Chapter 2

He strode over, snatched the flowers from my hands, and hurled them to the floor. The glass vase shattered into a million pieces.

"You can't even handle something this basic. What use are you?" he snapped.

I kept my gaze down and quietly crouched to pick up the shattered pieces.

But he pressed his foot down on the back of my hand, grinding it into the floor, his voice full of contempt. "Drop the act, Karen. You'll never be her."

The pain shot through my hand, but I clenched my jaw and didn't make a sound.

I knew he was just using me to vent his frustration and longing for Lillian, since he couldn't see her.

Once he'd vented his frustration, he walked upstairs through the mess, leaving chaos in his wake. Only then did I slowly stand up, staring at the distinct shoe print pressed into the back of my hand and the blood oozing from the wound. I let out a smile, cold and sharp.

The smile was icy, empty. It didn't touch my eyes.

Atwood would soon find out was never meant to be anyone's replacement.

I walked into his study, turning on the computer with practiced ease.

He never bothered to put up any safeguards; after all, to him, I was just a pretty face with no brains.

I quickly scanned through his business files, locking the key details in my memory.

Leo Todd, the only son of Todd Group, the books were a disaster, and there was a huge gap in the finances.

Victor Wallis, a shareholder at SkyTech, had a wild personal life and was hiding a shady side project no one was supposed to know about.

They were all Atwood's business partners, always hanging around him.

Now, they'd all become pieces in my game of revenge.

After I was done, I went back to my room and stared at my pale face in the mirror, but my eyes were burning with determination.

The show was about to begin.

That weekend, Atwood took me to the horse club.

This was the go-to social spot for his circle.

In the sunlight, a bunch of trust fund kids swarmed around Atwood like he was the king of the place.

Leo caught sight of me, let out a whistle, and flashed a sly grin. "Yo, Atwood, taking your little blood bank out for some fresh air again?"

The crowd erupted in laughter.

I stood beside Atwood, feeling how stiff he was, but he didn't defend me.

He let them mock me without saying a word.

Victor, with his beer belly, leered at me. "Ms. Surrey, you're really lucky. With Atwood, you never have to worry about a thing. Unlike us, still out here busting our asses for money."

I smiled, picked up a glass of champagne, and walked over to him. "Don't kid yourself, Mr. Wallis. Everyone knows that smart city project SkyTech just scored is a goldmine."

Victor's smile faltered.

That project was his underground business, totally off the books and hidden from the company.

I kept going. "Heard the project's just getting started and hurting for funds. I happen to know some folks who'd love to throw money at this."

Victor's eyes switched in a flash, from sleazy to interested, sizing me up.

I took the chance to swipe Atwood's card, treating everyone to the priciest drinks in the place. Just like that, I ended up chatting with a big-shot bank exec.

Between the rounds, I snagged some juicy insider tips that could turn into real leverage.

Atwood watched with cold indifference, probably thinking I was just trying to win over his friends with his money. The disdain in his eyes grew even stronger.

On the way home from the party, his phone rang.

It was from Lillian.

Atwood picked up right away, his voice dripping with tenderness. "Lillian, how are you feeling today?"

On the other end, Lillian's voice sounded delicate and just a bit smug. She even put it on speaker for everyone to hear.

"Atwood, I'm feeling so much better today. The doctor says I'm recovering really well. It's all thanks to Ms. Surrey's blood. You have to thank her for me, okay?"

She practically spat out the word "thank".

She paused, then with a fake innocence in her voice, asked, "Atwood, if my illness is cured, does that mean Ms. Surrey won't be needed anymore? Will you let her leave?"

The air in the car instantly turned icy.

I could feel Atwood shoot me a cold, cutting glance.

But he kept his voice gentle and indulgent. "Don't let your mind wander. Just focus on getting better. When you're back, everything will be just as you want."

After he hung up, the car fell into a heavy silence.

After a long pause, Atwood finally spoke, his tone cold as ice. "Keep your feelings in check. Don't get any ideas about things that aren't yours."

I watched the scenery fly past outside the window, a smile tugging at my lips.

"Relax, Mr. Hood. I know exactly where I stand," I said.

All I wanted was money and freedom.

As for his heart and his love, I found them filthy.

After the last blood draw, I didn't get enough rest, and then spent too long out in the wind at the horse club. I ended up sick, burning with a fever that just wouldn't break.

Late at night, half out of it from the fever, I felt someone dabbing my forehead with a warm towel.

I struggled to open my eyes and saw Atwood sitting right beside me.