Damien stared at Elena, something flickering in his eyes.

It wasn't because she was ridiculously beautiful—though she was.

It was something else. A strange sense of familiarity.

Like he'd seen her before.

But the more he looked, the less he could place it. So he just frowned and strode to the conference table, cold and composed.

Elena was glaring at him like he'd killed her puppy. That little scowl, full of rage.

Damien narrowed his eyes.

Her kid wrecked his car, and she wasn't even trying to apologize?

Hell, she looked like she wanted to fight.

Little woman, big attitude. Just like her damn kid.

He didn't bother with pleasantries.

"Why did you order your son to destroy my car?"

Boom. Accusation first, facts later.

Elena's hands clenched into fists. Her body was trembling from head to toe—not with fear, but rage.

Wait a damn minute. He didn't recognize her?

So… was it that night he hadn't seen her face clearly?

Or was he just pretending?

She wasn't sure if this man was the bastard from that night. So she held back, tried to keep her voice steady.

"You… you really don't recognize me?"

Damien raised an eyebrow.

"Should I?"

Elena's heart skipped a beat.

He really didn't know her?

But—he looked so much like Jamie and Axel. Not identical, but close. Too close.

His voice was a little different from what she remembered that night. Still, she couldn't be sure. So she shoved the past down for now and focused on the present.

"If you don't know me, then why did you have me abducted? That's illegal!"

Damien's eyes darkened, but Caleb stepped in calmly,

"Our boss already told you—your son destroyed his car."

"What?" Elena looked stunned. "You must be mistaken! We just got to Havenport today. My son wouldn't even have had time to do something like that! We—"

"Show her the footage," Damien snapped, cutting her off.

The conference room screen lit up. Video from the train station began to play.

The boy in the video was wearing a mask—but Elena recognized Axel instantly.

She didn't know how the tires were blown up, but the scratches on the car?

Yeah. That was definitely her son.

Her heart sank.

"I… I didn't know. That is my son in the video, but Axel's a good kid. He'd never damage someone's car for no reason. Something must've happened."

Damien studied her face. She didn't look like she was lying.

"And what about the explosives? Did you know your kid used precise micro-bombs to blow out four tires?"

Elena's eyes widened in horror.

"Explosives?! No, no way! He's just a child—he wouldn't touch something that dangerous."

"Well, those tires were destroyed using very precise, high-grade charges."

Elena's mind scrambled. Then it clicked.

"Wait—no, no, no. You're mistaken! That wasn't a bomb, it was… fireworks. My son loves making fireworks with his great-grandpa. He gave him some before we left the mountain. I didn't know they were that powerful—I swear! If I'd known, I never would've let him bring them."

Her voice was sincere, her expression earnest. Not a trace of deception.

Damien stared at her for a long beat… and nodded slightly.

Fireworks and explosives weren't all that different.

And in rural areas, there were old craftsmen who could make some pretty serious stuff.

Caleb had already investigated. Her background was clean.

Single mom, three kids. Simple family.

Damien exhaled. He'd overreacted.

He lost interest in the whole thing.

"Caleb, you handle it," he said flatly, eyes back on his phone.

Caleb pulled out a folder and placed it in front of her.

"Ms. Lane, since you've acknowledged that the child is yours and the evidence is clear, please pay up."

Damien wasn't a charity case. Someone wrecked his car—someone paid.

That's the price of being a parent and failing to teach your kid right from wrong.

Elena's face tensed.

She believed Axel hadn't done it without reason—but the damage was real.

She bit her lip.

"How… how much does he want?"

"Five million."

"What?!" Elena's voice shot up several octaves. "Five million?! Is he out of his damn mind?!"

Caleb blinked.

Damien, not even looking up from his phone, said calmly, "If you don't want to settle, I'll call the cops."

"No!" Elena blurted out.

With that video as evidence, the police would take her in for sure.

She was the guardian. If she went to jail—who would take care of the kids?

She swallowed hard.

"That car… is it really worth five million?"

"That's its current market value."

Caleb handed her the appraisal.

Elena's lips twitched as she read it.

"I-I'm not refusing to pay. I'll pay! But I really don't have that kind of money. Can we… lower it a little? Please?"

Caleb looked to Damien.

Damien finally looked up, eyes cold.

"How much can you pay?"

Elena hesitated.

"F-Five hundred?"

Dead silence.

Five million. Five hundred. She'd chopped off four zeros like it was nothing.

Damien stood up.

"Forget it. I'm calling the police."

He turned to leave.

Elena panicked.

"Wait! Please—wait!"

He didn't stop.

Elena bit her lip so hard it almost bled. Then—she snapped.

"Fine! You want money? Then take off your clothes!"

Damien froze mid-step.

"...What?"

"Take it off. Your coat. Your shirt. All of it."

Everyone else in the room was stunned.

Of all the women who'd ever tried to seduce Damien Carrington, no one had been this bold.

"Strip." In front of everyone?!

This woman wasn't just gorgeous—she was insane.

Damien's lips pressed into a hard line. His eyes darkened.

"Do you have any idea what you're saying?"

Elena was shaking—but she stood her ground.

"I said if you want money, take off your clothes."

She didn't have five million. Hell, she didn't even have five thousand. But she couldn't go to jail.

So she had to know. Was he the man from that night?

If he was, she'd trade that one night—for five million.

Back then, he promised to make her feel like the most treasured woman in the world.

She didn't need his so-called "happiness."

She just wanted this debt paid.

As for the children… He didn't even know they existed.

Once she got the divorce, she'd disappear from Havenport with her boys.

And he'd never find them again.