When I came to, the blinding light seared through my vision, forcing me to shut my eyes again.


    My head throbbed, and the overpowering scent of antiseptic clung to the air, nauseating me.


    Slowly, I opened my eyes again, blinking away the haze until Sullivan''s face came into focus. He was seated beside me, his expression stern, with Sophia next to him, her cold gaze fixed on me. And there, just behind them, was Sophie—the smirk on her lips unmistakable, like she was savoring my downfall.


    "W-what happened?" I croaked, my voice barely audible, but my words caught in my dry throat.


    "You passed out," Sophia said, her tone chillingly devoid of concern. She didn''t even pretend to care. Her eyes flicked to Sullivan before she spoke again, her voice cutting through the sterile silence like a knife. "Eve, what''s going on? Why were you with Father? What are you doing with him?"


    Father? Old Man Sinir?


    "That''s not important right now," Sullivan interjected, his voice hard as stone, his cold eyes boring into mine. "How did you get a billion dors, Eve? Where did you get that kind of money?"


    The words echoed in my head as if I hadn''t fully processed them. My heart pounded against my ribs as it all clicked into ce—the zero bnce in my ount, the usations of theft.


    A billion dors?


    My breath caught in my throat, and my eyes narrowed,nding on Sophie like a predator catching sight of its prey.


    "You . . ." I could barely speak through the rising fury. "How dare you steal my money!" I hissed, the realization hitting me like a truck. I had been so stupid, so careless.


    In my frantic rush to save Sebastian, I''d left myptop open. Sophie must''ve seen my ount—essed it somehow. Though it was password protected, that didn''t matter. Not when Sullivan was involved. They had the resources to hire the best hackers in the world. It had been child''s y for them to wipe me clean.


    "Be careful with your usations, youngdy," Sophia reprimanded sharply, her eyes narrowing at me. "Sophie only reported what she saw. A huge sum in your ount that you conveniently forgot to mention. Where did you get that kind of money? Did Father give it to you?"


    My vision blurred with anger, my head swimming with pain, but beneath it all was the slow, terrifying realization—I was losing control. I could feel the emotions I''d buried deep inside wing their way to the surface, threatening to break free.


    "That money is


    mine


    !" I shouted, my voice raw with desperation. "I earned it! Give it back!"


    Sullivan scoffed, his face twisting with disdain as he stood, towering over me. "Your money?" he sneered. "You own nothing. Not the clothes on your back, not the food you eat, not even your life. Everything belongs to me."


    His words cut deeper than I expected, but I red up at him, my eyes burning with hatred. I bit my lip until I tasted blood, the metallic sting grounding me in my rage.


    Sullivan remained unfazed. He straightened his jacket, his eyes cold and dismissive as he delivered his final blow. "It doesn''t matter anymore. I have a meeting to attend, and frankly, I have no time to waste on this nonsense." He turned on his heel and left, not sparing me a second nce.


    I wanted to scream after him, to tear him apart and demand my money back.


    It was mine. I spent months umting that fortune, nning my escape, my freedom.


    But no words left my lips. My hatred boiled over, but beneath it was something worse—helplessness. Without that money, how could I pay Sinir? How could I fulfill my end of the deal?


    Was this truly my fate? To be abandoned, left to rot on some godforsaken ind while the rest of them carried on like I never existed?


    My hands trembled with fury, but I refused to let the tears fall. No. I wouldn''t give them the satisfaction. They could steal my future, but they couldn''t see me beg. My pride was the only thing left intact.


    Sophia let out an exasperated sigh, her cold gaze flicking toward me with disdain. "Remember this, Eve," she warned icily. "Stay away from Father if you know what''s good for you."


    She rose from her chair, smoothing her hair over her shoulder with practiced grace. "Sophie, stay here. Watch her."


    With that, she left, her heels clicking sharply against the floor as she disappeared out the door. Now, it was just Sophie and me, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction.


    I knew what she was here for—to pry into why I was with Sinir and how I got that huge amount of money. She was here to monitor my every move.The family was all circling Sinir like vultures, vying for his favor and his 50% share. Whoever held thergest share would rule the Rosette family empire.


    But none of that mattered to me now. All I cared about was my money—the key to my freedom—and it was gone.


    My mind raced, searching for a way to get it back. Maybe I could go to Sinir, tell him the truth, that his son already had the money. Maybe he would believe me?


    Who was I kidding?


    That old man didn''t care about excuses. If I didn''t have his money by the deadline, the deal was off. I was as good as dead.


    I cursed myself for being so reckless, for letting it all slip through my fingers at thest moment.


    "Youngdy, you should rest," Sophie said, her fake concern grating on my nerves.


    I red at her. "You''re the reason I''m here in the first ce," I spat. "Get out before I do something you''ll regret."


    Her eyes widened, crocodile tears already forming. "What are you saying, youngdy? I only reported what I saw because I was worried about you."


    "Worried about a billion dors I own," I huffed with a bitterugh. "You''ve been waiting for any chance to ruin me."


    Sophie''s eyes widened in feigned innocence. "Mydy, I would never—"


    "Shut up and get out!"


    Sophie hesitated, her lips twitching. "Lady Sophia said I should stay here."


    "I don''t need you," I growled, though my voice came out weaker than I intended. It was barely more than a rasp, trembling with anger and exhaustion.


    My body felt weightless, as if I were floating on the edge of consciousness—lightheaded, unsteady. My vision swam, and the room tilted in and out of focus. If not for the weakness consuming me, I would''ve lunged at her, ripped her hair out strand by strand.


    The rage burning inside me was fierce, but my limbs betrayed me. My fingers twitched with frustration, aching to act, yet I remained paralyzed by the suffocating weight of my own helplessness.


    I red at her through blurry eyes, hating how frail I sounded, how vulnerable I was in this moment. She stood there, smug, untouchable, and I could do nothing but wish for the strength to tear her apart.


    Just then, a knock sounded at the door.


    Sophie frowned, walking over to answer it. "Who could that be?" she muttered before pulling the door open.


    Her gasp filled the room, and I turned, my pulse spiking as a fresh wave of dizziness hit me.


    Standing at the doorway, to my utter disbelief, was none other than Cole Fay.


    Why now . . . ?