My hand loosened. I collapsed onto the floor, blood streaming down my forehead.

"Valerie, are you okay?

"I'm sorry I came late."

Jordan reached out, checking the bruises around Valerie's neck, his voice trembling.

"Jordan… I almost didn't get to see you again."

Tears streamed down her face.

"Naomi… Naomi told me to persuade you to donate bone marrow to her brother. I was worried it would affect your health, so I refused… and she tried to kill me!

"I was so scared…"

She clung tightly to his waist, trembling like a frightened animal.

"Naomi! Have you lost your mind?!"

His eyes locked onto me.

"Whether I donate or not is my decision. What right did you have to hurt Valerie?"

His voice was full of anger. The disgust in his eyes was unmistakable.

I looked up at him. A faint, mocking smile tugged at my lips.

"You're pitiful."

He froze.

"What… did you say?"

I slowed my voice deliberately, enunciating every word.

"I said–you're pitiful. To be played so easily by a vicious woman like her… like a dog on a leash."

His expression darkened instantly.

"Jordan, look at her," Valerie said, her eyes reddening. "She insults me like this–are you just going to let it go?"

He pressed his lips together.

After a few seconds of silence, he picked up the baseball bat nearby and looked at me. His gaze was complicated.

"Naomi… you brought this on yourself."

The bat came down hard against my leg.

"Ah–!"

The scream that tore out of me was sharp and raw. Pain shot through my shin.

My face went deathly pale. Cold sweat broke out across my forehead.

For a moment, he hesitated, as if he wanted to help me up–but when he met Valerie's eyes, he stopped.

"I'll have the butler take you to the hospital.

"Remember this lesson."

His voice turned cold as he wrapped an arm around her and walked out.

I could no longer hold myself up. I collapsed onto the floor.

My breaths came in ragged gasps.

However, at the corner of my lips… there was a faint smile.

…

Today was the day I was leaving with the project team. It was also the day of Mr. Sutton's birthday banquet.

[Naomi. Don't be late. Cover for me and Valerie in front of my father.]

I looked at the message Jordan sent.

A cold laugh escaped me.

I pulled the SIM card out of my phone and tossed it into the trash.

Then, without a second thought, I boarded the plane.

…

At the same time, the banquet was in full swing.

Everything had reached its peak–but I still hadn't appeared.

Jordan kept glancing toward the entrance, growing more and more restless.

Then suddenly–the large screen in the hall lit up.

A video began to play.

On it, Jordan and Valerie were tangled together in his bedroom, completely absorbed in each other.

The entire room fell silent–and then erupted into chaos.