Leona Grant stared straight at her. The dim light fell upon her cool, detached figure, seeming to cast her entire face in a hazy shadow.

She stared at Annabelle Linton without blinking, her stern, beautiful face filled with sorrow and heartbreak.

Her throat bobbed. A self-mocking smile touched the corner of her lips, and her voice was a little hoarse. "I want to keep you by my side, but in your eyes, it’s just revenge, just a game. It’s just my possessiveness acting up. Is that it, Annabelle Linton?"

Something deep inside her ached, the pain growing more intense with each passing moment. She knew all too well it was her heart breaking.

It was as if a heart, long encased in layers of ice, was slowly being sliced open by a knife. A virus was injected, corroding every one of her organs, inch by inch, as if determined to kill her.

Leona Grant looked at her, the rims of her eyes growing redder, the light in them starting to fade.

Her name was Leona Grant.

She was the CEO of the Grant Group. In this world, there was only what she didn’t want, never what she couldn’t have.

Ever since she was young, she had been surrounded by people who fawned over her, flattered her, and followed her every command.

She had never known the meaning of the word "difficult" that everyone else spoke of.

Clothed in silks and feasting on delicacies, she spent money like water. It was safe to say that what she disdained most in this life was the very money everyone else fought tooth and nail to earn.

What interested her least was the fame and status that people would kill for.

Annabelle said she refused to let her go out of vanity, out of habit, out of a desire for revenge.

’Am I that bored?’

’If I didn’t like her, why would I keep her around just to annoy myself?’

’Do I lack for women who like me? Do I need an ego boost?’

’I’ve given you patience, attention, affection, tenderness, and anxiety I’ve never given anyone else in my entire life... Annabelle Linton, can you really not see it?’

’I’ve changed so much for you that I don’t even feel like myself anymore. Have you really not noticed at all?’

A resentful glint appeared in Leona Grant’s eyes as she asked again, stubbornly, "Is that it, Annabelle Linton?"

"Heh." Annabelle Linton looked at her calmly, her unruffled eyes filled with sarcasm, as if mocking her for putting on an act. "What else? Besides all that, what other special feelings could you possibly have for me?"

"Heh." 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

As if she had expected this answer all along, Leona Grant gave a soft laugh, masking all her emotions.

She tucked away her sadness and grief. From now on, she could only be that same iron-willed Leona Grant.

Leona Grant looked at Annabelle Linton again. The pain had vanished completely, and she seemed to have reverted to being the invulnerable, meticulous, cold-blooded, and tireless Leona Grant.

She curved her lips into a smile, tossed the gun aside, and moved toward Annabelle Linton.

Annabelle Linton narrowed her eyes.

Leona Grant walked over, swept her up into a princess carry, and held her fast. She placed a light kiss on her, her voice soft and tender. "Yes, you’re right. Since you’re my pet, how could I bear to kill you?"

Annabelle Linton struggled in her arms but couldn’t break free. She frowned in anger. "What are you doing? Let me down!"

"No." She kissed her again. "What else? I’m going to do what one does to a plaything, of course."

With that, she carried her and walked out.

Aaron Wyatt rushed forward in a fury but was blocked by the servants. He roared in frustration, "Leona Grant, what are you going to do to Annabelle!"

Leona Grant shot him a sidelong glance and let out a disdainful laugh before carrying Annabelle Linton away.

Aaron Wyatt tried to follow, but the main doors were slammed shut, blocking his path.

Leona Grant carried Annabelle Linton all the way back to the villa, refusing to let go no matter how much she struggled.

The moment they were back in the room, she pushed her down onto the bed, her tall frame pressing down on top of her—