Chapter 3

Raven and I got into the car.

In the rearview mirror, Chloe stood rigidly, engulfed by our car's exhaust.

Raven always drove fast, but when she drove for me, she was always incredibly steady.

She turned down the music, glancing at the rearview mirror repeatedly.

"Young Master, this time, you won't leave me again, will you?"

I didn't answer her, just turned my head to study her.

Ten years hadn't changed her hair; it was still medium-length, a bit wild, and her sharp, intense eyes, now blinking, looked almost cute.

I couldn't even connect her to the little girl who used to cry and beg me not to leave.

Raven had been sent to my family's home when she was little.

I'd climb trees for birds, she'd hold the ladder. I'd curse, she'd hand me a knife. I'd skip school, she'd take the scolding for me...

We grew up together, played together. The day I was told I had to marry her, I completely lost it.

Who could accept marrying their childhood playmate, someone who knew all their embarrassing secrets?

You don't date your best friend, right? It's practically dating your sibling!

Without a second thought, I ran to find her. I thought she'd be on my side, like always.

But it turned out she was a shameless little bunny.

Her bedroom, which she never let me into, was plastered with my photos.

And she just stood there, staring at those pictures, her face flushed with a drunken haze.

"Raven!"

I only called her name once, and she shivered, her legs going weak.

I looked her up and down.

I was nineteen then, a shy and awkward age.

But she was like she'd been wild for decades, with even more experience in being crazy.

For every meal, she'd madly wag her tail at me.

Finally, I couldn't take her intensity anymore. I grabbed my suitcase and fled in a panic.

From the north to the south.

For ten whole years, I knew she was secretly watching me.

But this wildcat never made a sound.

Raven turned the steering wheel, pulling into a villa.

I was surprised for a moment. I hadn't realized she lived so close to me.

"Young Master, this is all the territory I've claimed for you."

Raven parked the car, her handsome face leaning closer, her eyes sparkling as she looked at me.

Her face practically screamed, *as long as the territory is big enough, Young Master will stay by my side.*

I really couldn't stand her silly antics, so I stepped out of the car, though a smile involuntarily tugged at my lips.

Inside the house, Raven followed me, chattering incessantly about what she'd done over the past ten years.

I couldn't stand her constant chatter, so I grabbed her collar and pushed her onto the bed.

But she, like a small leopard, flipped over, pinning me beneath her.

Through the thin fabric, her body heat scorched every inch of my skin.

She remained perfectly still, but her intense eyes grew brighter and brighter.

When she finally spoke, her voice was hoarse.

"Young Master, please, just this once, can you give yourself to me? Just once."

"Young Master, please, please don't hate me..."

Her wild boldness and restrained submission clashed intensely.

In her upturned, beautiful eyes, a wronged, pleading look was suppressed.