The Devil Who Claimed Me

Mila grew confused as questions flooded her mind.

Dominic had told her about his family background last night. He had said he was actually Louise Noir’s illegitimate son. He had even explained how much he had struggled in his life to achieve whatever he had now.

Was all that a lie? Or was everything he had told her about his past true?

Mila pressed her forehead, feeling dizzy.

"Be careful around him, Mila," Max’s voice came through the phone. "He might have ulterior motives. You shouldn’t trust him easily."

Mila could say nothing. The truth was – she had already crossed the line. She had started liking him. And now...she felt betrayed again.

"Mila? Are you listening to me?" Max grew worried as the silence thickened on the other end. "Are you still there?"

Mila blinked and forced herself back to reality. "Yes," she rasped. "Thanks for telling me."

Hearing her disappointed tone, Max felt upset. "Don’t be disheartened." He softened his tone. "Maybe he is not as bad as we are assuming. Sometimes people hide things to protect themselves. Maybe he didn’t want to reveal too much to you at the beginning."

His words comforted her slightly.

’Yes, this might have happened,’ she thought.

Dominic had eventually told her about himself. Maybe the amnesia lie had been only temporary. Maybe he had been protecting himself.

"Talk to him first before making any judgment," Max suggested.

"Yes," Mila nodded, "I’ll talk to him tonight. Thanks, Max."

"I’ll email you the report."

The call ended.

Mila exhaled and leaned back in her chair, letting her tense muscles relax. She had barely closed her eyes when the door knocked.

"Come in." She sat up straight.

The door opened, and a man in a grey suit entered.

Mila recognized him immediately. It was her father’s assistant. But she wasn’t expecting to see him here.

"What brings you here?" she asked, surprised and curious at the same time.

"Miss Vega, I came to deliver this." He placed a file on the table.

"What is it?" Mila asked, her gaze falling on the black file in front of her.

"Vega Biocorp officially belongs to you now," he explained. "Mr. Leonard has surrendered all his shares."

"What?" Mila almost jumped from her seat, stunned.

"The shares have been transferred to you. He will remain as chairman, but essentially, he is only an employee now. You are the sole owner of Vega Biocorp."

Mila dragged the file closer and opened it quickly. Inside were legal documents and transfer records. Everything was legitimate. She blinked with disbelief.

"How...how did this happen?" She looked up at him, stupefied.

"Nexon Group placed a condition," the assistant explained calmly. "They would save the company as long as Mr. Vega surrenders his shares."

Mila immediately understood that it was Dominic’s doing. All the bitterness in her heart vanished instantly. An overwhelming gratitude filled her chest.

Dominic had done so much for her. He had saved her. Then he had not only punished Ethan, but he had also dealt with Leonard. Now he had even made her the sole owner. It was something she couldn’t do all those years. But he had done it in just a few hours.

No one could take the company from her – not her father, not her step-mother, not even Bianca. They were now under her authority.

She could even throw them out of the mansion if she wanted. She was happy and satisfied.

"Thank you."

The assistant nodded and left.

As soon as the door closed behind him, Mila grabbed her phone and called Dominic.

The call connected.

Before Mila could say something, Dominic’s voice filled her ears. "Do you like my gift?"

Mila smiled warmly. "I love it. Thank you for helping me."

"I’d do anything for you." After a small pause, he added, "Come home early. I have something to tell you."

Mila’s heart lifted. ’Maybe he is finally going to tell me everything honestly,’ she thought.

"I’ll be there soon."

Mila walked out of the hospital building after a short while. The evening air was cool. She shuddered slightly as she strode over to her car. Her mind was filled with many thoughts – the truth about Dominic’s amnesia, his help, the company transfer, and the impending meeting with him.

She was excited, and at the same time, she was a bit nervous. She didn’t know where the conversation between her and Dominic would go, but she was ready for it.

Just as she neared the car and reached into her bag for the key, a voice came from behind.

"Mila, wait a moment."

She turned in shock. "Ethan? What are you doing here?"

His sudden appearance stunned her. Before she could react, he grabbed her hands. A wave of disgust and fear surged through her.

"Let go." She jerked her hand free immediately and stepped back.

"Mila, please...I need your help."

Ethan didn’t look like the domineering man she had seen before. His suit was wrinkled slightly, his hair dishevelled, and his face pale with exhaustion. There was no arrogance in his tone.

Mila stared at him for a moment. Then she snorted sarcastically.

"My help? You were so arrogant this morning. You were proudly saying that I would regret collaborating with Nexon Group."

She folded her arms, shooting him a cold look. "What happened now? Why the sudden change in tone?"

"I-I made a mistake," he said regretfully. "Shaw Group is collapsing.

His voice sounded strained. "In just one day, we’ve already lost all our assets. The company is on the verge of bankruptcy."

He took a step toward her anxiously. "My father is furious. If I can’t resolve the issues, he will kick me out of the company. He may even disown me."

He tentatively reached for her hand. "It’s only you who can help me. Please."

She swatted his hand away. "How interesting." Her lips curled into a cold sneer. "I also approached you yesterday, asking for help. I begged you to resume collaboration with Vega Biocorp. But what did you do? You insisted on your ridiculous demand and even threatened to destroy the company."

The smile on her face vanished, and her voice turned sharp. "If I hadn’t found someone to support me, you would have done everything in your power to make me suffer."

A hint of frustration flickered on his face. Ethan clenched his fists. "Can’t we put our differences aside for now?" He was growing impatient. "I really need your help, Mila. You have connections with Nexon Group. Talk to them. Ask them to stop targeting us."

His gaze turned pleading. "I swear I’ll remain grateful to you forever."

But Mila had no intention of helping him. "You should have thought of that before targeting Vega Biocorp." She looked at him as if he were a stranger. "I even told you not to mix personal matters with business. But you said you were a businessman, that everything was business for you."

Her expression changed. "You even drugged me and tried to rape me. You didn’t hesitate for a second to ruin me. And now that your plan backfired, you want my help?"

Her gaze hardened. "I’m not generous. I won’t help you."

His patience finally snapped. "You are heartless," he burst out. "We were together for five years. You loved me. How can you watch me suffer?"

His fists trembled at his sides with anger and desperation.

"Yes, I am heartless," she retorted sharply. "Because I finally realized I wasted five years of my life loving someone who didn’t deserve it."

She shook her head slightly. "I don’t care whether you suffer or not."

She turned to the car, reaching for the door handle.

But Ethan grabbed her arm and turned her around sharply. "I don’t believe you," he shouted. "You loved me for five years. How could that love disappear in just a few days?"

Mila snorted scornfully. "My love didn’t die in just a few days. It died little by little. You killed it with your own hands."

Her voice turned razor sharp with each word she uttered. "Do you remember the time I was sick? I asked you to stay with me. But you left, saying you have business to attend to."

Ethan opened his mouth to say something, but she didn’t give him the time.

"I came back exhausted from the hospital and still cooked dinner for you. My whole body was aching, but I still waited for you until late at night. But you never came."

A bitter smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "When I called you, you told me not to disturb you."

Ethan’s face ashen.

"And that rainy night?" she continued. "My car wouldn’t start. I called you to pick me up. But you said you were busy and hung up on me. I had to take the subway back home – completely drenched."

Ethan lowered his head. He didn’t know she had gone through all these.

"I fell sick after that. But you didn’t come to see me."

Ethan wanted to say sorry, but his voice died when he met her icy glare.

"There are many more things," she went on. "If I start recounting everything, the whole night won’t be enough. Every time you ignored me, my love for you died a little more. And when I saw you with Bianca, I didn’t even cry. Because by then, my love for you had ended."

Ethan stood frozen, mouth agape.

"I have no feelings left for you. That’s why it was so easy for me to move on."

She shrugged. "We are already done. So stop coming after me."

She hopped into the car and started the engine.

This time, Ethan didn’t stop her. He stood there numbly, watching the car drive away. His body suddenly felt weak, as if all the strength had been drained from him.

He staggered backward and sank onto the ground. "I’m finished," he murmured. "Everything is finished."