Hazel answered the video call but immediately turned off the camera. Then, she lunged toward Stephen again in an attempt to embrace him.


    The phone was facing away from him, so he couldn''t see the video interface, nor did he notice that the phone in her hand was his own.


    As she pressed herself against him and held up the phone, his heavy, erratic breathing was clearly recorded.


    Just as she was about to fall into his arms again, Stephen pushed her away once


    more.


    Hazel let out a series of moans, deliberately making them sound scandalous. "Mr. Jacobson, be gentle... It hurts... Ah... Slower, please..."


    The pain was real, but she didn''t want Tessa to realize that. She intentionally blended her moans with seductive gasps, creating the illusion of desire. It was all meant to provoke Tessa, to stir jealousy, to push her past her limits.


    Sure enough, the video call from Tessa was quickly disconnected.


    At the same time, Stephen finally noticed that the phone in Hazel''s hand was his own. He snatched it away immediately.


    The screen still showed the recently ended video call on WhatsApp. His expression darkened to something truly terrifying.


    He tried to call Tessa back, but a message popped up.


    "This user has not added you as a friend. You cannot initiate a video call."


    Tessa had blocked him.


    Stephen''s face filled with fury, a look that could have killed on the spot.


    Hazel was still lingering around, unwilling to leave. He was utterly disgusted by her and didn''t want to touch her at all. He immediately called Samson and ordered him toe upstairs and throw her out.


    The drug''s effect was intensifying. The fire burning in his veins was threatening to strip away what was left of his sanity.


    Hazel, emboldened, continued her shameless seduction during the few minutes before Samson arrived. She even stripped off her dress, leaving only her underwear.


    Stephen didn''t so much as nce at her. Instead, he walked over to the side table, grabbed a fruit knife, and without hesitation, sliced a gash into the palm of his own hand. The pain gave him a sliver of rity


    When Samson rushed in, he nearly copsed on the spot at the sight of Hazel standing there in nothing but her underwear.


    He broke into a cold sweat and spoke with a trembling voice, "Mr. Jacobson, I am so sorry. This was a severepse in my duties."


    Samson''s mind was a mess. He could hardly believe what he had just witnessed. That woman had actually drugged Stephen and tried to climb into his bed.


    This was a disaster. He waspletely doomed. Completely doomed.


    Stephen''s skin had turned an unnatural red. His eyes were clouded with lust, but


    the rage burning inside him was even stronger.


    He snapped, "Get this woman out of here now!"


    Samson''s gaze dropped and caught sight of Stephen''s left hand. His heart skipped a beat.


    Vivid red blood was dripping from the tips of his fingers. A patch of the wool carpet beneath him was already stained crimson.


    In his right hand, Stephen was still holding the fruit knife, its de glistening with fresh blood.


    Stephen had chosen to inflict pain


    ét


    on himself to resist the drug''s effects. He had shed his own


    hand relying on physical agony to


    suppress the overwhelming desire.


    In that split second, Samson even began mentally preparing his own funeral.


    He quickly responded with a string


    of affirmatives, ran into the


    bathroom, and grabbed an unused


    towel He draped it over Hazel, then


    hoisted her out without another


    word.


    Samson didn''t dare say anything more. Carrying Hazel like a sack of potatoes, he stormed toward the door.


    Stephen copsed back onto the couch, head tilted upward, his body burning with


    heat. His mind teetered on the brink of copse.


    And from his lips came a quiet, subconscious murmur.


    "Tess... Tess..."