Chapter 5

Chloe’s eyes flickered. I had hit the bullseye.

A fifty-million-dollar cash deal meant her commission would double. She stared at the paper, her greed practically oozing out.

But I knew she was just waiting for the 24-hour mark to hit. Once the time was up, the contract and all the credit would automatically transfer to her.

I glanced at the clock on the wall.

【02:58 PM】

Two minutes left.

I was waiting too.

"Marcus," I said suddenly, "this contract is a bit special. It was signed in blood."

I raised my right hand and slowly unraveled the gauze.

The crude, scarred "Dragon" symbol on my palm was scabbed over, but it still looked horrific.

"Jax said it's his rule. Whoever signs the deal must carry his mark."

Marcus gasped. "Jesus... that's barbaric."

But Chloe’s eyes locked onto my palm like she had just found a goldmine.

I knew exactly what she was thinking.

She figured that once the success transferred, the scar would transfer too. To her, that wasn't a mutilation; it was the ultimate proof of her "loyalty" to show off to the higher-ups and Jax.

The second hand ticked.

【02:59:50】

【02:59:55】

I looked at Chloe, silently counting down in my head.

Three.

Two.

One.

【03:00 PM】

Suddenly, a familiar wave of dizziness washed over me.

In the next instant, the throbbing pain in my palm vanished completely. I looked down. My skin was smooth, flawless, and completely unblemished.

But across from me, Chloe suddenly shrieked.

"Ahhh! My hand!"

She grabbed her right palm, blood instantly spurting through her fingers.

Everyone panicked.

"Chloe! What's wrong?!" Marcus rushed over.

With a trembling hand, Chloe let go. Right there in the center of her palm was the crude, freshly bleeding carve of the "Dragon" symbol!

And on the desk, the signature line of the contract—which had been a bloody handprint a second ago—now read *“Chloe”* in shaky, handwritten ink.

The eyes of the surrounding coworkers went vacant for a split second before snapping back into focus.

Their memories had been rewritten.

Marcus froze, then let out a euphoric yell.

"Oh my god, Chloe! You signed this deal?!"

"I knew it! How could a loser like Elena ever handle Jax? You sacrificed your own flesh for this company! You are an absolute hero!"

The coworkers snapped out of their daze and immediately showered her with praise.

"Chloe, you are incredible! That is hardcore!"

"You literally bled for this deal! Elena, look at her! You should be ashamed!"

"Elena was just trying to steal her credit earlier. What a parasite!"

Chloe was sweating from the pain, but the adoration turned her agony into pure ecstasy. She held up her bloody hand, glaring at me triumphantly.

"See this, Elena?" she sneered. "This is the difference between you and me. You could never close a deal like this in a million years."

Looking at her foolish, doomed face, I couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"You're right, Chloe. You've got serious guts."

"I just hope you can keep that same energy when the cops get here."