Breaking the Heart

Chapter 3 A Dangerous Game

Tears welled in my eyes as I struggled against his grip, clawing desperately at his hand.

"M-Mr. Thorn… please have mercy," I pleaded weakly. "I came to Siren Lounge to make money. People keep saying I look like your former girlfriend, Elara, but I really don't know her."

Just then, the two officers from earlier walked past the car.

The older one scolded the younger cop. "You think women from Siren Lounge are worth ruining your career over? I'm warning you—mess up like that, and you're no longer my apprentice. Forget about wearing that uniform."

A business card with my QR code fluttered lightly against the car window. The strength in Kaelan's hand slowly loosened.

My body trembled as I curled into the corner of the seat, tears still clinging to my lashes.

"Mr. Thorn," I whimpered softly, "you're being so rough. You're hurting me." As I spoke, I leaned against his shoulder and lightly bit him, carefully controlling the force.

My fingers traced slow circles across his firm abs. My half-lidded gaze carried a trace of grievance as I swayed my hips, deliberately brushing against the hard line beneath his waist.

Kaelan's desire ignited almost instantly. A low growl escaped his throat as he pushed me down beneath him. "You little temptress," he muttered. "You're pretty good at this."

Just then, his phone began ringing wildly. I glanced at the screen. It was a call from Fiona Laurent. My body stiffened involuntarily.

Fiona was Kaelan's fiancée. They had been engaged for five years and were well known in Harbor City's elite circles as the perfect couple.

Yet Kaelan made no move to answer. If anything, he became even rougher.

The phone kept ringing for several minutes. Eventually, the sound ruined the mood enough that he snatched it up impatiently.

"What is it?" he barked.

I couldn't hear the person on the other end, but Kaelan's expression grew darker and darker.

Soon he was nearly shouting. "Aegis Global thinks a pathetic little company like theirs can steal business from Thorn Holdings? Dream on."

"Fine. I got it." He hung up.

The tension inside the car vanished instantly. Kaelan grabbed a suit jacket and tossed it at me. "Put something on," he said coldly. "Then get out."

The moment I stepped out of the car, the Maybach roared away into the night. Relief flickered briefly in my chest.

But it was quickly replaced by an even stronger sense of unease. Kaelan had left just like that. Who knew when he would return to Siren Lounge again? All I could do was wait.

Kaelan was naturally suspicious. Only if I appeared harmless, just another fallen woman of the night, would he ever lower his guard.

Yuna had said that Elara Vance was killed by him. The thought stabbed into my chest so sharply it nearly made me sick. I sat down on the curb and lit a cigarette.

Now I was approaching Kaelan with a face almost identical to Elara's. It was like bargaining with a tiger. If he could kill Elara, then the moment he sensed something wrong, he would kill me too.

But I had no choice. I had to gamble.

Not far away, a shadow appeared. The cigarette burned my fingers before I even realized it.

"Cael…" I hurried to my feet, instinctively tightening the suit jacket around my body. The pale stretch of my exposed thigh suddenly made me uneasy.

It was Caelum Ashford. He had been part of my life since I was twelve. Back then, he had only been nine.

Over the years, if not for him, I probably wouldn't have survived. In front of others, I could act shameless and seductive. But in front of Caelum, I had to be the dignified older sister.

Caelum's gaze immediately fell on the red mark on my neck. His expression twisted as if he had been burned.

With reddened eyes, he grabbed my wrist and squeezed painfully. "Come with me," he said hoarsely. "You're coming home."

I didn't move. We had agreed long ago that he wouldn't interfere with what I was doing. Yet he had chosen this moment to appear. What if Kaelan had seen him?

"Let go," I said coldly. "My business isn't yours to worry about."

Caelum's handsome face twisted with fury. His teeth clenched as he spoke.

"Nancy, have you lost your mind? Why would you degrade yourself like this? If you want revenge, fine. I'll go kill him myself. I'd even die with him if I had to. But why would you sleep with him?" His knuckles cracked loudly as he clenched his fists.

My heart skipped a beat. Had he been nearby the whole time? Had he seen everything?

"Cael," I said quietly, "you know how I've lived these past five years. I've waited too long for this day."

When our eyes met again, mine had already turned cold. "You don't have to help me," I said. "But you can't stop me."

"I will have my revenge." Tears suddenly spilled down my face.

Elara… she was my sister, my twin sister. She had been born only one hour before me.