Chapter 4

Austin frowned as he reached for my work ID, but before he could glance at it, Isla snatched it away and ripped it to shreds.

"What are you doing?!" I snapped.

She flung the fragments in my face with a sneer. "Still trying to fool Austin with a fake ID? Don't bother. I saw through your little trick long ago."

Her laughter rang sharp and cruel. "Look at you. The best you could manage is selling yourself to some decrepit old man. Though I doubt anyone would even want you."

Austin thought I was lying. He said flatly, "Amy is my daughter. With me, at least she won't starve. With you, who knows? You might sell her off to some backwater village."

He paused deliberately, letting his words draw out. "Unless—"

"—you give me child support for keeping her."

I arched a brow. "How much?"

He raised a single finger. "One million."

Isla let out a shrill laugh, covering her mouth in mock astonishment. "Mr. Grant, aren't you being unfair? Look at her, she's dressed like a beggar. Even if she sold herself, she couldn't scrape together one million."

"I just want to see if she's capable of raising my daughter," Austin said coolly.

A contemptuous smile tugged at my lips. "I thought you'd demand something impossible. One million? Fine. I'll give it to you."

The ease of my reply unsettled him. Suspicion flickered in his eyes. He wondered what I'd been doing all these years. Could I really produce that kind of money?

Before he could sort his thoughts, Isla screeched, pointing at my clothes. "Stop bluffing! Your outfit isn't worth ten bucks. If you had a million, would you be wearing cheap knockoffs?"

At that, Amy tugged timidly at my sleeve, her voice trembling. "Mommy… you don't really have that much money. I don't want to be your burden. Maybe you should just… let me stay with Dad."

I hadn't shed a tear while being beaten, but her words pierced me like a blade. Tears blurred my vision.

Crouching, I gathered her in my arms. "Who says I can't? Don't worry, sweetheart. I'll make sure everyone who hurt you pays the price."

They didn't know the truth. The plain clothes I wore weren't worthless. They were the latest development from the research institute, never released to the public. Even money couldn't buy them.

I steadied my breath and pulled out my phone in full view of the crowd.

The line clicked, and a familiar voice chuckled warmly. "Well, well, Claire. Back home already? Shouldn't you be enjoying a sweet reunion with your husband?"

"That's not important right now, Sir," I said. "I need to tell you something. My husband is cheating on me with another woman. He even has a son with her. He wants a divorce. I want custody of my daughter, but he's demanding one million in support."

For a moment, the line went silent. Then came a shocked reply, "You're not joking… are you?"

Before I could answer, Isla snatched the phone from my hand. "So you're her boss? Do you even know who the boy's father is? Austin Grant of Bexley City. If you've got the guts, come here!"

On the other end of the line, the old man froze. In all his life, no one had dared address him so rudely. But after a few seconds, his tone sharpened.

"Austin Grant of Bexley City, huh? Fine. I'll remember. I'm coming."

He hung up.

Isla burst into raucous laughter. "So that's your sugar daddy? An old man pushing seventy or eighty? You really have no shame, Claire."

Austin's gaze cut back to me, his voice final. "Sign the divorce papers now, and I'll let you off easy. Otherwise, no matter who shows up, it won't matter."

He reached toward Amy. "Amy, come here! Tonight you're going back to the basement. You're not allowed to come out without my permission."

Terrified, Amy clung tighter to my clothes.

I pushed her behind me and gently coaxed her. "Don't be afraid, my darling. In this country, no one can harm you."

"Bitch!" Isla spat. "Even if you drag in the highest official, it won't help you. Austin rules this city."

"In that case," I said coldly, "things in this city are about to change."

The words had barely left my lips when the roar of engines thundered from the distance. Dozens of armored trucks loaded with cash barreled down the street, making the ground tremble.

Under the stunned gazes of the crowd, heavily armed soldiers disembarked.