The airbags burst open, and the force of the crash threw Evelyn forward.

Something warm ran from her temple and clouded her sight.

Pain spread through her.

Yet it was nothing compared to the pain in her heart right now.

"My mom is still waiting for me..."

Evelyn sucked in a shaky breath, shoved the warped car door aside, and lurched toward the hospital.

Blood and tears ran together down her face, yet she seemed not to feel them at all.

"Evie!"

The moment Nicola saw Evelyn, covered in blood, she rushed forward and caught her. "You're bleeding!"

"How... how is my mother?" Evelyn asked in a trembling voice.

Nicola bit her lip as tears slid down her face. "The doctors just managed to bring her back from danger, but her condition is still not good. Her vital signs keep dropping. Evie, the Ward family is really killing her."

Evelyn's knees went weak, and she nearly fell to the floor.

She staggered to the bedside and reached out to clasp her mother's cold fingers.

Her hands would not stop shaking.

Once, these hands had brought countless people back from the edge of death.

Now, they struggled with anything slightly complex, let alone hold a scalpel again.

Evelyn's vision blurred with tears.

She had never despised herself more than she did right now.

Her whole body shook with sobs.

"Mom, I'm sorry. This happened because of me. If I had known it would come to this, I never would have hurt the nerves in my hands just to save Carsten. I used to be the miracle doctor who saved so many people. But now, I can't even save you... I gave up the ability to save you because of that jerk. I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..."

Nicola wrapped her arms around Evelyn and said, "Evie, don't say that. There has to be a solution for this..."

A solution?

What could she do?

Carsten had already shut every door.

Evelyn knew he wanted to push her to the edge, to break her spirit and force her to give in.

Just then, she lifted her head, her face covered with blood and tears.

Drops of blood and tears fell onto the floor.

She suddenly raised her hand and slapped herself again and again.

"I was so stupid before. I couldn't see the truth... Because of a man like that, I lost the power to save my own mother..."

Nicola quickly grabbed her wrist to stop her and shouted, "Evie, Stop! This isn't your fault!"

"It is..." Evelyn's eyes were empty. "It's all because of me..."

Nicola held her tightly. "Evie, your mom still needs you. There must be something we can do... Wait, I remember something!"

Her voice suddenly grew louder. "NS1209. The medicine your mom needs wasn't developed by the Ward Group!"

Evelyn's empty eyes shifted slightly. "What are you talking about?"

"The nerve repair drug they used on your mother, NS1209. I thought it came from the Ward Group's research department. But last month, I saw an internal transfer document. It stated that NS1209 was actually developed by DeepBlue Biotech under the Martin Group. If the Ward family won't give it to you, you can go to the Martin Group and find Elias Martin."

Elias Martin.

In the business world of Sreles, that name alone made people uneasy.

He was known as a ruthless man at the top of the corporate world. He was also the founder of DeepBlue Biotech.

"Where can I find him?" A faint light appeared in Evelyn's eyes.

"I don't know. He moves like a ghost. And he's dangerous. He publicly said that NS1209 will only be supplied to the Ward family's hospital and will never be sold anywhere else—"

"Laptop," Evelyn suddenly interjected.

"What?"

"Bring me a laptop."

Understanding her, Nicola quickly brought her one.

Evelyn drew in a slow breath and set her shaking hands over the keyboard.

Her fingers, smeared with blood, began flying over the keys with startling speed.

A black command box opened on the screen. Strings of intricate code soon flooded across the display.

The dim light from the monitor washed over the blood across her face.

Watching this, Nicola held her breath.

She had almost forgotten.

Evelyn was not only brilliant in medicine.

She had another identity.

Seven years ago, she had been the hacker called Eve, the one who made cybersecurity agencies around the world uneasy.

The sound of typing grew faster.

Sweat gathered along Evelyn's brow while the cut on her head kept bleeding.

The map on the monitor changed as she slipped through layer after layer of firewalls.

Then, she struck the last Enter key.

A surveillance video appeared.

A luxurious building stood beneath golden lights. High-end cars were parked outside. Elegant guests walked in and out of the lobby.

Bright neon letters spelled out a name across the front.

Nocturne, the most exclusive private club in the city.

Nicola drew in a sharp breath. "Last month, Elias' bodyguard shot three people there simply because they stood too close to him. That's his domain. Without an invitation, no one is allowed inside. Anyone who ever tried to force their way through the doors never came back out unscathed. And tonight..." Her voice shook. "Tonight is the time no one is allowed to disturb him. Every Wednesday, he shuts down the entire top floor of Nocturne. No outsiders are permitted there. No one knows what he does behind those doors. Anyone who interrupted him vanished."

Evelyn shut the laptop and rose to her feet.

She brushed the blood and tears from her face and looked at her mother, whose monitor showed her life slowly fading.

"Nicola, lend me some clothes." Evelyn spoke with an eerie calm. "I need to wash up first."

"Evie, are you really going there? Elias is—"

"If saving my mom means facing him." Evelyn cut her off, fierce resolve burning in her eyes. "I'll do it, no matter the cost."

The Paradise Suite at Nocturne stood silent under dim gold light.

Henry Wheeler had been reviewing company reports, when the door burst open.

A tall figure staggered inside.

Two bodyguards followed close behind, panicked, wanting to help but not daring to touch him.

The man's steps were unsteady. Heat flushed his face. His shirt collar had been torn open, exposing the sharp line of his collarbone.

Yet the red haze in his narrow eyes could not hide the cold indifference beneath.

This was the infamous tyrant of Sreles's business world.

Elias Martin, the head of the Martin Group.

Henry froze for half a second, then hurried forward and caught his arm. "Elias!"

Elias shoved him away and collapsed onto the couch. His voice sounded rough and strained. "All of you. Out."

Henry turned to the bodyguards. "What happened? He was fine before he left."

One guard answered in a low voice, "Mrs. Martin slipped him a specialized aphrodisiac this time. The doctor said there was no antidote. He either endured it or found a woman."

"Find a woman?" Henry's face darkened.

The guard nodded.

"I will arrange it." Henry turned toward the door.

"Stop."

Elias' voice cut through the room like ice.

He leaned back against the couch. His eyes burned red, yet his expression remained distant and regal, like a king who refused to bow. "It is Wednesday."

"Have you forgotten my rules?"

Henry stiffened.

Every Wednesday, the Paradise Suite remained completely sealed.

No one was ever allowed inside.

"But..."

"No buts." He closed his eyes. His voice stayed low but absolute. "Leave. Lock the door." "Without my order, no one comes in tonight."

Henry hesitated.

No one understood better than they did how ruthless his mother could be.

For years, she had treated tormenting him as entertainment.

If she had administered the drug, it would never be mild.

Even if he endured it, the damage could be severe.

"Sir, perhaps we should still..." Henry said.

His eyes snapped open. Desire burned within them, yet the chill beneath was sharper than steel.

"Henry. Do not make me repeat myself." "Out."

Henry swallowed his words and left with the guards.

"I will stay outside," he said quietly. "Call if you need me."

...

Outside Nocturne.

Evelyn looked up at the neon lights and drew a steady breath.

Her laptop hung from her shoulder. The thin evening dress clung to her in the wind. She slipped to the side of the building, found a blind spot, and opened the computer.

Her fingers moved fast across the keyboard.

"Access granted.

Security bypassed."

She shut the laptop, gathered her long hair into a loose knot, and stepped inside in her heels.

No one stopped her.

Her regal demeanor and striking beauty prevented anyone from approaching or questioning her, instead drawing several admiring glances.

An employee hesitated for a moment, intending to inquire, but Evelyn proceeded directly to the only golden elevator in Nocturne.

She swiped a card, and the elevator doors opened.

Expressionless, Evelyn entered.

Wow! Whispers broke out behind her.

"That's the elevator to Paradise Suite! I've heard only Nocturne's supreme VIPs can go up!"

"Who is this lady? I've never seen her at Nocturne before."

"You definitely haven't! If I'd seen such a beauty before, I wouldn't have forgotten!"

... At this moment, Evelyn reached the door of the suite on the top floor.

Before she could step closer, two guns lifted and aimed at her.

"Stop!"

Evelyn froze in place.

"Who are you?" the left bodyguard asked sternly.

"I urgently need to see Mr. Martin." Evelyn forced herself to remain calm. "Could you please let him know?"

"He does not receive visitors today. Leave immediately." The bodyguard said coldly, stepping forward.

Leaving?

That was impossible.

Her mother was waiting for NS1209 to survive.

She tried to push forward. "It is important. I must see him tonight."

"Important?" The guard sneered and grabbed for her shoulder. "Every woman who wants his bed says the same thing."

His rough hand closed in on her shoulder.

Compared to the bodyguard's tall and muscular build, Evelyn seemed so small and fragile, as if a single slap could end her.

Yet, his hand grasped only air.

She twisted past them like water and rushed to the door.

She pounded against it with all her strength.

"Mr. Martin! I need NS1209. Please! Please see me. If you agree to my request, I will do anything you ask. Elias, come out!"

The door remained shut.

The guards seized her arms and forced her to the floor.

Pain shot through her shoulders.

Her injured hands could not fight back.

Her cheek pressed into the carpet.

Humiliation burned through her, but despair burned hotter.

Mom! This was her mother's only hope for survival.

Was she just going to watch her mother die?

Evelyn's tears flowed freely as she muttered, "Please, let me see Elias, please..."

The bodyguard dragged her like a rag doll toward the exit, pulling out his phone to call for Nocturne's security.

But just then, a deep voice sounded from behind. "Wait!"

Evelyn lifted her head, her eyes suddenly lighting up.

She recognized this man from photos.

He was Elias's personal assistant—Henry.

Henry stepped forward, looking down at Evelyn, who was restrained by the bodyguards.

Evelyn was in a sorry state, her elbow scraped and bleeding slightly.

The wound on her forehead had long since reopened. Blood trickled down, mingling with her tears, making her look especially disheveled.

But those eyes...

Henry's heart skipped a beat.

In the deepest drawer of Elias' study, a photograph had been locked away for years.

It showed a woman in a lab coat and mask, only her eyes visible.

The resemblance struck him.

If it was this woman...

Perhaps she was the only cure.

"My name is Evelyn Curtis," she said hoarsely. "My mother needs NS1209 to live. Please let me see Mr. Martin."

"NS1209?" Henry considered this. "The formula exclusively supplied by DeepBlue Biotech to the Ward family?"

"Yes!"

"No one defies Mr. Martin decisions. If he said it only goes to the Ward family, then it only goes to them." Henry frowned.

The thought of Carsten's cruelty made Evelyn tremble with anger.

"The Ward family cut off my mother's supply. Without it, she will not survive tonight. Please, let me see Mr. Martin! Just give me the NS1209, and I'll be willing to serve him in any way!"

Evelyn bit her lip and said, "Believe me, this deal won't be a loss for the Martin family. I will be very valuable!"

Henry focused only on her eyes. Those eyes that bore such a striking resemblance to the woman in the photo.

"You just said..." he began slowly. "You're willing to do anything?"

Evelyn did not hesitate to answer, "Yes!"

"Even if it means to sell yourself?"

Evelyn was stunned by that.

It took her a long moment before she asked, "What do you mean by that?"

Henry spoke in an even tone. "My boss has been drugged and needs someone to satisfy his desire. I want you to find a way to let him accept you as his cure. If you can do that, I'll have NS1209 sent to your mother's hospital right away. I can authorize a few days' worth of the medication. After that, whether my boss will continue to provide NS1209 depends on you."

He looked down at her trembling body and calmly asked, "Miss Curtis, are you willing to accept this deal?"

Evelyn trembled all over, biting her lip until she tasted blood.

She closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath.

When she opened them again, the fear and shame in them were gone. Only resolve was left.

Then, she heard herself say, "Yes."

The suite lay drowned in darkness, thick with the ominous reek of blood, whiskey, and danger that seemed to hang in the air like something alive.

Evelyn stepped inside, the door whispering shut behind her, sealing away every trace of sound and light from the world outside.

After a few seconds, her eyes began to adjust to the dark.

The living room was a wreck.

Broken crystal glasses lay scattered across the floor. The couch had been flipped over. Deep dents gouged the wall.

Every bit of damage told the story of a brutal struggle that had just taken place here.

The bedroom door stood open, but the room was empty.

Only the steady sound of running water drifted out from the bathroom.

After entering, Evelyn changed into a fresh champagne-colored slip dress.

The sleek silk hugged her narrow waist and skimmed every curve.

Her face, though, had gone even paler. She had bitten down on her lower lip so hard that it bled.

A cold wave of humiliation swept through her.

She had fallen so low that she was offering up her own body as a cure for a stranger.

But if she said no, her mother would die.

Her mother was the only family she had left in the world.

No matter the cost, she had to save her.

Barefoot, Evelyn moved toward the sound of the water.

She nudged open the half-shut bathroom door.

Steam swallowed her whole, along with the sound of restrained, ragged breaths of pain.

She lifted her gaze, her sight blurred by the haze of steam.

Still, she saw a tall man standing with his back to the door.

He stood beneath the icy rush of water. Droplets ran down the hard planes of his shoulders and back, slipping over carved muscle before vanishing at his lean waist.

His shoulder blades were drawn tight with strain.

Even through the fog and glass, his strength was evident.

And beneath the freezing water, his desire burned.

Evelyn's heart slammed wildly against her ribs.

She moved closer barefoot.

Water splashed across her face.

Her dress was drenched within seconds and clung tightly to her skin.

Elias did not turn, yet he knew at once that someone had come in.

His body shuddered beneath the stream.

"Leave!" he rasped, his voice cold enough to chill Evelyn to the bone.

Evelyn clenched her teeth. "Mr. Martin, Henry sent me—"

"Get out!"

Elias' words broke off in a roar that sounded almost inhuman. His voice carried such fury and menace that it made her shake uncontrollably.

She wanted to run.

But Henry's words rang through her head.

If Elias slept with her, her mother would live.

Evelyn shut her eyes, forcing herself to bear the shame.

She lunged forward and wrapped her arms around Elias' soaked waist from behind.

His body went rigid.

The soft heat against his back and the faint fragrance rising from her skin shattered what little control he had left.

The desire he had been forcing down erupted like wildfire.

His eyes went red with it.

Suddenly, he whirled around and hurled her away.

Evelyn slammed hard into the wet tiled wall.

Elias snapped, "Leave, right now! Go tell Henry I'm not doing this. And if he tries to pull another stunt like this again, he'll pay for it!"

In the fog, Evelyn couldn't make out Elias' face, yet she could feel the danger rolling off him.

If she stayed, he could really kill her.

But she couldn't walk away.

Tonight, she had to sleep with him, becoming his cure for the drug.

With bare feet, she moved through the haze until she stopped right in front of him.

She lifted her hand and shut off the water.

Her shaking hand then glided across his torso.

Her fingertips trailed from his neck down over hot, rigid flesh.

They found the front of his shirt. Then, with a slight press of her fingers, the buttons popped open one after another.

She lowered her head, trying hard to make her voice steady and sweet.

"Mr. Martin, do you really think a shower can quell your desires? No, it can't. But I can."

A rough, choked noise tore out of Elias.

Anywhere her touch landed felt like a spark thrown into fuel.

He had reached his limit.

No longer able to hold back, he yanked Evelyn by the hips, his grip so brutal that it almost hurt her.

His other hand clamped her throat and made her tip her head up.

"You're begging for death," he said, his voice flat and icy.

Evelyn winced in pain and looked up at him.

Their gazes clashed.

Their bodies shivered faintly against one another.

Only then did Evelyn notice how handsome Elias was.

His build was perfect, and his face looked striking.

Elias stared at the woman in front of him like someone jolted awake.

Now, he finally saw her face clearly.

He let go of her neck in a sharp motion, his voice raw and unsteady. "It's you..."

She was Evelyn!

How could she be here?

Yet Evelyn didn't catch a word he said.

Breath slammed back into her lungs, and she broke into harsh coughing.

Before she could calm down, the arm around her waist cinched tight again.

Her body was pulled closer against his.

His hardness pressed into her; it felt like a searing iron, with no hint of easing.

Evelyn's thoughts emptied, her body stuck where it was.

Heat climbed up her throat and spread across her face.

At that moment, Elias' deep voice grazed her ear.

"Tell me why you are here..."

Evelyn lifted her gaze to Elias' eyes, and her heart shook all over again.

Oh God!

What were those eyes?

They blazed like a hungry hunter sizing up its target.

They carried an intense desire.

Evelyn wanted to leave.

But she knew she couldn't.

This was the only shot she had to save her mother.

"I..." she muttered in a low voice.

Seeing Elias still not move, she sank her teeth into her lip with hesitation, then rose onto her toes.

Forgetting her embarrassment and fear, she pressed her cold, trembling mouth clumsily against his burning lips.

At the same time, driven by pure instinct, her hand slipped lower.

Her fingers moved through the soaked fabric and wrapped around the hard proof of what he'd been holding back.

"Mr. Martin, let me be your cure..."