Chapter 3

"No, Cedric! That hundred million…" I tried to explain, but Cedric yanked my hair and dragged me into the basement. Everything I hadn't managed to say turned into screams of pain. "Strap her in!" The bodyguards forced me into a chair in the center of the basement, blindfolded me, and tied my arms and legs tight. "Gold diggers are nothing new to the Stone family, but no one's ever pulled something like this. Today, you'll learn the price of such ambition." The sudden darkness sent me into an instant panic. I struggled desperately. "Cedric, I didn't take Mr. Stone Senior's money. That hundred million dollars was ransom money to buy your life from the Underworld!" "What did you say?" Cedric asked, staring at me in shock. "Back then, your fever just wouldn't go down. Mr. Stone Senior had no choice but to turn to the Underworld, but mortals can't enter. So, I took the hundred million dollars he offered as a life-price and brought him inside. That's why you're still alive." "So, you really are a White Reaper?" Cedric hesitantly asked. I thought he finally believed me. Just as I was about to nod, his manic laughter filled the room. "Did everyone hear that? This crazy woman actually believes she can take Arianna's place as the future Mrs. Stone. She has no idea what she's in for." Cedric had started a livestream by then, and what I'd said made everyone watching think I had lost my mind. The comments blew up. "Damn, that's really Mr. Stone. She just walked straight into the lion's den." "She's not bad looking, but how is she so crazy?" "I've got a project worth tens of billions. I could 'invest' in her tonight." "Women these days are obsessed with money. She even tried to scam Mr. Stone." The livestream was full of people mocking me. Meanwhile, Arianna rested against Cedric, looking pleased. "Cedric, why bother arguing? Let her experience the electric chair for herself. It'll show her that being rich doesn't mean you're a fool." The words "electric chair" made my heart drop. With my powers completely gone, I was even more fragile than a mortal. Ignoring the comments, I urgently said, "Cedric, I'm telling the truth. You're cursed with ten short lifetimes and were never supposed to live past 30. You destroyed the Eternity Bell that was keeping you alive. If you don't stop now, you'll be dead in seven days." But before I could finish, my head snapped to the side as I was struck. Cedric's large hand clamped tightly around my throat. "Bitch, how dare you curse me? The Stone family's power is destiny. "You claim I won't last seven days? Well, let's see if you can even save yourself now." "Please, don't. I'm begging you," I cried. But Arianna flipped the switch before I could do anything. My plea instantly turned into a piercing scream that tore through the basement. The electricity surged through me like tangled wire. Tears and saliva ran unchecked as my mind was flooded with white light, and my teeth chattered uncontrollably. It felt as if an invisible hand was crushing my organs, and the pain was so intense that I kept retching. All the while, Cedric held Arianna in his arms, laughing like a madman as the room filled with the smell of charr. … Meanwhile, Noah Blake, the world's richest man, saw the whole thing live.