At this time, Henry''s phone lit up with a call from Vanessa.


    He had almost forgotten he was there to take her home. He immediately headed toward her booth.


    As he approached, he saw Vanessa bathed in a soft spotlight. Her face was flushed, her eyes hazy and alluring, exuding azy, fragile vulnerability from the alcohol. She greeted him with a smile ying on her red lips.


    "Henry, you''re here."


    As Henry sat down, his gaze drifted back toward Selma''s table. Just then, she stood up and looked in his direction. Henry''s body went rigid.


    Though it was just a nce, Selma''s eyes felt like two needles, making him squirm in his seat.


    "Vanessa, stop drinking. I''m taking you home," Henry said, trying to fulfill his duty as a friend.


    Vanessa just smiled. "I asked you toe drink with me. Why are you trying to send me home the second you arrive?"


    "Doesn''tn forbid you from drinking? Why did you start?" Henry frowned.


    "Henry, what kind of rtionship do you think he and I have? Friends? Lovers? I''ll tell you, it''s neither," Vanessa said, shaking her head in mock pain.


    Henry froze. This was the first time Vanessa had ever spoken so candidly about her rtionship withn. He couldn''t help but ask, "Then what are you?"


    "Henry, if I told you we just have a business arrangement, would you believe me?" Vanessa propped her chin on her hand, her expression seductive. "We aren''t even friends in the most basic sense."


    Henry listened, stunned.


    "Is that so shocking? Ha!" Vanessa gave a self-deprecatingugh and took another sip of her drink, her gaze hazy as she looked at him. "He just needs my blood to save his mother''s life. That''s all."


    Henry was speechless, staring at her


    in disbelief. Vanessa''s eyes bored into his as she added with a bitter smile, "So, Henry, stop thinking of me asn''s property. There''s nathing between us We''repletely, spotlessly clean. Nothing has ever happened."


    Henry waspletely floored.


    "I trade my blood for his money and resources," Vanessa continued. "We''ve always just been using each other."


    All this time, he had believed Vanessa wasn''s hidden lover. The thought had tormented him, causing him sleepless nights of unrequited love and agony. Now, hearing the truth from Vanessa''s own lips, an indescribable emotion welled up inside him.


    "Vanessa... why would you..." His voice was hoarse.


    "You want to say, why would I degrade myself like this?" Vanessa finished for him, letting out a smalugh that held no humor. "What was the alternative? Was I supposed trot in a stum in prexfords Let my mother marry me off to some lowlife like a piece of property? don''t care if people look down on me. I had to change my own fate."


    Henry stared at her, at a loss for words.


    "Henry, my deal withn is almost over. He doesn''t need me anymore. From now on... from now on, I only have you." Vanessa reached out, her hand Covering Henry''s where it rested on the table. "I know you''re good to me Not liken''s cold, transactional way. You genuinely care about me, don''t you?"


    She looked up, her eyes wide and pleading, like a lost kitten who had finally found


    a warm ce to rest.


    Henry''s mind was in utter turmoil. Vanessa''s hand on his felt unnaturally cold. He should have held it back.