Chapter 4

He hurled the USB drive onto the floor.

“Claire Young! You’d better explain yourself!”

I stared at him blankly. “What happened…”

He let out a cold laugh.

“At the press conference this morning, Gavin had prepared a countermeasure for every move I made!

“It was as if he had seen this plan beforehand!”

My mind went blank.

“That’s impossible. I didn’t give it to anyone!”

Ivy came downstairs with her phone in hand.

“Claire, then why did you secretly send an email in the middle of the night?”

The screen showed a screenshot of an encrypted email.

The sender was listed as my email address.

The recipient was Gavin’s private email address.

I shook my head desperately. “I didn’t send that! I don’t even know his email address!”

Lucas’ eyes were bloodshot. “Then how did you write such a detailed plan?”

He grabbed me by the throat and slammed me against the wall. “Tell me! How much did Gavin pay you?!”

“I didn’t…” I struggled to breathe.

He wouldn’t listen. He ordered the security guards:

“Lock her in the basement! Don’t let her out without my permission!”

They dragged me into the basement.

My phone was confiscated.

The windows were sealed shut.

The door was locked from the outside.

[System! Help me!]

[Please remain calm, host.]

“Calm down, my ass! I’m going to be locked up until I die!”

[Lucas Sterling has left for the airport.]

What?!

He was going to flee?!

[System! Help me escape! Hurry!]

[Ten points can be exchanged for one use of “Lock Bypass.”]

[Exchange them! Right now!]

The lock clicked open.

I grabbed my passport and other documents before running outside.

I hailed a cab. “To the airport! Hurry!”

The driver sped there as fast as he could.

I desperately called Lucas again and again.

He rejected every call.

I finally reached the airport, only to see Lucas escorting Ivy onto the plane.

I rushed over. “Lucas! Take me with you!”

He turned around, and his expression turned cold when he saw me.

“How did you get out?”

“None of your business! Take me with you… I can’t stay here…”

Ivy spoke gently. “Lucas, we’re running out of time…”

I saw the hesitation in Lucas’ eyes. Ivy suddenly snatched my passport away.

“Riiip—”

She tore the passport in half.

“Lucas, she can’t come with us. Gavin is watching us right now. If we all leave, he’ll chase us overseas.”

The hesitation in Lucas’ eyes vanished at once.

I lost my mind. “Lucas! I’m your wife!”

His face was expressionless. “Not for much longer. I’ll send you the divorce papers.”

Ivy linked her arm through his. “Lucas, it’s time to board.”

Lucas gave me one last look.

There was struggle and guilt in his eyes.

But in the end, he turned and boarded the plane.

I collapsed onto the floor and cried.

[System… What do I do now? I’ve lost the money, and Gavin might even capture me!]

The system fell silent.

[You’re completely useless! Why do you always go silent at the crucial moment?!]

Several black cars came speeding from a distance.

A group of men in black got out.

The leader nodded at me.

“Miss Young, Mr. Blackwood would like to see you.”

My face turned deathly pale.

I was “escorted” into one of the cars.

The entire drive passed in silence.

The cars stopped at Gavin’s mansion.

The men took me into the living room.

“Miss Young, please wait here.”

The men left.

I stood in the familiar hall, trembling all over.

I had lived here for two years.

Every piece of furniture and painting was so familiar.

I couldn’t let Gavin recognize me.

I had made minor changes to my appearance, but what if he still did?

I rushed into the bathroom.

I grabbed some dust from the sink and rubbed it over my face.

I messed up my hair.

I wrinkled my clothes.

Then I curled up in the corner of the sofa, like a frightened quail.

Footsteps sounded.

They came down the stairs and stopped in front of the sofa.

I kept my head lowered.

I saw a pair of gleaming leather shoes.

“Look up.”

A deep voice rang out.