Chapter 2

The air in the private room instantly solidified.

Ethan Hayes stared at me intently, his chest heaving.

He strode over, grabbing my chin with a grip so strong it felt like my bones would shatter.

"Are you that desperate for money? So desperate you'd throw away all your dignity?"

I was forced to look up at his furious face.

"Can dignity save my brother's life?"

"If it could, Mr. Hayes, name your price. I'd sell it by the pound."

Ethan Hayes's pupils constricted sharply.

He flung his hand away as if he'd been burned.

"Let her down," he commanded the bodyguards, his voice hoarse.

The moment the ropes were untied, I collapsed to the ground, drained of all strength.

The wound on my left shoulder was still bleeding, dripping from my fingertips onto the expensive carpet.

Ethan Hayes pulled a check from his pocket, quickly wrote a hundred thousand, then walked over to me.

He didn't hand it to me.

Instead, he loosened his grip, and the check fluttered into an ashtray filled with shattered glass.

"Get it yourself," he said, looking down at me.

I said nothing.

Kneeling on the ground, I reached out my right hand, probing into the ashtray full of glass shards.

Sharp glass pierced my fingertips, mixing blood with cigarette ash.

I found the check.

Clutching it tightly in my hand.

"Thank you, Mr. Hayes, for sparing my life."

I swayed as I stood up, clutching my left shoulder, and walked step by step towards the exit.

"Stop right there," Serena suddenly interjected.

She clicked across the room in her high heels, her eyes scornful.

"Audrey, you soiled Ethan's carpet. You think you can just walk away?"

"Kneel, and lick the blood clean off the carpet."

I stopped, turning to look at Ethan Hayes.

He stood in the shadows, saying nothing to stop her.

He was silently condoning it.

I looked at the blood-stained check in my hand.

A hundred thousand.

My brother was in the ICU, waiting for this money to save his life.

I closed my eyes, bent my knees, and knelt heavily on the ground.

Just as I was about to bend lower.

The door to the private room was kicked open with a bang.

Daniel Miller, dressed in a black trench coat, stormed in, radiating a chilling aura.

His eyes immediately landed on me, kneeling on the ground, and the shocking bloodstain on my shoulder.

"Audrey!"

Daniel rushed over, pulling me up from the floor and wrapping his trench coat around me.

He turned, his gaze fierce, and glared at Ethan Hayes.

"Ethan Hayes, are you even human?!"

Ethan Hayes saw Daniel grabbing my hand, and his eyes instantly turned to ice.

"Mr. Miller, this is a private matter between Audrey and me. It's none of your business."

"Private matter?" Daniel scoffed. "Injuring someone like this? That's assault! Audrey, let's go, we're calling the police."

I grabbed Daniel's arm, shaking my head.

"Daniel, just take me to the hospital."

"My brother is waiting for me."

I couldn't call the police.

If I did, Ethan Hayes would have a hundred ways to ensure I never got that money.

Daniel looked at my pale face, a flicker of heartbreak in his eyes.

He swept me into his arms, then turned and walked out.

"Audrey, if you dare to leave with him today, you won't get a single penny of this money!" Ethan Hayes roared behind us.

Leaning weakly in Daniel's arms, I spoke.

"Mr. Hayes, I already have the check. We owe each other nothing."