Everything after that passed like a blur.

Soon after Sebert uttered these words, my mother came back. I think, in this short life of mine, I had never been so grateful for seeing this woman's face as I was today.

My mother started to converse with the villain cub with enthusiasm.

I couldn't pay attention to their conversation as my mind was elsewhere. I could barely keep a stiff smile on my face. Luckily, neither of the parties was very interested in me: one was too interested in the gold hen before her eyes while the other seemed to be ignoring me on purpose.

Every minute seemed to pass agonizingly slow. After what seemed like an eternity, Sebert finally excused himself.

We both accompanied him to the door. However, before leaving our household, Sebert paused and looked at my mother.

"Mrs. Rosenwood, I still have a lot to talk with little Nolan. I'm still a bit busy these days, but how about you let him visit me two weeks from now? "

"Oh, my Nolan would be delighted to do so!"

"Well, it's settled, then. "

Sebert gave a smile and then extended his hand towards me, in a handshake gesture.

I had to use every ounce of strength left on my body to put my hand on his.

However, instead of giving a handshake, the young alpha pulled my body towards him. Then, he whispered in my ear.

"I hope to hear your answer then, baby Nolan."

***

"Mother, I don't feel very well, may I be excused to my quarters?"

Surprisingly, she only just nodded, without making a sarcastic remark or giving me a sermon.

I guess I was quite the sorry sight as even the servants gazed at me with worried glances as I made my way towards my room. My usual smile was nowhere to be seen.

Somehow, I still got to keep a semblance of composure until I got into my room. As soon as I closed my door, however, I used the last strength in my trembling legs to make a run for my bathroom

And...

I threw up.

"Damn, damn it all."

"Why did this mother f*cker come now?."

No matter how much I cursed, I couldn't change the fact that I was f*cked. My life was on a countdown, starting from now.

"D*amn, I don't have time to waste!"

I tried to calm down, however, no matter what I did, I kept trembling and my heart beat so fast I thought it would jump out of my chest. I never thought breathing would be so difficult. Unconsciously, I was also biting my nails.

Although I hated to be in an uncontrolled situation, what I absolutely abhorred was to not keep on the control when faced with such a situation.

"Calm down, Nolan, Calm the f*cking down."

I put all my strength in my hands and slapped my cheeks.

'...Not enough'

I then headbutted the wall

I heard a headbutt did wonders to clear your mind from a certain author. The pain I felt was surely enough for me to forget everything else for a moment.

However, it was also enough for me to forget everything else.

I wouldn't recommend such a method to anyone.

After half an hour wriggling in pain on my bed, I finally deemed myself calmed enough to organize my thoughts.

First, I had to accept the fact that I became entangled with Sebert Rosenwood. It was an " accept it or die" kind of situation.

As it didn't seem like I'd be able to escape unscathed from this wolf's fangs, my top priority would be to avoid being discarded.

In a way, the Rosenwood would be the perfect backer. They had money and power enough to protect me. Besides, (although his personality sucks)Sebert still didn't 'black'. If I did it right, the Rosenwoods would become the perfect assist for my escape.

Well then, my priorities should be:

First, to turn myself into a valuable asset to them so as to not be discarded.

Second, to avoid Sebert's blackening.

After organizing my thoughts I got out of bed. I went to a little bookcase from which I took an inconspicuous looking book.

The value of this thing was probably inestimable.

Inside the book, I hid a small, worn-out notebook.

In there, I had written all the information I could remember from the novel. I wrote it with my past life's language, which didn't exist in this world, as to avoid people understanding it.

I pondered at each word with the same fervor I'd have if I received the most delicious dessert in this word as a gift. Every fragmented bit was important for me, as I made conjectures and tried to extract the most information from it.

For reaching my immediate goals, I needed money. Lots and Lots of money.

I knew which companies would become bankrupt or make it big in the next ten years, I just didn't know exactly when those events would happen.

Right now, there was only a little more than one year until those events involving Sebert happened.

This time, I would have to make a bet.

Now it was all or nothing.