Chapter 2

After that, I needed to disappear immediately.

I absolutely couldn’t let Gavin discover that I was still alive.

Otherwise, he would make sure I was truly dead.

...

Sterling Group really was in trouble.

Gavin suddenly launched an all-out business attack against Sterling Group, and he came at us with overwhelming force.

Lucas had been overwhelmed with work these past few days, and he always came home with a grim expression.

At the dinner table, I looked at the worry etched between his brows and spoke carefully.

“Lucas, Gavin has several methods he always uses to suppress his rivals. Shouldn’t we prepare for them in advance…”

“What do you know about business?”

Lucas cut me off coldly, his irritation impossible to miss.

“Just focus on being Mrs. Sterling. You don’t need to worry about these things.”

His words left me speechless, so I silently lowered my head and ate my meal.

Fine. I wouldn’t get involved.

If he went bankrupt, we could all starve together.

Then he wouldn’t have the money to maintain his mansion, support his yacht habit, or keep his precious sister.

I wanted to see if he could still remain so calm then!

After dinner, I was just about to return to my room when Ivy suddenly cried out, “Oh!”

The vase that had been sitting safely in the cabinet somehow fell to the floor and shattered.

“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry! Claire, I didn’t do it on purpose…”

Lucas frowned. “It’s just a vase. Don’t scare Ivy.”

I stared at the broken pieces scattered across the floor, and pain twisted through my chest.

It was the only thing my mother had left me.

“Lucas, that was…”

“Enough.” He cut me off. “Ivy didn’t do it on purpose.”

Ivy hid behind him and flashed me a victorious smile.

I clenched my fists and gritted my teeth.

“There are security cameras in the living room. Should we pull up the footage and see whether she did it on purpose?”

Lucas’ expression darkened completely.

He walked toward me.

“Claire Young, don’t think too highly of yourself.”

His voice was cold as ice.

“I married you because you’re Talia Young’s aunt. That’s all. Stop trying to drive a wedge between Ivy and me.”

He bent down to help Ivy to her feet, and his tone immediately softened.

“I personally brought Ivy home from an orphanage. She’s in poor health and has a simple, innocent nature. You should be more accommodating toward her.”

Ivy leaned against him and shot me a provocative look.

I trembled with anger.

“Innocent little sister? Did she look at you like a sister was supposed to look at her brother?”

Even a blind man could tell that something was wrong!

But I couldn’t argue.

I couldn’t make a scene.

[System notification: Lucas Sterling’s affection rating has dropped. Current rating: 45/100.]

[Please raise the host’s affection rating as soon as possible, or the mission may fail!]

I took a deep breath and forced myself to calm down.

For the two-billion bonus, I had to endure this.

I lowered my head, digging my nails into my palms.

“I’m sorry. I got too emotional.”

Lucas’ expression softened slightly.

“Good. At least you know you were wrong.”

He escorted Ivy upstairs.

I stood alone in the living room, so angry that I wanted to cry.

[System, I don’t want to do this anymore! If I fail the mission…]

[The bonus will be frozen permanently, and all of the host’s assets in this world will be repossessed.]

My vision went black.

Did that mean I would be even poorer than I had been three years ago?

I might even end up drowning in debt?

Absolutely not!

My phone suddenly vibrated.

It was a financial news alert:

“Sterling Group Faces Another Devastating Blow. Cash Flow on the Verge of Collapse as Bankruptcy Crisis Looms…”

This was bad.

If Lucas really went bankrupt…

My luxury mansion, designer handbags, and Michelin-starred restaurants…

They would all be gone!

No, no. I had to find a way to help him get through this.

At the very least, I had to hold on until I finished raising his affection rating and collected my money.

Then I would make a run for it.

I would disappear forever.

…

Two days later, Ivy’s “heart condition” flared up again.

This time, it was even more serious.

Lucas stayed at the hospital night after night to watch over Ivy.

I was alone at home.

Peace and quiet.

I turned on my computer and secretly investigated Sterling Group’s financial situation.

The more I read, the more helpless I felt.

Gavin was going for the kill this time.

He had left no room for retreat.

This wasn’t like him.

Could he have discovered something?