"Sign it. Walk away. And never appear in front of me again."
The contract landed on the table with a crisp sound, each word on the pristine paper cutting deeper than a knife. Ella Lin sat stiffly on the leather chair, her heart pounding so violently she could hear it echoing in her ears. Her trembling fingers hovered over the contract, unable to touch it.
Across the table, Leon Xu leaned back with an expression of icy detachment. His black suit was impeccable, his silk tie perfectly straight. He exuded the kind of cold dominance that could freeze a person's soul.
"One million dollars, Ella. It's far more than you deserve."
His voice was low and emotionless, but every word felt like a slap across her face.
Ella stared blankly at the document.Termination Agreement. Compensation: One Million Dollars. Condition: Permanent Disappearance.
Her chest tightened painfully. Just last night, this same man held her in his arms, his warm breath against her neck, his voice rough with desire.
"Stay with me tonight, Ella."
But now, those words seemed like a cruel joke.
She bit her lower lip, the metallic taste of blood filling her mouth. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall in front of him.
"Leon..." Her voice trembled, fragile as a whisper in the wind. "I... I'm pregnant."
For a moment, the entire world seemed to pause.
Leon's fingers, elegantly holding a glass of red wine, froze mid-air. His dark eyes sharpened like a predator locking onto its prey.
"Pregnant?" His tone was dangerously calm.
Ella forced herself to look up, her watery eyes meeting his cold, unreadable gaze.
"Yes..." she managed to say, her fingers unconsciously moving to her flat stomach. "It's yours."
The temperature in the room seemed to drop to freezing.
Leon let out a low, mocking laugh and stood up, his towering figure casting a shadow over her.
"Ella Lin, don't play these pathetic games with me. Even if it were true, do you really think a child would be enough to bind me?"
He stepped closer, the scent of his expensive cologne washing over her senses, a cruel reminder of everything she could never have.
"You're nothing but a toy I grew tired of. Don't think too highly of yourself."
His words sliced through her like shards of glass.
Ella's shoulders trembled, but she lifted her chin stubbornly.
"I never wanted to bind you..." she whispered. "I just... wanted you to look at me. Even for a second. Like I mattered."
Leon's eyes darkened, and in the next second, he grabbed her chin harshly, forcing her to meet his cold, pitiless eyes.
"Look closely, Ella Lin. In my world, women like you don't matter. You will never matter."
Her vision blurred with tears, her heart cracking apart one painful piece at a time.
She tore herself from his grip, her legs shaky as she stood.
"One million?" she sneered, her voice hoarse but firm. "Leon Xu, today you offer me a million to disappear. One day, you'll kneel before me and beg me to stay. And on that day, I'll make sure you know exactly how worthless you've made me feel."
She turned and walked out of the grand office with her back straight, holding onto the last shreds of her dignity.
Every step away from him felt like walking through a storm, every heartbeat screamed with pain, but she didn't stop.
Outside, the wind was cold and biting. As the heavy doors closed behind her, Leon stood motionless, his expression unreadable.
He poured himself another glass of wine, but the liquid trembled in the glass.
"Pregnant..." he muttered under his breath, his knuckles whitening as he gripped the glass tighter.
The door behind him swung open suddenly. His assistant rushed in, face pale.
"President Xu! The Lin Corporation's overseas branches just merged with MYST Group... and their new CEO is..."
Leon turned sharply, his eyes as sharp as a blade.
"Who?"
The assistant swallowed hard.
"Ella Lin."
The glass in Leon's hand shattered.
to stay. And on that day… I'll make sure you know exactly how it feels to be worthless."