Chapter 1

I was the world’s top mercenary, all because of one sentence she uttered:

“The world is too dangerous, I want to build a life with you.”

I fought tooth and nail to leave my organization, stopping dead in my tracks to be by her side.

Until I overheard her conversation with a friend.

“Boyfriend? Please. He’s just a bodyguard I sleep with.”

Her friend then mentioned a name: Liam.

The moment she heard it, Seraphina’s expression softened, her voice turning gentle.

“Liam is different. He’s the purest, most innocent boy in the world.”

In that instant, my dream felt like it shattered.

I narrowed my eyes and called my Boss, who’d been waiting for my return.

“Boss, that S-rank mission you mentioned? I’ll take it.”

“Are you sure about this? It’s a covert operation, no contact with the outside world for an entire year.”

“Aren’t you and your fiancée pretty solid?”

I glanced at the woman I’d loved for three years.

She was sitting in the center of the couch, delicately toying with her wine glass.

The tender expression she’d worn just moments ago when Liam’s name was spoken still lingered on her face.

I spoke softly.

“Yeah, I’m sure.”

Boss didn’t press further.

“Alright, get ready. I’ll send a car for you tomorrow night.”

After hanging up, I pushed open the door and walked in.

The moment I stepped inside, countless mocking glances fell on me.

“Look who it is, Mr. Jax! Seraphina, really, always making her boyfriend drink for her. Always a cheat.”

“He’s not just a boyfriend, he’s her fiancé.”

“Right, right. Mr. Jax risked his life for her, so Seraphina naturally had to give herself to him. A bodyguard who climbed his way up. Quite the trick, isn’t it?”

These were Seraphina’s closest friends, the city’s privileged socialites. Their taunts weren’t new.

I couldn’t be bothered to engage. I walked straight to Seraphina and sat down.

Seeing my lack of reaction, their faces fell, and their teasing words grew laced with anger.

“What? You really think you’re her fiancé now? We’re talking to you, can’t you hear us?”

Seraphina chuckled, handed me a glass of wine, then turned to smile at the woman who’d just spoken.

“Can’t a drink shut you up? He’s my savior for the night, don’t scare him off before he’s had a chance to help.”

She turned to me, nodding her chin towards the glass in my hand, signaling me to drink it.

“They’re just joking around, don’t mind them.”

“It’s my birthday today, and they’ve given me so many toasts. If you hadn’t shown up, I’d be completely wasted.”

Seeing that I still said nothing, Seraphina knew I was upset. She turned back to her friends and gently chided them again.

“Say less of that next time. He doesn’t like it.”

Over the years, Seraphina had often brought me to these kinds of events.

I used to think it was a sign of her valuing me, letting me into her world.

But now, it was clear. In her eyes, I was nothing more than a servant to deflect drinks, a bodyguard she slept with.

Seraphina’s friends pouted, but eventually, they said no more.

Just then, a figure walked in from the doorway.

He looked a little flustered, tightly clutching a gift box in his hands.

His knuckles were white from nervousness, as if this was his first time in a place like this.

The moment he entered, Seraphina abruptly stood up from beside me and rushed to his side.

“What are you doing here? I told you I’d come find you after I was done!”

Seeing Seraphina, the boy’s panic instantly turned to surprise.

He held out the gift in his hands towards her.

“It’s almost midnight. I wanted to give you your present before then.”

Just then, Seraphina’s friends’ mocking voices rose again.

“Well, well, if it isn’t Mr. Liam? Hearing about him doesn’t do him justice; he’s truly an adorable little bunny.”

Seraphina’s face instantly darkened. She snatched a wine glass from the table and hurled it, smashing it against the wall.

“Cut that out! If you dare scare him, I swear I’ll make you pay!”

Seraphina’s reaction was extreme, the icy chill radiating from her chilling everyone to the bone. The entire VIP room fell silent.

Seeing her reaction, I felt a strange disconnect.

Her friends had only teased him a little, yet she flew into such a rage, terrified that Liam might suffer even a hint of injustice.

But moments ago, her friends had said far worse things to me, and even when I was clearly upset, she’d merely laughed it off, unconcerned.

I lowered my head, chuckling self-deprecatingly.

The air in the room grew heavy with tension.

I picked up two wine glasses, stood up, and walked over to Liam, offering him one.

“Mr. Liam, nice to meet you. My name is Jax.”