Married to Mason Crawford for two years, Summer Thorne became the city's notorious jinx.
As the legitimate Mrs. Crawford, she could only watch helplessly as her own family went bankrupt and her father was convicted, with no one willing to lend a hand.
Mason Crawford looked at her coldly: "Summer Thorne, do you think anyone in Valois would dare to help you if I didn't give the word?"
Everyone watched her hit dead ends everywhere, bruised and battered, standing by with cold indifference.
Until that snowy night in the deep mountains, she was tricked by others and left to walk alone in the snow, when a man on horseback galloped over, pulled her onto his steed, and wrapped her in his embrace.

*

The first time they met, she lit a cigarette for him;
The next time they met, he said, "Miss Thorne, how much are you planning to spend to buy me?"
Timothy York, a gentleman from a prestigious family—upright, dignified, aloof, and noble, a man who had never made a single misstep, praised by everyone in Valois.
Yet, on that one day, Summer Thorne was photographed leaving Timothy York's residence early in the morning.
The entire city was in an uproar.
The most unattainable flower of Valois had actually stolen another man's wife!

*

Everyone said Summer Thorne was a master of seduction, but they received Timothy York's four-word reply—
"I initiated it."
The wind rose in Sombren Forest, and snow fell into his arms.
From the very beginning, it was he who initiated it.

Summer Thorne took a small step forward, her eyes still fixed on him, stubbornly determined to get an answer.


Just then, a sound came from the room next door.


Timothy York's expression darkened. He grabbed Summer Thorne's wrist, pulled her directly into the room, and shut the door without a sound.


"Don't touch me!" Summer Thorne struggled to break free from his grasp.


But Timothy York just whispered, "Don't move."


As if bewitched, Summer Thorne actually froze.


And because of that, she clearly heard the commotion in the hallway outside—


Someone came out of the room next door. It sounded like two people, one after the other.


The two were arguing in hushed tones when a sudden SLAP echoed, as if one person had struck the other.


Immediately after, a woman's voice became clear—


"Jared Ellison, I didn't care how you fooled around before, but now you're even messing with Mina! You make me sick! You can wait for my divorce papers!"


Chapter 34 - Chapter 35: Timothy York: They Say I'm a Madman