Chapter 3

Tobias lit up a cigarette. The smell was harsh, heavy with tar and something like wild nylon grass. I used to hate that scent.

Whenever he smoked, I'd start coughing, my face turning bright red. He'd glare at me, stone-faced, and order me to leave.

But today, as the smoke drifted across the table and into my nose, I realized it didn't bother me anymore.

My throat didn't tighten, and my eyes didn't water.

I calmly sliced into my medium-rare steak, watching the red juices pool on the plate. I even found the smell faintly pleasant.

Tobias gave me a sidelong look, his gaze icy, slicing across my face. Clearly, he'd picked up on my change.

He exhaled and deliberately blew a ring of smoke toward me.

Tobias said in a low voice, "Not coughing anymore, huh, Stella?"

I set down my fork and knife, picked up my napkin, and wiped my mouth. My movements were slow, each one calculated, precise, like I was following a script.

I looked at him, my eyes as clear as a lifeless pool with no fish.

I asked, "Why would I cough?"

Tobias paused, the cigarette hovering at his lips. His brows furrowed tightly.

He set down the report, laced his fingers together on the table, and leaned forward, a chill settling over the room.

He said, "How many times have you thrown a fit over this smell?

"You used to say it reminded you of that old man from the Keith family who passed away, and of the day you were found in the snow."

As he spoke, a strange wistfulness flickered in his eyes.

I tilted my head, searching my mind for those words, but nothing surfaced. No images, no memories.

What was snow? Who was that old man? I couldn't remember. I only remembered Tobias's name because he was Party A on the contract.

"Maybe I got it wrong. Or maybe I sold those memories off with Jonah's, too," I said, picking up my glass of ice water and taking a sip.

The cold liquid slid down my throat, jolting me awake in a way that was almost unsettling.

Tobias slammed his cigarette into the pristine plate, the tip hissing as it burned out. His expression turned downright ugly.

The confident look he wore disappeared, replaced by a furious, almost insulted agitation.

"Sold them? That's your instinct, Stella! Instinct isn't something you can just get rid of!" Tobias stood up, looming over me, fixing me with a fierce glare.

His breath washed over my face, the strong tobacco scent swirling around my nostrils.

I reached out, my fingertips brushing the expensive silk over his chest.

I wanted to push him away because he was blocking my view of that succulent out in the garden. My fingers didn't even tremble.

I said, "Mr. Rivas, keep it professional. The contract clearly states that once the transaction is complete, all accompanying emotions and physiological responses are stripped away.

"I don't feel a thing for you, for this smell, or for the Rivas family. Isn't this what you wanted? A perfectly rational, obedient tool."

As I spoke, I even managed a polite smile. Tobias's eyes flicked from my fingertips to my face. A muscle twitched in his jaw.

Suddenly, he seized my wrist, his grip almost bruising. The scent of tobacco still lingered on his skin.

"Stella, is this deliberate? Are you trying to take revenge on me?" His voice was sharp, almost threatening.

I met his gaze and calmly slipped my hand free. His grip was strong, but I didn't feel bothered at all.

"Revenge? That takes 'hate' as fuel. If you want that feeling, I can sell you a bit more," I said.

I stood up, gave him a graceful nod, and turned to leave.

I could feel Tobias's eyes locked on my back. His usual domineering, overbearing presence was almost laughable now.

He'd built an empire, but the kite he believed he controlled? The string had snapped long ago.

And that hidden mechanism in the contract he'd overlooked? It was only now beginning to operate on its own.

That week, Tobias seized a full 15% of the Keith family's shares. His wealth skyrocketed.

The city's media went crazy, dubbing him the "Land-Eating Titan." Carter was strutting around like he owned the place, and Tobias's signature was bold and swaggering on every document.

But Tobias was starting to get agitated. That agitation reached its breaking point the moment he stepped into his study and saw me sitting calmly across from him, organizing his files.