His Mad Delusions

Anise Buccaneer had just submitted her resignation letter when her mother called. “Hey Anise, how’s your resignation going?” “I submitted my resignation form and will be coming home in a month.” “That's good, that's good.” Her mother sounded delighted, “Me and all the old ladies in town have found you a few decent suitors as blind dates when you come back. Let’s hope you can get married by the end of the year.” Then, she advised affectively, “Try not to linger on that man from the Renaults. He’s not like the rest of us common folks, he’s from another social class entirely.” Chapter 1 Anise Buccaneer felt as if there was something lodged in her throat while tears began to well up in her eyes. “Don’t worry, Mom. I got it. I’ll come home to be with you after I’m done with the handover.” After hanging up, she began to pack up her belongings in her office. Over the years in Renault Corporation, she had so many personal belongings piled up. When she was halfway through packing, her phone rang again. Clarice Reid had sent her a location along with a short text, [Come.] There was no mistaking it. It was the address of Arthur Renault’s villa. Twenty minutes later, Anise stood in front of the villa. She pushed the ajar front door open and stepped inside to see Clarice in the center of the living room, holding a piece of bracelet. Anise felt her heart skip a beat. She was sure she had taken all of her belongings with her when she moved out of this villa. How did she miss that? Before she could even respond, Clarice slapped her across the face. “These last few days, I've been trying to find out the identity of the woman who got with Arthur when I was abroad. I never thought it would be you, someone who I thought was my best friend! “How did you pull this off? Look at yourself, you’re not even much of a looker, and you have the figure of a hag! How did you seduce him?” Anise shivered while she felt a wave of shame wash over her. “Clarice, things just happened because of a coincidence. For the record, our… intimate arrangement only happened during the time you were broken up with him. We never crossed any line before that.” Smack! Clarice slapped her again, “Even if we’re broken up, Arthur will always belong to me! Who do you think you are?” Clarice slapped her so much harder this time that a trace of blood trickled from her lips. When a third slap was about to be delivered, Anise finally fought back and seized Clarice’s wrist. “Anise, what are you doing?!” A terrific shout emerged from behind. Before Anise could turn around, a tremendous force threw her off her feet. She stumbled for balance before crashing to the ground and smashing her knees against the marble floor. The pain was so terrible that it made her wince. It was Arthur. He stood guarding Clarice protectively behind him. The handsome suit he wore made him look more dashing than ever, but what was more striking was the cold look in his eyes, which sent a chill down Anise’s spine. Clarice immediately burst out crying, “Arthur, I found out about you and Anise! I can’t believe my best friend got together with my ex-boyfriend... I was so angry and tried to confront her, and that was when she hit me.” “I didn't! It was—” “Enough.” Arthur sharply cut Anise off, but the look in his eyes softened instantly when he turned back to Clarice. His voice was laced with a hint of panic, “Clarice, what happened between Anise and me was just an accident. I did it because I was longing so much for you at the time. Didn’t I pick you up as soon as you came back? That’s evidence that you are the one I love.” Anise felt as if there was an invisible hand clutching tightly around her heart. This entire time, she barely qualified as a replacement. She was only a rebound. Clarice looked up at Arthur through her tear-filled eyes and asked, “Are you sure you don't love her?” “Yes.” Arthur's answer was firm and without the slightest bit of hesitation. “I want you to prove it to me.” Clarice pointed at Anise, “Get the bodyguards to have her stripped naked.” Anise felt her blood freeze in an instant. She cast a look at Arthur and noticed his brows locked into a tight frown, but he would not say a word. “I knew it! You don't have the heart to do it to her!” Clarice cried out. “Fine! If that’s what you want, I’ll leave!” As soon as she said so, Arthur grabbed her to stop her before barking an order at his bodyguards. “Get to it!” Two bodyguards clad in black emerged out of nowhere. Anise desperately tried to squirm away from them, but she was no match for their strength. “No…no…” The sound of torn fabric echoing across the villa sounded especially jarring. Soon, the buttons of her shirt came loose, and her dress was ripped apart along with the strap of her underwear… After the last bit of her clothing was torn off, Arthur finally spoke up, “That’s enough. “Get out. Don’t you ever come back here again.” Anise did what she could to cover her nakedness while staggering out of the door. She could still hear Arthur's gentle, doting voice behind her, “Don’t be angry, Clarice…” It was pouring rain outside. Pellets of rain beat against her bare skin like hail, but it was nothing compared to the chill she felt inside. She clutched the shred of whatever fabric remained of her clothes tightly to her chest while she braced the storm. Throughout her journey, the freezing rainwater mingled with her tears and trickled into her mouth, tasting agonizingly bitter. Memories from the past flooded into her mind. Back in university, Arthur was the crush of nearly every girl on campus. He was tall, handsome, and whenever he played basketball, there would be a concert of girls screaming for him. Meanwhile, Clarice was undisputedly the fairest girl on campus. She was fair-skinned, beautiful, and came from a wealthy family. On the other hand, Anise hardly had a presence. Not only was she plain-looking, but she was also from an ordinary family. That was, until a fateful lunch break one day when Clarice suddenly sat opposite her with a tray of food and offered with a sweet smile, “It’s no fun eating by yourself. From now on, you’re going to eat with us.” From then on, she became Clarice's "best friend." Everyone praised Clarice for her gracious gesture of befriending a so-called “ugly duckling” like Anise. Anise was the only one who knew Clarice only wanted her around to make herself look good. That was, until Arthur came into the picture. At first, Anise mistakenly assumed Arthur had his eyes on her. It all happened one evening when she was cornered in an alley by a few thugs, when Arthur, who happened to pass by, valiantly stepped in to help her. Arthur’s brave silhouette, outlined by the sun, became the definitive picture of her youth. It did not take long before she realized Arthur only approached her because he was interested in Clarice. The easiest way to get to a girl was through her best friend. Regardless, she helped him in his pursuit. Even now, she remembered how she would put in a good word for Arthur to Clarice. She would wisely excuse herself whenever they were spending time together so the duo could have some time for themselves. And yet, there were also the countless times she would scribble down the name of the infamous Arthur Renault in her diary entries. After that, she was as good as an NPC. She watched helplessly as Arthur won Clarice's heart and spoiled her rotten. The entire time, she thought she would witness their romance budding into marriage, and that they were going to have children and spend the rest of their lives together. But when graduation came around, Clarice suddenly broke up with Arthur and insisted on going abroad. Arthur chased her to the airport and braced the pouring rain for an entire day. For all his effort, Clarice barely even looked back at him. During that period, Anise was the one who stuck by his side. When he lost himself at the bottom of the bottle, she was the one cleaning up the scattered bottles on the floor for him. When he was at the height of his depression, she was the one who kept things orderly for him. Eventually, she even became his secretary. She dedicated herself to sorting out every detail of his personal and work life. She was good at it. Things took a turn when Arthur was drugged during a business dinner. She tried to call a doctor for him, but he was lost in his senses. In a fit of passion, he pinned her down onto the couch in the lounge. After they were done, he barely even glanced at her. Still, she remembered the burning heat of his body and how his breath turned rapid. Similar incidents were repeated several times. Arthur was drunk whenever it happened. He never kissed her on the lips and hardly even looked at her for the matter. All he did was take what he wanted. Their ambiguous relationship lasted for three whole years. About a month ago, when Clarice finally returned, Arthur went straight back to her without hesitation. That was the moment Anise knew it was time for her to withdraw from their relationship. With that, she secretly resigned from her position. She even agreed on a blind date her mother set up for her back in her hometown. To Anise’s surprise, that was not enough for Clarice as the woman would not let her get away. When she returned home, still dripping water on the floor, Anise’s phone suddenly rang. She reached for her phone. It was a notification of Arthur transferring a significant amount of money to her, supplied with a curt remark, [Compensation.] Shortly after that, she received a text from him that read, [I know you like me.] Her breath was caught in her throat the moment she read the text. He knew this entire time. All the hastily withdrawn glances, the arranged accidental encounters, the subtle display of concern… She thought she hid them well enough. [But it’s never going to happen. [Clarice just happened to be in a bad mood today. [Don't hold it against her. [Don’t be jealous of her and don’t try to hurt her.] Each message he sent felt like a dagger sent straight to her heart. She found herself laughing ironically while tears streamed down her face. She remembered the years they spent together. The times when she had to hold back tears when he got drunk and embraced her while wailing Clarice’s name. On his birthday, she secretly snuck in an anonymous present for him in the piles of presents he received. The way he would cover her eyes whenever they did it. This whole time, he knew. Her fingers hovered over the screen for a long time before she finally replied. “Don’t worry, Mr. Renault. You have my word that I will never have feelings for you again.” Chapter 2 The moment Anise clicked send, she lowered herself into the bathtub filled with water. The foam turned into bubbles that popped all around her, just like the unrequited love she had harbored for Arthur these years. The next day, she went to work as usual. To her surprise, pictures of her returning home drenched in the rain had somehow been posted online and gone viral overnight. “Imagine streaking when you’re as flat-chested as she is! I wouldn't even glance at her if she walked past me! This woman was so desperate to get famous, she would do anything as long as it meant garnering her attention!” “I don’t think she’s trying to get attention. She looks too haggard for that. If anything, she looks more like a homewrecker who got put in her place! She had it coming anyway. What kind of shameless woman would try to insert herself between a couple? I wish she had been run over by a car!” Anise felt terrible upon reading all the malicious comments directed at her, but there was nothing she could do about them. She was only worried that her mother would see the scandalous pictures. She ended up spending the entire afternoon refreshing her feed and reporting every post she could see. The subject had become quite sensational, and just when someone was about to dox the person in the picture, everything was suddenly taken down. All had been removed from the trending page, while every picture and video was wiped out of the platform. Anise did not know what had happened, but it did manage to calm her down. With that, she turned her attention back to work as if nothing had happened. When she grabbed a document to bring to Arthur for his signature, she found Clarice angrily interrogating him. “You had the posts removed from the trending page, didn't you? You’re the only one who could pull it off! Why did you do it? Do you have feelings for her?” Anise was taken aback. She did not expect Arthur to be the one behind it. He frowned faintly and cast a rather wry look at Clarice. “Yes, I was the one who took them down, but it's not what you think it is. She's my secretary, and if people found out she was the one in the picture, it would tank the company's stock price. Clarice, I promise I have no feelings for her, and you’re the only one I love, please believe me.” Clarice was about to press the issue further when Arthur pulled her into his arms and silenced her protests with a kiss. Clarice tried to squirm away at first, but gradually succumbed to his power. He was a great kisser, after all. Soon, her breath quickened. Anise watched the entire thing unfold from outside the door and began to turn cold. So this was what Arthur looked like when kissing someone he loves… His long, slender fingers began to run through Clarice’s hair while he gently pulled her deeper into his embrace. His eyes were brazen with love and a powerful desire to claim her. For the last three years, Anise had done all kinds of intimate things with Arthur, save for kissing. She should have known a long time ago that it was because Arthur did not love her. A sharp pain pierced through her heart. Just as she was about to leave, a coffee cup was violently flung at her. She stumbled backward from the sudden attack and ended up falling over. The cup had smashed against her forehead and drawn blood. While she put her hand over the wound, she heard Clarice screaming at her. “How long have you been spying on us outside? Are you some kind of perverted voyeur?” Anise dropped her eyes shamefully and tried to explain she was only trying to deliver a document, but her voice had turned mute. Meanwhile, Clarice strutted over and raised her heels in the air before stomping on Anise's hand, which was grasping the document. She then proceeded to grind the pointy heel against the back of her hand several times. “Argh!” The papers were crushed while the back of her hand was gouged by the sharp point of the heel, revealing the flesh underneath. While she was shaking uncontrollably in pain, Clarice grabbed Arthur's hand and began to complain again. “Look at her! She’s a liar and can't even do her job properly! She even ruined the documents! Would you fire her already?” The look in Arthur's eyes sharpened. After a brief silence, he finally spoke up in a low timbre. “I can’t fire her yet. She has several high-priority business deals to follow up on at the moment.” Clarice eyed him suspiciously and began to voice her displeasure. “Do you mean to say you can’t do it or you simply don’t want to?” Chapter 3 Arthur’s tone turned gentle while trying to coax Clarice, “I’m telling you the truth, there’s a lot of work piling up now, and we can’t afford any delays. Why would I lie to you just to avoid firing a secretary?” She was insistent, “Even if you can’t fire her, at least punish her by making her kneel at the company entrance for a day. Can you do that?” This time, Arthur caved in. He turned to Anise, “Those documents are very important for sustaining our key collaborations, but you failed to look after them. You have two choices. Either pay fifty million dollars for the damage or kneel at the entrance for a day.” Anise knew he was only forcing her to do this because Clarice wanted to take it out on her. There was no way she could come up with fifty million dollars on the spot. With that, she staggered to her feet before making her way to the entrance to suffer the humiliation of kneeling there. She lowered her head to the ground so nobody would see the troubled look in her eyes. The entire time, she heard the whispers of her passing colleagues. “Isn't she Mr. Renault’s most trusted secretary? Why is she kneeling here? It must be embarrassing with so many people watching!” “I saw what happened. She didn't do anything wrong. She only got punished because Miss Reid took offense.” “Miss Reid is Mr. Renault’s teenage crush after all. Even after all these years, he still couldn’t forget her. Anise should have known better than to step on Miss Reid’s toes. She had it coming!” Everything they said added insult to injury. Anise felt like she was getting choked out of her breath. Suddenly, she remembered an episode from her younger days when several boys at school were picking on her during Clarice's birthday. They were calling her names, saying that she looked like a piece of dung when compared to Clarice, who was as beautiful as a rose. Their comments had everyone erupting in laughter. She ended up fleeing the room and ducking aside to the stairway to get away from them. It was Arthur who went to her and handed her a pack of tissues. “Don't worry about them and just focus on yourself. You’ll be fine.” To this day, Anise remembered what he told her. This whole time, she was convinced Arthur stayed by her side because he recognized her inner strength. That was the reason she dedicated herself to working for him without any complaints. As soon as Clarice returned, he dismissed all her effort and sacrifices she had made for him. He did it all just for Clarice. She was nothing more than a secretary he could fire at any time he wanted. Now that he no longer had any use for her, it was time for her to leave. She had been kneeling all day until her knees chafed and bled. She was in so much pain by the end of it that she could barely walk. When it was time to clock out, she limped back to the office to get her bag, only to run into Arthur. He noticed her injuries and regarded her with a faint frown. “I’ll give you a few days off. Get some rest and come back to work once you're healed.” Anise grumbled in acknowledgment without looking at him. Then, she silently turned around and left. Upon returning home, she immediately treated her wounds before beginning to pack up. When news of Clarice's return reached them, Arthur immediately ordered her to move out of the villa. Everything happened so quickly. She only managed to chaotically stuff all of her belongings in a suitcase before leaving. Now that she was about to return to her hometown, it was time to sort her belongings. She threw away the necklaces and jewelry Arthur had given her over the years, along with the photos she had snuck of him sleeping. She also tossed out the old diaries from her younger days, filled with entries about her crush on Arthur, along with other scattered mementos. While all this was happening, she would gloss through the various gossip her colleagues shared in the company's group chat. That was how she found out Arthur got on his knees to massage Clarice’s legs after she went on an extended shopping trip. When she complained about the office lights being too bright, he had the entire building's lights replaced overnight. When she was in a bad mood, he canceled all meetings and put off his work to be with her… As she silently read the text, she kept repeating the same thing to herself. ‘Soon. Just a little longer, and it will be all over.’ She recovered in time for the company's annual party. When Arthur showed up with Clarice, the entire room erupted in applause. Everyone showered them with compliments about how they made the perfect couple, like a match made in heaven. When he stepped off the stage with Clarice, he helped straighten her dress and even took off his coat to drape over her shoulders. He even drank her toasts for her so she wouldn’t have to… Meanwhile, Anise hid in a corner and watched the way Arthur’s eyes creased from smiling. She slowly averted her gaze. Soon, it was time for the awards ceremony. Anise received the Best Employee Award just as she did in previous years. She stepped onto the stage under the watchful eyes of the audience. Behind her was a projected slide showing her achievements over the past year. She fiddled with the microphone and prepared to give a customary acceptance speech when a round of commotion suddenly started within the crowd. Everyone was exchanging whispers and casting strange looks at her. Chapter 4 Anise felt her eyelids twitch and had a premonition that something was wrong. She turned around sharply to see the slides switched out to something else. It was projecting a collection of foul and unflattering photos of her during her time in university. There were also pictures taken in the bedroom that had been blurred out except for her face. Anise recognized the pictures immediately. They were pictures taken from the security cameras at Arthur's villa. She felt her blood run cold and her mind turning blank in succession. Her instinctive response was to turn toward Arthur’s direction. He was wearing a frown when they made eye contact. Meanwhile, Clarice, who was next to him, wore a contemptuous and challenging grin. Anise immediately knew Clarice was the one behind this. A surge of blood rushed to her head. She marched straight toward Clarice and wanted to ask what it would take for her to be left alone. Arthur's expression changed the moment he noticed her approaching. He got up to shield Clarice. His tone was severe, “What do you think you’re doing? Haven't you had enough of embarrassing yourself? Don't forget your place, you're just a secretary!” Anise looked at him through tears, “Mr. Renault, I may be a secretary, but I'm also a human! Don't I deserve respect? She intentionally released these pictures…” “Have you made enough of a scene already? Behave yourself!” Arthur shouted at her authoritatively as color drained from his face as well. Then, he had the bodyguards kick her out of the venue. She was dragged by the hair out of the venue with countless onlookers surrounding her. Then, she was flung down the stairs in a disheveled state. After she tumbled down the steps, her body was bruised all over, while drops of her blood stained the floor. Every muscle was aching, and her nerves were pulled taut. At last, she could no longer hold back her tears. The floodgates had burst open and blurred her vision. She curled up in a ball and wrapped her arms around herself while feeling her consciousness slowly fade… After what seemed like ages, she opened her eyes and found herself in a hospital. She stared vacantly at the ceiling for a while before reaching for her phone. Her colleagues were fervently discussing what happened during the annual party. Some of them even shared pictures and videos taken during the event. They made a ruthless mockery of her. “Anise isn't even that good-looking. Who would have known she was such a vixen? Looking at her, you would think she was some kind of ascetic but no, she sure knows how to throw herself at men! I wonder which man she’s involved with. Look at all these pictures they took! How scandalous!” “I never got the impression that she was an ascetic. Haven’t you noticed how she’s always trying to seduce Mr. Renault at work? She's always hanging around him and waiting for a chance to strike! Too bad for her, Mr. Renault only has eyes for Miss Reid and wouldn’t even spare an ounce of attention for a cheap woman like her!” “She’s a disgraceful fox who tried to use her body to climb the corporate ladder. How dare she compare herself to Miss Reid? How insulting of Miss Reid! I hope she has some sense and quits instead of stinking up the whole place with her presence, what a joke!” Each comment they made only increased the hurt she felt. It felt as if her flesh was being gouged out and the pain was excruciating. She clenched her palms so tightly they bled. Even her teeth were aching from her jaw tensing. She had to force herself to swallow the lump in her throat. After what seemed like an eternity, the door to the ward opened. She looked up to see a male colleague from the marketing department entering with a cup of water. “Hey Anise, you're awake! How are you feeling? Would you like me to call the doctor over for you?” Anise paused for a moment, then shook her head. “I’m fine. Were you the one who brought me here?” Klay Rodger scratched his head sheepishly before flashing a shy smile. “Well, I found you unconscious at the entrance and was worried something bad might happen to you, so I brought you to the hospital. Luckily, the doctor said it was only because you had been under a lot of pressure lately.” It was only upon hearing that she was found unconscious that she remembered what had happened at the annual party. She suddenly froze. Klay realized he had misspoken and wisely kept his mouth shut. A long and brooding silence filled the room before he smacked his lips and continued. “Anise, don’t take those rumors to heart. I know a lot of people are hostile toward you, but it’s not because you did anything wrong but because they are prejudiced against you. I know someone is trying to set you up and whoever it is has intentionally edited those pictures to make you look bad. “You can consider calling the police. If you feel like it’s too much pressure for you, I can help you. Maybe you can tell them you’re in an ordinary relationship…” Upon noticing how Klay’s earlobes turned bright red, it suddenly occurred to Anise that Klay was always the one initiating conversations with her. Every now and then, he would bring her coffee and snacks as well. It was only now that it occurred to her that Klay had a crush on her. This entire time, she had only thought of him as a regular colleague. Besides, her mind was set on leaving already. With that, she had to strain a smile and politely decline his veiled confession. “Thank you for your kind offer, but I can handle this myself.” Disappointment flashed in Klay’s eyes but he refused to give up. He suddenly produced a bouquet of roses from under the bed and handed it to her. He was stammering when he spoke again. “To tell the truth, I’ve had a crush on you for a long time, but I was too scared to confess. I know that now isn’t the best timing, but I’d like to give it a shot. Please give me a chance, maybe we can try seeing each other…” Before he could finish his sentence, the door was brutishly kicked open. Both of them were startled and turned around at the same time only to meet Arthur who wore a brooding expression. Arthur shot a grim look at Klay before unleashing a terrific, commanding roar. “Get out of here!” Chapter 5 Klay was no match for Arthur’s commanding presence. He shot up straight and sheepishly bowed before excusing himself. Arthur slammed the door shut before backing toward Anise. The first thing he saw was the bouquet she held. “So, he has a crush on you and confessed?” Anise met his gaze but did not provide an answer. In the face of her silence, Arthur snatched the bouquet of roses from her and tossed it out the window. Although Anise had rejected Klay’s confessions, it was not her intention to hurt his feelings like this. She removed the IV drip strapped to her so she could go collect the roses. Before she could proceed, Arthur grabbed her wrist and pinned her to the hospital bed. He glared intently at her with a glacial look in his eyes. “What do you think you’re doing? What’s the point of picking up a spoiled bouquet? Are you telling me you’re into him?” Anise pushed him away and spoke in an indifferent tone, “Mr. Renault, you're just my boss. It is not in your place to decide who I can get involved with.” Arthur's expression was becoming increasingly grim. His grip around Anise’s wrist tightened, leaving marks. “That may be true, but don’t you forget that office romances are not allowed in the company. If you’re going to date him, I’ll have him fired first thing tomorrow morning!” Anise was aware that he was a man who did not issue blank threats. Because she did not want to undermine Klay, she answered frankly. “I don’t have feelings for him and don’t intend to date him.” Arthur’s expression softened slightly upon hearing this. Then, he suddenly released his grip and revealed the real reason for his visit. “Clarice was the one who edited those pictures you saw during the annual party. I don’t blame her for being upset after she found out about what happened. We’re going to wait until the entire thing blows over, then I’ll promote you to head of the secretarial department and double your salary. “Just keep your head down and focus on your work. Clarice has promised me this is the last time something like this will happen and that she won’t antagonize you anymore, so don’t hold any of this against her.” Though the terms of his offer were tempting, Anise was unaffected. She took a deep breath and braced herself to tell him about her resignation. Just as she was about to speak, Clarice called. “Arthur, I’m planning to go to the beach for a few days. Will you come with me?” Arthur entertained her offer in a pleasant tone and seemed to have forgotten about Anise entirely as he turned to leave. He was in such a hurry that he barely heard what Anise told him. “I don't need a promotion. I already submitted my resignation letter.” Anise lowered her eyes as the door shut. Never mind. He would find out eventually. Arthur spent the following period with Clarice and was nowhere to be seen. Meanwhile, Anise returned to work as usual. As for Klay, he was transferred to another branch in his hometown the following day. Anise did not even get to see him one last time. Although there were still people casting her the occasional strange look, nobody brought up the events at the annual party. After the entire thing seemed to have blown over, Anise went to HR to ask if she could expedite her resignation. HR appeared troubled by the request, “Miss Buccaneer, if you want to expedite your resignation, you’re going to need the direct approval of Mr. Renault.” Anise nodded and proceeded to prepare an application for early resignation. Just as she was about to go to Arthur for the signature, the man himself called her. She was given an address and was instructed to head there immediately. Soon, she found herself inside a private room in a club. Arthur, his friends, and Clarice were in the middle of a drinking game and seemed to be in high spirits. Upon noticing her, Arthur gestured at the glasses on the table. “Clarice has lost a few rounds and has to drink these as punishment, but she’s on her period today. Drink them for her, I’ll pay you ten thousand a glass.” Anise was aware Arthur had a bout of excessive drinking a while ago that ruined his liver, so he could not handle another drop of alcohol. Otherwise, he would have gladly drunk them for Clarice. She glanced at the dozen or so glasses of whiskey on the table before stating faintly, “Mr. Renault, it’s already past working hours, and I have the right to refuse this task. If you do insist that I do it, I don’t need the money. All I ask for is a signature.” Arthur frowned, “A signature? What for?” Anise produced the application form and handed it to him. Just as he was about to go through the form, Clarice took his hand and began to flirt with him. “Arthur, I lost again. Hurry up and make her drink.” Arthur obliged tenderly and proceeded to skim through the document. After scribbling his signature, he tossed the pen back to Anise. “There. Now drink.” Chapter 6 After tucking the signed agreement in her bag, Anise raised a glass and downed it in one gulp. She drank glass after glass to a point where her stomach was beginning to churn, and she was feeling nauseous. After she forced herself to finish the last glass, she staggered to her feet to go to the washroom, but Arthur's friends stopped her. “Arthur, Clarice just lost again! She chose to play truth or dare this time, and the dare she drew was to kiss a random single man in this room for three minutes!” Upon hearing this, Arthur barely hesitated in pulling Clarice into his arms. He began to make out with her right there. Both of them were going at it passionately that everyone else in the room couldn’t help but scream and cheer excitedly. When Anise watched the way the two were entangled in a fit of passion, she felt a bittersweet, pricking sensation in the depths of her heart. Even when they were finished kissing, Arthur still looked like he was ready for more. Clarice’s cheeks were flushed red, which provoked Arthur’s friend to jest. “That doesn’t count! The card she drew says she has to kiss a single man, and you’re her boyfriend, that’s cheating! It doesn’t count!” Arthur’s smile dropped in an instant. “She is my woman. Are you suggesting that she should kiss someone else?” Upon realizing that they had offended him, they quickly brushed it off by pulling Anise to their side. “Of course, we wouldn’t even think of doing that, but don’t worry, we have a backup! We can just have the secretary standing in instead!” The color was drained out of Anise’s complexion in an instant. She instinctively turned to Arthur. He turned oddly stoic and shot down the idea. “She only agreed to the drinking part. Kissing wasn’t part of the agreement.” His friends exchanged coy glances before bursting into laughter. “You don’t have the final say in this. If you offer her some more money, there is no way she would refuse. Besides, don’t you remember how obedient she is to you? Do you remember the last time we went racing, and we said that whoever does not have a female companion in the car with them has to give away a yacht? All it took for her to get into the car with you was for you to shoot her a look! If she’s willing to risk her life for you, what’s a kiss then?” Clarice’s eyes reddened instantly upon hearing this. She recoiled and shrugged Arthur’s hand away. “Didn’t you tell me you had no feelings for her? Why did you bring her along to the races with you? If you like her so much, you should start dating her instead! Don’t worry about me, I’ll find someone else to kiss!” With that, she stormed out. Arthur began to panic. He reached for the card in his wallet, tossed it at Anise, and bolted out of the room with one last remark. “There’s a million dollars in the card. That’s how much I’m paying you to stand in for Clarice and let them kiss you for three minutes.” Anise felt as if her heart was ripped out of her chest as he watched him leave. She never agreed to this part of the deal and wanted to leave, but Arthur’s friends had pinned her down. They brought in a stray dog out of nowhere and seized it by its jaw to pull its tongue out. They proceeded to force Anise to kiss the creature while degrading her. “Clarice has been telling us what kind of woman you are. She says you even have your pictures in bed leaked and spread all over the company? How dare a promiscuous, dirty woman like you try to seduce Arthur!” “As if anyone would ever want to kiss you! We’re going to catch a disease just by touching your saliva! Someone like you is only fit to kiss dogs. You can’t find a better match than a dirty woman like you and a dog!” Tears streamed incessantly down Anise’s face. She was humiliated and repulsed to the point of nausea. At last, she threw up a mouthful of bile mixed with blood all over the floor. She was completely exhausted by the end of it. Her eyes were hollow, and her body gave out. When the group left amidst laughter and more mockery, there was only a single thought in her mind. She was going to cut off all ties with Arthur for good and would never return. Chapter 7 After handing over her early resignation application to the HR department, she watched as they stamped it with the company seal. “Since Mr. Renault has given his explicit approval, you may oversee the handover process and officially resign in three days, Miss Buccaneer.” At last, there was a sliver of daybreak in Anise’s recent rather gloomy days. She returned to her desk and began to arrange the handover procedures. The next two days were spent organizing her documents for a handover to her colleagues. She also prepared a suitcase to pack all her belongings. Just as she finished packing, Arthur opened the door and stepped inside. Upon noticing the top of her desk was cleared out, he seemed somewhat taken aback. “What are you packing up for?” Anise was just about to answer when a thought seemed to have crossed his mind, to which he remarked with an agreeable nod. “Right, you’ll have a private office for yourself after your promotion. Leave the packing for later, I need you to come with me.” He turned and left without sparing her time to respond. Anise hesitated, but still silently followed him. They ended up at an auction venue. Clarice was present too. The moment she spotted Anise, a hint of disdain flashed across her face. She proceeded to step forward to take Arthur's arm. “Arthur, I already have my eyes on some jewelry. You must buy all of them for me, no matter what, I insist!” Arthur smiled dotingly before helping her to her seat. “Don't worry, I'll bid for whatever you want.” Anise stood alone in the corner and watched as the two exchanged intimate conversations sprinkled with laughter. She found herself numb to it at this point. When the auction began, Arthur went all out and bid for everything Clarice had her eyes on. Everyone in the auction hall was flabbergasted by his overwhelming budget and stole curious looks. “Mr. Renault has been going all out on his every bid! Is there a limit to how much he would spoil his girlfriend? He’s practically a human wishing fountain! Miss Reid sure is a lucky woman to have someone who can give her whatever she wants.” “I heard it’s been this way ever since they started dating way back. I’m surprised that he’s been consistent with it after so long. He must be completely in love with her.” Clarice was flattered by the countless remarks people made about her and Arthur. At one point, she candidly chucked the auction brochure at Anise before turning to Arthur with the usual coquettish look. “Arthur, I need to go to the restroom. Would you come with me?" Arthur immediately obliged and got up with her. Before leaving, he curtly turned to Anise and left behind instructions. “Bid for everything circled out in the brochure.” Anise silently acknowledged the instruction and proceeded to bid for everything circled out in the brochure. Just as they were about to leave, the auctioneer on stage suddenly announced a new item to be auctioned for the day. “Ladies and gentlemen, we shall now put a surprise item up for bidding! What we have here is a dazzling purple necklace carved from a 40.52-carat alexandrite. The starting price is ten million dollars!” All the attendees were blown away by the magnificent surprise item. Their eyes were completely dazzled by the allure of the beautiful gemstone. In an instant, bids were thrown left and right around the hall. It did not take long before the price was hiked up to an astronomical range. Anise reached for her phone and took a picture of the necklace to show Arthur. She asked if she was supposed to put up a bid as well. However, there was no reply from Arthur even after a long time had passed. She tried to call him several times, but he would not pick up. While she was still trying to get in touch with Arthur, the necklace was officially sold at the price tag of five hundred million dollars. Clarice returned just in time for the gavel to fall and conclude the sale. The moment she caught a glance of the necklace, it was love at first sight. Immediately after being told that it had been sold, she grabbed a glass of red wine and splashed it in Anise's face. “Are you an idiot? Didn't I tell you to bid for everything I like?” The wine continued to soak through Anise's hair and clothes. She clenched her fists tightly and forced herself to keep her voice calm. “This necklace wasn't in the auction brochure. It was a surprise item that was introduced at the last minute. I tried to call Mr. Renault, but he didn't answer…” Clarice would not listen to her explanation but instead turned to Arthur with an aggrieved cry. “Look at her, Arthur! She’s incompetent and will not take accountability! I don't care, I will have that necklace one way or another, and if you can’t give it to me, I'm never talking to you again.” Arthur had seen Anise's message. He would know it was not her fault. However, he knew he could not justify what happened to Clarice. The only thing he could do to appease her was to give in. “When have I ever not given you what you want? Don’t worry, I'll have someone to buy the necklace from the buyer right now.” With that, he motioned over a staff and instructed rigidly, “Negotiate with the buyer. As long as they are willing to let go of the necklace, they can have anything they want.” Meanwhile, Anise stood nearby the entire time with her drenched shirt sticking to her body. Wine was still dripping from her hair. When she looked at Clarice's smug look, she had an ill feeling. Soon, the auction staff returned with a troubled expression, “Mr. Renault, the buyer says he's willing to give up the necklace, but…” “Out with it.” Arthur frowned. “On one condition…” the staff stammered, “…he wants your secretary to spend the night with him. He says…” He finished his sentence with great difficulty, “He says even though she’s rather plain looking, he had his fill of beautiful women and would like to go for someone plain for a change.” Chapter 8 Anise was taken aback, shocked. She immediately turned to Clarice with a snap. Clarice was barely trying to hide the smugness underneath her smile. Her ploys were evident immediately. A surprise auction item and a mysterious buyer… It was all adding up, a trap this entire time. “Mr. Renault.” Her voice shivered, “You can’t agree to such terms, after today, I am going to quit…” “Arthur!” Clarice suddenly threw herself into Arthur’s arms to cut off Anise, “I want that necklace! You promised!” She looked up at him with tears welling in her eyes, “Is your secretary more important than I am?” Arthur looked down at Clarice, who was cradled in his arms, then turned to the pale-faced Anise. He wiped away Clarice’s tears softly and assured her, “Don’t cry.” With that, he turned to the auction staff, “Tell the buyer that it’s a deal.” Anise felt her blood freeze in a near instant, “Arthur! You can’t—” Before she could finish her protest, someone grabbed her by the arm. She squirmed desperately and left bloody scratch marks all over the man’s arm while crying like a banshee, “Let me go! Arthur! I'm quitting tomorrow! You have no right…” Her voice was cut off by the sound of the car door slamming shut. With that, the black sedan sped away. From the rearview mirror, Anise could see Arthur gently draping a coat over Clarice. Soon, Anise was brutishly shoved into a luxury suite in a hotel. After the door clicked shut, she turned around to see a filthy beggar eyeing her lustfully. When he grinned, he revealed a row of jagged and sallow teeth. Anise felt a chill run through her and backed away, “Don't come any closer... I can pay you…” “Pay me?” The beggar laughed before forcefully grabbing her wrist. When he spoke, a waft of foul breath washed over her, “That lady has given me enough money to live for a lifetime! I don't need money anymore, I need women!” Anise was at the height of despair. When the beggar lunged at her, she reached for the table lamp and smashed it against his head. Blood began to pour from his forehead, which only had the effect of enraging him further. “You bitch!” He grabbed her hair and tossed her onto the bed. The jarring sound of fabric tearing echoed across the room. Anise dug her nails into the man’s face and left bloody marks all over, but alas, she was no match for his brutish strength. Just when she thought all hope was lost… Bang! The door was kicked open. Arthur’s bodyguards rushed in and subdued the beggar effortlessly. “Miss Buccaneer.” The head bodyguard handed her a coat, “Mr. Renault sent us to rescue you.” Anise was still shaking when she wrapped the coat tighter around herself. Then, she reached for her phone to call the police. The bodyguard swiftly snatched the phone away, “We were given orders not to let you call the police.” “What’s the meaning of this?” She could hardly recognize her voice because of how hoarse it had turned. “Miss Reid didn’t mean any of this, she was just upset and wanted to get it out of her system. Mr. Renault has already made sure you were safe, so we can consider the entire thing done and over with.” Anise was taken aback, “He…knows?” The bodyguard did not speak, but the sentiment was acknowledged. Anise suddenly began to chuckle until tears streamed down her face. Arthur knew about everything, and yet, he tacitly allowed Clarice to push her over the deep edge. She asked with reddened eyes, “And what if I insist on calling the police?” “No one in the city will take your case.” The bodyguard stated expressionlessly, “Mr. Renault said he would give you the week off in compensation for what happened so you could get some rest.” With that, he gently shut the door before disappearing down the end of the corridor. Anise slowly slumped to the floor. Her fingertips dug into the flesh of her palms. Her suit jacket slipped off her shoulders to reveal her torn collar. When she tried to tuck the fabric, she realized her hands were trembling violently. Suddenly, her phone rang. The word “Mom” was displayed in bold on the screen. “Anise, are you done with your handover at work? I’ve already set up your blind date.” Anise bit her lower lip as hard as she could. What followed was a subtle hint of metallic taste spreading in her mouth, but it was nothing compared to the throbbing pain in her heart. “Yes, Mom.” She was surprised by how eerily calm she sounded, “I’ll come home today.” The moment the call ended, she burst out crying. The last ten years of her life flashed past her mind in a series of montages. Arthur’s shadowy silhouette outlined by the light on the university campus. The heat of his breath after another round of drinking back in his office. The indifference in his voice when he said “deal” today. Everything she recalled was tearing her apart. The last ten years of her devotion were rewarded with countless rounds of humiliation. She slowly got up, picked up her coat from the floor, and straightened her clothes. Then, she returned to her apartment by herself. She had managed to calm down by then. It only took her thirty minutes from thereon to cancel her apartment lease, pack all her belongings, leave the key behind, and hail a taxi. The taxi sped through the puddles on the road and headed straight toward the airport. She had booked a one-way ticket to a life without Arthur.