Chapter 1 A Night of Passion

"Charlotte, you're asking for trouble. Let go of me, now!" James Martin's eyes were covered, and his cold voice slipped through his clenched teeth.

In the lavish bedroom of the mansion, Charlotte Foster was straddling James Martin.

James, drugged and with his hands bound, felt powerless to resist as he could only angrily warn Charlotte.

But Charlotte paid no attention, quickly tearing his shirt open. James's bare chest and sculpted abs were on full display, and Charlotte couldn't help but run her hands over them. "Wow, you have an amazing physique. We're married, so it's perfectly normal," she said.

James fought with all his strength, but he was too weak to make any real effort. He exclaimed, "Charlotte, you're playing with fire. Let me go now! If you touch me today, you'll regret it for the rest of your life!"

Each word dripped with menace, causing Charlotte to instinctively pull away. She managed a smile and casually commented as she gazed at James, her expression a mix of conflicting emotions. The blindfold masked James's intensity, but his strong nose and perfect lips remained unmistakable.

Just as Charlotte was about to give up, memories of three years filled with neglect and mistreatment flooded back to her. A wave of determination surged within her, and with a firm resolve, she decisively pulled down James's pants.

She retorted, "Regret? After all we've been through as a couple, and we’ve never even slept together—now that would be regret!"

Charlotte couldn't bring herself to look into James's eyes, her gaze dropping down to his breathtaking abs and the pent-up desire that demanded release. She reached out, gently gripping him, marveling, "Don't rush; I'm here to comfort you."

"You!" James growled, seething with anger. "Charlotte! This is your last warning—stop now!"

Marrying Charlotte was never part of his plan, and he certainly didn't want anything intimate with her. But he never imagined that the usually meek and timid Charlotte would have the guts to drug him and tie him up!

If he had known she was capable of such boldness…

Charlotte remarked, "Alright, just shut up. You keep repeating yourself. You might as well relax and enjoy it; you won't be at a loss for it."

She continuously reassured herself. It was fine, once tonight was over, it would all be behind her. At least it would provided some closure for the three years of neglect she had endured.

James struggled relentlessly, quickly finding a way to loosen his bindings. While it was difficult to break free with sheer strength, untying himself proved to be easy.

But just as he was about to free himself, he suddenly felt something soft against him. His expression went blank in an instant. The sensation was unfamiliar, yet it stirred a deep longing within him, especially with such warmth cradled in his arms...

"Charlotte, you're going to regret this!" James loathed being forced into anything. He was determined that Charlotte would pay the price for her actions.

"That hurts..." Charlotte suddenly paused, leaning against his chest, her body trembling slightly. "You’re just too much..." Her delicate, beautiful face twisted in pain. She had binge-watched a lot of instructional videos in preparation for their intimate time today. Why had no one ever told her it would hurt this much?

Charlotte gritted her teeth and shifted slightly, but the pain made her let out a soft whimper.

"What's wrong? Is that all you've got? We're just getting started!" James sneered, his breathing uneven. He moved his arm, realizing that the knots had somehow loosened. Just as Charlotte tried to re-tie the ropes, it was too late.

In an instant, James flipped over and pinned her beneath him, claiming the upper hand. His gem-like eyes burned with desire and aggression as he grabbed Charlotte's wrists. "Since you want this, I'll make it happen!" he said.

Charlotte struggled in pain, her eyes glistening with tears as she sank her teeth into James's shoulder.

At that moment, James resembled a battleship breaking through her icy exterior.

Charlotte's eyes reddened, resembling a broken yet vibrant poppy, stirring pity with just a glance.

In the end, James bent down and kissed away the tears at the corners of her eyes.

The roaring passion softened, flowing like a gentle spring stream.

When it was all finished, James slipped into a deep, peaceful sleep.

However, Charlotte looked at the kiss marks on her body and let out a self-deprecating smile before quickly getting out of bed to change her clothes. James truly didn’t love her, not even willing to spare her an ounce of tenderness. She didn’t glance at him again.

An unloving marriage didn’t warrant any lingering attachment, and she had lost completely in this union—she accepted that! After tonight, she and James would have nothing to do with each other; any future encounters would be like strangers.

Before dawn broke, Charlotte, dragging her weary body, left the signed divorce papers behind and walked out of the city without a second thought.

She sat on a plane heading abroad, looking at the bustling night scene outside the window, feeling a deep bitterness.

She and James were bound to each other before they entered the world, as their grandmothers had been best friends.

However, the Foster family had lost their standing years ago, betrayed and brought to ruin in the blink of an eye.

Charlotte's grandparents died of depression, her father was forced to commit suicide, and her mother disappeared.

Her life plunged from heaven to hell in a single night, leaving her so poor that she couldn't even pay her school fees.

It was James's grandmother who gave Charlotte a new identity and funded Charlotte education.

On her deathbed, she made James vow to marry Charlotte and to always treat her with kindness.

Out of gratitude and love for James, Charlotte chose to give up her studies to embrace the role of a housewife.

This greatly disappointed her mentor, Brad Thornton.

On Charlotte's last day at school, Brad had told her that putting all her hopes on a man would only lead to disappointment.

But Charlotte was young and held on to the belief that love could conquer anything.

She believed that by giving her whole heart to James, she could eventually soften his icy exterior, but reality delivered a harsh wake-up call, and Brad's words proved all too prophetic.

Three years of constant neglect and disregard had left her deeply wounded.

The final straw came during the auction last week.

As Mrs. Martin, Charlotte wasn't even allowed to attend the auction alongside James. She could only watch the entertainment news at home, seeing James and Daisy Lynn together under the flashlights, hearing them hailed as a perfect match.

James even spent millions on jewelry for Daisy, making her feel like a cruel joke.

She had no regrets about her decision and was ready to face the consequences.

The divorce papers were her final act of dignity in this marriage.

When James woke up in the evening, rubbing his aching head, he was about to confront Charlotte but was shocked to see the divorce papers on the table.

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, six years had passed.

Today was the RNS Awards ceremony, the highest international recognition in biomedical research, and countless people dreamed of winning this prestigious award.

The host excitedly announced on stage, "Thank you all for attending this award ceremony. Let's welcome today's award recipient, Ms. Foster."

The lights changed instantly, and the spotlight fell on Charlotte in her gown.

She stood tall and elegant, her delicate face resembling a masterpiece cherished by the divine.

Wearing a golden gown, she walked step by step to the stage.

Brad, a gentle old man, smiled warmly as he draped the medal around her neck and presented her with the award.

He said, "Charlotte, I'm so glad you've found your way back. The pinnacle of your career should be your highest goal, not following a man around as his unpaid servant."

Charlotte held the trophy with both hands, her eyes brimming with emotion, as she reflected on the six years of hard work that had led her to finally prove herself by winning this award.

She nodded firmly and said with sincerity, "Thank you for believing in me all this time. I will keep pushing my research forward and won't stop here."

Brad responded, "That's great to hear. I have high hopes for you as well."

After the award ceremony, Charlotte returned to the research institute with Brad.

She was handling some paperwork downstairs and was a bit slow going upstairs when she suddenly heard Brad's exasperated voice. "Are you trying to dismantle the institute?"

Charlotte's heart tightened, and she immediately ran to the second floor.

Upon seeing the scene inside, she felt a surge of anger so intense that she nearly fainted.

Noah Foster and Andy Foster were both donning colorful cartoon suits, sitting on the floor amidst a chaotic array of scattered instrument parts.

It was the most expensive set of instruments in the entire institute, valued at nearly nine figures.

"What are you doing?" Charlotte rushed in with a stern expression on her face.

Noah's small, dirt-smudged face wore a serious expression as he held up a part. "Mommy, we're having a competition," he said earnestly.

Charlotte asked in surprise, "A competition?"

Andy chimed in, "Yeah, Mommy, Noah and I are competing to see who can assemble the instrument faster."

He spoke as he diligently worked on fitting a part together.

Noah and Andy were both children Charlotte had given birth to after arriving in Mirathia.

Charlotte never expected that James was so potent that a one-night stand resulted in triplets.

Sadly, the youngest daughter died early due to asphyxiation during birth.

Noah and Andy had shown an unparalleled interest in mechanical assembly from a young age, disassembling and reassembling almost all the furniture in the house, but now they had transitioned to the research institute.

Charlotte looked at their earnest, competitive faces and silently reminded herself. 'They're your own kids.'

She said, "We're going to reassemble the instrument together right now. And from now on, you are not allowed to enter the institute without my permission!"

Noah looked at her with big, sad eyes. "Mommy."

Yet Charlotte's expression remained firm. "No amount of pleading will change my mind. This is non-negotiable!" she exclaimed.

"Got it," Andy said, his expression equally dejected.

The instrument was quickly reassembled with their combined efforts, and just as Charlotte breathed a sigh of relief, she turned around to see Brad's serious face.

Brad said, "Charlotte, the institute's latest project is in Eldoria. It's crucial for the future direction of our research, and you are the most suitable person to oversee it."

Charlotte's face turned pale at the mention of Eldoria, knowing that James was there.