Chapter 3

At nine o'clock that evening, I stood punctually at the door of Damien Blackwood's suite.

Taking a deep breath, I pressed the doorbell.

The door opened quickly.

Damien had just showered. He wore a black silk robe, the collar slightly open, revealing a large expanse of firm, hard chest muscles. Water droplets slid down his sharp jawline and disappeared into the depths of his robe, exuding a fatally sexy and dangerous aura.

He held a glass of whiskey in his hand, his deep gaze sweeping over me.

"Come in."

The suite's main lights weren't on. Only the city's neon lights from outside the floor-to-ceiling windows filtered in, light and shadow interweaving.

I stood nervously in the center of the living room, watching as he walked to the bar, poured another glass of liquor, and pushed it toward me.

"Want a drink?"

"No." I got straight to the point. "Damien, what do you need me to do for you to help me?"

Damien let out a soft laugh, carrying his glass as he walked up to me, looking down at me from his superior height.

"Sophia Hayes, what makes you think I'll help you?"

"Because Lucas touched the Blackwood family's money." I looked directly into his eyes. "Although his three-billion-dollar hole is fake, he misappropriated project funds from Blackwood subsidiaries to set up his scheme. Damien hates most when people play tricks under your nose. You need an excuse to legitimately clean house."

A flash of appreciation appeared in Damien's eyes, but it vanished in an instant.

He suddenly reached out, gripping my chin and forcing my head up.

The man's fingers carried an icy temperature, the force immense, making it hurt.

"You're a bit smarter than I expected." His voice was low, carrying dangerous allure. "But to clean house, I have a hundred methods. Why would I choose the most troublesome one to cooperate with your revenge game?"

I was forced to tilt my head back, breathing rapidly.

His breath completely enveloped me. That intense male hormones and superior's authority made me almost unable to think.

"Because..." I gritted my teeth and steeled myself. "Because you hate Victoria White."

Damien's eyes instantly turned cold, the surrounding air seeming to freeze.

I'd bet correctly.

Victoria White's father had once been a senior executive at Blackwood Group. He was sent to prison by Damien himself for embezzling company funds. Victoria had been abroad these years, constantly using the Blackwood family name to swindle and deceive. Damien extremely detested this woman.

"Continue." He released his grip, coolly uttering one word.

I rubbed my reddened chin and quickly said: "Lucas plans to officially announce his takeover as CEO at next month's Blackwood subsidiary anniversary gala, and simultaneously announce his engagement to Victoria White. If on that day he's thoroughly disgraced in front of all the city's elite, Victoria will also become a complete laughingstock. Isn't that the scene Damien most wants to see?"

Damien looked at me quietly, emotions I couldn't understand surging in those unfathomable black eyes.

After a long while, he suddenly smiled.

That smile was cold, cruel, yet carried a trace of fatal attraction.

"Sophia Hayes, when a dog bites you, not only do you want to kill the dog, you want to skin it, pull out its tendons, make it into a specimen for exhibition."

He turned and walked to the desk, picked up a thick document, and tossed it in front of me.

"This is all the evidence of Lucas misappropriating public funds, forging debts, and purchasing private islands abroad for Victoria White."

My whole body shook. I immediately rushed over and opened the file.

Every transfer, every forged contract---all clear and shocking.

Lucas, how ruthless you are.

For one woman, you not only wanted me to lose everything, but you also wanted to climb up by stepping on my bones and blood.

"This is just a deposit." Damien walked behind me, his warm breath spraying on my ear. "To get the more lethal cards, you need to pay a price."

"What price?" I turned my head, but unexpectedly crashed into his deep eyes.

We were extremely close---so close I could see each of his distinct eyelashes.

Damien's gaze slowly moved down, landing on my lips, his voice hoarse beyond measure.

"Become my woman."

My pupils contracted sharply. I instinctively stepped back.

"Damien, what kind of joke is this?"

"I never joke." Damien pressed forward step by step, pinning me against the cold floor-to-ceiling window. "Sophia Hayes, if you want to trample Lucas underfoot, you need someone who stands higher and more stable than him. And I am your only choice."

He reached out, his slender fingers gently caressing my cheek, his eyes deep as the sea.

"What's wrong? Unwilling? Or do you still have lingering feelings for that waste?"

"No!" I blurted out, my eyes full of hatred. "I wish he were dead!"

"Very good." Damien's lips curved with satisfaction. He lowered his head, his thin lips brushing past my earlobe. "Then prove it to me. Go back and continue playing your devoted ex-wife. Keep them stable. When the time is right, I'll personally bring you out of the game."

I leaned against the glass, my heart pounding like thunder.

I knew I was making a deal with the devil.

But as long as I could send Lucas and Victoria to hell, I was willing to fall into the abyss.

For the next two weeks, I displayed astonishing acting skills.

Every day I made soup for Lucas, showed concern about his "debt" progress, and even proactively contacted the evaluation agency, appearing eager to mortgage the manor.

Lucas believed me completely and became increasingly gentle and considerate toward me, as if we'd returned to our honeymoon phase.

Until that afternoon when I went back to our former marital home to retrieve some forgotten documents.

Just as I unlocked the door with my fingerprint, I heard flirtatious laughter coming from the living room.

"Dorothy, this sofa set is too dark. I want to change it to cream white. And those floor-to-ceiling window