Chapter 1

My former fiancé, who once adored me more than life itself, tied me to a dartboard in an underground gambling den, using me as a living target for his "perfect" girl.

Ten knives, grazing my skin, pinned themselves into the wooden board.

He watched me bleed from above, a cold sneer on his face. "Audrey, you owe this to Serena. Your greedy father stole her father's life-saving heart, so you should pay with your life."

I bit my lip, enduring the excruciating pain, all for the money to keep my brother in the ICU.

But later, when the truth came out, when he learned my father was the benefactor who voluntarily donated his heart, and had even died tragically in prison for it...

He knelt before my brother's grave, slapped his own face until it was raw, and cried like a madman who'd lost everything.

Yet, I couldn't even spare him a glance. I walked away, hand in hand with another man, towards a tomorrow that didn't include him.

The air in the underground gambling den was thick with the sickening smell of blood and cheap cigars.

I was tightly bound to a huge round wooden board.

My limbs spread wide, like a rag doll waiting for sacrifice.

"Mr. Hayes, are you really going this far?" A rich heir beside me rubbed his hands, his eyes glinting with excitement and cruelty.

Ethan Hayes sat on the leather sofa in the center of the room.

His long legs were crossed, and he toyed with a gleaming throwing knife.

Serena Vance nestled delicately in his arms, her nails painted crimson.

"Ethan, maybe that's enough. Miss Davis looks so pathetic. What if she gets a cut on her face?"

Ethan scoffed, his gaze sharp as a knife, cutting across my face.

"A murderer's daughter like her? Pathetic? She doesn't deserve it."

He stood up and walked five yards away from me.

"Audrey, ten knives. For each one that doesn't hit a vital spot, I'll give you ten thousand."

"One hundred thousand after all ten. That should be enough for your sick brother's surgery."

My cracked lips moved.

"Deal."

No hesitation, no begging.

A flicker of savagery crossed Ethan Hayes's eyes.

Three years ago, I was the pampered Audrey Davis, held in his palm.

Now, I was a pathetic stray, willing to throw my life away for money.

He flicked his wrist.

*Whoosh---*

The first knife flew past my cheek, slicing off a strand of hair, and embedded itself firmly in the board next to my ear.

The cold edge sent shivers down my spine.

I didn't blink.

"Ten thousand," I calmly reported.

Ethan Hayes clenched his jaw, his jawline taut.

The second knife grazed my neck.

The third, brushed my side.

Each knife cut through the air, carrying his hatred, a desire to rip me to shreds.

The surrounding crowd erupted in cheers.

I stared intently into Ethan Hayes's eyes.

Those eyes, once filled with deep affection, now held only disgust and perverse pleasure.

As the eighth knife flew, Serena suddenly let out a gasp, pretending to lose her balance and bumping Ethan Hayes's arm.

The throwing knife veered off course.

*Thunk.*

The blade plunged directly into my left shoulder.

Blood gushed out instantly, staining my faded shirt.

The searing pain tore at my nerves. I let out a muffled groan, cold sweat instantly soaking my back.

"Oh dear! I'm so sorry, Miss Davis, I didn't mean to!" Serena covered her mouth, but her eyes were full of triumphant malice.

Ethan Hayes froze for a moment, looking at the blood on my shoulder. The hand holding the last two knives trembled slightly.

But he quickly masked it, staring coldly at me.

"Does it hurt?"

"When your dad bribed the doctor and stole Serena's father's heart, Serena hurt a thousand times more than you do now."

"A daughter paying for her father's sins. Just bear it."

I looked at him, forcing a pale smile.

"Mr. Hayes, does this one count? If so, that's eighty thousand."

Ethan Hayes's eyes fixated on the smile at my lips, the corners of his eyes reddening.

He violently slammed the remaining two knives to the ground.

"Audrey, do you enjoy debasing yourself like this?!"

I was still bound to the board, blood dripping down my arm.

"Mr. Hayes, if I don't debase myself, my brother will die."

"Just pay the money."