The strange sensations surged through her body in relentless waves, each one more overwhelming than the last. A low moan escaped her lips.

Annie’s hand shot up to cover her mouth, stifling the sound before it could escape further. Her eyes darted around the backyard, wide and frantic, scanning for any sign of movement. The last thing she needed was for someone to see her like this. Fortunately, there was no one behind her.

But she couldn’t afford to linger. She had to find a safe place—somewhere secluded, somewhere she could think clearly—and then get to a doctor.

She prided herself on being cautious, always alert, always in control. Yet here she was, caught off guard in the most humiliating way possible. Her thoughts raced back, trying to piece together the moments leading up to this.

Annie suddenly paused, her mind racing. Her breath hitched as a memory surfaced—Lois handing her a glass of cocktail. Could it have been that drink?

A cold, calculating look flashed in Annie’s eyes, sharp and unyielding. If Lois’s cocktail was indeed the source of this betrayal, then the Boyle family’s days were numbered.

However, she didn’t have time to think further. The heat surging through her body flared again, overwhelming and relentless, clouding her thoughts and dragging her back into the haze. Her vision blurred, and she clenched her fists, fighting to stay focused.

While Annie was lost in her thoughts, she had reached the deepest part of the backyard, a secluded corner where the shadows stretched long and the noise of the party was a distant murmur. Here, there was no one else around.

Annie spotted an empty room and stumbled inside, the door closing behind her with a soft click.

But the moment she stepped into the room, her legs buckled beneath her. The strength drained from her body in an instant, and she collapsed to the floor, her vision swimming.

: ν

The impact sent a jolt of pain shooting through her knees, sharp and searing, as if they had shattered on contact. A gasp escaped her lips, the sound swallowed by the empty room.

The intense pain cut through the fog in her head, sharp and unrelenting, bringing a fleeting moment of clarity. Her vision focused, and her thoughts sharpened, if only for a second.

Annie clenched her jaw, pushing through the pain as her eyes swept the room.

At this moment, her eyes widened in terror. “You,” she choked out, her voice trembling but fierce. “Who are you? Get out of here!”

Inside the room, a naked man stood nearby, smirking suggestively at Annie. Far from being intimidated by her roar, he approached her. He then stretched out his hand and groped her breast.

“Need help relaxing, Countess Annie?”

Annie’s body, already fatigued by the drug, felt a wave of desire. His touch made Annie moan; she couldn’t stop herself, no matter how hard she tried. Encouraged by her reaction, he pressed harder against her and seductively kissed her.

Annie tried to push him away, but she was too weak to fight back. Her weak struggles only fueled him. Slowly, she stopped fighting the feel of his hands on her—until her resistance twisted into something else, an urge she couldn’t control.

.

.

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