Chapter 1: Deadly Proposal
672words
When I pushed open the door, he was reviewing acquisition documents.
"Miss Sinclair," Alexander didn't look up, "I don't recall having an appointment."
"I've brought what you want." I walked straight to him and placed a USB drive on the desk.
Alexander finally looked up, his steel-gray eyes locking onto me: "I'm not interested in your little trinket."
"The future three-year R&D data from the Berlin laboratory." I said calmly, "The laboratory you're acquiring."
Alexander's expression subtly changed. He picked up the USB drive and inserted it into the computer. The data displayed on the screen made his expression freeze for a moment.
"This data hasn't been made public yet." He closed the computer, "What do you want?"
"A marriage." I looked straight into his eyes, "A contractual marriage for two years."
Alexander chuckled: "The Sinclair heiress, why would you need a fake marriage?"
"In 72 hours, the FDA will reject Sinclair Pharmaceuticals' new drug approval." I said, "The stock price will plummet 60%, I need your resources and protection."
Alexander raised an eyebrow: "You're betting I'll believe your prediction?"
"Not a prediction, a fact." I took a document from my bag, "This is a copy of the FDA's internal assessment report, showing the drug has fatal side effects in phase three trials."
Alexander flipped through the document, his gaze growing sharper: "How did you get this?"
"The point is, I know a lot of things." I smiled, "Enough for us to have a mutually beneficial relationship."
Alexander stood up and walked behind me. He picked up a pen from the table and gently lifted my chin: "What if I refuse?"
I calmly turned the pen around and pressed it against his throat: "Then I'll buy the childhood villa you mortgaged to the bank. I know it was the last gift from your mother before she passed away."
The air froze for a few seconds. Alexander stepped back, a flash of surprise and interest in his eyes: "You investigated me?"
"Know yourself and know your enemy." I withdrew the pen, "My terms are simple: a two-year marriage, publicly presented as real, privately each free. After marriage, I need your resources and connections. In exchange, I'll provide more intelligence like the Berlin laboratory."
Alexander walked back to his seat, opened a drawer and took out a document: "Coincidentally, I've already prepared a contract."
I took the document and quickly reviewed it: "A no physical contact clause?"
"I don't like unnecessary entanglements," Alexander said coldly.
I signed my name and pushed back the document: "Deal."
Alexander also signed, then looked up at me: "Do you know who you just made a deal with?"
"Of course," I stood up preparing to leave, "with a demon."
Alexander's laughter rang out behind me: "No, Miss Sinclair. You are the soul that crawled back from hell. I'm just curious, what made you so desperate?"
I paused, without looking back: "You'll know in 72 hours."
When I walked out of the office, the family crest pendant on my chest burned hot again. This time, it wasn't a premonition of death, but the beginning of revenge.
In my previous life, I was too naive, believing that kindness and truth could conquer all. Now, death has washed away my illusions, leaving only clarity and determination. Alexander Knight is the first piece on my chessboard—a powerful ally, a conspirator with a soul as dark as mine.
Looking at the marriage contract in my hand, I knew I had set foot on a path of no return. But compared to the pain of death, my thirst for revenge was even stronger. Clara, Ethan, the Sinclair couple—they would all pay for what they had done.
This was no longer a game of survival, but a revenge that I must win. Because the price of losing, I had already paid once.
