The woman didn’t answer. She simply lowered her head slightly, her gaze resting faintly on the cigarette in her hand.

Seeing that the woman had fallen silent, Cassian Jennings said nothing more either. He leaned against the wall, taking slow sips of his drink.

The two of them leaned against the wall in silence, as if the world around them had ceased to exist.

After some time, Aiden Avery came out. He walked straight to the woman, grabbed her by the arm, and pulled her away.

The woman didn’t resist, letting Aiden Avery drag her off.

Watching them leave, Cassian Jennings gave a bitter smile, then turned and went back to his room.

Aiden Avery dragged Amelia Avery all the way out of Vespera before finally shoving her away.

Amelia Avery coldly rubbed her arm and said resentfully, "What do you think you’re doing, Brother?"

"What do *I* think I’m doing? Amelia Avery, I should be asking you what *you* think you’re doing! Don’t tell me you’re still planning on going after Cassian Jennings!"

"I’m not," Amelia Avery denied sharply, her eyes red-rimmed.

Aiden Avery’s lips curled into a sneer. "You’re not? Amelia Avery, do you think I’m blind? I saw the way you and Cassian Jennings were making eyes at each other just now."

Aiden Avery’s words made Amelia Avery falter, a sharp pain lancing through her heart. "Brother, I wouldn’t dare hope for anything with him anymore. I just want us to be able to move on."

"Move on? If you really wanted to move on, you shouldn’t have asked me to bring you here, and you definitely shouldn’t have seen him again," Aiden Avery said, his voice cold and weary.

"I’ll leave as soon as I see him get back on his feet, as soon as I see Jennings survive this crisis."

"Amelia Avery, you need to understand something. The only reason I helped you fake your death was because I trusted you. But what you’re doing now is a bitter disappointment."

"Brother, I... I swear! I, Amelia Avery, will absolutely, positively not get involved with Cassian Jennings again!" ’Cassian Jennings will never truly fall for anyone. She should know that. And now, she really does.’

’No woman can ever truly reach his heart...’

’She had only just started a casual conversation with him, and he accepted without the slightest hesitation...’

"Fine. I’ll trust you one last time."

***

「The next day.」

When Eleanor Bishop woke up, she saw the check on the bedside table.

A check for ten million...

Staring at it, Eleanor Bishop suddenly broke into a wide smile, but as she smiled, tears began to stream down her face...

’So that’s what I’m worth. Ten million for one night...’

She got up and walked to the bathroom. After a quick shower, she came out, picked up her clothes from the floor, and put them on one piece at a time.

Just as she was dressed and ready to leave, the doorbell rang.

She opened the door to find a female staff member. The attendant looked slightly surprised to see Eleanor Bishop, but quickly recovered and said with a smile, "Miss Bishop, Mr. Lockwood asked me to give this to you."

With that, the attendant handed several boxes of pills to Eleanor Bishop.

Eleanor Bishop nodded and thanked her. But when she glanced down and saw the name on the box, her expression turned ghastly.

The attendant smiled again and said, "Mr. Lockwood also instructed that I am to personally watch Miss Bishop take the pills before I let her leave."

Eleanor Bishop clutched the pillbox tightly. She fought with all her might not to cry, fought not to let the sorrow overwhelm her. "Tell Mr. Lockwood I’ll take them. Even if he hadn’t sent someone to watch me or given me the medicine, I would have bought it myself. After all, what is there between Mr. Lockwood and me but a transaction?"