Give you what you want.

Lionel squinted his eyes. He knew he couldn't make it far and needed to find a room immediately. Stumbling out of the private room, his body felt like it was about to explode from the searing heat coursing through him. His silver-gray shirt was already soaked through with sweat.

He staggered his way up to the VIP rooms on the 15th floor. As he stumbled toward a door, he was fortunate—it was unlocked and automatically opened. He needed to cool down his body fast.

As he lifted his leg to step inside, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a woman lurking under the dim, yellowish corridor light. She was acting suspiciously, glancing around nervously, and slowly edging closer to him.

Lionel rubbed his eyes. Despite his increasingly muddled mind, he recognized her immediately—she was the same woman who had been trying hard to flatter him with drinks earlier.

With his experience in dealing with women, he could tell what they were thinking with just a glance or a subtle gesture.

At first glance, he thought this woman seemed demure and elegant, a bit refreshing and unique. But at a second glance, her overly revealing low-cut dress and her bold moves when toasting him—those sultry, seductive eyes that screamed of her desire to pounce on him—disgusted him. The hypocrisy was nauseating.

Chloe walked cautiously, carefully checking the room numbers as she went. She was so focused that she didn't notice anyone at the door until she suddenly bumped into Lionel. She let out a startled cry, her eyes flashing with panic.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" She apologized, her head bowed, trying to sidestep Lionel and move past him.

But as they passed each other, Lionel grabbed her hand, his voice full of gritted anger and a murderous edge, "Bitch, no one dares to treat me like this!"

He believed that no one had ever dared to cross him. Yet here he was, being plotted against—by a mere woman, no less, and one as hypocritically self-righteous as her!

Chloe was stunned and flustered by Lionel's sudden action. "S-Sir, what are you doing?"

She was so shocked that she momentarily forgot to pull her hand away, but the scorching heat from Lionel's grip snapped her back to reality. She began desperately trying to yank her hand free.

"Still pretending?" Lionel shook his increasingly fuzzy head and sneered, "You've been cozying up to me all night, showing off your cleavage, stroking my thigh, all just to climb into my bed, haven't you?"

He thought she had drugged him, waiting for the moment the drug took effect to offer herself to him. Wasn't that her plan?

Her soft, delicate hand was cool to the touch, a stark contrast to the heat radiating from his body, and he found himself wanting to pull that coolness even closer.

Chloe's dark eyes quickly filled with terror. "W-What are you talking about?" Her voice trembled with anger. "Let go!" When she couldn't break free, she frantically used her other hand to help. In the struggle, Lionel's burning arm brushed against the cool softness of her skin.

A fire ignited in his eyes, burning brightly.

"Hmph, you're quite the actress!" More sweat dripped down his face as he realized that just a cold bath wouldn't be enough to cool him down tonight.

His gaze locked onto the smooth, white curve of her neck, and his body reacted sharply. He made a quick decision—whoever had the guts to drug him should be ready to face the consequences.

Right now, he didn't care if this woman was merely trying to seduce him or if she had some other agenda. Once tonight was over, he could deal with her and ensure she wouldn't cause any trouble.

Almost as soon as he made his decision, Lionel pulled the struggling woman into his arms and dragged her into the room.

***

On the other side of the corridor, a scantily clad woman watched the brief struggle between Lionel and Chloe.

At first, she was too stunned to react, but the sound of the door slamming shut jolted her back to reality. Her eyes filled with tears, glistening with hatred.

Before she could think any further, the door behind her silently opened. A strong male hand grabbed her wrist and yanked her inside.

"Ah…" Her scream was quickly muffled as she was thrown forcefully onto an enormous bed.

Before she could get up, three burly men pounced on her like ravenous wolves…

An Accidental Night

The other side

In the dimly lit room, the atmosphere was hazy and suggestive. The sound of fabric tearing sharply cut through the air as the woman's long dress was ripped by the man's hands, scattering in tatters across the floor.

"Let... let me go..." Chloe's pleas were filled with fear as the man's sudden ferocity and the unbearable heat from his body made her tender skin burn painfully.

Despite knowing she couldn't escape his clutches, she continued to beg, "Please... let me go..." Her voice trembled, and her tear-streaked face was a heart-wrenching sight.

Lionel hesitated for a moment. The woman's delicate, white neck seemed to carry a subtle fragrance, and her trembling, bloodied lips were even more enticing.

Her hands, crossed defensively over her chest, only drew more attention to her seductive allure. Her bare skin was pale and incredibly soft, like that of a fairy.

After a brief hesitation, Lionel lost the last remnants of his rationality to the seductive woman. Like a predator, he swiftly overpowered her.

Never one to kiss women, he found her lips irresistibly tender and sweet, capturing them with precision and taking complete control of her.

Chloe kept her eyes tightly shut, tears streaming down her face. She stubbornly clenched her lips, even as they bled, trying to withstand the physical and emotional humiliation.

The man, wild and bloodthirsty, was drenched in sweat, which streamed from his face down his solid chest and further down.

***

As dawn broke, the room finally fell silent.

Chloe lay curled up, her eyes still shedding unfallen tears, while a thin blanket lay haphazardly over her. Her exposed neck and long, pale legs bore vivid marks—red and purple bruises.

Lionel, his long frame twisted, lay beside her, seemingly cradling her in his arms. His handsome face relaxed into a satisfied expression. The room was littered with clothes, pants, and torn fabric, a chaotic scene revealing the intensity of the previous night's events.

BANG--

Suddenly, footsteps echoed in the corridor, followed by a loud voice as the door was kicked open.

Click, click!

Cameras and phones flashed continuously as a large group of men and women, energized and excited, snapped photos of the chaotic scene.

"How dare you!" The man roared in fury, gripping the sheets tightly.

Startled awake by the commotion, the woman's already pale face turned ghostly white. In a panic, she instinctively pulled the blanket over her head.

But it was too late.

The sudden roar from Lionel made everyone freeze, their shock and amazement palpable. The murderous look in his eyes was unmistakable!

As the crowd snapped out of their stupor and tried to flee, Lionel, moving with lightning speed, blocked their escape route. The group was left stunned, their fear increasing as they realized Lionel's rage.

Just moments ago, the man had been in bed, but now, fully dressed in a bathrobe, he was behind them. No one had seen how he managed it.

"Smash everything!" Lionel, embodying his innate authority, had a face full of murderous intent. His cold, ruthless gaze and the command that followed left no room for disobedience.

Smash—

Smash—

The sound of shattering phones and cameras filled the room, as Lionel's orders were carried out with relentless precision.

"Get out!" His voice, like that of a vengeful demon, made the intruders tremble as they hurriedly fled.

It was clear that these people were not professional journalists.

No one in the media would dare to be so bold as to invade his private space and photograph him in such a compromising situation.

Even if it was just a simple photo or scandalous news about him, no one dared to leak it without his permission.

These intruders were clearly reckless, emerging from the depths of obscurity.

Lionel's attention turned back to the woman on the bed. His sharp eyes locked onto her. The woman, who had been curled up in a ball, had now quickly donned a bathrobe. She stared at him with a cold, proud, and defiant gaze.

Still pretending?

Lionel couldn't help but smile in disdain. This woman had some nerve to challenge him!

He advanced towards the bed, clearly seeing her shoulders tremble. Yet she stood straight, maintaining her composure.

Good, she had guts!

As he neared her, before he could make any move, the woman threw a wad of cash at him. "No need to look for me. Consider this a reward for your efforts last night."

Chloe, who had always held herself with pride, was not one to beg. Last night, she had felt humiliated begging him, only for this beastly man to still take advantage of her.

Men, besides her father, were all the same!

If that was the case, why should she show weakness in front of him? She treated him as if he were merely a paid escort for a wild night!

Lionel stood stunned for a moment, his usually sharp intellect momentarily short-circuited. It dawned on him—had he been hired for a night of service? His face turned a deep shade of anger.

The white-clad figure had already darted toward the door. All he saw was her slender back, which seemed to carry the fragrance of flowers..

"Ha…" Lionel's lips curled into a twisted smile. Looking at the few bills scattered at his feet, his smile widened.

The president of K International Group, a figure at the pinnacle of power, had his night reduced to mere pieces of paper?

The woman had some nerve!

A sinister, bloodthirsty look crossed Lionel's handsome face. Though he had been unconscious of his actions last night, he had sensed that she was still a virgin.

But now… Lionel, the heir of the Williams, had his nearly 30-year-old pride destroyed by this woman.

To add insult to injury, she had treated him like a gigolo!

Well, well. Very well!

He would wait for this audacious woman to come to her senses and face the consequences!

"Barton, find out about the escort at Paradiso…" Lionel made a call, his eyes chillingly cold. This matter was far from over.

With his keen insight, he could sense that someone was out to get him, and they seemed unable to hold back any longer!

Flora is Dying

Chloe's legs trembled as she returned home, grateful that her mother and brother had already left, sparing them from witnessing her disheveled state. She filled the bathtub with steaming hot water and sank into it, allowing herself a moment of weakness in the small, confined space.

As she stared at the bruises on her body, memories of last night's chaotic events flooded back, and scalding tears fell, mingling with the warm water. She couldn't understand why her life had taken such a disastrous turn. It must have started when she caused her father's death. She killed him, and now even the heavens were punishing her. Betrayed by both her boyfriend and her sister, as if that weren't enough, she had inexplicably ended up in bed with a stranger.

She felt too ashamed to face anyone.

"Chloe..." Her father's bloodstained hand had grasped hers as he stroked her face with his dying breath. "My darling... I'm leaving... This family... depends on you now... Take care of your mother... take care of... Flora and... Beck..."

And with that, her father closed his eyes, full of regret and reluctance.

At that moment, miraculously, her high fever broke. She stared at her father's blood-covered body and the blood on her own hands, feeling utterly empty. It was as if the fever had drained all the moisture from her body—she wanted to cry, but no tears came.

Undoubtedly, in the eyes of her mother and siblings, she was the one who killed her father. And her inability to shed a tear was proof of her cold-heartedness.

"Dad..." Chloe cradled her face in her hands, tears finally streaming down. "I wish I could die in your place..." Her frail shoulders shook uncontrollably.

She was so tired. She longed to lie down and rest, to finally lay down the burdens on her shoulders. But her father was gone, and she couldn't... she couldn't show weakness in front of her family, or anyone else. She had to carry on the responsibilities her father had left behind.

After pulling herself together, exhaustion overcame her, and she collapsed onto her bed, eyes fluttering shut. Her curled eyelashes still clung to remnants of moisture, trembling slightly, and her round nose was red while her face was excessively pale, like a sheet of paper.

She wasn't sure how long she had slept—or if she had slept at all—when a sudden ringing startled her awake.

She answered the phone, only to hear her mother's sobbing voice, "Chloe, Flora's in trouble... come to the hospital..."

Chloe's heart sank. Since their father's death, her mother had cried for days and nights, losing her voice and shedding all her tears until she fell silent, showing no emotion. But now... something truly terrible must have happened!

For a moment, Chloe almost dropped the phone. Her fragile family could hardly withstand another blow.

Her voice trembled as she tried to sound steady, "Mom, don't cry, I'm on my way!" But in truth, she was panicking. Her mind was a blank slate, and she felt utterly lost. Yet, she had to be strong—if she fell apart, what would happen to her mother?

Shakily getting out of bed, she rummaged through her wardrobe for a long-sleeved shirt, buttoning it up to hide the marks on her neck. Slipping on her shoes, she rushed to the hospital.

***

At the hospital, Chloe found her mother with swollen, tear-streaked eyes. The moment her mother saw her, she collapsed into Chloe's arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Mom, don't cry. What happened to Flora? Trust me, no matter how difficult things get, our family... we'll get through this together..." Chloe's voice caught in her throat as she tried to comfort her mother, forcing back the tears that threatened to fall. She couldn't cry!

"Last night... Flora... Flora was at Paradiso..." Donna choked on her words, unable to form a complete sentence.

But just hearing the name "Paradiso" made Chloe's heart pound in fear. She had been at Paradiso last night too... Could it be that her sister had experienced the same horror?

Oh God, her head spun as she struggled to stay conscious.

"Flora... she... at Paradiso... she suddenly fell ill... she's dying..." Donna finally managed to say through her sobs.

Chloe's vision darkened, and she nearly fainted.

Her frail body leaned against the wall for support, barely keeping her upright.

Her delicate eyes could no longer hold back the weight of her tears, and they finally cascaded down.

Flora is dying?!

Those words struck her like a curse, squeezing the breath out of her lungs!

Her father's dying words echoed in her ears once more.

If Flora dies, how will she ever face her father?

She would rather go back to two months ago when Flora pointed at her, arrogantly declaring, "I slept with your man!" She would rather Flora curse her, call her heartless, a devil! She would rather Flora jump and shout that she hated her!

What did her own pain matter? At least then her sister was alive! Their family was still whole, and she wouldn't have failed her father.

But now...

Chloe's slender frame shook as she held onto her mother, her tears falling like a flood, her teeth clamped down on her lip to keep from making a sound.

Dad, I failed to protect my sister. I failed to protect this family... Her heart was already shattered, more painful than the humiliation she endured last night. No amount of tears could wash away her guilt.

She had caused their father's death, and now their family was falling apart because of her!

The doctor pushed open the doors of the emergency room and stepped out.

"Who is Flora Miller's family?"

"I-I am." Chloe wiped the tears from her eyes and straightened her frail frame. "Doctor, how is she...?"

The middle-aged doctor, around fifty years old, glanced at Chloe's weak figure, worried about the small girl before him. He asked again, "You're her family?"

Chloe nodded.

"Her condition is critical. While she's not in immediate danger, she needs a significant blood transfusion and treatment for several other serious conditions. Expect to need hundreds of thousands of dollars..." The doctor seemed to hesitate, reluctant to further distress this frail mother and daughter duo.

But he was only a small attending physician, powerless in the face of such dire circumstances. There was more he could have said... but seeing their pitiful state, he couldn't bring himself to say anything else, only gently urging, "Hurry and gather the money. And when she wakes up, don't upset her."

Even though Flora wasn't dying, the enormous medical bills were like a death sentence.

Donna's legs gave way.

"Mom, Mom!" Chloe cried out in fear, and the doctor rushed over to help, guiding them to a nearby chair.

"My poor child..." Donna wept in agony.

Chloe's heart broke at her mother's cries, torn between the doctor's half-good, half-bad news.

"Mom, as long as she's alive, that's all that matters! I'll find a way to get the money." What did it matter if she had to scrape together the money? As long as it didn't cost her sister's life.

The doctor glanced at Chloe's red, swollen eyes. She was a young girl, once as vibrant as a flower, now reduced to this sorrowful state, smiling through her pain, crying in a way that broke his heart.

Sigh—

He sighed and shook his head as he left.

Chloe had only graduated from university a few months ago and hadn't found a stable job yet. Since her father's death three years ago, she had been working as a pianist at Blues bar, where Mag generously paid her $5,000 a month. With her earnings from teaching piano on the side, she made about $10,000 a month.

But after covering her family's living expenses and her brother's school fees, there was hardly anything left. And Flora, being a high-maintenance spender, barely managed to cover her own expenses, let alone contribute to the family.

Hundreds of thousands of dollars! It was a death sentence for Chloe too. Sadly, the only friends she had were Mag and her best friend Cynthia. But neither of them had the means to help her.

What on earth was she going to do?!