"Of course, what else?" Aria Snow's answer was casual, as if discussing the weather.
Kane Rivers gripped his glass tightly, his knuckles white. This response angered him more than any rebuttal because her calmness was like a mirror, reflecting the ugliness in his heart.
"Very good." He turned around, dangerous light flickering in his eyes, "Since it's for money, let's calculate this debt."
Aria Snow looked at him, an ominous feeling rising in her heart.
"Fifty million in debt. At current market rates, a high-class prostitute charges one hundred thousand per night." Kane Rivers' voice was cold as ice, "That means you need to accompany me for five hundred nights."
"Kane Rivers..."
"I'm not finished." He interrupted her, "But you're not professional, your skills and service are far inferior. So I think your value is only half that of an ordinary prostitute."
Every word cut into Aria Snow's heart like a knife, but she had grown numb.
"One thousand nights." Kane Rivers walked to her, "Aria Snow, that's what you owe me."
"Fine." Aria Snow nodded, "I accept."
This straightforward response made Kane Rivers even angrier. He wanted to see her breakdown, her despair, but her calmness seemed to mock his childishness.
"Do you know what one thousand nights means?" He grabbed her chin, "Nearly three years. For three years, you'll be my private plaything, to be used however I want."
"I know." Aria Snow's voice showed no emotion, "I have nowhere else to go anyway."
Kane Rivers was completely enraged by her words. He pushed her down on the sofa, roughly tearing at her clothes.
"Since you're a prostitute, you should have a prostitute's awareness." His movements were not gentle at all, "From now on, you need to learn to actively please me."
Aria Snow let him manipulate her, her eyes empty like a doll's. This numb cooperation made Kane Rivers feel even more defeated.
"Look at me!" He grabbed her hair, forcing her to look at him, "Aria Snow, I want you to look at me!"
Aria Snow looked at him, but there was no emotion in her gaze, as if looking at a stranger.
"Do you hate me?" Kane Rivers suddenly asked.
"No." Aria Snow's answer was honest, "Hate requires emotion, and I no longer have emotions."
This sentence hurt more than any curse. Kane Rivers released her and sat aside, breathing heavily.
"You know what?" His voice carried despair, "I'd rather you hate me than be indifferent to me like this."
"Then how do you want me to be?" Aria Snow adjusted her torn clothes, "Crying and begging you? Or angrily resisting?"
"I want the real you."
"The real me is like this." Aria Snow stood up, "After being tormented by you for so long, this is what I've become."
Kane Rivers looked at her, suddenly realizing a terrible fact—in destroying her, he was also destroying his own feelings for her.
That night, Kane Rivers didn't return to the bedroom. He sat alone in his study, looking at a photo of him and Aria Snow from five years ago on the wall.
In the photo, Aria Snow was smiling so brilliantly, her eyes full of hope for the future. Back then, she would still act coquettish, get angry, and be moved to tears by a single flower.
And now she was like a stagnant pond.
"Mr. Rivers." Drew Chen's call broke the silence, "There's an important business banquet tomorrow. Do you need a female companion?"
Kane Rivers looked toward the door, where Aria Snow sat in the living room in a daze, like an exquisite sculpture.
"Yes." He said, "Have Aria Snow prepare."
The next evening, Aria Snow appeared in the banquet hall wearing a black evening gown. The dress had a high slit revealing her long legs, and the chest design was quite bold.
"Mr. Rivers has excellent taste." Many business figures cast envious glances at Kane Rivers.
Kane Rivers held Aria Snow's waist, enjoying this feeling of being envied. But when he looked down at Aria Snow, he saw the emptiness in her eyes.
"Miss Snow, may I have this dance?" A young rich second-generation approached.
"Sorry, she doesn't know how to dance." Kane Rivers refused.
"I do." Aria Snow suddenly spoke, "I can dance with this gentleman."
Kane Rivers was stunned. This was the first time in a long while that Aria Snow had made a decision on her own.
"Aria Snow..."
"Didn't you say I should learn to actively please?" Aria Snow looked at him, "Pleasing your clients is also pleasing you."
These words made Kane Rivers' heart tighten, but he couldn't lose face in front of so many people.
"Go ahead." He released his hand.
Aria Snow followed the man to the dance floor. The music started, and she began to dance. Every movement was standard, but devoid of any emotion.
Kane Rivers stood to the side watching, an indescribable pain rising in his heart. The woman dancing gracefully in the dance floor was indeed Aria Snow, but not the Aria Snow from his memory.
"Mr. Rivers, your companion is truly charming." Someone beside him struck up conversation.
"Yes." Kane Rivers' voice was soft, "Charming enough to break one's heart."
When the song ended, Aria Snow returned to his side.
"Good performance." Kane Rivers said.
"Thank you for the praise." Aria Snow's response was like a well-trained pet.
On the way home, neither spoke. It wasn't until the car stopped in front of Emerald Bay that Kane Rivers spoke.
"Aria Snow, do you regret it?"
"Regret what?"
"Regret becoming like this."
Aria Snow thought: "No regrets. It's good like this—no need to think, no need to make choices, just act according to your requirements."
"What if I died?" Kane Rivers suddenly asked, "If I weren't here, what would you do?"
Aria Snow was stunned—this was the first time she had considered this question.
"I don't know." She answered honestly, "Maybe I'd find the next person willing to control me."
This response chilled Kane Rivers to the bone. He suddenly realized he had not only destroyed Aria Snow but also destroyed her ability to live independently.
"You know what?" His voice trembled slightly, "Sometimes I think you were right to leave five years ago."
"Why?"
"Because back then I wasn't crazy enough, not enough to destroy you." Kane Rivers smiled bitterly, "Now even I find myself terrifying."
Aria Snow turned to look at him, emotion flickering in her eyes for the first time.
"Kane Rivers, do you know what's most terrifying?" She said softly, "It's not that you've become terrifying, but that I'm beginning to like the feeling of being controlled by you."
This sentence completely stunned Kane Rivers.
"I no longer remember how to think independently." Aria Snow continued, "Don't remember how to make decisions, don't remember how to love someone. I only remember how to obey, how to please you."
"Aria Snow..."
"So even if you let me go now, I wouldn't know where to go." Her voice was soft but every word was clear, "You succeeded, Kane Rivers. You turned me into a puppet that belongs only to you."
The night wind blew through the car window, bringing a hint of coolness.
(To be continued)