Chapter 4

The next day, I packed my bags and attended a gala.

Julian was also present at the event.

But he wasn't my target; his father was.

During a lull in the party, I deliberately slipped into Mr. Thorne's private lounge.

Then, I hacked into his computer, hoping to unearth more clues.

But just then, Mr. Thorne's voice grew closer; he seemed to be returning.

I panicked, frantically searching for a solution.

Unexpectedly, the sounds from outside the door gradually faded away.

I breathed a sigh of relief and copied the files onto a USB drive.

I pushed the door open to leave, but suddenly, a hand gripped my waist, spun me around, and pulled me into an adjoining private room.

Julian pinned my hands above my head with one hand and gripped my chin with the other.

He slammed me against the wall, leaning close, a mocking smile on his face.

"What? Couldn't become my woman, so you’re trying to seduce my dad instead?"

I gritted my teeth, retorting, seething with anger,

"What, you said I was pathetic, didn't you? So what if I am!"

Julian's smile was sharp and cruel, and his grip on my jaw tightened, as if he wanted to crush me.

"Then I’ll show you what *more* pathetic things truly are."

He finished speaking and lunged at me, leaving me no chance to escape.

I struggled desperately but was still overpowered.

Just as things escalated, his phone rang.

Julian ignored it, pressing the call, then continued.

I was on the verge of tears.

I thought Julian was a psycho.

Didn’t *he* call me pathetic? So why was he trying to harass me now?

But then, a rapid knocking suddenly echoed from the room door.