章)In the opulent bedroom, heavy curtains blocked out all light sources.
A man with handsome features sat at one end of the sofa, exuding a cold aura. He frowned slightly, holding a highball glass in his right hand, his long fingers gently swirling the dark liquid within. He silently observed her.
After a night of fervent entanglement, a slender figure lay sleeping on the snow-white bed, her long hair spread out like a waterfall over the soft bedding, inexpressibly captivating. Jackson South rubbed his tense brow, the heat in his eyes having subsided, replaced by a cold glint.
Lucy stirred, her delicate brows furrowing slightly as she stretched her arms, caught between sleep and wakefulness. Her body felt sore and disjointed. Slowly, she opened her eyes, her eyelashes fluttering, her mind sluggish and disoriented. The figure ahead was blurry, making her feel as if everything was still a dream, yet there was an inexplicable sense of unease.
Seeing her confused state, Jackson South gazed at her inquisitively for a moment before getting up and heading to the bathroom.
Lucy froze, her ears filled with the sound of rushing water, jolting her awake. In an instant, her hands trembled uncontrollably, her eyes brimming with tears as she buried her head in the covers, overwhelmed by pain.
Last night, her colleagues at the TV station had celebrated a success, and she had been persuaded to drink two glasses of wine. After that, her memory was a blank slate. She had never imagined waking up to such a situation.
When Jackson South emerged, he found her sitting there with her back heaving, her bare back exposed.
With a "snap," the room was suddenly bathed in light.
At this moment, Lucy was like a startled bird, trembling at every slight movement. Hearing the faint footsteps, she jerked her hand up, her eyes clouded with gloom. In the dim light, she finally recognized the man in front of her—how could she not know him?
Lucy bit her lip, the taste of iron-like blood filling her mouth, her pale face now devoid of any color. She stared at him, numbly watching the water droplets slide down his temple, tracing the clear line of his jaw.
"Last night..." Jackson Souths gaze darkened, "it was sudden, and I didnt take any precautions."
Lucys mind buzzed, her cheeks burning with a mix of confusion and grievance.
Now, no matter what was said, it was futile; the facts were set in stone and could not be rewritten.
Jackson South casually threw a towel aside and sat down, pausing for a moment before he pursed his lips, his voice cold and detached, "This is for you."
Lucys rigid back suddenly softened, her eyes hollow as if lifeless, as the check fluttered lightly onto the bed in front of her.
Jackson South, observing her lifeless appearance, approached slowly, his voice devoid of any warmth, "Trickery wont work with me, Miss Lu."
Lucy swallowed hard, staring at him in disbelief, struggling to repeat, "You think I did this for...?" She was so angry her whole body trembled, her voice altered, her heart torn and numb, "How could you be so—" She was at a loss for words.
Jackson South glanced at her indifferently, a trace of indescribable emotion flickering in his eyes.
Lucy sniffed, lowering her head for a moment, before lunging at him like an enraged lioness, biting his chest, "You shameless, despicable—"
Jackson Souths eyebrows furrowed slightly, his face stern as he waited for her to release him. A circle of deep tooth marks was left on his chest.
"How could you be such a jerk? Beast, go to hell—" She hit him without any rhythm or strategy.
"Enough!" Jackson South pulled her away, and she tumbled to the ground without warning. Fortunately, the thick carpet prevented any injury, but she was on the brink of collapse.
Jackson South straightened his robe, his voice icy, "Still not satisfied with the price?"
Lucys hand tightened, her head lowered, her gaze dazed. Why was this happening? She was just an intern at the TV station, nothing more. Tears fell uncontrollably, waves of grievance overwhelming her. She thought of the early mornings and late nights at the station, tolerating the commands of others, but never imagining she would end up in someones bed. At this thought, her stomach churned, bitter and astringent, and she curled up by the bed, shivering.
Jackson South glanced at her, his eyes briefly scanning the areas her robe couldnt cover, now mottled with bruises. His gaze darkened.
Finally, the tears stopped, and she decided to treat it as if she had been bitten by a dog. She silently changed her clothes with her back to him, and after a while, she walked unsteadily to his side, picking up her bag.
As she turned to leave, Jackson South spoke in a low voice, "Wait a moment before you go. Someone will come." He stated indifferently.
Lucy took a deep breath and gritted her teeth, still silent as she moved forward.
Seeing her silent and resolute, Jackson South strode forward and grabbed her.
Lucy staggered and suddenly retreated a few steps, falling to the ground, her right hand hitting the floor with a muffled thud, sending a sharp pain through her.
At that moment, the doorbell rang.
Jackson South looked at her, his lips curling slightly, and then turned to open the door.
When he returned, he carried a bag and walked over to Lucy, who sat pale and sweating.
"You can leave like this, I dont mind. But..." he paused coldly, "take the medicine."
After the pain, she had become indifferent.
Jackson South threw a strip of pills at her feet.
Lucy stared blankly for a while, feeling as if she had been doused with a bucket of ice water, cooling her from head to toe.
"Mr. Jackson, youre really thorough," Lucys voice was now eerily calm, without a hint of inflection. She picked up the pills, stood up, and swallowed them dry, staring at him the whole time.
"Can I go now?"
Jackson South took the check and walked over, stuffing it into her hand.
Lucy squinted, looking closely at it, and let out a soft laugh. She looked up at him, her eyes devoid of warmth, her dark pupils deep as the ocean, and with a slight smile, she pronounced each word, "You can keep this money for your funeral."
Jackson Souths eyes instantly filled with rage.
She stared at him fiercely, her hatred palpable, but her mind was clear.
Lucy had been six years old when she and her mother moved to this city. A woman raising a child alone could only imagine the hardships. Lucys mother was a university professor. Last year, D University and N University in the state had an academic exchange, and Lucys mother was hired by N University for a year. Half a year ago, the government allocated funds to conduct a physics experiment at N University, and originally, Lucys mother was supposed to return, but due to the experiment, the two prestigious schools decided to keep her.
Lucy had few opportunities to see her mother these past one or two years, but she was proud of her in her heart.
When Lucy left the hotel, she wore a backpack on her front and a duckbill cap on her head, rushing out the door.
The Hua Ao Hotel was a famous hotel in City C, where celebrities and tycoons usually stayed, naturally attracting many paparazzi. Lucy was disoriented, having just turned 20 and not wanting to encounter such a situation. Her heart was blocked with discomfort, and her hatred for Jackson South was profound.
Jackson South changed his clothes, glanced at the messy bed, and was slightly stunned. The pure white was stained with a red mark, like a bright and eye-catching red plum. His gaze shifted, and a transparent jade pendant fell into his eyes. He picked it up and examined it closely, realizing that the jade was valuable.
A slight cold smile then played on his lips.
When Lucy got home, the room was cold and empty. She returned to her room, feeling as if all her strength had been drained. She curled up on the bed like a baby, and the tears finally rolled down her cheeks. After crying until she had no strength left, she gradually fell asleep.
In her sleep, her body still trembled helplessly, her mind constantly filled with his face. She kept swinging, but he was like a specter, always following. Finally, when it made her head ache and swell, the phone by the bedside woke her up.
Lucy sat up in shock, her clothes already wet and clinging to her skin. She gasped for air, dazed for a moment, then reached for the phone. Looking at the familiar words, her heart felt as if it were blocked by something.
Clenching her teeth, she answered the call.
"Yiyi, why was your phone off last night when mom