Qin Jia suddenly burst out laughing, looking at him with utter disdain. "Oh, I was wondering who it was—turns out you’re just Yancy Shaw’s lapdog. Aren’t you dutiful."

A murderous glint flashed across Yuan Ran’s face, but Yancy Shaw spoke coolly, "Wait for me outside."

Yuan Ran muttered, "Young Master Shen, that woman’s insane—be careful."

His arm bore deep, bleeding scratches from Qin Jia’s nails. If she hadn’t been a woman, he would’ve punched her already.

Yancy Shaw’s icy gaze locked onto Qin Jia, sending a chill down her spine.

Perhaps it was because she was used to seeing Yancy Shaw’s refined and mild demeanor—she’d never known how terrifying he could be. Now, confronted with this side of him, Qin Jia’s nerves began to fray.

Noticing this, Yuan Ran quietly backed out of the room.

Now, only the two of them were left inside.

"Wh-what do you want?" Qin Jia’s voice actually quivered a little.

Yancy Shaw let out a cold laugh, glancing at her. "You ordered someone to hit my wife. What do you think I’m going to do?"

His tone was sharp and threatening. Qin Jia could feel her heart pounding in her throat, but forced herself to act unruffled. "I have no idea what you’re talking about. I’m busy—please move aside."

She tried to open the door, but Yancy Shaw blocked her path. Once, she’d have done anything to be alone with him—but given the current circumstances, how could she dare?

"Miss Qin, if I recall, I warned you not to target my wife. Why can’t you ever listen?"

Though his voice was gentle, Qin Jia could sense the menace behind it, and her heart clenched with fear.

Still, she forced herself to argue. "You’re kidding yourself. When did I ever target your wife?"

With a sudden crash, the stool beside her was kicked over by Yancy Shaw’s foot, splintering into pieces. Qin Jia blanched in terror.

Thank goodness he hadn’t kicked her—if he had, she’d be the one in pieces.

Yancy Shaw, true to his principle of never hitting women, vented his fury on the furniture instead.

"The person who tried to harm my wife—wasn’t it you who gave the order?"

He walked over to the chair and sat down, watching Qin Jia with all the composure of a hunter eyeing its prey.

Qin Jia still looked shaken. This side of Yancy Shaw—so cold and brimming with menace—was utterly terrifying.

Without hurry, he pulled a scalpel from his pocket. The blade flashed with chilling light, stabbing into her eyes just as his presence stabbed into her nerves—frigid and merciless.

"I have no idea what you mean. I never did anything to harm your wife." She continued to deny everything, figuring that as long as she refused to admit it, he couldn’t do anything to her.

A smile played on Yancy Shaw’s lips as he slowly ran his finger along the blade, the image disturbingly calm.

"Since my Shengsheng got her head split open—let’s start with your forehead, shall we?"

"W-what are you doing?" she stammered in panic, shrinking away as he advanced.

"What do you think? I’m here to avenge my Shengsheng." His tone was half-mocking, but he was clearly not joking.

Seeing the scalpel getting closer, Qin Jia panicked and began banging on the door, screaming for help—yet no one came.

Yancy Shaw approached her at a glacial pace. Qin Jia squeezed her eyes shut, trembling like a leaf, sobbing, "I’ll talk! I’ll say everything! Please, just let me go..."

After a long moment, when pain failed to materialize, she opened her eyes. Yancy Shaw was simply sitting in his chair, regarding her coolly as if nothing had happened at all—as if it were all in her head.

"Go on, then. Why did you order someone to hit Shengsheng?"

Despite his indifferent gaze, Qin Jia’s eyes filled with longing. It was this air of careless detachment that first drew her to him—once, she’d dreamed of getting closer and closer.

But somehow, over time, she’d utterly lost herself in that love.

Love, she thought bitterly, can truly drive a person mad.

She let out a choked laugh, eyes shining with tears. "Yancy Shaw, I love you so much. Can’t you see that? Why can’t you give me even a fraction of the love you give Lauren Shaw?"

She really was crazy—otherwise, why would she humble herself like this?

The more Yancy Shaw recoiled from her, the more she wanted to conquer him. That desire had grown unchecked, turning obsessive and wild over time.

The better he treated Lauren Shaw, the more jealous she became. Jealousy had twisted her beyond recognition, leaving her a shadow of her former self.

Yancy Shaw ignored the affection burning in her eyes. Cold as ever, he remained unmoved.

Qin Jia’s gaze dimmed. "I’m just jealous of Lauren Shaw. Why does she get all your affection? Why does she get to have you? If she were dead, I could have you. Only if she dies will you finally look at me..."

Suddenly, she burst into laughter—a bleak, desperate sound. Her contorted face was painful to behold.

Rage flickered across Yancy Shaw’s face. He lunged, grabbing her by the throat and spoke in a glacial tone, "You’re lucky Shengsheng only suffered a scratch. If anything serious had happened to her, do you really think you’d still be breathing? If she’d been truly hurt, your entire Qin family would pay the price!"

His voice was as cold as death—a demon risen straight from hell.

Her throat trapped tightly in his grasp, Qin Jia’s face turned crimson red, tears streaming down as she stared into his eyes—eyes blazing with fury.

Yes, she thought, this is indeed the man I chose. Even his anger is intense enough to steal your breath away.

She glared at him with defiant scorn. "Then why don’t you just kill me?"

Yancy Shaw released her with clear disgust. "Kill you? You’re not worth the trouble. I don’t want to dirty my hands."

Thrown aside, Qin Jia crumpled helplessly to the floor.

Yancy Shaw raised his voice, calling Yuan Ran’s name from outside.

Yuan Ran hurried in, taking in Qin Jia’s wretched state with a sigh. Master Shen was already a married man—how dare she persist? What’s worse, she went after the one he loved most. She must have a death wish.

"Take her to the police." Yancy Shaw shot her a frosty glance, his eyes full of arctic scorn.

Attempted murder would put her behind bars for years.

Qin Jia glared at him through gritted teeth. "You think sending me to prison will change anything? You really think I’ll actually suffer?" She scoffed—after all, as the Qin family’s eldest daughter, she was certain money could buy her freedom.

Yancy Shaw looked down at her with eyes like cold steel. "Do you really think the Qin family would risk all their interests for you?"

The upper class could be callous—profit always outweighed sentiment.

Qin Jia stared up at him, stunned. "So nothing will satisfy you unless I’m completely destroyed, is that it?"

"I won’t kill you myself. But that doesn’t mean I’ll let you go."

Yancy Shaw was cold by nature, but there was one spot of burning warmth in his heart—and that warmth was reserved for Lauren Shaw alone.