I stumbled out of the club.

It was early November, and Chicago's night wind was freezing.

It whipped around me, making my head spin even more.

I was walking down the street when someone ran up to me.

"Hey, do you need help?"

There was something strange in his eyes, something I couldn't figure out.

And then, in a flash, his unfamiliar face morphed into Matthew's.

"Matthew!"

I threw myself at him, sobbing. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!"

Tears spilled down my face as I kept apologizing over and over.

"Matthew" wrapped his arms around me, his hand rubbing soothingly across my back.

"Amelie, I've missed you so much."

His touch was gentle, his voice soft.

But when I tried to pull away, he just held me tighter.

Then, in the next moment, his voice turned cold, dripping with disgust.

"Look at you, Amelie. Don't you think you're pathetic? Is money all you care about now?"

I shook my head, frantic. "No, no, it's not like that…

"Matthew, look—this is our ring."

I shoved him back, yanking the necklace from around my neck and showing him the ring hanging from it.

"Are you crazy?!"

I hit the ground hard, scraping my arm on a jagged branch. Blood started to drip down.

The illusion in front of me vanished, and the man I had mistaken for Matthew stepped back, looking at me like I was contagious.

Suddenly, I heard the screeching of tires.

The next second, a familiar pair of arms pulled me into an embrace.

"Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

Before I could even answer, the world spun, and the alcohol dragged me under.

When I woke up, I was in a strange room.

"You're awake?"

Matthew stood in the doorway, a document in hand.

He walked to the side of the bed, his eyes briefly lingering on my face, his expression unreadable.

Without a word, he tossed the document onto the bed.

"Take a look. If everything's fine, sign it."

I reached out, noticing the bandage wrapped around my arm.

Memories from last night rushed back, and I couldn't help but laugh bitterly.

It was a contract for keeping me as his mistress.

He'd pay me, and I'd sell my body.

"Ten million dollars a month. I'm sure you'll be more than happy with that, Amelie. You need the money, don't you?"

Matthew pulled out the chair beside the bed and sat down, looking at me with cold indifference.

"With Scott Group in the state it's in, there's no way you'll get a loan now."

My hand trembled as I held the contract, his voice icy in my ears.

"If you don't sign this, you'll regret it."

He paused before adding, "Oh, by the way, Scott Group's stock just crashed today."

It was like lightning had struck. I turned my head sharply to stare at him.

And then, my phone rang.

It was Tom, my father's secretary.

"Miss, you need to get to First Hospital right away. Your father had a heart attack. They're trying to save him."

By the time I stumbled into the hospital, my father had already been moved to the ICU.

Through the window, I could see him lying in the hospital bed, hooked up to countless tubes, looking older than his years.

Tom handed me a tablet, his voice filled with pity.

"Miss…"

[Scott Group's stock plummets. Sources suggest MG Group may be planning a takeover.]

Not far away, Matthew stood holding the contract, waving it at me with a smirk.

I shoved the tablet back into Tom's hands and marched over to Matthew.

"You did this, didn't you?"

My eyes burned with unshed tears, and my heart was heavy, but I couldn't cry.

Matthew slapped the contract against my chest.

"Sign it!"

I stared at him, my hand flying up as I slapped him hard across the face.

"Matthew Graham, what do you want from me?!

"What will it take for you to finally leave me alone?"

The salty taste on my lips reminded me that my tears had already started falling.

Matthew lifted his hand, gripping my chin tightly.

"Be a good girl, do what I say, and maybe I'll consider letting you go..."

"Matthew Graham!"

"Yes, I'm listening."

He smiled softly, the way he used to when we were still in love.

In the end, I signed the contract, selling myself to him.

And I let myself sink into a hope that I knew I shouldn't have.