In the end, Paige Summers opened the door.

It was time to have a serious talk with Shawn Monroe.

At the very least, she wanted to know what he was playing at, hounding her like this. She certainly didn’t believe it was for something as simple as lust!

She led Shawn Monroe into the house, and they sat down.

Levi Young came out of his room, head bowed. "Should I get some water?"

’Pfft!’

’Get some water? Are you trying to poison him?’

Paige Summers had to admit, the thought had crossed her mind. But if Shawn Monroe died, the drawbacks would definitely outweigh the benefits. Not only would she have to face pursuit from the Citadel, but Marcus Monroe’s reaction would be unpredictable... ’Best to forget it. It hasn’t come to that yet.’

She shook her head. "No, that’s alright. I’ll call you if I need you." ’So don’t get too comfortable. I might still need you, so be ready!’

Levi Young obviously understood her unspoken message. He gave a solemn nod before turning to leave.

Shawn Monroe’s expression soured. "Who is he? Does he live here too?"

Paige Summers’s temple throbbed. ’What is wrong with this guy? Does he think he’s interrogating a criminal?’ She took a deep breath to steady herself. "Didn’t you want to talk, Young City Lord? Well? What do you want to talk about?"

Seeing her dodge the question, Shawn Monroe sneered. "You’ve only been with Marcus Monroe for a few days, and you’ve already gotten bold. I believe I told you before, don’t think for a second that I wouldn’t dare to make a move on you!"

Paige Summers’s expression became unreadable as she lowered her gaze. "I don’t understand what you mean, Young City Lord. You saved my life, and I’ve repaid that debt. I have nothing more to give. I don’t understand what you’re so displeased about."

Shawn Monroe’s face grew grim. "Those blueprints... you gave a copy to Marcus Monroe, too!"

’I knew it...’

Paige Summers frowned. ’So much for Marcus Monroe’s guarantee!’ Not only had the news leaked, but he had come knocking on her door. ’Men are so unreliable,’ she lamented internally, then said aloud, "Since you already know about it, then you should also know that I didn’t give him the blueprints for free. He bought them. It was a fair and reasonable transaction."

"A transaction?"

"That’s right."

Shawn Monroe paused for a long moment, then suddenly smiled. "Fine. If I said I wanted to make a deal with you, I assume you wouldn’t refuse me either!"

Paige Summers arched a brow. "You already have the blueprints."

’Playing dumb?’ The corners of Shawn Monroe’s mouth lifted into a smirk. "I don’t want the blueprints. I want *you*!"

Paige Summers was stunned.

’Damn it, Plot God! I’ve already created this many butterfly effects, and you’re still trying to force things back on track?!’

’Absolutely not!’

She slowly leaned back in her chair. The new furniture, set up by Blue, carried the faint, familiar scent of wood, which quickly calmed her. His intensely aggressive gaze told her that "wanting *you*" meant exactly what she feared it did.

’When it came down to it, the man was just a total scumbag.’

’He always wanted what he couldn’t have.’

’If she’d been infatuated with him like her predecessor, if she’d let him coax her into bed and wrap her around his little finger, he would never be taking such an active role today!’

’It was such a waste for that departed soul!’

Thinking of that dream, her attitude grew even calmer. Regardless of whether he was also coveting her skills in Artifact Making, her answer would only be two words.

"No deal."

Shawn Monroe stared at her, his eyes bottomless pits of black. ’This woman really has some nerve!’ Ever since he became the Young City Lord, the number of people in The Dead City who dared to refuse him could be counted on one hand.

And now, she was one of them.

’Defying him time and again was one thing. Getting tangled up with Marcus Monroe was another. And according to Nora Lowell, her relationship with that old man, Woody Warren, was also rather ambiguous. She was clearly no different from other women—using her little skills to please various men for a more comfortable life—yet she singled him out for refusal!’

’She really had some nerve.’

’Playing hard to get to this degree... he knew what she was doing, yet he couldn’t let go.’

’This had to be another one of her tricks!’

’He couldn’t wait to see the wanton look on her face when he finally tore away that pure facade!’

After ascribing the most malicious intentions to Paige Summers, he decided he wouldn’t let her get away this time.

Shawn Monroe rose nonchalantly, staring at her impassive face. He was just about to raise his hand and gather his energy when... he suddenly froze. In the next instant, his face turned black as soot, his eyes practically shooting daggers.

"You... will... regret... this."

Spitting out those four words through gritted teeth, he abruptly kicked his chair aside and strode out the door. A moment later, the door slammed with a deafening CRASH, followed by the roar of an engine starting up...

Only then did Paige Summers, bewildered, relax her grip on the crossbow strapped to her thigh.

’He just left? Just like that?’

’Seriously, she had been completely prepared for a fight, ready to strike at a moment’s notice. And the result... was this? How bizarre!’