
Theater: NovelMaster | Language: English
Synopsis
My dad was a well-known billionaire. But last year, out of nowhere, he lost his damn mind over romance.
He claimed he was going to transfer all his assets to his brand-new young girlfriend, insisting it was true love.
I almost laughed out loud and made a bet with him to put this "true love" to the test.
He was full of confidence—until he saw his sweet little girlfriend doing everything in her power to seduce me.
I thought he lost the bet. Little did I know, the trap was set for me all along.
"Chloe and I are real! You just don't get it!"
My sixty-something-year-old father waved his pen, about to sign the asset transfer agreement.
The second he lowered the nib, I snatched the stack of papers right out from under him.
"True love? For what? Your age? Your bald spot? Or your saggy, wrinkled skin?"
I honestly couldn't fathom it. In his prime, he was a ruthless titan of industry.
How the hell did his brain turn completely to mush last year?
My dad glared at me, lunging to grab the documents back.
"Give it back! Chloe was right—I'm not even in the grave yet, and you're already counting my money!"
"Cash is all you care about! You're just waiting for me to drop dead, but I won't let you have your way!"
Chloe this, Chloe that. The woman had completely brainwashed him.
To run circles around an old fox like my dad, she definitely had some skills.
"Do you honestly believe she loves you?"
"Of course she does!"
He answered without a heartbeat of hesitation.
"Fine. Care to make a wager?"
"If you win, go ahead and sign everything over to her. I won't say a single word."
"In fact, I'll even transfer my own company into her name as a wedding gift."
My dad went quiet, eyeing me with deep suspicion.
For a second, I felt a glimmer of hope, thinking his rusty brain was finally booting up to question her motives.
Instead, he sneered...
"Since when does a greedy jerk like you give out free gifts?"
"Hurry up! Put it in writing! We need a signed agreement so you can't back out!"
I nearly burst out laughing. Great. He genuinely believed he couldn't lose.
"Deal. But if you lose, every single cent of your fortune goes to me."
"Also, you can't tell her a single word about this wager."
"And once the agreement is signed, you do exactly as I say."
He agreed to every condition. But since he was practically clinically lovesick, I didn't trust him for a second.
So, the moment ink hit paper, I ignored his furious protests and confiscated all his phones and electronics.
At the same time, I faked his kidnapping and sent him off to a secluded private resort for a "vacation."
Once everything was set up, I sat at the dining table, cutting into a medium-rare steak, waiting patiently for the little gold-digger to come knocking.
Three days later...
"Sir, there's a Miss Chloe Vance here looking for your father."
"Send her in."
I smiled to myself. Already? I thought she’d hold out a bit longer.
"Hello, Lucas."
Chloe clutched her handbag tightly, looking timid and frail.
I casually looked her over. Early twenties, plain and innocent-looking, deliberately averting her eyes when they met mine.
Had the old man gotten tired of flashy trophy wives and decided on a simple, modest girl instead?
She was young, sure, but beyond that, she didn't interest me in the slightest.
"I came by today to ask... have you heard from Richard?"
"He's been missing for days. I just..."
"He was kidnapped."Her eyes widened in horror as I let out the news with a cold, easy smile.
"The kidnappers want a hundred million. If we don't pay up, they kill him."
"Miss Vance, was it? Maybe it's time you start looking for your next meal ticket."
As I spoke, my gaze never left her face.
First disbelief, then grief, followed by desperate, pleading eyes.
I had to give it to her—stellar acting.
If I didn't already know she was after his fortune, she might have actually fooled me.
Too bad for her, I was an experienced predator. Playing innocent wasn't going to work on me.
"Richard is your father! Aren't you going to save him?"
Without a word, I pulled out the transfer agreement and waved it in front of her.
"I assume you know he was planning to sign his entire estate over to you."
"Before making that generous decision, he didn't even think about leaving a dime to his own son."
"Tell me, why should I save him?"
Her eyes tracked the papers like a hawk. I tossed the folder onto the coffee table right in front of her.
"If you were in my shoes, would you?"
Chloe didn't answer. Her fingers trembled with barely concealed excitement as she flipped through the pages.
I let out a soft scoff, sinking back into the plush leather sofa.
"Don't get too excited. He was taken before he could sign it."
Watching the disappointment flash across her face, everything clicked into place. I made a casual offer:
"Since you meant so much to my dad, why don't you stay here for now? I'll look after you in his place."
She didn't agree right away, instantly putting up a guarded posture.
I smirked, shaking my head.
"Relax. You're not my type."
The moment act one ended, my dad’s call came through on the private line.
"See? I told you my Chloe is pure! She literally begged you to save me!"
Inside his resort suite, I had installed a massive projector, streaming everything happening in my living room in real-time.
I hadn't even reached my bedroom, and he was already gloating.
"What's the rush? The show just started."
Knock, knock, knock.
A rhythmic tap at my door cut us off. I hung up on the old man immediately.
I opened the door to find Chloe.
She had clearly just stepped out of the shower. A single bath towel was wrapped around her, skin still glistening with damp steam.
I stepped back, keeping my distance.
"Miss Vance, what is this?"
She really couldn't wait, could she? Moving in tonight, and pulling this stunt already.
Chloe bit her lip, looking utterly mortified.
"Lucas, the hot water heater seems broken. Could you take a look?""I... I already put body wash on, but I couldn't rinse it off."
She hung her head, nervously twisting her fingers.
Only then did I notice a few faint suds clinging to her collarbone and shoulders.
Whatever shower gel she used had a subtle, soothing fragrance that smelled surprisingly nice.
I didn't turn her down. The faster she made her move, the faster I won the bet.
Entering her bathroom, I turned the shower handle. As expected, nothing came out.
She moved in closer behind me, pretending to check the showerhead with me, while subtly pressing her soft body against my back.
"How is it, Lucas? Can you tell what's wrong?"
Her lips brushed right past my ear as she whispered.
Feigning ignorance, I furrowed my brow and examined the shower fixture.
"Everything looks fine on the surface. That's weird."
Since she took the trouble to tamper with it, I was happy to let it stay "broken" for the night.
"Oh no... what should I do then?"
She frowned softly, her eyes flickering up at me with clear intent.
I knew she was waiting for an invitation, but I stayed silent on purpose.
Finally, she cracked.
"Lucas, could I use the shower in your bedroom?"
"Just for a few minutes. Please?"
Her voice was soft, laced with a practiced whine.
I nodded, but instead of following her in, I went to sit on the couch in the living room.
When she finally came out, taking her sweet time and intentionally flashing her slender, bare legs, I stood up.
"All done? I'm going to sleep."
She had no choice but to step aside and let me pass.
Act two, and the old man’s call came right on cue.
"See that? What did I say? Chloe is totally innocent!"
"If the heater hadn't broken, she wouldn't have even spoken to you!"
"Seriously, call a repairman right now to inspect all the appliances in the house! I don't want Chloe being uncomfortable!"
I rolled my eyes. He actually believed the water heater broke by coincidence. He didn't doubt her for a single second.
Thank God his lovesick stupidity wasn't genetic, or our family would have been swindled into bankruptcy twice over.
"Ah!"
A sharp cry pierced the air—coming straight from the guest bathroom.
I hung up the phone and hurried toward the sound.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Miss Vance? Is everything okay?"
"I... I slipped getting out of the tub. I can't move."
Her voice broke into a tearful whimper. "Lucas, I... did I break my spine?"
A spinal injury was no joke; that meant potential paralysis.
Without another thought, I kicked the door open. There Chloe lay on the tile floor, completely bare, eyes brimming with tears.
Chapters (3)
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Watch & Promotions
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