Chapter 4

Switzerland. At the peak of the snow-covered mountains.

I used the excuse that I wanted to enjoy the scenery alone and sent Damian away.

Then, following the route I had planned in advance, I arrived at the heavily guarded private psychiatric hospital.

I bribed a nurse and successfully got in to see Sebastian.

He was locked in a pure white room, his hands and feet bound in iron chains.

At the sound of the door opening, he slowly raised his head.

When he saw my face, a faint ripple passed through his lifeless eyes.

“Isabella?”

His voice was hoarse, rough from not speaking for far too long.

I shook my head.

“I’m not her.”

He let out a mocking laugh, and madness returned to his eyes.

“Right. Of course.”

“A woman as high and untouchable as her would never come to see a lunatic like me.”

“You’re Damian’s new substitute?”

He saw through me at once. This man was even sharper than I had imagined.

“Yes,” I admitted.

“What are you doing here?” He looked me over with interest. “Did he send you to humiliate me?”

“No.”

I walked up to him, crouched down, and looked straight into his eyes.

“I came here to make a deal with you.”

“A deal?” He sounded as if he had just heard the funniest joke in the world. “I’m a useless man who’s been locked up here for ten years. What right do I have to make a deal with you?”

“You do.”

I said each word clearly. “You have the same goal I do.”

“To make Damian lose everything.”

The smile in Sebastian’s eyes froze.

He stared at me hard, as if he wanted to see right through me.

“You hate him?”

“I hate him enough to tear him apart with my bare hands.”

My voice was full of undisguised hatred.

Sebastian fell silent.

After a long while, he suddenly laughed. A wild, unhinged laugh.

“Interesting.”

“Very interesting.”

“My arrogant, untouchable brother is actually going to be betrayed by his own woman.”

He reached his hand toward me, the chains rattling sharply.

“How do you want to work together?”

I took out the tiny key I had hidden on me and unlocked the cuffs around his wrists.

“First, I help you regain your freedom.”

Sebastian flexed his wrists, dangerous light flickering in his eyes.

“And then?”

“And then…”

I leaned close to his ear, my breath soft.

“I want you to replace him.”

Sebastian’s body stiffened.

He turned his head, and our noses were almost touching.

The same face. Two intertwined breaths.

“You’re insane,” he said.

“How else am I supposed to get revenge?” I asked.

He looked at me for a long time.

Then, suddenly, he grabbed the back of my head and kissed me hard.

The kiss tasted like blood and madness.

He was like a starving beast, biting my lips without restraint, as if he wanted to devour me whole.

I didn’t resist. I even kissed him back.

When the kiss ended, we were both breathing hard.

Sebastian licked the blood from the corner of his lips, his eyes shining with satisfied madness.

“Fine.”

“I accept this deal.”

“But I have one condition.”

“What condition?”

He leaned close again, his fingers brushing over my lower abdomen.

“I want you to carry my child.”

“I want my son to inherit everything in the Roman family, openly and rightfully.”

My heart sank hard.

This man was even crazier than Damian, even more ruthless.

But I had no choice.

“Fine.”

I agreed.

For revenge, I could pay any price.

That day, in that pure white room that symbolized imprisonment and despair, I gave myself to him.

I committed the worst kind of betrayal—I slept with Damian’s brother.

I didn’t know how I left the psychiatric hospital.

By the time I returned to the hotel, the sky was already dark.

Damian was waiting anxiously at the door. The moment he saw me, he rushed over.

“Scarlett, where did you go? I’ve been looking for you all afternoon!”

His face was full of worry and lingering fear.

I threw myself into his arms, pretending to be frightened.

“I got lost, and my phone died. I was so scared…”

“It’s all right. It’s all right now.”

Damian held me tightly and kept soothing me.

“Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”

I buried my face against his chest, breathing in his familiar scent, while my heart filled with cold, vicious pleasure.

Damian, you will never know.

Today, the woman you love lay beneath the brother you hate most.

And you are still fussing over me like a fool.

This game of revenge is becoming more interesting by the second.