Chapter 3

I shuddered.

Impossible.

My “death” had been flawlessly executed.

A car crash. An explosion. Not a trace of my remains.

He had personally arranged my funeral.

He even mourned me for three months.

Lucas came home that evening with a grim expression.

I spoke carefully.

“Um… Gavin usually relies on a few standard tactics when suppressing his rivals…”

Lucas looked up. “How do you know that?”

My heart leaped. I quickly came up with an excuse.

“I—I studied business abroad. I’ve read about quite a few of his cases.”

I then spilled every case I knew about to Lucas.

Lucas stared at me for several seconds without saying a word.

Then he disappeared for several days.

He returned three days later.

He was unshaven, with deep shadows beneath his eyes.

“Claire. Thank you.”

It was the first time he ever addressed me so gently.

I stared at him blankly. “What are you thanking me for?”

He took my hand.

“I had my team investigate the points you mentioned last time, and they really found a breakthrough. Gavin’s attack has slowed down.”

My palms began to sweat.

“I—I was just making a passing comment…”

Lucas studied me for a long moment.

Then he smiled.

“Either way, thank you.”

He actually pulled me into a hug.

It was light and brief.

But my entire body went rigid.

[Ding! Lucas Sterling’s affection rating has increased. Current rating: 55%.]

The system notification rang out.

But I couldn’t bring myself to celebrate.

Lucas’ next words were:

“Claire, you understand Gavin so well… Why do you think he suddenly started targeting me?”

A chill ran down my spine.

“It—it’s probably just business competition…”

Lucas shook his head.

“It doesn’t seem that simple. This time, he’s using a strategy that hurts him almost as much as it hurts his enemy.”

My heart pounded so hard that it felt ready to leap out of my throat.

“I—I’ll run you a bath.”

I fled into the bathroom.

I turned on the faucet.

My hands were shaking violently.

[System! Did Gavin discover something?]

The system replied leisurely.

[Don’t worry, host! Absolutely not! I personally planned the fake death, so there isn’t a single flaw!]

I breathed a sigh of relief.

When Ivy was discharged and returned home, she noticed that Lucas was treating me better.

Her face twisted with anger.

She began causing even more trouble.

But I had grown wiser.

I didn’t take the bait or argue with her.

I smiled cheerfully every day and played dumb.

Lucas’ gaze grew gentler and gentler.

He even began taking me to business banquets.

Although he introduced me as “the aunt of Gavin’s late wife” every time, I was already more than satisfied.

His affection rating had risen to 55%.

I only had to hold on a little longer.

The money would soon be mine.

[Urgent system notification: Lucas Sterling is secretly transferring his assets! He may be preparing to leave the country!]

The cup in my hand nearly slipped and shattered.

I decided to take a gamble.

Late that night, I slipped into Lucas’ study.

I turned on his computer and began drafting a counterattack plan based on everything I had learned about Gavin over the past three years.

I knew Gavin’s business habits, thought processes, and favorite tactics all too well.

After all, we once spent two years together day and night.

At the same time, I quietly began packing my luggage.

I had to prepare for both possibilities.

If Sterling Group really couldn’t hold on, I would have to flee with Lucas.

Early the next morning, before Lucas left the house, I “accidentally” dropped a USB drive by his feet.

“What’s this?” He picked it up.

I pretended to panic. “It’s nothing… Just—just some documents…”

He glanced at me and inserted the USB drive into his computer.

Several files appeared on the screen.

He stared at them for a long time.

His brows drew tighter and tighter.

“Did you write this?” he asked.

I nodded.

Lucas’ expression turned complicated.

That night, Lucas stayed in the study to study my plan instead of keeping Ivy company.

I felt slightly relieved.

Maybe Sterling Group still had a chance.

But everything changed the next day.

Lucas stormed home early in the morning, his face livid.

He was holding my USB drive.