Chapter 2

As soon as Cody returned to the Harvey villa, a cold, detached voice rang out from above.

"Get down on your knees."

His body stiffened, and his knees buckled instinctively.

Jennifer sat on the couch, leafing through the medical diagnosis report he had left on the table. Her tone was indifferent as she said, "You've grown quite bold, haven't you? Smearing Titus online wasn't enough, so you forged a medical record too?

"Terminal stomach cancer? What a sick joke."

Titus stood to the side, offering a gentle smile. "Don't be mad, Jenny. Cody probably just wanted to get your attention.

"Really, Cody, if you have any grievances against me, just say so. Why go on a livestream to slander me, claiming I caused your parents' deaths, and lie about being on your deathbed? Did you think it would make people pity you?"

A flicker of bitterness crossed Cody's eyes.

He had known all along that speaking out online would be futile. Harvey Group would scrub every trace of those videos clean anyway.

He had just wanted to unload all of those thoughts onto someone for once, and that interview had given him a way to do so. That was all.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have…" Cody began, his apology practiced and automatic. But when he looked up, his gaze fell upon a jade pendant around Titus' neck.

The apology caught in his throat. His pupils contracted sharply. "Where did you get that?"

Jennifer replied, "I gave it to him."

Cody's frail frame shuddered.

Years ago, when they were still dating, back when Jennifer had kept her true identity hidden from him, she had come down with a persistent, high fever. Cody had stayed by her side, nursing her through the long, sleepless nights.

Dominic and Selena, frantic with worry, had even insisted on giving her their family heirloom, the jade pendant. They said, "This is a precious heirloom. It will protect you from harm."

Jennifer resisted, but they insisted on giving it to her.

"To us, you're not just Cody's girlfriend. You're like our own daughter. Take it, Jenny, and live a good life from now on."

After Titus caused the deaths of Cody's parents, he had their home set ablaze. Cody had managed to escape with Cayo, but he could only watch helplessly as everything related to his parents was consumed by the flames.

Through a strange twist of fate, the jade pendant had become the only surviving memento of his parents. He had asked for it back many times, but Jennifer had always refused.

Now, she said, with an air of casual indifference, "The things you posted online didn't cause much of a stir, but Titus' influencer friend cut ties with him, and he's quite upset. I gave him the jade pendant to make it up to him."

Cody couldn't believe that she'd want to compensate a murderer.

A flicker passed through Jennifer's eyes when she saw the calm on his face finally shattering.

In the past, she had found it tiresome when Cody resorted to all sorts of schemes out of jealousy. Yet, his recent, uncharacteristic docility left her feeling unsettled.

She had expected him to lash out this time. Instead, he remained silent for a long while before forcing a smile and replying, "Right… Of course. That's only fair…"

Had he really become so submissive that he would accept anything thrown his way?

Jennifer's expression didn't soften. If anything, she was even more displeased. She looked away, unable to stand the sight of him.

"Fine. Go kneel outside the door as your punishment."

Cody lowered his gaze and limped toward the doorway.

Anna Reed, the maid, glanced at him and tossed down a board studded with sharp nails.

"You know the rules."

Without a word, he dropped to his knees on the board, allowing the sharp points to pierce into his flesh. A searing, agonizing pain shot from his knees all the way to his head. His face turned deathly pale, but he gritted his teeth, refusing to make a sound.

His gaze drifted back into the room. Titus laughed as he wrapped his arms around Jennifer's neck. They tumbled onto the couch, and soon, the room was filled with suggestive sounds.

Cody felt a sharp, piercing pain in his chest as he watched.

His knees ached, and the last vestiges of his genuine feelings—the only bit of sincerity he had left for her— ached just as much.

After some time, Jennifer helped Titus dress and saw him off to a social gathering. She didn't even spare Cody a glance as she brushed past him.

Even Anna felt a flicker of pity for Cody. As she helped him up, she couldn't help but ask, "Mr. Lawson, you clearly have feelings for Ms. Harvey. Doesn't it hurt to see things like that?"

Cody's legs were drenched in blood, and the pain was so intense it had numbed into nothingness. But he simply cast a fleeting look downward and said softly, "Why would it hurt?

"You know my line of work. Aren't we supposed to be docile and obedient, obeying our sugar mommies for their money instead of their love? As for who she truly loves… I don't really care about it. Besides—"

Before Cody could say he was going to die soon, a cold, chilling voice echoed right by his ear.

"You don't care about it?"

Startled, he turned his head around.

He didn't know when Jennifer had returned, but she was glaring at him, her eyes roiling with an anger he couldn't even begin to fathom.