Chapter 4

With a trembling hand, I pulled the prepared documents from my bag.

It wasn't a standard property purchase contract. It was a dirty money-laundering agreement containing a clause that read: *“The signee voluntarily assumes all legal liabilities.”*

And most importantly, under the signature line...

I didn’t write my name.

Instead, I pressed my bleeding palm directly onto the paper, leaving a thick, scarlet handprint.

Jax didn’t bother reading the fine print. He signed his name and stamped it with his seal.

"Now get out! Have the paperwork processed by tomorrow!"

Clutching my bleeding hand, I walked out of the lounge.

It was 3:00 PM.

I had exactly twenty-four hours before the transfer.

I didn’t go to the hospital. I just wrapped my hand loosely with some gauze. This wound had to stay fresh.

When I got home, I turned off my phone and unplugged my router. Even though the pain made me break out in a cold sweat, I just curled up on my couch, staring at the ticking wall clock.

These twenty-four hours were pure torture for me.

But for Chloe, they were a victory lap.

The next morning, carrying the blood-stained contract, I walked into the office.

Chloe was standing by the reception desk, showing off a brand-new Hermès bag to a group of kissing-up coworkers.

"Oh, please, Mr. Vance insisted! I told him no, but he wouldn't take no for an answer."

Seeing me enter, she dramatically covered her nose.

"Yikes, Elena. What is that smell? Alcohol and blood? Disgusting." She smirked. "So, how did the deal go? Did you get thrown out on your butt?"

Everyone gathered around, waiting for a show.

Ignoring her, I marched straight into Marcus's office.

"It's signed."

I tossed the sealed envelope onto his desk.

Marcus, who was sipping coffee, spat it out all over his keyboard.

"Signed?! No way!"

He ripped open the envelope. When he saw the official red seal of Jax's front company, his eyes practically popped out of his skull.

"It’s real... and it's a cash buy?! Fifty million in cash?!"

Because the office door was wide open, Marcus's shout echoed through the entire floor.

Chloe’s face went pale. She burst into the room and snatched the contract.

"This is impossible! How could Jax sign this?! Elena, did you forge his signature?!"

Looking at her distorted, ugly expression, my lips curled into a dark smile.

"Why don't you have legal verify it then?" I whispered. "But why are you so worked up, Chloe? Don't tell me... you want this contract too?"