Under the cold night sky, Bae stood in the shadowy alley, the vibrant lights of the nearby city market barely visible from where she waited.
Though the market's bustle offered a sense of relief, the alley itself felt suffocating, every dark corner radiating suspicion.
A figure emerged from the shadows—Cody. His presence was as unsettling as she remembered.
"To think you showed up," he remarked, his tone half-amused.
Bae's eyes narrowed, her voice cutting through the chill in the air.
"Who do I look like? Someone who doesn't know the value of 'valuable information'?" she shot back icily.
Cody chuckled, clearly enjoying this new edge in her personality.
"You've changed, haven't you? I have to admit, I'm curious about what brought about this... transformation."
Bae's glare didn't waver.
"Get to the point, and leave your worthless curiosity behind," she responded, her voice cold as ice.
Cody's smile widened. He was savoring every second of her fierce demeanor.
"How could I, when I'm falling for you harder with every passing minute, Bae?" he muttered, his eyes lingering on her with an intensity she found repulsive.
Her gaze remained cold and unyielding as she ignored his attempt at charm.
"Anyway," Cody continued, stepping closer to her, "I'm sure you've heard about the two candidates being considered for the next Frankford title, right?"
Bae was already aware that "Frankford" wasn't just a name—it was a title, passed down to the one chosen to lead the powerful household. She smirked, unimpressed.
"Who else aside from Brag or Zanier?" she replied, knowing full well that Zanier, the golden child of the family, had always been favored.
"And naturally," she continued, more to herself than to Cody,
"the next chosen Frankford will be Zanier. He's already running all of the business under the late Frankford's name."
Cody leaned in slightly, intrigued by the faint smile playing on her lips. "Ah, but that's where things get interesting," he said, his voice low and conspiratorial. "There's more to this than just family favoritism."
"Are you going to let him ascend without seeking revenge?" Cody's voice dropped, sweetened with malice, his words dripping with temptation.
"After all," he continued, eyes gleaming as he studied Bae, "what better opportunity is there than this one?"
"To bring about his downfall," he added with a smirk as if offering her the most irresistible of gifts.
Bae rolled her eyes, her annoyance barely concealed. "Ugh, I knew that's what you were getting at."
But behind the irritation, a faint, cold smile tugged at her lips.
"This idiot," she thought, her mind racing. "He thinks I can't see through his clumsy attempts at manipulation."
Still, Bae played along, her expression sharpening with interest. "I'll entertain this game," she mused, "until I get more insight into his real motives."
"Indeed, no opportunity could replace this one," she said, flashing a bright, almost too-eager smile at Cody.
"So tell me more about this Frankford title," Bae said, feigning curiosity. "I assumed Zanier would inherit it after his grandfather passed. I mean, he already controls the rest of the businesses."
Cody leaned in, his tone lowering conspiratorially.
"Ah, well, you see... the Frankford title has always shifted between the two sons of the original Frankford, Alexandria Frankford."
Bae's eyes glazed over for a moment.
"Is this turning into some kind of history lesson?" she interrupted, clearly bored with his meandering explanation.
"Make it quick, or I'll leave you here."
She waved her hand dismissively, her patience thin.
Cody chuckled, stepping closer. He reached for her hand, pressing it against his cheek, his eyes softening as a faint blush colored his face.
"I was just about to get to the point," he murmured, his voice gentle.
But Bae snatched her hand away, her expression hardening.
"Don't waste my time," she snapped, her icy gaze making it clear she wasn't interested in his sentimental gestures.
"Anyway, like I said earlier, it's all about power dynamics between two heirs. Since the old man's sons died, now it's down to his two oldest grandsons—Zanier and Brag," Cody explained, his eyes never leaving Bae's face as he gauged her reaction.
"And for either of them to officially become the Frankford and take control of the entire family's empire, it won't be easy, even with Zanier holding two crucial cards." Cody smiled, enjoying the suspense.
"Two cards? What are those?" Bae asked, her curiosity piqued despite her irritation.
Cody's smirk deepened, relishing her interest. "Oh? You want to know?"
Bae's eyes narrowed. "Of course. What are they?"
"An heir with the old man's businesses in his possession," Cody finally revealed, his tone almost triumphant.
Bae's eyes widened, disbelief flashing across her face.
"Wait, what?" she thought, covering her mouth as the puzzle pieces began to fall into place.
She thought back to all the kindnesses Zanier had shown her, the moments that now felt tainted with ulterior motives.
"Zanier used me for this uhh." her mind raced, but Cody's voice cut through her spiraling thoughts.
"Yes, just as you feared," he said, leaning in slightly. "He approached you so you could give him an heir."
Bae's hand trembled slightly as she covered her mouth feeling like throwing up, as her mind reeled.
"And since you failed," Cody continued, his voice cold and cutting, "he found someone else—someone better suited to further his ambitions."
His words hung in the air like a knife, slicing through any remaining illusions Bae had about Zanier.
Bae's gaze hardened, her hands curling into fists as the fury built inside her.
"Alright," she said, her voice as cold as ice as she pulled herself together, refusing to let Cody see the extent of her pain.
"Hearing this only makes me want to kill him," she thought, her glare sharp enough to wound.
Her heart burned with the realization that Zanier had played her, used her, and discarded her like a pawn in his game for power.
"Anyway, tell me more about the Frankford—how it's passed down and how someone fails to ascend," Bae said, her voice calm but her growing disdain for Zanier barely contained beneath the surface.
The realization that he had taken advantage of her stoked a rage that simmered just beneath her icy composure.
Meanwhile, Cody leaned back, unfazed by her shift in tone.
"Like I said, Zanier and Brag are the oldest grandsons, but it's Grandma Elaine who's holding the title for now. She'll continue until she dies. Before that, she'll announce the next Frankford, based on recommendations from the family and our business partners."
Bae let out a sharp breath, masking her fury with a wide smile that caught Cody off guard. His eyes widened; he had never seen her smile like that, so wide and radiant, revealing a beauty he hadn't fully noticed before. Flustered, he looked away, a blush creeping onto his face.
"I guess I was right about your hatred for Zanier after all," he mumbled, barely managing to hide his embarrassment.
"You're right," Bae responded sweetly, though her smile masked a far darker emotion.
She could sense Cody's discomfort, his sudden awkwardness as he struggled to maintain his serious demeanor, trying—and failing—not to look too affected by her presence.
"Idiot," she thought, her gaze cold and calculating as she observed his flushed face.
"Still," she pondered aloud, "that old woman, Elaine, will choose Zanier in the end. The family's golden boy, after all."
Then, her smile faded, replaced by a cold intensity as she locked eyes with Cody.
"Anyway," she said icily, "this information isn't for free, is it?" Her words cut through the air like a blade.
Before Cody could respond, Bae moved closer, her breath brushing against his ear as she whispered,
"So, go on, tell me—what is it you want from me?" Her voice was low, and dangerous, sending a shiver down Cody's spine as his eyes widened in shock.
Cody's gaze returned to normal as he turned to face Bae.
"It's a secret," he replied, his tone cold yet shrouded in mystery. Just then, his phone buzzed, breaking the moment.
"But know this," he added, silencing the device, "I'm not after the Frankford title in the least."
Bae studied him closely, her mind racing. "Don't tell me he's actually in love with me." The thought stung, a bitter reminder of her heartache, the void love had left within her.
Cody turned back to her, his expression suddenly icy.
"Oh, just because I gave you this information doesn't mean you can dream of being a Frankford," he warned.
"After all, an adopted child in the Frankford family is automatically disqualified from holding the title." He let that last word hang in the air like a weight.
"Besides," he continued with a smile that didn't reach his eyes,
"the reality is that adopted children aren't from Frankford bloodlines. They're merely gestures of love and sympathy towards the child." With that, he walked away, disappearing into the shadows.
Bae watched him go, her thoughts darkening. "Of course, I'm well aware of that, and that title can go to hell!"
All she wanted was revenge. She envisioned turning the Frankford household into chaos and then walking away with their business as if she'd never known them at all.
As she pulled the hood of her black hoodie up and adjusted her face cap, Bae's thoughts shifted back to Cody. "He's probably working with Brag if he isn't interested in that title."
A smirk formed on her lips. "Good for me. I need a close ally from the Frankford bloodline itself."