2025-08-26 12:58:50Two days later. Late afternoon.
“Eat this. After that, you need to take your medicine,” Zeeva said as she placed a tray of fish soup and vegetables on Zane’s lap.
“Thanks.” Zane began eating. For the past two days, he’d done nothing but lie in bed or sit up, struggling to walk. The boredom was suffocating.
But the moment he looked at Zeeva, all of that boredom vanished.
His eyes wandered to the pink-haired woman, who was focused on reading a stack of papers.
“Why didn’t you just ask your assistant to bring me food? That way you wouldn’t have to leave your work behind.”
“I don’t want anyone finding out that I’m hiding a man.”
“Why not?”
“I’m a model. I can’t afford any rumors about us spreading around.”
Zane’s eyes widened. A model? What a strange coincidence.
“Why do you look so shocked?”
“I-I just didn’t expect to meet a celebrity in person,” Zane stammered.
“You don’t even recognize me?” Zeeva sounded slightly offended.
“O-of course I do!” Zane lied through his teeth.
Zeeva shot him a sharp glare. “You’re lying.”
“I’m not!”
“Then name the title of the event I’m starring in right now.”
Zane racked his brain for an answer.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Both of them jumped as someone banged on the door, hard.
“Damn it! Why is that bastard here?” Zeeva muttered as she opened the door.
“Where is he?!” A man in his fifties barged in, shouting with rage.
“What do you mean, Dad?”
“Don’t play dumb! I know you’re hiding your lover in here!”
“I’m not having an affair! How many times do I have to tell you?!” Zeeva snapped.
“Move! I’ll check for myself!”
“You can’t just barge into my—Argh!” Her head hit the wall as Alfredo shoved past her, storming into the room.
“Zeeva!” Zane instinctively tried to get out of bed to help her, but his legs gave out and he collapsed to the floor.
Alfredo froze when he saw Zane writhing in pain on the floor. “I knew it! You’re the bastard!” He lunged forward, grabbing Zane by the collar.
“Wait, Dad! He—”
“How dare you defile my daughter!” Alfredo roared and punched Zane mercilessly, over and over, until his face was bruised and bloody.
Zane didn’t fight back. He just lay there, taking every blow.
“Calm down, Dad! He’s just a victim of my recklessness yesterday! I accidentally hit him with my car!” Zeeva screamed frantically, trying to pull her father away.
Alfredo slapped her so hard she staggered. “Liar! You’re dating some random guy behind my back, aren’t you?! Have you forgotten you’re already engaged, damn it?! What if your fiancé finds out you’re cheating?! If he leaves you, I’ll lose my money! I won’t let your stupidity ruin me!”
“That’s not true! Please believe me, Dad!” Zeeva pleaded, holding her burning cheek.
“I don’t trust a disobedient brat like you! If your fame is ruined and your fiancé dumps you, leaving you penniless, I swear I’ll throw you and your mother out on the streets! Now give me money! I need to gamble!”
“I-I don’t have any left. My savings are barely enough for Mom’s hospital bills.”
“I don’t care! Hand over your money!” Alfredo grabbed Zeeva’s purse from the nightstand and dumped everything onto the floor.
“No, Dad!” Zeeva cried hysterically, scrambling to stop him. But he shoved her so hard she hit the wall again.
He snatched her debit card and wallet before storming out and slamming the door behind him.
BANG!
“Son of a bitch!” Zeeva cursed, clawing at her hair in frustration. Then, her body gave out. She slid down the wall and broke into sobs, her cries echoing through the silent room, sharp enough to pierce Zane’s heart.
The pale young man had watched the entire argument, powerless to do anything. Explaining the truth would have been useless—her father wouldn’t have listened.
Meanwhile, Zane cursed himself for being too weak to help her keep what was rightfully hers.
“I-I’m sorry,” Zane said softly, his voice trembling with guilt.
Zeeva glared at him through her tears, her face twisted with rage. “This is all your fault! If you’d never come into my life, everything wouldn’t have fallen apart!” she screamed, her voice breaking. Her eyes were full of despair.
Zane didn’t get angry. He accepted her words because they were true.
“Once again, I’m sorry. I really am nothing but bad luck.” His voice shook as he fought back his own tears. “You should’ve let me die that night. Then you wouldn’t have to suffer. Honestly, I would’ve thanked you for it.”
Zeeva stopped crying and looked at him in disbelief.
“If you’d died, you’d have been even more trouble, idiot,” she muttered.
She walked into the kitchen, grabbed a small towel and a bowl of cold water, and returned to clean the blood at the corner of Zane’s lips.
Zane broke into a cold sweat as she leaned close to him, her face just inches away. His heart pounded wildly. She was so beautiful up close that he couldn’t look away.
His eyes—traitorous eyes—fell on her soft, pink lips. He swallowed hard, his mind spinning with one reckless thought.
This is the perfect chance to kiss her.
“What are you staring at?” Zeeva snapped.
His fantasy shattered like glass. Zane quickly looked down, flustered. “S-sorry. I was just…”
“You pervert! You were thinking something dirty, weren’t you?!”
“N-no! I just… think you’re really beautiful!” Zane blurted out.
Smack!
“Ouch!”
“You’re disgusting!” Zeeva hurled the wet towel at his face and stormed out of the room.
“Damn it, Zane! You’ve made things even worse!” he cursed himself.
His mind raced. How can I kiss her without making her hate me even more?
Once he recovered, he vowed to disappear from her life so he wouldn’t ruin it any further.
He glanced at the translucent screen hovering in front of him. It still hadn’t gone away.
[Warning! You only have 12 hours left. If you fail, this system will disappear forever.]
“Shit! Why didn’t you tell me there was a time limit?!” Zane shouted at the system.
He chewed his nails, his head pounding from the stress.
He planned to kiss Zeeva, even if it was just to fulfill the mission and undo his crippled state. But what if it didn’t work? What if he stayed broken? Without Zeeva, he’d be homeless—useless—because he couldn’t work or live on his own.
He hated to admit it, but right now, his entire life depended on her.
“I don’t have a choice. I have to do this.”
Previous Chapter
Latest Chapter
Chapter 224
Zane drove his taxi across the long suspension bridge leading toward the glittering financial district, the steel cables humming faintly in the afternoon wind. Below, the river reflected the city lights like shards of broken glass.His final target was no ordinary businessman, but Silas Vane, CEO of Global Trust Bank. Silas was the “treasurer” behind the scenes who managed The Hell Corp’s massive cash flow, ensuring their funds flowed smoothly across borders without raising suspicion.If Silas switched sides, The Hell Corp would be paralyzed overnight, as all their assets would be frozen and their expansion plans would crumble instantly.However, Silas was a very cunning man. He worshipped only one thing: the numbers on his account balance. Loyalty meant nothing to him if it didn’t multiply his wealth. He was known in elite circles as a man who could sell his own shadow if the price was right.Zane arrived at Silas’s private penthouse at the top of a towering skyscraper. The building’
Chapter 223
Zane stared at his phone screen with a sharp gaze. It was a message from his employee.“Sir, Dixon has just signed a partnership with The Hell Corp. He has invited the entire media to celebrate the ‘collapse’ of Chrizen Corp’s dominance this afternoon.”Zane let out an irritated snort. Dixon. The very mention of his name infuriated him. He was Louis’ friend. When Dixon had gone bankrupt in the past, it was Louis—through Chrizen Corp’s support—who had helped him recover.And now, he was celebrating Chrizen Corp’s downfall.He would have to pay the price.“You insolent bastard.” Zane tightened his grip on his phone.“You want to celebrate my downfall, traitor?” Zane muttered as he turned the ignition key of his taxi. “Then let’s give you an unforgettable show.”---The Grand Ballroom was filled with flashing cameras and buzzing reporters.Dixon stood proudly on stage, dressed in a suit worth thousands of dollars, a triumphant smile plastered across his face. Beside him stood Hansel from
Chapter 222
Zane drove his taxi to the upscale northern district, where Vancamp Corp.’s skyscraper stood proudly with its sharp, futuristic architecture—much like the personality of its owner, Elena Vancamp.Elena was known as the “Ice Queen” of the business world. She cared nothing for drama, had no regard for old connections, and most terrifyingly, she harbored a fierce hatred for men she perceived as weak.In the main lobby, Zane was confronted by four burly security guards.“Taxi drivers are not allowed in the executive elevator area,” one of them said condescendingly.Zane did not respond angrily. He simply held up his phone, displaying a gold-colored digital code—private access granted only to the highest-ranking partners of Chrizen Corp.“Tell Elena that Christopher’s envoy is here to see her,” Zane said coldly.“Understood,” the guard replied.Moments later, the office door opened, revealing a spacious room with a breathtaking view of the city skyline. Elena sat behind a large glass desk,
Chapter 221
Zane exited the elevator with a relaxed expression. He felt calm after acquiring the Sales Professional attribute. It made completing missions significantly easier.However, as soon as he stepped into the lobby, he was met with a crowd of reporters and men in black uniforms filling the entire space. At the center stood Hansel, the vice-CEO of The Hell Corp, arrogantly answering questions from the press.Hansel’s attention quickly shifted to Zane. He looked him up and down before grinning sarcastically.“Are you here to betray Christopher now, or did he send you to beg Jaden?” Hansel sneered.All the cameras immediately turned toward Zane, but he remained completely unfazed.“Poor Christopher. His office exploded. Is he now sending his assistant to beg Jaden Wyatt?” Hansel added mockingly.The reporters laughed along with him. Camera flashes burst directly in Zane’s face.“Listen, Zane,” Hansel said as he stepped forward. He deliberately pulled out a $100 bill and dropped it on the flo
Chapter 220
Zane had just stepped into his taxi when the phone in his jacket pocket vibrated briefly. A message had come in.[You can’t beat me, Mr. Christopher. So just give up.]Zane tightened his grip on his phone. His teeth clenched. It seemed that the owner of The Hell was watching his every move.“Bastard,” Zane muttered under his breath. He was extremely curious about the arrogant owner of The Hell, but he didn’t have time to investigate.He had to secure all his partners.The name Jaden Wyatt crossed his mind.Thirty minutes later, Zane arrived at Wyatt Corp’s headquarters. Without an appointment, he stormed inside, ignoring the secretary who was calling after him hysterically, and kicked open the door to Jaden’s office.Jaden Wyatt stood by the large window with his back to the door. He didn’t seem surprised.“You’re ten minutes later than I expected, Mr. Christopher,” Jaden said without turning around. His voice was deep and laced with contempt.“I’m not here for small talk, Jaden. You
Chapter 219
Zane jogged after Avery, who was just about to enter her luxury sedan in the grand marble lobby. The polished floor reflected the glittering chandelier above, and the faint scent of expensive perfume lingered in the air.is steps felt lighter than before, almost effortless, and a strange aura seemed to emanate from his every movement—the subtle yet undeniable effect of the Sales Professional skill he had just acquired.“Avery, wait!” Zane called out, his voice firm but controlled.Avery stopped mid-step, one hand already resting on the car door handle. She inhaled sharply, her shoulders rising and falling as she fought her irritation. When she turned around, her face was visibly annoyed, her red satin dress shimmering under the lobby lights. “Zane, I told you, my decision is final. Don’t make yourself look even more pathetic.”Zane didn’t get angry. The old him might have snapped back defensively, but now he simply smiled faintly—a calm, confident smile that somehow sent a faint shive
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