Chapter 10 Moreover, Lowell had checked them out; they were just an average family of four and were unlikely to pose any real threat to him. It was all in his head. Tarquin’s guard came down, and with it, his interest in Elysia waned. “Handle it, Lowell,” he instructed, his attention shifting back to the texts on his phone and left her aside. Lowell produced the compensation agreement they had prepared earlier, “Miss, since you’ve admitted the kid is yours, and with the evidence we have, it’s time to pay up.” Raising a kid alone is tough, but it’s no excuse to get off scot–free. Tarquin wasn’t some kindhearted philanthropist who’d let a multimillion–dollar car get trashed without demanding restitution. The parents should be responsible for kids‘ misdeeds, and that was the price she should pay as the mother of her undereducated kid. Elysia’s face tensed. She believed Evan wouldn’t cause trouble for no reason, but wrecking someone’s car was indeed his fault. Elysia asked sheepishly, “How much does he want?” “Fifty million.” “What?!!” Elysia’s voice shot up several octaves, “Fifty million? Is he out of his mind?!” Lowell was taken aback. Tarquin, mid–text, just looked up, “If you don’t want to settle this privately, we can always call the police.” Tarquin was clearly getting irritated. “No police!” Elysia blurted out quickly. With the evidence stacked against them, Evan had no leg to stand on. If the police got. involved, they’d surely take her in as the guardian, and if she went to jail, what would become of her kids? “The car’s worth fifty million?” she asked. “Yes, that’s the current market value for that model.” Elysia took the bill Lowell offered and glanced at it, her lips twitching. “I… I’m not opposed to settling, and I can pay, but I don’t have that kind of money. Can we settle for less?” Lowell didn’t dare decide alone and looked at Tarquin. Tarquin eyed Elysia coldly, “How much can you pay?” Elysia stammered, “5… 500, maybe?” Tarquin and Lowell were both speechless. From fifty million to five hundred, she had just dropped five zeros. “Call the police! Let them handle it!” Tarquin stood up to leave, clearly not interested in wasting more time on Elysia. Elysia panicked, “Wait!” Tarquin didn’t stop or turn back. Elysia bit her lip, steeled herself, and blurted out, “You want money? Fine, but take off your clothes first!” Tarquin froze, confused, “What?” “Take them off! Your jacket, your shirt, all of it, off!” Tarquin and everyone else were stunned. …ny had tried to seduce their CEO, but no one had ever been so blunt by demanding he strip on the spot and in front of an audience! This woman wasn’t just beautiful; she was bold! Tarquin’s lips were a tight line, his face darkening with anger as he glared at Elysia, every word deliberate, “Do you even know what you’re saying?” Intimidated by the murderous look in his eyes, Elysia swallowed hard but held her ground, “I said you can have your money, but take off your clothes first.” She couldn’t come up with fifty million if her life depended on it, and she wasn’t about to go to jail, so she needed to confirm if he was the same man from that night years ago. If he was, she’d use that one night as leverage to wipe the debt clean. He had promised to make her the happiest and most honored woman in the world. She didn’t need his happiness, just to settle this issue. And about the kids…. He didn’t know she had borne his children, so he wouldn’t come after them, not yet. Once she had divorced Tarquin, she’d take the kids and leave lindala Mit