My father and Liam’s mother died in the same bed. They were found with their bodies still entwined.
In that single moment, both our worlds shattered.
He slammed his car into my father’s casket, sending it flying.
I smashed his mother’s urn to pieces on the wind-whipped docks.
For ten long years, we’ve hated each other, dedicated to mutual destruction.
Now, he’s Southeast Asia’s most powerful arms dealer.
And I’m the top bounty hunter in the city.
When we met again, his hatred for me burned as bright as ever.
He just didn’t know one thing: I was dying.
After finishing up today’s work, I rushed back to my dessert shop to bandage my wounds. The TV on the wall was broadcasting the news of Liam Thorne’s return.
Once the golden boy of the city’s elite, now Southeast Asia’s biggest arms dealer, his return to Port City was, naturally, a sensation.
I hastily wrapped my injuries, ready to head to my small memorial to light a candle for my father.
Just then, a girl with a pixie cut burst in, clutching red roses. “I’ll buy all these cakes!” she declared loudly.
Trailing behind her was Julian, Liam’s best friend. Seeing me, he looked awkward. “Sera, maybe we should try another shop?”
The girl refused stubbornly. “No way! These are Liam’s favorite desserts. It’s his birthday; I need to get him a lot.”
Her eyes, red-rimmed, looked at me. “Owner, can I borrow your space to set up a surprise birthday party?”
I could only nod.
“Can we have some extra desserts?”
I agreed, catching sight of my wound bleeding again. I quickly hid it under my apron, my legs trembling as I walked to the back kitchen.
It wasn’t fear. It was just my illness flaring up again. An incurable illness.
“Julian, help me set up. Liam will be here soon. I don’t want him to be upset.”
Julian didn’t move. He knew Liam was never happy when he saw me.
On TV, Liam smiled for the cameras, but his eyes were empty.
“She’s watching the news too, isn’t she? I’m really looking forward to seeing her.”
The camera zoomed in, and the scar above his eyebrow was clearly visible. I put that there with a dagger.
The scar on my neck? He gave me that with a piece of broken glass.
We always hurt each other, loving to see the other in pain.
The TV hostess smiled coyly. “Mr. Thorne, are you planning to stay long-term this time? And those roses – are they for someone special?”
He said, his voice deep, “My fiance.”
The girl was still decorating the shop, then she turned to look at the TV.
“Julian, I heard Liam has a childhood friend he’s been entangled with for ten years?”
I lowered my head, wiping my knife, and caught Julian’s gaze.
“Liam!” The girl cried out, breaking the tense atmosphere. She ran out excitedly, forgetting her umbrella.
Outside, Liam held her with one arm and an umbrella with the other.
She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him on the lips. He seemed to flinch.
We stared at each other through the rain-streaked glass.
The girl started to turn back, but he gripped her chin and kissed her deeply.
I pulled my gaze away, cutting the ribbon in my hand.
Julian came over, speaking softly. “Seraphina, please, don’t upset Liam today.”
He added, “That girl is only nineteen. She’s so innocent, and she reminds me a bit of you.”
I nodded, my fingers cold. “She does look like me. She’s prettier, though.”
The door pushed open. Liam walked in, holding his umbrella. “Talking about my fiance?”
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 fiance 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.
In three years, my mom had passed away too.
I lived a precarious life, having killed people and, in turn, becoming a target.
My savings had all gone into this dessert shop. Now it was trashed, and I had no idea where to go.
Pain flared, and I lacked the strength to move. I sat in the ruins, letting the night rain soak me.
Port City’s newspaper headlines screamed, “Liam, the Golden Boy, Returns for Revenge on Old Love.”
By dawn, I was ready to leave.
Before I left, I knelt and bowed my head three times towards the wreckage.
Liam suddenly appeared, grabbing me and pulling me to my feet with one hand.
“A rundown dessert shop, worth all this drama?”
I slapped his hand away, stood steady, and delivered three stinging slaps to his face.
“My parents’ memorial photos were in there, and they’re gone,” I said calmly. “Of course I’d bow my head.”
He licked the corner of his mouth, a smirk playing on his lips. “Three slaps for your mom’s memorial? I think I got the better deal.”
I ignored him, my gaze fixed on the ruins.
He followed behind me, his words like daggers.
“Seraphina Hayes, I’m talking to you.”
I paid him no mind, walking towards the exit.
He chased after me, blocking my path.
“Don’t pretend you don’t care! Your face is as white as paper, and you’re still trying to be tough?”
“My old illness has flared up; I look a little worn out.” I forced a smile. “Liam, what do you think you are, that you could affect me?”
Deep down, I knew he was back just to cause trouble.
If I were healthy, I’d gladly fight him again.
But now, just standing there drained all my strength.
The hospital smelled of harsh disinfectant.
The doctor looked at the scans, his expression grave.
“How much medicine was left from last time?”
“It’s all gone.”
“All gone? Three months’ worth of medication, gone in a week!”
The doctor fell silent. I understood-my time was running out.
“Do you have any family?”
“My parents are both gone. It’s just me.”
He rubbed his temples. “It was pretty stable before. Why has it gotten so bad this week?”
I glanced at my phone. A news alert popped up-Liam, arm-in-arm with Summer Reed.
The person I thought I didn’t care about still hurt me the most.
“The situation isn’t optimistic. After stopping the medication, seven days, one month, three months-those are critical periods.”
“Keep this bottle with you. Take three pills when the pain is severe, no more than three.”
He hadn’t even finished speaking, and I’d already opened the bottle, shaking out pills and swallowing them.
How many didn’t matter, as long as it stopped the pain.
I crouched in a hospital corner, my back against the cold wall.
Freezing until I was hypothermic could numb the pain.
Cold sweat drenched my clothes.
For ten minutes, the sounds of crying and prayers echoed from the operating room next door.
“Mommy, is that sister from the bed next to ours? Should we go say goodbye to her?”
“Her illness isn’t getting better, dear. Let’s not disturb her. Poor child, no parents, and no one to see her off in her grave illness.”
The little girl looked up. “Someone in this world must care about her, right?”
I blinked, my blurry vision focusing on my phone.
It was a text from Liam.
Since last night, he’d been relentlessly calling, harassing me for compensation. I thought about it. Maybe no one cared about me, but there was one person who’d collect my body.
I dialed that familiar number. The call was answered almost instantly.
“Decided what you’re going to compensate me with?”
I took a deep breath, swallowing the bitterness in my throat. “If you want compensation, Liam, you can collect my body when I die.”
Silence on the other end for three seconds, followed by his sarcastic laugh.
“Seraphina, you’re so vicious and stubborn, you usually live forever. But if you really do die first, I promise I’ll give you a grand funeral. The whole Port City will light eternal lamps for you!”
Hearing that, I hung up, satisfied.
Walking out of the hospital, I saw the mother and daughter at the entrance. The little girl patted her chest, saying innocently and firmly, “Who says no one cares about her? I care about her!”
“Alright, let’s go, the bus is coming soon.” Her mom pulled her, hurrying to catch the bus.
I walked to the parking garage and started my black sedan. Seeing they hadn’t caught the bus, I spontaneously rolled down the window. “Get in, I’ll give you a ride.”
I dropped them off at the city center. They profusely thanked me as they got out.
Just as I was about to leave, an irritating voice rang out.
“Well, well, Seraphina doing good deeds? About time you earned some good karma.”
Liam and a few of his friends emerged from a club. Summer Reed tightly clutched Liam’s arm, her eyes coldly fixed on me.
I didn’t want to get tangled up. I rolled up my window, ready to drive off.
Summer quickly walked over, pressing her hand against the car window.
A fake smile played on her lips, but her eyes were icy cold. “I just found out about your past relationship with Liam. I hope I didn’t offend you yesterday?”
I couldn’t be bothered to deal with her and started to close the window again.
She gripped the window frame tightly. “Sis, I have something to give you. Really, no ill intentions.”
“Stop talking nonsense. Get lost.” My patience had run out.
Summer let go. As I started the car, she pulled a small urn from her bag.
“I heard your mom’s memorial was destroyed. I was worried you wouldn’t have anything to remember her by, so I collected some ashes from the ruins this morning.”
Her voice was sweet, but her actions were malicious.
She reached through the car window and poured the ashes directly onto my driver’s seat.
“Oh! Sera, why didn’t you catch it?” She shrieked, stepping back, her face full of innocence and schadenfreude. “You won’t blame me, will you?”
I watched her performance, a furious rage boiling within me, temporarily overriding the pain of my illness.
Good. Very good. She sought me out.
The people nearby, still clueless, praised her. “You’re so thoughtful, not minding the bad luck, even bringing a gift.”
Summer confidently turned, walking towards the brand-new Porsche in front of me, proudly jingling the keys.
I rolled down my window and called out to her, “Summer Reed, I have a gift for you too!”
She crossed her arms, asking casually, “What are you going to give me?”
I fastened my seatbelt, my eyes locked on her, saying each word distinctly. “I’m going to send you to hell!”
My words hadn’t even fully faded when I slammed the accelerator.
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