Chapter 2 Pay With Yourself

Violet's fair face carried a pair of bright eyes, exuding an air of untamed arrogance. Her voice was cold, yet smooth and pleasant. "Let's go through insurance. I'll cover whatever exceeds the coverage." Lucien responded with a simple hum before adding, "But I just picked up this car an hour before returning from Country A. It's not insured yet." Violet, "…." So basically, this was going to cost her—a lot. Before long, the police arrived, and the two were taken to the station to file a report. In the back seat, Violet sat properly on the right side, with Lucien right beside her. Lucien's long legs stretched slightly in the confined space. Through the thin fabric of his tailored trousers, the firm muscles of his thighs occasionally brushed against the bare skin beneath her black pencil skirt as the car moved. Violet became even more conscious of her posture. She adjusted slightly, only to realize—too late—that her skirt had ridden up a little. What had initially been a perfectly modest pencil skirt now seemed almost indecently short. She placed both hands in her lap and subtly tried to pull her skirt down. The officer in the front seat occasionally glanced back, asking them for details about the accident. Lucien frowned, then shrugged off his suit jacket and tossed it over her lap, covering the revealing sight. He was annoyed just looking at it. And the moment he thought about these legs—legs he had once conquered—it irritated him even more. Violet lowered her gaze to the jacket now draped over her legs. It still carried his lingering warmth and the faint scent of fresh violet. And just like that, the jacket stayed on her lap for the entire ride. After negotiations with a professional, the final damage assessment came in. The globally customized Rolls-Royce she had crashed into was valued at 13.9 million dollars. All of which she had to pay. Alone. Violet's fingers tightened at her side when she heard the staggering amount. After signing the paperwork, they walked to the entrance. She still held his jacket in her arms. Outside, it was still raining. Beside a gleaming luxury car, a chauffeur stood at the ready, holding an umbrella for Lucien. Before leaving, Lucien took the assessment report and glanced at her, the corners of his lips curving into a faint smirk. "13.9 million dollars? I'll give you a friendly discount—let's round it up to fourteen million dollars. How would you like to pay?" Violet instinctively pulled back the hand that had been about to return his jacket, silently grinding her teeth. A friendly discount? What, like an ex-girlfriend discount? How petty! She forced a light smile. "Thanks, but I don't have that kind of money right now." Three years ago, as the wealthy heiress of the financial empire in City B, this amount would have been nothing to her. But times had changed. Her father was arrested, her family crumbled, and now, she was forced into an arranged marriage just to repay her family's debts. Lucien let out a low chuckle. "Didn't you land yourself a wealthy fiancé? He won't even spend this much on you?" Violet remained silent. Of all people, the man she'd agreed to marry was his nephew—a notorious miser who wouldn't spend a dime on anyone. But she had her own reasons for choosing him. "Violet." He called her name--for the first time in three years. Lucien lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his sharp, fox-like eyes—eyes that carried the dominance of a predator. He wanted to ask: Was life better after leaving me? But in the end, he found himself losing to the gentle shimmer in her eyes. His Adam's apple bobbed as he spoke. "Do you still remember my number?" For three years, he had never changed it. Seeing that she remained silent, Lucien grew irritated. He loosened his tie with a rough tug and pulled a sleek black business card from his suit pocket, shoving it into her hand. "Contact me within three days. Either pay the money, or…" "Pay with yourself." Violet stood frozen, gripping the card as she watched his tall figure step under the black umbrella the driver held up for him and get into the car. The luxury vehicle, a symbol of power and wealth, gradually blurred into the downpour as it drove away. A gust of cold wind hit her, making her shrink into herself. Only then did she realize that his suit jacket was still draped over her arm. Freeing one hand, she pulled out her phone from her bag to hail a ride. The car arrived quickly but stopped at a distance. Just as she was about to brace herself and dash through the rain, a voice called from behind. "Producer Violet, you forgot your umbrella." A police officer hurried over, handing her a black umbrella. Violet glanced at it. It wasn't hers. It was the one Lucien had left behind. She looked up at the stormy sky, then reached out and took it. "Thanks." ****** When she got back to her apartment, the moment she stepped through the door, her best friend, Cathy, came running over with a face mask on, practically dragging her to the TV. "Violet, have you seen the news? Lucien is back from Country A!" Cathy continued, "I heard he made an absolute fortune in hedge funds these past few years! Who would've thought that the rebellious rich boy you dumped would turn into a big-shot financial tycoon on Wall Street?" Violet calmly hung up the suit jacket in her hands. "I know." She wasn't surprised by Lucien's success. Back in high school, Violet had already heard his name. It was during the crucial physics competition that would have secured her admission to HD University—until Lucien's participation shattered her dream. From then on, every time they competed, she lost. To her, he was either a genius or a devil—a madman who toyed with people for fun. The cruelest part? No matter how furious she was, Lucien would never even remember the girl who kept coming in second. The following year, almost as if fate were mocking her, Violet changed her college application at the last minute. By the time she enrolled at SF University, Lucien—already a near-legendary figure on campus—was finishing his Ph.D. And he wasn't even twenty. A child prodigy admitted to the gifted program at twelve, he'd blazed through his bachelor's, master's, and doctorate in one seamless streak. National and international science competition trophies piled up in his wake. His interests sprawled across research, race car driving, shooting, and swimming—if he wanted to master something, he did. Effortlessly. Violet's fascination with him bordered on obsession. But the moment she actually succeeded in pulling him off his pedestal, she panicked. The real Lucien was nothing like the untouchable idol she'd imagined. He was wild, ruthless, utterly uncontainable—a caged beast who channeled all his restless intensity into her, equal parts intoxicating and terrifying. His striking looks and elite family background? He couldn't care less. When his family pushed him toward academia, he rebelled, chasing the adrenaline of offshore hedge funds instead—high risk, high reward, exactly his style. Even after their breakup, Violet had to admit it: From his name to his bones, the man was born to stand apart. Cathy looked at her with concern. "Lucien probably came back for an arranged marriage, but did you know? He also bought out your dad's old company and is now the Chief Executive of Brighter Future Entertainment Group. That means… he's technically your boss now!" Violet's lashes fluttered slightly. "Yeah, I heard. We'll see how it goes." Fortunately, she worked in Brighter Future Entertainment Group's film division, so she shouldn't have much direct contact with headquarters. Cathy looked surprised. "Since when do you get the news faster than me?" Violet slumped onto the sofa and tossed the signed police report onto the coffee table. "Because I'm the one who hit him with my car." Cathy's eyes widened as she snatched up the paper to take a closer look. "No way—you two reunited in a car accident?" Judging from Violet's expression, it was obvious. "Thirteen million nine hundred thousand dollars." Cathy sucked in a sharp breath at the compensation amount. "How are you planning to pay this off? Let me check how much I have in my account." Violet pressed down on her hand before she could grab her phone and briefly explained the whole situation. "I'll have Mike cover it." She had never cared when Mike fooled around or used her to get money from his grandfather, but this time was different. If he dared refuse to pay, she'd drag him down with her. Cathy sighed. "Who would've thought? Mike really your ex-boyfriend's nephew. But hey, this might actually work out in your favor. Lucien definitely doesn't care about that kind of money. Just have Mike beg for mercy on your behalf." Violet chuckled. "You think too simply." The Lucien she knew—extreme, possessive, vengeful. Sending Mike to plead for her? That would only add fuel to the fire. She nudged Cathy toward the bedroom. "Stop worrying and get some sleep. Future Best Actress, don't you have a shoot tomorrow?" "Fine, but if you need help, you'd better tell me right away!" Cathy disappeared into her room but soon popped her head back out. "By the way, why did you and Lucien break up back then?" Violet lowered her gaze. Sensing her mood drop, Cathy quickly changed the subject. "Goodnight, baby! Get some rest!" After showering, Violet lay down and picked up the business card from her nightstand. Lucien had left it behind. His phone number was printed on it—a number she knew by heart.