Chapter 2

Morning sunlight streamed through the gap in the curtains as Emily Smith finished packing her bag, ready to leave.

The moment she stepped out of the apartment building, a familiar black car blocked her path.

David Brown rushed out and grabbed her wrist. "Emily, I was wrong. Give me another chance, please."

She yanked her hand away, her gaze icy. "Don't touch me. Disgusting."

She had blocked him on every platform last night, yet he still managed to track her down.

"Who are you pretending to be?" His expression darkened instantly. "If you hadn’t kept refusing me, I wouldn’t have had to look elsewhere."

Emily scoffed and turned away without another word.

The bus rattled toward the hospital. Her sister lay motionless in bed, fragile as a porcelain doll.

She hadn’t opened her eyes since the accident a year ago. The driver had been penniless, unable to even cover the medical bills.

"I won’t give up on you," Emily whispered, gently wiping her sister’s pale cheek.

The nurse entered. "Miss Smith, the hospital fees are due again."

Emily nodded, pulling out the eight thousand she’d earned the night before. It would last another two weeks.

On her way out, she stopped at a pharmacy for emergency contraception. The bitter pill dissolved on her tongue, making her grimace.

At the bus stop, a black Range Rover pulled up. The girl in the passenger seat leaned over and kissed the driver.

Emily recognized that profile—William Johnson.

She gulped down a mouthful of water, forcing the pill down.

That afternoon, sunlight spilled across her desk as she polished her resume. Her phone buzzed.

"Miss Smith, congratulations on securing an interview with BestTech Group."

BestTech. The name made her fingers tremble.

Seven years ago, her father had been framed there, made the scapegoat in an economic scandal. She would get in and uncover the truth.

After hanging up, she texted her nightclub manager to cancel her shift. She needed to prepare.

At 10 p.m., her phone vibrated. A friend request popped up: William Johnson.

She hesitated, then accepted.

Two words appeared instantly:

[Wanna meet?]

The cold glow of the screen reflected on her pale face.