The next morning, Aria Snow prepared breakfast for Kane Rivers as usual.
She wore ordinary business attire, as if nothing had happened the night before. That deliberate calmness made Kane Rivers even more irritated.
"There's an important client meeting today." Kane Rivers put down his coffee cup, "You'll accompany me."
"Alright." Aria Snow's response was brief and clear.
"There's an important client meeting today." Kane Rivers put down his coffee cup, "You're responsible for full service."
"What do you mean?" Aria Snow asked.
"Serving tea to the client, passing documents, and..." Kane Rivers paused, "dining with him."
Aria Snow's hand paused slightly but quickly returned to normal: "I understand."
Kane Rivers carefully observed her expression, trying to catch a hint of unease or resistance, but Aria Snow's face remained calm as water.
This gave him a deep sense of defeat.
At ten in the morning, Aria Snow appeared at the conference room door. She wore appropriate business attire, but Kane Rivers' next arrangement made her understand what true humiliation meant.
"Aria Snow, sit next to Mr. Lee." Kane Rivers pointed to the seat beside Mr. Lee, "Whatever Mr. Lee needs, you must satisfy." Black stockings wrapped around her slender legs, high heels making her figure even more graceful, but her expression was as cold as a sculpture.
"Miss Snow is truly..." Client Reid Lee's gaze shamelessly roamed over her body, "Mr. Rivers is truly fortunate."
"Mr. Lee flatters me." Kane Rivers smiled faintly, "Aria Snow will take full care of you."
"Miss Snow, come sit beside me." Reid Lee patted the chair next to him, his gaze carrying certain implications.
Aria Snow glanced at Kane Rivers, who nodded. She had no choice but to sit beside Reid Lee.
"Miss Snow is truly beautiful." Reid Lee's hand accidentally touched her arm, "Mr. Rivers is truly fortunate."
"Mr. Lee flatters me." Kane Rivers smiled faintly, "Aria Snow will take care of you throughout."
During the following meeting, Reid Lee constantly asked Aria Snow to help him pour water, pass tissues, and even massage his shoulders. Every request carried implications, while Kane Rivers sat across watching everything.
"Miss Snow has such skillful hands." Reid Lee enjoyed the massage, "How about we have lunch together? I'd like to chat more with Miss Snow."
For the next hour, Aria Snow served Reid Lee like a servant. Pouring tea, passing documents, organizing materials, and even enduring Reid Lee's occasional "accidental" touches. Kane Rivers sat across from them, coldly observing everything.
After the meeting ended, Reid Lee stood to leave.
"Mr. Rivers, Miss Snow's service was truly thoughtful." Reid Lee smiled ambiguously, "I hope to enjoy such treatment during our next cooperation."
"There will be opportunities." Kane Rivers' response made Aria Snow's heart sink.
After seeing Reid Lee off, Kane Rivers returned to his office to find Aria Snow organizing documents.
"How did it feel?" he asked.
"Fine." Aria Snow didn't look up.
"Fine?" Kane Rivers walked to her, "Reid Lee seemed quite interested in you just now."
"So what?" Aria Snow finally looked up, no emotion in her eyes, "Just tell me what you want directly."
This direct attitude made Kane Rivers even angrier. He didn't want this calm cooperation—he wanted her breakdown and despair.
"Aria Snow, do you really think you can stay calm like this forever?" Kane Rivers' voice became dangerous.
"I have no other choice." Aria Snow's answer was honest, "However you want to humiliate me, I'll cooperate. But don't expect me to feel happy about it."
Kane Rivers was enraged by her words. He grabbed her wrist and pressed her against the desk.
"Aria Snow, I don't want your cooperation—I want your submission!" His voice was almost shouted.
"Then how do I count as submissive?" Aria Snow asked back, a hint of mockery flashing in her eyes, "Crying and begging you? Or loving you like five years ago?"
This sentence was like a knife plunged into Kane Rivers' heart. He released her and stepped back.
"Five years ago..." His voice suddenly became hoarse, "Why did you leave?"
Aria Snow looked at the pain in his eyes, her heart clenching painfully. But she quickly masked that momentary softness.
"Do past events still matter?" She straightened up, adjusting her disheveled clothes, "I'm just your plaything now, aren't I?"
"You're not a plaything." Kane Rivers suddenly said, "You are..."
"I am what?" Aria Snow interrupted him, "Your woman? Your lover? Or your target for revenge?"
Kane Rivers was left speechless. He didn't know what Aria Snow meant to him either.
"Kane Rivers, we both know this is a transaction." Aria Snow's voice was calm, "You're using my brother's safety to threaten me, and I'm using my body to exchange for his freedom. Since that's the case, let's not talk about feelings anymore."
These words left Kane Rivers feeling unprecedented defeat. He wanted to win back her heart, but Aria Snow had already locked her heart away tightly.
"If you just want an obedient woman, I can do that." Aria Snow continued, "But if you want me to fall in love with you again, that's impossible."
"Why is it impossible?" Kane Rivers' voice carried a hint of despair.
"Because someone who has loved would never treat the other person this way." Aria Snow's words were as light as feathers but as heavy as a thousand pounds.
Kane Rivers was stunned. He suddenly realized that in the process of taking revenge on Aria Snow, he had completely destroyed all her feelings for him.
And this was exactly what he least wanted.
That night, Kane Rivers didn't return to Emerald Bay. He sat alone in his office, looking at the night view outside the window, thinking about Aria Snow's words.
What did he really want? Her body or her heart?
If it was her body, he had already gotten it. If it was her heart, then his methods were completely wrong.
At this moment, Aria Snow sat alone in the living room of Emerald Bay, staring at the cup of coffee that had gone cold.
She knew her words today had hurt Kane Rivers, but she didn't regret it. Because he had hurt her first.
But why did her heart still ache when she saw the pain in his eyes?
Clearly she no longer loved him, clearly she was desperate, so why did she still feel heartbroken?
Aria Snow closed her eyes, and tears silently fell.