Chapter 427

"Help... me..."

The hoarse plea echoed through the darkness.

Only silence answered.

Chloe Valentine curled in the corner when her fingers brushed against something cold.

She grasped the shard of broken glass with trembling hands.

The sharp edge sliced her skin. Blood snaked down her pale wrist.

She smiled.

Bang—

The door burst open.

Blinding light flooded the room.

"Damn it! This bitch trying to die?!" The manager roared before whirling on the bodyguards. "What the hell are you paid for?!"

He hastily turned to the man behind him. "Mr. Sherwood, my oversight—"

"Stop the bleeding." The man's voice cut like ice. "She won't die."

Freezing alcohol splashed over the wound.

The searing pain jolted Chloe awake.

A leather shoe tilted her chin up. "Want to die?" The man tapped his own neck. "Cut here."

Her pupils shrank.

That voice...

"It's you!" She lunged forward, clutching his trousers. "Why didn't you answer my calls?! Nathan abandoned me! I've got nothing left!"

The manager moved to intervene but stopped at the man's raised hand.

He crouched to her eye level. "Recognize me now?"

"Help me... like you did in the Maldives..."

"Help you?" A dark chuckle. "You've played your last move."

He picked up the glass shard.

A flash of cold light.

"Ah—!" Chloe clutched her face as blood seeped between her fingers.

"This," he said calmly, "is called destruction before rebirth."

Dawn broke.

A private jet pierced the clouds.

Chloe lay in the cabin, her bandaged eyes bloodshot beneath the gauze.

She would return.

Without fail.

......

Harvard University classroom.

Hannah Flores rushed in, cradling steaming pork buns.

"Evelyn! Mrs. Liu's new recipe—with shrimp!"

Leaning closer, she whispered, "Rumor says Professor Zhang went abroad. New teacher starts today..."

The bell rang.

A tall figure stepped onto the podium.

"I'm Adrian Klein." Gold-rimmed glasses gleamed as he adjusted them. "I'll be taking over Professor Zhang's classes this semester."