Valentina leaned forward, tongue trembling as it hovered above Jace’s cock. Her lips parted—
A bullet ripped through the window. Shards of glass burst across the room, scattering like sparks.
The shot tore through Jace’s skull.
He collapsed, his body hitting the floor with a heavy thud. Blood pooled beneath his head, dark and spreading fast.
"JACE!" Valentina screamed, voice cracking with terror. She dropped the blanket.
"Oh my God!" Amelia’s eyes widened in horror, breath caught in her throat. "Valentina, call an ambulance! Now!"
Valentina’s hands fumbled for her phone, her vision blurred with tears.
Amelia pressed both palms against the gushing wound, her fingers slipping in blood.
"Jace, stay with us. Please stay with us!"
Blood coated Amelia’s hands, warm and sticky, but she pressed harder, ignoring the sting of glass in her skin.
Jace’s eyelids fluttered. His voice rasped, broken. "F...fuck... who... d-did this..." His breath rattled, his eyes unfocused.
Anyone could see, he was beyond saving.
The room wavered, fading into darkness. Then, the system text appeared before him.
[ Would you like to continue living? ]
Jace’s brows furrowed in pain. ’W-What?’ His head throbbed, blood pounding in his ears.
His lips barely moved. "Y...Yes..."
[ The user has made his decision. The system will start its evaluation... ]
The voices of Valentina and Amelia grew faint, unable to hear properly.
[ Evaluation Complete ]
[ The user, Jace Cromwell, is eligible to take out a loan of One Billion Dollars ]
Through the haze, Jace frowned, blood bubbling at his lips. ’Lo...an?’
[ The money will be exchanged to prolong user Jace’s life by two years ]
[ If the user doesn’t pay the amount within two years, the user’s soul will become the property of the system. Free will will cease to exist, as per @#@#@# ]
The words carved into his fading mind. Then silence.
Darkness swallowed him whole.
"JACE!" Valentina screamed, shaking him violently. "Don’t close your eyes!"
Amelia sobbed, pressing harder on his wound.
But Jace’s chest stilled. His body went limp.
Saint Argento Private Hospital. A place reserved for the rich, velvet curtains lining every room.
Jace lay propped against crisp white pillows in an exclusive suite. His head was bandaged, wrapping across his temple and down to his jaw. The hospital gown hung loose on his frame, revealing pale skin that had lost color from blood loss.
Camila sat on his right, in a cushioned chair. A plain white top clung to her, paired with fitted black pants. She leaned forward, holding a slice of apple to his lips with an impatient frown.
Beside her, Maribel sat quietly, knife in hand as she sliced apples into neat wedges. A soft shirt and long flowing skirt framed her modest presence, her tired eyes watching Jace with quiet worry.
On the opposite side of the bed, Kyra stood with her hands behind her back, posture straight as a soldier’s. But her head was lowered as if being punished.
A knock came at the door.
"Mr. Jace," the nurse said, stepping in, "you have three visitors who requested to see you. They said they informed you beforehand."
Jace’s smile was calm. "Let them in."
The door opened. Amelia, Valentina, and Noelle walked inside. Their expressions were weighed down with worry.
Amelia clutched her handbag tight against her chest. Valentina’s sharp poise had cracked; her hands trembled. Noelle lingered at the back, fidgeting with her sleeves.
Camila’s glare shot straight at Valentina. Her voice cut like a knife. "Is that woman with yellow eyes Valentina—the one who was with Dad?"
Both Valentina and Amelia flinched. Noelle blinked in confusion, not knowing the story.
After the ambulance had been called, Amelia and Valentina were forced to explain to the police. Valentina took the lead. She claimed that she and Jace had been sharing a private moment in Amelia’s room. When Amelia walked in, they panicked, words spilled, and then, just as Jace was about to put on his clothes, the bullet struck. He collapsed instantly. It was the only story that could shield them from complete ruin.
With his mother long gone and his father having abandoned him years ago, the first person contacted had been Maribel, his live-in partner. She arrived in a storm of fear, dragging Camila with her.
Now both women were at his side, caring for him constantly through sleepless nights.
Camila’s voice cut through the tension. "So... when did you start sleeping with Dad?"
"Cami." Maribel’s soft voice snapped, her eyes flashing warning. She shook her head firmly.
Camila didn’t reply, but her glare stayed fixed on Valentina.
Jace chuckled faintly, though pain tugged at his bandaged head.
Noelle stepped forward, voice trembling. "...Sir, how are you feeling now?"
Amelia stammered, "Y-Yes, how are you?"
Jace smiled faintly. "I’m fine, as you can see."
The nurse appeared again. "Mr. Jace, you have another visitor waiting. She said her name is Lena Hart."
Jace’s smile thinned, his eyes narrowing. "I’ll meet her in another room."
Maribel frowned. "Jace, you shouldn’t even be walking right now."
He brushed her worry aside with a charming grin. "It’s alright. I’ll return soon."
"I’ll go with you," Camila said, her voice firm.
Jace tilted his head, amused. "...Alright then."
’Well, it was about time, I started teaching her.’
With Camila’s help, he slid off the bed. His feet touched the floor unsteadily. Kyra followed, silently behind them.
They entered a small blue room, stripped bare. No bed, no equipment, just a wide window overlooking the hospital garden.
Jace stood by the glass, hands clasped loosely behind his back. "Camila, why don’t you stand near the wall?"
She shook her head. "No. What if—"
Jace’s smile stayed, but his tone was cold. "Don’t be stubborn."
Reluctantly, she let go of his arm and stepped back to the wall. Her arms folded tightly, eyes never leaving him.
Moments later, the nurse led Lena Hart inside.
Jace didn’t turn. His gaze stayed fixed on the garden. "Ms. Lena, why don’t you come closer? The view is better here."
"N-No, it’s fine," she replied softly.
His tone sharpened. "Don’t make me say please."
Lena’s hesitation cracked. She stepped forward, stopping just in front of him.
Jace turned his head, his smile polite. "I won’t waste time on questions like how you found out I was admitted."
His tone darkened. "But I am curious. What exactly did you want to talk about?"
Lena’s lips curved into a small smile. "I just came to check on you."
"That’s all?" Jace asked, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"...Yes," her voice trembled slightly.
A heavy silence fell. Jace studied her, eyes unblinking.
Lena began turning. "I’ll be going now—"
But his hand shot out, seizing her throat. In the next instant, her head was forced against the open window frame.
Camila gasped. Kyra’s eyes widened.
Jace’s bandaged face twisted into a dark smirk. His pupils burned crimson.