Hayes smoked quietly, his calm expression impenetrable, causing Mia's anxiety to skyrocket. After an agonizing silence, he still had not uttered a word. Taking this as his approval, Kenneth reached out to seize Mia's hand.Despite her injuries, Mia's agility remained intact. Fueled by sheer determination, she swiftly rose to her feet and delivered a lightning-fast kick as Kenneth's hand drew near. Her movements were so fluid that everyone was caught off guard. Kenneth tumbled to the floor, dumbfounding everyone—except for Hayes. He watched the young woman with intense interest, a sly smirk tugging at the corner of his lips."You damn bitch, you're begging for it!" Kenneth snarled, his face twisted with rage as he leaped up and lunged at Mia. She retreated with lightning speed to the side of a coffee table, her eyes catching a glimpse of a paring knife. With a smooth, practiced motion, she snatched the knife just as Kenneth's fist closed in on her. The blade sliced across his arm, eli
"Did you all hear that? Hayes just claimed her as his own," one of the men blurted, eyes wide."I knew there was something different about the way Hayes looked at her. How could he let such a breath-taking beauty face death?""Must be that she messed up big time, and Hayes brought her here for a dose of punishment."The crowd's gaze on Mia shifted in an instant. Kenneth's heart seethed with resentment, but he dared not speak further."Alright, you guys carry on. I'm heading out," Hayes said, a smile playing on his lips. He then took Mia's hand and led her downstairs.The men stared, dumbstruck, unable to grasp that the usually detached Hayes could be smitten with a woman. Once they left the Velvet Vagabonds, Hayes released Mia's hand. His voice dripped with casual indifference."Think you can manage? If you can, then come back to the McCray family with me. If not, well, you'll have to fend for yourself out here. The McCray family doesn't take in the half-dead."Mia clenched her
It was late at night, yet a crowd of astonished onlookers encircled Mia as she returned.Several young men beamed with excitement. "Incredible, Mia! You're back, against all odds!""Are you alright? You've lost so much blood from those wounds.""Get yourself cleaned up before infection sets in."Mia smiled warmly, moved by their heartfelt concern. Scanning the surroundings, she desperately searched for the young man she had met earlier, but only caught a fleeting glimpse of a retreating silhouette. She wanted to chase after him, but hesitated, self-conscious of her disheveled appearance. Expressing her gratitude to the concerned group, she retreated to her room.After a soothing hot shower, she tended to her injuries and slipped into clean clothes. Her heart racing, she ventured out, eager to find the young man who lived in the room behind hers. She wondered if he was asleep. He had promised her that if she survived and returned, he would share his name. Now, she could not wait to
Mia's body tensed as she watched Hayes, her heart pounding with a primal fear in response to his icy presence. Hayes came to a halt before her, his slender fingers suddenly landing on her arrow-pierced shoulder. With a sinister grin, he said, "Seems like your injuries today weren't severe enough."As he tightened his grip, Mia involuntarily let out a pained whimper. Cold sweat beaded on her forehead, and her clothes became stained with blood. She gritted her teeth, refusing to cry out.Hayes chuckled darkly and turned to the young man behind him, his tone heavy with innuendo. "Mia is the most exceptional girl among her peers here, and quite beautiful too. Do you like her? If so, I wouldn't mind playing matchmaker for you two."His eyes held a chilling, inscrutable glint despite his smile. His offer of 'matchmaking' seemed like a twisted joke. Mia's gaze remained locked on the young man, her heart constricting with anticipation.After a moment, the young man approached, his voice so
From that day on, every evening Mia would tend to Jensen's wounds, and afterward, they would spar and share their hard-earned experiences with each other. Slowly, Jensen's injuries became less frequent, and their bond deepened. They became inseparable, like two halves of a whole. Some even teased them, joking that they resembled a pair of devoted lovers. Mia would always retort, while Jensen remained silent, returning to his room with a distant look in his eyes.Mia knew there was someone else on Jensen's mind; she had seen him staring out the window, lost in thought, his eyes filled with longing. One night, when he had too much to drink, he suddenly embraced her, calling out a different name – Kisa. In that moment, Mia was consumed with jealousy, yet she could not help but wonder what kind of girl Kisa was to have captured Jensen's heart so completely.Three years flew by, and winter returned to the McCray residence compound. The training ground featured a large pond, and during the
"But if you keep pushing yourself like this, you could wreck your body, and it might even jeopardize your ability to have kids later on." Jensen warned, his words blunt but honest. He knew that women should not be exposed to cold water during their period, especially not ice-cold water.Mia bit her lip, her face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and bewilderment. The idea of having children felt so far out of reach. People like them might never marry or have a family, let alone children. The relentless training had already ravaged her body, and her period had never been regular. But until now, she had been lucky enough to dodge the "ice bath" training sessions during her period. This time, however, her luck had run out. Her stomach throbbed with pain, and her face grew paler by the minute.Jensen studied her concernedly before offering. "I could try to get you out of this.""No!" Mia quickly grasped his arm. "It won't work. Just forget it.""What are you two gossiping about? Get
Hayes' smile was unrelenting, but it sent a shiver down one's spine. Jensen fixed his gaze on him, his voice steady. "She is just my friend—nothing romantic. I would do the same for any of my friends.""So, you still don't have feelings for her?" Hayes sneered, casting a sly glance at Mia. Her eyes filled with tears, and his smile grew colder."If you don't care for her, then you have no right to take her place in training.""I didn't need his help anyway." Mia choked back tears and confronted Hayes. "He's just butting in. I can handle an exercise like this on my own. I don't need him stepping in."Hayes lowered his eyes, smirking without saying a word. Mia inhaled sharply, pain evident, and turned to walk toward the water. Jensen's lips tightened, and he pleaded with Hayes. "Can she at least get a few days off? She's not well.""Jensen!" Mia interrupted before Hayes could reply. Frustration and resentment in her eyes, she glared at him. "My well-being is none of your concern. Eve
The person who jumped in was none other than Hayes. Jensen's eyes darkened as he watched the man approaching, his heart tightening. It seemed his suspicion had been right – Hayes had feelings for Mia.Suddenly, Mia vanished from Jensen's arms. Hayes cradled her protectively, carrying her horizontally. He looked back at Jensen with a mocking smile. "You wanted to take her place, didn't you? Well, you can stay in the water a little longer."Jensen pressed his lips together, holding back any response. Everyone stared in shock at the scene unfolding before them: the usually aloof and unapproachable man carrying a woman ashore as if she were his most precious treasure.Whispers and murmurs filled the air, the tension palpable as everyone tried to process the unexpected sight. The supervisor on the shore, noticing the commotion, barked, "What are you little runts gossiping about? Get back in line! Anyone who can't hold on any longer, get out and head to the Velvet Vagabonds."Silence fel