Chapter 3

I finished his sentence, stepping forward, the urn in my arms swaying gently with each step.

“Mr. Thorne, it’s been a while.”

The guests’ eyes pierced me like needles, their murmurs buzzing.

“Is that the crazy woman whose sister died six months ago?”

“They say her sister was dumped by Marcus Hayes half a year back, then tried to claim rape, lost the case, and killed herself right outside the courthouse. That’s what drove *her* crazy...”

“She’s just as twisted as that hussy sister of hers. After all that, Mr. Thorne saw her true colors and broke off their engagement!”

“How shameless! How dare she show her face to Mr. Thorne?”

But those words only made me arch a brow. They couldn’t hurt me anymore.

“Anya, you... you’ve lost your mind?”

Julian Thorne’s gaze was fixed on the “gift box” on the floor as he fiercely reprimanded me.

“Who let you in here? Get out, now!”

Seraphina peered out from his arms, a flicker of panic in her eyes.

It was quickly replaced by a wounded expression.

“Anya, please don’t be like this... Julian only sent you for treatment for your own good...”

“And honestly, your condition was so bad six months ago that Julian couldn’t take it anymore, that’s why he broke up with you.”

“For my own good?”

I laughed, my voice unnervingly clear in the silent hall.

“Was it really for my good, or was it so you, your rapist brother, and this group of degenerates could celebrate in peace?”

At the mention of “rapist brother.”

Seraphina’s face instantly went white.

Jax, the thug on the floor, had woken up at some point. Seeing me, he suddenly thrashed like a madman:

“It’s you! You crazy bitch! Let me go! Mr. Thorne, help me!”

I knelt down, gently patting his terrified face.

“Turn around and look, Lila has come to get her revenge.”

Jax slowly turned his head, his eyes widening in horror, then he went insane, scrambling backward.

“No, don’t kill me, I didn’t kill you...”

Julian Thorne reacted.

“Stop him!”

But it was too late. Jax charged headfirst into the wall, then slowly slid to the floor.

A bodyguard stepped forward.

“Mr. Thorne, he’s gone...”

“Someone’s dead!”

The scene instantly erupted into chaos. Guests screamed and fled.

Julian Thorne’s face was ashen.

“Anya, what have you done? You killed him!”

I smiled sweetly.

“Julian Thorne, everyone saw it with their own eyes. I didn’t do anything to him. He chose to die.”

“How can you blame me?”

Everyone had witnessed the man’s bizarre death and recoiled, fearing they would be next, avoiding me as if I were a plague.

Julian Thorne suddenly grabbed my arm.

“Anya, what exactly do you want?

“I was the one who broke up with you six months ago. If you have any grievances, come find me...”

I stared into his eyes, thinking, *Of course I came for you.*

Lila’s voice grew clearer in my ear, filled with delight: “Anya, he’s scared...”

I looked up at Julian Thorne, then swept my gaze over the varied expressions of the guests, finally resting on a trembling Seraphina.

“Tonight’s ‘gift’ was just an appetizer.”

I smiled at everyone present.

“Next, it’s your turn.”

Julian Thorne spun around to face me, his eyes wide with shock and disbelief.

This was just the beginning.

What they owed my sister, I would collect, principal and interest, bit by bit.

Lila chuckled in my ear:

“Anya, the show has begun.”

Cradling Lila’s urn, I left them with a chilling smile and turned to leave.

“Stop!”