After tucking the signed agreement in her bag, Anise raised a glass and downed it in one gulp.

She drank glass after glass to a point where her stomach was beginning to churn, and she was feeling nauseous.

After she forced herself to finish the last glass, she staggered to her feet to go to the washroom, but Arthur's friends stopped her.

“Arthur, Clarice just lost again! She chose to play truth or dare this time, and the dare she drew was to kiss a random single man in this room for three minutes!”

Upon hearing this, Arthur barely hesitated in pulling Clarice into his arms. He began to make out with her right there.

Both of them were going at it passionately that everyone else in the room couldn’t help but scream and cheer excitedly.

When Anise watched the way the two were entangled in a fit of passion, she felt a bittersweet, pricking sensation in the depths of her heart.

Even when they were finished kissing, Arthur still looked like he was ready for more. Clarice’s cheeks were flushed red, which provoked Arthur’s friend to jest.

“That doesn’t count! The card she drew says she has to kiss a single man, and you’re her boyfriend, that’s cheating! It doesn’t count!”

Arthur’s smile dropped in an instant.

“She is my woman. Are you suggesting that she should kiss someone else?”

Upon realizing that they had offended him, they quickly brushed it off by pulling Anise to their side.

“Of course, we wouldn’t even think of doing that, but don’t worry, we have a backup! We can just have the secretary standing in instead!”

The color was drained out of Anise’s complexion in an instant.

She instinctively turned to Arthur. He turned oddly stoic and shot down the idea.

“She only agreed to the drinking part. Kissing wasn’t part of the agreement.”

His friends exchanged coy glances before bursting into laughter.

“You don’t have the final say in this. If you offer her some more money, there is no way she would refuse. Besides, don’t you remember how obedient she is to you? Do you remember the last time we went racing, and we said that whoever does not have a female companion in the car with them has to give away a yacht? All it took for her to get into the car with you was for you to shoot her a look! If she’s willing to risk her life for you, what’s a kiss then?”

Clarice’s eyes reddened instantly upon hearing this. She recoiled and shrugged Arthur’s hand away.

“Didn’t you tell me you had no feelings for her? Why did you bring her along to the races with you? If you like her so much, you should start dating her instead! Don’t worry about me, I’ll find someone else to kiss!”

With that, she stormed out.

Arthur began to panic. He reached for the card in his wallet, tossed it at Anise, and bolted out of the room with one last remark.

“There’s a million dollars in the card. That’s how much I’m paying you to stand in for Clarice and let them kiss you for three minutes.”

Anise felt as if her heart was ripped out of her chest as he watched him leave.

She never agreed to this part of the deal and wanted to leave, but Arthur’s friends had pinned her down.

They brought in a stray dog out of nowhere and seized it by its jaw to pull its tongue out. They proceeded to force Anise to kiss the creature while degrading her.

“Clarice has been telling us what kind of woman you are. She says you even have your pictures in bed leaked and spread all over the company? How dare a promiscuous, dirty woman like you try to seduce Arthur!”

“As if anyone would ever want to kiss you! We’re going to catch a disease just by touching your saliva! Someone like you is only fit to kiss dogs. You can’t find a better match than a dirty woman like you and a dog!”

Tears streamed incessantly down Anise’s face. She was humiliated and repulsed to the point of nausea.

At last, she threw up a mouthful of bile mixed with blood all over the floor.

She was completely exhausted by the end of it. Her eyes were hollow, and her body gave out.

When the group left amidst laughter and more mockery, there was only a single thought in her mind.

She was going to cut off all ties with Arthur for good and would never return.

After handing over her early resignation application to the HR department, she watched as they stamped it with the company seal.

“Since Mr. Renault has given his explicit approval, you may oversee the handover process and officially resign in three days, Miss Buccaneer.”

At last, there was a sliver of daybreak in Anise’s recent rather gloomy days.

She returned to her desk and began to arrange the handover procedures.

The next two days were spent organizing her documents for a handover to her colleagues. She also prepared a suitcase to pack all her belongings.

Just as she finished packing, Arthur opened the door and stepped inside.

Upon noticing the top of her desk was cleared out, he seemed somewhat taken aback.

“What are you packing up for?”

Anise was just about to answer when a thought seemed to have crossed his mind, to which he remarked with an agreeable nod.

“Right, you’ll have a private office for yourself after your promotion. Leave the packing for later, I need you to come with me.”

He turned and left without sparing her time to respond.

Anise hesitated, but still silently followed him. They ended up at an auction venue.

Clarice was present too. The moment she spotted Anise, a hint of disdain flashed across her face.

She proceeded to step forward to take Arthur's arm.

“Arthur, I already have my eyes on some jewelry. You must buy all of them for me, no matter what, I insist!”

Arthur smiled dotingly before helping her to her seat.

“Don't worry, I'll bid for whatever you want.”

Anise stood alone in the corner and watched as the two exchanged intimate conversations sprinkled with laughter. She found herself numb to it at this point.

When the auction began, Arthur went all out and bid for everything Clarice had her eyes on.

Everyone in the auction hall was flabbergasted by his overwhelming budget and stole curious looks.

“Mr. Renault has been going all out on his every bid! Is there a limit to how much he would spoil his girlfriend? He’s practically a human wishing fountain! Miss Reid sure is a lucky woman to have someone who can give her whatever she wants.”

“I heard it’s been this way ever since they started dating way back. I’m surprised that he’s been consistent with it after so long. He must be completely in love with her.”

Clarice was flattered by the countless remarks people made about her and Arthur.

At one point, she candidly chucked the auction brochure at Anise before turning to Arthur with the usual coquettish look.

“Arthur, I need to go to the restroom. Would you come with me?"

Arthur immediately obliged and got up with her. Before leaving, he curtly turned to Anise and left behind instructions.

“Bid for everything circled out in the brochure.”

Anise silently acknowledged the instruction and proceeded to bid for everything circled out in the brochure.

Just as they were about to leave, the auctioneer on stage suddenly announced a new item to be auctioned for the day.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we shall now put a surprise item up for bidding! What we have here is a dazzling purple necklace carved from a 40.52-carat alexandrite. The starting price is ten million dollars!”

All the attendees were blown away by the magnificent surprise item. Their eyes were completely dazzled by the allure of the beautiful gemstone.

In an instant, bids were thrown left and right around the hall. It did not take long before the price was hiked up to an astronomical range.

Anise reached for her phone and took a picture of the necklace to show Arthur. She asked if she was supposed to put up a bid as well.

However, there was no reply from Arthur even after a long time had passed. She tried to call him several times, but he would not pick up.

While she was still trying to get in touch with Arthur, the necklace was officially sold at the price tag of five hundred million dollars.

Clarice returned just in time for the gavel to fall and conclude the sale.

The moment she caught a glance of the necklace, it was love at first sight. Immediately after being told that it had been sold, she grabbed a glass of red wine and splashed it in Anise's face.

“Are you an idiot? Didn't I tell you to bid for everything I like?”

The wine continued to soak through Anise's hair and clothes. She clenched her fists tightly and forced herself to keep her voice calm.

“This necklace wasn't in the auction brochure. It was a surprise item that was introduced at the last minute. I tried to call Mr. Renault, but he didn't answer…”

Clarice would not listen to her explanation but instead turned to Arthur with an aggrieved cry.

“Look at her, Arthur! She’s incompetent and will not take accountability! I don't care, I will have that necklace one way or another, and if you can’t give it to me, I'm never talking to you again.”

Arthur had seen Anise's message. He would know it was not her fault.

However, he knew he could not justify what happened to Clarice. The only thing he could do to appease her was to give in.

“When have I ever not given you what you want? Don’t worry, I'll have someone to buy the necklace from the buyer right now.”

With that, he motioned over a staff and instructed rigidly, “Negotiate with the buyer. As long as they are willing to let go of the necklace, they can have anything they want.”

Meanwhile, Anise stood nearby the entire time with her drenched shirt sticking to her body. Wine was still dripping from her hair.

When she looked at Clarice's smug look, she had an ill feeling.

Soon, the auction staff returned with a troubled expression, “Mr. Renault, the buyer says he's willing to give up the necklace, but…”

“Out with it.” Arthur frowned.

“On one condition…” the staff stammered, “…he wants your secretary to spend the night with him. He says…”

He finished his sentence with great difficulty, “He says even though she’s rather plain looking, he had his fill of beautiful women and would like to go for someone plain for a change.”

Anise was taken aback, shocked. She immediately turned to Clarice with a snap.

Clarice was barely trying to hide the smugness underneath her smile. Her ploys were evident immediately.

A surprise auction item and a mysterious buyer… It was all adding up, a trap this entire time.

“Mr. Renault.” Her voice shivered, “You can’t agree to such terms, after today, I am going to quit…”

“Arthur!” Clarice suddenly threw herself into Arthur’s arms to cut off Anise, “I want that necklace! You promised!”

She looked up at him with tears welling in her eyes, “Is your secretary more important than I am?”

Arthur looked down at Clarice, who was cradled in his arms, then turned to the pale-faced Anise.

He wiped away Clarice’s tears softly and assured her, “Don’t cry.”

With that, he turned to the auction staff, “Tell the buyer that it’s a deal.”

Anise felt her blood freeze in a near instant, “Arthur! You can’t—”

Before she could finish her protest, someone grabbed her by the arm.

She squirmed desperately and left bloody scratch marks all over the man’s arm while crying like a banshee, “Let me go! Arthur! I'm quitting tomorrow! You have no right…”

Her voice was cut off by the sound of the car door slamming shut.

With that, the black sedan sped away.

From the rearview mirror, Anise could see Arthur gently draping a coat over Clarice.

Soon, Anise was brutishly shoved into a luxury suite in a hotel.

After the door clicked shut, she turned around to see a filthy beggar eyeing her lustfully.

When he grinned, he revealed a row of jagged and sallow teeth.

Anise felt a chill run through her and backed away, “Don't come any closer... I can pay you…”

“Pay me?” The beggar laughed before forcefully grabbing her wrist. When he spoke, a waft of foul breath washed over her, “That lady has given me enough money to live for a lifetime! I don't need money anymore, I need women!”

Anise was at the height of despair. When the beggar lunged at her, she reached for the table lamp and smashed it against his head.

Blood began to pour from his forehead, which only had the effect of enraging him further.

“You bitch!” He grabbed her hair and tossed her onto the bed.

The jarring sound of fabric tearing echoed across the room.

Anise dug her nails into the man’s face and left bloody marks all over, but alas, she was no match for his brutish strength.

Just when she thought all hope was lost…

Bang!

The door was kicked open.

Arthur’s bodyguards rushed in and subdued the beggar effortlessly.

“Miss Buccaneer.” The head bodyguard handed her a coat, “Mr. Renault sent us to rescue you.”

Anise was still shaking when she wrapped the coat tighter around herself. Then, she reached for her phone to call the police.

The bodyguard swiftly snatched the phone away, “We were given orders not to let you call the police.”

“What’s the meaning of this?” She could hardly recognize her voice because of how hoarse it had turned.

“Miss Reid didn’t mean any of this, she was just upset and wanted to get it out of her system. Mr. Renault has already made sure you were safe, so we can consider the entire thing done and over with.”

Anise was taken aback, “He…knows?”

The bodyguard did not speak, but the sentiment was acknowledged.

Anise suddenly began to chuckle until tears streamed down her face.

Arthur knew about everything, and yet, he tacitly allowed Clarice to push her over the deep edge.

She asked with reddened eyes, “And what if I insist on calling the police?”

“No one in the city will take your case.” The bodyguard stated expressionlessly, “Mr. Renault said he would give you the week off in compensation for what happened so you could get some rest.”

With that, he gently shut the door before disappearing down the end of the corridor.

Anise slowly slumped to the floor. Her fingertips dug into the flesh of her palms.

Her suit jacket slipped off her shoulders to reveal her torn collar. When she tried to tuck the fabric, she realized her hands were trembling violently.

Suddenly, her phone rang. The word “Mom” was displayed in bold on the screen.

“Anise, are you done with your handover at work? I’ve already set up your blind date.”

Anise bit her lower lip as hard as she could. What followed was a subtle hint of metallic taste spreading in her mouth, but it was nothing compared to the throbbing pain in her heart.

“Yes, Mom.” She was surprised by how eerily calm she sounded, “I’ll come home today.”

The moment the call ended, she burst out crying.

The last ten years of her life flashed past her mind in a series of montages.

Arthur’s shadowy silhouette outlined by the light on the university campus.

The heat of his breath after another round of drinking back in his office.

The indifference in his voice when he said “deal” today.

Everything she recalled was tearing her apart.

The last ten years of her devotion were rewarded with countless rounds of humiliation.

She slowly got up, picked up her coat from the floor, and straightened her clothes. Then, she returned to her apartment by herself.

She had managed to calm down by then. It only took her thirty minutes from thereon to cancel her apartment lease, pack all her belongings, leave the key behind, and hail a taxi.

The taxi sped through the puddles on the road and headed straight toward the airport.

She had booked a one-way ticket to a life without Arthur.