Chapter 1

Dark goggles obscured her vision, rough hemp ropes bit into her wrists, and Miles Hamilton's heart felt as if it were being gripped by an invisible hand, each beat filled with the terror of death. She bit down hard on her lower lip, tasting a hint of rust, barely suppressing the trembling all over her body—she couldn't panic, Reed was still waiting for her at the hospital; that million in medical bills was his only hope."What are you hesitating for! Let's go!" a rough voice exploded near her ear, followed by her slender arms being grabbed hard, with such force as if it would break her bones. Miles Hamilton stumbled to keep up with the steps, slipped on the ground, and fell heavily onto the cold, smooth tiles, her elbow burning with pain. She bit her lip and didn't dare to groan, only slowly pushing herself up.The blindfold was ripped off abruptly, the dazzling warm yellow light instantly making her squint. The ropes tied behind her were also undone, and the two red, swollen marks on her wrists stood out starkly against her pale skin. Miles Hamilton composed himself, looked up, and realized he was in a luxurious private room, where a man was lounging on the sofa.The man wore a well-tailored black suit, his two straight legs crossed on the coffee table, his fingers idly swirling a highball glass. The scarlet liquid swirled in the glass, making his eyes seem colder than ever. Those black eyes swept over her, inch by inch, like an eagle's, and a sense of pressure washed over her. Miles Hamilton subconsciously lowered his head, his long hair falling over his shoulders, not daring to breathe even a word.Bryce Kendall Pickman.This name exploded in Miles Hamilton's mind like a thunderclap. The legend of S City, who built his own commercial empire from scratch in just three years. The outside world says he is ruthless, cold-blooded, and a figure that strikes fear into people, and is the forbidden object that all women flock to but dare not approach.Bryce Kendall Pickman lazily leaned back against the sofa, his thin lips slightly parted, his magnetic voice tinged with a playful mockery: "Miss Wang, thirty million, ready?"Miss Wang? Miles Hamilton froze, his shoulders trembling uncontrollably. Forget thirty million, she couldn't even come up with three hundred now. She had only been tricked by Uncle Bai to meet a "benefactor" for that million in medical expenses, so how had it turned into Miss Wang, and she now owed thirty million?Seeing her remain silent and just lower her head, pretending to be pitiful,'s brow frowned instantly, his tone becoming colder: "."Miles Hamilton froze, still keeping her head down. The next second, her hair was grabbed fiercely by the man behind her. Sharp pain shot through her, tears instantly blurring her vision. She was forced to look up, crashing into the bottomless black eyes of Bryce Kendall Pickman.A small face the size of a palm was furrowed in a frown, her makeup-free skin like an eggshell, delicate and translucent, her clear eyes holding tears, pure and free of any impurities. A hint of astonishment flashed in Bryce Kendall Pickman's eyes—according to rumors, the daughter of the Wang family, Wang Xiang, who spent money freely and had a chaotic private life, but the girl before him was as innocent as a blank sheet of paper, completely different from the rumors.He stood up, strode over to her with long strides, grabbed her chin with a large hand, the force so great it almost seemed to crush her bones: "Miss Wang, don't test my patience."Miles Hamilton was forced to tilt his head back, his voice stammering incoherently: "I'm not Miss Wang... I don't know anything about thirty million, you've got the wrong person...""Oh? Is that so?" scoffed, suddenly letting go, and Miles Hamilton fell to the ground again. The scrape on his elbow instantly opened, blood staining the thin white sleeve. The excruciating pain made her see black, but she didn't dare cry, could only grit her teeth and struggle to stand up.“Please……give me three more days, I will definitely figure it out, I will definitely find a way……” She looked up, her eyes full of pleading. She couldn’t be trapped here; Reed was still waiting for her.Bryce Kendall Pickman looked into her stubborn eyes, a playful smile curling his lips. Just three days, he thought, let's see what kind of waves this fake "Miss Wang" can stir up. He reached out and plucked a strand of her hair, the faint scent lingering around his nose, somewhat similar to the person in his memory, but her temperament was entirely different. A warm breath was blown onto her neck, his tone commanding yet tinged with a hint of allure: "Get lost."Miles Hamilton felt as if he were granted amnesty, almost staggering out of the private room, even forgetting about his elbow wound. By the time he left this top-tier club, night had fallen, and the cool evening breeze swept across her thin skirt, making her shiver involuntarily. Suddenly, his phone in his pocket rang—it was Samuel Coleman.“Miles! Did you get the money? I’m at the hospital waiting for you, Reed is still waiting for his surgery!” The voice on the other end was urgent and impatient, hanging up hastily before Miles Hamilton could even open his mouth.Miles Hamilton held his phone, standing on the bustling roadside, tears finally unable to hold back. Uncle Bai had never cared about anything but money, never concerned with how she earned it, never cared about how much she suffered. But she couldn't blame him, because that million was Reed's life.Dim streetlights stretched her figure long, thin and fragile, in the bustling city, like an orphaned fallen leaf.