Chapter 1

On our wedding anniversary.

I aborted the child of Damian Thorne's beloved.

As revenge, he had me brutally attacked, leaving my left eye permanently damaged and my right hand crippled, shattering every dream I ever had.

Tears streamed down my face, but a bitter laugh still bubbled up as I systematically dismantled the business empire he’d painstakingly built for that woman.

I thought we’d be entangled in this game of vengeance until death.

But then, he threw a divorce agreement at me.

"Scarlett Reed's embryo transplant was successful. I owe her a name, so let's call a truce."

"Now, you have two paths before you."

"One, burn to death with me here."

"Two, sign the papers and get out of my life."

The expensive carpet was burning, and the thick smoke stung my eyes.

Damian Thorne glared at me, his eyes blazing crimson.

He never expected that even in such a desperate situation, I could still smile.

"What's wrong with you? Sign the papers, and I'll let you go!"

I was just laughing at how naive he was.

"I can go, but you can't."

I walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the fire trucks below.

With my left eye’s vision damaged, the smoke made my eyes ache.

But the more it hurt, the crazier my heart became.

The fire sprinklers on the ceiling began to spray a fine mist, precisely extinguishing the flames around us, yet perfectly avoiding the precious documents and servers that were still burning fiercely.

The fire was neither too big nor too small—just enough to cause maximum damage without truly spiraling out of control.

The ferocity on Damian Thorne’s face froze.

He hadn't expected this, had he? I personally oversaw the design of this building. My intention was always to build him a cage.

And today, it served its purpose.

I walked toward him, step by step, forcing him back to the charred office desk.

"Now, I'm giving you two choices."

My voice was soft, yet it cut like a poisoned blade.

"One, you sign this equity transfer agreement and return everything you stole from me."

"Two…"

I paused, tilting my head, my smile innocent and cruel.

"Before that embryo was implanted, I added a little gift for you both. I think you'll like it."

I leaned close to his ear, speaking in a voice only we could hear, every word distinct.

"I injected that embryo with a little genetic virus. I wonder if the child, when it’s born, will be deformed, or perhaps mentally ill?"

"You're insane!"

Damian Thorne’s voice cracked as he roared, his eyes so red they looked like they would bleed.

His body swayed as he lunged forward, probably too much blood loss, unable to stand steady.

I sidestepped him, watching his weak, impotent rage, and the sweet, intoxicating taste of revenge finally bloomed in my heart.

"I'm insane? Damian Thorne, you're the one who drove me mad."

"You're the one who threw me into the mud, destroying everything I had."

"Now it's my turn. I invite you and your Scarlett Reed to take a good tour of my hell."

His cell phone began to ring frantically in his pocket.

It was Scarlett calling.

Damian Thorne’s hands trembled as he answered, putting it on speaker.

As soon as the call connected, Scarlett’s almost inhuman wails filled the speaker.

"Damian! Save me! Sera Blackwood is a maniac! She's trying to harm our baby! She's not human! She's a devil!"

Mixed with her cries was another sound.

Tick-tock… Tick-tock…

One beat after another, cold and rhythmic, tapping on the heart.

Damian Thorne's face went white. "Scarlett, what is that?"

"It's… it's something Sera sent! A metronome! It's been ticking by my bedside, and I can't turn it off! I'm going crazy! Damian, please come quickly! Boo-hoo-hoo, please hurry!"

I snatched the phone from his hand, and with my crippled right hand, finger by painstaking finger, I typed out a few keys.

In Scarlett's hospital room, the speakers turned on.

The sound of a piano, not a melody, but shattered, sharp noise, abruptly filled the entire space.

It was the first time I'd touched the piano keys since my hand was crippled.

Every note, my blood, my hatred.

"Ah!"