Kianna gave a scornful laugh, as if amused that I was still putting on a show.
While she continued her interview, Carlos suddenly grabbed my hand.
"Diego, I heard Sonia's ex-boyfriend of six years is here tonight. Do you know who he is?"
I couldn't be bothered to guess the truth hidden in his words. I pulled my hand back and carefully wiped it with a handkerchief.
"Sorry. I have a cleanliness issue."
Carlos ducked his head, embarrassed.
Across from me, Natalia sneered.
"Still pretending, Diego? You've been a fraud since college. Two years later and you're still the same fake."
"Natalia, don't say that," Carlos protested. "Mr. Reynolds doesn't seem like that kind of person."
"You're fooled because you've only met him once. I've known him for six years. If it weren't for him, my sister would never have gone bankrupt!" she seethed.
"What do you mean?" Carlos frowned.
"Big brother, you still don't get it? He's my sister's scumbag first love."
Natalia spat her gum in my direction, eyes full of provocation.
I flicked my lighter up to block it, then stood and slammed it against her face.
"Diego! What the hell are you doing? You think I'm the same as you? I'm the Crawford family's second daughter! Who the hell do you think you are, daring to touch me? Believe it or not, my sister will chop your fingers off!"
"Your Crawford family?" I scoffed. "I don't give a damn. I ruined her once—I could ruin her a second time."
The sudden clash disrupted the entire interview.
Kianna came rushing back.
I glanced at the white lighter in my hand, now smeared with gum. My stomach turned. It's my damn obsession with cleanliness again.
I held the lighter out. "One hundred thousand."
Natalia snorted. "You've got some nerve asking my sister for that pocket change. It's on purpose, right? From the looks of it, you've been doing pretty poorly these two years. But your talent for seducing women seems to be thriving."
I raised the lighter again, ready to throw it at her, but Kianna caught my wrist, looking at me sharply.
"What did you just say?"
"One hundred thousand." I frowned.
"No—the sentence before that."
I thought for a moment, then repeated evenly. "I ruined you once. I can ruin you a second time."
For the first time that evening, Kianna laughed—truly laughed.
"You know, I actually prefer you when you drop the act."
I yanked my hand free, but she deliberately leaned closer, her cheek brushing against my palm.
"If this slap lands," she whispered, "I'll make sure your mother loses what little movement she has left."
I hadn't intended to hit her. But the moment those words left her mouth, my hand came down hard across her face.
"Are you insane?!" Natalia shrieked, lunging at me. She clawed at my neck; I yanked her hair in return.
The transparent glass stool beside us shattered against her, blood streaking down her forehead.
I snatched up a shard and slashed at Kianna's arm.
She barely flinched. Two of her bodyguards grabbed me with overwhelming force and shoved me straight into the pool.
She stood above me, elegant even in fury.
"Two years of caring for your crippled mother must have been exhausting. Why not let me arrange a little ‘accident' for you? That way, you'll never have to suffer again."
Her smile deepened. "And your eyes—they're so beautiful. I'll dig them out and use them for my engagement to Carlos. Wouldn't that be lovely?"
I wasn't the type to talk. My gaze locked on her chest. Without hesitation, I drove the shard forward in a vicious thrust.
I wanted to see her bravado crack—to watch her tremble, beg, break.
But that moment never came.
Because Carlos stepped in front of her.
Blood bloomed across his white shirt like ink in water.
"Are you insane?!" Kianna's voice rang with fury. "If you want to vent your madness, come at me. Why him? Do you even realize—he was born with a condition? He can't stop the bleeding!"
