With that, he extended a hand toward Chloe Reed, his eyes curving into a smile. Those blue eyes of his looked as if they could speak.

Walker Grant, however, blocked his hand again and said calmly, "My wife, Chloe Reed."

William Quinn froze for a moment, then his lips curled into a wide grin. His smile was so exaggerated it seemed to animate his entire face.

"So, this is your wife. The famous Miss Reed. I’ve heard so much about you. I’m honored to finally meet you today."

As he spoke, his gaze landed on Chloe Reed’s face, growing even more brazen. He seemed to completely ignore the cold expression spreading across Walker Grant’s features, his blue eyes filled with interest.

Chloe Reed felt uncomfortable. He was looking at her like she was a commodity—and a very valuable one at that.

Her brow furrowed, and her clear eyes took on a cold glint as she met William Quinn’s gaze.

William Quinn burst out laughing. "Mrs. Grant, you’ve got some nerve. No one has ever dared to look at me like that."

He leaned in closer, a wide grin on his face. "Do you know what happened to the last person who looked at me like that?"

His fingers curled into a claw, his blue eyes filled with an excited gleam. "I gouged his eyes out!"

"AGH!"

The next second, William Quinn let out a cry of agony.

Walker Grant had grabbed his hand and, with a sharp twist, snapped his finger.

A furious expression instantly appeared on William Quinn’s face. "Walker Grant, how dare you do this to me!"

Walker Grant’s eyes were cold, his aura sharp. "Your name may be William Quinn, but you have no manners. What if you had frightened my wife, treating her like that?"

William Quinn was furious. A tsunami seemed to be brewing in his blue eyes. He glanced at his broken finger and said coldly, "Ten million."

Walker Grant arched an eyebrow. "Show my wife some respect. Otherwise, I’d be willing to pay a hundred million for all ten of your fingers."

William Quinn scoffed, turned, and sat back down on the sofa.

Walker Grant took Chloe Reed’s hand and said gently, "Don’t be afraid."

Chloe Reed pressed her lips together. "Is he a madman?"

"Yes, you could put it that way," Walker Grant replied.

The leader of the world’s second-ranked mercenary organization was, indeed, a madman. The battle that had made him famous was the one where he chopped off the arms and legs of his half-siblings, leaving only their bare torsos. He then hung them from a giant fishing rod and presented them to his father at the man’s birthday banquet.

The man was vicious, sinister, and incredibly volatile. The moment he was displeased, someone was bound to suffer.

But he loved money.

As long as the price was right, he’d do anything.

Walker Grant led Chloe Reed over to the sofa and sat down with her. "His organization has accepted a contract to assassinate you."

Chloe Reed’s back went rigid. Her gaze, when it fell on William Quinn, was now tinged with wariness.

William Quinn’s finger was broken, but he seemed to feel no pain, allowing a nearby bodyguard to set and bandage it.

He watched them whispering to each other, his expression suddenly going blank. After a long moment, he said, "She was deceived by that scumbag in just the same way."

Hearing this, Walker Grant’s brows drew together. "Let’s talk price."

William Quinn’s gaze fell on Chloe Reed’s face, and a flicker of longing passed through the depths of his blue eyes.

’A similar Eastern face... But she had left him when he was very young.’

’He had watched with his own eyes as she leaped from a tall building.’

’She didn’t want him anymore.’

"I want her." 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

William Quinn, however, pointed a finger straight at Chloe Reed, his gaze fixed on her as he stated his condition.