Chapter 2Captive Hearts: Catfishing the Kingpin's Son

Outside, the roar of fireworks was deafening.

In the office, people surrounded me.

"Chloe, you’re a legend."

"You just became our Top Earner in one shot."

I smiled awkwardly. "Honestly, he was just easy to trick."

They started analyzing the 'kill'. "True, that idiot was dumb as a rock. Wiring over a million without even meeting?"

"What do you guys know? Single parent home, studying abroad, just went through a breakup. People like that are starved for affection. Buy him a Starbucks and he’d probably die of gratitude."

"I wonder what kind of moron father raises such a moron son."

Hahaha. The room erupted in laughter.

Victor knocked on the table to summarize. "Indeed, a total moron."

He stood up, grabbed a stack of cash, and shoved it down the front of my shirt. "Tomorrow, your team leader Shane will take you to the mall. Don't worry about saving me money."

I clutched my chest. "Thank you, Boss."

But Victor didn’t let go. His rough hand moved recklessly inside my clothes.

The others acted like they saw nothing, continuing to joke.

I was covered in goosebumps, about to give up resisting, when—

"Boss, another whale just came online."

Team Leader Shane walked over with a phone.

Only then did Victor reluctantly pull his hand back.

After they left, I walked back to the basement, still shaken, carrying a piece of cake.

The moment I opened the door, a broom handle smashed into my face.

"You sell out your own people! Your conscience has been eaten by dogs!"

I didn't care. I even forced a smile. "Anyone want some cake?"

They rushed me, slapping me wildly. "Another family ruined because of you, and you have the nerve to eat cake?"

"We’d rather starve to death than eat that blood-soaked cake."

They knocked the cake onto the dirty floor, calling me a bitch, a traitor.

They didn't stop until I hit the emergency bell and Shane arrived.

After that, they didn't dare touch me.

I cursed at them—starving for two days and still having that much strength—while picking the cake up off the floor.

I ate the whole thing, then went to sleep.

The moment I closed my eyes, I saw the last message from the man I scammed: "I love you. Please don't die."

But right after he sent it, the message turned into a red exclamation mark.

He must be regretting everything right now.