"Marry you?" Alex''s eyebrow arched sharply, his frown deepening.


    The number of women wanting to marry him could fill a line so long, it''d make the biggest encyclopedia look tiny inparison.


    "Do you even love me?" Alex asked, his tone t.


    "I love money—and especially your money," Lyra replied, straight-faced.


    "You know, in the end, women always have to make a choice: marry the man they love or marry the man who loves them and learn to love himter."


    Lyra shrugged, her expression unapologetic.


    "I can let you stay around me, love me, and pamper me. Just like you did with Sophia. Your love is so.... unattached. I''d even give you the honor of loving me."


    "Has anyone ever told you that you have an unbelievably thick face?" Alex said, his toneced with incredulity.


    "This woman is sometimes fugitive, deceptive, sharp, ravenous, fierce, and cruel; she also possesses a great spirit.


    Lyra''s lips curled into a teasing smile, her gaze unflinching


    "With all theyers of makeup I wear, I''d be surprised if it hasn''t gotten thicker," she quipped, biting her lower lip yfully.


    Then, without missing a beat, she leaned in slightly, her voice soft yet daring. "So... will you?"


    "No," Alex said firmly. "You''d leave me the moment you found someone richer."


    "Is there even anyone richer than you?" Lyra asked, her tone full of faux innocence.


    Alex paused, considering.


    Within the country, probably not. But outside? On the empire continent? There were still mountains beyond mountains of wealth.


    "Sure. I could easily be considered the poorest among them"


    "Don''t worry," Lyra said smoothly. "I''d let you love me until I found someone better. It''s good for both of us, right?"


    "Do you even understand what you''re saying?" Alex asked, starting to think this woman was utterly shameless. "Of course," Lyra replied. “I''m just as beautiful as Sophia. Our fan bases are almost the same. We''re among the top five beauties from Vancouver. Naturally, you''d enjoy loving me and spending your money on me." ''Beauty provokes harassment, thew says, but it looks through men''s eyes when deciding what provokes it.'' Alex rubbed his temples, a headache forming. Talking to this woman was exhausting.


    "Just tell me what you really want. Don''t beat around the bush."


    "The miracle pills," Lyra said, her eyes lighting up. "Will you let me sell your miracle pills again?"


    "How much are you selling them for this time?"


    "Double the price you saidst time," Lyra replied, her smile dazzlingly confident.


    "Seriously?" Alex stared at Lyra, genuinely shocked this time.


    This beautiful woman seemed to have an uncanny knack for turning anything into a money-making scheme.


    "Do you want to know how much money you have right now?" Lyra asked, her tone yful.


    "Has it reached a billion?"


    "Not yet," Lyra pouted, crossing her arms in mock frustration.


    "Then I don''t care," Alex replied tly.


    He pulled out a small bottle filled with twenty pills, one he always kept on him.


    His trip to this poorest city in the country suddenly didn''t feel like a total failure-not after meeting this woman.


    Lyra smiled, her gaze fixed on Alex. "This is the first time you''ve shown any interest in me," she said softly.


    "Really?" Alex raised an eyebrow.


    "Yes," Lyra said with a dramatic sigh. "You always look at me so coldly, so uninterested. It hurts, you know."


    That''s just your imagination," Alex said, though he couldn''t deny there was some truth to her words.


    He found himself thinking.


    Maybe he''d give her more time-time to grow, to prove her true worth.


    "Just do your best," he said atst. "Maybe I''ll surprise youter.”


    Lyra''s hands suddenly gripped Alex''s shirt, tugging him closer.


    "You look at me with interest and then try to hide it. Hiding is painful, Alex. With me, you don''t have to hide anything."


    "Don''t worry," Lyra said casually, deftly taking the bottle of pills from his hand.


    "If you love me, just say it. I''ll always say yes. I''ll marry you. We can skip all the romantic drama. Your money can buy and get straight to the fast track to my heart."


    Alex stayed silent, watching this bold woman.


    She wasn''t just a gold digger-no, maybe she owned the entire mining operation.


    "I already can''t live without you," Lyra added with a grin. "You''re always on my mind."


    "Me or my money?" Alex asked with a smirk.


    "Both," Lyra answered without hesitation. "Your money is just part of your awesomeness."


    "What are you two doing?" A sharp voice cut through their conversation. Sophia locked her eyes to them, her expression hard, her arms crossed.


    Lyra and Alex both turned, startled.


    "Nothing," Lyra said quickly, releasing Alex''s shirt. "I was just keeping Alex busy while making sure we didn''t bother you and Marco."


    Sophia''s gaze shifted to Alex, suspicion shing in her eyes. "Did you just seduce my best friend?"


    "I did not," Alex said firmly.


    Marco shook his head, letting out a mockingugh.


    "Buddy, your wife is right here. You''re not supposed to seduce her best friend in front of her. You really need to control your lower part better-don''t let your desires run wild."


    It was clear Marco wanted to elevate himself by dragging Alex down. His smug grin made that obvious.


    ''Beneath calm waters, rival tides churn; for not all smiles are born of peace.''


    "But let me warn you," Marco continued, turning his attention to Lyra.


    "Lyra isn''t just any woman you can get close to. You''re totally out of her league. You''re just..."


    He eyed Alex up and down with deliberate disdain. "Too poor for her. You''ll only embarrass yourself if you keep trying to seduce her."


    Alex rolled his eyes. "I''m not flirting."


    Marcoughed louder, the sound grating.


    "Hahaha! Brother, just admit it. You got caught by your wife. You and Lyra were


    way too close just now-it''s obvious you were making a move."


    "I really wasn''t," Alex insisted. "Believe it or not."


    "Sophia," Marco said, turning to her with feigned concern, "you see what I''m talking about, right? He''s obviously trying to get closer to Lyra."


    Sophia''s gaze shifted to Lyra, her expression uncertain. “Lyra,” she asked, her


    voice firm, "did he do something to you?"


    Lyra let out an exaggerated sigh of regret, shaking her head "That''s the problem..."


    "He seduced you?" Sophia pressed.


    “No,” Lyra said quickly, raising her hands as if to stop the misunderstanding. "He didn''t do anything to me!" "Excuse me?" Sophia blinked, confused. "Then what''s the problem?"


    Lyra smiled slyly and tilted her head.


    "Sophia, we''ve known each other for so long. Why don''t we make a deal? You can have Marco, and I''ll take Alex."


    Alex''s frown deepened, leaving him utterly speechless. This woman seemed to have no boundaries when it came to morals.


    She was brutally direct: "In the game of greed, some wear smiles and y fair,


    while others devour with open hands and razor-sharp teeth."