Isabella Li's eyes widened, filled with a flicker of shock and uncertainty. She recalled how, when Ethan Wu entered, he had casually wandered around, circling the desk. That was the only time he approached it.
But how did he manage to take the magazine? The gun was in the drawer—how did he know it was there? Even if he did, how could he possibly remove the magazine while leaving the gun in place?
"Ms. Li, calm down; this isn't like you," Ethan remarked, smiling as he tossed the magazine onto the coffee table. "I mean no harm. I'm here because I need money, and this is just a business transaction. I hope you understand."
Isabella slowly settled back into her chair, realizing she had lost her composure in front of this stranger, which, indeed, was unlike her.
"Shall we get down to business?" Ethan asked.
"… A traitor?" Isabella had completely regained her composure. "You're saying there's a traitor close to me?"
"Ten million, and I'll tell you who it is," Ethan repeated, setting a price.
In fact, mentioning money and framing it as a transaction was Ethan's way of lowering her defenses.
Every action requires a motive. Ethan had approached Isabella so brazenly that he needed a convincing motive, and money seemed like the perfect justification.
To quickly build a connection with someone, it's essential not only to understand them but also to seize the right moment. First impressions are crucial.
In his endlessly repeated July 7th, Ethan had slept with one beautiful woman after another, succeeding because he had learned how to find the best opportunities after thorough investigation. This allowed him to approach without triggering any suspicion or alertness.
Meeting Isabella Li was different. Ethan couldn't pre-plan, and he wasn't keen on resetting July 8th multiple times. So he had taken a different approach with Isabella, even if it meant she would be more guarded. But with his understanding of her, he felt confident that winning her over wouldn't be difficult.
The last time he'd been intimate with Isabella was "over a century ago," and he had to admit, he rather missed it.
"Ten million? What kind of traitor could be worth that to me?" Isabella smiled confidently. "Even if it's true that there's a traitor close to me, I can investigate it myself without your help!"
"Haven't you been trying to find this traitor for quite some time already? Have you succeeded?" Ethan retorted.
"You..." Isabella's face darkened.
It was true. She had known about the traitor for some time and had been investigating, but she hadn't found anything.
"Only half a month remains until your new product launch. This person will attempt to steal your research data before the launch. Your rival will undercut you, sabotaging the event. You don't want to lose that bet, do you?" Ethan smirked, his expression making it clear he had her cornered.
To conquer a strong woman like Isabella Li, one had to be even stronger—confident, knowledgeable, and skilled enough to dominate her.
Isabella stared at Ethan, her face blank.
"Ten million, and I'll tell you who the traitor is," Ethan continued. "If you're willing to pay another ten million, I can also tell you something about your brother—something concerning his personal safety. He's in danger; did you know that?"
"Are you trying to scare me?" Isabella raised an eyebrow, adjusting her gold-rimmed glasses.
"No, no, I know that threats don't work on you," Ethan replied with a smile. "Even your father has faced your wrath publicly. I couldn't intimidate you if I tried."
"You seem to know a lot about me." Isabella narrowed her eyes.
"Of course. I'm an information broker; it's my job to thoroughly understand everyone I approach," Ethan replied, grinning.
"Then go ahead. Tell me what else you know about me."
"Are you sure you want to hear it?"
"Speak!"
"Isabella Li, age 27, Chairman and CEO of Radiant Style Group, a graduate of Harvard Business School. You returned to the country at 23 and founded Radiant Style Group, specializing in high-end cosmetics. Your net worth is currently around two billion yuan." Ethan appeared to finish.
"That's it?" Isabella's tone held a hint of mockery. Such information was trivial; anyone could find it online.
"You are the eldest granddaughter of the main branch of the Li family, but because you're female, you've never been favored. Your grandfather values men over women, and from a young age, you've felt the sting of being treated differently. But you wouldn't accept it. You swore to prove that a woman could be even stronger than a man!"
As Ethan continued, Isabella's expression shifted, becoming increasingly serious.
"Since childhood, you've had a fierce personality. Boys feared you in fights, including your own beloved younger brother, who grew up alongside you. You refused to submit to fate, which drove you to excel academically.
"But you couldn't entirely escape the curse of being in a big family. When you were 23, your family tricked you into returning by claiming your mother was gravely ill."
"They wanted you to marry! Your grandfather had arranged for you to marry the heir of the Ding family from the southern region—Dylan Ding!"
"Your mother, usually your ally, also sided against you. Her family, the Sun family from the northwest, held considerable influence, which gave her some sway in the Li household. This time, however, even she hoped you would marry Dylan Ding. You refused, and when the family pressured you at a gathering, you overturned the table and openly called your grandfather a stubborn old fool. When your uncle slapped you, you hit him back!"
"Honestly, I admire you!" Ethan chuckled, continuing. "You were ready to walk away, but your mother threatened suicide, so the final outcome was that you agreed to a bet with Dylan Ding."
"You each founded a new company in a field unrelated to the family's business, relying solely on your abilities. In five years, whoever had the more successful company would win. That's how Radiant Style was born!"
"You once swore you'd never marry, calling it the fate of a 'pathetic woman.' But you later amended that to say that if you did marry, it would be to a man stronger than yourself!"
"So, if you lose, you'll marry Dylan Ding. But if you win, you'll gain complete freedom, and no one will ever be able to force you into anything again."
"For the past few years, you've worked tirelessly. Maybe you're talented because you've made a name for yourself in the high-end makeup industry."
"On top of that, over these four years, you've had three boyfriends, but all three eventually left you. One committed suicide, while the other two lost everything!"
"In reality, they were all decoys you hired to serve as shields. However, Dylan Ding is a petty man, and despite knowing they were your fake boyfriends, he took them down anyway. This left you with no men willing to get close to you."
Ethan paused, noting the intricate emotions reflected in Isabella's ever-changing expression.
"Actually, you don't need glasses," he continued after sizing her up. "You wear them to create a sense of distance. Your dominance, your unyielding attitude, your stoic expression—all of it is partly an act!"
Isabella's fists clenched, her eyes flashing dangerously.
"I realize that after saying all of this, I'm left with only two possible outcomes. I know I've threatened you by revealing so much, so either you control me… or make me disappear. Am I right?" Ethan plainly exposed her intentions.
"And knowing that, you still dared to say all of this?" Isabella countered.
"Fortune favors the bold, right?" Ethan smiled, adding, "By the way, I also know you usually keep three guns in your office. Care to guess if the other two are currently on me?"
Isabella's fists clenched even tighter, her knuckles whitening.
She despised this feeling of being seen through, of being "controlled."
Knock, knock.
Just then, a knock on the door broke the tension in the office.
"Come in," Isabella ordered coldly.
A tall, slim middle-aged man entered, holding a folder and walking briskly. He glanced at Ethan, then quickly approached the desk.
"Ma'am, I need your signature on this document…" the man said.
This was Evan Feng, Isabella's senior assistant. Naturally, only a trusted aide could dare interrupt her conversation.
Isabella swiftly skimmed the document, flipping through a few pages before picking up her pen to sign.
At that moment, Ethan suddenly stood up, grabbed the magazine from the coffee table, walked briskly to the desk, and seized the gun.
Magazine in, chamber loaded, safety off—all in one seamless motion!
Too fast!
Too sudden!
Ethan grabbed Evan Feng by the collar, slamming his head onto the desk and pressing the gun to the back of his head.
"How much did Ding pay you to betray her? Huh?!" he shouted, slamming Feng's head again, blood splattering.
Isabella jumped back in shock, shouting, "Guards!"
The door burst open, and the bodyguards outside instantly drew their guns, aiming at Ethan's back.
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。