Scarred by Your Love: A Contract Lover's Heartbreak

Ariella Rios was ravaged through the entire night.

Three years. She had long lost count of how many nights had ended like this-her body aching, her heart numbed, all because of the same man - Lucian Sterling.

Every time she whimpered in pain, he only grew rougher, as if her suffering fed some twisted desire in him.

Was it conquest that drove him? Or... was it love? She didn't know anymore.

They said the deeper the love, the wilder the passion. But if that were true, then why did his love feel more like punishment? Was it possible to love someone so much that you destroyed them in the process?

"Tell me, baby... you still want me, don't you?"

"Be honest. You'll never forget me - not in this lifetime."

"Remember this - no man touches you but me. Ever."

His voice still lingered in her ears, rough and low with heat - the kind of possessive whispers he breathed against her skin in the throes of passion.

Every time Ariella thought about it, her cheeks would flush crimson, her heart pounding like a traitor in her chest.

Dragging her exhausted body, Ariella showed up for Fiona Ross's wedding-her best friend. She hadn't met the groom before. Fiona insisted on keeping it a surprise. She hadn't even dropped a hint about who he was.

But nothing could've prepared Ariella for this.

The man Fiona just married was the same one who'd been in her bed last night-the man who'd shared her body for three whole years.

Lucian.

He liked his steak medium rare, had a faded birthmark on his thigh, and always frowned a little when thinking.

Ariella thought she knew him so well... Yet now she realized she didn't even deserve to know he was getting married. And of all people-he'd married Fiona.

Pain stabbed through her chest. Her fingers twisted together without her noticing. She wanted to scream at him, to ask how he could lie to her like this, but she knew she had no right.

Just for a second, she forced herself into calm. She slapped on a gentle smile, turning to Fiona with soft eyes, pretending everything was fine. "Congratulations, Fiona."

Fiona beamed, turning to her new husband. "This is my bestie, Ariella!"

Lucian looked at Ariella like she was a complete stranger. Cool, composed, not a flicker of recognition in his eyes.

"Hi, I'm Lucian," he said politely and reached out his hand.

Her palm was clammy with sweat, and the moment their fingers touched, she panicked and pulled back like she'd touched something scalding.

Ariella avoided his eyes. She was terrified one slip in her expression would tip Fiona off.

But Lucian? He was ice-calm, collected like always, not even a crack in his mask. Of course he wouldn't give anything away-not to the woman he just vowed himself to.

A strand of hair had stuck to Fiona's face. Lucian leaned in and gently moved it aside. He did it so carefully, like