Chapter 1

Lindsey Johnson had gone to demand repayment from her fiance's true love, Stephanie Sullivan. The next day, Jacob Whitaker threw a ledger at her. It was one that she had never seen before.

Inside, every single expense from their five-year relationship was written down. From two-dollar ice cream to designer handbags he had given her. Even hotel bills and condom purchases were meticulously recorded.

"I'll split the hotel bills with you. After deducting the 100 grand Stephie owes you, you still owe me 2.08 million. You have one month to transfer the money to my account."

Leaning lazily on the couch, Jacob raised his head and gave Lindsey a mocking look. The strange and unfamiliar gaze in his eyes made her tremble.

"What?" he pressed. "Can't you afford to pay it back? Didn't you consider whether Stephie had the money when you forced her to pay up by threatening and humiliating her?"

The private room fell into a terrifying silence, and everyone's eyes were locked on Lindsey.

A moment later, a wave of jeering laughter erupted.

"Jake, Lindsey's broke. Where would she get 2.08 million to repay you?"

"She had no shame and lured you into bed back then. Who is she going to sell herself to this time to pay you back?"

"What's 2.08 million anyway? Lindsey, I'll give you 2.5 million if you serve me well tonight!"

Jacob chuckled lightly and swirled his glass of wine indifferently. "Well, that's none of my business. Lindsey, I'll have to take you to court if you can't pay on time."

As she heard that, the color drained from Lindsey's face instantly. Her heart felt like it had been stabbed by a knife. The pain was so sharp that she nearly doubled over.

It wasn't the first time Jacob found fault with her for the sake of Stephanie, who had just returned from abroad. The first time was because she didn't cook for Stephanie in time, and he punished her by refusing to let her eat for three days.

The second time was because she accidentally broke Stephanie's tablet. Jacob actually fractured her arm for that mistake.

The third time was simply because Stephanie was feeling down. Jacob made Lindsey dress up like a clown and perform a fire-eating act. That nearly cost her life.

At this moment, she merely wanted to reclaim the 100 grand Stephanie begged to borrow in tears back then. However, Jacob dragged her here to be publicly humiliated by a bunch of rich young scions.

Everyone was just waiting to see her fall.

Lindsey thought of her mother, Jenny Cooper, and her expensive medical bills. She forced a smile and looked at the man next to Jacob, Richard Smith. "Will you really give me 2.5 million if I serve you well?"

Richard's interest was piqued instantly. With Jacob's silent approval, he called the waiter and ordered ten bottles of strong liquor. "Lindsey, I'll give you 2.5 million if you can finish these ten bottles today!"

Without hesitation, Lindsey grabbed a bottle and started gulping it down. The high alcohol content felt as if it were burning a hole in her stomach. She couldn't help but furrow her brows at the pain while cold sweat poured down her face.

Countless mocking gazes were fixed upon her, and Jacob's was the coldest of them all. However, Lindsey didn't care. She really needed the money. Desperate, even.

It could be said that her dignity was worth nothing in front of money.

After she had down ten bottles, Lindsey's eyes were terrifyingly bloodshot.

She held out her hand to Richard. "Where's the money?"

But he turned to Jacob and asked, "Jake, should I give it to her or not?"

Jacob raised an eyebrow and said with a faint smile, "Go ahead. It's just pocket change to you, so treat it as charity to a poor beggar."

Richard tossed a bank card at Lindsey's feet. She bent down, picked it up, and rushed to the hospital immediately. Her mother's surgery could finally be done now that she had this money.

But when Lindsey arrived at the hospital to pay the remaining surgical fees, the doctor told her in a regretful tone, "Ms. Johnson, Mr. Whitaker gave strict orders to stop all treatment for your mother. I'm sorry, but there's nothing we can do."

Lindsey felt as if her world was collapsing around her. She called Jacob's phone in a panic and begged him to save her mother.

However, a cold laugh came from the other end of the call. "Didn't she just have surgery last week? One less surgery won't kill her, right? Consider it your punishment for making Stephanie sad."

As the call was hung up, Lindsey heard a sharp beep coming from the hospital room. The monitor that once displayed the rising and falling waves of Jenny's vital signs became a flat, lifeless line.

Her phone dropped to the floor with a clatter.

Lindsey's eyes reddened as she lunged toward the bed. She grasped Jenny's hand with trembling fingers, but the ice-cold sensation froze her to the core.

"Mom… Mom!" Her wails of despair pierced through the long and silent night.

Her eyes hollow, Lindsey kneeled at her mother's bedside for a whole day and night. It wasn't until the first ray of morning light shone into the hospital room that she was finally forced to accept the reality of her mother's death.

The doctor handed her a letter with a heavy heart. "Ms. Johnson, this was written by your mother in her final moments. My condolences."

The letter was quite short, but Lindsey couldn't stop her tears from falling. She read, "Lindy, you must run. Your life is just beginning."

Her mother's final gift to her was freedom.

Lindsey had nothing left to lose. After arranging for Jenny's funeral, she called the number of the National Institute of Research without hesitation.

"Dr. Hudson, I've decided. I want to join this research project."