Five years. Two thousand days and nights. I perfected the role of “Jax’s favorite toy.” By day, an indispensable assistant. By night, an obedient one. I never once asked for a title, never craved his affection. Even in bed, I meticulously copied her every move, her every whisper. Everyone said I was hopelessly in love with Jax. Until the night I learned Chloe had returned. Scarlett POV The lighter flared, its blue flame spitting and dancing in the dim room. Jax King leaned against the headboard, shirtless, his sharp features already hazing behind the fresh cigarette smoke. I didn’t look at him, just bent to pick up the clothes scattered across the floor. My knee scraped against the silk sheets, sending a sharp sting through my nerves. “Chloe arrives tomorrow.” His voice was hoarse, like he was announcing an arrangement that needed no discussion. My fingers paused on a button, just for a second, then quickly, deftly fastened it. “I know. My resignation letter is in your email. I’ll complete the handover with Miss Chloe tomorrow.” Jax King scoffed, the cigarette still between his lips. The next second, he reached out, clamping my chin, wrenching my face to his. “Scarlett, this professional act of yours, it’s sickening.” His fingers tightened, pressing painfully into my jaw. I didn’t utter a sound, just lowered my eyes, gazing at the angry red marks still scarring his torso. I’d left them there, moments ago, in a moment of lost control. “Good,” I said, my voice flat. “Because you won’t ever have to see it again.” He stared at me, his gaze dark and heavy, saying nothing. Soon, he released me, grabbing a check from the nightstand. He held it between two fingers, then casually tossed it onto my lap. “Five million. With the five million from our contract five years ago, that’s ten million total. Settled.” I picked up the check, glancing at the numbers. Just enough. Barely enough for Leo’s heart transplant next week. “Thank you.” I folded the check, slipped it into my bag, and started to get up. But a hand suddenly seized my wrist. The world tilted, and I was back on the bed before I could blink. His body was a hot, inescapable weight. “Taking the money and fleeing?” His breath was hot against my ear, his voice chillingly soft. “We’re not done.” I pushed against his shoulder. “Jax, Chloe’s back tomorrow.” “So what?” He bit hard, right on the fresh hickey blooming on my collarbone. The force was brutal. “Until she walks through that door, you’re mine. And I’ll have you whenever I damn well please.” I gasped, a sharp intake of breath from the pain. “No marks. She’ll notice.” That did the trick. His movements stopped instantly. He propped himself up, looking down at me, his gaze cold and hard. A moment later, he rolled off the bed and walked straight into the bathroom. The sound of running water quickly filled the room. I lay on the tangled sheets, staring at the chandelier on the ceiling. Didn’t care? How could I not? Five years ago, desperate for Leo’s surgery money, I signed that contract. I told myself it was just a deal. But the truth? I was already gone, lost to him the moment I first saw him, back in the campus library. For five years, I loved him. I wore white like Chloe. Drenched myself in her perfume. In the bed, I even mimicked her whispers, her sighs. Now the original was back. And I, the substitute, it was time to dissolve. I sat up on the bed, my legs still shaky. I straightened my clothes, checking that the five-million-dollar check was tucked securely against my body. That was the most important thing now. Outside the door, the electronic lock chimed. “Jax! I changed my flight! I’m back early!” The voice was clear, light, bubbling with undisguised joy. My fingers, mid-button, froze. The water in the bathroom stopped. The bedroom door swung open. Chloe, draped in a custom-made designer dress, fluttered in like a delicate butterfly. Our eyes met. The air seemed to drain from the room. Her smile faltered. Her gaze, sharp and calculating, raked over my disheveled hair, my slightly swollen lips, and the faint, undeniable bite marks I hadn’t quite managed to hide. “Scarlett?” Her voice turned sharp. “What are you doing in Jax’s room, so late?” Before I could speak, the bathroom door opened. Jax walked out, wrapped only in a towel, his hair still dripping. Seeing Chloe, he clearly paused. “Chloe, why are you back so early?” He strode towards her, passing me without a single glance. “Jax…” Chloe’s eyes welled up instantly. “Why is she here? What are you-” He pulled her close, murmuring soft comforts against her hair. Then he looked at me, his tone chillingly calm. “Scarlett was just here with some urgent documents,” he said smoothly. “I accidentally spilled coffee on her, so she came in to change.” Chloe sniffled, clearly unconvinced. “Documents that needed to be delivered… right onto your bed?” “The documents are over there.” He gestured to a file on the nightstand. It was an employment termination agreement. Dated today. His way of saying goodbye. Chloe saw it and laughed, tears still clinging to her lashes. She looked at me, a triumphant smirk playing on her lips. “So you’re leaving. I almost thought you were trying to seduce your boss, no boundaries at all.” I squeezed the strap of my bag, my fingertips aching. My gaze, against my will, drifted to Jax. He was bent over, gently wiping away Chloe’s tears, a tenderness so alien to me, it was almost laughable. “Well, the misunderstanding is cleared up,” He looked at me. “Scarlett, aren’t you going?” “Right.” I nodded. “Enjoy your reunion.” As I turned to leave, I heard her playful voice behind me. “This sheet is dirty, Jax. I can’t possibly sleep on it.” “I’ll have new ones brought up immediately.” “And I don’t like the smell in here.” “I’ll have everything dealt with tomorrow.” I closed the door, shutting out their voices. In the elevator mirror, my reflection was ghost-pale. The final five million. At last. Seven days. After Leo’s surgery, I would vanish. Goodbye, Jax.
Scarlett POV Monday. Top floor conference room, King Group headquarters. The air hung heavy and suffocating, thick with unspoken fear, like a tomb. “This is the best you could come up with?” Jax slammed a folder onto the long table, papers scattering everywhere. The executives sat with bowed heads, no one daring to speak. I stood behind him, bending to pick up the scattered documents, neatly categorizing them, and stacking them back on the corner of the table. “Jax,” I reminded him, “you have a video conference in ten minutes.” He irritably tugged at his tie. “Cancel it.” “It’s with the CEO of UBS. We can’t cancel.” I handed him the tablet. “All the relevant data is compiled, key points highlighted.” He scanned the screen, his expression visibly softening. The conference room door suddenly swung open. Chloe strolled in, carrying several exquisite insulated containers. “Jax! I brought you lunch!” Every eye in the room snapped to her, even the executive mid-report froze. Jax frowned. “Why didn’t anyone announce you?” “I just wanted to surprise you, honey!” She strode over in her heels, pushing me aside without a second thought. “Scarlett, darling, I can handle the little things. Why don’t you go take a break?” I took a step back. “Miss Chloe, this is a conference room.” “I know, silly.” She opened one of the containers, and the rich, savory scent of chicken soup instantly filled the stark, silent room, a jarring contrast to the tension. “Everyone’s working so hard, taste some of the soup I made!” No one dared to move. Jax rubbed his temples. “Chloe, we’re in a meeting.” “Even busy men need to eat, right?” She spooned a mouthful of soup, lifting it to his lips. “Here, open up.” I saw him hesitate for a second, then he took it. “Is it good?” “Mmm.” She beamed, then turned to me. “Scarlett, darling, you look positively ghastly. Too much stress from the handover? Here, have some soup!” She approached me, holding a steaming bowl. “No, thank you.” “Don’t be shy!” She insisted on pressing the bowl into my hands. With a sudden, deliberate jostle, Chloe let out a theatrical shriek, her hand conveniently “slipping.” The scalding hot soup splashed all over my chest and abdomen. I gasped, my back hitting the wall. My white shirt instantly became a second, burning skin, clinging transparently to my flesh. The skin, right before my eyes, turned an angry, blistering red. “Oh my god, Scarlett! How could you be so clumsy?!” Chloe cried, covering her mouth in feigned horror. “I was only trying to be nice, and you just dropped it!” Cold sweat beaded on my forehead, the agony clawing at me. I bit back a cry, my gaze locked on Chloe, pure venom in my eyes. “You did that on purpose.” “I did not!” She whirled and buried herself in Jax’s arms. “I was just trying to be kind, and she’s being mean and blaming me!” Jax stood up, his eyes briefly flicking to the angry red patch on my chest. It looked bad, even to him. His foot barely moved- “My hand got splashed too! It stings, Jax…” Chloe whimpered, crying even louder in his arms. He looked down at her hand. Then, he looked up at me, his voice hard as stone. “Scarlett, apologize to Chloe.” I stared at him, head snapping up, disbelief coiling in my gut. “Apologize? Me?” “You didn’t hold the bowl steady,” Jax said, his voice cold. “And you scared her.” The conference room was silent, like a tomb. Everyone knew Chloe had done it on purpose, but Jax had spoken. So it was my fault. My chest felt like it was on fire, but my heart burned worse. In his eyes, Chloe’s fake tears mattered more than my burning skin, more than my very life. “I’m sorry.” I lowered my head, my voice raw and hoarse. “Louder,” Jax pushed. “I’M SORRY! I WAS UNGRATEFUL! I WAS CLUMSY!” I yelled, refusing to cry. “Now get out. Go fix yourself up. You’re an eyesore.” I turned and left. In the restroom, I turned on the faucet, splashing cold water over and over onto my chest. The pain made me tremble. My phone buzzed. “Scarlett,” the voice on the other end was urgent, “Leo’s condition has worsened. He needs surgery this week. Is the money ready?” “It’s ready.” “I’ll transfer it right away.” I hung up, taking a deep, shuddering breath. Just a few more days. Just a few more days, and I would finally be free. I tended to my wound, changed into a spare black turtleneck sweater that covered all the marks, and returned to my desk. A tube of burn cream sat on my desk. No note. Just the cold, clinical gesture. I recognized the brand. Thousands of dollars a tube, top-tier, imported stuff. The kind that works wonders. I picked it up, then tossed it straight into the trash. Less than two minutes later, the internal phone rang. I walked into the CEO’s office. Chloe was gone. Only Jax remained. “Did you use the medicine?” he asked, not looking up from the documents he was reviewing. “Tossed it.” His pen scraped, tearing the paper. Jax looked up, his eyes dark and menacing. “What’s with the attitude? Chloe is going to be my wife. What’s a little inconvenience? Haven’t I paid you enough?” “Your ‘compensation,’ Jax, tastes like poison.” Jax laughed, a cold, humorless sound. He yanked open a drawer, snatched out a velvet box, and slammed it onto the desk. “Is this the attitude I get after paying you ten million?” The lid sprang open, revealing a glittering diamond necklace. “There’s a charity auction tonight. Chloe needs someone to model a necklace. You’re roughly her size. You’ll do it.” I stared at the necklace. I’d seen it two years ago, when I accompanied Jax on a business trip to Paris. I’d lingered, admiring it. “Like it? I’ll get it for you for your birthday,” he’d said. But on my birthday, Jax had been on a FaceTime call with Chloe, completely forgetting. Now it was Chloe’s prize, and I was merely the mannequin. “Jax, I’m injured. I can’t wear a gown.” “Then wear a high-neck dress. Figure it out.” Jax cut me off impatiently. “This is your last task before you leave. Do it well, and I’ll have accounting transfer the five million immediately. Mess it up…” He smirked, a cruel glint in his eyes. “Or your brother’s surgery? It can wait.” My blood ran cold, freezing in my veins. He knew exactly where to twist the knife. “Fine.” My voice, when it came, was a hollow whisper. “I’ll do it.”
Scarlett POV 8 PM. The Grand Victoria yacht. The charity auction blazed with lights, a glitterati gathering of the city’s elite. In the backstage dressing room. The makeup artist’s hands trembled as she saw the raw, weeping burn on my chest. “How… how can you wear a gown like this? One brush of fabric, and that skin’s coming right off.” I took the gauze, my face expressionless, and simply wrapped it around the wound a few times. “It’s fine. Just tie it tight.” The gown was a deep-V, backless mermaid dress. To hide the damage, the stylist added a delicate lace choker. It covered the worst of the burns, but ironically, only enhanced the raw, fragile vulnerability in my eyes. A hush fell over the room the moment I stepped into the spotlight. The spotlight caught me, illuminating the ‘Beloved’ diamond necklace glittering at my throat. But it was my face, stark and unreadable, that truly held their gaze. Cold, distant, like a dark rose blooming on a cliff’s edge, I was later told. Jax, seated at a table below, stared at me, his fingers absently tracing the rim of his wine glass. It was then I realized, for the first time, how truly I belonged in black. I used to wear white, pink, trying to mimic Chloe. Now, those colors seemed utterly bland. “Wow, who’s that model? Never seen her before, her presence is incredible.” “I hear she’s Mr. King’s assistant.” “His assistant? With looks like that?” The murmurs reached me faintly. Jax’s face darkened. I stood on stage, my gaze empty, not looking at anyone below. Jax raised his paddle, a casual flick of his wrist. “Fifty million.” A collective gasp rippled through the room. The price had just quintupled. The auctioneer frantically hammered his gavel. “Fifty million once! Fifty million twice! Sold!” On stage, I heard the number, my lashes fluttering. Fifty million. A casual flick of his wrist, just to buy a smile for Chloe. And I? I stood here, a piece of merchandise, enduring this agony for Leo’s paltry five million, his only hope. Just my luck. After the auction, I returned backstage. The moment I stepped in, Chloe, flanked by several bodyguards, blocked my way. “Take it off, now.” Chloe said, arms crossed, a sneer on her face. I reached for the necklace clasp. “Wait.” Chloe stepped closer. “Don’t you dare touch it with your filthy hands. I have a phobia of dirt. You’re disgusting.” “What do you want, Miss Chloe?” “Kneel.” Chloe pointed to the floor. “Crawl over here. Let me take it off myself.” I looked at Chloe’s twisted face, and a sudden, bitter laugh escaped me. “Chloe, Jax isn’t here. You can drop the act.” Then- Chloe’s hand lashed out, slamming hard against my face. “You pathetic bitch! You think Jax doesn’t know who I am? He adores me! He’ll protect me no matter what I do! You’re just a worn-out toy he’s done with!” My head snapped back, the sharp tang of blood filling my mouth. I didn’t fight back. Because through the mirror, I saw him. Jax. Leaning against the doorframe. He watched it all, silent, unmoving. My heart, finally, froze solid. Slowly, I sank to my knees. My knees hit the hard floor with a jarring thud. I crawled, inch by inch, towards Chloe, tilting my head back like a sacrificial lamb. Chloe let out a triumphant laugh, then roughly yanked the necklace off. The lace choker snagged. She gave it a violent tug. The gauze ripped away, tearing at the raw, tender skin beneath. “Ah! Blood! Ugh, that’s disgusting!” Chloe cried, throwing the necklace to the ground in revulsion. Jax finally moved. He strode in, shedding his jacket and roughly wrapping it around my trembling shoulders. “That’s enough.” Jax’s voice was low, devoid of emotion. Chloe instantly adopted a startled expression. “Jax, she’s bleeding! It’s so gross and scary!” Jax didn’t look at her. He just stared, hard, at me in his arms. My face was ashen from the pain, sweat plastering my hair to my temples, but I was still smiling. “Jax,” I said, “mission accomplished.” I shoved his hand away, shrugged off the jacket still warm with his scent, and let it fall to the ground. “The money. When will it be transferred?” Jax stared at the jacket on the floor, his eyes instantly turning menacing. “Do you have to be so transactional?” “We’re done. No more debts.” I pushed myself up, clinging to the table, swaying, but standing tall. I started for the door. “The transfer message by 9 AM tomorrow. Otherwise…” I turned back, my eyes hollow, dead. “I’ll send Chloe every single video from the past five years.” Jax’s eyes went wide, then narrowed to slits. “Are you threatening me?” I laughed. It was the first time I’d laughed so wildly, so desperately, in front of him. “Jax, even a cornered animal bites. Don’t push me.”
Scarlett POV The next morning, 9 AM. Hospital emergency room. My wound from last night was badly infected, spiking a fever, so I was stuck in the ER, hooked up to an IV. My phone screen lit up. No transfer message. Just a text from Jax: “Come to the office. We’ll talk.” I stared at the screen for three seconds, then yanked the IV from my hand, not even bothering to stop the bleeding, just slapped a flimsy bandage over it. I grabbed my bag, ready to leave. Just then, Leo’s attending physician stopped me. “Scarlett,” he began, “Dr. Mason made arrangements for Leo before he left, but his family has frozen his personal accounts. They’re demanding he go back and honor an arranged engagement. Until he does, not a cent moves. And they’ve got him on lockdown at home. So, about the funds…” My face went white. I knew Dr. Mason, the brilliant surgeon who’d been discreetly helping us, had nearly faced Jax’s wrath over this. His family, terrified of Jax’s power, had disowned him. I couldn’t drag him down any further. “‘Two hours,’ I cut him off, my voice steely. ‘The money will be there in two hours.’” King Group CEO’s office. When I pushed the door open, Jax was feeding Chloe cherries, one by one. Seeing me, Chloe deliberately nipped his finger, purring a playful complaint. “So sweet, Jax. You should try one.” Jax pulled his finger away, not even looking at me, and slowly, meticulously, wiped his hand with a wet wipe. “You’re here?” I walked to his desk, holding up my phone with the payment QR code. “Jax. It’s nine o’clock. Transfer the funds.” Jax tossed the wipe into the trash, leaned back, crossing his legs. “What’s the rush? Leo’s been in that hospital for ages. What’s a little longer?” “The doctors said tonight is the absolute last deadline.” My hand trembled, but my voice was steady. “Jax, don’t play with a man’s life.” “A life?” Jax scoffed, pulling open a drawer and tossing a stack of photos onto the desk. “See for yourself. Is this your dying brother?” Photos scattered across the floor. All of Leo. He was in a hospital gown, yes, but in the hospital’s garden, he was laughing with a young nurse, a drink in his hand. The photos were clearly taken from angles designed to deceive, showing Leo looking rosy and perfectly healthy. “Is this why you faked his illness to get five million?” Jax stood, advancing on me step by step, his eyes blazing with fury. “Scarlett, you’d curse your own brother to death for money? Is your heart truly that black?” I froze. Those were photos from last week. That was the day he had a brief remission. He’d forced himself downstairs for some air, just to make me think he was getting better. He hadn’t touched that drink. He was back in his room, coughing up blood and collapsing into a coma, minutes later. “No, it’s not…” I tried to explain. “Shut your mouth!” Jax clamped a hand around my throat, pushing me back against the desk. “Or is it that this money isn’t for Leo at all, but for your little runaway fantasy with Dr. Mason?” He threw another photo. In it, I’d fainted from low blood sugar, and Dr. Mason had caught me. The camera angle made it look like a kiss. Chloe, from the side, gasped. “My God, Scarlett! Are you really using Jax’s money to support a lover?! That’s utterly repulsive!” The air squeezed from my lungs. I looked into Jax’s eyes, filled with utter disgust, and suddenly, I didn’t want to explain anymore. What was the point of explaining? He only saw the ‘truth’ Chloe painted for him, twisted and ugly. “‘Yes,’ I choked out, a defiant whisper. ‘I am supporting a lover. So give me the money.’” Jax’s hand tightened, the storm in his eyes growing fiercer. “Fine. Very good.” He released me, and I collapsed to the floor, gasping for air. “You want money, huh?” Jax pulled out his wallet, flicked out a hotel room key card, and threw it at my face. “Tonight, there’s a dinner with Mr. Hayes. He’s… taken a particular interest in you. Spend the night with him. Keep him happy, and I’ll transfer the five million directly to you.” I stared at the key card on the floor. Mr. Hayes. A notorious pervert, rumored to have ruined more than one young woman. “Jax,” I whispered, my eyes burning, refusing to shed a single tear. “I’m your assistant.” “In my eyes, there’s no difference.” Jax turned his back to me. “Take the card and go, or watch Leo die. Your choice.” I knelt on the floor, my nails clawing five deep gouges into the plush carpet. A long time passed. Slowly, numbly, I reached out and picked up the key card. “Fine.” I stood, my body swaying slightly, but I stood tall. “As long as the money gets transferred, I’ll go.”
Scarlett POV 8 PM. The Grandeur Hotel, Room 888. I stood at the door, took a deep breath, and swiped the key card. The room was dark, but I heard the sound of water running in the bathroom. I stumbled to the coffee table, poured a glass of hard liquor, and threw it back. The fire in my throat barely dulled the twisting agony in my gut. The click of the bathroom door opening. But it wasn’t Mr. Hayes who emerged. It was Jax. He was wrapped in a bathrobe, his hair wet, his eyes dark with menace, as if he wanted to devour me whole. I froze. “You? Where’s Mr. Hayes?” “So eager to please that old pervert?” Jax strode towards me, shoving me onto the sofa, then looming over me. “Jax! What are you doing!” I struggled. “What am I doing? Inspecting the merchandise.” Jax roughly tore open my collar, buttons scattering. His cold fingers slid beneath my shirt, no preamble, just a brutal, humiliating penetration. “Since you’re so willing to whore yourself out, let’s see if this body of yours is even worth five million.” “Let go of me!” I thrashed violently, trying to knee him. Jax pinned both my hands above my head with one hand. His other hand continued its ruthless exploration. “Already wet?” Jax lifted his hand, his fingers glistening, a thin, suggestive trail in the air. He smirked coldly. “Scarlett, you’re perfectly trained. Who else but me could make you react like this?” Humiliation. A raw, burning shame unlike any I’d ever known. I bit down on my lip until I tasted blood, refusing to cry out, refusing to give him the satisfaction. I lay there, a dead weight, letting him light a fire, only to cruelly extinguish it. “Say something!” Jax, infuriated by my silence, bit down hard, right on the fresh, tender burn on my chest. A jolt of agonizing pain tore through me. It was where Chloe had scalded me yesterday, barely scabbed over, now broken open again. “Does that hurt, Scarlett?” Jax lifted his head, my blood smeared on his lips, smiling cruelly. “Good. Remember this pain, Scarlett. This is the price of betrayal.” He suddenly lost interest, getting up and adjusting his bathrobe. “Mr. Hayes isn’t coming tonight.” Jax looked down at me, disheveled and exposed. “You’re filthy. I wouldn’t want you to infect him.” I pulled my ripped clothes around me, curling into the corner of the sofa. “The money…?” “The money’s already transferred to the hospital account,” Jax said, lighting a cigarette. “But I froze the account again.” I snapped my head up. “What do you mean?” “Leo’s surgery is postponed.” Jax blew out a puff of smoke. “Chloe’s dog went missing last night. She’s upset, and she wants you to help her find it. The funds stay frozen until you do.” “Jax! This is a life! Your bodyguards could find it faster!” I shrieked, tears finally falling. “No. Chloe specifically requested you.” Jax flicked his ash. “Find the dog. Then we’ll talk.” Just then, Chloe’s voice came from outside the door. “Jax, aren’t you done yet? It’s going to rain, and my Snowball is still out there!” Jax stubbed out his cigarette and turned to leave. “Get dressed. And get out there to find that dog.” I watched his retreating back, despair washing over me like a tide. My hand closed around the fruit knife on the coffee table. For a split second, all I wanted was to plunge it into his heart. But I couldn’t. Leo was still on that breathing machine, waiting for me. I dropped the knife, trembling as I buttoned my last button. Find the dog. Fine. If it meant saving Leo, I’d walk through hell.
Scarlett POV The rain poured down in sheets. A desolate, muddy hillside on the outskirts of town. “Snowball! Snowball!” I stumbled through the thickets, sinking deep with every step. My thin shirt was drenched, clinging to my skin. Rain and mud blurred my vision, stinging my eyes. Jax’s car sat idling on the roadside, its headlights cutting through the rain, twin beams of cold, unforgiving judgment. Chloe rolled down the passenger window, shouting through a megaphone. “Scarlett, go check that ditch! Snowball loves to burrow in places like that!” It was a putrid, muddy ditch. I stood at the edge, trembling. My stomach churned with agony, my vision swimming from low blood sugar. “No… I can’t…” I whispered. “What was that?” Chloe didn’t quite hear me. She turned to Jax, pouting. “Jax, Scarlett isn’t willing. Looks like Leo’s surgery fund…” “I’LL GO!” I screamed, closed my eyes, and plunged into the stinking ditch. The cold, foul-smelling muck swallowed me whole, up to my thighs. Rotten branches tore at my skin. I fumbled through the mud. No dog. Nothing. “Oops. My mistake.” Chloe’s laugh, from the car, was unrestrained. She raised the megaphone again. “Scarlett, move it! My Snowball is a champion! Worth far more than your worthless brother rotting in that hospital bed! If Snowball gets sick from this, can your brother’s pathetic life even begin to cover the cost?” I had no strength left, no will to even acknowledge Chloe’s venomous words. Every step was like walking on thorns. I dragged myself to the car, my hand bracing against the window, gazing at the two dry, immaculate figures inside. “Jax, please… just a quick call to the hospital?” My voice was barely a whisper, utterly humble. “The doctors said it’s now or never.” Jax looked at my pathetic state, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. But it was quickly replaced by cold indifference. “Find the dog first.” “Please…” I suddenly sank to my knees. In the mud, facing his car window. “Jax, I’m begging you. I’ll do anything. Take my life if you want. Just unfreeze the funds, please?” I slammed my head against the ground. Again. My forehead struck sharp rocks, blood mingling with rain, streaking my face. Jax’s knuckles whitened on the steering wheel, his grip like a vice. He made a move as if to open the door. “Jax, look! Snowball! Over there!” Chloe suddenly pointed towards a tree on the hillside. The little white Pomeranian was huddled under a distant tree, seeking shelter. “Scarlett, go get it.” Jax commanded coldly. “Bring it back, and the money will be transferred instantly.” I looked up, through the blood and rain, towards the hilltop. A steep, treacherous slope, the earth loose and slick. “Fine.” I stood, swaying, then began to climb. It wasn’t just a dog. It was Leo’s life. The rain intensified, thunder rumbling. I scrambled, hands and knees in the mud, nails tearing into the earth, inching my way towards the tree. “Woof!” The startled dog snapped, its teeth sinking deep into my wrist, perilously close to the artery. Blood welled up instantly. I didn’t let go. Clutching the animal, I turned back. Then the ground vanished beneath us. The hillside collapsed. Dog and I were swept down in the cascade of earth and mud, consumed by the slide. As consciousness bled away, I thought I heard Jax screaming my name. But what did it matter now?
🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “349762”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #重生Reborn #惊悚Thriller
Leave a Reply