Chapter 3

Holden wasn't wrong.

Between us, I really did deliver myself to his door.

During my sophomore year, the entire Arts Academy was buzzing that New York's Mr. Lancaster was pursuing Charlotte.

Tens of thousands of fireworks, declarations of love at lavish parties, luxury handbags arriving until her hands went soft.

His methods of courtship were always spectacular.

No woman could refuse.

Except for Charlotte, the proud poor student.

She threw the card on the ground and stomped on it hard, her face full of shame and anger.

"I may be poor, but I have my pride."

"I'd rather you kill me than accept your dirty money!"

After she left, Holden wasn't annoyed. He just raised an eyebrow slightly, the expression on his face obvious.

Woman, you've successfully caught my attention.

That day, I received news of my parents' death in a car accident.

After returning to my hometown for the funeral, working three part-time jobs in rotation, starving and famished—

I picked up that card that had been crushed under dance shoes.

"Mr. Lancaster, isn't sponsoring anyone the same?"

"Why don't you sponsor me instead?"

Holden's eyes swept over my face, my chest, my slender waist.

He quickly had someone draft a sponsorship agreement.

He would support my continued education, and I needed to obey all his commands.

From that day on, Charlotte always looked at me with subtle contempt.

She coldly watched me get into Holden's luxury car, watched as Holden transferred to me all the treatment he'd given her.

The next day, rumors that I was being kept spread throughout the school.

She made a big show of telling the entire Arts Academy that I was a shameless slut with no parents to teach me manners.

I kept my head down and said nothing.

Counting down the days until I could leave.

Even Holden had probably forgotten.

The seven-year agreement—today was only seven days from the deadline.

When the party broke up, it had just passed 2 AM.

Holden opened the private room door, saw me, and a smile spread across his lips.

His tall body drunkenly lunged at me, pulling me into his embrace.

"So obedient today? You knew to come pick me up."

Those lips that had kissed Charlotte moved close to my ear, about to kiss me.

I subtly dodged.

"The rain was too heavy. I was afraid you couldn't find your way home."

In the car, he watched Charlotte's retreating figure and said casually.

"Charlotte's back in the country. She doesn't want to see anyone else around me."

"Eve, you should find yourself a boyfriend when you have time."

I nodded.

"Okay."

His smile froze slightly. He turned sharply to look at me.

"With me as your standard, don't find some worthless man and embarrass me."

"How about I introduce you to someone?"

Holden's face showed several shades of anger.

"My buddy, the second young master of the Brown family—a ladies' man who loves women with flexible waists in bed."

"Or the third young master Smith—a bit mediocre, and he has a fiancée in name only, but for a man, that's normal."

"If you're with them, at least I can rest easy..."

I calmly interrupted him.

"Holden, my parents named me Eve."

"They hoped I would always be happy and joyful, not that I should use my body to please men."

I looked out the window, my voice not loud but very clear.

"So—"

"From now on, I only want to please myself."