Chapter 5: Courting Death

Leah let out a sharp cry and slapped Theo's hand away, stepping back to put some distance between them.

Her tone was firm and absolute. "Theo, I will never marry you. I'd rather die than marry you! Give it up already! Look at your face, covered in scars — I'd rather marry a pig!"

Theo froze, caught off guard by her reaction.

He had assumed Leah had already agreed. After all, when he'd asked her before, she hadn't said a word.

Silence meant yes.

But now, her fierce refusal shattered that assumption, and anger began to rise inside him.

And what she said next cut deep.

Theo's face flushed red with rage.

"What the hell did you just say? You'd rather marry a pig?"

"I hate nothing more than people mocking my face!"

"Leah, you little bitch — I'm going to pin you down today and make you beg me for mercy!"

"I'll make you tell me how good I am!"

Leah flinched at Theo's outburst and quickly ducked behind Nathaniel, peeking out from one side.

Cameron stepped forward quickly. "Ms. Adams, have you lost your mind? How could you say something so stupid? Apologize to Mr. Calvino right now!"

Despite her fear, Leah didn't back down.

"Theo, keep dreaming. I am never marrying you. And Cameron — you're a ungrateful bastard. I'm the one who belongs to the Adams family. You work for the Adams family, and yet here you are, siding with an outsider against me. You're worse than Theo!"

Cameron didn't think he'd done anything wrong. "Ms. Adams, I'm only acting on your father's wishes. You can't blame me for that."

"Nonsense! My father may have agreed to this marriage, but he was forced into it. He would never tell you to grovel in front of the Calvinos like some servant!"

"That's simply how it is, Ms. Adams. Please listen to your father and marry Mr. Calvino."

Theo stood with his arms crossed, looking down at everyone with cold arrogance written all over his face.

He was very pleased with how Cameron and the Adams family were handling things.

As far as he was concerned, Leah was already his.

As for Nathaniel — just an actor. Theo had already dismissed him entirely.

Leah shook her head and pressed closer behind Nathaniel, gripping his clothes even tighter.

"No. I won't marry him. If I'm going to marry anyone," she paused, looked up at Nathaniel in front of her, her eyes full of sincerity and resolve, "it's going to be Nathaniel. He's the one I want."

"Come on, Ms. Adams. He's just an actor. You don't have to commit this hard to the act," Cameron sneered. He turned to Nathaniel with open contempt. "Nathaniel, whatever Ms. Adams is paying you, I'll double it. No — ten times. You can leave now. There's nothing here for you."

Leah's heart clenched. She wrapped both arms tightly around Nathaniel's waist.

"No, don't go! Nathaniel, I really want to marry you. Just help me get out of this, and I'm yours — completely."

Things were getting interesting.

What had started as a casual joke now seemed very real to Leah.

Nathaniel's lips curved into a slight smile. He looked down at the beautiful girl clinging to him.

"Really?"

"Really!" Leah's gaze was steady. "I know you can handle this. If you help me, I'll be your wife — for the rest of my life."

Her earnest, unwavering eyes were almost too much for him to take.

He knew this was Leah at her most vulnerable. All she needed right now was a yes and someone solid to lean on.

Nathaniel laughed. "You don't have to go that far. But if you're willing to sleep with me, I might consider it."

Leah tilted her head, eyes flickering. "Just consider?"

Nathaniel nodded, then added, "Maybe more than just consider."

"I knew it!" Leah looked satisfied with his answer. She rested her head against his shoulder, her voice softening. "Then as long as you're willing, I'll give you anything you want."

"Anything?"

"Anything."

This was outrageous.

Absolutely outrageous.

Did these two think this was some hotel room? They were flirting like no one else was even there.

Theo was fuming, his jaw tight with rage.

That softness in Leah's voice — he had never once gotten that from her.

"Are you two seriously acting like I don't exist? Leah, you little bitch — I'm going to make you kneel in front of me with nothing on and beg for forgiveness! You're going to regret this!"

"In your dreams, Theo! Never!"

"Get them! Now!"

Theo roared.

In an instant, more than a dozen thugs appeared from every direction, all of them looking mean and dangerous, armed with weapons, and with noticeable bulges at their waists — they were carrying guns.

The sight of it scared Cameron badly. He quickly pulled the Adams family members back into a corner and studied Theo's expression carefully.

Theo wasn't joking.

"Ms. Adams, you've really pushed Mr. Calvino too far. I'm telling you, apologize now while you still can — before it's too late."

"Shut up!"

Leah snapped at Cameron. "You coward. Fine, don't help me — but siding against me? I won't forget this."

Cameron's expression turned cold. "Ms. Adams, since you insist on this, you can't blame anyone else for what happens. Mr. Calvino, Ms. Adams is yours now. As long as you don't take her life, we won't interfere with anything else."

Theo let out a cold snort. He had never had any respect for Cameron. "You? Do you think you're in any position to interfere?"

Cameron immediately lowered his head, accepting his place. "You're right. I'm not."

Theo ignored him after that. He turned his icy stare to Nathaniel, his eyes filled with murderous intent.

"I don't care if you're an actor or not. You've crossed a line. Flirting with my fiancée — you're going to die for that today."

Leah could see that Theo was dead serious. Her chest tightened with panic. She held onto Nathaniel, her voice urgent.

"Nathaniel, can you run? Get out of here!"

Nathaniel smiled with quiet amusement. "Run? Why would I run? I came here today to help you deal with this, didn't I?"

"But—"

"No buts. I want to see exactly what the Calvino family is made of."

A vicious gleam flashed in Theo's eyes, and a cold smile spread across his face. "You're looking to die. Everyone — take them down!"