Chapter 2

Chloe POV

Those two words shot through me like an electric current.

I went rigid, one thought consuming my mind.

I'm done for. He recognized me.

Five years ago that night, I'd used this exact custom body wash.

It was a special blend from our studio, completely unavailable on the market.

I clutched the steering wheel, my brain racing for an excuse.

"R-really?"

I forced a dry laugh, trying to kill the conversation.

"Madison uses this body wash too. You probably smelled it on her."

River leaned back in his seat, his posture relaxed yet radiating inexplicable pressure.

"Drive."

I exhaled in relief and hit the gas.

The car fell into suffocating silence.

His deep voice suddenly broke it.

"Madison said I'm a man with no reproductive ability?"

I nearly ran a red light, jerking my head toward him in alarm, meeting his sardonic gaze.

His fingertips tapped his knee.

"She said my nerves are damaged, I'm in a wheelchair, sexually dysfunctional... do you believe that?"

I couldn't answer.

Believe it or not, the key point was I'd experienced otherwise!

That night had nearly broken my back. If that counted as dysfunctional, every man on earth would need ICU admission.

But I didn't dare say it.

I could only play dumb.

"Madison was just worried about you..."

Just then, the car's Bluetooth rang, the screen flashing "Ex-Husband".

That was the name I'd saved Madison as.

My hand slipped and I answered the call.

Madison's booming voice immediately filled the car.

"Chloe! Did you pick up that old cripple? Don't provoke him! He might be impotent, but those hands are military-trained. He could crush you with one hand!"

Deathly silence.

The air pressure in the passenger seat plummeted to freezing.

River narrowed his eyes, tongue pressing his cheek, laughing in disbelief.

"Impotent?"

He spoke coldly into the microphone.

"Madison, is this how you introduce me to people?"

A scream erupted from the other end, followed by an instant disconnect.

I wanted to cry. I'd completely offended him now.

River turned sideways, his large hand suddenly settling on my headrest, caging me in.

He leaned in close, so close I could see the fine hairs on his scarred eyebrow.

"Do you also think I'm impotent?"

This was truly a life-or-death question.

I improvised desperately.

"No! I admire you! And I have no right to judge-my ex-husband had those same problems, which is why I divorced him and took the kid!"

River paused, his expression strange.

"You were married? You have a child?"

"Divorced! The kid's four and a half, has my last name."

He fell silent for a moment, his gaze roaming my face as if assessing truth from lies.

After a long pause, he withdrew his hand and sat up straight.

That aggressive pressure eased slightly, though his tone remained sharp.

"That man was defective too?"

I nodded frantically.

"Yes, yes! He was tiny down there, and he used to hit me all the time! That's why I left!"

Insult away. I was cursing a nonexistent person anyway..

River snorted coldly, looking out the window, his voice emotionless.

"That kind of trash deserves to die."

I quietly sighed in relief.

At least I'd gotten through this round.

But I didn't notice-

Reflected in the car window, the man's expression wasn't one of understanding.

It was... excitement?