through gritted teeth, “one day you’ll beg for me.”
A dangerous smile slowly appeared on his lips.
“And when that day comes…”
His voice lowered darkly.
“I’ll make you mine, Princess.”
When the elevator finally reached the lobby, Xylia quickly wiped her tears away.
But the moment the doors opened— her entire body froze.
Her bodyguards were already waiting downstairs.
And seated calmly in the VIP lounge nearby— was her mother.
“Miss Xylia,” one of the guards said respectfully, “your mother is waiting for you.”
Xylia’s throat tightened.
She quietly nodded and forced herself to walk forward.
The closer she got to her mother, the heavier her chest felt.
It was like sinking into quicksand.
The nearer she moved toward her— the more trapped she became.
“M-Mother…” Xylia stammered nervously.
“You’re here…”
Her mother remained seated elegantly on the couch while a glass of champagne rested on the table beside her.
Despite being inside the lobby instead of the restaurant, the building still served complimentary drinks to VIP residents and guests.
Before her mother could speak— the elevator doors opened once more.
Xylia’s heartbeat instantly stopped.
Please don’t let it be him.
But the approaching footsteps behind her immediately destroyed that hope.
Aciel had followed her.
Her mother slowly lifted her eyes toward him.
The atmosphere instantly became suffocating.
Xylia panicked internally and quickly opened her mouth to explain—
But before she could say anything—
SLAP!
A sharp sting exploded across her cheek.
The force of the slap was so strong that ringing filled her ears instantly.
For a brief moment, Xylia could barely process what happened.
Then slowly— the burning pain spread across her face.
So this is what Aciel felt earlier…
“M-Mom… I-I can explain…” she whispered shakily.
“Enough, Xylia.”
Her mother’s voice remained calm.
Too calm.
And somehow, that made it even more terrifying.
“I don’t want excuses.”
She slowly stood up from the couch before continuing coldly,
“Tomorrow, Ivan Harlow will officially transfer into your class.”
Her sharp eyes narrowed slightly.
“And I expect you to welcome him properly.”
Xylia’s lips trembled violently.
Then came the warning she feared the most.
“What happened today never occurred.”
Her mother’s gaze turned icy.
“Do you understand me?”
Xylia’s knees weakened immediately.
The tone of her mother’s voice alone was enough to terrify her.
She slowly nodded without saying another word.
Satisfied, her mother finally glanced toward Aciel.
The warning in her eyes was unmistakable.
Then, without another word, she turned around and walked away.
Xylia quietly followed behind her without daring to look back at Aciel again.
Meanwhile, Aciel remained standing in the lobby with a deep frown on his face.
What the hell was that?
The first time he overheard Xylia and her mother talking inside the student council room, he already sensed something strange.
But after witnessing this scene personally— his suspicions only deepened further.
Something was terribly wrong inside the Antonov family.
And now— he wanted to uncover the truth even more.
Yes, he was furious at Xylia for rejecting him.
But strangely enough…
seeing her tremble in fear before her mother made him even angrier.
What exactly was she so afraid of?
And why would the Antonov matriarch treat her own daughter like that?
Later that evening, Aciel returned to the penthouse instead of going back to the university.
“Ivan Harlow…” he muttered coldly.
“Let’s see who this bastard really is.”
Aciel quickly searched Ivan’s name online.
Countless articles immediately appeared.
As he continued reading, his expression slowly darkened.
His earlier suspicion was correct.
Ivan Harlow was involved in a sexual harassment scandal involving two junior high school girls several years ago.
The evidence against him had been overwhelming.
But the victims’ families were powerless compared to the Harlows.
In the end— the case disappeared quietly.
Aciel clenched his jaw tightly.
Some articles even described Ivan as a sadist.
In one interview, Ivan openly admitted his interest in BDSM and proudly claimed he was searching for a woman willing to participate in his “lifestyle.”
He even joked about paying women for it.
Aciel’s expression became terrifyingly cold.
Why would the Antonovs choose someone like that for Xylia?
There were countless wealthier and more influential families in the city.
So why Ivan Harlow?
None of it made sense.
Something was definitely wrong with the Antonov Clan.
Aciel tossed his phone onto the bed before staring blankly at the ceiling.
He shouldn’t care about Xylia.
He hated her.
At least, that was what he kept telling himself.
But every single time he closed his eyes— he remembered her expression earlier.
That disappointed look on her face after he tried forcing himself onto her.
Aciel suddenly sat upright and ran both hands through his hair aggressively.
“Fuck…” he cursed under his breath.
No matter how hard he tried to ignore her—
Xylia continued invading his thoughts.
Her voice.
Her tears.
Her eyes.
Everything about her refused to leave his mind.
Frustrated, Aciel grabbed his phone again and immediately called Colt.
“Bring Martin to me,” he ordered roughly.
“Now.”
Half an hour later, Martin finally arrived at the penthouse.
Without greeting him properly, Aciel immediately threw several photographs onto the table.
“I want that woman,” he said coldly.
Martin frowned the moment he recognized the girl in the photographs.
“The Antonov princess?”
Aciel stared at him seriously.
“Yes.”
Martin’s expression immediately darkened.
“She was never included among the marriage candidates.”
Aciel narrowed his eyes.
“And why not?”
Martin remained silent for a few seconds before finally answering firmly,
“Because she’s off-limits.”
His voice turned serious.
“You can never have Xylia Antonov, Aciel.”
Then he looked directly into his eyes.
“So forget her.”