Regression - Second Chance At Life Chapter 321: It’s Your Nature

Gaining someone's trust isn't achieved by doing them a favor, but rather by having them do something for you.

By empowering Marissa to set her own price for his silence, Adam ensured she'd subconsciously begin to trust him. After all, what's better than having one Coronant in his corner? Two would be far more advantageous.

If he could secure Danny's friendship along with his mother's favor, the Coronants would undoubtedly serve as powerful allies in the future.

Marissa was currently in a precarious situation due to her own choices, and it would be foolish for Adam not to leverage it.

Just as Adam had anticipated, Marissa was taken aback by his proposition.

Never before in her life had she encountered such a circumstance.

Typically, individuals went to extraordinary lengths to extract concessions from her, yet here was Adam, seemingly offering everything freely.

He could have demanded anything; instead, he placed the decision entirely in her hands. This prompted her to question his ultimate objective.

With the decision now hers, Marissa pondered what she could possibly offer to ensure Adam's continued silence.

Money? From his demeanor, he appeared to possess enough wealth not to be swayed by it. Influence? She doubted it; in her experience, young men like Adam rarely concerned themselves with such connections.

As various possibilities crossed her mind, she began to suspect Adam might be correct about her inability to provide him with anything truly valuable, a realization that deepened her discomfort.

The lack of control over her situation gnawed at her. Despite Adam's seemingly sincere assurances that he would protect her secret for Danny's sake, she found herself unable to fully trust him, a struggle against her own inherent nature.

Her ability to trust anyone was contingent upon possessing leverage over them, a guarantee that bound their words. Yet, with Adam, she had absolutely nothing.

He represented an entirely unknown entity in her life, someone who knew more about her than many close to her, and this granted him a power over her that she deeply resented.

As she sat in quiet contemplation, searching for a means to bind Adam to his promise, a solution emerged—simple, yet remarkably effective. It was something that would compel Adam's silence while simultaneously yielding a benefit for herself.

A subtle smile began to adorn her face, an expression Adam promptly noticed. Witnessing the easing of tension in her features and the slight relaxation of her shoulders, he understood that the woman before him had conceived of something, sparking his curiosity.

What could possibly be on her mind that would so instantly dissipate the palpable tension?

Fortunately, he wouldn't have to speculate or wait long, as Marissa broke the silence.

"I believe I know what I can offer you," she declared, her smile broadening, though tinged with a hint of something else.

"Oh? And what might that be?" Adam inquired.

"Something you desired the very moment we met... Me," she replied.

Adam, poised for another sip of his tea, froze mid-motion.

"I will permit you to do as you please with me," she continued, her tone playfully teasing yet carrying an undeniable certainty, implying he wouldn't possibly refuse such an offer.

He regarded her, a subtle spark igniting in his eyes. Now, it was his turn to be surprised.

Of all the potential offerings Marissa could have made, this was the most unexpected.

On the surface, it seemed utterly illogical. Why would Marissa offer such a thing, when it was precisely the act she was trying to conceal?

She had been engaged in infidelity for some time and desperately sought to avoid exposure, yet here she was, proposing an affair with Adam to compound her transgression.

Initially, the offer struck Adam as foolish and desperate—as if Marissa were a woman consumed by uncontrollable desires, simply seeking gratification from young, attractive men. However, as Adam considered her proposal more deeply, understanding began to dawn.

A genuine smile spread across his face, one of pure acknowledgment. It was, indeed, a brilliant proposition that would serve her interests significantly.

After all, what was the most effective method to ensure someone's continued silence? It was simple: make the other party as complicit as they were in the transgression.

By offering herself, Marissa intended to make Adam equally culpable for her infidelity. If Adam accepted her offer and succumbed to her advances, he wouldn't merely be engaging with a dishonest wife with a penchant for handsome young men; he would be engaging with the wife of William Coronant, a billionaire — a man not to be trifled with.

Adam would be compelled to remain silent about Marissa's infidelities, as he too would face the wrath of William Coronant should he discover his wife's clandestine affairs.

Marissa would face consequences for her actions, but so would Adam. A man like William Coronant would undoubtedly spare no effort in making Adam's life a living hell, seeking retribution for Adam's entanglement with his wife.

As Adam grasped the full implication of her offer, his perception of Marissa shifted. She was no longer merely a promiscuous adulteress; she was a cunning, wicked adulteress who possessed the astuteness to safeguard herself.

It’s no surprise she carries herself with such assurance, as if the world bends to her will, because she possesses the knowledge to make it so.

"You're quite the wicked woman," Adam remarks, a smile mirroring hers.

Marissa observes that Adam has seen through her proposition, yet he appears unfazed, maintaining his confidence in her eventual success.

"Indeed, I am," Marissa confirms.

"You realize I comprehend the true motive behind your offer, so why would you assume I'd ever agree to such a pact?" Adam inquires.

"It's straightforward," Marissa replies, taking a deliberate sip as Adam awaits her explanation. "It's in your very nature," she continues.

Adam hadn't anticipated such a response.

"Care to elaborate?" Adam asks, keen to grasp her meaning.

"I understand men like you. Driven by grandiose ambitions, thirsting for power, perpetually seeking control, viewing the world as a playground whose rules are merely for your amusement. You must possess whatever you desire, regardless of ownership," Marissa states, while Adam listens intently, his expression unreadable.

Her assessment is undeniably accurate; Adam embodies every trait she describes.

"When Mark recounted your actions in the elevator the night before we met, I became intensely curious about you. You see, it's quite rare to encounter a young man such as yourself, and I felt compelled to learn more, so I delved into your past.

I perceived what others missed. You are a predator, someone who relishes taking what isn't rightfully yours. Women, especially. It excites you.

You savor the thrill of knowing you've surpassed the man from whom you took them; it's a devious method of deriving pleasure, but I harbor no objections.

In fact, I find it alluring. You are precisely the kind of man I favor. One who seizes what he wants.

So, imagine my disappointment when you failed to contact me. After all, I represent a prime conquest for you. What could be more satisfying than possessing the wife of a billionaire, knowing you possess a superiority my husband, one of this nation's most influential figures, can never match?

Naturally, I never imagined you and my son were acquainted, which is why you didn't pursue me..." Marissa concludes, pausing after her extended monologue, her gaze meeting Adam's with a playful, provocative glint.

"I now understand why you hesitated, but I'm presenting you with a second opportunity. A chance to claim what you desire.

You can have your way with me and reaffirm your perceived dominance over my husband. Isn't that your ultimate aspiration? To stand above others.

What greater validation of superiority can there be than surpassing William Coronant, my billionaire husband?" Marissa poses the question.

Her words strike a chord, successfully stirring Adam's inner turmoil as every point she made resonated deeply.

Adam is precisely as she described: a notorious figure who thrives on appropriating other men's wives to cultivate a sense of personal superiority.

Her proposition indeed offers him that very opportunity—to possess her and revel in the immense satisfaction, knowing William Coronant could never achieve what Adam potentially could with his wife.

The prospect of outdoing such a powerful man as William Coronant would undoubtedly elevate Adam's ego immeasurably.

Adam draws a slow breath, observing Marissa's triumphant smile as she senses she has successfully breached his defenses to a significant degree.

A flicker of temptation dances in his eyes. As Marissa sits before him, adorned in her elegantly alluring dress, his thoughts drift to the forbidden acts he could perform with her.

His shoulders subtly tense, his fingers tightening their grip on his teacup. He takes a sip, his mind weighing the implications.

'Marissa sees me for who I truly am, and I cannot refute it. To be superior to William Coronant...' Adam muses, a moment of introspection following.

However, there remains a crucial element Marissa has overlooked.

As accurate as her understanding of Adam's nature is, she is unaware that certain principles are non-negotiable for him, even when they conflict with his inherent disposition.

Control. Adam refuses to relinquish control.

Accepting her offer would mean ceding control over the unfolding situation, a prospect he cannot abide.

Therefore, he prepares to voice his response.