Chapter 2

His voice carried a smile, but his eyes were ice-cold as they landed on me.

Julian held his breath, staring at me, waiting for me to lose it.

I ignored them, simply pushing the cake across. "Here's your dark chocolate cake. Enjoy."

Summer Reed rested her chin on her hand, gazing at Liam. "Liam, is this your favorite?"

He took a sip of coffee, then cut a small piece of cake and tasted it. "Bitter and astringent. Not good."

She lowered her head to taste it herself, doubting if he was playing a trick.

She didn't see him watching me the entire time.

The doorbell chimed, and a few men laughed as they burst in. Their smiles froze when they saw me.

They looked at Julian warily, like they expected me to throw something drastic at them.

We'd tortured each other for years, and we'd "taken care of" his friends too. Guess they remembered it pretty clearly.

One of them bumped Julian's shoulder. "Yo, Julian, what's going on here?"

He didn't answer.

I walked over with some grapefruit tea. All of them immediately raised their hands, as if to ward me off.

I turned to leave, but Summer grabbed my arm. "Sera, can you take a picture for us?"

"No." I refused.

As I turned, a shadow blocked me. It was Liam, his expression indifferent.

"You're running a business, you haggle. So tell me, how much does it cost to buy you taking our picture?"

I didn't respond, trying to move around him.

My arm was seized. I was forced to my knees, and a black card was thrown at my face, leaving a cut.

"There's enough money on this card to buy your life."

I struggled to my feet, touching my swollen face, and stared at him.

Summer laughed, trying to smooth things over. "Liam, he's drunk."

But he didn't smell of alcohol. He was deliberately picking a fight.

I believed her, at least about the "drunk" part. He must have had such a great time overseas that he'd forgotten how vindictive I was.

I knelt down, picked up the black card, and stood firm.

Someone sneered. "Liam, this woman hasn't changed. Still bows down for money."

He confidently handed me his phone, as if pleased by my "submission."

I grabbed his chin, smeared a layer of cream from the black card onto his face, and shoved it into his mouth.

I didn't stop until I smelled blood, then I grabbed two glasses of liquor and poured them down his throat.

"Dirty mouth. Just cleaning it for you."

I casually slapped the guy who had just spoken. "Filthy dog, shut your trap if you're not called!"

It happened so fast no one reacted, only the rain drumming against the glass.

Julian leaned against the wall, drinking, and sighed. "Why'd you have to provoke her?"

Summer, enraged, yelled, "Owner, we might be at fault, but you went too far!"

She lunged to hit me. I grabbed her wrist and slapped her back.

Only her scream echoed in the shop.

Liam coughed up blood, a cold laugh on his face. "Hit me, fine. But harming my fiancée is where you cross the line."

He pulled the swollen-faced Summer close. "Want me to trash the place to make you feel better?"

Summer nodded, tears welling in her eyes.

Black-clad bodyguards stormed in, clubs swinging. Glass shattered, chandeliers exploded.

Cold rain and wind poured in, soaking my face.

Liam squeezed my chin, forcing me to look at him.

"You're not wrong, but I have to give her satisfaction. Think about the compensation, write it down, I'll take it all."

His gaze was heavy, like he was looking at an old, discarded object.

I yanked away from him, coughing violently, and rummaged through the wreckage.

A small white pill bottle rolled out. My eyes lit up.

He snatched it first, looking at it.

"Six tranquilizers at once? You really have a death wish."

He tossed it into the puddle, then embraced Summer and walked away.

I knelt by the water, picked up the bottle, and swallowed two pills.

The medicine could calm me down and stop the pain.

From half a pill to eight, it still couldn't keep it at bay.

The medicine was almost gone, and so was my life.