Chapter 3

At that critical second, Jodie, who was supposed to be completely paralyzed, shot right up from her wheelchair.

Before I could even react, she closed the distance between us in a single stride. Her powerful hand clamped around my throat, slamming me hard against the wall.

Jodie leaned in close. The murderous intent in her eyes was practically lethal. "Are you tired of living?"

I struggled to breathe, and my face flushed red.

Yet looking down at her legs planted firmly on the floor, I burst into a rasping laugh.

"Ugh… Ms. Stafford… is playing paralyzed… fun?" I squeezed the words out with effort, locking eyes with her dark gaze.

Jodie's pupils shrank. The veins on the back of her hand bulged as she tightened her grip.

"You saw something you shouldn't have." Her voice dropped even lower, and her fingers squeezed harder. "I could snap your neck right now and tell the world you killed yourself out of shame. The Gordons wouldn't dare say a word."

"Is that so?" Though I was suffocating, the amusement in my eyes only deepened.

With effort, I raised a hand and tapped lightly against her tense arm. "Killing me… is easy. But if I die, who's going to… actually heal your legs?"

Jodie's hand froze instantly.

Seizing the brief opening, I drew in ragged breaths and pressed on. "Your legs aren't useless, but the nerve damage is severe. Forcing yourself to stand now leaves you in agony every night, as though ants are gnawing at your bones, doesn't it?

"Without the proper treatment, your legs will be genuinely ruined within six months."

As Jodie stared at me, a flicker of barely perceptible shock crossed her eyes.

"And that's not all," I added, catching my breath as I met her gaze, laying out my final card.

"Let's make a deal. I cure your legs and help you cover up the fake paralysis. In return, you help me burn the Gordon family and the Collins family to the ground. So, Ms. Stafford, do we have a deal?"

The pressure on my neck relaxed slightly as a sharp, predatory spark glinted in her eyes.

Rather than letting go completely, she tilted her head up slightly. Her warm breath, carrying a faint trace of cool agarwood, hit right under my jaw.

"You're not only bold, but you're also an expert in advanced medical acupuncture? How surprising."

Jodie's cool voice echoed in the spacious bedroom, layered with absolute certainty.

"If I had to guess, you're also the top-ranked trader code-named 'X' in the Hacker Alliance, who shorted our rival's stock in the overseas financial markets recently, aren't you?"

My pupils contracted, and my spine instantly stiffened.

The alias 'X' was my most guarded secret. Not even the Gordon family knew that while I was growing up in the countryside, I had trained under a retired expert and learned a formidable set of skills.

Yet Jodie had uncovered it all.

The wealthiest heiress of Jensford truly lived up to her reputation. Even bound to a wheelchair, her intelligence network was terrifyingly thorough.

Now that my cards were on the table, I dropped all pretense and gave her an easy smile. "Since you've already dug up all my secrets, are you in or out, Ms. Stafford?"

Jodie let out a low chuckle, her shoulders shaking faintly.

She finally released me completely, then calmly straightened the wrinkled collar of my shirt with her slender fingers.

"Deal." A dangerous curve touched her lips as her dark eyes locked onto mine. "A pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Gordon."