The Restrained Rose Is Surrounded By Brambles

My boyfriend, Oliver Adams, was a boxer and had a strong sexual appetite.

Before every game, he would force me to have sex with him, claiming it helped reduce stress and allowed him to give his all to win the championship.

As a professional nurse, I couldn't tolerate this behavior any longer, so I ended our relationship and pursued studies abroad.

After my departure, Oliver's professional boxing career took a nosedive, leading to an unprecedented crisis.

Three years later, our paths crossed again, and he sought my expertise in muscle treatment from within.

From then on, I became renowned in the sports world as the "ace nurse," rejuvenating retired athletes and helping them regain their health to win championships once more.

Three years later, I returned home after completing my studies.

The club sent a special car to pick me up from the airport.

This time, I headed to the most prestigious boxing club in the country, the same club where Oliver used to stay.

However, he had announced his retirement three years ago, so I assumed I wouldn't encounter him.

Unexpectedly, the moment I stepped into the hall, I saw Oliver sitting on the sofa.

Oliver didn't seem surprised. He just examined me from head to toe with indifference in his eyes.

I frowned slightly and whispered to Emery, who had picked me up, "Is that Oliver? Didn't he retire?"

Our past relationship had been kept secret, and no one knew about it currently.

"He is now the coach! Mr. Adams is the pillar of our club!" said Emery.

As we were talking, Oliver walked in front of me at some point.

He stared down at me and remarked unhappily, "You haven't changed a bit."

Emery looked at us in surprise and asked, "Do you know each other?"

Oliver snorted, and regardless of the eyes of others, he pinched my chin and said provocatively, "You still enjoy seducing men, just as you always did."

I forcefully pushed his hand away and turned to leave the club.

If I had known he was still the coach, I would never have taken on this task.

However, as I turned around, a woman who bore a striking resemblance to me appeared at the door.

It made sense; Oliver had such insatiable sexual needs that he couldn't survive without a woman.

The woman seemed familiar with me and looked at me as she entered. "A new nurse? I heard her studied abroad, but why does she still look like a bumpkin?" she mocked me.

"Ms. Caldwell, this is Mr. Adams's girlfriend, Lamia Bates," Emery quickly intervened and told me, trying to smooth things over for me.

I waved my hands, indicating that I didn't care, and prepared to leave.

"Come here," Oliver called out to Lamia.

His voice had a magic, deep and commanding.

Just as I stopped, I saw Lamia swiftly walking towards him in high heels, nestling into Oliver's arms.

I couldn't help feeling a little dazed.

Three years ago, I had been the one in his embrace, in countless mornings and secret corners.

Our relationship had to remain hidden due to his strict family background.

He had promised to win championships and publicly acknowledge our love to the world. He vowed to protect me for life, ensuring I never suffered any injustice or grievances.

Yet now, even without winning championships, he openly embraced his new girlfriend.

"Are you afraid of me?" Oliver kept provoking me, casting a contemptuous gaze at my back. "Are you afraid I'll pester you, or are you afraid you won't easily make money if I'm in the club? Amelia, you are so full of yourself."

I clenched my fists tightly, struggling to suppress my anger.

The man who once vowed to shield me from any grievances now publicly humiliated me in front of everyone.

"Give her the contract," Oliver commanded Emery. "Amelia, look at the last line. Don't think this is a place you can come to whenever you want."

Confused, Emery handed me the contract and explained, "Ms. Caldwell, you signed a threeyear contract with the club. If you break it for personal reasons, you'll have to pay compensation."

Not only would I face financial penalties, but my future career prospects would also be affected.

I knew that if Oliver wanted to make my life difficult in Kingfolk, he had the means to do so.

Taking a deep breath, I turned around, accepted the contract, and firmly stated, "I'm not leaving."

Lamia couldn't help but laugh. "Well then, we should properly welcome our new member. Oliver, how about throwing a party?"

Oliver, holding Lamia in his arms, said lovingly, "Anything you say."

The club was given a day off, and all the members gathered in the restaurant, their curious gazes fixed on me as I sat in the corner.

Although Lamia called it a party, it was clear she intended to embarrass me.

Sitting arrogantly in the center seat, she ordered me to pour her wine.

Everyone's attention shifted to me.

"Isn't that Amelia, the one who had resigned before?" someone asked.

"I heard she was poached by a rival club. She actually has the nerve to come back," another sneered.

Some of my former colleagues recognized me and began discussing my character among themselves.

I could have refused Lamia's invitation and left, but doing so would only make this group of people see me as guilty.

My selfesteem wouldn't allow it.

So, I generously poured wine for Lamia and handed it to her. Unexpectedly, Lamia made things difficult for me.

"Ms. Caldwell, I heard you once betrayed Oliver. Wouldn't it be insincere to just pour a glass of wine?"

A heavy silence fell upon the room, with no one daring to speak.

Oliver stared at me coldly as if trying to see through me.

I smiled and pretended to be calm as I drank the wine. "I will do my best to serve the club as stated clearly in the contract. This toast is for Mr. Adams. Let's put aside our grudges."

Lamia raised an eyebrow, and someone immediately handed her another glass of wine.

I looked at Lamia, feigning a smile. "Ms. Bates, this glass is for you, who supported Mr. Adams and helped the club during its most difficult times."

With that, I quickly finished the drink.

Lamia laughed with satisfaction, while Oliver remained silent the whole time.

After I drank two glasses of wine, the party suddenly became lively.

Perhaps it was Lamia's intention, but many people approached me to toast.

I was actually couldn't hold my liquor, especially when faced with consecutive drinks.

However, if I wanted to stay in the club peacefully, I knew I had to drink these drinks.

Suddenly, memories flooded back to the past when I first joined the club. At the celebration party, someone had also teased me into drinking.

Back then, Oliver would stand up for me and even take the drinks on my behalf.

But now, there was no one to drink wine on my behalf; I was all alone.

The corners of my eyes reddened from the alcohol, and my face started to blush furiously.

To make matters worse, I realized my consciousness was slipping away.

As the wine glass approached me, I tried to push it away and slowly backed towards the sofa.

The crowd expressed their disappointment and attempted to force the drink down my throat.

That's enough," a commanding voice interrupted.

The restless crowd immediately ceased their actions, and my consciousness faded completely as I collapsed onto the sofa.

In a daze, I felt someone picked me up, but my vision was too blurred to discern who it was.

I drifted off, and late at night, I woke up in pain from a dream.

However, opening my eyes, I felt a sharp pain in my waist.

I took a breath subconsciously, and when I turned around, I saw a familiar man sleeping beside me.

At that moment, I froze. The situation unfolding before my eyes completely took me by surprise.

Instinctively, I pulled the blanket tightly around myself.

Oliver sat up, running his hand through his hair with an annoyed expression.

"Are you out of your mind?" I glared at him, anger evident on my face.

Oliver appeared stunned, his expression quickly turning cold. "Didn't you enjoy it last night?"

Embarrassment flooded my face, turning it red.

Oliver taunted, "Or maybe your sugar daddy can satisfy you better."

My body froze, and I didn't know how Oliver had learned this news.

He immediately noticed my slight reaction, rushing towards me with anger etched across his face. The veins on his forehead bulged as he forcefully pushed me against the wall.

"It's only been three years, and you've already fallen for another man. Is he better in bed or richer than me? What does he have that I don't? And why did you just leave without saying goodbye?"

My breath grew shallow, and my eyes subconsciously turned red.

"Oliver Adams, do you love me that much? But I was just a passerby in your life. I'm not worth lingering over."

Suddenly, Oliver's face darkened, and he looked as if he wanted to devour me whole.

Recognizing that expression from his boxing matches, I realized he was truly angry.

Fear gripped me, and I instinctively tried to flee, but he forcefully pressed my chin down, forcing me to look at him. "I'll ask you again, who is he?"

I resisted. "Let me go."

Seeing that I was so stubborn for a man, Oliver laughed in anger, his face growing increasingly twisted.

He pulled me onto the bed and looked down at me. "I won't let you have it easy."

Oliver had insatiable sexual needs and seemingly boundless energy.

Angered, I took a step back and shouted, "You're already with Lamia. You're betraying her!"

Oliver looked at me with utter indifference, yet he did not advance further. Instead, he reached for a camera on the bedside table and remarked, "But didn't you also betray him?"

I never expected Oliver to become so crazy three years later.

Filled with anger, I was about to reach for the camera when he pushed me back onto the bed.

"Let me remind you that you willingly came to sleep with me. It won't be so simple for you to leave," he said.

He then put away the camera with disdain, picked up his clothes from the floor, and left the hotel room.

Clutching the blanket tightly against my chest, I helplessly watched his departing figure.

I had never anticipated things would take such a turn.

To be precise, I had underestimated Oliver's madness.

He was a man consumed by desires and violence, and since retiring from professional boxing, that fierce hostility had been simmering within him.

Day after day, year after year, he had waited for this moment to explode.

News of Oliver carrying me away at the party spread quickly, causing a stir among the club members.

Gossips and whispers followed me wherever I went, making it uncomfortable for me to work in the club.

In order to avoid trouble, I made a conscious effort to meet Oliver. However, Lamia had other plans.

One day, while I was providing physical therapy to someone, Lamia removed her boxing gloves and tossed them to me.

"Ms. Caldwell, can you box?" she asked.

I was stunned, uncertain of Lamia's intentions.

Others in the room seemed to understand her intent and chimed in, "Ms. Caldwell studied boxing, so she must have some basic skills. Why not have a friendly match?"

Lamia was a professional boxer. Accepting her invitation would undoubtedly be asking for trouble.

Just as I was about to decline, Lamia calmly interjected, "It's just a friendly match. Please don't think too badly of me, Ms. Caldwell."

I forced a laugh and replied, "No, I'm simply worried that you won't enjoy it. Perhaps you could play with Emery instead?"

"I won't go too hard," she said, seeming to be sure of victory. Her demeanor suggested she wouldn't accept any refusal.

The others immediately started encouraging us, eagerly waiting for the fun.

Caught in a dilemma, I furrowed my brow

It seemed that accepting this match was my only option.

I put on boxing gloves and cautiously defended against Lamia's powerful strikes..

Once she stepped into the ring, Lamia transformed into a different person, exuding aggression that contradicted her earlier seemingly polite comment about not going too hard on me.

I found myself continuously pushed back, drenched in sweat within moments.

"Ms. Caldwell, I heard that you're a good flirt. Even with a sugar daddy, you still try to seduce Oliver. Others might think highly of you, but you're just a seductress," Lamia taunted.

Lamia's words made me furious. Just as I was about to fight back, a left hook from Lamia sent me crashing to the ground.

Despite the protective gear, the impact rattled my head.

Shielding my face with my arms, I tried to defend myself, but Lamia took advantage of it to land more hits.

Although I lacked practical experience, I had already learned a lot of boxing skills from my previous nursing work with Oliver.

So, while Lamia momentarily let her guard down, I quickly rolled to the side and punched her.

However, before my fist could connect, she covered her face and let out a loud scream.

Confusion overwhelmed me as Lamia accused me of being excessively cruel and disregarding our colleague's friendship.

"Ms. Caldwell, is it because Oliver chose me that you treated me so mercilessly? I was foolish enough to consider her a friend, but I didn't expect I would annoy you."

"Are you serious? I didn't..." I attempted to protest, but before I could finish my sentence, I saw Oliver rush into the ring, holding Lamia, who lay on the ground.

I naturally bit back my words.

I didn't know when Oliver had arrived or how much of the match he had seen.

However, seeing Oliver's concerned expression as he asked Lamia if she was in pain, I knew everything was meaningless.

Lamia nestled into Oliver's arms, quietly sobbing, and I was like the other woman watching this farce.

It sickened me, not only their actions but also my own involvement in this farce.

I sat in the room for a while, left unnoticed by anyone asking if I felt dizzy or if my face hurt.

Everyone was outside, surrounding Lamia.

It became apparent that this was precisely her intention. She aimed to leave him out there to twist in the wind and destroy my reputation.

Feeling weary, I gazed up at the ceiling when suddenly my phone rang.

[Meet at the usual place at 7 o'clock tonight].

It seemed that Caesar was already aware of my encounter with Oliver.

Silently, I replied: [Okay]. I then pushed aside my muddled emotions, gathered my clothes, and headed to take a shower.

The hot water stung slightly as it cascaded over my face, but I paid little attention to the wound. My mind was preoccupied with strategizing how to evade Caesar's questions.

In the midst of washing up, I faintly heard rustling sounds coming from outside the door, but I couldn't discern who it was.

However, upon returning to the room after my shower, I noticed a box of antiinflammatory medicine placed on the bench, accompanied only by my phone.

I clearly remember my phone being stored in my backpack.

Caution consumed me as I surveyed the room, but there was no one in sight, and it appeared as though no one had been there before.

I arrived at the restaurant as scheduled at seven o'clock.

Caesar was already there. As I entered and took my place near the door, he glanced at me with indifference.

"You promised me that you wouldn't meet him again," Caesar said.

I lowered my head and answered honestly, "It was an accident. I didn't expect him to still be in the club."

Caesar remained silent for a while, and the weight of his oppressive presence felt reminiscent of what I had experienced before with Oliver.

I spoke up, "He's seeing someone else. I don't think he would want someone who had betrayed him."

Caesar stared at me and asked, "What about you?"

The invisible pressure in the air caused sweat to bead on my back. Clenching my fists tightly, I responded firmly, "I won't want him either."

Caesar nodded with satisfaction. "Don't let me down. You know what you should do."

I nodded and replied, "Yes." Then, Caesar left.

Once he was gone, a wave of relief washed over me.

Glancing at the appetizing food spread before me, I was ready to enjoy it when suddenly, someone grabbed my arm just as I was about to reach for the food.

Startled, I turned around and was shocked to see Oliver standing there.

"Where is he?" Oliver's glare bore into me, the anger almost bursting forth.

Momentarily flustered, I quickly calmed down and responded, "I don't know what you're talking about, but why are you here?"

Without warning, Oliver grabbed my neck tightly, his words seething through gritted teeth, "I'm asking you, where is he?"

Realization dawned upon me that Oliver had been the one who searched my backpack and left the medicine. I grabbed his wrist and retorted, "He's not here. Do you want to strangle him? Go ahead."

Oliver was furious, almost losing control. However, in a matter of seconds, he released my hand and took several steps back, appearing helpless.

Leaning against the table, I coughed harshly. He left a bloody handprint on my neck.

This lunatic nearly killed me.

Suddenly, there was a loud bang. I turned around and saw Oliver flipping the table in an outburst of anger.

The once delicious food was now shattered before my eyes. This madman, consumed by rage, wouldn't even spare me a hot meal.

I was about to curse when he pressed his lips on mine.

The kiss was fierce, lacking any tenderness.

Blood trickled from the corners of my mouth as I gasped for air, weakly beating against his back.

I felt like a helpless fish on a cutting board, mercilessly being slaughtered by him.

"Amelia, you made me do this," he uttered in my fleeting moments of consciousness due to lack of oxygen.

Then, everything went black as I completely lost consciousness.

However, when I woke up, I found that Oliver had been completely insane.