Chapter 2

My wrist ached so badly it went numb.

My tears splashed onto the paper, smudging the ink.

Chloe casually sipped her expensive bird's nest soup, scrolling through her phone and laughing.

Passing employees whispered outside the glass door.

"Why is Mrs. Vance kneeling on the floor writing something?"

"I heard she's begging for money for that adopted kid. Director Chloe is just following company policy."

"Eight million for some sick kid with no blood relation? She must be out of her mind."

Every single whisper pierced my ears.

I bit my lip so hard it bled, forcing myself to write faster.

For thirty grueling minutes, I wrote until I had a thick stack of pages.

I held the papers up to Chloe.

"I'm done... the word count is more than enough."

"Please, transfer the money now!"

Chloe set down her soup, using her long, red-manicured fingers to pinch the stack of papers with sheer disgust.

She glanced at the messy handwriting.

"This is so sloppy. Do you think I'm running a garbage recycling center?"

With a rip, she tore the papers to shreds and threw them in my face.

I froze, my heart stopping.

"What are you doing?!"

"Your attitude is unacceptable. Rejected. Rewrite it."

Chloe laughed mockingly.

"If you're begging for a favor, act like it. This application of yours isn't even as good as my baby's."

She patted her poodle's head.

The dog immediately barked at me, ran over to the torn paper on the floor, and peed all over it.

"Chloe! Are you giving me the money or not!"

My eyes turned bloodshot. I lost all control and lunged at her, trying to claw the security token from her hand.

Right then, the office door was kicked open.

"Evelyn, what the hell is wrong with you!"

Marcus walked in, his brow furrowed in deep annoyance.

The moment I saw him, it was like finding a lifeline in a storm.

I scrambled up, rushing over to grab his expensive suit sleeve.

"Marcus, tell Chloe to transfer the money! Leo was kidnapped! They want eight million! There are only twenty minutes left before they kill him!"

"He's a child! Save him, please!"

Marcus shoved my hand off with absolute disgust.

"Save him? For what?"

"You made such a scene in my company just to get money for that stray kid?"

Chloe immediately clung to his arm, looking hurt and fragile.

"Marcus, thank god you're finally here."

"Evelyn came in demanding company funds, completely ignoring the rules. I asked her to fill out a standard form, but she screamed at me and tried to attack me."

She lifted her wrist.

"Look, she scratched me."

When Marcus looked back at me, his eyes held nothing but raw hatred.

"Evelyn, who gave you the right to throw a tantrum in my company and lay a hand on Chloe?"

I stared at him, my heart breaking.

"Marcus, do you even have a heart?"

"Is this really the time to fight about this? The kidnapper's knife is at Leo's throat!"