Chapter 5 · The Day I Lost My Baby

The rain hammered down harder than ever, as if it were trying to wash away the sins of the city.

I wandered along the highway. The gash on my forehead was still bleeding; rainwater and blood mixed together, trickling into my mouth with a salty, metallic tang. My body grew colder, and my mind was beginning to flicker out.

A sleek black sedan pulled up slowly beside me.

The window rolled down, revealing a man with a sharp profile. He wore gold-rimmed glasses, and his eyes were as deep as the ocean—radiating the kind of sophisticated, dangerous elegance.

"Emma?" His deep, magnetic voice cut right through the wall of rain.

I turned my head dizzily, unable to make out his face, though he looked hauntingly familiar.

"Get in the car," he said.

When Charles said those words, it was an order. But when this man spoke, it carried an absolute, unshakeable authority.

I swayed, trying to find the strength to refuse, but the world suddenly went black. I braced for the impact of the pavement, but the pain never came. Instead, a pair of strong arms caught me.

I fell into a warm embrace, the faint scent of cedarwood lingering in the air. It was a comforting smell—one that, for some reason, made me feel safe.

"You really are stubborn," the man sighed softly. He swept me up in a bridal carry and tucked me into the back seat.

Before I blacked out completely, I heard him say to the driver. "Cut the supply chain for Reed Corp this quarter. Let's call it my gift to Mr. Reed."

*****

When I came to, I found myself lying on a plush, soft bed. The room was spacious, its minimalist yet lavish decor making it clear this wasn't any ordinary home.

The gash on my forehead had been tended to and was now covered with a fresh bandage. My lower abdomen didn't hurt as much as before.

"You're awake?" A languid voice came.

I turned to see the man sitting in an armchair by the window, swirling a glass of red wine. He was looking at me with a half-smile.

With the light behind him, I finally saw him clearly.

Alexander Parker—the most mysterious and ruthless power player in the capital's elite circle and the current head of the Parker family. Rumor had it he was volatile and temperamental—even Charles had to bow his head to him.

I snapped awake, fear jolting me, and instinctively pulled the blanket up around me. "P-Parker... Mr. Parker?"

I couldn't wrap my head around it. Why would a man of his stature bother to save someone like me?

Alexander set down his wine glass. He walked over to the bed and leaned in close to me. He was so close that I could see my own panicked reflection in his eyes.

"What, are you afraid of me?" He reached out, his long fingers brushing against my pale cheek. The chill of his touch made my whole body tremble.

"Charles is a blind fool. He threw away a diamond because he thought it was a pebble." Alexander smirked, his eyes flashing with a hint of wildness and obsession I couldn't quite name. "Since he's done with you, I'm more than happy to take you off his hands."

I was stunned. "What... what does that mean?"

Alexander straightened up and began fastidiously adjusting his cufflinks. "It means, Emma, I want to strike a deal."

"What kind of deal?" I whispered.

"Be mine, and I'll help you get your revenge." He glanced down at me, his tone absolute and arrogant. "Whatever you want, I'll give it to you. I'll make Charles cry and beg for your forgiveness."

His offer was too tempting to resist. I thought of the baby I lost, my father in his hospital bed, and the sickening faces of Charles and Lily. Hatred boiled in my chest. But I knew better than anyone that a man like Alexander was a devil one didn't want to owe.

"Why me?" I asked, my guard up.

Alexander let out a soft chuckle but didn't answer. He simply turned and walked toward the door.

"You have three days to think it over. But in the meantime, you'd better stay put. Because out there..." He paused, throwing a meaningful look back at me. "Charles is going scorched earth looking for you.

"He's telling everyone you stole Reed Corp's trade secrets, and he's put a three-million-dollar bounty on your head. He wants you found, dead or alive."

My blood ran cold.

Stole trade secrets? Charles, you're actually willing to frame me just to hunt me down? Fine. Since you've decided to play dirty, don't expect me to play fair.

I watched Alexander's back as he left, gripping the sheets tight. Even if this path to revenge led straight to hell, I was going to see it through to the end.

Chapter 5

The rain hammered down harder than ever, as if it were trying to wash away the sins of the city.

A sleek black sedan pulled up slowly beside me.

The window rolled down, revealing a man with a sharp profile. He wore gold-rimmed glasses, and his eyes were as deep as the ocean—radiating the kind of sophisticated, dangerous elegance.

"Emma?" His deep, magnetic voice cut right through the wall of rain.

I turned my head dizzily, unable to make out his face, though he looked hauntingly familiar.

"Get in the car," he said.

When Charles said those words, it was an order. But when this man spoke, it carried an absolute, unshakeable authority.

I swayed, trying to find the strength to refuse, but the world suddenly went black. I braced for the impact of the pavement, but the pain never came. Instead, a pair of strong arms caught me.

I fell into a warm embrace, the faint scent of cedarwood lingering in the air. It was a comforting smell—one that, for some reason, made me feel safe.

"You really are stubborn," the man sighed softly. He swept me up in a bridal carry and tucked me into the back seat.

Before I blacked out completely, I heard him say to the driver. "Cut the supply chain for Reed Corp this quarter. Let's call it my gift to Mr. Reed."

*****

When I came to, I found myself lying on a plush, soft bed. The room was spacious, its minimalist yet lavish decor making it clear this wasn't any ordinary home.

The gash on my forehead had been tended to and was now covered with a fresh bandage. My lower abdomen didn't hurt as much as before.

"You're awake?" A languid voice came.

I turned to see the man sitting in an armchair by the window, swirling a glass of red wine. He was looking at me with a half-smile.

With the light behind him, I finally saw him clearly.

I snapped awake, fear jolting me, and instinctively pulled the blanket up around me. "P-Parker... Mr. Parker?"

I couldn't wrap my head around it. Why would a man of his stature bother to save someone like me?

Alexander set down his wine glass. He walked over to the bed and leaned in close to me. He was so close that I could see my own panicked reflection in his eyes.

"What, are you afraid of me?" He reached out, his long fingers brushing against my pale cheek. The chill of his touch made my whole body tremble.

I was stunned. "What... what does that mean?"

Alexander straightened up and began fastidiously adjusting his cufflinks. "It means, Emma, I want to strike a deal."

"What kind of deal?" I whispered.

"Be mine, and I'll help you get your revenge." He glanced down at me, his tone absolute and arrogant. "Whatever you want, I'll give it to you. I'll make Charles cry and beg for your forgiveness."

"Why me?" I asked, my guard up.

Alexander let out a soft chuckle but didn't answer. He simply turned and walked toward the door.

"He's telling everyone you stole Reed Corp's trade secrets, and he's put a three-million-dollar bounty on your head. He wants you found, dead or alive."

My blood ran cold.

Stole trade secrets? Charles, you're actually willing to frame me just to hunt me down? Fine. Since you've decided to play dirty, don't expect me to play fair.

I watched Alexander's back as he left, gripping the sheets tight. Even if this path to revenge led straight to hell, I was going to see it through to the end.