Chapter 7 I Am His Prey

• "Put it on. This will be your uniform from now on."
• Uniform? Pfft! I can't believe he has the audacity to say that!
• Just as I cursed him inwardly, a realization dawned upon me. I had thought he was taking revenge on Jude for offending him a few days ago, but I didn't expect that this was actually his plan to kill two birds with one stone. He was sorting Jude out while simultaneously using this to blackmail me. Sigh! I underestimated this guy. Jude's strong recommendation of me must have made him realize that we're close. He's certain that I wouldn't stand by and do nothing, so he's using this to catch me in his trap.
• Since he was trying to have leverage over me, I had to strike back, of course. "Was it you who orchestrated what happened to Jude?"
• Ian raised an eyebrow, probably not expecting me to be so blunt. Still, he acted as if he hadn't heard it and continued, "Didn't I say it already? If you don't put on this outfit that I handpicked for you, I won't discuss anything with you."
• "Handpicked? Haha! So, you've long anticipated this. It was also you who had someone frame Dr. Fulton, wasn't it? What a vicious man you are!"
• The man showed no signs of displeasure at being exposed by me. Instead, he seemed excited. "Oh, don't be so hard on me, Miss Robyn! I didn't realize that you're not only beautiful but also sharp-witted. You see, as the president of a company, I'm thirsting for talented individuals like you. I need someone like you by my side to help me out, isn't that right?" He strode up and stood tall before me.
• Looking at his handsome face, I felt an urge to slap him. "Mr. Winter, you and I don't speak the same language. We're not of the same kind, and I'm not the woman you think I am either. Please don't waste your precious time on me."
• This was a point that had already been proven three years ago.
• He replied, "Why keep me at arm's length, Miss Robyn? From the first time I saw you, I thought you were special. Your body is perfect, and your face is delicately pretty. Hmm… And your scent is so enticing…" Leaning closer to me, he took a deep breath with a dreamy expression. If I hadn't taken a few steps back, he might have pounced on me.
• Before our divorce, he wouldn't even touch me because of the ugly blemish on my face. And now, he was putting on this laughable demeanor. I wondered how he would react when I revealed my true identity. "Weren't you disgusted with me before?" I blurted out without thinking.
• "Before?" he asked, puzzled.
• I quickly came up with an explanation. "Just a few days ago, you said I was as annoying as a certain woman. Have you already forgotten about that?" If my mind had been a bit slower, the consequences would have been unimaginable. It was me who asked for a divorce back then. How could he swallow such humiliation? He would want to rip my heart out and eat my flesh!
• "It was just a casual remark. You don't have to take it to heart, Miss Robyn. That woman isn't qualified to be compared with you."
• Is there such a big difference between having a blemish on my face and not having one? Can't he recognize me at all? "Oh? In what way am I better than her?" I asked casually, wanting to know what my past self was like in his mind's eye.
• Asking that question turned out to be a mistake; Ian's expression turned sour in an instant. "That woman? Ha! She's hideously ugly with a disgusting birthmark on her face! That's especially off-putting," he replied. "There's also her family, who are all pieces of trash. They used whatever connections they had with my family to blackmail me into marrying her—"
• My mind went blank for a moment. I had thought he merely disliked me for being ugly, but little did I know that even my family was so despicable in his eyes! Infuriated by his shamelessness, I glared at him and stepped forward, raising myself on tiptoe.
• Thinking that I was trying to console him, he leaned forward with a smile on his face.
• Slap! A loud slap reverberated around the room, hitting its target exactly.
• It also left him dumbfounded. His face had disbelief written all over it; I was probably the first person to ever strike him since he was born. After a while, he slowly asked, "Miss Robyn, would you like to explain how this slap happened?"
• "Oh, there's nothing much to explain. I just felt the need to stand up for a fellow woman."
• A strange smile appeared on his face at my reply. "Oh? So, you like to stand up for others, huh? Very well, Miss Robyn Landon. Jude Fulton's fate depends on your sincerity today. Otherwise, there's nothing to discuss." He sat on the couch next to him while covering his burning cheek.
• If I hadn't feared that he would retaliate against my family, I would've just revealed my identity. I didn't want to submit to his tyranny by sleeping with him, but from what had happened to Jude, it was evident that this guy had a vengeful streak. I could bear it if it were just me, but if my family were to suffer needlessly because of me, I would never forgive myself for that. Even though I had already left that household, I couldn't act rashly in the heat of the moment. "Mr. Winter, Dr. Fulton is a good doctor. Do you have to ruin his life just because he offended you?" I questioned.
• "Offending isn't the right way to put it. That being said, I can't stand arrogant people because they're talented. I have no shortage of talented people here."
• I thought of Jude. He was already considered a renowned medical expert, but he was worthless in the eyes of this man. I was lucky to have made a clean escape after offending him back then. Otherwise, it wouldn't have only been my reputation at stake. My life would've been in danger, too! "Since your company has no shortage of talented people, it certainly doesn't need a mediocre person like me. Sorry to take up your time!" I replied with a look of displeasure.
• I crumpled the lace strings into a ball and hurled it at him. There was no way I would compromise. Anyone could make me kneel, but Ian Winter wanting me to submit to him was something I deeply resented.
• "Stop right there!" thundered the man in a stern voice just when I was turning the door handle. "Are you treating my office as your home, where you can come and go as you please? Let me tell you something, Robyn Landon! The truth is, I am after you. If Jude Fulton wants to clear his name and prove his innocence, only you can help him. You should think this over carefully."
• Telling the truth at last, huh? Haha! But this is so ridiculous. He's scheming to attain a woman whom he once abandoned! Poor Jude, he was too impulsive and allowed this guy to target me. Am I going to fall into his hands again after escaping from his clutches with great difficulty? No!
• My mind was in turmoil. I was really afraid that if I were to leave through that door, Jude's situation would become more difficult. However, staying here would only lead to one outcome—obediently changing into the garment and letting Ian have his way with me! As a result, I stood frozen in place.
• Before I knew it, Ian appeared behind me, getting very close as his hand kept playing with my hair. I shuddered involuntarily in fear.
• "You know what? I'm a hunter, actually…"
• A hunter? What kind of hunter? A hunter for women?
• He brazenly sniffed all over me like a pervert. "And you, Miss Robyn Landon, are my prey. In fact, the prey isn't my goal; I simply enjoy the hunting process—"
• I immediately pulled away from him. "Just what are you trying to say?"
• His smile grew more and more sinister. "I can tell that you still care about Jude Fulton, Miss Robyn. Surely you won't just stand by and do nothing?"
• I had a bad feeling about this; this guy must be up to something crooked again. "So what if I won't? Jude helped me before, so it's only right that I should help clear him of the false accusations."
• Ian seemed to have been waiting for me to say that. "Great! What a loyal friend you are!" he remarked. The next moment, he continued, "Since we've made things clear between us today, I won't make things difficult for you. You'll do something for me, and if you can accomplish it, I'll definitely clear his name. How about that?"
• His words made me breathe a sigh of relief. "What is it? As long as it doesn't violate moral and ethical principles as well as laws and regulations, I'll do my best." I didn't rush to agree. Dealing with someone like him required vigilance; you never knew when he might lay a trap and wait for you to walk into it.
• "Rest assured, Miss Robyn Landon. I'm sure you have the ability to handle this."
• As it turned out, Ian wanted to build the largest plastic surgery hospital in Monreso, and the first and foremost hurdle was to solve the issue of land ownership. In Monreso, where every square foot of land was worth a pretty penny, land was always the most critical factor for competition in every industry. And now, the land that Ian had his eye on was under firm control by a real estate developer.
• "As long as you can secure that piece of land, Jude Fulton will return to his original job position."
• Compared to his tyranny, I preferred the latter option. So, almost involuntarily, I agreed without even considering the task's difficulty. It was only after agreeing that I regretted it, but it was already too late.
• "The hunt has begun, then… I'm looking forward to your success, Miss Robyn Landon."
• At this moment, I realized that the man had indeed laid a huge trap, and I had jumped right into it without hesitation.