Chapter 1"You're just a kept bitch! Pretty. USELESS."
"Leave my brother? You'll be sucking dick for rent!"
Kai's sister spat it in my face.
I didn't flinch.
Before? I ran the global financial world. Bled daily.
Now? No job. No stress. Millions in allowance every month.
Walk away?! PLEASE.
Then twelve financial titans came for Blackwell Group.
His dad got forced out. Both brothers arrested.
Even Kai—Mr. Untouchable—was pinned at the table, forced to sign over EVERYTHING.
Head asshole eyed me. Smirked.
"When your family tanks, Blackwell, I'll fuck your little slut for you."
Kai swung. Got kicked down instead.
Touch my man? WRONG MOVE.
I dialed a number dead for ten years.
"Freeze all US trading."
"Tell those twelve financial titans."
"Thirty minutes. On their knees. Explain."
...
The day Blackwell Group fell apart, I was shopping.
The sales associate, wearing white gloves, presented this season's only crocodile leather handbag in the world.
I didn't even ask the price. Handed over Kai's black card.
The card reader let out a harsh beep.
Payment declined.
The associate's smile froze for a second, then recovered.
"Ms. Monroe, there might be an issue with the bank system."
I stared at the screen.
For the first time ever, I saw "insufficient funds" on Kai's card.
I'd had this card for three years.
Used it to buy yachts, jewelry, a beachfront mansion.
Never once had it failed.
I pulled out my phone and called Kai.
No answer.
Usually, whether he was in a board meeting or on a plane, he never let my calls ring more than three times.
I was about to try again when sudden chaos erupted outside.
Reporters rushed toward an Blackwell-owned jewelry store, cameras flashing at the sign being taken down.
On the massive electronic screen, Blackwell Group's stock price plummeted.
In thirty minutes, nearly a hundred billion in market value evaporated.
The news headlines got worse.
"Blackwell Group chairman accused of financial fraud."
"Blackwell heirs Dominic and Julian detained for international financial crimes."
"Twelve international funds announce unlimited short-selling campaign against Blackwell Group."
The associate quietly pulled the bag back.
I glanced at her.
She immediately lowered her head, avoiding my eyes.
Minutes ago, she'd been all "Ms. Monroe," asking if I wanted to see the new haute couture jewelry.
Now that the Blackwells were in trouble, she'd already decided I couldn't afford it.
Reality bites.
I went home empty-handed.
The estate was chaos.
Lawyers, accountants, executives packed the living room.
Everyone on their phones, voices getting louder and more frantic.
Victor sat in the center of the couch, looking like he'd aged ten years overnight.
Rosalind's eyes were red, asking nonstop about her sons.
Brielle saw me. All the anger she'd been holding in finally found a target.
"The family's about to go bankrupt and you're out shopping?"
She saw the bag in my hand. Her face went pale with rage.
"Alina, do you even have a heart?"
I sighed.
"There was this bag I really wanted, but couldn't get it."
"Card wouldn't go through."
Brielle nearly burst into tears from frustration.
"How the hell did my brother end up with someone as heartless as you?"
"Brielle."
A hoarse voice came from the doorway.
Kai walked into the living room, suit jacket draped over his arm, white shirt wrinkled.
He clearly hadn't slept in forever. Eyes bloodshot.
But the moment he saw me, he stopped.
Looked me over from head to toe, checking to make sure I was unharmed.
"Don't listen to them."
I nodded, playing cute.
"Babe, you're the only one who's nice to me."
Brielle turned and stormed off.
Kai didn't scold me. Just pulled a new bank card from his wallet and pressed it into my hand.
"This one still works."
"How much is on it?"
"Fifty million."
I frowned.
Cards he used to give me casually had at least nine figures.
Kai caught my disappointment.
He was quiet for a moment. Then reached up and patted my head.
"Make do for now."
That night, no one in the Blackwell family ate dinner.
I sat in the dining room alone and finished all six dishes the chef had prepared.
Two in the morning. The study upstairs still had its lights on.
I went up to find Kai.
Wanted to ask when the card would be back to normal.
Right outside the door, I heard the lawyer speaking quietly.
"Mr. Blackwell, the twelve funds have seized control of all Blackwell Group's overseas accounts."
"If we don't secure funding before the market opens tomorrow, Blackwell Group is finished."
Long silence in the study.
Finally, Kai spoke.
"Liquidate all my personal assets."
"Also, prepare a plane."
The lawyer paused.
"You're leaving?"
"Not me."
The study door suddenly opened.
Kai stood behind it.
The moment he saw me, his expression flickered.
He handed me a passport and plane ticket.
"Pack your things."
"Tomorrow morning, I'm sending you out of the country."
Chapter 2
"Where to?"
I flipped through the ticket.
Some island country I'd never heard of.
Kai said the climate was nice.
Also, no judicial assistance treaty with the Blackwells.
I didn't understand the second part.
"Do they have malls there?"
The lawyer in the study gave me a strange look.
Kai answered patiently.
"Yes."
"Can I get limited editions?"
"I'll have them sent to you regularly."
"What about my monthly allowance?"
Brielle had just come upstairs and heard that last part.
She snatched the ticket out of my hand. Slammed it on the floor.
"Alina, is money all you care about?"
"Dad got forced to resign. Dominic and Julian are still locked up."
"My brother's about to transfer his last private account to you just to keep you safe."
"And you're asking about your allowance?"
I leaned against the doorframe. Didn't say anything.
Kai's gaze turned cold as he looked at her.
"Pick it up."
"Kai!"
"I said pick it up."
Brielle's eyes went red, but she eventually bent down and picked up the ticket.
She shoved it back into my hand, voice low.
"You love money so much, right?"
"Take it and get out. Don't come back and drag my brother down."
Kai's expression darkened.
But honestly? I still didn't think the Blackwells were really going down.
So I didn't take any of this seriously.
Besides, I was Kai's kept woman.
A kept woman's main job? Eat, shop, party, live the good life.
I obediently went to my room to pack.
The walk-in closet was filled with everything Kai had given me over three years.
Clothes, shoes, jewelry, bags.
Two entire floors packed full.
I picked out a dozen of the most expensive bags, then stuffed all the diamonds from the safe into my luggage.
Just zipped it up when a loud crash came from downstairs.
I walked to the second-floor railing.
Saw uniformed officials sealing off the Blackwell estate's collection room.
Paintings taken off the walls. Wine cellar and garage marked with official seals.
Rosalind tried to stop them. Victor pulled her back.
"Let them take it."
Victor's voice sounded old and exhausted.
"These things are company assets anyway."
When Kai came back, two unfamiliar men followed behind him.
One handed him a document.
"Mr. Blackwell, tonight at eight. The Skyline Club."
"Representatives from the twelve funds will be waiting."
"This is the final negotiation."
The man's gaze moved past Kai, landing on me.
He looked me up and down, then gave an ambiguous smile.
"Ms. Monroe is here too."
Kai shifted to block his view.
"Seen enough?"
The man looked away.
"Don't misunderstand, Mr. Blackwell."
"Our boss just heard that your little pet is quite beautiful."
"If tonight goes smoothly, he wouldn't mind taking care of her for you."
Kai's fist slammed into the man's face.
Blood instantly poured from his nose.
The living room erupted into chaos.
Kai's security rushed forward, pinning the other man down.
The one who got hit wiped the blood away.
Smiled instead of getting angry.
"Mr. Blackwell, things are this bad and you're still playing tough?"
"If you don't show by eight tonight, your brothers' cases will be formally transferred."
"Then it won't just be a matter of a few years behind bars."
After they left, Kai stood there, knuckles covered in blood.
Rosalind sobbed into her hands.
Victor closed his eyes, shoulders collapsing completely.
Kai turned around. Expression calm again.
"The flight's been moved up."
"Leave now."
He told his assistant to take me to the airport.
Then got into a different car himself.
I sat in the car, watching Kai's vehicle disappear into the night.
The assistant started the engine.
"Ms. Monroe, Mr. Blackwell has arranged everything for you."
"What about him?"
The assistant went quiet.
Bad feeling rising in my chest. The Blackwells couldn't really...
I looked at the assistant in the rearview mirror.
"Turn around."
"Ms. Monroe, this is Mr. Blackwell's order."
"You don't turn around, I'm jumping out of the car."
The assistant hesitated for a few seconds. Finally did what I said.
Chapter 3
Top floor of The Skyline Club. Only one conference room had its lights on.
When I pushed the door open, Kai was standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Representatives from twelve funds sat on both sides of the long table.
Different ages, different nationalities, but identical black folders in front of each of them.
At the head of the table sat a young man.
Cayden Harlow.
The one who started this whole hunt. Also Kai's former best friend.
Kai's face darkened the second he saw me.
"Who told you to come?"
"I missed you. So I came."
"Go back."
"The plane already left."
I sat down next to him.
Kai stared at me for a few seconds, then took off his jacket and draped it over my shoulders.
"Stay here. Don't say anything."
Cayden watched us with interest.
"Your family's about to collapse, and you still have time to take care of your woman."
He raised his hand slightly.
A lawyer immediately pushed an acquisition agreement in front of Kai.
"Surrender all Blackwell Group shares. Admit to three years of illegal operations."
"Sign this, and your father retires peacefully. Your brothers get bail."
Kai flipped through the agreement quickly.
When he reached the last few pages, his expression went ice cold.
"You don't just want Blackwell Group."
The agreement made it clear.
Once Kai signed, every trust, property, and private share under the Blackwell name would become collateral assets.
Everything the family had built over generations would be swallowed whole.
Cayden raised his glass.
"Do you have any other choice?"
"Tomorrow at nine, Blackwell Group gets forcibly delisted."
"By noon, every creditor will come knocking."
"As for your brothers."
He smiled slightly.
"Whether they make it out alive depends on how cooperative you are."
Veins bulged on the back of Kai's hand.
He didn't sign.
Cayden wasn't in a hurry either.
He shifted his gaze to me.
"So this is the one you've kept for three years?"
Twelve pairs of eyes landed on me at once.
Someone chuckled.
Someone didn't bother hiding their contempt.
"She is pretty."
"No wonder Mr. Blackwell spent so much."
"I heard even her college diploma came from Mr. Blackwell donating a building."
Kai's jaw tightened.
"She's mine. You don't get to judge her."
Cayden swirled his glass.
"Then maybe Mr. Blackwell should sign."
"After Blackwell Group goes under, this little slut probably won't be yours anymore."
Kai didn't move.
The bodyguards behind Cayden immediately shut the conference room door.
Click.
I frowned.
"Aren't we here to talk business? Why so serious?"
The room went quiet for a moment.
Kai closed his eyes briefly.
Cayden laughed out loud.
"Kai, what the hell do you even see in her?"
"Your family's about to be destroyed and all she cares about is her jewelry."
"A woman like this—worth keeping for three years?"
Kai reached over and closed my jewelry box for me.
"None of your business."
Cayden leaned forward slightly.
"Ms. Monroe, Kai won't be able to afford you much longer."
"Stay with him, and you won't even be able to buy the necklace you're wearing today."
I lifted my head and looked at him.
The mockery in Cayden's eyes deepened.
"Be a good girl and I can keep you instead."
"A million a month. That enough?"
The twelve fund representatives burst into laughter.
Kai shot to his feet.
He grabbed Cayden by the collar and slammed him onto the table.
Four bodyguards simultaneously drew their weapons.
Cold gun barrels pointed straight at Kai.
