Chapter 3

"How can you be so indifferent about me, Cody Lawson?"

At the sharp edge in her voice, Cody gave Jennifer his usual, charming smile. "I assumed that this was what you wanted, Ms. Harvey."

The chill in Jennifer's eyes deepened, and her tone was tinged with a hint of self-mockery.

"I kept you by my side because you used to be sincere toward me. But now… Titus was right. You've become a gold-digger who cares for nothing but money."

The self-mockery vanished as quickly as it had appeared. She turned and beckoned behind her, where several burly men stepped forward and pinned Cody down.

"Titus was on his way to the gathering, but his old injury flared up, so he had to turn back. Since he's in a lot of pain, you should suffer with him."

She then turned to the men. "Get to work. Tattoo my name on his back."

Cody had exceptionally sensitive skin, and a tattoo would be agonizing for him. Still, she ordered them to do it anyway.

He lifted his gaze toward her and laughed out loud. "Is this your way of taking revenge on me, Ms. Harvey?"

Back when they were dating, Jennifer had once disappeared for a long time without a word. Cody had frantically searched everywhere for her, and when she finally returned, he refused to forgive her, telling her that he would only forgive her if she tattooed his name on her body.

"It's not really convenient…" Jennifer started, but she eventually sighed and gave in. "Fine, fine, whatever you say."

In the end, she hadn't tattooed his name, but rather the letters "J&C" on her back. She had then claimed that it stood for "Jennifer & Cody".

Even someone as powerful as the head of the Harvey family could act impulsively when driven by intense love. However, Cody knew she had to regret it deeply by now, and that was why she sought to humiliate him like this.

Jennifer didn't answer his question. Instead, she snapped at the men, "What are you waiting for?"

The men moved quickly and tore off Cody's shirt.

As her gaze swept across Cody's bare back, Jennifer's breath hitched. Right across his fair, pale back, the words, "fucking wretch", and other slurs had been carved into the skin with a blade. The entire back was scarred, and it was a truly harrowing sight.

"Shocked? The people in prison did this," Cody said, as if it didn't bother him at all. "I always cover them up with concealer whenever I serve you, but it was so sudden this time that… I didn't have the chance. I'm sorry. It's my fault…"

Even with such horrific wounds on his back, he was still apologizing to her.

Jennifer felt a pang in her heart. Then, as if realizing something, her tightly furrowed brows relaxed.

Her tone turned firm as she said, "Sending you to prison was only meant to teach you a lesson. I gave specific orders that no one was to mistreat you. Did you do this to yourself just to play the victim again?"

So, to her, those five years of a living hell were merely a "lesson" for him.

Cody curled his lips in a self-deprecating smile, offering no further defense. Even though she chided him for it, Jennifer couldn't bear to look at the scars any longer and averted her gaze.

"Proceed. I have some other matters to attend to."

Cody sneered inwardly. She was off to keep Titus company, no doubt.

As this thought crossed his mind, Cody watched the burly men exchange glances the moment she left, slowly producing their instruments. There were several tattoo needles, thick with rust, that immediately caught the light with a cold, menacing glint.

Cody began to tremble uncontrollably, inching backward. "You're going to use those on me? No… Don't… Don't come any closer!"

One of the men let out a cold sneer. "These are Ms. Harvey's orders."

"No, that's impossible! I'll call her back—"

However, the men grabbed him before he could say another word.

The long, rusty tattoo needles pierced the scarred skin on Cody's back, tearing it open until blood seeped from the wounds. An agonizing, electric jolt of pain shot straight into his marrow and coursed through his entire body.

Cold sweat poured from his forehead, and he let out a harrowing wail.

"Aaaah!"