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.

The next morning, Matthew and I were sitting at the table, having breakfast.

Georgia burst into the room, fuming.

She grabbed the hot milk from the table and threw it at me.

"Amelie Scott, have you no shame?!"

The scorching milk soaked through my clothes, and I flinched as the heat hit my skin.

But Matthew, sitting across from me, barely lifted an eyelid.

"Georgia, come here."

She shot me a hateful look and then walked over to Matthew.

"Matthew, did you forget how she treated you before?"

Matthew took a napkin and gently wiped the milk off her hand.

"Did you burn yourself?"

Georgia's expression didn't soften.

"What's she doing living here? Did she seduce you or something?"

Matthew chuckled, tightening his grip on her hand.

"I'm keeping her around because she's useful."

Then he glanced at me, his eyes cold.

"What are you standing there for? Go change. We have someone to meet."

When Matthew squeezed Georgia's hand, it felt like an invisible fist had wrapped around my heart, squeezing the air out of my lungs.

I turned and walked toward the dressing room like a puppet on strings.

A few minutes later, Georgia followed me into the dressing room.

She looked me up and down, her eyes full of mockery and disdain.

"Matthew asked me to help you pick out something to wear. We don't want you embarrassing him later."

She glanced at the corner of the closet, then pulled out a red dress and tossed it to me.

"Put this on."

The dress was ankle-length but incredibly revealing. The top was held up by two thin straps, with only a small patch of fabric covering my chest.

My entire arm and back were exposed, and through the open-back dress, you could even make out the curve of my hips.

I didn't move, but Georgia's lips curled into a mocking smile.

"Amelie, do you really think after all your scheming, Matthew's going to fall for you like before?" she sneered.

"Don't forget, you stood in front of the whole class and said he didn't have a penny to his name!"

She shoved the dress into my hands and whispered coldly in my ear,

"And now? You're just his little toy, something he's about to hand off."

Her words sent a chill down my spine. I froze.

"Oh, you didn't know?" she said softly, her voice dripping with malice. "Matthew's taking you to meet Caleb Lowe from Prostar Tech. Heard of him? That old perv? You should know what's coming.

"If I were you, I wouldn't bother humiliating myself."

At that moment, it felt like I was sinking deep into the ocean. So, this is what Matthew planned—to give me away?