Chapter 2

Ashton narrowed his eyes, as if trying to see straight through me.

Then he sneered dismissively, thinking I was overacting.

Ashton went off for his interview, and Willow took my hand.

“You’re so beautiful, Anya. I heard Ashton’s ex-girlfriend of six years is here today too. Do you know who it is?”

I didn’t bother to guess if she was being genuine or not.

I pulled my hand away, wiping it on a napkin with a hint of my usual fastidiousness.

“Sorry, I’m a bit of a germaphobe.”

Willow lowered her head, her face flushing with embarrassment.

“Anya, who are you trying to fool? You’ve been trash since college, and two years later, you’re still putting on the same act.”

Zachary Vance sprawled carelessly in the seat opposite me.

“Zachary, don’t say that. Anya isn’t that kind of person.”

“Willow, you’ve only met her once, and she’s already fooled you. I’ve known her for six years! If it wasn’t for her, how would my brother have gone bankrupt?”

“What do you mean?”

“Willow, you still don’t get it? She’s my brother’s trashy ex-girlfriend.”

Zachary provocatively blew a bubble of gum in my direction.

I blocked it with my bag, then stood up and slammed the bag into Zachary’s face.

“Anya! What the hell was that for! Do you think I’m like you? I’m Zachary Vance, the second young master of the Vance family! Who are you to lay a hand on me? Believe it or not, my brother will chop off your fingers!”

“Your Vance family means nothing to me. If I can make him go bankrupt once, I can make him go bankrupt twice.”

The sudden confrontation completely derailed their interview.

Ashton rushed back.

I looked down at the gum stain on my white bag.

I have a germaphobia.

I held up the bag, looking at the person in front of me. “One hundred thousand.”

“You’re still asking my brother for such a small amount of money? Are you doing this on purpose? Looks like you haven’t been doing so well these past two years, but your flirting skills have definitely improved.”

I picked up the bag to hit him again, but Ashton grabbed my wrist.

“What was the last thing you said?”

“One hundred thousand.”

“The one before that.”

I thought for a moment.

I wasn't sure if that was the line he wanted.

But since he wanted to hear it, fine.

“If I can make him go bankrupt once, I can make him go bankrupt twice.”

Ashton smiled.

It was the first genuine smile he’d shown all evening.

“I like you better when you’re not pretending.”

I yanked my hand free, my arm frozen mid-swing.

But he actually leaned his face closer.

“If that hand lands, I’ll make sure your mother is paralyzed from the waist up too.”

I found it disgusting and hadn't intended to hit him, but as soon as he said that, my palm connected firmly with his face.

Zachary charged forward first.

“You actually hit him! Are you f*cking insane?”

He squeezed my neck, and I yanked his hair.

A clear glass stool smashed against Zachary, blood streaming from his head.

I picked up a glass shard and slashed Ashton’s arm.

Ashton, with sheer brute force, shoved me into the pool.

We fought, disgracefully, in a tangled mess.

“I heard you’ve been taking care of your mother these past two years. Must be tough, right? How about I help you stage an accident? That way, you won’t have to be tired anymore.”

“Your eyes are truly beautiful. Gouging them out to propose to Willow would be magnificent.”

I didn’t have as much to say as him.

My gaze fixed on his chest, and I plunged the knife in.

I wanted to see him squirm, to stubbornly try and act tough.

Then tremble and beg me to push harder.

But the imagined scene didn't happen.

Willow stepped in front of him.

Blood bloomed on her white dress.

“Vent your rage on me if you’re crazy, but why hurt her! Don’t you know she has a bleeding disorder?”

I twisted the knife harder.

“Now I do.”

“Anya! Don’t you dare involve family!”

“Oh, so my mother deserved to be paralyzed?”