Archie Lockwood gripped her arm tightly and said coldly, "Trust you? Eleanor Bishop, haven’t I trusted you enough times in the past? You don’t want money? Are you trying to tell me the Bishop Family doesn’t need money anymore? Or are you trying to tell me... you... have... a... *bigger*... *client*... waiting... for... you?"

Provoked by Archie Lockwood’s words, Eleanor Bishop was so angry she raised her hand and slapped him across the face. "You’ve gone too far!"

Archie Lockwood released Eleanor Bishop’s arm and raised a hand... to the side of his face she had just slapped. The corner of his mouth twisted into a cruel, cold smirk.

But Eleanor Bishop suddenly came to her senses. Realizing she had hit Archie, she was terrified and quickly asked, "Archie, I’m so sorry, I-I didn’t mean to. Are you okay?"

Archie Lockwood’s eyes glinted with a wicked light as he looked at the anxious woman before him. The smirk on his lips grew even colder. "Eleanor Bishop, this is the real you, isn’t it?"

’The meek and submissive woman from before, the one who tried her best not to show any emotion in front of him, who never made him angry... that was all an act.’

"Archie, I don’t know what you mean." Eleanor Bishop looked up at Archie, her eyes filled with unease.

Archie Lockwood looked down and chuckled again, his tone dripping with sarcasm as he spoke. "Eleanor Bishop, you were willing to do it for money before, and you still are now. It’s just that the old you at least had... but the you now... heh, you’ve... *lowered*... your... *price*, haven’t you?"

"..." Eleanor Bishop clenched her fists, her gaze turning mocking as she looked at the man before her.

’’Lowered my price?’ What did he think she was? A head of cabbage at the market?’

"Heh. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll... *serve*... *me*... *well*. Otherwise, no one else in Tridell will be as generous as I am."

"Archie Lockwood!" ’What do you take me for?!’

"Oh? No, that’s not right. You still have your dear Jason Lockwood, don’t you? But I seem to have heard that Jason has run into a bit of trouble recently. I doubt he’ll be able to give you any more money..."

"..." Eleanor Bishop fought to hold back her tears as she stared at the man.

’The Archie from before would never have been so aggressive. No matter how angry he got, he would never have treated her like this. But the man in front of her now... he felt like a complete stranger...’

Seeing Eleanor Bishop staring intently at him, Archie Lockwood took a step closer and asked mockingly, "What? Are you saying you’re not willing?"

"Fine. I’m willing. We’ll do it your way!" Eleanor Bishop clenched her fists, bit down hard on her lip, and forced the words out.

’Since he’s already put it that way, wouldn’t it be a waste not to play along?’

The smirk on his face suddenly turned frigid when he heard Eleanor Bishop agree. "Then let’s begin." With that, he grabbed the woman’s arm and dragged her toward the bedroom.

He kicked the bedroom door open, strode inside, and spat, "Eleanor Bishop, you really are utterly shameless!"

’She’d do anything for money. She was like that before, and she’s even worse now.’

’He couldn’t understand how a woman like this still had the nerve to be alive...’

Mired in these thoughts, Archie Lockwood had almost completely lost his senses.

Eleanor Bishop, who had never been treated this way by Archie Lockwood before, looked at him in a panic.

She reached for the comforter to pull it over herself, but in the next moment, Archie overpowered her. He gripped her hands tightly and simply stared down at her...