ged to catch enough breath to speak, Aiden-still with his back to her-spo

hanged

on the desk and tossing it into a drawer, locking it with a sharp, dry click. He adjusted his cufflink

before her only choice." He looked up, his icy gaze sweeping over her pale face. "Remember, I am not forc

cked. Walk out of here, and you can keep your dignity, but you will also return to the reality you are fleeing from. I don't have the habit of negotiating

a bucket of ice water poured directly onto the smoldering fire of her self-respect. She l

d now, before she could even fight back, he had

could

at had besieged her for the past five years? Or to continue toiling until exhaustion, only to w

nd reaching for her bag, accidentally

the hospital appea

ment is not settled by 8:00 AM tomorrow, we will be forced to suspend

uspend support equipment? That wasn't a

d to kneel at her family's feet. If she walked out of that door today for the sake of so-called "d

t leave. Instead, she took a deep breath, clenching her teeth so hard th

He held his breath, waiting for the sound of heels clicking against the marble flo

didn'

ight, Aid

gh the heavy atmosphere. Aiden stiffened. His eyebrows knitted slightly, but he still didn't tur

mission, she slammed both heavy hands onto the polis

She gritted out every word, her breath ragged. "I accept this deal. I wil

ald eyes that were burning with a fire of hatred-a light

the pressure radiating from him. "I want you to use the power of the Power empire to help me ta

s, the smile on her lips now carrying the m

in return, you must be the sword with which I

. He had not expected the prey he intended to corner in the mos

d on Aiden's lips-a rare sign o

price for me to become your 'sword' is not cheap? What do you intend to wager for

lk out of that door right n

ugh from Aiden. He returned to his desk and leisurely leaned back in his chair

o you negotiate? A penniless debtor, someone kneeling at my feet begging for a way out, yet you want

Let's see how many cents your hollow 'revenge' is worth ag

or pleading, her face suddenly became terrifyingly calm. She looked at him one last time-not wi

ling legs now walking with absolute steadiness. Each heel strike against

a deep breath, her mind flashing with the hospital's message and the years of scurrying about like a ghost. If this s

ic

room. Alma pushed the door open, a flood of light from the

to

ce rang out, shattering

stood exactly on the threshold-the boundary bet

eded: Alma's despair did not make her weak; it had turned her into the most reckless of p

authority mixed with a hidden sense of admiration. "I will bring those people befo

her, his cold breath en

a part of the Power empire, my most dangerous investment. Once this door closes, your

resentment. She let go of the door handle and turned to face him. No longer hesitant, she

osed? She wanted to ask why he would compromise with someone who had nothing, but in the end, Alma chose silence. Sh

t her life had officially turned a new page. Happiness, misery, or some sophisticate

was no longer a commodity for Aiden to prize; she had offi