“Stephanie Blackwood, don’t kid yourself! I’d rather drop dead here tonight than so much as touch you.”

Alexander Hawthorn’s voice was cold as ice, slicing through the thick tension in the room like a blade.

Stephanie clutched her forehead, having smacked it against the bedframe. The pain made her grimace hard. Slowly, she looked up at the man standing in front of her.

He was tall and lean, standing straight with a face that looked like it came straight out of a fashion magazine—sharp angles, perfectly balanced features. But those eyes… his phoenix eyes were filled with contemptuous chill, glaring at her like daggers.

Frowning lightly, Stephanie glanced around with a dazed expression.

Where the hell was this?

And who exactly was this unfamiliar guy in modern clothes and a clean military-style haircut?

Just moments ago, she’d been sacrificing her spirit for the wellness of the world, fulfilling her duty as the best metaphysician in the Lingyue Valley.

So how had she woken up here? In this weird place filled with strange contraptions she couldn’t make heads or tails of?

“Stephanie, you seriously think drugging me was gonna work? Don’t flatter yourself! I’m never touching you, and tomorrow my lawyer’s sending over the divorce papers!”

Holding her still-throbbing forehead, Stephanie stood up unsteadily. She blinked at the tall man in front of her, looking utterly lost. “Divorce? You mean... ending a marriage? But your facial tone’s off, your lips are bluish—you’ve got a killer aura hanging over you. I'd say you're bound for some serious bad luck tonight.”

Her voice barely faded before the room went dead silent.

Alexander’s stare turned even darker, like he was ready to rip her apart.

This woman had some nerve.

She’d asked to meet at a hotel to talk divorce, then lured him into a presidential suite where, near the air vent, she’d clearly stashed some male-targeted aphrodisiac.

Caught him completely off guard.

If not for the marriage contract between their families, he never would’ve married someone like her. And even after the wedding, he avoided her like the plague—yet she kept pulling these stunts trying to force his hand. Between the drugs and drama, she drove him nuts. He couldn’t stand a single thing about her.

“You’re really something, Stephanie. Can’t win, so you start throwing curses? How toxic can you get?” he hissed.

The splitting headache was making Stephanie’s thoughts swirl. She had no idea what kind of mess she’d landed in. And why this guy looked ready to strangle her.

Carefully studying him, she noticed his eyes were bloodshot, his breathing ragged, chest rising and falling fast. With a frown, she asked, “Don’t tell me... someone actually hit you with Hehuan San?”

She quickly patted herself down, hoping to find her silver needles.

No luck. Nothing useful on her.

Alexander’s face grew stormier at her innocent look. “Spare me the act!”

Like she wasn’t the one who drugged him. Yeah right.Stephanie Blackwood ignored the look Alexander Hawthorn was giving her—like he wanted to tear her apart—and blinked in confusion. “Where is this? What year is it now?”

Alexander frowned deeply, staring at her like she’d turned into a totally different person.

Did she knock her head when she fell and hit the edge of the bed? Had she gone nuts?

He pressed his lips into a tight line, his voice cold as ice. “It’s the 21st century. And don’t pretend like you don’t know that. I don’t care if you’re really out of your mind or just faking it—either way, this marriage is over.”

Stephanie slowly shook her head. “21st century? I’ve never heard of that dynasty before.”

“You’re insane,” Alexander snapped, so furious he was almost shaking. Any more of this and he might actually strangle her.

The drug’s effects were kicking in; his whole body was hot and his legs felt like jelly. No way he was walking out of this hotel on his own.

He quickly pulled out his phone, dialing up his driver.

“Robert, come to the Greenland Hotel. I need a pickup.”

As soon as he hung up, he suddenly felt Stephanie lean in close, her face caked with makeup, her big eyes blinking curiously.

She pointed at the phone in his hand, tilting her head. “What’s this weird little thing? Kind of fun... Is it a sound-transmission talisman?”

She’d just heard someone talking through it, so it had to be magic, right?

Alexander’s dark eyes flared, fury barely contained. “Stephanie, cut the crazy act. I’m not in the mood.”

Back in Lingyue Valley, people treated her like royalty. Now? This guy was yelling at her like she was nothing. Rude.

{This man has no manners. No wonder he’s doomed. As soon as he crosses that bridge later, it’ll collapse. He’ll survive, sure, but his legs? Gone. And, well, his... manhood’s definitely done for, too.} She thought, sighing inwardly.

Alexander had just reached the door when he froze mid-step.

He spun around to stare at her. How could she be so vicious? Cursing him with injuries and even hoping he’d become a cripple?

His fists clenched so hard they turned white.

{Once he’s crippled and impotent, he’ll totally lose the will to live. His business will tank, he’ll lose everything, and in the end, someone will gouge out his eyes. He’ll be half-dead, not even like a person anymore. Won’t last a year before offing himself.}

{Kind of tragic, really.}

{Better to get that divorce asap. I refuse to be dragged down with him.}

Alexander’s temple throbbed, veins popping on his forehead as he clenched his jaw, about to explode—then he suddenly froze.

Wait. Stephanie hadn’t said a single word out loud just now.

But he’d heard her. Clear as day. Her voice, in his head.

What the hell?

Was he hallucinating?

{Why’s he staring at me like that? If we divorce, I should still get to keep my dowry, right?}

Alexander’s eyes locked on her lips—nope, they didn’t move. Nothing.

Yet he could hear every word she was thinking.

Was... was he hearing Stephanie’s thoughts now?