The Rolls-Royce glided forward like a moving fortress, completely isolating them from the hustle and bustle of the city outside. Inside, the scent of expensive leather filled the air, a stark contrast to the lingering dampness of Stella's cheap raincoat.
She huddled in a corner, her hands clutching the straps of her backpack. The ancient bronze lamp was hidden inside, her only comfort at this moment. She felt less like she was going to meet a person and more like an auctioned item being delivered to the buyer's showroom.
The car finally drove into the underground garage of a skyscraper that pierced the clouds. A private elevator shot up from the garage to the top floor. As the numbers climbed rapidly, Stella's heart sank deeper and deeper.
The elevator doors opened, revealing Aidan's penthouse for the first time.
It was a vast, minimalist space, decorated in shades of black, white, and grey. Every piece of furniture looked like a calculated work of art—futuristic, yet devoid of any warmth. Through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, the entire city's brilliant nightscape unfolded beneath them, as if the whole world was at their feet.
This wasn't a home. It was a cold, desolate palace suspended in the clouds.
Aidan stood before the windows, his back to her, his figure solitary and proud. He wasn't wearing a suit, just a soft, black loungewear set, yet he seemed more imposing than a king in armor.
"Sit," he commanded without turning. His voice echoed coldly in the vast room.
Zion Chen pulled out a chair for Stella. It was a designer piece, stylish but clearly uncomfortable. After a moment's hesitation, she sat down.
Aidan turned slowly, a glass of red wine in his hand. The deep crimson liquid swirled with his movements. His gaze fell upon her, no longer filled with the curiosity of a researcher, but with the calm possessiveness of someone observing their property.
"I believe any misunderstandings between us should now be cleared up," he began, his tone as flat as if he were discussing the weather. "Everything I've done for you was not out of charity. It was an investment."
He pushed a file across the table toward her. The cover bore a few cold, bold words: Special Energy Supply and Research Agreement.
"This is..." Stella's voice trembled.
"A contract," Aidan said, moving to sit on the sofa opposite her, crossing his legs. "A contract that will ensure your mother enjoys a peaceful old age, and that you will have no more worries."
With trembling hands, Stella opened the agreement. The terms inside were even harsher than she had imagined:
She would become Mr. Aidan Lin's "Exclusive Health Consultant," on call 24/7, required to respond to any of his needs at any time. She had to move into the designated residence (this penthouse) and was not permitted to leave without authorization. She must cooperate with Mr. Aidan's team in a series of studies on "special energy," including but not limited to regular blood draws, EEG monitoring, and using her energy in specified scenarios.
In return, the contracting party would cover all her mother's medical expenses and provide her with a monthly living allowance of one hundred thousand yuan.
This wasn't a contract. It was an indenture of servitude. She wasn't a "consultant"; she was a "test subject," a specimen to be kept and studied.
Humiliation and anger ignited in her heart like a wildfire. Stella snapped her head up, her eyes locking onto Aidan's. "What gives you the right to do this?"
"The right?" A smirk played on Aidan's lips. He set down his wine glass and leaned forward slightly. "The right comes from my ability to put your mother in the best hospital ward, treated by the world's top doctors. The right comes from my power to pull you out of the gutter... and to push you right back in whenever I please."
His words were devoid of emotion, yet they cut deeper than any venomous curse.
He was right. What grounds did she have to resist? Her weakness, her family, was held firmly in his grasp.
"You're a monster," Stella squeezed the words through her teeth.
"Perhaps," Aidan leaned back, resuming his posture of absolute control. "But sometimes, only a monster can offer you the paradise you desire. Sign it, Stella. It's your only choice."
An expensive fountain pen was pushed in front of her.
Stella stared at the agreement, tears welling up in her eyes, but she stubbornly refused to let them fall. She knew that once she signed her name, she would lose herself completely, becoming a canary in this gilded cage.
But then, her mother's pale face flashed in her mind, followed by the doctor's chilling words: "If you don't pay up, we'll have to stop the medication."
She had no choice.
Finally, she picked up the pen. With deliberate strokes, she wrote her name at the bottom of the agreement:
Stella An.
The moment she finished, she could almost hear the heavy gates of the cage swinging shut behind her.