CHAPTER 7 -

Serena hurried to Steave’s apartment.

The sky had already darkened by the time she stood in front of his door. Her hand trembled as she pressed the doorbell. Once, twice, then the door opened, revealing Paul.

“Good evening, Miss Serena,” he greeted calmly. “Mr. Steave has been expecting you.”

Serena stepped inside without saying much. Her legs felt weak, and whatever strength she had left had drained away back at the hospital. In the spacious, modern office, Steave sat in his chair wearing a dark gray shirt, staring expressionlessly at his computer screen.

The moment Serena entered, he closed the monitor and shifted his gaze toward her.

“So, you came after all,” he said flatly.

Serena tried to speak, but her voice cracked.

“Why... why was my mother moved to a general ward? The nurse said her treatment expenses were cut off.”

Steave leaned back in his chair and looked at her casually.

“Yes. I was the one who stopped them.”

“Why?!” Serena took two steps forward, her voice rising. “Didn't you promise to help until my mother recovered?”

“I never said it would be free.” Steave’s voice remained calm, yet cold enough to cut. “Did you forget, Serena? You still haven’t fulfilled our agreement.”

Serena bit her lower lip, holding back the tears beginning to gather in her eyes. She had known this would happen, but it still felt like a brutal blow to the chest.

“Please, don’t do this. I’m begging you, give me more time,” she pleaded desperately.

Steave rose slowly to his feet and looked her up and down.

“The time I gave you was already more than generous, Serena. You’re the one who asked me for help, not the other way around.”

Serena could no longer hold back her tears. She dropped to her knees in front of him.

“I’m begging you. Don’t stop my mother’s treatment. I’ll do anything, as long as she isn’t treated like this.”

Steave walked toward her with calm authority. He stopped directly in front of Serena, who was still kneeling, then lowered his head slightly and studied her face from close range.

“So now you’re ready to honor our agreement?” he asked softly, yet firmly.

Serena lowered her head in confusion, her shoulders trembling. She didn’t answer. She simply let her tears fall onto the floor beneath her gaze.

Steave lifted her chin with two fingers and forced her to look at him.

“You were the one who agreed that night, Serena. Why am I suddenly the villain?”

His grip on her chin tightened.

“If you had cooperated, I wouldn’t have stopped your mother’s treatment.”

“I... I just can’t,” Serena whispered through her sobs.

Steave’s expression was impossible to read. He released her and said,

“Stand up.”

Serena hesitated, but obeyed. Her body was still shaking as she rose to her feet. Only a few inches separated them.

She could feel Steave’s breath against her face.

“If that’s your decision,” Steave said in a low voice, almost a whisper, “then you know the consequences.”

Serena looked into his eyes. She saw something there, a frightening shadow of emotion. Desire, anger, and something that resembled regret.

She didn’t have time to decipher it further.

Steave lowered his head, bringing their faces even closer. Serena could feel the warmth of his breath brushing against her lips.

Serena held her breath.

“Don’t...” she whispered softly, but her voice was swallowed by the narrowing distance between them.

She took a step back, her breathing growing more frantic.

“I don’t want this,” she said quietly, her voice trembling. “I just want to settle everything peacefully.”

Steave, feeling rejected, struggled to keep his emotions under control.

“Peacefully?” he let out a cold chuckle. “The world doesn’t work that way, Serena. Do you think people will help you without expecting anything in return just because you cry so prettily?”

His words struck Serena like a slap.

She glared at him with hatred, but behind her eyes was a fear she could not hide.

Steave returned her gaze sharply.

“You can hate me all you want. But remember, your mother is alive because of me. Without me, you might have lost everything that night.”

“Stop talking like that,” Serena cut in, her voice shaking but firm. “My mother is not a bargaining chip!”

Steave stepped closer, his presence overwhelmingly dominant.

“Then who made her one?” he asked in a low, piercing tone. “You came to me, not the other way around. You were the one who said you’d do anything.”

Serena stared at him. Her throat tightened.

She wanted to argue back, but no words came out.

“You know,” Steave continued, his voice lower now but filled with pressure, “I don’t like repeating myself. Tonight, you can leave here with one of two choices. Accept our agreement and ensure your mother stays alive, or walk away and say goodbye to her for the last time.”

Serena’s body went rigid.

The world around her seemed to fade until all she could hear was the thunderous pounding of her own heartbeat in her ears.

“Why are you so cruel?” she asked hoarsely.

Steave lowered his head slightly and looked into her eyes without expression.

“Because the world is far crueler than you imagine.”

Silence stretched between them.

Serena lowered her gaze and clutched the hem of her skirt tightly.

“If I give you everything, will you keep your promise?”

Steave looked at her for a long moment before answering softly.

“I always keep my promises.”

Serena took a deep breath.

Her chest felt heavy, and her eyes glistened with tears.

“All right,” she finally said, her voice barely audible. “But I want to see my mother first tomorrow morning. I want to make sure she’s okay.”

“If that’s what you want,” Steave replied as he returned to his chair.

He picked up his phone and called his assistant.

“Paul, restore Mrs. Collins’ treatment funding immediately.”

Serena lifted her head and stared at him in disbelief.

“You... you’re really doing it?”

Steave looked at her coldly.

“I’m not a liar, Serena. But you know the price of every decision you make.”

The girl could no longer speak.

She simply stood there, frozen in place, her body feeling weak and drained. As she turned to leave, Steave’s voice stopped her at the doorway.

“Don’t try to avoid me again,” he said flatly.

Serena bit her lower lip and quickly left the office.

But the moment the door closed behind her, her knees nearly gave out beneath her.