Chapter 1

In a private room of the largest and most lavish club in Baltross City, Aster Whithard found herself pinned to the carpet by several bodyguards, their filthy hands holding her down. She had cried until her voice grew hoarse.

Evelyn Lyle looked grim. She raised her hand and brought it down hard across Aster's cheek. The slap jerked Aster's head to the side, her chin scraping against the coarse carpet, leaving a burning sting in its wake.

Aster couldn't make sense of what she'd done to deserve this. When the bodyguards had grabbed her and forced her to the ground, she'd turned to Morgan Marchand in desperation, begging him to intervene.

But he'd only looked at her with cold detachment as if her pleas were nothing more than a nuisance. He gave the signal, and a hand clamped over her mouth, cutting her off.

Then, Evelyn stepped forward, striking her again and again. When Evelyn finally seemed to tire of it, she drove the narrow heel of her shoe into Aster's trapped hand.

Unsatisfied with the pressure, she grounded her heel deeper and deeper until Aster's skin split and blood pooled beneath the sole.

The pain was unbearable, shooting from Aster's hand to her chest. It was so intense that she instinctively curled into herself.

Morgan sat calmly on the couch not far away, his composure unshaken.

"Don't let her blood ruin your heels," he said, his tone gentle in a way that was reserved only for Evelyn.

But Aster was his girlfriend, not Evelyn!

Aster's tears poured down her face, mingling with cold sweat. It clouded her vision and smudged her carefully done makeup.

Evelyn finally let up on Aster's hand and spoke with indifference. "Strip her off her clothes."

The hands restraining Aster paused briefly, but when Morgan didn't object, they began to rip at her clothes without saying a single word.

The hand clamped over her mouth loosened, and before she could even cry out in pain, she shouted at Morgan, "I'm your girlfriend, Morgan!"

It felt as if a tight thread were cinching around her heart, the pain so sharp it turned her breaths shallow. She couldn't afford to pause, not even for a second.

Aster lifted her head, her face a mess, and pressed on. "I'm your girlfriend. So, why are you doing this to me?"

She fought desperately against the hands restraining her, and to her surprise, she managed to break free. She inched closer to Morgan, her demeanor submissive and eager to please.

But before she could utter another word, Morgan abruptly rose to his feet and stepped back to avoid her touch. He loomed over her, his striking features contorted with irritation as he glared down at her with contempt.

"I should be the one asking why. I told you that Evelyn and I are just friends. Why are you still so cruel?"

His words hit Aster like a lightning strike, leaving her rooted to the spot.

"You think I was the one who drugged her? That I tried to set her up to be raped?" she asked.

Before Morgan could respond, Evelyn let out a piercing scream as if the mere mention of the incident was too much to bear.

A week ago, after returning to her hotel from the film set, Evelyn had found a stranger in her room. The man had drugged her, and if Morgan hadn't arrived in time, the outcome would have been unimaginable.

Aster had assumed that it was the work of an obsessed fan. Never in her worst nightmares had she thought that they'd accuse her of being involved.

"If it wasn't you, then who?" Morgan demanded. "Besides her, you're the only one with a keycard."

Aster wondered if it was simply because he'd forced her to work as Evelyn's assistant so that they could condemn her without hearing her side of the story.

But that day, she'd been handling a family matter and hadn't even gone to the set. Moreover, Evelyn had two other assistants with her.

Before Aster could voice any of this, the hands were on her again, yanking her back. Her coat was ripped open.

"Aster, it's time to swallow your pride like you've done and plead with the love interest for mercy. Things aren't going to turn out well for you if his affection points drop any lower."

The Nexus' robotic voice echoed in Aster's ear, its tone firm and edged with a quiet warning.

Three years ago, she'd been bound to the Nexus, a romance system. It had laid out the rules clearly. Her success hinged entirely on Morgan's affection points for her.

The higher his affection points rose, the more wealth the Whithard family would accumulate. If they reached 100%, the Whithards would break into Baltross City's top five wealthiest families, and she'd be set for life, living in comfort and growing old by his side.

The offer had been impossible to turn down. Back then, the Whithard family was teetering on the edge of financial ruin, and she'd already had feelings for Morgan. Refusing the quest hadn't even crossed her mind.

For the past three years, Aster had devoted herself to being the perfect girlfriend. She was attentive, understanding, and considerate, always putting him first.

In the beginning, their relationship had been steady. After all, they had grown up together, and the bond of their childhood friendship had kept things stable. For a while, Morgan's affection for her had even peaked at 80%.

But then, six months ago, his true love, Evelyn, returned to the country. Instantly, all of Aster's efforts felt like nothing more than desperate attempts to win him over.

Outsiders often remarked that Evelyn was more radiant, charismatic, and far more captivating than Aster.

Under Morgan's protection, Evelyn carried herself with effortless confidence. She greeted everyone with a warm smile, making it impossible for them not to like her. Because of Evelyn, Morgan clashed with Aster time and time again.

On one occasion, Evelyn had yanked Aster into the swimming pool during a vacation. Morgan had jumped in without hesitation to rescue Evelyn, then lashed out at Aster after the lifeguard pulled her out.

Another time, Morgan didn't show up on Aster's birthday. Evelyn had insisted that she needed chamomile tea for her cramps, and that was that.

Then there was the time Evelyn accused Aster of things she hadn't done, prompting Morgan to cut business ties with the Whithards. The entire Whithard family had pressured Aster to apologize to Evelyn.

And when Evelyn traveled deep into the mountains for a film shoot, Morgan insisted that Aster tag along as her assistant.

When he visited the set, he brought gifts for the entire crew but somehow forgot the allergy medication Aster had explicitly requested. That oversight put her in the hospital for a week.

Meanwhile, Morgan's affection points toward Aster dropped with each incident, falling from 80% to 50%. The Nexus had sounded its alarm more than once, and Aster had tried repeatedly to fix things, but nothing could stop the downward spiral.

She had thought that the humiliation and mistreatment she'd endured were already more than she could bear, but it turned out that they were just the start.

Refusing to give up, she turned to Morgan and said, "I really didn't do this. Why won't you believe me?"

Morgan finally looked up at Aster, his gaze icy. "Even if you didn't do it, it's still your fault."

At that moment, it all became clear to Aster. Whether she had done it or not didn't matter. Morgan was simply using her as a scapegoat to channel Evelyn's anger and make her feel better.

Aster—someone he had never taken seriously—was nothing more than a tool to entertain Evelyn. If she was ruined in the process, so be it.

The light in Aster's beautiful eyes dimmed, fading into desolation. A single tear slipped from the corner of her eye, and she stopped struggling. Like a broken doll, she lay still on the dirty carpet, lifeless and defeated.

As her dress was torn away, the curves of her shapely figure became faintly visible, her exposed skin gleaming with a porcelain-like pallor.

The bodyguards' breaths grew heavy, their intentions unmistakable. Aster's vacant eyes stayed fixed on the ceiling.

She didn't resist and simply murmured, "Fine."

The rough fibers of the carpet had scraped against her delicate skin, leaving behind angry red and purple marks that stood in stark contrast to her pale complexion.

Morgan's gaze darkened, and he frowned. "What did you say?"

But she didn't look at him again. "I said, fine. Morgan, if tearing down my dignity makes you feel like you've avenged your beloved, go ahead."

Aster's words were sharp and precise, cutting through the suffocating tension in the room. The biting sarcasm in her tone was unmistakable.

"But mark my words—I'll make you pay sooner or later. Unless, of course, you finish me off today."

Chapter 2

Truth be told, for Aster to come out with such bold, almost inflammatory words at a time like that was anything but wise. It was practically begging to set Morgan off.

Without thinking, he shoved Evelyn, who'd been leaning on him, aside and marched straight for Aster. He yanked her to her feet in one swift move. The fury in his eyes was enough to send a chill down anyone's spine.

"Say that again, Aster Whithard. I dare you!"

His brows were sharp, and when they arched slightly, they gave off an air of disdain and ferocity.

That look used to scare Aster. Whenever he glared at her like that, she'd swallow her pride in an instant just to appease him. But not anymore.

Even as her heart pounded wildly and the Nexus in her mind screamed at her to stop, warning her of the danger, she ignored it all.

She repeated herself. "Morgan, either you kill me today, or from this moment on, we're enemies for life."

Evelyn cut in with a sneer before Morgan could get a word out. "You've got some nerve, Aster. Who do you think you are, speaking to Morgan that way?"

Evelyn's over-the-top protectiveness toward Morgan struck Aster as downright absurd. Losing to someone like Evelyn left Aster feeling like a failure.

"First of all, we're not on familiar terms. You'll address me as Ms. Whithard. Secondly, my issues with him are your golden opportunity, aren't they? You two should just stick together for good. A scoundrel and a two-faced manipulator. It sounds like a match made in heaven to me."

As Aster spoke, her eyes and expression were mocking and disdainful. It was as if she'd washed her hands of the whole mess.

The bodyguards had already slipped back into the corners of the room. But Aster knew better. One look from Morgan, and they'd be back in a heartbeat.

"Enemies for life, huh? Aster, do you even understand what you're saying?"

Morgan scoffed and seized Aster by the neck, his usually composed face taut with barely restrained fury.

Aster, however, wasn't as panicked as he'd expected. She didn't look away either. Even the delicate arch of her brows stayed perfectly still as she stared at him with cold detachment.

"Of course. It means that we're done. It means that from today on, we're free to marry whoever we want, without the other getting in the way. And it means that I'll do everything to make you pay for what happened today."

Morgan's brow knit tightly at the word "done". But when she spoke of making him pay for it, he laughed, his tone carrying a lazy edge, as if he couldn't care less.

"Oh? And how exactly do you plan to make me pay?"

"By going mad," Aster thought.

There was a time when Aster's love for him had kept her wildness in check. But that love was gone now, and all that remained was the urge to outdo his madness.

"If you have a particular way you'd like to suffer, feel free to have your assistant prepare a presentation. Oh, and are they still planning to assault me? If not, I'll be on my way."

She paid no mind to the hand still gripping her throat. Instead, she raised her bloodied, trampled hand and pointed toward the bodyguards in the corner.

At the sight of her expression, even the well-trained men flinched, stepping back in unison.

Indeed, the once obedient, sensible, and tender-hearted Aster now stood up for herself, her face a mess and her body streaked with blood. Yet, she wore a smile that was chilling and breathtakingly beautiful.

She was the picture of a stunning yet deadly madwoman, radiating a dangerously captivating allure.

Everyone seemed frozen in place. Even the Nexus in her mind dared not make another sound.

Wearing that same smile, Aster brushed Morgan's hand aside and, clutching her chest, slowly got to her feet. Her clothes were in tatters, but it was as if the battered, patched-up soul inside her had also risen, standing tall despite it all.

No one moved to stop her. No one had the nerve.

She walked over to the table and, with one swift motion, sent the fruit platters and drinks crashing to the floor. Then, she stepped over the broken dishes and spilled liquids and wrapped the linen tablecloth around herself before striding out of the private room without a backward glance.

It wasn't until long after she was gone that Evelyn, who'd been frozen in shock, finally snapped out of it. She sidled up to Morgan, offering her carefully calculated words.

"Don't let this get to you, Morgan. She's jealous and trying to manipulate you with this whole breakup act. Trust me. I'm a woman, so I know how these games work. You mustn't fall for it, or she'll keep using this to control you."

Morgan didn't speak, nor did he glance toward the door. To anyone watching, he seemed completely unfazed.

But the storm that brewed in his eyes gave him away. There was no hiding the anger simmering beneath the surface.

He couldn't believe that Aster dared defy him. She even talked about breaking up!

Meanwhile, Aster had already made it to her car. She tossed the tablecloth aside and changed into the spare clothes in the vehicle. Only then did she finally respond to the Nexus in her head, which had been blaring warnings nonstop.

"I'm not playing hard to get. I meant what I said—he and I are over. You can keep talking until you're blue in the face, but I'm not changing my mind. You've seen the last three years.

"I've done everything I can. Forcing what won't work only makes things worse. You've seen my medical report. I have late-stage thyroid cancer. I don't have time to waste on him anymore.

"I know I'm useless to you now, so just break the bond and go bother someone else."

Aster's shoulders sagged now that she was alone, but her words stayed firm. Only then did the Nexus seem to grasp that this wasn't some impulsive decision. She had made up her mind long ago.

The Nexus went quiet for a long time before its robotic voice finally rang out again. "Aster, thyroid cancer isn't hopeless."

"Like hell, it isn't."

It was the first time Aster had cursed, her raw, unfiltered side breaking through.

"Late-stage cancer isn't hopeless? Spare me. Do you think that I don't see what's really going on? I'm just a box you need to check. If I complete this quest, you get to level up and become the main system."

The Nexus was unmistakably flustered. "Aster, watch what you're saying."

"Have I been too kind to you, letting you believe you're actually human? Let me spell it out for you—starting today, I'm done. I don't have much time left anyway, so screw this damn quest and Morgan's unyielding heart. Go find someone else to crack it for you."

She knew that she must look like a wreck in her outburst, but she didn't care anymore. Ever since she was diagnosed with late-stage thyroid cancer, she'd been living in hell, drained of all hope.

The Nexus seemed unsettled by her tear-streaked face and self-destructive state. It fell silent again.

Aster could've used this rare moment of quiet to collect herself, but someone, oblivious to her state, knocked on the driver's side window.

At first, she ignored it. But the person outside wasn't about to let it go, rapping steadily on the glass with their knuckles. Finally, her patience ran out.

Without even looking, she wound the window down just enough to snap, "I'm parked legally and not blocking anyone. Whatever this is about, I'm not in the mood. Please leave."

The person seemed startled.

He spoke cautiously. "I'm sorry. I just found this and checked the surveillance footage. It's yours, so I wanted to return it. I'm really sorry. I didn't know you were crying. Are you okay? Do you need any help?"

Only then did Aster get a clear look at the person who was leaning over and speaking to her. He was a young man in a hoodie.

He looked no older than 18 or 19. Even in the dim light of the underground parking garage, he seemed to radiate like the sun in the height of summer.

A broken diamond bracelet lay in his open palm. It was unmistakably hers, though she couldn't recall when she'd dropped it.

Aster felt a sharp pang of embarrassment as she realized that she'd accused him unfairly. Stuck in the car in her current state, she could only offer a grateful smile.

"I'm sorry for how I spoke earlier… and thank you. Let me give you some money as a token of appreciation. I've caused you trouble," she said.

The young man simply shook his head. After handing her the bracelet, he shot her a cautious glance before handing her a packet of tissues.

"Um, miss. Here, dry your eyes. Please don't cry. I-I should get going."

Before Aster could respond, he bolted toward a black Maybach parked in the distance as if he were making a run for it.

The car looked vaguely familiar, though she couldn't quite recall where she'd seen it before. Something about it left her with the unsettling feeling that someone was watching from behind its tinted windows.

As the young man climbed in, a sliver of light spilled into the car, revealing a figure seated inside. Aster couldn't make out their face, but she noticed a slender hand resting casually on a knee.

Chapter 3

Aster was overwhelmed by the feeling of being watched. Every nerve in her body screamed that this person was a threat. She seemed like she could be silenced in an instant.

Without a second thought, she rolled up the car window. The vehicle didn't linger either, disappearing from sight just as quickly.

Aster didn't waste any time. She headed straight to the hospital with her injuries. The doctor on duty was startled, patching her up while cautiously asking if she wanted to involve the police.

She shook her head but insisted on a full medical exam to document her injuries. The bold words she'd spoken in the private room earlier had been nothing but bravado.

Who was Morgan? He was the head of the Marchand family. And Aster? She was a disgraced heiress, all name and no real power. She stood no chance against Morgan but couldn't just do nothing.

After finishing her medical exam and getting her wounds bandaged, Aster headed home, took a shower, powered off her phone, and went straight to bed. For three solid days, she shut herself off from the world.

On the fourth day, the Nexus, which had remained silent until then, finally spoke up. "Aster, your love interest's birthday is tomorrow. Pull yourself together and do what needs to be done. His affection points for you will recover."

"Are you serious? After everything I've been through, why should I care about his affection points? And 'do what needs to be done'? What, is it too much to ask that I keep a shred of dignity before I die? Do you need to see me completely ruined before you're satisfied?"

Aster slumped on the couch, a stark contrast to the polished, put-together image she usually worked so hard to maintain. She made no move to get up, unaffected by the Nexus' words.

The Nexus spent a long time trying to convince her, but when it became clear that she wasn't budging, it finally seemed to reach a decision.

"Aster, I can swap out your love interest and adjust the mechanics. For every 1% increase in his affection points, not only will your condition improve by 1%, but you'll also receive 100 million dollars instantly."

At that, Aster—who had been disinterested until now—finally perked up.

Back when she was focused on winning Morgan over, the reward was straightforward. For every 1% increase in affection points, the Whithard family locked in 100 million in business deals.

Over the past three years, she had pushed his affection points as high as 80%, securing the Whithards' comeback and their place among Baltross City's elite, a world long dominated by the Marchands.

But as Morgan's affection points began to drop, the Whithards found themselves in hot water again. Now stuck at 50%, they were in a precarious spot. They weren't completely ruined, but nowhere near as safe for them.

"Finally, you've said something worth listening to. I can pull myself together, but for every 1% increase in his affection points, I want an immediate 5% recovery. And that 100 million? It goes straight to me, not the Whithards," Aster said.

She had no use for that scoundrel anymore, but the money was essential—her life even more so.

When it came to winning people over, no one was tougher to crack than Morgan. The tactics she'd used on him would work just as well on anyone else, which meant victory was already hers.

Or so she thought.

After the Nexus approved Aster's request, she changed her clothes and headed to the largest seaside hotel in Baltross City.

The Nexus had informed her that that day was her new love interest's mother's birthday, and she needed to assess the situation firsthand before returning to map out a detailed plan.

But the moment she stepped through the door, her younger brother, Bryan Whithard, lunged over. His depression was grim as he grabbed her arm.

His voice was low but sharp as he snapped, "Have you lost your mind? Stop acting like a spoiled brat, and apologize to Morgan. Now!"

If it weren't for the Marchand family's so-called "generosity" in handing the Whithards business opportunities over the years, Bryan would have never been able to dress in designer labels or mingle with Baltross City's ultra-wealthy elite.

That meant that the Marchands were not to be crossed under any circumstances, and as their sole heir, Morgan was someone who they must stay on good terms with.

"Let go of me!" Aster shouted. She yanked her arm free, her expression detached as she met his gaze. "You all want wealth and status, but why should I be the one to grovel for it?"

Her retort caught Bryan off guard, but he quickly regained his composure, his frustration spilling over. "How can you be so selfish? The Whithards are the only reason you have the status of a heiress. If we fall, what are you even worth?"

"What happens to me after the Whithards are gone doesn't matter. What matters is what they're worth without me."

Aster hadn't forgotten the moment she was diagnosed with late-stage cancer. When she turned to the Whithards to discuss her future, her father's first instinct was to marry her off to the Marchand family as quickly as possible.

That way, even if she were gone, they'd still be tied to the Marchands as in-laws forever.

Since they had reduced her to nothing more than a tool, she would make sure that they learned one thing—a blade honed too sharp could turn against the hand that wielded it just as easily.

All eyes in the banquet hall were drawn to the woman at the center—the hostess of that day's birthday celebration, Isaiah Thorne's mother, Laura Palmer.

Isaiah was the current head of the Thorne family, the most discreet aristocratic family in Baltross City.

Word had it that his father—a military man—had ruled his household with an iron fist. Although he was only in his 20s, Isaiah lived like a recluse, steering clear of the glitz and glamour of high society.

In the three years Aster had spent navigating Morgan's world of the ultra-wealthy, she had only seen Isaiah once.

A drizzle had fallen that day, cloaking the world in a hazy mist. Morgan had sent her to pick up medicine for Evelyn, and as she returned, she stopped at the club's entrance to smooth her rain-dampened hair.

Just then, Aster heard steady, measured footsteps approaching from a distance. She turned her head and caught sight of a tall figure with a broad chest, a tapered waist, and impeccable posture.

For reasons she couldn't quite explain, she was sure that that person must have a remarkably handsome face.

It wasn't until later that Aster realized that the man was Isaiah. At that moment, she couldn't help but feel utterly foolish.

Rumors about the head of the Thorne family painted him as someone with wisdom far beyond his age, relentless in his dealings, and a force to be reckoned with, having dominated markets abroad. His return to Baltross City had sent ripples through the business world.

Rather than standing out with a striking appearance, it was his quiet, detached demeanor that made sense.

So when the Nexus informed Aster that Isaiah was her new love interest, she couldn't help but be doubtful. But the promise of a cure for her cancer was a temptation she couldn't afford to ignore.

She was still so young, and if she could just raise his affection points to 20%, her recovery would be assured—not to mention the enormous financial rewards that came with it.

As her thoughts drifted, a figure appeared beside her. She looked up and saw a lively young man. It was the same person who had found her bracelet that night.

"What a coincidence, miss. I didn't expect to run into you here. Do you remember me?" the young man asked, his smile warm and sincere.

Aster, however, was stunned. Her gaze locked onto the number hovering above his head—19.

She didn't know what it meant and wondered if it was his age.

The young man scratched his head sheepishly, the tips of his ears tinged red. Perhaps she was staring too hard. Just then, the number shifted to 20.

At the same time, Aster's phone chimed. A bank notification popped up on her screen. Ten million dollars had just been deposited into her account.

She fought to keep her composure, but her hands shook slightly despite her best efforts.

That number above his head wasn't his age. It was his affection points. And with every point it increased, she'd receive another ten million dollars.

This had never happened before. Given the Nexus' current state, Aster knew that it was a bug. She had to act fast and make the most of it while she had the chance.

"Um, I'm Aster Whithard. I never got the chance to thank you properly for what you did before. If you have some free time, maybe I could take you out for a meal."

She set down the half-eaten cupcake and smiled warmly as she held up her phone, showing the young man her username so he could add her as a friend.

The tips of his ears flushed an even deeper red, and as he fumbled for his phone, the number above his head suddenly shot up to 25.

All they did was add each other as friends; just like that, 50 million dollars was hers!

Aster had never found anyone so easy on the eyes, and her voice softened as she spoke. "Hey, you never told me your name."

All she did was ask for a name, and 80 million became hers! Fortune had finally landed right in her lap!

"M-My name is Lachlan Palmer. I'm 22, Aster. So, could you not talk to me like I'm a child? It's kind of embarrassing."

Lachlan's ears burned red, and a faint flush spread across his cheeks. He was undoubtedly Aster's golden goose, and she knew she had to handle him with the utmost care.

"Alright. I'll adjust my tone," she said.

Whatever the golden goose wanted, she was ready to play along.

Just as the mood between them was warming and Aster, who glowed with happiness, was about to turn on the charm, a man's voice cut through the air, laced with irritation.

"No wonder you were so quick to break things off, Aster. You've already got someone new lined up, huh?"

Chapter 4

When Morgan approached, his expression stormy, Aster was still smiling sweetly. In a flash, he seized her wrist.

"If you're going to get under my skin, pick someone decent. What's with bringing in some brat?" he snapped.

His fury was unmistakable, and his grip was so tight it felt like he might snap her bones. Still, his strikingly handsome face wore a faint smile.

Aster frowned, wondering what had gotten into him this time. He could insult her all he wanted, but her golden goose was off-limits!

She instantly stepped back while jerking her hand free. Her left leg bent slightly before she drove it up with full force, striking Morgan squarely between the legs.

He let out a strained grunt, doubling over as his hands flew to the injured spot. His eyes widened in disbelief as they flicked up to meet hers.

It had only been a few days since he'd last seen Aster, yet he couldn't shake the feeling that she was someone entirely different now.

"It looks like you forgot what I told you last time. Take this as a reminder. Lay a hand on me again or run your mouth, Mr. Marchand, and you can kiss any chance of having kids goodbye," Aster said flatly, her icy gaze sweeping over him.

"Y-You… Aster, there's a limit to playing hard to get. You've crossed the line this time."

As the sharpest edge of the pain dulled, Morgan's expression grew even darker, his presence so overpowering it was as if the very air around them had turned heavier.

In the past, Aster would've rushed to apologize. Morgan waited, expecting her to rush over, flustered and eager to please him.

But he'd overlooked one thing—she never would've dared to use the self-defense moves he'd taught her against him before.

Now, Aster simply shot him a mocking look, swallowing the curses burning on the tip of her tongue.

Without saying another word, she tugged at Lachlan's sleeve and said, "Let's go."

Humiliated, Morgan remained where he was, his expression hardening as he watched Aster lead Lachlan away.

He thought that the situation was perfect as he ran his tongue over his back molars. Aster was as shallow as he'd suspected. She didn't hesitate to toss him aside when she saw a better opportunity with the Thorne family.

Morgan's lips curled into a quiet sneer, his usual air of superiority slipping back into place without a crack.

Meanwhile, Aster had pulled Lachlan aside and wasted no time explaining herself. "I swear, I'm not usually like this. I don't usually resort to violence. Please don't be afraid of me—"

She couldn't afford to damage her image before her golden goose.

But Lachlan cut her off, his eyes shining with admiration. "Aster, you know self-defense? That was so cool!"

Just then, Aster's phone chimed. One quick self-defense move in front of Lachlan, and 100 million dollars had already hit her bank account.

Dumbfounded, she stared at Lachlan's eager expression, then at the glaring 43 floating above his head. For a moment, she felt almost disoriented. Only then did she realize that she could win someone over this easily, too.

Aster had spent three years tiptoeing around Morgan, only to be met with indifference. But now, she was acting bold and unrestrained and was met with admiration from Lachlan and his words of praise.

She fought back the tears forming in her eyes and offered Lachlan a warm, heartfelt smile. "Thanks, Lachlan."

His cheeks flushed. He glanced away while scratching the back of his head. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, his eyes landed on someone.

Without hesitating, he called out, "Isaiah."

His voice was bright and full of warmth, a sure sign that this was someone he treasured.

Aster followed his gaze, her heart jolting at the sight before her.

The man who stood there was striking. A strong brow framed his sharp features. He had a straight, prominent nose and thin lips that were pressed into a firm line. His deep-set eyes were as unforgiving as a sheer cliffside, as if meeting his gaze the wrong way could send someone tumbling into the abyss.

If anything, the rumors about his looks hadn't done him justice. But the danger clinging to him went far beyond anything she'd heard.

On instinct, Aster lowered her eyes, barely dodging the weight of his stare. Unsurprisingly, she missed the faint crease that flickered across his brow.

"Isaiah, you're late," Lachlan said quickly, oblivious to the tension crackling between Aster and Isaiah. "Aunt Laura's been waiting for you. You'd better get over there fast."

Isaiah shifted his gaze away from Aster and back to his cousin, Lachlan.

His voice was cool and detached, giving nothing away as he asked, "What are you doing here?"

"What a coincidence. It turns out that the owner of that bracelet you found in the elevator before this is also here for Aunt Laura's birthday party."

Lachlan gestured toward Aster, eager to introduce her.

Realizing she could no longer pretend to be invisible and remembering her reason for being there, Aster swiftly put on a well-rehearsed smile and greeted him.

"Mr. Thorne, hello. I'm Aster Whithard. So, you were the one who found my bracelet. Thank you so much."

She'd learned long ago that people were far less likely to be cold toward someone polite and smiling. She figured that Isaiah wouldn't ignore her, even if he were as distant as they came.

But before the words had fully left her lips, her eyes landed on the number above Isaiah's head.

Negative 20!

Even with her usual composure, the smile on Aster's face stiffened.

She had once believed that even if Isaiah was distant and out of reach, and even if his affection for her was nonexistent, it wouldn't be too hard to put in the effort and nudge that number up to 20.

But it had never crossed her mind that it could fall into the negatives. She couldn't think of a single thing she'd done to offend him. So why had he taken an instant dislike to her the moment they met?

She thought that it was unsurprising that that wretched Nexus had stayed quiet all this time. It had been setting her up for this massive trap.

While Aster was too stunned to react, that glaring -20 ticked down to -21. A notification popped up. Her bank account had just been deducted 100 million dollars.

Not only could the numbers become negative, but every time Isaiah's affection points dropped, her money disappeared right along with them.

The 100 million she'd barely managed to get her hands on was gone without a single trace. Her chest tightened so painfully that her face went pale, and she almost collapsed on the spot.

"Aster, are you alright? Are you feeling unwell? Let me help you sit down over there," Lachlan said, concern written all over his face.

He had no doubt that Isaiah had rattled Aster. That man always had a severe look about him, and his sharp gaze carried an intensity that made people uneasy.

Lachlan wasn't surprised that Laura was so on edge. After all, what kind of woman would actually be drawn to someone like Isaiah?

Isaiah's expression turned grim. "Aster? Who said you could get so familiar with someone you barely know?"

Although he was speaking to Lachlan, Aster could feel the weight of his irritation pressing down on her.

"Isaiah, why would you say something like that? Aster was just saying how grateful she was that I found her bracelet. She even offered to take me out to eat as a thank-you. Why don't you come with us?"

Lachlan wasn't happy with Isaiah's attitude, but he knew that confronting the latter head-on wasn't an option. The best he could do was speak up for Aster's sake.

Yet, in the very next moment, Aster stared in shock as the number above Isaiah's head dropped again, slipping from -21 to -22. At the same time, another 100 million vanished from her bank account.

"I'm not going, and neither are you."

"Calm down, Isaiah!"

Isaiah and Aster spoke at the same time, their voices colliding. She clutched her chest, eyes wide as the low growl slipped from her throat.

This man was supposed to be her love interest? He felt more like a walking nightmare. Two sentences from him was all it took for 200 million of her money to vanish.

Isaiah's brow knitted tighter, his unreadable gaze fixed on Aster. The commanding presence and cold intensity he'd forged through years of surviving the ruthless business world pressed down on her, heavy and suffocating.

Had she just called him by his first name? Did they actually know each other?

Chapter 5

Aster's first encounter with her new love interest ended with a loss of 200 million dollars.

It was such an astronomical sum that just counting the zeros would take several seconds. Yet, it disappeared without a trace with a single glance from Isaiah.

After returning from the birthday banquet, Aster was so distraught that she couldn't sleep a wink. She tried reaching the Nexus over and over but failed.

She lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to grasp what she had done to earn Isaiah's contempt.

By any standard, she was considered a great beauty. Even back in her school days, more than one entertainment agency had tried to recruit her.

Moreover, she was never one to show off or stir up trouble. For the past three years, her entire focus had been on Morgan. When would she have even had the chance to cross Isaiah?

Besides, the Whithards weren't even influential enough to rub shoulders with the Thornes, let alone offend them.

After a sleepless night that left dark circles under Aster's eyes, a realization struck her as the sun rose. She considered if Isaiah's disdain for her had something to do with Morgan.

Before the Thornes shifted their focus back to the domestic market, the Marchands had reigned unchallenged over Baltross City, holding a firm grip on its economy.

At first, after the Thornes' return, the two families managed to coexist without any direct conflict. But as their businesses expanded, rivalry became inevitable.

Isaiah and Morgan moved within entirely different social circles, likely because they couldn't stand each other.

Since Aster was Morgan's girlfriend in name and, in truth, his hopeless devotee, it was only natural that Isaiah's disdain also extended to her.

Once she put the pieces together, she cursed the Nexus in her mind all over again. She had thought that it had finally shown a shred of decency, offering her a chance at something better. However, she realized that it had dragged her into an even deeper pit of despair.

But no matter how much Aster cursed, the Nexus stayed silent as if it had never existed in the first place. As her tirade wore on, she gradually cooled down.

She figured that the damn Nexus must be broken and that what happened with Lachlan was clearly a bug.

Since there was nothing she could do about her love interest for now, she figured that she might as well take advantage of the bug to make some quick cash.

As for Aster's illness, she was already receiving treatment, and it wasn't likely to get worse anytime soon. With that in mind, she pulled herself together and arranged to meet Lachlan for a meal.

"I'm sorry, Aster. Isaiah's always been a little hotheaded. He wasn't singling you out that day. Please don't take it personally."

The moment they met, Lachlan apologized on behalf of Isaiah, guilt weighing in his voice.

Aster couldn't tell if Isaiah had it out for her, but she knew better than to badmouth him before Lachlan. So, she played along and smiled.

"I get it. Mr. Thorne has a lot on his plate. It makes sense that he's so strict. I understand," she said.

"Aster, you're so understanding. Isaiah doesn't have any women around because he's too intense. He scares them off. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up alone for the rest of his life."

As Lachlan joked, Aster's phone buzzed with a notification. A deposit of ten million had hit her account. A flicker of relief settled over her.

She didn't know if Isaiah was destined to grow old alone. But if she couldn't win him over, she might not live long enough to grow old at all!

Bracing herself, she kept her tone light, though she weighed each word carefully as she pressed on. "Do you think that Mr. Thorne is the way he is because of something that hurt him in the past?"

More often than not, personality flaws stemmed from past trauma.

For instance, Morgan treated Aster like she was at his beck and call, barking orders at her with that superior attitude was entirely because he'd been hurt by the person he loved most. And now, he was taking it out on others.

"Not even close. Isaiah's been a genius since he was a kid. He comes from a picture-perfect family, and everything's always going his way. I can't even imagine him struggling with anything, let alone getting hurt."

Lachlan shook his head, his tone leaving no room for doubt.

Aster made a sound of acknowledgment, but deep down, she wasn't convinced. She wondered how someone with a perfect family and a life that had always been smooth sailing end up with a personality like Isaiah's.

"Mr. Thorne told you not to come out to eat with me, but here you are. He'll be furious if he finds out, right?"

Aster couldn't shake the feeling that she sounded like a manipulative schemer. Nevertheless, there was no way around it because life left her no choice.

Before Lachlan could speak, a voice dripping with venom cut through the air. "Aster, you've really outdone yourself. You skipped my birthday party only to be busy cozying up to another man."

Aster looked up, her gaze locking onto the figure towering over her. Morgan stood by the dining table, his face thunderous, like he'd just walked in on the ultimate betrayal.

She thought that the whole thing was laughable. Back when Aster had been trying to win him over, their paths had never happened to cross. She'd always had to go out of her way just to catch a glimpse of him.

But now that it was over, he seemed to be everywhere she turned. To an outsider, it might've looked like her persistence had finally paid off and that he'd completely and utterly fallen for her.

"Can I help you with something?" Aster looked up, her voice calm and distant.

An ex worth their salt should be as good as dead. Moreover, Morgan wasn't part of her life anymore, so she wasn't about to waste her breath on him.

But the moment the words left her lips, she spotted a number floating above his head—55.

Back when she'd been trying to win him over, there had been no numbers like this. Instead, she had to rely on the Nexus to track his affection points.

Now, she watched as the number ticked up to 56. At that exact moment, ten million dollars hit her bank account.

Aster pondered if she had somehow unlocked some kind of irresistible charm. She wanted to know if this meant that she could make ten million dollars for every single point of affection someone felt for her.

She could barely contain her excitement. If not for that ten million, she would have told Morgan to get lost immediately.

"I don't accept this breakup, Aster. I'm the one who calls the shots in this relationship. What makes you think you can just walk away?"

Morgan had clearly picked up on the shift in Aster's demeanor. To her surprise, she could even detect a trace of hurt in his voice. And with that flicker of hurt, another 20 million dollars hit Aster's account.

How she looked at him changed yet again, though her tone remained as firm as ever.

"Of course I can walk away, Morgan. You hurt me first. I feel pain just like anyone else. Don't I have the right to walk away when it's too much to take?"

Aster couldn't believe his audacity. She was the one actually suffering, not Morgan.

Even if he was her cash cow now, she had no intention of going back to playing the role of someone who catered to his every whim. He was impossible to please, and honestly, the money wasn't worth the headache.

But just as she'd made up her mind to let go of her cash cow, Morgan, her bank account lit up with another 50 million. Her gaze shifted to Lachlan. His affection point had ticked up by one. And Morgan's? It had shot up to 63.

Aster thought that Morgan had to have something seriously wrong with him. When she had been bending over backward to cater to his every whim, his affection points hadn't budged. But now that she'd stopped trying, they were rising on their own.

She wondered if the young head of Marchand Group—the sole heir to the Marchand family—was some kind of masochist.

"Aster, I know that I didn't handle things well before, but just give me a little more time. I'll make it up to you."

Morgan, who was usually so distant and unapproachable, actually sounded softer, though that might've had something to do with Lachlan standing there, watching the whole thing like it was entertainment.

Morgan even grabbed the hem of Aster's clothes as if he was genuinely afraid she'd take off with Lachlan.

Aster tugged her clothes back, already plotting how to push Morgan's buttons just enough to squeeze a little more affection out of him when a cold voice cut in.

"Do you really need Lachlan here to watch you two act out some kind of soap opera?"

Chapter 6

For a brief moment, Aster suspected that something had gone wrong with the world.

After all, the restaurant she was currently treating Lachlan to a meal at wasn't exactly a high-end one. The odds of her running into the heir of the Marchand family and the head of the Thorne family at the same time were zero.

Hence, the only explanation was that Morgan had come because of her while Isaiah was there for Lachlan.

Upon recalling how this man had easily cost her 200 million dollars with just a few words, Aster immediately got up. She pushed down the impulse to run away and nodded at Isaiah respectfully. "Mr. Thorne, are you here for a meal too? Would you like to join us?"

She didn't think that Isaiah would agree to eat at the same table as her. But she figured that with her sincere and humble attitude, at least he wouldn't hate her more.

She thought that this was a tactical retreat. However, it turned out that she didn't know Isaiah at all.

She barely finished speaking before the man took her seat. "Sure."

His eyes had a cold look in them. It was as though he were waiting to see what tricks she was up to.

Aster wondered why Isaiah wasn't acting like she thought he would.

Morgan was also still right there. Was there any way she could enjoy her meal like that?

She certainly didn't want Morgan to flip the table in anger or have more money deducted because of Isaiah.

Thus, after a few seconds of silence, she managed to squeeze out a smile. "Mr. Thorne, please have a look at the menu first. I have to handle some business matters."

With that said, she dragged Morgan off to the side.

"Morgan, just what do you want?"

As she spoke, she glanced at the air above his head.

She had tried her best to win the man over for three years, so she refused to believe that he had suddenly changed and developed feelings for her. However, she couldn't deny that the number above his head had indeed increased. She didn't understand what was going on.

"Just last month, you were telling me that you wouldn't leave me no matter what happened. Now, you're suddenly saying that you want to break up? And you dare ask me what I want?"

There was an indescribable air of frustration around Morgan as he stared at her, his expression stubborn and sullen. It was as though he wanted to catch even the slightest change in her expression.

It turned out that it was just his possessiveness acting up.

Aster laughed, a harsh, joyless sound.

"Last month? Even our skin cells go through a monthly renewal cycle, so is it so strange that I would change my mind? After all, not everyone is as loyal and singlemindedly devoted as you, Mr. Marchand. Not only did you forgive the woman who once abandoned you, but you're showering her with even more affection now.

"Besides, I can't accept the idea of cheating. The moment you allowed your subordinates to strip me so they could take advantage of me, any possibility of us being together was destroyed. You'd better stay far, far away from me, you lawless maniac! I don't want you to blame me for who knows what other nasty business.

"I was blind and fell for a scumbag, but that doesn't mean I deserve to be treated like this. What do you think, Mr. Marchand?"

Her words were biting and caustic as she finally spilled the pent-up resentment that had accumulated over the past three years.

As she had expected, after her bout of mockery, the number above Morgan's head increased by one.

A slow smile spread across her face when she heard the notification of a money transfer coming into her bank account. Interestingly, the heir of the Marchand family was a masochist. The more pain she put him through, the more he liked her.

Aster stared at the man before her, who had his possessiveness and awkward regret written starkly across his face and only felt annoyance.

She was only now realizing the drastic change in mindset one could have when one stopped liking someone.

Nonetheless, for the sake of the money, she could speak a little bit more.

"Alright. That's enough talking. I still have guests to entertain. You should head back to calm down, too."

With that, her patience ran out, and she turned to leave.

Naturally, Morgan refused to budge. He reached out to grab her again.

This time, Aster dodged his hand deftly before smiling mockingly at him. "Mr. Marchand, have you forgotten the pain from last time?"

As expected, the implied threat in her words was effective. Morgan's expression instantly darkened, yet he still stubbornly demanded, "Is this because of Isaiah?"

"Our matter has nothing to do with anyone else. Besides, there's nothing between us now anyway."

Aster couldn't help but frown, her patience having run out.

"How could you say that?" Morgan shot her a possessive look. "I was the one who taught you what it was like to fall in love. All these years, your life has revolved around me, so how could you say that there's nothing between us?"

Aster laughed. So, it turned out that he had known all along.

Her nose tingled, and she felt like crying—not for him but for her past self.

"Morgan, stop appearing in front of me with that soulful and passionate look on your face. I genuinely find it utterly repulsive. I'd much prefer it if you continued to hate me."

She didn't want to let Isaiah wait too long for fear of her money being deducted again, so she didn't wish to waste a second more on Morgan.

She didn't know which part of her words hit home, but Morgan's eyes reddened even more. Regardless, he didn't chase after her. Instead, he merely stood on the spot as he watched her walk toward Isaiah and Lachlan.

Aster hurried back to the private room and smiled at Isaiah, who was eyeing her coldly.

Her smile was perfect, neither arrogant nor humble but filled with sincerity.

"Mr. Thorne, you don't have to worry. I've always known where to draw the line. I definitely won't cause you or Lachlan any trouble."

No matter his thoughts, she'd make the first move.

However, what she received in response was a scoff from Isaiah and the notification that 100 million dollars had been deducted from her bank account. He then remarked, "You're quite sharp."

Aster thought that he was incredibly biased.

This man was already biased toward her, so no matter what she said, she knew that it was wrong.

She didn't know how such a sincere explanation could lead to him hating her more. She had just lost another 100 million dollars! Was there any justice in this?

Unfortunately, in her current situation, he was indeed the judge, jury, and executioner.

Upon seeing Aster's pale face, Lachlan worriedly asked, "Aster, are you feeling unwell?"

Aster could only force a shaky smile as she replied to Isaiah, "It's only my responsibility."

Her "good-tempered" behavior successfully protected the remaining balance in her bank account.

Isaiah didn't say anything more. He merely stood up and shot an indifferent glance at Lachlan.

It was clear that he wanted Lachlan to leave with him.

Reluctant to leave, Lachlan gave Aster an awkward look. "But I haven't finished my meal with Aster."

Determined to protect her money, Aster immediately said, "Mr. Thorne must require you for something. There will be plenty of opportunities for us to eat together again. We can meet up next time."

Observing how uneasy she seemed, Lachlan didn't continue putting her in a difficult position. He left with Isaiah, glancing back every now and then.

Once they were gone, Aster instantly grabbed her phone to check her account balance.

The hard-earned 90 million she received from Morgan after forcing herself to be somewhat civil, along with the ten million she got from Lachlan, had swiftly been deducted in one go with just a few words from Isaiah once again.

To add insult to injury, she still had to smile and be polite as she saw him out!

Her gross income ended up being zero after her efforts that entire night. Who could possibly stand it?

Aster's fingers were gripping the phone so tightly that they turned white. A second later, she took a deep breath before calling the person she had pinned to the top of her contact list.

The other party accepted the call quickly, but there was a lot of background noise.

"Ms. Whithard, why have you called?"

A woman's voice came over the line, sounding languid, accompanied by the sounds of sensual panting.

Chapter 7

"Moira, I've broken up with Morgan." That was Aster's first sentence.

"I was so incredibly wrong in the past. Are you still willing to forgive me?" That was her second sentence.

Soft swearing could be heard from the other end of the line before the woman asked Aster, "Where are you now? I'll come to you."

Some could inflict heavy financial loss with a few words, while others could quickly drag their best friend from a handsome young man's embrace to appear before them with just a few words.

Upon seeing Moira Caine, Aster was momentarily dazed.

Aster had been friends with Moira for as long as she could remember. They would hurt each other and fight, but at the same time, they would always be the first to appear by each other's side if the other ran into trouble. They supported each other and had a deep bond.

Three years ago, Aster eventually lost all sense of self after she bound herself to the Nexus to tame Morgan. Because of this, she and Moira fought many times. The latter was upset at what Aster had become.

Moira had been present two months earlier when Morgan forced Aster to apologize to Evelyn. Infuriated, Moira scolded Morgan before arguing fiercely with Aster, resulting in the two falling out.

Thus, the two hadn't contacted each other once in the past two months.

Back to the present, the moment Aster spotted Moira, she ran forward and hugged the latter's arm, nuzzling into it.

"You slipped out of a young hunk's bed at midnight just to see me? Will he hold it against you? Ah, typical of the young—selfish and clueless. Unlike me, of course, who always puts you first."

Aster knew she needed to work on being more pretentious. After all, it might be useful when she ran into Isaiah again.

Moira wore a black dress and was practically oozing power and authority. She gritted her teeth as she stared at the woman wrapped around her arm. She snapped furiously, "Aster, I'm warning you. If you continue talking like Evelyn, I'll hit you so hard that you'll see stars. Then, I'll cut out your love-struck brain to see if that will turn you back to normal."

Aster immediately raised her hand to vow solemnly, "I'm back to normal, really! I swear it's true."

Moira snorted. "Really? I don't believe you."

Despite her words, her demeanor was noticeably gentler.

Sensing this, Aster dragged Moira over to take a seat before telling her about everything that happened.

Naturally, she left out the part about the Nexus as she didn't want her friend to worry about her losing her mind.

After Moira finished listening to Aster, she was briefly silent before she shot Aster an apprehensive look. "So you're finally cutting off all ties with him? And you want to work in Thorne Incorporated?"

"Yeah. You have many connections, so could you help me think of a way? When it comes down to it, I do have a decent education. I just lack working experience—"

At first, Aster didn't notice anything off about her friend, too focused on landing a job at Thorne Incorporated.

However, she never got to finish as Moira poked her forehead. "You sure have some guts, wanting to use Isaiah to make Morgan jealous. Don't you know that Isaiah is decisive, ruthless, and cunning?"

Only then did Aster realize that Moira had misunderstood her. She hurriedly explained, "Morgan has nothing to do with me wanting to get into Thorne Incorporated. It's just that I've wasted too much time on meaningless things after I graduated. If I want to compete with others, I need the best head start."

Aster wasn't completely lying.

Thorne Incorporated was flourishing and was now one of the best companies around. She was sure that she'd learn a lot if she worked there.

She would also be simply killing two birds with one stone if she managed to raise Isaiah's affection points to positive 20 while she was there.

Moira stared at her for a good long while. After confirming that Aster's reason for wanting to join Thorne Incorporated really had nothing to do with Morgan, she agreed to ask around.

Having reconciled and returned to how things were before, Moira once again launched into a tirade about Morgan and Evelyn. Then, she generously suggested introducing Aster to some handsome young men.

Aster wasn't interested in handsome young men. Instead, she had Moira recommend a lawyer to her.

Moira began involving herself in the family business after she graduated from university. Now, she was the most capable heiress of the Caine family, and her network of connections was completely different from Aster, who had basically thrown three years of her life away.

Naturally, Moira didn't disappoint. She handed Aster the contact information of a law firm partner.

When Aster met the lawyer, Moira even sent a text message that read, "Mr. Vaughn not only has a pristine track record—having never lost a single case—but he's also incredibly handsome. If it weren't for the fact that I don't mix business with pleasure, I would've snapped him up long ago."

Aster laughed before sending her friend a smirking emoji. Then, she walked through the door, which an assistant had helpfully opened for her.

The moment she laid eyes on Adrian Vaughn, only one thought surfaced in Aster's mind—when it came to discovering pretty boys, no one could beat Moira.

Adrian was sitting upright in his chair. When he heard her enter, he lifted his head to gaze coolly at her. His features were delicately carved, the eyes behind his gold-rimmed glasses holding an immeasurable depth. He appeared elegant yet sensuous, with a mysterious air that hinted at untold stories.

He was the perfect example of a wolf in sheep's clothing.

The assistant clearly hadn't gotten used to his boss' beauty yet either as her face briefly flushed red before she introduced, "Mr. Vaughn, this is Ms. Whithard. She has an appointment with you."

With that, she backed away and closed the door on her way out.

Adrian smiled and rose to his feet, extending a hand to Aster. "Hello."

Aster grabbed his hand to shake it, but before she could respond to his greeting, she spotted the number floating above his head—66.

Despite several days going by, she still hadn't figured out who would have a number above their heads.

However, she was now relatively calm after seeing numbers above Isaiah and the other two men's heads.

Still, she was somewhat surprised that Adrian would have such a high number upon their first meeting.

After regaining her composure, she introduced herself before getting straight to the point. "I'm here today because I would like to know how to disown my father."

Her dear father was currently on a vacation abroad with her stepmother. He hadn't realized the severity of the situation regarding her break up with Morgan yet, so he had only tried calling a few times to scold her. However, she had rejected the calls every time.

Aster knew that she had to get everything ready before they realized that she wasn't just throwing a tantrum and playing around.

Adrian was quite surprised at her straightforwardness. However, his years of experience standing in court allowed him to maintain a calm mask, not allowing any of his true feelings to show.

"There are no legal provisions for severing a father-daughter relationship. In other words, the law does not recognize or permit the termination of such a relationship."

In truth, Aster already knew about it.

More than once, she had scoured the internet for an answer after the thought took root in her mind.

However, to hear it coming from a lawyer only served to deepen her hate toward her father. He was truly an unwanted burden she couldn't even get rid of, no matter how hard she tried.

After briefly contemplating, she asked an even more direct question. "Then, is there a way for me to obtain his assets without taking on his debts?"

For the past three years, she had sacrificed her dignity and pride in return for bringing the Whithard family back from the brink of bankruptcy, even allowing them to rise again.

Yet, the Whithard family didn't even treat her like a human being. To them, she was nothing more than a tool to bring them more benefits.

Thus, at least half of the Whithard family's current wealth was actually hers. Now, all she cared for was money. Nothing else mattered to her—not family or love.

She had thought that Adrian would be shocked by her words, but to her surprise, she caught a slight gleam in his eyes as a smirk curled his lips.

He seemed to find her question interesting, but due to his professionalism, he could only reply formally, saying, "There's no need for the children to pay off their parents' debts. But if he were to pass away and you inherited his assets, you would need to pay off the debt within the means of the inheritance."

Aster nodded thoughtfully. "My dad isn't dead yet… However, I would need to take his assets away while he's alive to achieve my goals, correct?"

The amusement on Adrian's face deepened. "That's not exactly correct. If he were to grant you his assets while still holding a debt, the creditor has the right to request a revocation of those assets."

"I understand now. In other words, the best method to obtain his assets would be through legal trade, such as using lower-than-market prices to buy his fixed assets. That way, I won't be responsible for his debts, right?"

Aster didn't know why Adrian was laughing, but she followed suit, if for no other reason than because she thought it felt wonderful to be able to devise a scheme with someone to pry money from the ruthless Whithard family's hands.

As she finished her words and smirked wickedly, the number above Adrian's head became 68. Following that, she received another 20 million in her account.

Chapter 8

At the same time, the Nexus, which had been silent for days, suddenly spoke up. "Congratulations on obtaining two affection points, Aster! Here's your reward of 20 million dollars."

The smile on Aster's lips froze as she snapped at the Nexus in her mind, "Oh, look who's finally back! I'll settle scores with you later!"

The Nexus paused slightly before saying, "I have no idea what you're saying, Aster. Please make haste in conquering your target."

The Nexus seemed to have even learned how to run from its problems.

Aster inwardly scoffed before returning her attention to Adrian.

"Then I leave this matter to you, Mr. Vaughn. I'll treat you to a meal when there's time."

Flattery could get one everywhere. This was the lesson she learned after three years by Morgan's side. Otherwise, why would his reaction be so intense now that she was leaving him?

As expected, Adrian's smile widened. "There's no time like the present, Ms. Whithard. I'm available now."

He was clearly talking about him being free now to take her up on her offer of a meal, yet to Aster, it almost seemed like he was talking about how he was free to enter into a relationship with her.

Indeed, the most terrifying sort of person was someone who was unintentionally charming.

Faced with his dazzling smile, Aster didn't get a chance to agree before the office door was abruptly opened. A teasing male voice rang out. "Mr. Vaughn, I've tried to invite you to a meal many times, only to be met with your repeated refusals. Yet, when a pretty lady asks, you're suddenly free?"

As the man spoke, he made his way to Aster's side. She lifted her head and met curious, playful eyes.

She knew this man.

He was Cameron Lockhart, the heir to the Lockhart family's media empire. He had only just returned from his studies abroad last year. Even so, he had already caused quite a stir in Baltross City's nightlife scene.

There were rumors that a woman once went to the Lockhart residence with a heirloom she claimed that he had given her with the intent of forcing him to marry her. However, the woman never even got through the front gates before being told the so-called heirloom was nothing more than an item he had bought in bulk. The number of women who had received one was probably close to a hundred.

It was worth some money, but it certainly wasn't anything precious.

Naturally, Aster didn't run in the same circles as an irredeemable playboy like him.

Even now, she didn't wish to get involved with him, so she got up to leave.

"Since you have a guest, Mr. Vaughn, I'll take my leave first. Let's reschedule the meal."

With a faint smile, she headed for the door. Before exiting, she glanced at Cameron and paused briefly. Then, she continued on her way out.

The door closed behind her, but not before she heard Cameron's teasing.

"And here I thought you weren't interested in the fairer sex, Mr. Vaughn. It turns out that those women I introduced to you were just too ordinary and failed to catch your interest. You should've said something sooner. I could've arranged for someone more suited to your tastes!"

Adrian growled warningly, "Mr. Lockhart!"

However, Aster didn't catch what he said after that.

It wasn't until she stepped out of the law firm that she slowly regained her composure.

Unexpectedly, there was also a number above Cameron's head.

It was pretty low—only eight. Still, it was proof that he was one of her targets.

This feeling of running into cash cows everywhere she went was incredible.

Besides Isaiah, she had four other love interests at that moment, all of whom had positive numbers. Lachlan and Adrian, in particular, were clearly very interested.

Forget about being love interests; they were more like money-printing machines!

Nonetheless, she was still somewhat uneasy due to her prior experience with Morgan and the money-shredder machine that was Isaiah. Hence, she immediately called out for the Nexus the moment she entered her car.

This time, the lousy system didn't pretend to be dead and actually answered. "I'm here."

"I have three questions for you. First, why are Isaiah's affection points in the negative? Second, why did so many love interests suddenly appear? Third, does raising the affection points of the love interests other than Isaiah have no effect on my cancer?"

She didn't bother beating around the bush, directly asking the three questions plaguing her recently.

The Nexus was silent for a moment before it sighed.

Aster was very surprised to hear this. The Nexus had always been professional and strict in its interactions with her, as it was supposed to be a robot with no feelings.

Yet, here it was, actually sighing!

"At this point, I won't hide the truth from you any longer. According to the rules, I should have deleted you since you failed to win over Morgan despite spending three years on that task."

Delete her?

Aster was deeply shocked. How had she never known such rules existed?

However, she didn't get a chance to ask the Nexus what it was talking about before it continued speaking.

"But I thought that you weren't a bad person and didn't deserve this ending, so I sought to get you an opportunity to make up for this failure. That's where Isaiah comes in.

"However, I never expected this opportunity to drain both your points and mine. This caused some problems with my programming. Isaiah's negative affection points and the appearance of multiple love interests are all due to bugs in my system.

"Regardless, you don't have to worry. I'm already working hard to fix those bugs, so just hold on for a bit longer. As for your third question, regretfully, I can only tell you that I don't know either, as I'm still repairing my system. To be safe, I suggest you try to keep everything balanced and win them over first."

In truth, Aster had already guessed most of what the Nexus had just said.

Other than Isaiah, none of the other love interests posed much of a threat to her, so she didn't mind balancing things out with them.

Hence, she was quick to accept the reality of her situation, though she did ask one final question. "Then, once you're repaired, will you take back the money I got from the other love interests?"

"No."

The Nexus' answer was firm.

Despite its many flaws, the Nexus had one merit—it never lied.

If it said that it wouldn't take back the money, it really wouldn't.

Aster relaxed when she heard that. However, after a moment, she still couldn't resist asking, "Could you remove the rule that 100 million will be deducted for every one-point decrease in Isaiah's affection points?"

The Nexus seemed somewhat exasperated as it answered, "No. So please don't forget to win Isaiah's favor while you handle the other love interests."

The Nexus made winning Isaiah over sound so easy, as though that wasn't exactly what she was striving to do.

Letting out a huff, Aster started her car and returned home.

She had only just parked her car when she received a call from Evelyn.

Aster instinctively felt her heart skip a beat when she saw the name on her phone screen.

However, she soon calmed down. After all, she no longer had anything to do with Morgan. So, no matter what intimate photos Evelyn sent or what the latter's commands were, she could ignore them.

With that thought, she rejected the call before blocking the number.

Yet, it seemed that Evelyn had gone off the deep end as she started using various other methods to call Aster.

At last, Aster couldn't take it anymore and picked up the call. She wasted no time and started cursing, "Evelyn, what the hell is your problem? Do you take me for a fool if I don't lose my temper?"

The words seemed somewhat familiar but fitting for her current situation.

On the other end of the line, Evelyn was momentarily rendered speechless before she tearfully explained, "Aster, please don't be angry. This is all my fault. I want to apologize to you. Please stop being angry with Morgan because of me. He's lost a lot of weight recently and is always drinking nowadays. You know how harmful that is for his health. Could you please come back and talk to him?"

Here was a prime example of a "sensible and considerate" duplicitous woman.

"Evelyn, Morgan truly is lucky to have you. Please, work harder on him and stop bothering me," Aster uttered sincerely.

Chapter 9

This was Evelyn's first experience with Aster's sharp tongue, and she found herself at a loss for words.

As Aster, too lazy to argue further, was about to warn Evelyn to stay out of trouble, Evelyn spoke up first.

"Aster, I know that you've always been bothered about my relationship with Morgan, but there's really nothing going on between us. He treats you so well. How could you not trust him?"

As Evelyn spoke, Aster vaguely heard some sounds coming from the background.

Having experienced Evelyn's pretentious behavior before, Aster was sure that the competitive woman had changed her phone to speaker mode so that everyone would think that Aster was the problem in the breakup.

Aster found it truly hilarious. She and Morgan had already broken up, so there was no way that she would allow Evelyn to pin the blame on her.

She instantly got into character, crying in a choked voice, saying, "How could you think that? There's no way that I don't trust him. Of course I know that there's nothing going on between you two. After all, he's always had high standards and isn't a casual person.

"Still, woman to woman, I've noticed how much you've suffered in the past years. Whenever you had terrible period cramps, you couldn't bear to go to the hospital. As if that wasn't bad enough, you couldn't even bring yourself to take Advil for it. You could only beg him to take care of you.

"I pitied you, but at the same time, I was touched by the care he has for you. That was why I backed out. It was so that you two could be together. I simply did what anyone with a righteous heart would do. Where's the fault in that?"

Acting pitifully to garner sympathy was a trick Aster had seen Evelyn use many times in the past few years. So naturally, she had learned a thing or two.

After hearing those words, she was eager to see how Morgan and Evelyn's friends would now blame her.

As expected, Evelyn never even got to say a single word before Morgan snatched her phone over.

"Aster, please stop being mad at me. I have a headache from drinking too much. Could you come take me home?"

Since they started dating, Morgan had never spoken that softly or gently to her.

For a moment, Aster was reminded of that adorable boy from her childhood.

Nevertheless, she refused to relent.

"If you want to go home after getting drunk, either get a friend to drive you or engage professional driver services. Take some painkillers for the headache, or sleep it off. Morgan, are you seriously in such a sorry state after we broke up that you need me to care for you?"

Now that she no longer had any love for him, there was a limit to her patience.

After her harsh words, she deftly ended the call. Aster even went so far as to turn off her phone. She didn't even see the notification informing her of the money transferred into her bank account.

Hence, when she checked her phone after a fantastic night of sleep and saw that she had received 30 million from Morgan's increased affection points, her ire at last night's events swiftly vanished.

What they said about love only bringing sadness while money bought happiness was indeed true. She had barely finished that thought when she received a call from Moira.

"I called in a favor and got you a position in the company. But it isn't a high one. Are you okay with that?"

Moira had always been reliable.

Well aware of her lack of experience, Aster instantly agreed, "Of course. I've got to start somewhere, and taking that first step is my main priority right now."

Truthfully, it wasn't like she was utterly useless and only knew how to chase after men.

While in university, since she knew that the Whithard family wouldn't permit her to further her studies abroad, she applied for a graduate program at Baltross City University and graduated last year.

Seeing as she never stopped trying to curry Morgan's favor, the Whithard family turned a blind eye to her continued studies.

During those years, she had also sneakily taken up a few part-time jobs. However, every time the Whithard family found out, they would intervene.

In their opinion, all she needed to do was focus all of her attention on Morgan. They felt that a job would only divide her attention and time.

That was why Aster had zero work experience despite holding a degree in a highly sought-after field from a prestigious university.

To show her support for Aster's job, Moira deliberately chose not to work overtime so she could go shopping with Aster.

"The best and quickest way to fit in with a group is to make good use of your money. For example, order some teatime snacks for your colleagues now and then. Also, don't be stingy with kind words or compliments. Then again, with how smart, pretty, and kind you are, I'm sure that no one could bear to make things difficult for you."

As Aster's best friend, Moira instantly noticed how anxious Aster was. After picking out several outfits appropriate for work, Moira sincerely praised her.

Feeling deeply touched, Aster lunged forward to hug Moira's arm. "You really do treat me the best, Moira. I love you!"

"Where did you learn how to say such cheesy words?" Moira scrubbed at the goosebumps on her arms. "Then again, loving me is better than loving some jerk."

Just then, Lachlan popped up from out of the blue. His eyes gleamed brightly as he stared at Aster. "What a coincidence, Aster!"

Aster hadn't expected to run into Lachlan at a women's clothing store, so she was briefly stunned before she smiled at him. "Yeah. Are you here with your girlfriend?"

Realizing that Aster had misunderstood, Lachlan instantly panicked. He madly waved his hands as he hurriedly explained, "No, that's not it! No way! I-I'm here to get a present for my mom. I don't have a girlfriend, so please don't misunderstand, Aster!"

He was tall at six feet one inch, yet he had large puppy-dog eyes. At that moment, those eyes were filled with panic, as though he was genuinely worried that Aster would get the wrong idea.

Standing beside Aster, Moira could also sense something amiss. She leaned over to whisper in Aster's ear, "Where did you get this puppy from, Aster? Good job."

However, Aster's following words instantly shut her friend up.

"He's Isaiah's younger cousin."

In truth, Aster intended for Moira to back off and not get any ideas due to Lachlan's innocent demeanor. After all, Moira had a taste for younger men.

Yet, this particular young man was Isaiah's cousin. He was someone no ordinary person could ever hope to touch.

As Aster had hoped, Moira instantly straightened her back and shot a smile at Lachlan. "Hello, I'm Moira Caine, Aster's best friend."

The change in topic also gave Lachlan a way out.

Silently breathing a sigh of relief, Lachlan snuck a glance at Aster. When he saw her still smiling, he finally relaxed and said to Moira, "Hello, I'm Lachlan Palmer."

Since they had run into each other, it was only natural to have a meal together.

At first, Moira refused to join. But she changed her mind when she heard that he was still a university student in the Department of Physical Education. She took a seat, her smile wide.

Halfway through their meal, she finally showed her true colors and set a trap for Lachlan. "Lachlan, next time you come out, bring your friends along. Aster and I both love a good crowd."

Beside Moira, Aster was utterly speechless.

She thought that her best friend was truly devoted to younger men.

Lachlan's shining eyes were fixed intently on Aster's face. His jaw clenched tightly as he cautiously asked, "Aster, can I?"

"What?"

Aster was confused.

"Can I ask you out to have some fun together?"

When Aster looked over, she thought his ears seemed slightly red. She felt that he was such a sweet and innocent young man.

A cheerful and genuine smile curved her lips as she said, "Sure."

Chapter 10

The day after meeting Lachlan, Aster officially started work at Thorne Incorporated.

As Moira had mentioned, the position wasn't high. It was merely the manager's assistant. In other words, she was the manager's errand girl.

Fortunately, she was still in the sales department, so she still had plenty of opportunities to learn.

Since it was Aster's first day of work, she deliberately woke up an hour earlier to get ready. From her makeup to her attire, every bit was perfect.

When introducing herself, she made sure to portray herself as approachable but capable.

It was human nature to judge someone by their appearance, so her colleagues easily accepted her and warmly welcomed her. One of them, a young man, even volunteered to help her pick up her assigned laptop.

Knowing how vital it was to appear grateful, she used the excuse of thanking everyone for their help to order them coffee in the afternoon.

Aster was in the process of grabbing the coffee from the delivery rack when she spotted Isaiah.

Isaiah's office was on the top floor, so he usually didn't head to the other floors.

However, the CEO-exclusive elevator was coincidentally under maintenance that day. As such, Isaiah had taken the regular employees' elevator.

The delivery rack just so happened to be right by that elevator.

Someone needed to step out of the elevator when they arrived at the floor of the sales department. Thus, the moment the doors opened, Isaiah noticed Aster carrying three huge bags of coffee.

Aster also caught sight of him and instantly paled. Nevertheless, she forced herself to squeeze out a smile.

She wondered whether she was a bad luck magnet when it came to Isaiah. She didn't know how she could have managed to run into him on her first day of work.

Her situation was no different from that of a spy who had gone undercover in the enemy's camp during a war and was spotted by the enemy's general on the first day.

Fortunately, the elevator doors quickly shut, and Isaiah did not react.

Despite her unease, Aster waited until she delivered the coffee to everyone and returned to her seat before sending a message to Moira.

"Oh no, I was spotted by Isaiah. I think the HR department will contact me later to tell me to get lost."

Moira was quick to send Aster several question marks in response.

Feeling exasperated, Aster replied, "You have no idea how much Isaiah hates me. I don't even know when or how I offended him!"

She initially planned to make a name for herself in the company before appearing as an outstanding employee before Isaiah. Then, she would declare her undying loyalty to him.

Unexpectedly, she was discovered on the first day.

Moira texted, "Don't panic. Why would he bother making things difficult for a mere assistant like you? Besides, you could always come to my company if he really does fire you. I'll take care of you."

Moira's encouragement gradually calmed Aster down as she realized that Moira was right.

Isaiah was the CEO of the company. He would indeed not have the time to pick on an insignificant assistant like her.

However, she never imagined that instead of picking on her, Isaiah would actually promote her.

When it was about time to get off work, a transfer notice from the HR department appeared on her desk.

The sales department manager, whom Aster had barely even spent one day working with, stared at her strangely.

"Aster, you've been transferred to the CEO's office. From now on, your direct superior will be Mr. Thorne. Good luck. I have high hopes for you."

Her other colleagues also had strange expressions. Some were envious, while others were sympathetic, though there was also a hint of jealousy.

Before she could ponder it further, she was whisked away to the CEO's office on the top floor, along with her laptop.

However, Isaiah didn't ask to see her when she arrived there. Instead, he tasked his secretary, Leona Sinclair, with taking Aster under her wing.

Since Aster had no idea what Isaiah was thinking, she was extra cautious and went about her job as if she were walking on eggshells.

Yet, three days later, there was still nothing.

As it turned out, not two hours after she and Isaiah locked gazes by the elevator, he had to fly overseas. He likely wouldn't return until a week later.

It seemed that Aster's transfer to the CEO's office was nothing but a routine personnel transfer.

More importantly, there was no change in her bank account, which meant that Isaiah didn't hate her more because of this.

She took this as a good sign.

Upon arriving at this thought, she could finally relax and throw herself into currying favor with her colleagues in the CEO's office.

However, she didn't know if it was because they had been working under Isaiah for a long time or for some other reason, but every one of them was rather cold and distant. Her tactic failed to garner their interest, and they remained somewhat aloof. Other than work-related matters, they hardly talked to her.

After a week like that, Lachlan called her and invited her to watch his basketball match.

If one had to choose a place in university that was practically bursting with hormones, the basketball court was definitely an option.

Back then, Aster had kept away from all other males because of Morgan and rarely participated in any campus activities.

So, when she heard that it was a basketball match, she couldn't help but feel incredibly tempted.

Since she also needed to raise his affection points, she readily agreed.

She deliberately wore sporty attire and tied her hair in a ponytail, making her look youthful enough to pass for 18 or 19.

She was delighted with her appearance, and it seemed that Lachlan was too. Otherwise, she wouldn't have received 30 million in her bank account the moment he laid eyes on her.

Before Lachlan could say anything, a large group of males dressed in basketball jerseys approached them.

Each was at least five feet nine, so they gave off quite an intimidating vibe as they walked over together. Yet, their youthfulness was undeniable the moment they spoke.

"Lachlan, where and when did you swipe such a beautiful woman?"

"You really are too much! How could you have waited so long before bringing her to meet us?"

"And here I wondered why he's been blushing so much recently. It turns out that he's gotten himself a girl behind our backs!"

"As is tradition in the basketball team, whoever gets into a relationship has to treat the others to a meal!"

Lachlan grew flustered at their ribbing and was sorely tempted to cover Aster's ears.

Not wanting them to continue teasing him, he shooed them away, saying, "I got it, I got it. I'll treat you all to a meal. Now, hurry up and go warm yourselves up."

After they left, he turned to Aster. He shyly smiled at her and said, "I'm sorry, Aster. They love joking around but actually mean no harm."

Observing the bright red of his ears, Aster smiled and nodded. "I understand."

She then took out the beverages she had prepared beforehand and distributed them to the team. "I wish you all the best!"

Lachlan hadn't expected her to have prepared drinks for him and his teammates. He was both touched and grateful at the thoughtful gesture, and his eyes shone even brighter as he stared at her.

Handing the last bottle to him, Aster gently urged, "You should hurry and get ready too."

She thought that Lachlan truly was an adorably innocent young man. It seemed that her efforts wouldn't go to waste.

As they headed for the sports stadium, Aster realized just how popular Lachlan was on campus.

Countless people greeted him their entire journey, and quite a few even handed him small gifts.

"You're quite popular, huh?"

Her teasing only caused his ears to turn even redder.

Upon arriving at the stadium, Lachlan ignored the crowd's screaming and insisted on escorting her to a seat. He even handed her a bag of snacks.

"I don't know what you like, so I randomly picked one. Let's have a proper meal after the match is over."

Aster set the snack aside before digging out a sign from her massive tote bag.

The words on it were colorful, but the design was plain and unpretentious. It read, "Lachlan, you're the best!"

Despite the plain design, the sign made Lachlan's eyes soften even more.

Chapter 11

Aster did not really understand the rules of the game, but she knew enough to recognize that when a team scored, they got the point. So, every time Lachlan's team made a goal, she waved her little cheer sign and cheered at the top of her lungs.

It was supposed to be a fun experience—something youthful and exciting that she had not felt in a long time. But, of course, someone just had to ruin the mood.

"Hey, what's your relationship with Lachlan? Do you even know that our campus belle has a crush on him?"

"I've never seen her around campus before. She must've snuck in from some low-tier college."

"Seriously. What are you even wearing? Showing off your waist like that. What, are you that desperate for attention?"

...

At first, Aster thought that she was just hearing things. She had not expected to hear this kind of petty drama at a university-level basketball game, especially not at a top school.

However, when she didn't react, the other young women came right over and sat beside her, raising their voices just enough to draw attention from the people nearby.

"My relationship with Lachlan? I don't think I owe you an explanation," Aster calmly said, not wanting to make a scene or distract Lachlan from the game.

Unfortunately, the group was not looking to back off. One young woman leaned in with a sneer and mocked, "Is that so? Or are you too ashamed to admit it?"

"Wow, your logic is impressive," Aster shot back, raising a brow. "Calling you naive would be way too generous. Are you sure you're an actual university student?"

She looked at them with open disbelief, totally unimpressed. She thought that the youths these days truly had no fear. They did not even bother figuring out who they were picking a fight with.

What if she was Lachlan's relative? They would be burning bridges without even knowing it.

But clearly, none of them thought that far. When Aster called them out for being dumb, they got even more worked up.

One of them snapped, "And who do you think you are? Acting like you're better than us? You're just another pretty face trying to hook up with him, aren't you?"

"Yeah, exactly. Guys like Lachlan don't know better, so they fall for women like her," another chimed in.

The nonsense continued, and Aster finally ran out of patience. She was not about to waste any more time arguing, so she went straight for the kill.

She said, "I don't care who you are. But let me warn you—Lachlan treats me like a sister."

It was not even a lie. Lachlan treated her with respect and maintained their boundaries well.

The moment those words left her mouth, the group of young women instantly froze. The smugness disappeared from their faces, and after a few seconds of awkward silence, one of them muttered, "Sorry, we didn't know..."

Aster mockingly gave them a forgiving wave, like she was magnanimous. "It's fine. Now, stop distracting me. I'm trying to watch the game."

Just like that, the little drama fizzled out and was over before Lachlan even realized anything had happened. But after the game ended, he still found out.

He said, "That's insane! They're crazy! Aster, I'm so sorry. I had no idea that they'd come at you like that. I'm going to make this right."

He had just won the game and should have been glowing with pride, but he seemed furious. Aster, on the other hand, was completely unbothered.

She replied, "It's fine. They were just jealous women crushing on you. I didn't take it personally."

She had dealt with this kind of thing plenty of times before. Petty gossip and dumb insults could not hurt her, and she definitely did not want to make a big deal out of it. After all, that would just make her look immature.

Lachlan argued, "But still, you shouldn't have to put up with that."

No matter how much she downplayed it, he refused to let go. He stormed off and went straight to the group of women who had approached her.

No one knew exactly what he said, but his expression was deadly serious. There was a cold edge to his voice that even Aster had not heard before. By the time he was done, the women looked down at the floor, completely ashamed.

A few minutes later, Lachlan returned, bringing the ladies with him to apologize.

"We're really sorry for what we said earlier. We didn't mean to offend you, and we hope you won't take it to heart."

"We promise we'll never say anything like that again."

Aster glanced at the women who stood with their heads lowered, then looked at Lachlan beside them.

He had showered and changed but had not even dried his hair before rushing over. The golden hour sunlight cast a soft glow around him, highlighting his tall frame and solemn expression. She really found him to be such a thoughtful, adorable guy.

Aster smiled inwardly and turned to the women. "Apology accepted. But don't say stuff like that to anyone again. Liking Lachlan is your right—and it's other people's right, too. Tearing each other down over a guy is honestly the most pathetic move."

She never understood why some women were so obsessed with tearing each other apart for a guy. First of all, if it were a competition for someone's attention, the guy should be the target. Why waste time harassing the "competition' when there were many?

Second, Aster thought that that kind of behavior was just embarrassing, which was why she never took Evelyn's tricks seriously. She felt that acting bitter and mean over a man made one look cheap. Aster was the kind of person who, no matter how much she liked someone, would never let herself become that kind of woman.

Once the women apologized, they threw Lachlan one last sheepish look, then took off.

"I'm really sorry, Aster," Lachlan said again. "Don't let them ruin your mood."

"It's fine. I'm way past the age where someone's words could ruin my day. Come on. Let's go grab dinner."

She brushed the whole thing off easily, not just because they had apologized or because she could not be bothered to escalate it, but because, thanks to this little drama, Lachlan had just "gifted" her another 50 million. She thought that getting insulted for 50 million dollars was honestly the best trade deal of her life.

Lachlan observed her, trying to read her mood. When he was sure that she was not mad, he finally relaxed, took her cheer sign from her hand, and started walking toward the victory dinner.

"I invited Isaiah to watch the game today," he said as they walked. "It was my last game before my graduation. He said he'd come, but he ultimately didn't show."

Lachlan's voice sounded disappointed when he mentioned Isaiah. Meanwhile, Aster felt a chill run down her spine, thinking that she had just narrowly dodged a bullet. She was silently thankful that Isaiah's business trip had gotten extended for two more days. Things could have gotten messy if he had made it back in time and showed up to the game.

If he had seen her here that day, there was no doubt that he would have misunderstood everything. Forget the 50 million—Aster might even lose access to her entire bank account.

Naturally, Aster could not say any of that to Lachlan, who worshipped his cousin like a hero. So, she faked a sympathetic smile and gave him a few comforting words.

She said, "Mr. Thorne probably really wanted to come, but something must've tied him up at the last minute. The whole game was livestreamed, right? You can send him the replay. I'm sure that he'll be proud to have a cousin like you."

Even though Isaiah was not standing before her, she did not dare say a single bad word about him. She even helped build him up because when the truth came out, she counted on every bit of goodwill to keep her from landing in hot water.

As expected, Lachlan beamed. The refreshing scent of his shower gel drifted through the air with every move. "You're so awesome, Aster. I don't get why Isaiah keeps telling me to stay away from you. He's seriously weird."

When Aster heard Lachlan's remark, she could not help but think that Isaiah was the weird one, not her.

Chapter 12

Aster truly thought that she had handled the basketball situation perfectly. Anyone who heard how calmly and gracefully she responded would have praised her for being mature and level-headed.

But once Isaiah found out, this grim reaper of a man did not praise her at all. If anything, he became even more suspicious of her. So much so that the first thing he did when he got back from his business trip was not to meet with the executives. Instead, he called her, a lowly assistant, into his office.

Aster couldn't tell if it was just in her head, but she felt like her coworkers were giving her strange looks on her way to the CEO's office. Still, her conscience was clear, so she straightened her back and walked in confidently.

It had already been a week since Aster started working there, but this was her first time inside Isaiah's office. The space matched Isaiah's entire vibe. It was sleek and styled in black-and-gray minimalism. It had cold edges and no warmth.

Aster stopped precisely six feet from his desk. She smiled and kept her tone professional as she asked, "Mr. Thorne, you called for me?"

Isaiah lifted his head from behind the computer. He looked sharp and polished as always, his dark eyes unreadable. However, she felt an involuntary chill run down her spine when they landed on her. The way he looked at her was like a predator eyeing its prey.

"Why did you come to Thorne Incorporated?" Isaiah finally spoke, his voice low and casual.

Nonetheless, Aster could tell that this was a dangerous question. She knew that the wrong answer could cost her the job entirely. Fortunately, she had been prepared for this.

She answered calmly, without a trace of fear. "It's because I needed a job."

Sincerity was her secret weapon, especially with someone like Isaiah. She could not lie to this man even if she tried. She added, "I couldn't land a job that felt right after graduation, but I still needed to work. Thorne Incorporated is one of the top firms in the industry. Everybody wants to be a part of it. That includes me."

Isaiah completely ignored her compliment about the company and zeroed in on one part. "You needed a job?"

Aster knew exactly what he was getting at. After all, she was the Whithard family's heiress and was Morgan's ex-girlfriend. Technically, she did not need a "normal" job.

She explained, "I broke up with Morgan. And the Whithards… Well, that was never my home. Mr. Thorne, you probably won't believe me, but the truth is, I've only ever had myself to rely on."

She was clearly talking about something painful, but her eyes remained clear, and her smile was polite. It was as though she were telling someone else's story, not hers.

Isaiah seemed slightly intrigued by that. His cold, distant gaze shifted just a little. It was like something behind it stirred. "You broke up?"

As she stared at the small digital clock above his head, she decided to rip off the band-aid. "Yes. Because wasting your time on a toxic guy is still wasting time. I don't do that."

Her use of the word "toxic" seemed to amuse Isaiah. A slight smile tugged at his lips, though it never reached his eyes. Still, even the tiniest fracture can feel like an earthquake when a glacier cracks.

Aster forced herself to stop staring at his face and returned to the topic with clear resolve. She said, "So please believe me, Mr. Thorne. I didn't come to Thorne Incorporated with some hidden agenda. I'm just here to work and support myself. I swear."

She had no idea whether Isaiah believed her, but at least his expression did not get any colder. With him, that was considered progress.

Isaiah asked, "And what about Lachlan? Where does he fit in all this?"

As expected, everything ultimately circled back to Lachlan. Isaiah did not trust her one bit, not when it came to his beloved younger cousin. He was convinced that Aster was here to sweet-talk her way into the family.

"Lachlan's a great kid. I actually have a younger brother around his age, too, but every time we see each other, it's like a war zone," Aster said, looking Isaiah straight in the eye, calm and honest.

"So when Lachlan treats me like a sister, it makes me want to spend more time with him, just to enjoy what it might've been like to have a real younger brother."

Even though Lachlan was one of her "love interests", she genuinely had no romantic feelings for him. At that moment, she sincerely saw him as family. After all, the brother she did have would probably try to strangle her if they were left alone in a room for more than five minutes.

Having someone like Lachlan, who was sweet, respectful, and emotionally present, felt like the kind of brother she used to dream about having as a kid.

Isaiah clearly did not buy the whole sibling sympathy story, but he did not push further. He just said flatly, "Lachlan has a good heart. I hope that you'll remember to respect boundaries, Ms. Whithard."

Seeing that Isaiah was not pressing the matter, Aster knew that he was acknowledging her position here. It was the first step in a long, grueling hike, but she finally got a solid foothold. When she stepped out of his office, she finally let out the breath she had been holding. Only then did she notice the light sheen of sweat on her back.

Isaiah was not even that much older than her, yet the pressure he radiated felt like standing under a collapsing building. It simply felt like pure, crushing dominance.

Aster knew that success would not come easy and that nothing would fall into her lap. Winning over Isaiah would be almost impossible, but considering that her life and wealth were closely related to him, she could only take it one step at a time. On the bright side, she had at least walked out of there with her bank account still intact.

Just when Aster thought that she had passed the test, she realized that everyone in the office was looking at her even stranger than before. She was puzzled. After all, she had only stepped into the CEO's office for a few minutes. What was with all the stares?

It wasn't until later that afternoon, when she passed by the breakroom that she found out exactly why people looked at her like she had grown horns.

Someone whispered, "That new girl, Aster Whithard? She's not just some random hire. Do you know who her ex is? It's Morgan Marchand."

"Morgan Marchand? The Morgan Marchand from the Marchand family?"

"Who else could it be? Word is, she knew Mr. Marchand was hung up on someone else and still stuck around as his side chick for three years. He finally dumped her, and now she's out here looking for her next obsession."

"Wait, are you saying that she's targeting Mr. Thorne now?"

"Who knows? I mean, the only guy in this city on the same level as Mr. Marchand is Mr. Thorne himself."

"She's bold, I'll give her that. But if she thinks that she can snag Mr. Thorne, she had better check her ego. Seriously—these women out here are really delusional as hell."

...

Aster had no idea how people had discovered her past with Morgan. After all, she and Morgan had kept their relationship mostly private, known only in small, inner circles. But no matter how the rumor got out, the aftermath of dating Morgan still haunted her like a bad exorcism.

If she had not broken up with him, people would have just kept mocking her for being a desperate doormat. But now that she had, they were saying that she was playing games—cutting ties just to chase after someone new.

Aster could admit that she did have a new target in mind, but playing games? That was just plain slander. Moreover, she was not the type to look back, not even once. She had better things to do than pine after yesterday's trash.

Aster stood there for a few more seconds, then quietly turned away from the door. It was not cowardice. It just wasn't the right time to start drama with her coworkers.

She had not established herself at Thorne Incorporated yet. No one there knew who she really was, and if she caused a scene now, she would be the one paying the price. So, she decided to swallow it for now.

Enduring people's ignorance? That was practically her superpower. Besides, she didn't think that this rumor could spread very far.

Unfortunately for Aster, life would always have other plans because just as she was clocking out for the day, Morgan himself decided to drop her a small gift.

Chapter 13

Since Isaiah had just returned, the CEO's office held a strategy meeting that afternoon, which dragged well past regular working hours. Aster stayed laser-focused the entire time, taking detailed notes on everything Isaiah said. She planned to study them later, hoping to pick up on some real business insights that she could apply to her own investments.

When she finally left the building, her mind was still full of numbers and strategies, and she was a little out of it. It was exactly how Morgan found his opening. She did not even notice him until he stood right before her.

"Aster." He stood there with a massive bouquet of pink roses in his arms, looking like something out of a movie. Even in the dim light, the flowers looked stunning.

Yet, Aster immediately took a step back, her expression cold. "What are you doing here?"

Her guarded, almost defensive posture clearly stung Morgan. He raised his dark, gloomy eyes to meet hers, his brows furrowed.

He asked, "Have I really become someone you hate this much? Do you know how worried I was when I heard that you were working at Thorne Incorporated?"

His voice was this strange mix of anger and wounded pride, which made Aster want to laugh. She thought that it was ridiculous how he was the one playing the victim now.

She retorted, "Thorne Incorporated isn't hell, so what exactly are you so worried about? Instead of obsessing over me, Mr. Marchand, maybe worry about your own mental state. Is stalking your ex really what you want to be doing with your life?"

She backed up the steps, giving herself just enough height to look down on him. Her voice and gaze were both ice-cold.

"I never agreed to break up!" Morgan snapped, his voice rising. Even the corners of his eyes went red like he could not handle hearing the word "breakup".

"Please. We broke up, Morgan. We didn't get divorced. There's no property to divide. What exactly do you think needs your approval?"

Her reaction to his outburst was shockingly calm. Her tone stayed flat and steady as if none of it fazed her anymore.

That made Morgan freeze, his eyes dulling as he murmured, "Aster... you're blaming me."

They had dated for three years but always kept things clean. They had no messy financial ties. Whenever he bought her something, she would return the favor with something of equal value a little later.

If the gift was too expensive, she would hesitate to take it, and eventually, he stopped offering extravagant things altogether. So, their relationship was crystal clear when it came down to it. There were no debts, not in money or emotion.

"Indeed, I am blaming you. I'm blaming you for trampling all over my feelings. I'm blaming you for treating my love like it was worthless. And I'm especially blaming you for dragging this out even after it ended, Morgan. I'm not your property, and I won't let you keep treating me like I am."

She said it all evenly, with no dramatic flair. But by her last remark, her voice betrayed her just a little. The subtle tremble gave away what she still carried deep inside.

Their relationship had lasted for three years, so naturally, there was resentment. Nevertheless, Aster had let go with grace—that was just who she was. When she loved, she gave everything. And when she left, she made damn sure there was no turning back.

Morgan flinched at the bitterness in her eyes, his grip tightening around the bouquet. After a pause, he could only say, "Aster, I..."

But even now, he could not bring himself to apologize. After all, he still did not understand what he had done wrong. In his mind, giving Aster the title of "girlfriend" and letting her stay by his side had already been generous enough gifts.

So how could she just walk away like that?

"Don't. Don't say anything else, Mr. Marchand. Pursuing someone after the fact isn't your style. And don't confuse your bruised ego with some kind of delayed affection. Whatever this was between us, it's over."

After Aster said those final words, she did not bother with another glance and prepared to walk around Morgan toward the parking lot.

But just as she passed him, he spoke again, voice hoarse and eyes rimmed red. "Is there someone else? Did you fall for Isaiah? When did that even start?"

Aster snapped, "Shut up. Just because you can't survive without some kind of tragic love story doesn't mean the rest of us are like that. Honestly, Morgan, it's pathetic."

Her frosty glare scraped across his face like a blade, and she kept more than three feet of space between them the entire time. Before he could throw in another dramatic line, she added, "By the way, I've never liked roses. Your first love, Evelyn, is the one who likes them."

With that, Aster turned on her heel and walked off without hesitation, leaving Morgan standing there, awkward and alone, clutching a bouquet no one wanted. Fortunately, it was well past office hours, so no one had seen the little scene he caused. Otherwise, she would have hated him even more than she already did.

Once Aster got in her car, she finally noticed a text from Evelyn that had come in earlier. It read, "Aster, I picked those flowers for you on Morgan's behalf. Can't you cut him some slack? He really went out of his way."

Aster inwardly sneered at how unbelievable Evelyn was. She thought that those two were made for each other. One was a classic toxic man, while the other was a bitch.

Later, Aster tossed her phone aside with a scoff, started the car, and drove straight to the bar where their friend group used to hang out. When she kicked open the door to the private lounge, the whole room jumped in surprise.

Especially Evelyn, who was seated right in the center, looking like a deer caught in headlights. She gave Aster a sweet, insincere smile and said in her softest voice, "Aster, you scared everyone barging in like that."

However, Aster did not respond. Her face was stone-cold as she strode across the room.

She wore a crisp black pantsuit that hugged her frame perfectly, with sharp tailoring and heels that clicked with authority. She commanded the room like a queen walking into court. No one had ever seen this version of her before, and for a moment, the entire group just stared, frozen.

Not a single person had moved by the time Aster stopped right in front of Evelyn. Without saying a single word, she grabbed a fistful of Evelyn's hair and slapped the latter hard across the face.

The first hit stunned Evelyn completely. She did not even react. She didn't scream or fight back. Then came the second slap, just as harsh, leaving two bright red handprints across her pale cheeks.

Only after that did Aster release her hair, giving a slight, satisfied nod. "Evelyn, those two slaps are your reward for constantly provoking me. I warned you—I'm not someone you can push around. And I definitely warned you to stop acting like some innocent victim after getting what you wanted."

She shook out her hand, her expression full of scorn as she let go of Evelyn. People really took her silence for weakness, which was a huge mistake.

Evelyn's eyes immediately welled with tears, rolling down her face like some tragic drama queen. "How could you hit me, Aster? This isn't about me! Why are you taking it out on me? I never told you to break up with Morgan. Y-You're just being cruel!"

Tears were a woman's best weapon, and it was especially so with a beautiful woman. Hence, it was also Evelyn's favorite weapon, which she had used many times with Morgan.

With a few sobs and sniffles, Morgan would always come crawling back. But Evelyn forgot something important. Aster was not Morgan, and she definitely was not the kind of woman to fall for crocodile tears.

Seeing Evelyn still trying to play the victim after two full slaps only made Aster more impatient. Without blinking, she picked up a beer bottle from the table and smashed it hard against the edge.

The glass shattered instantly, spraying fragments across the table, leaving her holding half the jagged bottle by the neck. She pointed the broken glass directly at Evelyn. "I'll give you one chance. Rethink your words and try again."

Chapter 14

Aster had always carried herself with elegance and poise. Every move she made reflected the grace and confidence of a wealthy heiress, and no one ever questioned her ability to live up to that image.

But at that moment, she was standing there with a shattered glass bottle in hand. Her long hair was flowing, and her face was cold and unreadable. Her presence was fierce and commanding. She leaned forward slightly, gripping the jagged glass, and stared down at Evelyn like she owned the room.

She looked like a blazing phoenix descended from the heavens. It was so breathtaking that no one could look away and so intense that no one dared to breathe.

Evelyn was so terrified that she could not even cry. She just sat there pale-faced, frozen in place, completely overwhelmed by Aster's energy. Next to her, Evelyn's insecure, wannabe charm was embarrassingly obvious.

When Evelyn kept trembling without saying a single word, Aster lost her patience and moved the broken glass an inch closer to the former's face. She hissed, "Evelyn, I never blamed you for what happened in the past. Whatever happened between me and Morgan had nothing to do with anyone else. I couldn't hold onto his heart, and that's on me.

"But you have no right to keep testing my patience, trying to act like you won some prize just to mock me. It's laughable. Just because I broke up with him, you thought you automatically won?

"Three years ago, giving up Morgan without a fight and chasing after some fantasy was already foolish. But now, thinking that pushing me away means you'll magically marry into the Marchand family and become his wife? That's even more pathetic."

She mocked, "You've been in the entertainment scene long enough to know how this game works. So, how are you still this clueless? If I were you, I wouldn't have wasted time harassing me. I'd be doing everything possible to officially become his girlfriend.

"Without even a real title to your name, everything you've done makes you no better than some rat sneaking around in the dark."

For the first time, Aster actually felt liberated. Even when she broke up with Morgan, she never took it out on Evelyn because she thought that it was Morgan's fault for entertaining both sides and keeping things ambiguous. However, Evelyn was so ridiculously stupid that Aster had no choice but to deal with her personally, just to shut her down and stop her from causing more trouble.

After Aster's harsh words, Evelyn's face looked even worse than before. Her anger boiled over, and she forgot other people were still around. She dropped the sweet, innocent act completely. But with that sharp piece of glass right in front of her face, she dared not move. She could only glare back with pure resentment.

"You were the one who—Ah! You're insane!" She had just started to talk back when Aster brought the glass even closer, so close that Evelyn screamed in fear.

Aster snapped, "I don't care to hear your pathetic excuses. I'm asking you one thing. Will you stop texting and calling me or not?"

She already knew the kind of fake, pitiful lies that would come from Evelyn's mouth, and she had no interest in listening.

Finally, Evelyn realized that this was not just a scare tactic—Aster meant business. The sharp annoyance in her eyes left no doubt that if she did not give the correct answer, that jagged glass was going straight into her face.

And that face—her one and only asset, the one she relied on to survive—was not something she could afford to lose. So, she broke down and begged, "Yes! I swear I won't bother you again!"

Only after hearing that did Aster let out a short scoff and finally lowered her hand. That was when the people around them snapped out of their shock and rushed forward to intervene.

"Hey, come on. You're both friends. Don't blow this up. It's not worth it if word of this drama gets out."

"Yeah, Aster. We get it. You've been through a lot, but it's in the past now. Just get back with Morgan and focus on being happy."

"And seriously, going after Eve won't fix anything. She didn't mean things to go this far. Besides, you're both women here. Getting physical is just too much."

...

Aster listened to all the so-called advice—which was just veiled criticism—and gave a faint smile. Then, without hesitation, she grabbed another beer bottle and slammed it open with a loud crack.

She growled, "What the hell are you all barking about? You're saying that I made a scene? That I was bullying her? Fine. I get it. You're all acting blind after being brainwashed by that bitch's sweet-girl act.

"But I didn't ask any of you to play judge, so if you've got something smart to say, say it. If not, stop barking like a pack of strays. What I do is none of your damn business. And if you really think that she's such a catch, take her home and make her your new mom. Let her take good care of her big, grown sons."

Aster had never liked Morgan's crew. They used to call her desperate and say she had no self-respect. Even when they hung out, their words were always laced with judgment. Behind her back, they told Morgan that she was just a fling, someone to mess around with, but never the kind of woman one would actually marry.

Yet, now they had the nerve to act like they were some moral compass. Aster couldn't believe it.

Back then, maybe she would have let it slide, thinking that they were Morgan's friends and it was not worth it. But now? She was not playing nice anymore, and she sure as hell was not giving them the satisfaction.

Aster's words clearly left them speechless, and with Morgan acting strange around her lately, none of them dared step in to put her in her place.

She let out a sharp scoff, full of disdain. "Tough when it's easy, silent when it's hard. Typical cowards."

Then, she tossed both bottles aside, turned on her heel, and walked out of the private lounge without looking back. She knew that this entire scene would be making the rounds across the industry by tomorrow.

Nonetheless, those waiting to pounce on her now that she was no longer "Morgan's girl" would have to think twice before messing with someone this "crazy".

Aster had barely gotten down the hall when she heard hurried footsteps behind her. Her heart skipped for a second, thinking that maybe someone from the lounge had followed her out. But when she turned around, she saw Adrian.

He gave her a small smile, but his eyes darkened as soon as he caught sight of her hand. He said, "You're hurt."

It wasn't until he pointed it out that Aster realized she had a few shallow cuts on her hand from the shattered glass. They were not deep, but they were bleeding and did look slightly alarming.

She had been so hyped on adrenaline that she had not even noticed the pain until now. But as soon as Adrian commented on it, a wave of soreness pulsed through her fingers, and she sucked in a sharp breath.

"Come with me," Adrian said under his breath, then guided her into another empty lounge. Moments later, someone brought in a first aid kit.

Adrian glanced at her with a long, unreadable look behind his gold-rimmed glasses, and then he mumbled, "This might sting a little. Try to hang in there."

Before Aster could even make a joke, he was already disinfecting the wound. It did not hurt that much. She bit her lip and stayed silent, simply watching him work with calm focus.

Adrian moved like someone who had done this many times before. He wiped away the blood, cleaned the cuts, and carefully wrapped them in gauze. When he was done, he even tied two neat little butterfly knots. Finally, he softly said, "All set."

Aster looked down at her perfectly bandaged hands and laughed softly. "Mr. Vaughn, you've definitely done this before."

He looked at her again, then bent down to pack the medical supplies. After a moment, he said quietly, "If you're going to pick fights, glass bottles really aren't the smartest choice."

Shattered glass was unpredictable, as the shard could fly in any direction. It could have just as easily hurt her instead.

Chapter 15

Aster sat there with both hands raised, watching as Adrian pulled out his phone and casually showed her a list of compact, stylish weapons that were clearly designed for women. She stared at the screen, completely speechless.

Eventually, she asked, "Um, Mr. Vaughn… Aren't you supposed to be a lawyer?"

"Of course," he replied, adjusting his glasses with that same calm, serious look. "The law exists to protect citizens—and so do weapons."

There it was. That deadly combo—a man being completely serious, paired with a face that belonged on the magazine cover. It was enough to make anyone's heart race.

Aster broke into a smile. "You know, that actually makes a lot of sense. What am I going to do, Mr. Vaughn? I think I really like your style. I have a feeling that we're going to work very well together."

She finally realized why Adrian had never lost a case. He was a lawyer who played by his own rules.

Adrian chuckled. "If what you like includes areas beyond just legal strategy, then I'd be even happier to hear that."

That line earned a genuine laugh from Aster. "I've learned better than to argue with a lawyer. It's always a losing battle. So I surrender. Also, since I didn't get to treat you to dinner last time, how about a drink on me tonight, Mr. Vaughn?"

She had noticed the rising number above his head. Just a few lines of shared banter had boosted his favorability toward her by five digits. That alone proved his interest was not fake.

So, why not strike while the iron was hot? She was not above stacking the deck in her favor.

Adrian, of course, did not turn Aster down. They stayed right there in the private lounge, ordered a round of drinks, and slipped into an easy, casual conversation. But he was respectful. He never asked about the scene she caused or why her hand was injured. He kept the mood light, giving her space to lead.

It was Aster who eventually brought it up. She sipped her drink as she glanced at him. "So… I slapped someone across the face—twice, actually. Does that technically make me a criminal?"

Adrian replied, "Technically, yes. Assault or intentional bodily harm is punishable by five to ten days of detention and a fine between 200 and 500 dollars.

"If it's considered a minor offense, it could be less. It might just be a small fine of less than 500 dollars or a few days."

He gripped the wine glass as he looked at her, and his tone made it clear that he did not exactly approve of her actions.

Meanwhile, Aster just chuckled. "She won't call the cops. Trust me. After the little show I put on tonight, she knows better than to provoke me again. Reporting me just to get me locked up for a few days isn't worth tanking her whole image."

And she was not wrong. Aster had enough dirt on Evelyn to bury her ten times over.

Evelyn might have been trying to claw her way up in the entertainment industry. She may not have made it big, but she was still a mid-tier celebrity. If that skeleton-filled closet got opened up, she could kiss her career goodbye.

As such, there was absolutely no chance that Evelyn would call the police. She would more likely run crying to Morgan, begging him to fight her battles.

"You're not worried that she'll find someone else to come after you instead?" Adrian asked.

He seemed to know a lot more about Aster's situation than he was letting on. That sparked her curiosity, and she asked, "You know who I'm talking about? It sounds like someone did their homework. Did you do some digging on me, Mr. Vaughn?"

His affection points for her from the very first time was already incredibly high. Hence, she could not help but wonder if he knew exactly who she was before she stepped into his office.

"Yes," Adrian admitted without hesitation, "but Ms. Whithard, don't worry. I'm always careful with my clients. I have no ill intentions."

Aster wondered if he was worried that she would take it the wrong way.

She took a sip of her drink and looked at him, half-smiling. "I'm not worried. Actually, it makes me feel better. If I happen to die young, at least someone out there knows my story. I'd be counting on you, Mr. Vaughn, to take care of things."

Ever since her diagnosis, Aster had been wondering who would handle everything if she truly did not make it. She planned to leave everything to Moira, but she knew that the latter would never be able to let her go. Moira would probably keep her ashes in a box and curse her three times a day for dying on her.

Every time she thought about that, death felt unbearable because hurting the person who loved her most would never sit right. But now, Adrian had sparked a new idea, and her mood lifted as she set down her glass and started outlining her plan.

"All my assets will go to Moira. But my ashes? Make sure she never sees them. Scatter them in the ocean. All of them. I don't want a funeral, either. Use that money to give kids in underserved areas a proper meal instead.

"Oh, and if possible, don't even tell my blood relatives. Seeing them again, even after death, would be such bad luck."

...

Aster kept going, saying whatever came to mind, utterly unaware that Adrian's face was growing darker with every word.

"Ms. Whithard, you're way too young to be thinking about all this. You won't need to worry about it until you're 100. And I'm older than you. By then, I probably wouldn't even be around to help you."

He was a lawyer, sure, but the way he spoke about her living a long life carried a sincerity that caught her off guard.

Aster quieted down and looked at him with interest. "Mr. Vaughn, every psychic I've ever seen told me that I've got cursed luck and a short fuse with life. You're the first to say that I'd live to 100."

"You will," Adrian said, meeting her eyes with steady certainty. "You're the kind of person who always pulls through. You'll rise again, and life will only get better from here."

That actually made Aster feel better. Because really, who wanted to die in their prime? She had already hit rock bottom. Every step forward from here was uphill.

"Then here's to you, Mr. Vaugh. Let's hope your words turn out to be true, and I get my comeback."

She smiled as she tilted her head back and drank her drink in one go, swallowing the alcohol and all the dark thoughts with it.

When she set her glass down, she was beaming again—the Aster who was just as bold, untamed, and impossible to define as ever.

Right then, the lounge door swung open, and Morgan stormed in. His expression was dark with fury and disbelief as his eyes locked onto her. Aster thought, "Well, that did not take long."

Aster had figured that Evelyn would run crying to him. It seemed that he really wasted no time. Barely an hour had passed, and here he was, probably ready to defend his so-called first love.

"You—" Morgan was clearly fuming. His usual calm, unreadable expression was gone. His chest rose and fell with every breath, barely holding himself together.

Aster, on the other hand, did not even flinch. She stayed slouched on the couch, relaxed and completely unfazed. She cut him off before he could finish speaking. "Yes. I hit her. That was me."

She could already imagine how Evelyn and the others must have tattled on her. Then again, she could not care less. She had not tried to hide it, and she had already made peace with the consequences.

Besides, with a lawyer sitting right next to her, she really had nothing to fear.

"Who is he?" Morgan's tone sharpened as he pointed at Adrian, looking like he had just caught her cheating. "Aster, what else are you hiding from me?"

Aster felt that it was rich coming from him. Evelyn got slapped, and instead of defending her, he was more focused on the man at her side. She replied, "Who else could he be? Just a bright, promising new guy I happened to meet."

Aster was unfazed by him. Since she was in a good mood, she figured that she might as well entertain him a little longer.

Chapter 16

Morgan was so furious that his jaw clenched tight. He could not care less about his manners as he stormed toward Aster. He hissed, "If you're trying to get back at me, fine. But don't degrade yourself like this, Aster. You're a woman. You shouldn't be tossing your reputation away like it's nothing."

That made Aster let out a dry laugh, both amused and irritated. "Who said that I'm trying to get back at you? You and your little first love sure love making things up in your heads. And what's wrong with being a woman?

"Women have reputations, but men don't? You're the one who couldn't keep it in his pants, and you've got the nerve to talk about reputation? Do you even have one left?"

She was not someone with a short fuse by nature, but when it came to Morgan, she had lost her temper more than once. Why? Simple. The more she lashed out, the more he liked it—and the more money it made her.

"I'm not that kind of guy! Eve and I… It's not what you think—" Morgan tried to explain, but Aster cut him off before he could even finish the sentence.

"Don't bother. I'm not interested in rehashing the past. I've got company, so let's not waste anyone's time. Mr. Marchand, please see yourself out."

She poured herself another drink and did not spare him a glance. However, Morgan did not budge. Instead, he turned his anger toward Adrian.

"I don't care who you are. That's my fiancée you're sitting next to. I'll give you one chance—get out. Now."

That was it. Aster's mood officially soured. It was one thing to treat her like a toy he could pick up and drop, but speaking to her friend in her presence was disrespectful.

She was not having it, and she spat, "The one who needs to leave is you, Morgan. We're all adults here, Have some decency. And stop throwing around that 'fiancée' nonsense. It's disgusting."

She spoke before Adrian could respond, and the lightness in her voice had completely vanished. Her eyes were icy cold.

Morgan clearly had not expected her to stand up for someone else, especially not like this. The realization seemed to knock the wind out of him, and a flash of panic crossed his face, making his eyes go red at the corners.

It was quite a sight that the man who used to hover above her, who treated her like disposable property, was now acting like she actually mattered and like he genuinely cared. Naturally, her heart wavered a little. How could it not?

But outwardly, she remained calm, cool, and composed, her stare steady and detached. And just like that, Morgan broke eye contact first, visibly shaken.

Right on cue, Evelyn rushed in. When she saw what was happening, she immediately clung to Morgan's side like a damsel in distress.

"Morgan, please don't fight with Aster because of me. It's all my fault. I deserved that slap."

Aster immediately said, "If you know that it's your fault, why don't you walk yourself out of here?"

"Aster, I know you hate me, and that's fine. But hitting someone is still wrong. If word gets out, what will people think of you? And what about the Marchands. How will they be seen?"

Evelyn still had that soft, fragile tone layered with just enough fake strength to make people want to protect her.

Aster slowly clapped her hands. "Bravo, Evelyn. That was some award-winning acting just now. If you could perform like that consistently, you might finally win Best Actress by the end of the year. But then again, if your little side-chick scandals leak, do you think they'd still hand you the trophy?"

Because the truth was, Evelyn was not just a crybaby arm candy. She actually had some acting chops. Her skill set was not totally useless. However, she lacked focus and discipline and was always too caught up chasing the next big role or high-profile man.

This was precisely why she clung to Morgan so hard. If she could not win with talent, she needed him for status, or at the very least, to stay relevant.

Evelyn's face turned ghostly pale. Naturally, she would not dare blow things up any further, as Aster was right. Evelyn would not survive a real takedown.

"Aster, you've already made your point. Why keep pushing it?"

Morgan was starting to feel frustrated by how unapologetically sharp Aster was, and that loss of control rattled him. His original intent had been to smooth things over since a scandal could hurt them both. Evelyn had fans, and Aster would not come out unscathed if things went public.

Everyone in the room heard an entirely different meaning from the way he said it.

Aster raised a brow, her voice lined with ice. "This is who I am. You're only seeing it now. So do yourself a favor—take Evelyn and get out of my sight."

She might have spared him a reply or an explanation if she had not already been burned to the core.

However, Morgan did not realize just how far she had pulled away. With his ego bruised and pride shattered, his anger mixed with jealousy until it boiled over. He ultimately slammed the door on his way out.

What he did not see, though, was Evelyn turning back at the doorway to flash Aster a smug, satisfied smile. It could not have been more evident that she was taunting Aster, mocking her loss.

Aster did not say a single word. She simply narrowed her eyes and slowly tightened her grip around her glass.

At the moment, she did not have the power to actually bring Morgan down. All she could do was strike with words. Even that was not easy to balance. When she stayed cold, he would crawl back to her. There was always some profit in that.

But that night, his affection points for her had not budged an inch. She thought that her approach might have been too final. Perhaps she should have left him with the illusion that he still had a chance.

After all, she was in this to make money. Pride did not pay the bills. Just as she was calculating her next move on how to squeeze more value out of Morgan, Adrian suddenly spoke.

"Would you like me to compile the evidence?"

Aster blinked. "What?"

"Their infidelity. Ms. Lyle is on the rise in the industry. She might be willing to pay to keep it buried."

Those clear, sharp eyes behind his gold-rimmed glasses stayed locked on her, full of seriousness and precision.

Aster was stunned for a second before bursting into laughter. "Mr. Vaughn, you're absolutely brilliant."

She did not mind being seen for who she really was—money-driven, strategic, unapologetic. However, just as the words left her, someone else appeared at the lounge door.

"Oh? What makes Mr. Vaughn so brilliant, exactly?"

It was Cameron.

That night, he wore a loud, flamboyant button-down shirt, and his hair was slicked back like he had stepped out of a retro fashion spread. Yet somehow, with that strikingly handsome face of his, he did not look sleazy—just effortlessly stylish with that charming, cocky edge.

"Funny how every time I see Mr. Vaughn, you're here too. So what is it? Are we just destined to keep crossing paths, or do you have some feelings for him that you haven't confessed?"

Aster's smile dimmed just slightly, but she still looked radiant and composed. She was impossible to look away from.

Cameron chuckled and plopped down casually at the end of the couch, then tossed a glance Adrian's way.

"What do you think, Mr. Vaughn? Am I fated to run into Ms. Whithard, or is it you that I've got feelings for?"

He was a classic playboy, the kind of man who had been through more relationships than most could count, so naturally, his words were bold and reckless. Meanwhile, Adrian's expression stayed tense, just like it always did when Cameron was around.

His voice was tight as he gave a familiar warning, biting out just two words. "Watch it."

Chapter 17

Cameron didn't mind at all. Instead, he laughed with unrestrained arrogance. "Oh, I see. Mr. Vaughn seems to have feelings for Ms. Whithard."

He even winked at Aster and commented, "Speaking of which, you're truly stunning. No wonder Mr. Vaughn's heart is stirred."

As he finished speaking, he casually reached for Aster's wine glass and brought it to his lips.

That move finally exhausted all of Adrian's patience. He snatched the glass away and, his voice sharp and cold, demanded, "What exactly do you want?"

In truth, Adrian had known Cameron's intentions from the beginning.

Elias Lockhart, Cameron's grandfather, had been bedridden recently. A month ago, he called a lawyer to draft his will.

The Lockhart family had vast wealth. They had real estate and cash holdings that most of the heirs didn't particularly care about. But the 15% shareholding in Elias' hands was a different story.

Whoever inherited those shares would become the next patriarch of the Lockhart family, and Adrian was the lawyer handling the will.

For this reason, the Lockhart heirs had been approaching him from all directions, each trying to gather information. After all, even if they weren't the beneficiaries, there might still be room to maneuver as long as they could work with the lawyer.

At first, Adrian assumed that Cameron had the same goal. But after several encounters, he realized that Cameron didn't seem to care about it at all. Now, even Adrian wasn't sure what he was really after.

"There's no need to be so hostile, Mr. Vaughn. I simply want to be friends with you," Cameron said, unfazed by the snatched wine glass. He grabbed an empty one, poured himself another drink, and grinned wildly.

This left Adrian speechless. He merely stared at Cameron, his eyes dark and unreadable.

Aster had been quietly observing the drama unfold. But she suddenly had an epiphany when she caught the look in Cameron's flirtatious eyes. Realization hit her like a bolt of lightning. A strange excitement welled up inside her.

"Ah, I remembered something urgent. I'll be heading out first. You two take your time." She winked at Adrian, grabbed her bag, and hurriedly left.

"Nexus, those two clearly have something going on. And you want me to pursue him? Are you trying to get me into trouble?"

As soon as she got into her car, Aster called out to the Nexus in her mind.

Her target was gay. She didn't know how to proceed with this.

For once, the Nexus sounded unsure. "Well… that shouldn't be the case. Don't overthink it. Just focus on your mission."

Aster nearly choked in frustration. "What do you mean by that?"

But after thinking it through, she realized that a romantic pursuit wasn't the only way to complete her mission. She could still get paid if she became their friend and increased their favorability toward her.

That thought quickly soothed her irritation and even made her a little excited.

After all, being friends was much easier than being a lovestruck fool.

With this newfound discovery, she immediately adjusted her strategy after getting home. The more she tweaked it, the more interesting it became. She got so hyped up that she couldn't fall asleep at all.

The next morning, she not only had dark circles under her eyes but also arrived at work five minutes late.

To make matters worse, the moment she stepped into the office, she saw Isaiah sitting there.

She was doomed. She had been late and was caught red-handed.

Her wallet was about to take a hit, and just the thought of losing money made her heart ache. Coupled with her sleepless night, her sleep-deprived face looked even more miserable.

Nevertheless, she mustered up her courage and immediately addressed Isaiah, "Mr. Thorne, I shouldn't have been late. But I really didn't expect the traffic to be this bad today. I'm willing to accept a salary deduction. Could you possibly forgive me this once?"

"Please, please, please. Don't get mad over this," Aster prayed under her breath.

It wasn't a big deal if he got angry, but she had been planning an investment recently. She didn't want to tighten her budget because of this.

Her rapid apology stunned everyone in the room. Even the experienced Leona sucked in a sharp breath.

Leona frowned. She had thought that Aster was supposed to be cool and unapproachable. But why did she suddenly look… kind of dumb?

The sudden silence made Aster realize that her words might have been inappropriate. Awkwardly, she added, "I promise it won't happen again."

At this, Isaiah shot her a glance—as if he were looking at an idiot—then wordlessly returned to his office.

Aster exhaled in relief. "That was it? I passed?"

It turned out that sincerity really was the ultimate weapon. A well-timed act of submission worked like a charm on Isaiah.

"Ms. Whithard, you don't actually need to be that afraid of Mr. Thorne."

Leona hesitated for a moment before giving her a quiet reminder.

Indeed, everyone in the company feared Isaiah. After all, the nickname "Thorne the Tyrant" wasn't just for show.

But being scared to the point of trembling, barely able to speak, and practically ready to bolt at any moment? That was a reaction unique to Aster.

"Am I that obvious?" Aster was dumbfounded.

She had always thought that she was good at hiding it.

Fortunately, everyone was busy and didn't dwell on it for long. They returned to their tasks.

That afternoon, just after her lunch break, Leona handed Aster a thermal food container. "This is Mr. Thorne's lunch. Can you take it to him?"

Still groggy from her nap, Aster found herself standing at Isaiah's office door before she fully processed who the lunch was for.

Since she was already there, it was too late for her to back out. If she delayed Thorne the Tyrant's mealtime, she would really experience a financial loss that day.

She took a deep breath before knocking on the door. After receiving permission, she stepped inside with the container.

"Mr. Thorne, your lunch is here."

It was her first time doing something like this, and she wasn't even sure where to put it.

Isaiah showed no reaction upon seeing her. He simply instructed, "Put it on the coffee table, then turn on the air vent."

Aster followed his orders precisely before returning to unpack the food and lay it out neatly.

"Mr. Thorne, enjoy your meal. I'll be heading out now."

She hadn't slept all night, and her lunch break hadn't been nearly enough. As a result, her voice still carried a drowsy, soft lilt. She almost sounded like she was whining.

Isaiah had been observing her ever since she entered the office. Now, as he saw her sluggishly standing up, he suddenly spoke. "Stop."

There was no room for disobedience when the boss gave an order.

Aster stood quietly, about three feet from the coffee table, watching as Isaiah approached with his usual deliberate, measured steps.

It was long past lunchtime. Even someone as inhuman as Isaiah couldn't go five or six hours without getting hungry.

Yet, instead of eating, he merely frowned at the food before him, lost in thought.

Aster's inner bootlicker instinct kicked in, and she cautiously asked, "Mr. Thorne, is it not to your taste? Should I have them prepare something else for you?"

From what she knew, his meals were made by the company's cafeteria. Naturally, they wouldn't be as refined as gourmet dishes.

For someone born with a silver spoon, being picky was perfectly reasonable. Choosing to go hungry rather than eat something he disliked suited his status.

To her surprise, Isaiah merely glanced at her and uttered two words. "No need."

Then, after a pause, he added. "Take out all the olives."

Aster blinked in surprise at the sudden request but wasted no time. She quickly stepped forward, crouching beside him to sort through the olives.

So it turned out that Thorne the Tyrant couldn't stand olives. Aster found this fact interesting.

She resolutely decided that when she finally had him wrapped around her finger and was rolling in money, she would make sure that olives were planted everywhere—enough to drown him in their scent.

Chapter 18

Just as Aster was getting dizzy from picking out the olives, Isaiah, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke. "I heard you went to watch Lachlan's game." His tone was calm, seemingly casual, but Aster still detected a hint of menace.

Her hands trembled slightly as she picked out another olive, then cautiously looked at Isaiah, her face full of apprehension.

"Yes. Lachlan said he invited you, but since you were busy, I didn't want him to be disappointed. So, I went instead. Please don't misunderstand, Mr. Thorne. I wasn't trying to find an opportunity to get close to Lachlan, and I definitely don't have any ulterior motives. I swear!"

Her explanation was practically airtight. Isaiah had let Lachlan down, so she merely stepped in to make up for it. She was just being considerate.

Unfortunately, Isaiah tossed a stack of photos onto the table a second later. His dark eyes were filled with an ominous rage. Aster glanced at them and immediately broke out in a cold sweat.

It was pictures of her at the game, standing on the platform, cheering for Lachlan. The photographer had decent skills, capturing her bright eyes and lively energy, making her stand out in the crowd.

But she had no time to admire her own beauty. One thought consumed her—was Isaiah having her watched, or was he watching Lachlan? If it were the latter, it had nothing to do with her. But if it were the former, that would be a different story.

The cold sweat on her back intensified, but she forced herself to remain composed. "Oh, these are from the game that day? You weren't there, but you still sent someone to take pictures. Lachlan must be thrilled."

Isaiah's gaze, dark and unreadable like a bottomless abyss, lingered on her eyes momentarily before shifting to her hands. "Hurry up and finish."

Aster didn't know what the hell was going on. It seemed that Isaiah really did think that she was some kind of maid. He scolded her one minute, then ordered her around the next.

Aster swallowed her frustration and said nothing, keeping her head down as she silently continued picking out the olives.

When she finally finished, Isaiah started eating. But after picking up a piece of fish fillet with his utensils, he didn't eat it immediately. Instead, he looked at her again. "Aster, I don't care what grudge you have with Morgan or what little schemes you're playing. But Lachlan is not someone you can toy with."

Only then did Aster realize that his earlier silence had been a test, waiting for her to provide a reasonable explanation for approaching Lachlan.

She straightened up from the coffee table and stood tall and composed. "Mr. Thorne, I've already explained—I broke up with Morgan. I am my own person. I hope that you won't brand me with someone else's mistakes.

"As for approaching Lachlan, yes, I had a reason, but not the one you think. I wasn't trying to use Lachlan to provoke Morgan. I know how to let go. When I say that we've broken up, it means that there's nothing left between us.

"Actually, my initial reason for approaching Lachlan was because of you, Mr. Thorne. I fell for you at first sight and wanted to learn more about your preferences through him."

She had read "The Ultimate Man-Taming Guide", which had said that the best way to deal with straight men was to be straightforward. She wholeheartedly agreed.

Isaiah was unlike ordinary people. His dark, penetrating gaze could see right through a person, making any little schemes useless.

Given her level of experience, all her tricks would be nothing but child's play before him. Rather than getting exposed, she figured that she might as well go all-in with honesty.

After all, he already disliked her. Even if this approach failed, she could always try something else. She didn't have anything to lose.

As Aster had expected, as soon as she finished speaking, Isaiah dropped the fish fillet from his fork, letting it fall to his bowl. His expression darkened, and he stopped eating, frowning as he looked at her. Although seated, his presence was so oppressive that Aster, who was standing, felt the urge to shrink back.

Nevertheless, she held her ground.

She dug her nails into her palm, her eyes quickly turning red, her watery gaze making her delicate face seem even more fragile. Under his piercing stare, she continued, "Don't be so quick to scold me, Mr. Thorne. Half a year ago, I met you once. That night, I was humiliated and nearly suffered a disaster. It was you who happened to pass by and saved me."

She wasn't lying about that.

Half a year ago, she had received a message from Morgan in the middle of the night. He claimed to be drunk and asked her to pick him up.

It was freezing that night. She had already been in bed, ready to sleep, but after receiving his message, she crawled out from under her warm blanket and resigned herself to the task.

She drove to the bar only to discover, upon her arrival, that Morgan wasn't drunk at all.

His so-called friends had gotten tipsy and stole his phone while he was in the restroom to prank her. They even placed bets on how long it would take her to show up. Some said 20 minutes, others 30.

She had driven 11 miles through the cold, snowy night, arriving in 23 minutes.

The person who guessed closest laughed heartily, collecting money from the others.

"You guys just don't know Ms. Whithard well enough. Of course she would speed over for Morgan."

She felt like a complete fool as she stood by the door.

When Morgan returned and realized what had happened, his face briefly darkened. But before he could say anything, Evelyn's sweet voice chimed in, saying, "Morgan, I have a headache. Can you take me home?"

And just like that, Morgan had no time to deal with Aster anymore. Ignoring her entirely, he walked straight toward Evelyn.

With Morgan leaving to escort Evelyn, Aster's entire trip had been pointless.

As Aster watched them walk away together, she didn't cry, make a scene, or even say a single word. She simply felt her love for him diminish, little by little.

Then, she walked over to the person who had won the bet, snatched half of the winnings, and slapped him across the face before striding away.

If they wanted to make a fool out of her, fine. But since they used her for entertainment, she deserved a cut of the earnings.

Clutching a wad of cash, her face pale from the cold, she left the bar only to be targeted by a group of men.

Before she could reach the parking lot, someone grabbed her from behind, covering her mouth and dragging her into a nearby alley.

They stole her money and bag. But that wasn't enough. Leering, they closed in on her.

"Damn. She's gorgeous, just like a movie star. I've never had a woman this pretty before."

Aster resisted and got slapped across the face. The men sneered at her with contempt.

"Look at you, dressed head-to-toe in designer brands. I bet some rich guy bought them for you, huh? We may be broke now, but take care of us, and you won't be left out when we make it big."

She admitted that she was utterly terrified at that moment—so much so that despair nearly swallowed her whole.

Amidst her struggle, she seized the moment and bit down hard on the hand covering her mouth. As the man yelped in pain, she screamed at the top of her lungs, "Morgan Marchand, help me!"

Deep down, she knew that Morgan wouldn't come. He had already left with his beloved first love.

But Aster had no idea who else to call for help or who else she could rely on.

And that was when Isaiah appeared.