Alice hesitated as she looked at Vein’s invitation. She wanted to call the police, but she feared that Cliff wasn’t actually with Vein as he claimed. If it was a trap, she couldn’t recklessly push Cliff into danger.After hesitating for a long time, she decided to call Louis for advice, but he didn’t pick up. The silence from Louis only made her more anxious. With no other choice, she left a message:"I’m going to meet Vein. He revealed a clue about Cliff. If anything seems off, find me at the café he sent the address for."After sending the message, Alice quickly headed to the location Vein had shared. If Cliff was really on the run from the police, she needed to find him before things got even more complicated.The café where Vein had arranged the meeting was in the city center, a rather quiet place.Alice stepped inside, scanning the warmly lit room, illuminated by soft golden lights. Near the window, Vein was already seated, his face lighting up with excitement when he saw her. He
Louis had just returned from the company, his entire body drained after a long day of work. Lately, the workload had been overwhelming, with endless meetings leaving him no time to rest. However, what frustrated him more than exhaustion was the fact that his phone had gone missing. He couldn’t recall whether he had dropped it somewhere or if someone had stolen it, but the moment he realized it was gone, an unsettling irritation spread through him.Without his phone, he felt disconnected from the world—especially now, when he had so many things to handle.As soon as he stepped into the house, the butler approached him, holding a brand-new phone."Young master, your phone. I’ve prepared the exact same model as before."Louis took it and nodded in acknowledgment. He quickly powered it on and logged into his personal account. But within seconds, his expression darkened. His brows furrowed as he saw Alice’s latest message:"Louis, I’m going to meet Vein. He said he has information about Cli
Ron firmly declared, "I will inform my parents about Alice's disappearance as soon as possible. We can leverage the Campbell family's resources to find her as quickly as possible." July clenched her fists, her gaze icy cold. "I will find Alice, no matter what it takes." Louis nodded silently. He didn't say a word, but a terrible feeling overwhelmed him. Alice’s abduction struck him like a heavy blow, making every breath feel heavier. Even without speaking, everyone could sense the simmering anger slowly spreading within him. July, on the other hand, made no effort to conceal her emotions. She gritted her teeth and growled, "That bastard Cliff! I’ll tear him apart!" With a cold scoff, she turned on her heels and left. The moment she arrived home, her fury erupted—she swept everything off her desk in a single motion. The crash of shattering glass echoed through the room, the broken shards reflecting a chilling light. The servants outside held their breath, not daring to step in. They
Louis returned to the mansion late at night. The butler, who had been keeping an eye on his every move, had seen him leave in a hurry that afternoon and now watched as he came back with a cold expression. Instantly, he knew something bad had happened.The butler had been by Louis’s side since he was a child and understood every look, every gesture of his. While the other servants in the mansion feared Louis, the butler did not. Stepping forward, he asked in a quiet voice:"Master Louis, what happened? The proposal… did Lady Alice reject you?"He was truly worried. In the past, Louis had been a terrible person—everyone knew that. But over time, he had changed. His love for Alice ran deep, and that was no secret in the mansion. The butler had even heard countless rumors about them, that their relationship had taken a step forward, that Alice had gradually begun to open her heart to him.Louis looked at him, his icy gaze concealing a storm of rage beneath the surface. He took a deep brea
Alice felt as if she were drifting in a never-ending dream. Everything around her was hazy and indistinct, weighed down by an overwhelming heaviness pressing against her body. She had no idea where she was or how she had gotten there.Then, suddenly, she saw a familiar figure ahead.Louis.Alice gasped, her voice catching in her throat from sheer emotion. But Louis didn’t seem to hear her. He kept running, his tall, steady figure charging forward as if searching for something. Fearful that he would disappear, Alice hurried after him, but her legs felt submerged in a thick mist, making every step unbearably heavy.She had no idea how long she had been running, but gradually, a light began to appear ahead. A dazzling glow emerged at the end of the path, drawing her in, pulling at all her senses. Without thinking, Alice stepped forward. The light grew closer and closer—until she felt herself being completely swallowed by it…She woke up.An unfamiliar ceiling greeted her. Alice blinked s
Cliff stood beside Alice’s bed, his bloodshot eyes fixed on her beautiful face. Alice had already sat up, her gaze icy as she stared at him. His voice was hoarse, filled with resentment:"Why, Alice? Why does fate treat me this way? What did I do wrong?" Cliff let out a bitter laugh, but there was nothing but anguish in it. "I never begged for a noble or wealthy life, but I don’t deserve to be looked down on like this either. I hate July’s gaze—the way she always looked at me like I was worthless, like I didn’t deserve to exist! She was always perfect, always talented, and that disgusted me! I couldn't stand the way she shined while I was buried in the mud."Alice clenched her fists, silently watching Cliff without interrupting him. She had never seen him so vulnerable before. But that vulnerability was drenched in hatred.Cliff continued, his voice growing sharper with every word. "I thought everything had changed when Mr. Adonis took me in. For the first time in my life, someone tru
"Alice, I think we should cooperate."Cliff suddenly spoke, his voice steady and filled with absolute confidence. "As long as you agree to help me take down Louis, I'll set you free. In fact, I can give you everything—my love, my wealth, anything you desire."Alice let out a cold laugh, a mocking glint flashing in her eyes. "Do you think I'm stupid enough to believe you?"Cliff leaned forward slightly, his tone growing more persuasive. "Louis loves you deeply—he would trust you unconditionally. If you agree, we can make him lose everything—his career, his reputation, even his life. Then, you won’t have to endure this imprisonment any longer. Instead, you could stand at the pinnacle of power by my side."As soon as he finished speaking, a sharp smack echoed through the silent room.Alice had slapped him without hesitation. The force of the blow caused Cliff’s head to tilt slightly, leaving a burning red mark on his cheek. The air grew stifling, the tension so thick that even the slight
The deep blue sea stretched endlessly before Alice’s eyes, the salty ocean breeze threading through her tangled hair. She stood by the small window of her confinement, her gaze darting around in search of an escape route. The island wasn’t large, but its rugged terrain and strict security made fleeing nearly impossible. Since being kidnapped and brought here by Cliff, Alice had tried every possible way to escape, but all her attempts had ended in failure. The guards were always on high alert, and no matter how hard she tried, every path was blocked.She closed her eyes and took a deep breath to steady herself. If she let fear take over, she wouldn't be able to come up with any plan to get out of here. But even so, one undeniable truth remained—she was alone. No one could help her. Or at least, that’s what she thought… until she realized something important: Vein.Vein entered the room as usual, carrying a tray of food. He was one of Cliff’s trusted subordinates, but Alice had observed
Louis immediately became panicked, quickly getting out of bed. His whole body swayed, and his legs were so weak that he nearly fell. He had to hold onto the edge of the bed, his breath rapid, his heart pounding, still recovering from the long faint. Fortunately, his body was strong and recovered quickly, though he still felt a bit dizzy, and his vision was blurry.Not having time to worry about himself, he urgently asked, "How is Alice?"July suddenly fell silent, not saying anything. Her abrupt stop made Louis suspicious. He looked at her with a questioning gaze, his heart racing with a bad feeling.July's eyes flickered slightly, hesitation passing in a moment, but she couldn't hide the deep sorrow within. She looked at Louis as though considering whether or not to tell the truth, her lips pressed together, hesitant and speechless.Louis felt his palms go cold. July's silence was like an invisible hand tightening around his chest. A sense of unease spread through his body, every cel
Hearing that name, Louis’s body trembled slightly. He looked up, his eyes bloodshot from lack of sleep, filled with extreme exhaustion but also carrying an unspoken pain. His voice came out hoarse:"I can’t leave… I have to stay here, wait for her to wake up…"Ron clenched his fists, turning his face away to hide his emotions. In the stark white hospital room, worry and despair intertwined, enveloping everything.Louis slowly stood up, his eyes fixed on Alice lying in the hospital bed. She was still motionless, her weak breath completely dependent on the oxygen machine beside her. Alice’s body had noticeably weakened, her pale skin lifeless, making her seem as fragile as a delicate princess lost in a long, deep sleep. The painful tightness in Louis’s chest made him clench his hands to keep from letting out a sigh.He closed his eyes, as if trying to calm himself, but Alice’s image remained firmly etched in his mind. He couldn’t forget what Mrs. Campbell had just said. "If you collapse
Her face was covered in dirt, with small wounds bleeding on her forehead and cheek, but in this moment, Alice was still strangely beautiful. A satisfied smile appeared on her lips, even as tears involuntarily spilled, mixing with sweat and dust. Her eyes sparkled in the fiery red glow of the sunset, gentle yet full of sorrow. She loved Louis, and that had never changed.She spread her arms wide, waiting for the deadly embrace from Cliff.Louis and the others watched in despair as the scene unfolded before them. Louis rushed forward, wanting to pull Alice out of danger, but a figure moved faster than him—Vein.It turned out, he hadn’t died.The memory from the laboratory flashed back: Cliff’s final bullet had grazed Vein’s forehead, leaving a deep but non-fatal wound. When Cliff had left, he had sneered one last time, saying, "Get lost!" He thought Vein was no longer of any use, not worth finishing off. But now, Vein appeared, like a demon from hell, to stop everything.His messy hair
Cliff smirked, his eyes gleaming with challenge."So this is how you want to talk like a man? If that's the case, then let Alice go." Louis' voice was low, but the danger in every word was evident.Cliff burst out laughing, the gun in his hand still pressed against Alice's temple. "You think I'm stupid, Louis? I'm not crazy enough to let her go so easily." He gritted his teeth, his eyes flashing with madness. "If you want to save her, then come over here."Just as Louis was about to take a step forward, Alice suddenly screamed, her voice hoarse with pain and fear. "Don’t! Louis, don’t move!" She struggled, but her strength had drained, her legs too weak to stand. Still, her eyes remained resolute.Louis froze, his gaze meeting Alice's with profound sorrow. She was protecting him, even though she was in the most perilous situation. The anger inside him burned fiercer than ever, but he remained patient, knowing that one wrong move could make Cliff act instantly.Cliff narrowed his eyes
Alice froze, her breath quick and shallow, feeling the suffocating grip of his embrace. Cliff’s face was close to her ear, a twisted smile still lingering on his lips."Alice, are you scared?" His voice whispered, laced with fake tenderness. "It’s just a joke, my love... I’m only trying to scare you."But immediately, his expression shifted. His eyes gleamed with madness, his muscles tensing, and his low voice suddenly turned fierce, like a thunderclap."But even if I destroy you… I’ll do it right in front of Louis!" He hissed each word, his eyes burning with a hatred so intense that it seemed to bring him a twisted pleasure.With that, Cliff bent down, gripping Alice’s arm tightly and roughly yanking her up from the ground. No gentleness, no pity—he dragged her as though she were nothing more than a discarded object. Alice staggered, her legs aching as if thousands of needles were piercing her skin, but she gritted her teeth, forcing herself to keep up with Cliff’s swift pace to avoi
But just then, her foot got caught on a large vine hidden among the rotting leaves. She didn't have time to react, her entire body was yanked downward, losing its balance. A wave of panic swept over her, and in the next moment, she rolled down a rocky slope.Alice screamed in pain as sharp stones and dry branches hit her body. Each impact was a sharp, piercing pain that seemed to cut through her flesh, and she even heard a dry "crack"—perhaps a few bones had broken. When her body finally stopped at the foot of the slope, the pain was almost unbearable, leaving her gasping for breath. Her body trembled, and her vision blurred from tears that welled up from the excruciating agony. Alice sobbed, her breaths caught in her throat. She wanted to scream, to cry out loud, but she couldn't. There was no time to be weak.Biting her lip until it bled, Alice shakily pushed her hands into the ground, trying to lift her battered body. But the pain from her ribs nearly made her collapse again. Don’t
The sound of the helicopter echoed in the sky, making her heart race. A spark of hope flickered in her mind, and she almost wanted to laugh despite being in a life-or-death situation. She whispered, as if to reassure herself: "They're coming... they're really coming..."But if she didn’t manage to escape, if she was caught again... Alice didn’t dare to imagine what would happen. What would Cliff do to her? His cold face, eyes full of absolute control, appeared in her mind, making her shiver. She didn’t want to be locked up in that dark room again, trapped like a bird in a cage, losing both her freedom and hope. No! She had to run! She had to escape from here at any cost!Alice had nearly given up everything to get this far. Over the past few days, she had starved herself to create a pitiful appearance, tricking Cliff into lowering his guard. But that had also made her much weaker. Her legs felt heavy, each step felt like walking on sharp blades. Her empty stomach clenched painfully, h
Cliff didn’t answer, only lunged again. In his eyes, there was only betrayal and fury, as if all the years they had fought side by side meant nothing anymore. But deep in his heart, a fear gnawed at him—the fear of failure. Could it be that he was going to lose again? Was everything he had worked for, everything he had done, going to be taken from him once more? No… he couldn’t let that happen.Vein quickly sidestepped, delivering a kick aimed at Cliff’s ribs. But Cliff was too enraged to feel the pain. He grabbed Vein by the collar and punched him squarely in the face again.The two of them struggled, crashing into the lab table, causing everything to shatter in chaos. Sharp shards of glass cut into their skin, blood dripping in droplets. Their eyes met for a brief moment—Cliff’s eyes were ablaze with fury, ready to burn everything down, while Vein’s eyes were cold, distant, yet tinged with something resembling... pity. No matter how intelligent Vein was, he could not overcome the in
Louis sat in the command seat, his eyes fixed intently on the island gradually coming into view. His heart pounded in his chest, each passing second cutting into his patience like a sharpened blade. Alice… She was there, imprisoned, suffering—how? The thought sent a surge of fury through him, but he had to stay calm. This wasn’t just a mission—this was redemption. He wouldn’t lose her again.His hand tightened around the seatbelt, his knuckles turning white. He closed his eyes for a brief moment, and Alice’s smiling face appeared in his mind. Her voice, her bright gaze—everything about her urged him to move faster, to be stronger. When he opened his eyes again, only cold determination remained.The radio crackled in his earpiece. "Target in sight. The island is ahead—signs of guards present." A voice came through from the reconnaissance team.Louis nodded, his gaze resolute. "Everyone, get ready. We don’t get a second chance."The helicopter circled, drawing closer to the island shrou