Chapter 18. Worth More Than Life

Daniel glanced at Sebastian, his voice uncertain. “Mr. Reed, what about this guy?”

Sebastian lowered his gaze, picking up the knife lying in the dirt. The blade caught the moonlight, sharp and merciless. His eyes were fixed, cold, and cutting. “Which hand were you holding this knife with earlier?”

Chloe instantly turned pale. Her lips trembled, words stumbling out. “W-what do you mean?”

Sebastian didn’t answer her. Instead, he looked at the burly man held down by his men. His voice was calm but razor sharp. “You want to live?”

The man hesitated, then nodded frantically. “I was just paid to help them. All I did was bring the lady here. I swear I didn’t do anything else. I won’t do it again—please, let me go!”

Sebastian repeated the question, voice still like ice. “Which hand was she holding the knife with?”

Before the man could respond, a metallic clang split the air. Sebastian had thrown the knife, burying it in the dirt at the man’s feet. “Cut off one of her fingers. Then you can leave.”

His men released him. The man dropped to his knees, trembling as he stared at the gleaming blade in front of him.

His heart pounded, breath ragged. Swallowing hard, he reached for the knife with shaking hands.

Seeing this, Chloe panicked. Her face drained of color, her voice rising into a desperate scream. “What are you doing?! Don’t listen to him! Don’t do it! I’ll pay you—whatever you want!”

Money?

The man knew better. His life was worth far more. And in Boston, who would dare cross Sebastian Reed and survive?

Resolute, he seized Chloe’s wrist. The knife slashed down in one swift stroke.

“AAARGHH!!!”

Chloe’s scream tore through the stillness of the forest night.

Sebastian’s car was parked some distance away. Whether by chance or design, Evelyn, sitting inside, could only make out shadows through the windshield.

She wasn’t badly hurt. Chloe’s earlier attack had only left a shallow cut across her neck, the bleeding nearly stopped.

From the passenger seat, Evelyn peered out. All she could see was Sebastian’s back, broad and unyielding under the moonlight. His body blocked her view of Chloe and the others.

She couldn’t see exactly what was happening, only Chloe’s piercing screams filled her ears. Her heart thudded wildly. When she tilted her head, she caught sight of the man who had kidnapped her kneeling before Sebastian, mumbling something, then bolting into the darkness like a hunted animal.

A wave of unease swept through Evelyn.

Moments later, Sebastian returned to the car. He opened the door, his face unreadable. “Hospital.”

“Yes, sir,” Daniel answered from behind the wheel.

“Wait.” Evelyn’s raspy voice cut in. “What about Chloe Hartman?”

“Daniel will handle her. You need to take care of yourself.”

Sebastian’s cold tone filled the car, silencing her. Daniel started the engine, and the vehicle rolled forward.

Evelyn pressed her hand against her neck, but too firmly. Pain shot through her, making her wince.

Her mind spun with every rumor she’d ever heard about Sebastian Reed. That he was ruthless. That he’d even thrown his own father out of the family company.

While Evelyn was lost in her thoughts, Sebastian suddenly frowned and pressed a button. The partition slid up, sealing off the front seats from the back. The cabin lights clicked on.

Before she could react, Sebastian was already reaching for her hand, pulling her closer.

The bright light illuminated his face in stark detail, every line, every pore, every harsh edge.

Evelyn’s heart raced. Panicked, she pressed against his chest, voice stumbling. “W-what are you doing?”

Sebastian’s eyes locked onto hers, sharp and unyielding. His voice was low, commanding.

“Don’t move.”

The sound of it vibrated in her ears, freezing her in place. In the confined space of the car, even if she wanted to fight back, there was barely room. She almost thought about driving her knee into him as payback, but before she could try, Sebastian spoke again.

“I told you—keep pressure on the wound. Don’t move.”

He’d already taken the handkerchief from her fingers, pressing it firmly to the cut himself. Evelyn froze, relief washing through her that she hadn’t actually tried to knee him.

“I think… the bleeding’s stopped,” she said uncertainly.

“You sure?”

She followed his gaze downward—and saw fresh blood still trickling down her neck, staining her white blouse. She gasped, letting out a sharp cry, only now feeling the searing pain.

“Sebastian, let me handle it,” she pleaded.

“No. Stay still,” he said firmly, his tone carrying no faith that she could take care of herself. He didn’t give her the chance to argue.

Her raised hand dropped helplessly into her lap. The cabin fell into a tense silence, the outside lights fading, closing them into shadow.

Their reflections shimmered faintly in the car windows. Evelyn sat leaning into Sebastian’s arm, while he held her wound with the other. From the outside, the scene could have easily been misread. Inside, Evelyn felt like a prisoner, her body stiff, even her neck tightening with the tension.

“Sebastian, please,” she begged softly. “Let me do it. I promise I’ll hold it steady without moving around.”

His eyes lingered on her face. After a long pause, he slowly released his grip. Evelyn let out a breath of relief and pressed the handkerchief firmly against her wound herself.

Sebastian’s voice broke the silence, flat and direct. “What really happened today?”

“This afternoon I went to the lawyer’s office to talk about the divorce. When I came out, I got into a taxi. I didn’t realize the driver was working for them. Good thing you called me,” she explained.

Saying it out loud made her remember. She turned to him slightly. “By the way, why did you call me earlier today?”

Sebastian answered without hesitation. “Nothing important. I just told Daniel to gather evidence for you.”

“Thank you so much,” Evelyn said, eyes brightening.

“After what happened today, there’s no way they can win in court. It may not even go to trial. If this turns from a civil case into a criminal one, the Callahans won’t see a single dime. Worth it, don’t you think?”

“Worth it?” Sebastian’s voice dropped, his expression suddenly darkening.

Evelyn shivered, a chill running through her chest.

“From what I’ve sacrificed and what I’ve gained… isn’t that fair?” she tried to reason.

His stare cut into her, intense and unrelenting. “Even combined, the entire Callahan Group isn’t worth this.”

Evelyn froze.

Under his piercing gaze, her neck flushed hot. She wasn’t sure what he meant. Did he actually think she was worth more than the Callahan empire? That couldn’t be. Sebastian Reed was known as a cold, calculating businessman, a man who only dealt in profit and loss.

The rest of the drive passed in silence. Evelyn sat uneasy, her mind a storm of questions.

When the car finally stopped, she blinked in confusion, glancing around. “Wait—I thought we were going to the hospital? Where are we?”

Sebastian had already stepped out, adjusting the buttons of his jacket with one hand. He looked back at her, his voice almost casual.

“My place.”