Ruthless Desire: Chased By My Ex's Billionaire Best Friend

The roar of thunder shattered the silence, followed by a relentless downpour.

Raindrops, as heavy as pebbles, hammered against the windows. A jagged flash of lightning tore through the darkness, casting an eerie glow over the two figures tangled on the hotel suite's bed.

By dawn, the storm had quieted.

The man rose from the bed. Moments later, the sound of running water echoed from the bathroom.

Bethany Harper stirred, her entire body aching from the intensity of the night before. She could barely keep her eyes open, exhaustion pulling her back into sleep.

The noise of running water stopped, and the bathroom door creaked open.

She jolted awake.

Standing before her was a tall man with only a towel slung loosely around his waist. His short, damp hair framed his angular face, and a single droplet trickled down his jawline, highlighting his striking features. The chiseled lines of his bare torso and defined abs made him look like something out of a sculptor's masterpiece. He exuded an untamed allure-wild, unrefined, and dangerous.

Their eyes met. Bethany's mind replayed the chaotic passion of the previous night, making her instinctively pull the blanket over her chest. "Last night..."

The man, Leland Swanson, barely glanced at her as he picked up his clothes from the sofa. "How much?"

Her face drained of color. "What do you mean by that?"

Leland smirked. "Why so upset? Didn't think you'd take it so personally. It seems you are not desperate enough to prostitute yourself. If Julian finds out you slept with his best friend-"

"I'm not a prostitute! And I'm done with Julian Wells! Who I sleep with is none of his business." Bethany's voice shook with indignation.

Strictly speaking, she was the one who had been betrayed by Julian.

Five years. She'd been with Julian for five long years, only to discover days ago that he'd been engaged the entire time. She was the other woman-the dirty little secret she'd never known.

Sleeping with Leland last night had been a foolish, drunken act of revenge.

Leland paused at her declaration, his fingers stilling over the buttons of his shirt. "I don't mess with my friends' women. Last night was a mistake."

The words were like a slap to the face.

He was drawing a line-making it clear that he wanted nothing to do with her.

Bethany bit her lip hard. "Oh, I get it now. It's not that you don't mess with your friends' women. You just don't want a girl like me clinging to you, right?"

She knew Julian's circle well enough to recognize the disdain they had for her. They thought she was with him for money, and saw her as nothing more than a trophy girlfriend of Julian.

And she'd been foolish enough to believe their contempt was only because Julian failed to defend her. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined that she was actually the other woman.

But Leland, he had always been different. He didn't care for social norms or pleasantries. He was known for his unruly behavior, treating everyone with the same indifference-as if the entire world was beneath him.

Their paths had crossed only a handful of times, but she'd always thought he didn't share their condescending view of her.

Now, she realized she'd been wrong. Very wrong.

He'd just hidden it well. Or worse, he didn't think she was even worth judging.

Regret surged through Bethany. Last night was a mistake for both of them, a moment of weakness she wished she could erase.

Sullenly, she reached for her clothes scattered on the floor and hastily pulled them on. "Don't worry. I don't make a habit of messing around with my ex's friends either. Let's pretend it never happened."

She slid out of bed, but as soon as her feet touched the floor, her knees buckled.

A soft, mocking laugh escaped Leland. Thinking of their crazy night, Bethany flushed crimson, her gaze darting toward him. But his face remained impassive, as if that brief chuckle had been nothing more than a figment of her imagination.

Humiliated, Bethany struggled to her feet, using the bed as support. Her legs trembled like jelly.

Leland's gaze lingered on her slender waist, tracing the delicate curve he'd held so many times last night.

She might not have realized just how attractive she was when Julian got her to dance on stage that one time.

He stepped forward, intending to support her. "I'll take you home."

"No need!" She jerked away, fiercely shaking off his hand. "I can leave on my own later... Just-just go. We shouldn't be seen together."

Her voice was a snarl, sharp and strained, like a cornered wildcat fighting to maintain her dignity.

Leland lit a cigarette, the faint curl of his lips hinting at amusement.

Ignoring her protests, he leaned down and scooped her up effortlessly, as if she weighed nothing at all.

"What the hell are you doing?!" Bethany struggled, panic flaring.

He kept the cigarette between his lips, the smoke curling lazily around his head. "Taking you to the hospital."

Bethany's breath caught in her throat.

The hospital? Showing up there like this? Everyone would assume...

But she was unwell, and she knew it. "I-I'll walk on my own," she muttered through gritted teeth.

Leland eyed her skeptically. "Really?"

"Yes!" Even if she could barely stand, she had to walk.

Two hours later, Bethany exited the outpatient building with a flushed face. She kept a deliberate distance from Leland, trailing several paces behind.

Leland was on his phone, speaking casually to someone. As if sensing her gaze, he glanced back. "Need a ride home?"

The question was more of a formality. He didn't really want to take her home, and they both knew it.

Bethany shook her head. She wasn't about to cling on him after a fling. "No. I'm fine."

He regarded her for a long moment, his gaze unreadable. Then he laughed softly. "Alright."

Without another word, he turned and headed towards the elevator.

Bethany's phone buzzed almost as soon as he stepped inside.

It was a video call from her younger brother. She took a deep breath, smoothed down her hair, and answered, forcing a smile. "Hello, what's up?"

But instead of a cheerful greeting, she was greeted by a scene of chaos. Shawn Harper was pinned down by several men, his mouth covered. A thug with tattoos loomed over him, brandishing an iron bar. "Bethany, the three-day deadline's up," the thug sneered, raising the bar threateningly. "You don't pay up, I'll break his arm."

"Stop!" she screamed, panic seizing her. "I'll pay! Just-don't hurt him!"

The man smirked. "You've got half an hour to bring the money. If you try anything funny, he's dead."

The screen went dark.

Bethany's heart pounded wildly, terror surging through her veins. She looked frantically around and then bolted out of the building. "Leland!"

The elevator doors slid open, revealing Leland, leaning lazily against the wall. He glanced at her, cigarette still between his lips, his expression cool and detached.

He looked at her like she was something filthy he'd stepped in.

She'd heard several rumors about this man. The sole son of the Swanson family, and the rightful heir of the Swanson Group. His chaotic and rebellious reputation preceded him.

He had every right to be that arrogant.

"Didn't you ask me how much..." Bethany's voice trembled as she spoke.

"Two hundred thousand," she blurted out, shame burning her cheeks. "Give me two hundred thousand, and I'll forget everything that happened last night."

Leland didn't say a word.

The silence stretched between them, heavy and suffocating.

Bethany's face burned red. Her humiliation deepened as the seconds ticked by.

She wanted to retract her sentence, to claim it was a joke, but her tongue was tied.

Finally, he chuckled softly. "You've set quite a price for yourself, haven't you?"

The cruel amusement in his voice shattered what little pride Bethany had left. But she couldn't afford to care.

Because right now, the man in front of her was the only one who could save her brother's life.