ThrobbingHeat-sz-Fic34

Chapter 1 A Second Chance at Life "Why don't you just drop dead already, Caroline." "You ugly freak. No one would care if you were dead anyway." "You're nothing but a lapdog for the Shaws." The vicious insults rang in her head like a curse. Caroline Shaw, a girl who once looked so gentle, lay on the massive hotel bed and endured the agony in her body before she finally slit her wrist. The world was far too cruel for her to bear. 'Mom, I can't hold on any longer,' she thought. ***** At eight o'clock that evening at the Grand Dominion Hotel, Carolyn Quinn opened her eyes. She stared at the unfamiliar room and cursed under her breath. "What the hell? Where am I?" Carolyn had been the top assassin of a world-renowned organization in Kingston, but she had failed an S-rank mission and leaked classified data. She expected a heavy sentence, but her heart had suddenly seized and she woke up in this strange bed. Carolyn forced herself to sit up despite the piercing pain in her wrist. She tore the bedsheets and wrapped them tightly around the wound. She realized she had slit her wrists, lost a significant amount of blood, and was now locked in a room without any weapons. Her limbs felt weak and the room was suffocatingly hot, and she suddenly realized she had been drugged. A sleazy chuckle drifted in from outside the door. Carolyn's gaze darkened because she needed to leave this dangerous place immediately. The door was out of the question, but she noticed an open window. She skillfully twisted the bedsheets into a rope and gripped the fabric to rappel from the twenty-second floor. She successfully managed to swing into a bedroom on the twenty-first floor. ***** In the living room outside, Ethan Hunter held his phone and threatened the person on the other end. "Adrian, I'm giving you one last chance to open this door, or you will regret it." Adrian Hunter couldn't help but shiver. "Ethan, it's not that I won't open it, but Mom made me do it." Before Ethan could respond, a cheerful female voice took over the call. "Be a good boy and listen to me, Ethan. "I had your fortune read, and your 'destined encounter' is right there in that room. Just stay put for the night and I'll let you out tomorrow." Ethan sighed. "Mom, do you really think a woman is just going to drop out of thin air? This isn't the way to force me into marriage. Wait, you didn't plant someone in here again, did you?" The line went dead before he could finish. Ethan rubbed his temples in frustration. He couldn't believe anyone still believed in fortune-telling in this day and age. He tossed his phone aside and loosened his tie, and the disarray of his collar only made him look more handsome. He walked into the bedroom and froze at the sight before him. Carolyn sat on the floor in a skimpy outfit. Her long hair draped over her body, leaving only her legs visible. She was rubbing her forehead and muttering to herself. "Seriously? Just my luck." When she heard the door, Carolyn looked up and met Ethan's gaze. Her eyes drifted to his loosened collar and she gasped. To her, he looked like a prime steak being served to a starving wolf. Carolyn gave an awkward laugh and tried to test the waters. "Would you believe me if I said I just took a wrong turn?" Ethan was at a loss for words. Carolyn scrambled up from the floor. The nightgown was far too revealing, and she felt exposed under Ethan's intense, searching gaze. She decided to just dive under the covers of the bed. Once she was safely wrapped up, she finally caught her breath. "Listen, I really did take a wrong turn. If you open the door for me, I'll leave right now. "If you can give me some normal clothes, I promise I'll make it up to you someday." Ethan's lips parted as he spoke two words. "I can't." Carolyn scratched her head and tried again. "Could I borrow your jacket to cover myself then? I'll definitely pay you back later." Ethan hesitated for a moment before he tossed his jacket to her. Carolyn put it on quickly and noted how huge it was on her since he was so tall. She rushed to the door and tried to open it because she wanted her freedom immediately. She pressed the handle, but it didn't move. "The door is locked," Ethan said as he leaned against the doorframe. He noticed her flushed face and felt a flicker of surprise at her beauty. "So, are you the little gift my mother sent over?" Ethan thought his mother was unreliable, but her taste in women was always impeccable. Carolyn was stunned. "Me? A gift? No, people usually call me a little nightmare." Ethan didn't know how to respond to that. Since they were both locked in, Carolyn decided to ask for clarification. "Are you in the same situation as me?" Ethan was confused until he saw her fanning herself. He realized immediately what was going on. He wondered if Adrian had actually dared to do this, but then he realized his brother and mother wouldn't stoop to such a level to provide him with a woman. Carolyn paced the room anxiously and glanced at Ethan. He was exceptionally handsome and his features were perfectly defined, which made him quite a sight to behold. She swallowed hard and offered a threat. "Stay away from me. I'm afraid I'll lose control, and I won't take responsibility if I do. But if you try to take advantage of me, I'll definitely ruin you." Ethan almost laughed because it was the first time a woman had ever spoken to him like that. He couldn't believe he was being rejected by a woman who had clearly been set up. Carolyn felt like she was burning up. She ran into the bathroom and turned on the cold water. The spray helped clear her head, the water mixed with the blood from her wrist and began to drip onto the floor. Ethan frowned and walked over to her. "Are you bleeding?" he said. Carolyn struck at his neck the moment he got close, but Ethan blocked her move with lightning speed. She glared at him. "I told you not to try anything." Her movements were sharp and her gaze was cold. She wasn't anything like the typical pampered socialites he knew. She was vibrant and striking, and she managed to stir Ethan's long-dormant heart. He grabbed her waist and pulled her close. "And what if I do?" he asked with sudden interest. "You don't seem very intimidating like this." Chapter 2 A Disfigured Face Carolyn touched Ethan's body and it felt as if she had been pressed against a sheet of ice. She couldn't help but let out a soft sigh of relief, but she quickly realized what was happening. She shoved Ethan away instantly and leaned against the wall while she gasped for breath. She cursed inwardly. 'Damn it. I had never endured such torture back when I was a top-tier assassin.' Her eyes suddenly caught sight of a fruit knife resting on the coffee table. Carolyn rushed toward it and gripped the blade directly with her bare hand. Fresh blood surged out and the sharp sting of pain cleared her mind. Ethan frowned when he saw that she was willing to self-mutilate just to stay conscious. He stepped forward to take the knife away and then he swept her up into his arms. Carolyn felt a brief moment of comfort from being held, but she also loathed her lack of self-control. She gritted her teeth and spoke through the haze. "If you dare touch me, I will..." Before she could finish, a loud splash echoed through the room. Ethan had dropped her into a bathtub filled with cold water without a hint of mercy. The freezing chill surged over her and Carolyn finally managed to force her eyes open. Her features were delicate and her face was flushed a deep red. Her wet hair clung to her neck while her white nightgown drifted on the surface of the water. Her fingertips were pale from gripping the edge of the tub and her eyelashes trembled. She was a perfect, striking mixture of beauty and desperate restraint. Ethan tugged at his tie and pulled out his phone to make a call. He sounded incredibly annoyed. "Grand Dominion Hotel, Room 2105. Get over here and open the door." A few minutes later, the door opened and Oliver Kane walked in while he wore a white lab coat. He offered a lazy yawn and a mocking grin. "Ethan, what kind of show are you putting on today? Is this some kind of romantic setup?" Ethan's expression darkened and he snapped at his friend. "Get over here. I need you to save someone." Oliver stepped into the bathroom and saw Carolyn as she started to lose consciousness in the tub. He clicked his tongue in surprise. "This is a bit hardcore, isn't it?" "Do you have a death wish?" Ethan asked while he glared at him. Oliver immediately backed down and raised his hands. "Fine. Just get her out of there. How am I supposed to treat her in a bathtub?" Ethan leaned down to lift Carolyn out of the water and he tucked her into the bed. Oliver performed a quick examination and sighed. "We need to go to the hospital. The wound on her wrist is too deep and she needs stitches." Her wrist looked gruesome because the water had turned the wound a ghastly shade of pale. Ethan hesitated for a moment before he picked her up again and walked out of the room. The hotel had already been cleared of other guests. A blacked-out Bentley sat at the entrance while guards stood in two disciplined rows. Ethan carried Carolyn into the car with a stoic expression. Oliver watched them go and muttered to himself. "Maybe his luck with women has finally changed." Ethan's assistant, Nixon Cole, stood nearby and nudged Oliver. "Mr. Kane, this is the first time I've seen the boss touch a woman. Who is she?" Oliver adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and shook his head with a mysterious smile. "Well, it is hard to say." At the hospital, Oliver finished treating Carolyn and returned to the director's office. Ethan was sitting on the sofa working on files on his laptop. He looked up and asked, "Are her wounds properly bandaged?" "She's all set," Oliver said with a nod. "But that wound was incredibly deep. It looked like a suicide attempt to me." Ethan frowned slightly. He didn't think she was the type to take her own life. Her gaze had been far too sharp and cold for that. "Find someone to watch her. I am going back to my apartment for the night," Ethan said. Oliver agreed and they both left the hospital. ***** Carolyn didn't sleep peacefully. Memories of her previous life replayed in her dreams like a recurring nightmare. "It's an ambush. I am requesting to abort the mission." "Request denied." "They have a sniper. I need aerial support." "Request denied." "Requesting a retreat." "Request denied." The roar of gunfire, the chaotic cries for help, and the final screams thick with the scent of blood flooded her senses. The dream shifted and Carolyn found herself tied to an electric chair. Her body convulsed in pain and she was drenched in sweat. "The mission was a failure, yet you are the only one who made it out easily. You're a traitor. You were the one who leaked the data," said the person questioning her. Carolyn spat back through gritted teeth. "I took a bullet for the team. You call that making it out easily? I was out on a mission with Raven. How could I be the traitor?" "Carolyn, Raven is dead, but you are still alive." That one sentence was enough. In their eyes, her survival was a sin and she deserved to carry the guilt. Her former friends looked at her with icy, venomous looks. Not a single person in the organization believed her. Another surge of electricity hit her and the insults continued to ring in her ears. Carolyn's eyes were bloodshot and she clenched her fists so hard that her nails dug into her palms. She wondered who the traitor hiding in the shadows truly was. She vowed that she would find them and make them pay for destroying her entire team. As the first light of dawn broke, Carolyn woke up and rubbed her head. The agonizing sensation from the drug was gone and her wrist was neatly bandaged. She stared at the empty IV bag by the bed and blinked in a daze. It was not a dream; she really had a second chance at life. At the moment she had lost everything, she had been given a chance to live again under a different identity. Carolyn got out of bed to wash her face. When she looked into the mirror, even she was startled by what she saw. The face was still hers, but a jagged scar stretched across her right cheek from her jaw to her ear. Carolyn had been a beauty in the mercenary world. Even a man with such picky taste as Nolan used to say that her missions were too easy because men would lose their resolve the moment they saw her face. Now, that beautiful and powerful Carolyn was dead, and she was now living in this disfigured girl's body. A flood of memories suddenly rushed into her mind. The original owner of this body was named Caroline Shaw and she was the eldest daughter of the Shaw family. Her mother had died young and her father had remarried. Her stepmother had two daughters of her own and Caroline had been treated like a ghost in her own home. She was someone everyone felt they could bully. Carolyn sighed because she realized that her being alive in this body meant the poor girl had already died. The painful memories flipped through her mind like a photo album. She saw a childhood filled with ridicule, a ruined face, and trampled dreams. Everything Caroline cherished had been taken from her, including her life and the dignity she almost lost the night before. A cold light flickered in Carolyn's eyes. She touched the scar on her face and whispered, "Don't worry. From today on, I am you, Caroline. I will get back everything that was yours, piece by piece." Her appearance, her career, and her inheritance would all be hers again. Then, she would find a way to return to Kingston. There were no guards outside, so Caroline put on the suit jacket Ethan had left behind and walked out. She caught a cab back to the Shaw residence. The original Caroline had been timid, but her late mother had left her an engagement contract. This contract bound her to the heir of the Lewis family, Lucas Lewis. Caroline had grown up with him and she had been completely devoted to him. She had even suffered disfigurement and countless insults for his sake. Unfortunately, Lucas didn't love her at all. He was in love with Caroline's younger sister, Claire Shaw. Claire acted innocent on the surface, but she was the one who came up with the vicious plan to drug Caroline at the hotel. She wanted to destroy Caroline's reputation so that she would be too ashamed to marry into the Lewis family. That betrayal was why the original Caroline had finally reached her breaking point and chose to end her life. Caroline stepped out of the cab and looked at the modest villa. Her eyes were cold. She thought to herself, 'What you owe Caroline, I'll take back, one by one.' Chapter 3 Ending the Engagement "Miss Caroline, you're back." The servant at the door looked panicked when she saw Caroline. Caroline nodded and began to walk inside, but the servant suddenly lunged forward to grab her. Caroline stumbled from the force of the pull. "You can't go in," the servant shouted. Caroline's expression turned icy. "Move out of my way." She knew that the original owner of this body was treated poorly by the Shaw family, but she did not expect even a servant to lay hands on her. The servant spread her arms to block the path and refused to budge. "Miss Claire gave strict orders. You are not allowed to enter." A second servant standing nearby sneered at her. "Just let her in. This isn't the first time she's done something like this anyway. Mr. Lewis clearly doesn't want her, yet she insists on throwing herself at him." "It is truly pathetic. If this happened back in our day, people would be shaming her until she couldn't show her face." "I really wonder how her late mother raised her. How could she be so shameless?" These servants had worked for the Shaw family for years and they were used to mocking Caroline whenever they were bored. They knew she was weak and would never fight back. Caroline watched them with a neutral expression. She realized these people must have insulted the original owner's mother many times before. She suddenly raised her hand and slapped the servant standing in front of her. "Ah." The servant cried out as she fell to the ground. "How... how dare you..." she stammered while she trembled. The once-timid Caroline stood in the sunlight with a sharp gaze. "I am only going to say this once, so you had better listen carefully. I am the eldest daughter of the Shaw family. "My late mother was the legal wife of this household. If I ever hear any of you speak a word against her again, I will hit you until you finally learn your lesson. Do you understand?" Her presence was so overwhelming that the servants quickly nodded in fear. "We understand." "Now move!" Caroline barked the command and the servants scrambled to clear the path. None of them dared to stop her again. As she entered the villa, she immediately walked into the living room and found a man and a woman acting affectionately. They were none other than her younger sister, Claire, and the man the original owner had loved so deeply, Lucas. Claire didn't look embarrassed at all when she saw Caroline. In fact, a flash of provocation danced in the depths of her eyes. However, Claire quickly stood up and smoothed out her clothes with a panicked expression. She lowered her head and spoke in a submissive tone. "Caroline, you're back. Please, what you saw just now... Lucas and I aren't like that. We were just..." It was a clumsy explanation that made it seem as if Claire were the victim of a great misunderstanding. Caroline watched the performance with a look of pure sarcasm. The silence in the room made Claire's act feel increasingly awkward. Claire suddenly ran toward Caroline and grabbed her hand to continue her frantic explanation. "Caroline, please don't misunderstand. It really isn't what it looks like..." She stopped mid-sentence and looked Caroline up and down. She covered her mouth in feigned shock. "Caroline, why are you dressed like this? Where were you last night?" Lucas finally took a closer look at Caroline. She was wearing a man's suit jacket over a short nightgown. She looked exhausted and she clearly appeared as if she had spent the night away from home. His pride flared because Caroline was still his fiancée in name, yet she had been out fooling around behind his back. "Caroline, where were you last night?" Lucas asked, his face filled with anger. Caroline's gaze was indifferent. She did not answer him immediately like the original owner used to do. Instead, she asked him a cold question. "That's strange. I didn't ask where the two of you were last night, so why are you questioning me?" "Caroline, I wasn't feeling well last night and Lucas took me to the hospital. Nothing happened between us, so please do not get the wrong idea," Claire explained in a soft and gentle voice. Caroline shoved her away. "Don't touch me. You're filthy." Claire cried out as she lost her balance and fell onto the floor. "Claire!" Lucas immediately rushed to her side and pulled her behind him for protection. He turned to Caroline with a look of pure rage. "Caroline. How can you be so wicked? If you have a problem, take it out on me." Claire hid behind Lucas and sobbed quietly. "Caroline, even if you are angry with me, you shouldn't treat yourself so poorly. How could you be so reckless with your reputation?" She played the part of a heartbroken sister perfectly. Caroline thought it was a shame that she wasn't an actress. Caroline let out a cold laugh. "Even if I were reckless, I still wouldn't be as bad as someone who enjoys stealing another person's fiancé." Lucas tightened his grip on Claire and glared at Caroline. "Enough. Claire is the only woman I will ever marry. Stop making a scene. "You need to find a time to talk to my family and make it clear that our engagement is over. From now on, we will have nothing to do with each other." Caroline felt a sudden, sharp pain in her chest. She frowned that she knew this was the original owner's lingering emotions affecting her. She looked at Lucas and asked, "What is your reason?" Lucas snorted with contempt. "Why do I need a reason? Our relationship has always been your one-sided obsession. "Furthermore, my family is from high society, and the woman I marry must be a proper lady. The scar on your face is hideous. Do you really expect me to let you embarrass my family?" Caroline sneered inwardly. According to the original owner's memories, that scar was a result of her protecting Lucas during a car accident. She had been cut by flying glass while she shielded him. At the time, Lucas had promised that he would never hold the scar against her, yet he had turned around and pledged his loyalty to Claire instead. "Lucas, please don't talk to Caroline like that," Claire said while she leaned triumphantly against him. She looked at Caroline with a provocative smirk. She expected Caroline to break down in tears and beg for him to stay because that was her usual behavior. Everyone in Encevale knew that the ugly daughter of the Shaw family was obsessed with Lucas. Caroline would do anything just to be with him. Lucas hated her persistence more than anything else; she usually lost the argument the moment she started crying. Caroline gave them both a brief, dismissive glance. Her eyes were clear and cold. Lucas was momentarily stunned because he saw a hint of disdain in her gaze. She nodded calmly. "Fine. We can do it this afternoon. I will go with you to end the engagement." "Caroline, please don't be too sad. You... wait, what did you say? You agree to end the engagement?" Claire's voice cracked in surprise. This was not the reaction she had anticipated. She expected Caroline to scream, cry, or complain about her years of wasted devotion. She didn't understand why Caroline was agreeing so easily. Caroline nodded again. "Do I need to repeat myself? I agree to end the engagement this afternoon." Chapter 4 Self-Respect Lucas was shocked. "What? What did you just say? Caroline, I'm not in the mood for jokes." In the past, the mere mention of ending the engagement would send Caroline into a fit of tears. She would cling to him with a pathetic, aggrieved expression that always left him feeling incredibly annoyed. Although she was usually timid and submissive, she had always been stubborn when it came to Lucas. Furthermore, their mothers had been best friends. Lucas's mother refused to give up on the engagement, which was why the matter had dragged on for so many years without a resolution. Caroline finally looked him directly in the eye. "Are you deaf? Which part of that sounded like a joke? If you're busy this afternoon, we can do it tomorrow. I'm flexible, so the choice is yours." Claire was absolutely stunned. She couldn't believe Caroline actually had the nerve to ask Lucas if he was deaf. Claire wondered if the man she had arranged for the previous night had driven Caroline insane. It seemed as if Caroline no longer cared about the consequences of her words. Lucas felt as if he had been punched in the gut for the first time in his life. He couldn't help but wonder if Caroline was actually done chasing him. "Caroline, do you even realize what you're saying?" Lucas asked. Caroline gave a careless nod. "I know exactly what I'm saying. We are ending the engagement. From now on, our personal lives have nothing to do with each other." "If we end this, you won't have a single reason to bother me ever again." Lucas reminded her in a heavy tone. He simply didn't believe that she truly wanted to let him go. Caroline let out a soft "okay" before she added, "That is exactly what I'm hoping for." Lucas felt a sudden tightness in his chest. Caroline was different now. She was no longer the little girl who used to follow him around like a shadow. Caroline didn't care what he was thinking. She had spent the previous night climbing through windows and fighting off the effects of drugs. She was exhausted and only wanted to change her clothes so she could get some sleep. As she turned to head upstairs, Lucas called out to her again. He put on a disappointed and fatherly act. "Caroline, a girl's most important trait is self-love. Even if we can't be together, you still need to learn some self-respect." Caroline crossed her arms and let out a sharp laugh. "Thanks for the concern, but I'm doing just fine. Well, my new man is taller than you, more handsome than you, and much better in bed. "He is in peak physical condition and I was more than happy to give myself to him. Now, I'm tired and needs to sleep. "And I suggest the two of you find a private room for your flirting. If Grandpa sees you groping each other in the living room like this, he might have a heart attack." Caroline delivered the words and turned to head upstairs. She slammed her bedroom door shut with a loud bang. Claire stood there in a daze before she turned to Lucas and bit her lip. "Lucas, why would she say those things? She said he was in better shape than you, but didn't you tell me that you never touched her?" Lucas immediately pulled Claire into his arms to reassure her. "Claire, of course I never touched her. How could I ever do that? You're the only one I love." Claire nodded while she sobbed. "I believe you, but it's all my fault that Caroline has become like this. It's all because of me." Lucas felt a wave of sympathy for her. He thought to himself, 'Claire has always been so kind and understanding.' ***** In the penthouse of the Summit Apartments, Ethan sat behind a massive solid wood desk and tapped the surface. "Where is she?" Oliver shrugged his shoulders. "She's gone. When the nurse went in to check on her this morning, the bed was already empty." Ethan shot Oliver a look of pure disdain. "You couldn't even keep track of one injured patient?" Before Oliver could defend himself, Ethan's phone rang. He picked it up and heard his father's steady voice. "There is a dinner at the Shaw residence tonight. We owe them a favor, so I want you to go in my place." Ethan leaned back in his black leather chair. "Where is your wife?" he asked indifferently. "Don't speak about your mother that way," Ethan's father, William Hunter, scolded him. "Mom locked me in a hotel room last night," Ethan said as he reported her actions directly. "She did it because a fortune-teller told her I was destined for a romantic encounter." William went silent for a moment before he spoke. "I will handle it. Just make sure you attend the party." "Fine," Ethan said and hung up the phone. Oliver clicked his tongue. "I can't believe the great CEO of the Hunter Group is actually snitching to his dad." Ethan stood up and went into the living room to grab his suit jacket. "The family rule is simple. Only a woman's own man should be the one to handle her." "Why are you changing?" Oliver asked as he followed him out. Ethan finished putting on his tie. "I'm going to the office. You are coming with me to the party tonight. We will say hello to the Shaw family and then leave immediately so we don't have to deal with the socializing." Oliver leaned against the wall and adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses. He put on a dramatic, hesitant expression while he watched Ethan finish his tie. "Ethan, are you asking me to be your date for the night?" Ethan looked at him without changing his expression. "You can wear a dress if you want. I'll have Nixon deliver one to you." Oliver sighed. He had never won a single argument against Ethan when it came to being sharp-tongued. ***** Back at the Shaw residence, Caroline finally found some peace. She lay on her bed and fell into a deep sleep. When she heard a sudden movement nearby, her instincts kicked in and she lunged forward. She grabbed the intruder by the throat and her eyes glowed with a terrifying intensity in the dim room. "Who are you?" "Miss... Miss Caroline..." The servant was paralyzed with fear by the reaction. The title pulled Caroline back to reality and she remembered that she was no longer an assassin. She let go of the servant's throat and awkwardly shook her hands. "I've been watching too many action movies. Did you need something?" The servant turned on the light and spoke. "Evelyn is looking for you." Caroline froze. "Evelyn?" She took a moment to process the words. She realized "Evelyn" was her stepmother, Evelyn Shaw. Evelyn was a snake who pretended to care for Caroline to maintain a good reputation, but she secretly wanted Caroline kicked out of the house so she wouldn't have to share the family fortune. Caroline washed up and changed into decent clothes before she headed downstairs. Rows of formal dresses were lined up in the living room. Claire was walking back and forth between them because she wanted to find something unique that would make her the center of attention that night. When she saw Caroline, Evelyn immediately waved her over with a warm smile. "Caroline, come here. The stylist sent over the dress, so you should pick one for the party tonight." Caroline gave her a cold, insincere smile. "Sure. Thank you, Evelyn." Caroline walked around the dresses and picked up a light purple gown to hold against herself. Evelyn immediately began to praise her. "This color really suits you. It's just a shame that the scar on your face is so noticeable..." Caroline then picked up a blue dress. Evelyn nodded and added, "This one is nice too, but it doesn't look like it will hide the flaws on your face." Caroline sneered inwardly. She knew this was exactly how Evelyn had chipped away at the original owner's confidence over the years. She constantly reminded her that she had a hideous scar on her face. Combined with the rejection from Lucas and the constant bullying from Claire, it was no wonder the original Caroline had been pushed into death. Claire gave a mocking laugh. "Caroline, just pick anything. Do you really expect a dress to cover your face and hide that scar?" "Claire, don't speak to Caroline like that," Evelyn said with a smirk. She pretended to defend Caroline, but she didn't even bother to look in her direction. Chapter 5 Why Did You Hit Me? Caroline turned around to look at her, her eyes completely indifferent. "What did you say?" "I said, as long as you go to the party, everyone will see the scar on your face. Not to mention the party, aren't you mocked every single time you step out of the house? "You should have gotten used to it by now, right?" The ridicule in Claire's eyes was glaring. Claire possessed an innocent, harmless face, but the venomous mockery in her eyes was undisguised. She simply couldn't stomach Caroline's sudden arrogance and defiance today. In Claire's eyes, Caroline should spend her entire life being timid, submissive, and at the mercy of the Shaw family. Instead, Caroline raised her hand and delivered a loud slap right across her face, asking coldly, "Say that again?" "Ah!" Caught completely off guard by the sudden slap, Claire shrieked in pain. "Caroline, how could you hit Claire?" Evelyn instantly screamed. "Claire is your father's favorite. Aren't you afraid of making him furious by putting your hands on her?" Right at that perfect moment, Henry Shaw walked in. "What is all this commotion about now?" he demanded. Claire immediately threw herself into Henry's arms, weeping pitifully. "Daddy." Evelyn also sighed with a deeply aggrieved expression. "Honey, it's my fault. I failed to discipline the children properly." "I slapped her," Caroline admitted bluntly, without a hint of hesitation. Henry shouted, "Caroline. How..." "She mocked the scar on my face, so I hit her. Do you think I went too far, Father?" Caroline looked directly into Henry's eyes and challenged him. "Surely you don't think my face has always looked like this since birth? Do you even remember what I looked like as a child?" she added. Henry froze. Of course he remembered. Caroline had been innocent and adorable as a young girl. If she hadn't protected Lucas during that car accident, her face would never have been ruined. Lately, things hadn't been going well at work, and Henry snapped irritably, "Enough. You can't even pick out a dress without causing a scene. Is there ever a single day of peace in this house?" With that, he turned and stomped upstairs. Claire stamped her foot in frustration. "Daddy." Caroline picked up the blue dress and said smoothly, "I'll take this one. I'm done choosing." Carrying the dress, she followed behind Henry and returned to her own room. Claire was growing anxious. Caroline had always been so timid and spineless, yet today she actually dared to raise her hand against her. Worse, she had managed to sway Henry into dropping the matter with just a few choice words. Since Caroline was still technically bound by the engagement to Lucas, Claire believed that Caroline must be desperate to marry into his family as soon as possible. 'No, I can't let Caroline steal the spotlight. Otherwise, all the effort I put into stealing Lucas away would go to waste.' Claire began plotting secretly in her mind. At lunch, Caroline finally faced the entire family. Theo Shaw sat at the head of the table, exuding a natural aura of authority. Henry sat right next to him, with Evelyn and Claire beside them. Caroline sat alone on the opposite side, quietly sipping her soup. Theo spoke up. "The Hunter family will be attending tonight's party. Make sure you entertain them well and don't let anything go wrong." "Don't worry, Theo. Everything for the party has already been perfectly arranged," Evelyn replied, looking every bit the virtuous housewife. Claire eagerly chimed in, "Don't worry, Grandpa. When Lucas and I had dinner yesterday, he mentioned that the Lewis Group has business dealings with the Hunter Group. "He'll definitely help entertain them tonight. Caroline knows about it too, right? Lucas is currently negotiating a project with the Hunters." Caroline raised an eyebrow. 'How on earth could I know? Would Lucas ever share such matters with the original Caroline? Claire is clearly trying to assert dominance and humiliate me.' At this point, Claire feigned panic, covering her mouth as she said awkwardly, "Wait, you don't know? My apologies, I talk too much." Caroline let out a cold sneer. "If you know you talk too much, then shut your mouth." "Caroline, how can you speak to Claire like that?" Henry demanded sharply. Caroline smiled faintly, set down her fork, and looked directly at Claire. "Claire, as your older sister, let me give you a piece of advice: have some shame. "Given your awkward position, it would be best for you to keep your distance from Lucas." Claire instantly put on a victimized expression, turning tearful eyes toward Caroline. "Caroline, how am I being shameless?" Evelyn quickly wrapped an arm around her daughter's shoulders and spoke softly to Caroline, "Caroline, Claire is your sister. How can you say something so harsh?" Caroline arched an eyebrow at her. "Since you don't seem to know, let me remind you. What right do you have to have dinner with Lucas? Don't you know he's my fiancé?" "But you two are about to break off the engagement anyway," Claire muttered, carefully stealing a glance at Theo's expression to gauge his reaction. Henry had silently approved of calling off the engagement. He thought highly of the Lewis family and fully supported Claire dating Lucas. However, Theo's stance on the matter had always remained ambiguous. Caroline scoffed coldly. "Regardless of whether we call off the engagement or if there's any affection left, we are still legally engaged right now. He is still your future brother-in-law. "Shouldn't you maintain a proper distance? If word gets out that you're tangled up with your own future brother-in-law, what would people think of our family?" "I..." "Alright, I'm full. Enjoy the rest of your meal." Caroline stood up, gave a slight nod to Theo, and walked out of the dining room. Theo was momentarily stunned. That commanding presence just now didn't seem like the Caroline he knew at all. Claire turned a tearful gaze toward her father. "Daddy, Caroline is..." Before she could finish her sentence, Theo cleared his throat and intervened, "Enough. Caroline is right. As long as the engagement hasn't been officially broken off, it's only proper to keep a respectful distance." Claire's eyes widened in sheer disbelief. She couldn't believe Theo was actually taking Caroline's side. It seemed she had seriously underestimated Caroline, letting her walk all over her and flaunt her authority. ***** Before the party, Caroline deftly changed into her dress. Out of old habits from her days as an assassin, where she frequently hid knives and firearms inside her formal wear, she tugged at the hem and checked the waistband. To her surprise, the moment she applied a bit of pressure, the strapless dress slipped right off her body. Caroline quickly caught it. Thank goodness she was still in her room; if this had happened during the actual party, the humiliation would have been catastrophic. She took off the dress to inspect it thoroughly. The stitching along the waistline had clearly been tampered with. While it looked completely normal at a glance, the slightest bit of tension would cause the threads to snap. There was no need to guess who was responsible; this was definitely Claire's handy work. Caroline asked a servant for a sewing kit and meticulously repaired the seams. She then swapped out the waistband for one of the same color, ensuring it wouldn't fail again before she finally felt satisfied. Once the dress was safely secured, she slipped quietly into Claire's room. Replicating the exact sabotage that had been inflicted on her own dress, she carefully loosened a few critical stitches on Claire's dress before slipping away unnoticed. When the party started, Caroline applied some light makeup and headed downstairs. She immediately spotted Claire, flitting about like a social butterfly, before throwing herself into Lucas's arms and dragging him toward a guest room in a secluded corner, shutting the door tightly behind them. Meanwhile, outside the villa, a sleek, dark Bentley pulled up to the entrance, drawing a chorus of gasps from the arriving guests. "Is that the Hunter family's car?" "The Shaw family must have immense influence to actually pull the Hunters here." "They are the wealthiest family in Encevale. If anyone can form a connection with the Hunters, they'll be set for life." Nixon stepped out of the vehicle and opened the door for Ethan. "Sir, we have arrived." Ethan checked his watch. Beside him, Oliver gave him a playful nudge. "I've always heard the Shaw family's third daughter is the prettiest girl in the whole Encevale. want to go in and see for yourself?" Ethan stepped out of the car, his voice completely indifferent. "Not interested." Chapter 6 The Man From Last Night As soon as Ethan and Oliver stepped into the room, they became the undisputed center of gravity. Although many in the room coveted the Hunter family's immense power and status, Ethan's reputation for being "cold and unreachable" was so well-known that no one dared to actually approach him. Ethan walked straight toward Henry and greeted him simply: "Mr. Shaw." That single sentence drew countless looks of shock. Ethan never showed his face at ordinary party, yet here he was, not only attending but personally greeting Henry. This was a huge honor for the Shaw family. "Mr. Hunter, you're here." Henry was pleasantly surprised. It was his first time meeting Ethan in person, and his aura was truly intimidating. Ethan nodded slightly. "Regarding the matter last time, thank you for your help, Mr. Shaw. I came specifically to express my gratitude." "It was nothing, just a small favor." Henry laughed, beaming. "Please, make yourselves at home. I'll go to the back and bring my father out to meet you." "Please proceed." After Henry left, a sudden gasp erupted from the crowd. Ethan and Oliver followed the collective gaze toward the staircase. A beautiful woman in a light blue dress was descending. She had a slender, graceful figure, with her long hair slightly curled and swept to the right side. Her exposed left face was delicate, her features exquisite, and her eyes were bright. Oliver almost choked on his wine. "Isn't that the girl..." Before his words could leave his mouth, Ethan silenced him with a single sharp look. Caroline looked down and immediately spotted Ethan, whose presence stood out even in this crowd. Seeing the peerless man she had shared a "life-and-death" moment with the night before, her foot slipped, and she nearly missed a step. With his legs, Ethan moved instantly, catching Caroline before she could fall face-first in front of everyone. Looking at Ethan's handsome face, Caroline smiled playfully and whispered, "Hey handsome, what a coincidence." Before Ethan could respond, Lucas's angry voice cut through the air. "Caroline, what do you think you're doing?" Caroline turned to see Lucas looking like he had been cheated on. She leaned casually toward Ethan and asked, "What did I do?" "Claire told me you went out drinking with a man last night, and I didn't believe her. But now you're acting so intimate with someone else in public. "I see now that your 'deep affection' for me was all an act. We haven't even broken off the engagement yet, and you..." Lucas's face turned livid. He didn't love Caroline, but she had been his shadow since they were kids. Even if they were about to break up, he couldn't stand her finding a replacement so quickly. Claire tugged at Lucas's sleeve, feigning a low tone. "Lucas, don't say anymore. Caroline already explained what happened last night. It's just..." Ethan suddenly interrupted, "Last night? What did she say?" Seeing Ethan address her, Claire was flattered. She put on a frightened, "hard-to-discuss" expression and stammered, "Caroline said that last night, she gave herself to another man." Caroline coughed loudly, hoping this idiot Claire would stop her self-righteous nonsense. But Lucas sneered, "What are you coughing for? You had the nerve to do it, but not the nerve to say it? Didn't you say it yourself? "That the man was strong and vigorous? That he was well-endowed and good in bed?" Oliver couldn't hold it in; he sprayed his wine everywhere. Ethan tilted his head to look at Caroline, asking leisurely, "Such a high evaluation, huh?" Caroline's face turned bright red. She glared at Lucas and snapped, "Lucas, you idiot." She grabbed Ethan by the arm and dragged him out of the ballroom into the garden outside. Ethan let her pull him away; it was the first time a woman had ever grabbed his hand like this, and surprisingly, he didn't feel any revulsion. Looking at her hurrying in front of him, Ethan noticed her left ear was bright red. He found it rather amusing. As they reached the garden, Caroline tripped. Ethan pulled her back, and she collided right into his hard chest. The impact made her nose ache, and tears instantly welled up in her eyes. Ethan leaned against a pillar, his red wine still perfectly still in his glass. He raised an eyebrow. "You're the one who ran into me. Why are you crying?" "This is a physiological response," Caroline growled. Ethan nodded and asked, "So, the man you spent the night with is 'strong and vigorous' and 'well-endowed'." "Shut up," Caroline slapped her hand over Ethan's mouth. Her warm hand pressed against his thin lips. Ethan's brow twitched slightly, but there was no sign of disgust. He whispered against her palm, "The Miss Shaw I met last night was so calm and composed. I didn't expect those were your inner thoughts." Caroline rolled her eyes and said, "I said that just to piss off Lucas. You actually believed it?" Ethan nodded solemnly. "I believe it." Since it was a compliment to him, he had no reason not to believe it. Caroline looked at him. "Look, handsome, I—" "Ethan Hunter." "What?" Caroline blinked. "My name. Ethan Hunter," he said, introducing himself properly for the first time. Caroline nodded. "Fine, Mr. Hunter. Last night you saved me and found me a doctor. I'm very grateful, and I—" "So, when do you plan to repay me with actual action?" For some reason, Ethan was becoming incredibly interested in her. Caroline scratched her head. "Well, how about tomorrow? I'll treat you to a meal then." "Deal." Getting a date with her actually made Ethan feel a hint of genuine happiness. Caroline breathed a sigh of relief. "Then let's go back? Your friend is probably waiting." She turned to leave first, but a sharp pain in her scalp made her wince. "Don't move," Ethan said, pulling her back. "Your hair is caught." Caroline backed up, slightly bending her knees. She kept her head down while Ethan worked on the knot between her hair and his button. From her position, she could only see the bottom of his tie. "Nice tie," she muttered. "Thanks," Ethan replied. In a rare move, he proactively kept the conversation going. "What are we eating tomorrow?" "I don't know, haven't thought about it yet. Is it untangled? My knees are getting sore." "Almost." "Why don't we just find some scissors and cut the hair?" "Do you think I carry scissors on me?" Caroline could only keep her head down in defeat. At that moment, Oliver stumbled into the garden looking for them. "Ethan, you—" Seeing their intimate posture, Oliver was so shocked that his mouth fell wide open.