How shameless. Rae's so-called long and healthy life was built on Leon's death, with his kidney now sitting inside her body like a trophy.

The mere thought of it made my fingers twitch with the urge to strangle her right there, to wipe that smug smile off her face for good.

"Come on, Sis, drink up! Haven't you been drinking a lot lately?" Rae's voice was sickeningly sweet, her smile stretching just a little too wide. "Have some wine and pull yourself together. I'll take you to my birthday party."

She clapped her hands and two people stepped into the room—a makeup artist and a stylist, both already armed with brushes and racks of dresses. "Make my sister look gorgeous," Rae instructed, her eyes gleaming with barely contained malice. "I want her to shine at my party and finally move on from all that grief."

The makeup artist painted my eyes with heavy, smoky shadows that darkened my gaze, adding a sultry edge I rarely saw in the mirror. The stylist then slipped me into a mermaid-cut gown, so tight I could barely breathe, with a plunging neckline that left very little to the imagination. It wasn't a dress—it was a lure.

I knew exactly what game Rae was playing. Earlier, I had caught her on the surveillance recording, her voice dripping with glee as she made arrangements with someone over the phone.

"Don't worry, my sister's given birth before, but with some makeup and a sexy dress, she's still passable. She'll definitely satisfy you..."

Her tone was filled with a disgusting mix of amusement and cruelty.

"I already know you have AIDS. That's fine—my sister won't mind. Bring your friends, too. The more, the merrier..."

She even gave him the exact room number at the Aurelian Crown Hotel—room 8868—the same hotel where her birthday party would be held.

Rae's plan was clear as day. She wanted me drugged with the aphrodisiac at her party, dragged upstairs into that hotel room and handed over to a man with HIV. The whole thing would be recorded, of course and sent straight to Kai.

Once Kai saw that I had not only cheated on him but had also contracted HIV, he wouldn't just divorce me—he'd probably throw me out like trash. That was Rae's endgame. She didn't just want my place beside Kai; she wanted to make sure I was too tainted to ever crawl back.

What a meticulous little plan. Almost admirable—if it wasn't so vile.

I gave Rae a soft smile. "Thanks, Rae, but my stomach's been feeling off all day. I feel like I'm about to throw up. Let me go vomit first and then I'll drink that Lafite and get ready for your party."

I gagged dramatically, clutching my stomach for effect.

Rae's expression twisted with barely concealed disgust. She must have still remembered when I threw up on Kai a few days back.

"Ugh, fine. I'll leave you to it, Sis." She took a careful step back, nose wrinkled. "But don't forget to drink your wine."

She left in a hurry and the second she was gone, I poured the drugged wine into a clean glass and stared at the deep red liquid swirling inside. There was no way I'd drink it—but someone else would.

I already had a plan. Kai had a habit of bringing a bottle of fine wine to every event he attended and since he'd be going to Rae's party tonight, there was no doubt he'd pick something from his private cellar. All I had to do was make sure this particular glass of Lafite ended up in the right bottle.

Slipping on a pair of gloves, I made my way down to the villa's basement, where the wine cellar was kept. Rows of rare vintages stood in temperature-controlled perfection, but my eyes went straight to a small gift basket placed near the entrance. Nestled inside was a bottle of 1982 Château Latour and a handwritten birthday card for Rae.

So, Kai had already chosen her gift. How convenient.

I retrieved a wine opener I'd prepared in advance, carefully working the cork out of the Château Latour without damaging it. Slowly, I poured the drugged Lafite into the prized vintage, making sure not to spill a drop. The rich aroma filled the air, mingling with the cool scent of stone and aged wood.

Just as I was about to finish, a sudden pressure closed around my wrist—strong, unyielding, like an iron cuff snapping into place.

My heart leapt into my throat. I turned my head sharply, only to find myself staring straight into Clayton's face.

That damn bodyguard. The man moved like a ghost, always appearing when I least expected him. Who knew how long he'd been standing there, silently watching every move I made?

"Let go!" I stomped down hard on Clayton's foot, but he barely flinched.

He stood there like an iron wall, tall and solid, his face completely unreadable as his dark eyes bore down on me. His silence was infuriating, but I knew that yelling, cursing, or even trying to physically fight him was useless.

I'd tried everything before—screaming, scratching, even pretending to faint—but nothing worked. Self-harm wouldn't get me anywhere either. Clayton had learned to predict my move, intercepting me with precision before I could slam my head into a wall, slit my wrist, or even bite down on my own tongue. There was no point trying to outmaneuver someone who could read me like a book.

From upstairs, Kai's voice echoed down the stairs. "Who's in the wine cellar? Is someone there?"

Shit. He was coming.

The sound of his footsteps grew closer, each step eating away at what little time I had left.

Desperation surged through me, leaving no room for hesitation. I threw myself into Clayton's chest, grabbing the front of his shirt and before he could react, I stood on tiptoe and crushed my lips against his.

"Get lost," I hissed when I pulled back, my voice low and vicious. "Unless you want Kai to catch us having an affair right here."

For the first time since I met him, Clayton's usually stone-cold face cracked. His eyes widened in sheer shock, the tips of his ears instantly burning red as the flush spread down his neck.

"You dumb mute," I sneered. "If you don't leave now, I'll tell Kai you seduced me—always flaunting your big chest and showing off those eight-pack abs to tempt me." I leaned in closer, my chest brushing against him through the thin fabric of my dress, the heat of my skin pressing into his.

Clayton's wide-eyed panic was almost comical. His face turned scarlet, so red it was almost painful to look at and he stumbled back with his hands raised in surrender. Without a word, he bolted from the cellar like a scared rabbit.

Kai's voice rang out from the hall. "What's going on, Clayton? Is someone down there?"

Clayton probably shook his head, because Kai didn't press the matter. His tone, however, grew sharper. "I told you to keep an eye on my wife. How could you leave your post without permission? Forget it. Just grab the gift I prepared for Rae from the wine cellar and then go wake Milena. We're taking the burgundy Rolls-Royce tonight—we're heading to Aurelian Crown Hotel."

While Kai barked his orders, I hurried to finish what I'd started. The aphrodisiac-laced Lafite was already inside the Château Latour bottle—all that was left was to reseal it. I carefully replaced the cork, sealed the top with a layer of wax and pressed the original stamp back into place. The bottle looked flawless, as though it had never been touched.

Clayton stepped back into the wine cellar, lingering awkwardly behind one of the racks as though hiding from me. He couldn't even look me in the eye.

I reached out and pinched his chin between my fingers, forcing him to face me. "For a mute, you're actually kind of handsome."

The way his long eyelashes trembled, like the delicate wings of a moth caught in a storm, made me laugh. So, that was his weakness—he couldn't handle teasing.

Flustered and thoroughly defeated, Clayton obediently picked up the gift basket containing the Château Latour and delivered it to Rae.

Later, at the hotel, Rae's delighted squeal was enough to make me nauseous. "Oh my! Kai, you're so sweet! You took time out of your busy schedule to come to my birthday party—and you even brought my favorite Château Latour!"

Kai's response was as lukewarm as ever. "Of course. But mostly, I came to keep your sister company."

These two hypocrites. They were putting on a whole act, pretending to be polite and distant in front of me. I bet they'd already slept together more times than I could count.

The sight of them acting so innocent made me sick. I stepped forward, snatched up the Château Latour and held it up. "I want a drink. Open it. Let's all have some right now."

Rae's smile stiffened for just a moment before she quickly covered it with a pout. She turned to Kai with wide, pitiful eyes. "Kai, this is your gift to me. A bottle like this costs hundreds of thousands..."

I didn't give her a chance to finish. "Don't be stingy. Let's all drink together."

Kai's gaze lingered on me, searching my face, before he turned to Rae. "Milly wants to drink. Let's drink with her. I'll buy you another one later."

With that, the bottle was uncorked and three glasses were poured—one for me, one for Kai and one for Rae.

Rae took a sip, her face lighting up with exaggerated delight. "This is amazing wine!"

But Kai's brow creased slightly. "This wine... doesn't taste like pure Château Latour."

My stomach clenched. I'd forgotten—Kai was practically a walking wine encyclopedia. If anyone could tell it had been mixed with Lafite, it was him. Worse, what if he could detect the aphrodisiac?

But after a moment of hesitation, Kai said nothing. Instead, he tipped back his glass and drank the whole thing in one go.

Rae was nearly finished with hers too. She glanced at me, frowning slightly. "Why aren't you drinking?"

I fumbled deliberately, pretending to lose my grip. The glass slipped from my hand, shattering into pieces on the floor.

"Oh no!"

Rae shrieked, leaping back as wine splattered her expensive dress. "Milena! You got my dress all wet! You did that on purpose, didn't you?"

"Sorry," I murmured, pressing a hand to my forehead. "I didn't sleep well last night. I'm feeling dizzy."

Rae's expression flickered briefly before she put on her signature fake smile. Looping her arm through mine, she cooed sweetly, "Perfect timing. I booked a room upstairs—room 8868. You should go up and get some rest, Sis."

The moment I stepped into room 8868, the drug in the wine began to take effect.

Rae clung to me like a snake, her limbs limp and trembling, her entire body burning up. "Kai... You're Kai, aren't you? Hold me, Kai... Hurry, take me..."

Her glassy eyes stared straight through me, her mind completely adrift in a haze of lust and confusion. She was so far gone she couldn't even tell who was in front of her anymore.

I shoved her onto the bed, her body hitting the mattress with a dull thud and turned to lock the door. The air in the room felt thick, humid with her ragged breaths, but I had no interest in watching the show that was about to unfold.

Out in the hallway, footsteps echoed, slow and deliberate. A group of men swaggered down the corridor toward me, their hair dyed in garish shades of green, purple and orange. Nose rings, earrings, chipped nails. Even from several feet away, I could smell the rank mix of sweat, alcohol and stale smoke clinging to their skin.

One of them let out a low whistle as they passed me, eyes raking up and down my body like I was a piece of meat on display. I didn't react. My gaze slid down to the key card one of them twirled between his fingers—room 8868.

So, these were Rae's special guests—the HIV-infected men she'd hired for her little scheme.

I stood there, watching silently as they approached the door. Behind it, Rae writhed helplessly, too far gone to even recognize her own reflection. In her drugged stupor, anyone who walked through that door would become Kai in her eyes.

What happened next was obvious. And it had nothing to do with me.

I hadn't bought the drugs, I hadn't booked the room and I most certainly hadn't invited those men. Rae had set the trap all by herself—now she would drown in it.

"Rae..."

Kai's voice suddenly rang out behind me, low and hoarse, startling me so badly my heart slammed into my ribs.

Damn it—why was he here now?

He staggered toward me, his footsteps uneven, his normally sharp gaze clouded with confusion and heat. The drug was hitting him too—his pupils were dilated, his face slightly flushed.

"What are you doing here..." His voice slurred as he reached out, brushing his fingers against my arm. "Are you... waiting for me?"

He was so out of it he couldn't even tell who I was—he thought I was Rae.

Originally, my plan had been simple: let Rae contract HIV from her hired men, then let her unknowingly pass it to Kai during one of their secret rendezvous. But now, looking at him swaying in front of me, a new idea sparked in my mind.

Why let Rae do the dirty work when I could punish him myself—right here, right now?

Without hesitation, I dragged him down the hall and booked another room. When the door clicked shut behind us, I hooked a finger into his tie and tugged, pulling him toward the bed.

He stumbled into me, his breath hot against my neck, the smell of wine and desire rolling off him in waves. "Rae... you smell so good..."

Revulsion churned in my stomach, but I didn't let it show. With all the force I could muster, I shoved him backward. "Kneel."

Like a puppet with its strings cut, Kai crumpled to the floor, his knees hitting the carpet with a muted thud. When he looked up at me, it was with a sickeningly eager smile. "Mmm... feisty. I like it."

I slapped him hard across the face, the sharp crack echoing through the room. His gold-rimmed glasses flew off, landing somewhere near the dresser. A vivid red handprint bloomed on his refined, elegant face.

To my disgust, his eyes darkened with pleasure, his lips parting in a low moan. "Baby... that's all you've got? Hit me harder..."

Bile rose in my throat. Had he and Rae been playing these twisted games behind my back? These two were even filthier than I'd imagined.

I slapped him again. And again. The sharp sounds filled the room, mingling with his ragged breaths and low, sick laughter.

When my palm ached from the impact, I switched to my fists, driving them into his face until streaks of blood marred his once-handsome features. But the bastard only grinned wider, his eyes gleaming with manic excitement. "Baby... you're incredible..."

Disgusting freak. Only a monster like him could rip his own son's kidneys out and hand them to the woman he loved without a trace of remorse.

The inferno of hatred inside me roared to life, burning through every ounce of restraint. My hands weren't enough—I needed more.

I kicked him, the sharp heel of my shoe digging into his thigh, his side, his stomach. Each impact drew another filthy moan from his lips.

"Oh... baby... your high heels... God... they feel amazing..."

I wanted to vomit.

Grabbing the nearest thing within reach—a charging cable coiled on the nightstand—I wrapped it around my hands and swung it down with all my strength, the thin wire leaving red welts across his chest and arms.

"You sick bastard!" My voice shook with rage, each word punctuated by another lash. "How dare you kill Leon?! Give me back my son!"