Scarlette watched as Quinn put on a melodramatic show, then nced at the cool-as-a-cucumber ra beside her. She couldn''t resist whispering, "Are you the devil or what?" How she came up such a wicked n was beyond her wildest thoughts. She and ra both thought the same. They were absolutely each other''s kind of ally.


    Quinn, clutching a knife, had now sidled up to Colton. Seeing the tears on her face, Colton felt like every bit of this was worth it. He even closed his eyes in resignation. "Quinn, I know you''re being forced into this. I won''t yell out in pain. I know you''re hurting inside too."


    Quinn''s lips quivered, her eyes red from crying. "Colton, I''m so sorry."


    "You''ve got nothing to apologize for; I''m doing this willingly! Don''t cry! It kills me to see you in tears!"


    A determined glint shed in Quinn''s eyes as she plunged the knife forward, but she avoided any vital spots. Colton let out a muffled grunt, holding back his cries of pain. He didn''t want to lose face in front of Quinn. If he could just get through this night, it''d be the ultimate test of life and death for both him and Quinn. Maybe then Quinn would ditch Simon and choose him. Just the thought of it chased away the pain, leaving him feeling oddly happy.


    With tears streaming down her face, Quinn pulled the knife back and looked at ra. "Is this enough for you devils?"


    ra pulled a bottle of water from behind her, a mischievous grin spreading as she lowered her voice. "This is just the beginning. This bottle''s got poison in it— deadly stuff. Only one of you is walking out of here tonight."


    She gestured to the bodyguards to grab Quinn. Quinn''s face went ghostly white as she struggled desperately. "No, please, I''m begging you, don''t!"


    Just moments ago, she had kept it together, acting all high and mighty, but now, realizing her life was really on the line, all her bravado vanished, leaving her a sobbing mess.


    ra slowly approached, holding the bottle, her tone menacing. "Ms. Quinn, this''s what you deserved for crossing the wrong people."


    She twisted open the cap, poised to force the water down Quinn''s throat. Fear filled Quinn''s eyes as she screamed frantically. "I don''t want to die! I don''t want to die! No! Why not let Colton drink it? Didn''t he say he''d do anything for me?!"


    At her words, Colton''s eyes snapped open, as if questioning his own ears. ra''s movements stopped too. Quinn realized her words had an impact and her tone turned desperate. "Let Colton drink it. Didn''t he say he''d do anything for me? Please, I don''t want to die."


    ra signaled the bodyguards to let Quinn go. Quinn, as limp as a noodle,y sprawled on the floor like a jellyfish. ra crouched slightly, cing the bottle in front of her. "Ms. Quinn, will you drink, or will he?"


    Quinn suddenly sprang up, snatched the bottle, and made a beeline for Colton without a second''s hesitation. "He''ll drink! Of course, he''ll do it!"


    Her fear was so palpable and her urgency was so clear, there was no room for pretense. Colton remained in shock, for this was not the Quinn he thought he knew. The Quinn he knew was kind-hearted and wouldn''t hurt a fly, yet here she was, faced with life and death and acting so cold-hearted.


    He stayed silent until Quinn unscrewed the cap and mped his mouth shut. Finally, a hint of panic crept into Colton''s demeanor. "Quinn."


    A flicker of ruthlessness crossed Quinn''s eyes. She couldn''t be med for this; she didn''t want to die here. But the show had to go on. "Colton, I''m sorry, but I want to live."


    Colton''s face flushed with anger. "You want to live, but what about me?"


    Quinn caught a glimpse of ra nearing again. Fear caused her to shake, and she shoved the bottle into Colton''s mouth. "Mmm..."


    Colton struggled fiercely, but he was tied to the chair,pletely impossible to break free. In less than a minute, he had gulped down the entire bottle of water. He bent over, trying to vomit it out, only to hear the sound of Quinn dropping the bottle to the floor, feeling a sudden relief. "Can I go now? I''ve done as you asked."


    ra shook her head, clicking her tongue twice. "Miss Quinn, you really do have a heart of stone. Just a sip or two of that poison would have done the trick, but you made him drink the whole bottle. Not even the gods can save him now."


    Quinn froze when she heard Colton gagging.


    ra opened the door, waving her hand. "We''re leaving now. Miss Quinn, you''re free to go too. Until next time."


    Scarlette was surprised; was it truly over? Just as this thought formed, ra added one more thing. "Oh, by the way, that bottle was just regr mineral water, not poison. Congrattions, you''re both saved."


    ra''s words were light, yet they struck Quinn like a bolt of lightning. She swayed, disbelief etched on her face. "What?"


    ra''s voice held a hint ofughter. "Didn''t I make myself clear? That was just ordinary mineral water, not poison. Congrattions, neither of you has to die."


    Scarlette felt her scalp tingle; ra''s cunning n was more ruthless than any viin.