As dawn broke, Brian finally collapsed into exhausted sleep.

I dressed hastily, fled the apartment, and rushed to my small tech studio.


I had barely greeted my staff when my phone chimed.

A photo appeared on my screen.

The angle was deliberately provocative—Brian's face was conveniently obscured, but my profile and pleasure-drunk expression were perfectly visible, along with the unmistakable outline of our naked embrace.


A call came through immediately after.

I swallowed my fury and answered.


"Brian Shaw, what the hell is this?"

He chuckled lazily, his voice carrying an undercurrent of threat.

"Do you like it, Anna?"

"I'll consider last night as being bitten by a stray dog." I lowered my voice. "From now on, we go our separate ways."

He sighed softly, as if amused by my naivety.

"Anna, when a dog bites someone, it claims them. And once it claims them, it doesn't let go easily."

"You'd better return to my apartment. Otherwise, I can't guarantee what my brother and the media... might receive."

I laughed coldly.

"Your brother and I are already divorced—threatening me with him won't work."

"As for the media—is this revenge for last night?"

There was a moment of silence before he replied:

"That's not it, Anna. I love you. I've waited for you for years."

"I just want you back with me."

I said nothing as I opened my laptop and quickly traced the device that sent the photo.

I hacked into his system and deleted everything he'd captured.

As a parting gift, I planted a high-definition gay porn video on his phone.

I'd taken the liberty of superimposing Brian's face onto one of the participants.

I'd considered adding Brandon's face to the other participant but decided that was a step too far, even for revenge.

A male employee brought me coffee, and I smiled politely in thanks.

Brian's voice instantly changed.

"Anna, do you know how much I hate the way men look at you? Why do they stare at you like that? I want to gouge their eyes out..."

Alarm bells rang in my head.

"Where are you right now?"

I stood up abruptly.

"Listen to me, Brian Shaw—this is a civilized society. Control yourself!"

"If you cause trouble, not even your brother can protect you!"

"My brother?" He sneered. "You're divorced now—why bring him up? Are you hoping to go back to him? That's never going to happen..."

"Don't you dare—"

I was heading toward the exit when I glimpsed a hooded figure outside the glass wall.

Before I could reach it, someone tall grabbed me from behind. I felt a sharp prick on my neck.

The world spun, then faded to black.