Game of Survival

"If the real power wasn’t in your hands, I’d go straight to the old Whitaker, no need to play with a kid."

"Is Whitaker’s money really that important to you?"

"More important than your hands?"

My stomach dropped. "No!"

Vincent ground his shoe into my fingers. The pain exploded, white-hot, all the way to my skull. I thrashed, but couldn’t move.

"Ah!" I screamed. The pain was blinding.

Vincent pressed harder, crushing my fingers. Little finger, ring finger, middle finger—bones shattered, one after another. I broke out in a cold sweat, bit through my lip just to stay conscious.

I’ll make him the textbook tragic hero! Only if he’s pitiful enough, and I save him, can I be his light, his everything!

Autumn’s voice. If not for carrying the Whitaker legacy, I might have been a piano prodigy. I’d play, my beloved Savannah would sing. We’d tour, travel—New Orleans, the Pacific coast, Paris, chasing dreams.

But now, my hands are ruined. I’ll never play again. What a waste. Looking at my bloody fingers, I nearly shattered my teeth.

"Looks like little prince Whitaker won’t cooperate."

Vincent stubbed his cigarette out on my hand. Signaled for a thug to bring a knife. I closed my eyes, bracing for the end.

At that moment, the basement door crashed open.

"Dad, don’t!"

Autumn’s voice rang out, right on cue. She was committed to following the plot. I’d bet right.

Autumn rushed in, throwing herself between me and the thugs.

Once he knows I’m the Reyes family’s only daughter, and I go against my family for him, caring for him, he’ll be my dog!

She wore a white dress, her thin frame like a lamb into a wolf den.

"Autumn, you’re… the Reyes heiress?"

To escape, I played along.

"Chase, I’m sorry, I like you, that’s why I tried to be your secretary. I didn’t mean to deceive you, I was just afraid you’d hate me more if you knew…" She dissolved into hiccuping sobs.

"Dad, please, let Chase go!"

Autumn knelt, pleading with Vincent, eyes red and wild.

"Move aside, Chase Whitaker is our family’s enemy, how can you help him!"

Vincent was furious, but helpless.

"Dad, I don’t want anything, just please let Chase go, or… or I’ll die right here in front of you…"

Autumn almost threw herself over me, desperate.

Vincent hesitated, couldn’t bring himself to hurt his daughter. Autumn helped me stumble out.

Once outside, despite my injuries, I rushed home. My parents had to be safe.

Chase Whitaker really looks pitiful now.

He doesn’t know, I already called Old Whitaker. When he heard his precious son was kidnapped, he had a heart attack—probably dead before he gets home, hahaha.

My heart seized. I glared at Autumn, wanting to tear her apart. The killing intent in my eyes nearly boiled over.

SYSTEM: System detected, the male lead’s white moonlight, Savannah Miller, has returned to the country.

I snapped back, let go in despair. Can’t act rashly—would get everyone killed. I forced myself to endure, hatred burning in my chest.

What was with Chase just now, so scary, I thought he heard us!

No way, must be your imagination.

Autumn looked at me, suspicious. I acted normal.

Half an hour later, I found my parents’ bodies…

Father died of a heart attack. Mother hanged herself beside him.