Chapter 4

I wiped away my tears and followed the bodyguard out of the office.

“Julian, you’re not having second thoughts, are you?” Sophia watched him.

Julian stared out at the boundless night beyond the window, his fingers clenched tightly. “How could I?”

A small figure walked into the office. Leo ran up to Julian. “Uncle, where’s my mommy?”

“Your mommy is working. She’ll come to pick you up soon.”

“This child is…” Sophia stared at Leo’s small face, her eyes wide with shock.

“Chloe’s son,” Julian said, grabbing his jacket. “Keep an eye on him.”

Sophia scrutinized the child again. His eyes and brows were strikingly similar to Julian’s, five or six parts. Her hands clenched fiercely—Chloe actually hadn't aborted that child, she’d given birth to him!

In the changing room, I put on a sexy bunny costume. When I turned around, I saw Julian standing behind me.

I instinctively recoiled, but then he pulled out his phone and snapped a picture of me.

I rushed forward to snatch it, but he deliberately held it higher, sneering, “What do you think Adrian Blackwood’s reaction will be when he sees this picture?”

I struggled to reach it, but unused to the high heels, I lost my balance and stumbled into his arms. He instinctively wrapped his arm around my waist.

His familiar scent, that intoxicating softness, made him momentarily lose himself.

But then he saw the kiss mark on my collarbone. The desire in his dark eyes instantly drained away, replaced by an icy chill that cut to the bone.

“Mrs. Blackwood, I’m truly flattered by your little embrace.”

I yanked myself free from his grasp. “Julian, I’m the one who wronged you. Please, don’t hurt anyone else.”

He stared at the mark on my collarbone, grinding out, “How else will you feel pain, if I don’t hurt the people you care about?”

I followed a group of women into a private room. Already beautiful, with the exquisite makeup and outfit, I looked like a packaged commodity.

The men, one by one, tried to get touchy.

I sat next to a fat man, pulling at my short skirt, which barely reached my knees. He reached out to touch my thigh, and I instinctively flinched away.

His face darkened. He slapped a stack of cash onto the table. “One touch, one stack.”

That stack was ten thousand dollars.

I thought of Leo’s innocent smile, clenching my fists. *I have to survive.*

He placed his hand on my leg, and I no longer flinched.

He pulled out the money, patted my face. “That’s more like it.”

Then, he stuffed the cash into my cleavage.

I suppressed my revulsion, not resisting—if this was what he wanted to see, then I would give it to him.

His hands became even more indecent.

With a **CRASH!** the private room door was kicked open. The room instantly fell silent.

Julian strode over in a few steps, pulling me away from the man.

I forcefully shook off his hand, shouting angrily, “Mr. Thompson, what are you doing? Weren’t you the one who wanted me to entertain and pay off my debt? Now I’m earning money, and you’re dragging me out? How am I supposed to pay you back?”

As I spoke, I pulled the stack of money from my chest.

The next second, he snatched the money away.

Then, he began pelting my face with the banknotes, one by one, each one stinging, scattering them all over the floor.

Ignoring the pain, I bent down to pick them up.

His leather shoe came down heavily on my hand, and I gasped in pain.

He leaned down, lifting my chin, his dark eyes filled with the hatred of a venomous snake. “Where’s your pride? Your high-mindedness? Are you really so cheap that you’ll do anything for money?”

I met his gaze. “Isn’t this exactly what you wanted?”

“I should have realized long ago that you’re nothing but a gold-digging slut,” he spat, pushing my face away. “Every single penny you earn at the Nightshade Club, you can forget about keeping.”

He finished speaking, then stood up and left.

Someone came in and collected the money from the floor.

I laughed ironically, changed back into my own clothes, and left the Nightshade Club with Leo.