Her wrist was seized.

Caught off guard, Jada fell forward — straight into Caius’s lap.

His cool fingertips traced down her cheek slowly, his voice rough against her ear. “So this is how you plan to get revenge?”

Jada’s eyes darkened. She gripped the armrest of the wheelchair. “You promised not to interfere.”

Caius chuckled, his fingers pressing against the red mark on her collarbone, grinding it harder. “You forget — my promise came with conditions. You are not allowed any intimate contact with Grant.”

His voice grew deeper, and suddenly he bit her lips hard, making her frown in pain. “If you keep disobeying…”

Before he could finish, Jada moved first.

Her slender fingers slid down deftly — the faint click of a metal clasp sounded in the air.

Caius stiffened.

Jada smirked, pushed against his shoulders, and straddled him. “If you think I broke the deal, Mr. Martino, you’re welcome to find out.”

His eyes narrowed dangerously. “Are you sure?”

“This is a transaction. I’ll hold up my end.” Jada’s voice was calm, almost detached.

Walter. Carmen. Her parents, who had called her a disgrace. And the real Jada Brooks who had been killed because of Carmen…

Since fate had given her another chance at life, she would collect every debt of blood, one by one, until the innocent dead could rest.

When she first sought out Caius, offering herself in exchange for his power, Jada had already stopped caring.

Her body was a small price to pay — even her life wouldn’t matter once her revenge was complete.

The thought of the past lit a terrible determination in her eyes as she reached for her skirt.

A vein throbbed at Caius’s temple. He grabbed her hand, his teeth gritted. “Aren’t you afraid Grant will walk in right now and ruin everything?”

Jada’s stubborn grip faltered, and she met his gaze. “Do you believe me now?”

Caius closed his eyes briefly. “There will be no next time.”

Jada nodded, stood up with the help of the wheelchair, steadying herself.

The Brooks family was too weak — if not for Caius, they wouldn’t have even qualified to attend a gala like tonight’s, let alone approach the Quinns and Grants openly.

She needed his power for what was coming.

If she didn’t calm Caius, her entire plan could collapse.

Glancing at him, at the state she’d left him in, she hesitated only briefly before kneeling in front of him.

Caius’s eyes widened — almost surprised — his hand half-lifted as if to stop her.

But when he thought of her with Walter, the fire in his chest burned hotter, destroying his last rational thought. Slowly, his hand fell back to the armrest.

The room quickly grew heated. Jada gripped the armrest so hard the veins stood out on her pale hand, fighting to stop the tremor that ran through her body.

Caius, sunk in desire, soon noticed something was wrong. His frown deepened as his gaze cleared.

He tried to pull her up — but she wouldn’t budge.

Then, before either of them could speak, the host’s amplified voice rang out from the ballroom below:

“Ladies and gentlemen, congratulations to Mr. Walter Grant and Miss Carmen Quinn on their official engagement! Grant Holdings and Quinn Enterprises will be joining forces to develop the new Bayview Resort Project!”

Every word struck like a knife.

Jada shook harder, her hatred laced with fear — memories of that terrible day threatening to shatter her.

But even so, she refused to stop. Gritting her teeth, she forced herself to continue.

“Enough!” Caius’s face darkened. He yanked her up, staring at her empty, haunted eyes. His fury died out, leaving him unable to scold her.

Moments later, footsteps sounded outside the lounge, stopping right at the door.

“Jada, are you in there?”

The voice dragged Jada’s scattered thoughts back.

“Jada?” Walter knocked again, then turned the handle.

Jada took a deep breath, forcing her emotions down, and turned to look at Caius.

He was silent, his face stormy again.

Outside, Walter tried the handle several times, finding it locked. “Jada? Did you fall asleep in there?”

“It’s over already. Mr. Brooks had to leave early — I’ll drive you home.”

Still no response. Walter called over a staff member to fetch the spare key.

Hearing the commotion, Jada closed her eyes briefly, then reached out and squeezed Caius’s hand.

His anger wavered, calming slightly as he stared back at her.

Just before the key turned in the lock, Caius sighed and leaned back.

Jada exhaled in relief, quickly pushed him into the bathroom.

At the same time, the door opened. Walter stepped inside, frowning at the empty room. “Jada?”

The lounge had been locked from the inside — there was no way to pretend she hadn’t been there.

Jada splashed water on her face in the mirror, fixed her hair, wiped away her ruined lipstick.

There were faint marks on her arms, but Walter had also lost control earlier — nothing needed explanation.

Within minutes, she looked exactly as she had when Walter had left. She smoothed her dress, erasing every trace of what had happened.

Before stepping out, Jada glanced at Caius, her voice low. “Mr. Martino…”

Caius stared at her for a long moment before speaking coldly: “Remember our terms. If you let him touch you, I won’t keep my promise.”

Jada nodded, slipped out of the room just as Walter came looking for her.

She walked up to him and looped her arm through his. “What are you doing here? Is it over already?”

Walter wasn’t so easily fooled — something felt off.

But today was his engagement day with Carmen. He had already told Jada it was just for the sake of the partnership deal, that they’d call it off when the project stabilized.

Still, guilt gnawed at him as soon as he saw her.

That strange feeling he had was quickly buried.

“Yes, it’s over.” Walter softened his tone. “Why did you lock the door? I was calling you for ages.”

Jada lowered her eyes, feigning embarrassment. “My stomach hurt. I didn’t want anyone walking in, so I locked it. I must not have heard you.”

“I just didn’t expect it to end so soon — after all, tonight wasn’t just a simple birthday party…”

Her tone wasn’t accusatory, but the sadness in it was hard to miss.

Looking at her soft, obedient expression, Walter felt a pang in his chest.

Sophia had been bright and principled, strong-willed and stubborn when crossed.

She was genuine — she loved fiercely and hated fiercely.

But she had never liked Carmen.

Walter had wanted to keep the peace, but he couldn’t stop the conflict between the sisters from deepening.

And since Carmen was frail and easily upset, every time the two clashed, Walter had to persuade Sophia to back down.

He remembered how she used to pout, accusing him of favoritism.

Just like Jada was now.

Even though Sophia had grown distant before her death, that familiar feeling still hit Walter hard, almost enough to bring him to tears.

Overcome by longing, he pulled Jada into his arms, as if he could hold Sophia again through her.

He buried his face in her neck, revealing a vulnerability he never showed to anyone.

After a long while, he pulled back, cupping the back of her head gently. “Don’t worry. It will be over soon.”

“I only think of Carmen as a little sister I need to protect. Once the Quinn family is through this crisis, I’ll break off the engagement. I won’t marry her.”

Jada said nothing, but in her hidden expression, mockery flashed.

Carmen wasn’t the type to give up what she wanted — she wouldn’t let Walter end the engagement so easily.

Jada’s lips curved in a cold smile. She wrapped her arms around Walter and patted his back gently.

Walter straightened. “You said you weren’t feeling well?”

Jada’s smile turned warm. “Just a little stomach ache — I’m fine now.”

Walter’s grip on her hand tightened, his gaze darkening. “Come to my place tonight.”

Jada lowered her head shyly. “But… won’t Miss Quinn be upset?”

Walter’s eyes turned hard. He scooped her into his arms, striding forward with urgency. “You’re my girlfriend, Jada.”

Jada looped her arms around his neck, leaning obediently against him.

Walter’s breathing grew heavier.

Holding her tight, he carried her downstairs.

After they left, Caius wheeled himself out of the bathroom.

He stared at the open doorway, his expression dark as storm clouds.

Grant Holdings was one of San Francisco’s most powerful corporations, and Walter, its young CEO, was widely admired.

He owned countless properties, but the place he took Jada was a private estate in Pacific Heights — an enclave of the city’s wealthiest elite.

Inside, Walter pinned Jada against the entryway cabinet, kissing her with an urgency that left her breathless.

Her phone lit up on the side table.

“Whose call is that?” Walter growled, annoyed.

When it kept ringing, ruining the mood, he tried to grab it.

But Jada snatched it up first, saw the screen — Mr. Martino — and powered it off without blinking. “Just a friend. Ignore it.”

Walter didn’t press. He tossed the phone aside and kissed her again.

Outside, in the corner, Caius sat in his black Rolls-Royce Cullinan, listening to the endless shut-off tone. His expression darkened.

Looking up, he caught a glimpse of two figures pressed together in the lit window above. His fury snapped. He hurled his phone aside. “Ethan, get out!”

The bodyguard immediately stepped out, pulling the folded wheelchair from the trunk.

Before he could set it up, a red Ferrari screeched to a stop at the front gate.

Ethan quickly ducked into the shadows. The Cullinan’s lights shut off.

From the Ferrari stepped a woman in a white dress and heels — Carmen Quinn.