"What, you're not willing?"

Olivia's lips curled into a venomous smile as she stared Anthony down, her voice sharp with envy. "One finger for a life. That's a pretty good deal, don't you think?"

If Anthony lost a finger, he'd be damaged for life, and Charlotte would be left carrying that guilt forever. That's what Olivia wanted. If she couldn't be happy, she was determined to drag Charlotte down with her.

The tension in the room spiked as everyone glanced at Anthony, their looks loaded with meaning.

"With his status, he could have any woman he wants. Why would he go this far for just one?" Aloys's grin was sly and unsettling. "Honestly, I hope Olivia smashes that bracelet."

Without the antidote, Charlotte wouldn't survive. That would erase any threat to The Hawk Family in an instant.

"You're right, Dad." Rena's eyes flashed with something cold and cruel as she spoke, her lips twisting. "If we destroy the bracelet, Charlotte's finished."

Rena bit her lip, her gaze flicking to Olivia and the bracelet dangling from her hand. She was already cooking up a plan.

"Lunatic,” Adonis muttered, his fists clenched tight, barely holding back his fury. He wanted nothing more than to end this right there. "Does she really think we can't do anything to her?"

She had a lot of nerve, making a demand like that to Anthony.

"I'll do it."

Anthony's deep voice cut through the tension, calm and steady. "Are you going to do it, or should I?"

Newell turned to look at Anthony, his eyes dark and thoughtful, brows drawn together. Olivia couldn't really threaten him. He He was only doing this to make sure nothing happened to the bracelet. His love for Charlotte was obvious.

Newell pressed his lips together, something unreadable flickering across his pale face, caught between bitterness and indifference. Maybe that was why Charlotte's feelings for Anthony never wavered.

Jackson, Adonis, and Hans all looked up at Anthony in shock, unable to believe what they were hearing. He was really agreeing to this insane demand? But even he said yes, there was no way Charlotte would let it happen.

Charlotte stepped in front of Anthony, blocking him from danger. The sunlight was harsh, but it couldn't warm the chill in her expression.

"Anthony is mine. Every part of him,

inside and out, even down to his last hair." Charlotte gave a little laugh, her lips curling into a smirk as she looked at Olivia you really think you can touch him? You must be braver than you look."

Olivia swallowed hard, a bead of cold sweat sliding down her temple.

"I really didn't want things to get bloody, but now..."

Charlotte pulled a sleek pistol from her coat pocket with practiced ease, leveling it at Olivia's head. Her eyes narrowed, voice low and dangerous. “Your life is mine."

"My life?" Olivia's face drained of color. She gritted her teeth and spat back, "If I die, you're going down with me."

"Oh, so you're threatening me?" Charlotte's smile turned cold. "You think I'm scared? Put down the bracelet, and I'll let you keep your pretty corpse."

With even the bracelet out of play, Olivia was left with nothing. She was shaking so hard the bracelet in her palm swung wildly, the pale blue liquid inside starting to leak through the cracks.

She didn't want to die. And she definitely didn't want to die at Charlotte's hands.