Chapter 8: A PERFECT EVENING… DESTROYED

LIAM'S POV

I wake up to the soft morning light streaming through the curtains, its golden glow casting a warm hue over the room. My body still tingles from last night, the memories of Marcus’s touch lingering on my skin like a gentle whisper. I stretch lazily, letting out a satisfied sigh as I reach out, expecting to feel the comforting warmth of Marcus beside me.

But my hand meets only empty sheets.

I blink, my fingers running over the cool fabric where he should be. He’s gone.

A small smile tugs at my lips as I stare at the ceiling. Last night had been perfect— every kiss, every touch, every whispered word had felt real. It wasn’t just passion; it was something deeper, something that made me believe, even for a moment, that we were meant to be together.

But then, reality slams into me like a cold wave.

Daniel.

The mere thought of his name makes my stomach twist with unease. He’s the biggest threat to what I have with Marcus. No matter how much I try to push that thought away, it lingers, refusing to be ignored.

And then there’s Mistake.

Her words from last night still echo in my mind, as chilling as they were then.

"You must kill Daniel within four months."

I close my eyes and sigh, rolling onto my side in an attempt to push the thought away. Maybe if I ignore it long enough, it will disappear. Maybe—

Then I saw something.

A figure lying beside me.

My heart stops. My breath catches in my throat.

A young man with dark eyes stares at me, his gaze unreadable.

My entire body tenses. I didn’t hear the door open. I didn’t feel anyone enter. How is he here? How is this possible?

Before I can move, he speaks.

"Don’t be scared. It’s me— Mistake."

I jerk upright, my pulse pounding in my ears. My mind races. This can’t be real. Last night, Mistake had appeared as a woman. Now, he’s a man?

"You called me," Mistake says, his voice calm, almost amused. "Is there a problem?"

A problem?

I let out a sharp breath and stand up, putting as much distance between us as possible. My arms cross tightly over my chest as I struggle to steady my voice.

"I have a lot of questions, and I want answers."

Mistake stretches out on the bed, utterly relaxed, as if he has all the time in the world.

"I will answer if I can."

I narrow my eyes at him. "Why can’t you kill Daniel yourself?"

Before I can blink, Mistake disappears from the bed. A second later, he’s at the window, his silhouette outlined by the morning light.

"Celestial beings are not permitted to kill humans," he says simply, as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world.

I stare at him, trying to process his words. "Really?" I shake my head in frustration. "Then how exactly do you plan on helping me take down Daniel?"

Mistake tilts his head slightly, his dark eyes watching me with an almost playful glint.

"That’s your problem, not mine."

My hands clench into fists. I can feel the anger bubbling inside me.

"You’re expecting me to kill a man who never makes mistakes? That’s impossible!"

Mistake smiles, but there’s something unsettling about it. His gaze sharpens.

"It’s not impossible. Because you are him."

I freeze, my breath catching in my throat.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

Mistake takes a slow step toward me. "You think the same. You act the same. You have everything in common. So the only person who can beat Daniel… is Daniel."

A short, bitter laugh escapes my lips. "That’s ridiculous. I’m a chemist. Nothing on earth would ever make me a drug dealer. So no, I am not Daniel."

Mistake doesn’t react. His expression remains unreadable.

"Should I tell you something you don’t know?" he asks.

I cross my arms, refusing to let him rattle me. "Go ahead."

He watches me carefully. Then, in a voice laced with certainty, he says,

"In every world, every version of you is a kingpin."

I shake my head, laughing dryly. "Not in my world. I’m not a criminal, and I never will be."

Mistake steps closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "You will be."

I don’t move.

"The death of Marcus will make you one."

My heart stops.

"How it happens is different in every world," Mistake continues, "but the result is always the same."

A sickening wave of dread washes over me.

Marcus.

No.

Before I can respond, Mistake vanishes.

A heavy silence fills the room.

I sit back down, my heart hammering.

Marcus’s death makes me a drug dealer? No. I refuse to believe it.

But deep down, I know.

Mistake wasn’t lying.

Then, another terrifying realization crashes over me like a tidal wave.

Daniel.

Sooner or later, he will find out about me. And when that happens, he will come for me.

I have no choice.

I have to go after Daniel first if I want to be Marcus.

---

To distract myself, I spend the entire afternoon cleaning Marcus’s house. I scrub every surface, sweep every corner, wipe down every window until the glass shines. I arrange everything perfectly, making sure the place looks spotless, warm, inviting.

Then, I start cooking his favorite meal.

I take my time, making sure everything is just right. The scent of food slowly fills the air, wrapping around me like a comforting blanket.

Tonight has to be special. Marcus deserves that.

To make things even better, I take some of his money and buy flowers— bright, fresh ones— to make the house feel even warmer.

I just want to make him happy.

By evening, everything is perfect. The house is clean. The table is set. The food is ready.

Then, I hear it.

A car engine.

I freeze.

He’s home.

A small smile tugs at my lips as I walk to the window, eager to see him.

But then my blood runs cold.

Daniel is with him.

My entire body stiffens.

No.

Through the glass, I watch them walk toward the house, side by side, talking like old friends.

My stomach twists into painful knots.

What the fuck?

Why is Daniel here?

A wave of cold panic crashes over me, making it hard to breathe.

I step back from the window, my breath coming in shallow gasps.

This is bad. Really bad.

I was prepared to fight Daniel. I was ready to hunt him down.

But not today, never today.