Chapter 9

Even as the scorching hand tugged at her nightgown, Elizabeth threw her arms around his neck, tears burning fiercely.

"I admit... the Moore Group leak a month ago, I did it."

Matthew's movements stopped instantly, his bloodshot eyes locked on her.

Elizabeth didn't let go. Instead, she pressed herself tighter against his burning chest.

"Back then, I was blind, fooled by that bastard Daniel, which made me do something stupid that hurt you."

"But I regretted it long ago. At the wedding, I stabbed him. I've completely cut ties with him."

"Matthew, all I want now is to kill him. All I want is to stay by your side and make amends..."

"Enough!" Matthew grabbed her throat, the force so strong it seemed like he'd crush her windpipe.

"You think I'll believe your lies?"

"You say you've cut ties with him? You say you only want me?"

Matthew grabbed the unfinished bottle of whiskey from the nightstand.

"Want to prove your loyalty? Show me your sincerity."

Matthew tilted his head back and took a big gulp of liquor, then suddenly lowered his head and kissed her lips roughly.

The harsh liquor mixed with the man's domineering presence was forced into Elizabeth's mouth.

Elizabeth choked until tears streamed down her face, coughing violently, a burning pain spreading through her lungs.

Even the slightest amount of alcohol would cause her skin to erupt in red rashes. Matthew was fully aware of it—he used to forbid her from even touching chocolates that contained alcohol.

But now, he was using this method to test her, to torture her.

"What? Can't handle it already?" Matthew released her lips, his fingertips roughly wiping the liquor from the corner of her mouth, his eyes terrifyingly dark.

"Didn't you say you'd die for me? Well—"

In a burst of anger, he slammed the half-full bottle of whiskey onto the nightstand with a heavy bang.

"Drink it."

“As long as you make me happy tonight while we drink, I’ll consider it proof that you’ve broken things off with him.”

Elizabeth looked at the bottle of liquor, her face instantly turning pale.

If she drank all that, her allergy would kick in immediately. This was no different from a death sentence.

But looking at Matthew's mocking eyes, she knew she had no way out.

As long as it soothed him, as long as it made him believe her—if only a little—what was her life worth anyway?

"Okay... I'll drink." Elizabeth's trembling hand reached for the whiskey bottle. She tilted her head back, closed her eyes, and started gulping it down.

The harsh, pungent liquid slid down her throat like blades cutting her esophagus and stomach.

Liquor ran down the corners of her mouth, soaking her pure white silk nightgown, outlining her thin, trembling body.

Matthew just watched coldly, watching her face turn red, watching her brow furrow in pain, but the coldness in his eyes didn't fade one bit.

He was simply waiting for her true nature to surface. Waiting for her to smash a bottle across his face like she used to.

But Elizabeth didn't. As if she felt no pain, she kept gulping it down, one mouthful after another, until the bottle was empty.

The empty bottle rolled onto the carpet.

Elizabeth collapsed powerlessly on the bed, her once-delicate neck and arms quickly covered with alarming red rashes.

Her stomach churned violently, a metallic sweetness rushing up her throat—the taste of blood.

No, she couldn't let him see.

If he saw her vomiting blood, he'd definitely think she was playing for sympathy again.

"I need... to use the bathroom..."

Elizabeth covered her mouth, stumbling off the bed, not even bothering with shoes, running barefoot toward the bathroom.

Matthew stood frozen as she retreated in desperation, her exposed skin erupting in angry red rashes, a sharp pain stabbing deep into his heart.

Damn it, she's clearly allergic to alcohol, yet she actually dared to drink it just to put on an act?

“Elizabeth, stop right there!” He instinctively reached out, then clenched his hand and pulled it back.

"This has to be her playing the victim." he warned himself inwardly. "I can't afford to soften up this time."

From the bathroom came the sound of running water, covering the faint, suppressed retching from Elizabeth.

Bent over the sink, she retched violently, expelling nothing but bright red blood laced with undigested liquor.

The woman in the mirror was deathly pale, Blood lingered at the corners of her mouth, while the rashes on her neck had swollen into a terrifying mess from the allergic reaction.

She had to leave here. Even if it meant hiding in a guest room for the night, she couldn't let Matthew see this sink full of blood.

Elizabeth splashed cold water on her face, washing away the blood, forcing her nearly collapsing body to hold on as she opened the bathroom side door and slipped out.

The hallway was covered in thick carpet. She leaned against the wall, swaying with every step toward the servants' quarters downstairs.

Passing the second-floor study, a faint sound of voices reached her ears.

"Hurry up, don't let anyone find us."

Elizabeth's foggy brain instantly cleared somewhat. She held her breath and silently pressed against the wall, peeking around the corner.

Near the entrance of Matthew’s study, two shadowy figures crouched beside the safe, barely visible in the dim light.

One person was bent over, holding a bulging manila envelope, desperately stuffing it into a gap near the safe.

The second person stood guard, eyes scanning both ends of the hallway, voice barely above a whisper.

"Done yet? “This is Mr. Wilson’s direct order—Matthew’s as good as finished now!”

“Don’t worry, everything’s in place. Tomorrow, when the tax bureau storms in for a surprise inspection and finds proof of tax evasion worth billions of dollars, they'll send Matthew straight to the prison, where he'll never get out!"

Tax evasion? Billions of dollars?

Elizabeth's pupils contracted sharply. Daniel wanted to completely destroy Matthew, destroy the Moore Group.

It was the same in her past life. Daniel had always used such despicable methods to frame Matthew, and back then, she had even helped him.

No, she absolutely couldn't let them succeed.

"Stop! Who are you!"

Elizabeth rushed out from around the corner, opening her mouth to shout Matthew's name.

The spy's eyes instantly turned vicious.

A heavy blow struck the back of Elizabeth's neck.

Sharp pain hit her. Elizabeth's vision went black. Before she could even make a sound, her body went limp and collapsed.

The man’s lips curled into a cold, sinister smile as he hoisted Elizabeth’s unconscious body over his shoulder and cast her into the study..

Meanwhile, beneath Wilson Manor, the wine cellar lay in dim light, shadows playing across Daniel’s handsome features.

He swirled a glass of red wine, He stood there, listening intently as his subordinate delivered a report over the phone, his smile growing deeper.

"Well done." Daniel took a sip of wine, the bright red liquid staining his thin lips.

“When the time comes, you’ll return on your knees, begging me for the slightest bit of attention.”

Hanging up the phone, Daniel looked at his reflection in the wine glass, his expression twisted.

"Elizabeth, I told you, you can't escape."

“I’m the only one destined to be your partner.”

"When the time comes, you'll crawl back on your knees begging me, begging me to look at you just once more."