The Body Swap That Made Her a Billionaire—and Me Awake Chapter 09

The Body Swap That Made Her a Billionaire—and Me Awake Chapter 09

Kayden wasted not a single second.

He spun around and hauled him up like a ragdoll.

“Set up your altar. I’ll be the sacrifice.”

Kayden’s voice was cold and flat, stripped of all emotion, as if he were discussing something trivial.

The terrified warlock dropped to his knees and kowtowed, tears streaming down his face.

“Mr. Hatfield, you can’t do this! You’re destined for greatness. If you take the backlash for her, the ritual will

tear your soul apart and devour it. You’ll cease to exist-like you were never even here.”

“What’s more… even if we manage to save her, your memories of her will be erased. You’ll become an empty

shell. A living corpse.”

“Then I’ll forget.”

Kayden let out a faint laugh. It was barely there, but it carried a heartbreaking sense of relief.

“As long as she lives. As long as she’s safe. I don’t care if I end up an empty shell.”

He didn’t waste another word. He kicked the warlock toward the edge of the blood circle.

“Start the ritual.”

Lena sat crumpled in the corner, watching Kayden prepare to die for Evelyn. Her face twisted with jealousy.

“You’re both completely out of your minds!” she shrieked.

The warlock had no choice. His hands shaking, he rearranged the ritual circle. He bit his tongue and spat blood onto the hex, awakening the dark energy trapped in the basement.

A blinding crimson light bloomed at the center of the circle, swirling like a hungry vortex ready to swallow

Kayden’s soul.

Kayden stepped forward without hesitation.

Just as his foot was about to cross into the blood circle.

The cell door burst open from the outside.

A small, frail figure in an oversized hospital gown stumbled inside, covered in IV tubes, looking weak enough

to collapse at any moment.

It was Evelyn.

She didn’t know where the strength came from. Desperation, maybe. Or the will to stop him even if it killed

her.

Tearing the IV needle free from her forearm, she staggered into the cell with her body worn to the bone.

“Evelyn!”

Kayden whipped around, his eyes wide. The man who never lost his cool no matter what disaster struck lost all composure. He lunged toward her, trying to shove her out of the circle.

But she was faster.

Right before the ritual’s light could fully erupt, she threw herself forward, wrapped her arms around his waist, and pushed him out of the circle’s deadly center.

She fell into the blood-red vortex instead.

“If someone has to die, let it be me.”

She looked up at him, her vision blurred with tears, and managed a small smile.

“This body, this face-it was always Lena’s anyway. Giving it back costs me nothing.”

“Three months of being loved by you was more than enough. Live well, Kayden. Just… let me go.”

A brutal tearing sensation ripped through her body. Her vision went black. Her consciousness was being ground to dust by the ritual’s arcane force.

Kayden lost it.

He let out a desperate roar and charged back into the circle, wrapping his arms around her and holding her tight against his chest. He used his own body to shield her from the corrupted arcane energy clawing at

them.

“Don’t you

dare,” he growled against her ear, his voice breaking.” You will not leave me. Even if you cross the veil, I will pull you back.”

“I won’t let you die. Do you hear me?”

She leaned against his chest, feeling his heart pound, crying and laughing at the same time.

“I don’t want to die… but I can’t watch you die for me either.”

They held each other tight inside the deadly vortex, neither willing to step back, each trying to take the fatal

blow for the other.

The crimson light grew brighter, about to swallow them whole.

Outside the circle, Lena shrieked gleefully. “Just die! Both of you die already!”

And then, everything stopped.

The despairing red comments vanished without warning. In their place, enormous golden text flooded the

screen, glowing with unstoppable power.

[System Alert: Extreme emotional fluctuation detected.]

[Hidden condition unlocked: Mutual love has reached maximum capacity.]

[Condition met: Both parties are willing to sacrifice their souls for one another.]

[Verdict: The hex has been nullified by pure love. Auto-revoking spell.]

[Soul transfer reversed. Returning to original bodies.]

Before Evelyn could process what she was seeing, the crimson light at the center of the circle froze. Then it shattered into thousands of golden specks. A warm, gentle energy washed over her from all sides, wiping away the pain completely.

Her body felt light, as if an invisible hand was lifting her out of the wrong shell and placing her back where she belonged.

Golden light burst out, blinding everyone in the room.