Mercy for Everyone but Me

I've been dating my enemy, Sean Thompson, for four years. At first, I intended to lurk by his side and find an opportunity to get my revenge. But little do I know that a medical report with my cancer diagnosis is capable of shattering my life's plans in an instant. Since then, I've quit my job and broken up with Sean. Now that I no longer give a damn about everything, I lash out at everyone who dares approach me. Everyone is weirded out by my behavior. They all wonder what made my personality go through such a huge change to the point that I'm easily triggered by the slightest inconvenience. My family is already ruined to begin with. My parents are dead, my family has gone bankrupt, and now I'm on the verge of death. My only wish is that I can screw Sean over so that my older brother, Adrian Price, can get released from prison as soon as possible. But I can't do anything about my wish at all. At that moment, my childhood friend stands by my side, consequences be damned. He takes good care of me and cares for me as he always does. When Sean finds out that I have terminal cancer, he actually agrees to help fulfill my wish. Half a year later, Adrian is released from prison. Sean also returns the company to my family. My wish is fulfilled. Everyone wants me to keep fighting for my life and continue receiving treatment for my cancer. I know that I need to keep going for their sake, even if it means extending my life for a day or even a month longer. Chapter 1 On the fourth birthday I spent by Sean Thompson's side, I received two envelopes. The first contained his wedding invitation and the second, a letter detailing my cancer diagnosis. I sat on the floor in silence for a long time, the two sheets of paper lying on either side of me. In my eyes, they resembled two diverging paths, though they both led to certain death eventually. My phone rang, sending a sharp pang through my nerves. I lay down as I answered the call. A gentle female voice came through the line. "Ms. Cassandra Price? Hi, I'm calling from Lunastrel Private Hospital…" I had always loved the feeling of walking barefoot across the floor. It was late autumn and the heating wasn't on, so the cold seeped directly into the soles of my feet. It took me a long while before I hung up on the woman who was cautiously urging me to consider chemotherapy over the phone. As soon as I did, however, Sean's name appeared on my screen. Sean rarely called me himself. Whenever he needed me, his assistant would simply inform me of the time and place to meet Sean, and that was it. Seeing his name now made me freeze for a moment. The call ended after barely 20 seconds. I supposed that was the extent of his patience. Within two minutes, his assistant would certainly call me and coldly tell me everything I'd done wrong, and I'd be expected to dress up and appear before Sean afterward. After all the time I'd spent by his side, no one knew Sean's rotten temperament better than I did. I sat up, grabbed the phone that was still ringing, and flung it forward. The shrill ringing finally stopped, though I'd smashed a hole through the TV. I took a deep breath, forcing the emotions in my chest back down. I pushed the mess on the floor under the coffee table and went upstairs to take a shower. When you truly knew you were going to die, once the initial wave of emotions passed, it was hardly as devastating as one might think. All those years I'd spent by Sean's side, I rarely pondered about my own future. I'd always felt that sooner or later, one of us was bound to die. After my shower, I groomed myself meticulously from head to toe, masking my sickly pallor. Slipping into the black evening gown Sean had given me, I stared at the alluring woman in the mirror. I dabbed some vivid red lipstick on my lips, smiled, and bade myself farewell. A car was already waiting outside by the time I stepped out of the house. I pulled open the car door and saw Paul Winfrey, the vice president of Sean's company, seated inside. Paul had always looked down on women like me. Whenever we met, he would greet me sarcastically. I never backed down though, and my sharp retorts left him fuming every single time. I couldn't imagine how Sean had managed to get Paul to pick me up this time. "You really know how to make an entrance, Ms. Price. I wonder if Sean's ever waited two hours for you downstairs," Paul remarked. I shot him a dismissive glance. I was sick of his condescending attitude and couldn't be bothered to respond. Instead, I closed my eyes as soon as I got into the car. Paul fell silent for a few seconds. He was likely surprised by how I'd let his taunts go unanswered. For the next 30 minutes, I drifted in and out of consciousness as he chattered incessantly. By the time we reached our destination, I still hadn't fully woken up. My legs gave way as I stepped out, and I stumbled, only to be caught as an arm snaked around my waist. I attempted to struggle, but the arm refused to budge. Instead, it pulled me closer. Sean had never known when to hold back. His grip on my waist was beginning to hurt. I felt rather helpless. "Let go of me, Sean," I said. He froze upon hearing my words before finally releasing his grasp. He patted my head a few times. "You didn't answer your phone. Are you in another one of your moods again?" Chapter 2 I didn't reply. Instead, I lifted my gaze to look at him. Sean was undeniably handsome. He had eyes that were flirtatious yet passionate, the kind you could drown in if you weren't careful. I tugged at his slightly crooked tie. It was the one I'd picked out for him two days ago. The banquet had been underway for quite some time now. There weren't many people by the entrance, so I leaned close to Sean's ear, my movements slow and deliberate. "I'm not the only one in a mood, Mr. Thompson," I said. Walking toward us in the distance was Mabel Hamilton, Sean's soon-to-be fiancee. Her smile almost faltered as she approached us. As I watched her stride toward us as though she'd caught us cheating, I couldn't help but laugh. "What do you think she'll call me when she gets here?" I asked Sean. "A mistress or a slut?" Sean was long accustomed to my bold remarks. He tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear. "She wouldn't dare come over," he replied. Sure enough, when Mabel was merely steps away from us, Sean lifted his gaze and glanced at her. She abruptly turned and walked off to the side. I laughed openly. As usual, I hooked my arm through Sean's as we mingled our way through the banquet. I quickly lost track of how many times my champagne glass had been emptied and refilled. The looks directed at me held both envy and disdain. These people were all members of high society. No one would openly call me shameless even if they thought it, lest they offend the big shot next to me. Still, their eyes spoke volumes, and standing at the center of it all, I felt every last ounce of their malice. I didn't care, though. Perhaps it was because I was dressed too beautifully tonight. … "Today is Luke's birthday. There's another gathering later," Sean informed me. The lights in the car were dim. I played with his fingers, nestled lazily in his embrace. I offered no objections upon hearing his words and merely yawned. "Tired already?" I didn't speak. I could sense that he was in a good mood, so I pulled his hand down. Sean chuckled, his grip tightening as he drew me closer. He brushed my lips with his fingertips, his heartbeat steady in my ears. "We'll stay for a bit and then leave," he said. Unable to resist Sean's rare display of tenderness, I fell asleep in his arms like that. At some point in my haze, I dreamed of the day we first met. When we entered the private room, everyone else was already gathered. The man of the hour was Luke Short, Sean's childhood friend. He seemed to be in the middle of some sort of game and was stripped down to his underwear. A few others were around him, trying to pull off his last shred of modesty. Luke's face was bright red as he tugged at his underwear, grinning from ear to ear. "Hey, Sean! Come join in the fun!" Most of the people present were Luke's friends, many of whom also knew Sean. As I rarely attended private gatherings like this one, I quietly found a corner to sit in and watched the commotion unfold. Sean had removed his jacket and rolled up the sleeves of his white shirt. Wherever he went, he always ended up being the center of attention. I noticed a few women nearby edge closer to him. It was quite amusing, really. I stopped watching them after a while. The singer on stage had an incredible voice. When he sang a string of impressively high notes, I found myself almost reeling. A sudden burst of commotion snapped me back to my senses. I turned to see the woman next to Sean looking all flustered as she gazed at him shyly. The next moment, Sean dipped his head casually and kissed her on the cheek. Chapter 3 I wiped my lips instinctively. The crowd that lived for the drama was still stirring things up, and I could feel several stinging stares land on me. A wave of fatigue washed over me. My stomach, which had been aching all night, lurched suddenly. Nausea hit me fast, and I stood, covering my mouth as I nudged aside the leg blocking the exit and bolted toward the restroom. As I rushed out, dead silence descended upon the private room, but I didn't care. I'd never run this fast in my life. Still, when I reached the sink, nothing came up. After a bout of dry heaving, I started coughing. It was the kind of cough that made it feel like my lungs were about to be ripped out of my chest. It was unbearable. Eventually, I braced myself against the counter. I stared at the bloodstains in the sink, my vision darkening. After a moment, I looked at my haggard reflection in the mirror, finally feeling like someone on the verge of death. Slowly, my complexion would grow paler and my face would become gaunter. I'd waste away beyond recognition, my hair falling out completely. I'd lie in bed, unable to care for myself, and finally die in the most hideous form possible. I splashed some water on my face to sober myself up. I then touched up my makeup and sashayed back into the private room in my heels. Everyone was staring at me when I returned, including Sean. I smiled. "Sorry, I felt a little queasy earlier. Carry on, guys. Don't mind me." Sean's expression darkened. I knew this was the prelude to him losing his temper, but I walked over to him regardless, oblivious to everyone else around me. As soon as I sat down, however, someone yanked me up again. Sean and I had been acting lovey-dovey when we got out of the car earlier. Now, we sat on opposite sides of the car, not speaking. The air felt like it was frozen solid. "What the hell are you playing at?" I blinked innocently. "I'm not." Sean clearly had no patience for my games. I'd already provoked him several times that day, and I could see the unchecked anger in his eyes. "Cassandra." He looked at me as he enunciated each word clearly. "Don't push it." Was that it? I couldn't help but giggle. "Behave yourself and don't make me mad," he said. I stared at him blankly. I could see my own reflection staring back at me in his eyes. He clearly didn't care for me that much, yet he insisted on putting on such a show of deep affection. "Sean." I looked like a mechanical doll, emotionless and worn out. I felt utterly exhausted, so much so that I no longer had the energy to keep up this charade. "Let's break up." The autumn wind was howling when he dumped me by the roadside. I shivered in the cold, slightly regretting my decision. I should have waited until we'd reached our destination. The streets were deserted at this hour. Perhaps the alcohol had overtaken me, but I didn't feel like hailing a cab. I slipped off my high heels and walked barefoot on the ground. The instant my feet touched the ground, a chill shot through me, followed by a surge of unprecedented clarity and exhilaration. I skipped along the road. I knew Sean was trailing behind me in the car, waiting for me to give in. Looking back, the past 24 years of my life seemed to have been stitched together by countless acts of submission and retreat. It was truly pathetic! I marched on like that for the next two hours, walking ahead until both my feet became numb. When I reached the building, I tossed my shoes aside, turned back, and waved goodbye to the car. Chapter 4 When I got home, I took a shower, my legs trembling. After that, I made myself a simple meal. As I walked to the window, I could see Sean's car still parked downstairs. Sean was leaning against it, smoking. The ground around him was littered with cigarette butts. As if he'd sensed my presence, he looked up and met my gaze. I couldn't quite name what I felt at that moment. Sean's emotions were unreadable, yet it still rubbed me the wrong way. I pulled the curtains shut, determined not to think about him anymore. At midnight, I turned off all the lights in the house. I ordered an eight-inch black forest cake on DoorDash, sat on the floor and lit 24 candles for myself. I had never been big on ceremonies. For years, my birthdays slipped by before I even realized it. Sean was the same. Come to think of it, during all our time together, we'd never really marked any meaningful occasions. However, this year demanded something special. After all, who knew if it was going to be my last birthday on earth? When the time came for me to make my wish, my mind went blank. I didn't know if the cancer was a punishment or a reward. When the thought of dying crossed my mind for the first time, I felt relieved, like I was about to be set free. Only when I began packing did I realize how much stuff I had. I'd grown up in this house before it was sealed off and later bought by Sean before the foreclosure auction. I'd lived here ever since. Much of that stuff was useless to me now. Still, since I was leaving, I didn't want to leave it behind, so I decided to throw it all away. It took me two days to sort and clear most of the stuff out. I threw away what could be discarded and moved on to getting rid of the rest. My time on earth was limited as it was, and I refused to waste any more of it on trivialities. In the end, I packed only two suitcases. When I left, I felt as light as a feather. I booked a hotel for a week. Although I'd decided against getting treatment, I still went to the hospital. My doctor was an elderly gentleman well past 60. He had graying temples and wore a thick pair of glasses. He'd likely never encountered a patient who treated leukemia like it was nothing. Or perhaps he was simply a kind old man saddened by a young person giving up on life. He tried everything to persuade me, from gentle advice to stern words. Still, I didn't budge. Eventually, when I thanked him and took the prescribed medication from him, he simply patted my shoulder wordlessly. That afternoon, I went to see my brother, Adrian Price, who refused to see me. He hadn't actually seen me since he learned I was still with Sean despite everything. I could hardly fault him for it. Our family had gone bankrupt, and Dad had jumped to his death while Adrian was implicated in the fallout and subsequently imprisoned. Despite it all, I'd remained by the side of the man responsible for it all, as though nothing had happened. If Adrian wasn't behind bars, I had no doubt he would have strangled me himself for being such a disgrace. I waited until visiting hours ended before leaving. I handed the letter I'd written last night to the guard. Rain had started falling outside by the time I stepped out. I stood under the awning for a while before dashing straight into the downpour. The momentary thrill of walking in the rain came at a cost. That night, I developed a high fever and was eventually sent to the hospital by the hotel's housekeeping staff. Since I didn't have my phone with me, I clung to consciousness just long enough to ask the nurse to arrange for someone to stay with me. After that, the next three days passed in a blur. On the fourth day, I forced myself to get up and returned to the hotel. There, I showered, put on some makeup, then left to buy a new phone. On the day I confronted Sean, I'd already submitted my resignation to the HR department. They told me to come in as soon as possible to finalize my resignation. Since the next day was the weekend and I still had some things to collect from the office, I decided to go in. Chapter 5 When I walked through the entrance of the company, all eyes immediately turned to me. I was, after all, known for keeping the boss happy in more ways than one. Now that I was suddenly quitting without warning, I was bound to become the talk of the office for quite a while. The more blatant their stares, the brighter I smiled. I breezed through each department, collecting signatures as per the exit procedure. Finally, only one department head's signature remained. Clutching the paperwork, I knocked on the company president's door. "Come in," he said. As soon as I entered, I felt his piercing, almost aggressive gaze settle on me. I kept my gaze steady. My heels sank silently into the carpet as I placed the form on his desk. "Your signature please, Mr. Thompson." Sean didn't move. His right hand rested on his desk as he twirled a pen with a slow, lazy flick. He had strikingly beautiful eyes. They were the kind that gave you the illusion that he cared whenever his gaze met yours. I knew that bastard's dirty tricks by now, so I stared vehemently at the glass window behind him instead. I didn't believe he was the kind of person who could part ways amicably, nor did I think he'd make any foolish attempts at reconciliation that would only bruise his ego. So, I waited quietly for him to speak. "Got everything you wanted?" he asked. I nodded. "Pretty much." He probably hadn't expected me to abandon the pretense entirely and simply lean into the mess. The corners of his eyes lifted slightly as he leaned back in his chair. He was clearly smiling, yet his smile felt utterly insincere. "I've underestimated you," he said. My lips twitched. Sean continued casually, "You seem very eager to bail Adrian out. What, is prison life not treating him well?" "That's no longer any of your concern," I replied before turning to leave. I didn't feel like wasting another word on his snide bullshit. Just as I was leaving, Sean called me back. "What's on my schedule today?" he asked. His itinerary for the next two weeks was etched into my mind. I found myself replying instinctively. "You have a meeting with R&D at 3:00 pm and dinner with Mr. Julian Brosnan at 6:30 pm." Sean let out a meaningful, "Oh." The pen between his fingers clattered onto the desk. "I seem to recall you were the one who arranged this dinner with Julian," he remarked. My brows twitched. Sean continued, "If the host can't even be present herself, how can we expect anyone to trust our company's commitment to this partnership?" His smile was faint. "I'm not against you leaving your job. But you should see things through to the end, Ms. Price." My desk had already been cleared, so I didn't linger for the spectacle of my colleagues crowding around me and asking what happened. Instead, I hailed a cab back to the hotel, rested for half the day, then arrived at the agreed-upon hotel restaurant half an hour early. Sean's words didn't faze me. I was dying, and his project schedule ranked pretty low on my list of priorities. I'd come merely because Julian had been closely involved with Dad prior to Price Corporation's collapse, and there were many things I wanted to understand about that. When I arrived at the private room, the coffee in front of Julian seemed to have already turned lukewarm. When he saw me, he stood cheerfully before pulling out a chair for me. I took off my coat and sat down, silently wondering why Sean had yet to show up. Since I'd blocked Sean's number, I called his assistant instead. She answered quickly, informing me that the company meeting wasn't over yet and that I should handle things there on my own. Damn that bastard! I apologized to Julian on behalf of Sean. He simply waved me off, saying it wasn't a big deal. I breathed a sigh of relief before accepting a cup of coffee from him. I took a sip of it and set it aside. I'd never been much of a coffee drinker anyway. Moreover, I had no idea what kind of beans he'd used or where he'd gotten them from. Something about the taste felt off. Julian was quite the smooth talker. For 30 minutes, he managed to dodge every one of my questions with small talk. My head grew foggy as he steered the conversation toward me. He asked me why I'd quit my job, why I fell out with Sean, and whether I would be interested in being his secretary instead. It seemed Julian was surprisingly well-informed. I deflected his questions, my answers vague and evasive. I only realized something was terribly wrong when my vision blurred. Julian's hand reached out toward me. I stood abruptly, fighting the sudden weakness in my legs. "Mr. Brosnan, what are you doing?" I asked. He grinned brazenly. "You're a smart woman, Ms. Price. Now that you've broken up with Sean, you might as well come with me. I promise you'll be as well provided for—if not better." A chill ran down my spine. Julian's two bodyguards had just stepped outside, and the click of the lock behind them sent a jolt through me. Julian inched toward me. My whole body burned. I saw my phone, which I had left on the table, light up. I reached for it, but someone blocked my path before I could do so. Julian dragged me toward the lounge round the back. I struggled hard, but despite all my strength, I couldn't break free from his grip. My mind went blank as I was thrown onto the bed. I could hear his lecherous chuckle as he began tearing off my clothes. I trembled uncontrollably. His greasy hands roamed over my body. Disgust rolled deep within my gut. I bit my lip until it bled, the pain sending a flicker of clarity through me. I summoned every last bit of strength I had to fight back, my arms flailing wildly until my fingers closed around a bottle of wine. Without hesitation, I smashed the bottle hard against Julian's face. He screamed in agony. But before I could feel any relief, he snatched the bottle from my hand. "Stupid bitch!" he cursed, then slapped me across the face. Chapter 6 Julian hit me hard. My vision darkened, followed by searing pain, before a wave of heat surged through my nose and trickled down my face. My vision blurred completely. I could only sense him standing up, returning a while later to wipe my nose with a tissue. His movements were rough. I was too drowsy to keep my eyes open, but when my head was turned to the side, I caught a glimpse of his panic-stricken expression and a large bloodstain on his shirt. My face stung from all that wiping. I tugged at his arm, our gazes meeting briefly. He'd likely never seen anything like this before. Seeing as he was still unable to stop the bleeding, Julian finally scrambled off the bed, pulled up his pants and fled. I lay on the bed, feeling my life drain away along with my blood. But I didn't want to die like this. I still had things I needed to take care of. I still needed to see Adrian. I struggled to my feet, crawling inch by inch off the bed when I couldn't walk any longer. Thankfully, I'd looked up the common symptoms of leukemia and how to manage each of them over the past few days. I also happened to have some medication in my bag. All I could do at that moment was plug my nose with cotton balls and tilt my head back to stop the bleeding. After sitting on the tiled floor for what felt like an eternity, I finally felt my dazed mind begin to clear. I stood, made my way to the bathroom, and looked at myself in the mirror. The bleeding seemed to have stopped by now. I heard a commotion outside, growing louder by the second. I didn't turn around until the bathroom door was yanked open violently. I watched Sean's reflection in the mirror. He was breathing hard, his eyes bloodshot and filled with dark violence. He looked at me for a long time before reaching out as if to touch me. His hands trembled slightly. I ducked away from him. I didn't have any energy left to argue anymore. Instead, I slid slowly down onto the floor. Sean crouched down as well. As he drew closer to me, I mustered the last of my strength and slapped him across the face. That slap released a lot of my pent-up fury. Sean's head had turned to the side from the blow. To my surprise, he merely frowned before speaking in a low, hoarse voice. "Feel better? If not, we can continue this at the hospital." That bastard. I couldn't help but laugh, tilting my head upward until it bumped against the sink with a loud thud. I cursed under my breath. Under his unreadable gaze, I asked, "What are you so worked up about? Are you afraid I'll get tainted again? Or perhaps…" I paused deliberately, still smiling. "Have you fallen for me now? Is that why you're so worried?" Sean didn't reply. He simply stared at me wordlessly. We were close enough that my reflection danced in his eyes. His response was hardly important to me. I just wanted to annoy him. Having accomplished that, I pushed myself up from the ground. "A little nosebleed won't kill me," I said before opening the door. My back was turned toward him when I spat maliciously, "Good fucking riddance." Living in hotels indefinitely wasn't a solution, so after two days of lying around in a daze, I rented an apartment in the city center. Land was scarce, and every inch cost a fortune. Even though Sean and I were sworn enemies, financially speaking, he'd never treated me poorly over the years. Not wanting to borrow any money from anyone, I spent his with relish. The night I moved in, I received a call from Jason Kennedy. Without any preamble, he said calmly, "Oran Moore has been found." Chapter 7 Jason was Adrian's childhood friend. He was also almost like a half-brother to me. He'd lived abroad with his parents for most of his life, but his grandparents lived next door to us. So, during the summer and winter breaks, I would tag along behind Adrian and Jason, running around aimlessly. Later, after his grandparents' passing, Jason rarely had the chance to return anymore. Still, we always stayed in touch. If he hadn't been there when my family hit rock bottom, I would probably have been rotting in jail with Adrian. Back then, Price Corporation had been caught in the eye of the storm. The company's deputy CFO, Oran, accused Dad of embezzling investment funds for personal use. He even directed the staff members from the finance department to falsify invoices to cover up his whole scheme. Then, after Dad jumped to his death, Oran provided ledgers and bank statements that successfully landed Adrian in jail. Nobody had seen Oran since Sean acquired Price Corporation at a dirt-cheap price. Eventually, I managed to stealthily obtain the bank account number from Sean—the one that was used four years ago to transfer an enormous sum under a private name. I'd sent that to Jason, knowing he would definitely be able to track it down for me. I just hadn't expected it to happen so fast. I couldn't quite put what this moment felt like into words. I'd always known that this day would come sooner or later. I let out a long sigh, feeling slightly lightheaded. "Getting him to talk won't be hard," Jason continued. "The rest will fall into place easily enough." I remained silent. I felt a bit sluggish after taking the medication, so I simply listened quietly as Jason spoke. When he was done talking, the room fell so silent that I could hear my own faint breathing. "Are you in a bad mood?" he asked. Jason had always been intensely perceptive. He never failed to notice the negative emotions I wasn't even aware of myself. "Of course not! I'm so happy I'm practically floating," I said, choosing to play dumb. Jason chuckled softly. I couldn't tell whether he believed me or not. I changed the subject and chatted with him casually for a moment. Then, just as I was prepared to hang up, he suddenly spoke again. "Cassie." Only he called me that now. I stared at the TV, suddenly recalling the time Jason had first heard Adrian call me "Cassie". We were kids then. The first time Jason himself called me "Cassie", his smile was strikingly beautiful. He then turned to Adrian and asked, "What's your nickname, then? Addie?" I burst out laughing back then, unable to help myself. Now, I managed to snap back to my senses and replied with a simple, "Hm?" Jason's voice was hoarse, his tone drawn out. He enunciated his words softly when he spoke. In that instant, all I could picture was him when he was a teenager, the way he used to look at me with those warm yet focused eyes. "Wait for me. I'm coming back." Lately, I'd been sleeping a lot more. I was always groggy and listless. Jason didn't tell me what time he would arrive, only the day when he was returning. All he said was to wait for him at home, so that was exactly what I did. Except, I overslept, and by the time I woke up, night had long fallen. I gave him a call. Only when I heard that his phone was still off did I finally relax. I got up and headed out to grab some dinner. I wasn't watching my step, so I almost tripped over someone curled up on the sidewalk when I walked past the corner shop. A curse made its way to the tip of my tongue, but I forced myself to swallow it when I met the person's tear-filled eyes. Coincidentally, I happened to know her. It was Jessica Bird, the assistant who was interning at Sean's office. We stood there as the wind howled, staring at each other in the dark. Jessica looked as though she'd just been crying. She looked at me with wide eyes and sniffled. To be entirely honest, I didn't want to get involved in whatever this was. However, as she blinked, tears rolled down her cheeks. I sighed. "Are you okay?" I asked her. Just like that, she burst into tears again, looking utterly miserable. "No, I'm not! Something terrible has happened!" she wailed. Chapter 8 With all the people coming and going, I didn't want to embarrass myself, so I dragged Jessica over to a random barbecue joint. By the time I'd ordered and the food arrived, she was still sniffling across from me, tears streaming down her face. All that crying was beginning to get on my nerves. I cracked open a bottle of beer and handed it to her. "Alright, if you're just going to keep crying, I'm leaving you here on your own," I said. Jessica immediately fell silent upon hearing my words. I gave the bottle another shake before she hurriedly accepted it. "What are you doing out so late, Cassandra?" she asked. I glanced at my phone. It was 9:30 pm. I propped my chin up on one hand while holding a chicken wing with the other. Looking bored, I stared at Jessica, who sat across from me. "Just wandering around. What about you?" Jessica's eyes instantly dimmed. "My boyfriend lives around here. He broke up with me out of nowhere today and blocked my number." "So you're planning on staking out his place?" Jessica nodded. I didn't quite understand. "Why were you sitting on the sidewalk then? Go wait for him outside his door." Jessica poured herself another drink while replying, "He never actually told me where he lives. Every time I drove him home, he'd just tell me to drop him off there, by the sidewalk. That's why I was waiting there." I was baffled. The meat at this barbecue joint was insanely delicious. I started tearing up from the spice. I accepted a glass of water from Jessica before she began rambling non-stop, telling me various stories about her ex-boyfriend. By the time I'd eaten my fill, I'd managed to catch up on most of what had happened. While I'd never been in a serious relationship myself, I'd spent years by Sean's side, which had given me enough glimpses into men's darker tendencies. In the end, it all boiled down to the tired plot of a classic playboy seducing an innocent woman, then casually dumping her when he got bored. When Jessica mentioned that her ex had a female roommate, I was perplexed. "Jess, could you really not tell he was trash?" To my surprise, she shook her head. "I know he's not a good person," she said before retrieving a can of pepper spray from her bag and placing it on the table. She looked at me, her eyes clear. "That's why I'm waiting for him here. I want to teach him a lesson," she continued. There were so many things I wanted to comment on that I was rendered momentarily speechless. I licked my dry lips and opened another beer bottle for her. "Way to go. I'm rooting for you," I said. Alas, Jessica was still a young woman just stepping into the adult world. Two beers later, she was already drowsy. She nodded off in her chair. The late autumn breeze caressed my flushed body. I squinted slightly, thoroughly enjoying this moment. Jessica peered at me, smiling mindlessly. "You look like you've lost some weight, Cassandra," she said. I chuckled. "It's only been a few days since I last saw you. How could you tell?" "Of course I can! I've always paid a lot of attention to you. Last time, when the cufflinks on your shirt fell off, I was the one who picked them up and slipped them back onto your desk!" I couldn't recall when exactly that happened, but since I was in a rather good mood, I played along anyway. "Thank you for that," I said. Unfortunately, every time I found myself in a good mood, there would always be an idiot around to ruin it. Initially, I'd simply found the nasally voice of the man behind me grating and oddly familiar. He was spouting some disgusting, misogynistic nonsense as I wondered what kind of vermin he was to spew such things in public. Then, seconds later, I heard my own name. I finally remembered who he was. It was Eric Sanders, one of Sean's friends who disliked me. "I won't say anything else, but if she had any conscience at all, she would've left earlier. Honestly, even calling her a slut is giving her too much credit," Eric said. His loud voice came from behind me. Someone at his table said something I didn't catch, but I didn't turn. "Untouchable? You were far too young a few years ago to know how dirty that woman truly is." Upon hearing that, I grabbed the half-empty bottle of beer and stood. Under Jessica's panicked gaze, I nodded at her. "Watch and learn." Then, I walked toward the group. Three men sat at the table. Apart from Eric, whose back was to me, I saw another unfamiliar man. Luke, who was directly facing me, interrupted Eric impatiently, "Alright, that's enough. This is pointless." He then saw me coming and froze, staring blankly as I approached their table. "Don't tell Sean, though. I still have some of those photos saved on my computer." Chapter 9 I raised the bottle and smashed it against Eric's head. The glass shattered instantly. Eric clutched his head as he fell off his chair. His companions rose to intervene, only to freeze when they saw me. I kicked over a table to block their path. Then I delivered a kick to Eric's groin as he lay sprawled on the ground. He let out a wail, his hands moving down to shield himself. He cursed violently. I kicked him once more in the face. This time, he reacted quickly and grabbed my calf. It didn't matter though. I crouched down, using the momentum to jab my knee hard into his jaw. Someone pulled me off him. I was furious. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Luke's face. I swung a plastic chair at him, smashing it against his body until he stumbled back. I then straddled Eric again, slapping him hard across the face. Eric glared at me viciously. I slapped him again, holding nothing back. My palm went numb from the force. "How does it feel to get beaten up by a slut?" I taunted. More people came forward to pull me off Eric. The second I was lifted off him, Eric pounced, throwing me back onto the ground. His fingers closed around my neck, his eyes bloodshot. His grip tightened. Breathing became difficult, and my vision began to blur. I smiled at him mockingly. "Go ahead. Kill me if you dare." Of course he didn't dare to. Amid the surrounding screams, he let go of my neck. Eventually, accompanied by a chorus of sirens, I found myself in the local jail for the second time in my life. I only had a few bruises on my legs and a small scratch across my face. Eric, however, looked much worse. His forehead was bandaged up and his face was peppered with bruises. He glared at me from across the room. It seemed like I didn't hit him hard enough. My phone rang at that moment. I answered, only to hear Jason's voice come through. "Where are you?" "I'm at the local jail," I replied. "Can you come bail me out?" Jason fell silent for a few seconds. I stomped my feet, which were numb from the cold at this point. "Hurry, Jason! Hurry!" As I hung up, I saw Luke staring at me through the glass door, phone in hand. I met his gaze indifferently. He seemed to be avoiding my eyes deliberately, so I simply pulled the hood of my sweater over my head and closed my eyes. It would take more than half an hour for Jason to get there from the airport. While I felt a little bad for asking him to do this, he was the only one who could bail me out at this point. I wasn't worried about being stuck in jail. Eric, that bastard, valued his reputation more than his life. If the embarrassing story of him getting beaten up and disfigured by a woman were to get out, he would never be able to live it down. When Sean entered the holding cell, I was hardly surprised. Luke's face had said it all. I sat slumped in my chair with my hands in my pockets and watched Sean coldly as he approached. "Sean…" Eric started toward us, only to be stopped by Sean's assistant. Sean crouched down in front of me. I was caught off guard by his actions, and our gazes met accidentally. Sean was usually calm and razor-sharp, but the man before me bore a certain weariness in his eyes. His entire demeanor was worn down somehow. What rotten luck. Unable to bear his scrutinizing gaze over my body any longer, I raised my leg and kicked at him. "Get lost." Instead of budging, Sean caught my ankle with one hand. Instinctively, I swung my other foot up. All that managed to do was leave a wet footprint on his trench coat. "Who do you think spoiled you so much that you developed this kind of temper?" Sean said. He ignored the filthy footprint, stood up, and looked down at me condescendingly. "Want to spend the night here?" he asked. There was no way. Was he waiting for me to bow down in submission? I lifted my chin, making no attempt to hide my arrogance. "One night in here is nothing. If you're truly so capable, go on then. Lock me up. Send me to prison." Sean's hands clenched into fists. His knuckles turned white from the sheer force. Jessica watched our standoff from the side, fear written all over her face. Still, she stepped in to defend me. "Please don't do this, Mr. Thompson," she said. "We can talk this out calmly." Sean ignored her. She pointed at Eric and continued, "He started it! He was badmouthing Cassandra. He even tried to choke her!" As soon as she finished, Eric flushed crimson. He opened his mouth to argue when Sean spoke up coldly. "Shut up," he ordered, his tone dripping with hostility. Chapter 10 Jason pushed through the crowd and walked in amid the tense atmosphere. It was then that I realized people who usually had a gentle demeanor could have a surprisingly commanding presence when they got serious. He pulled me up from the chair, putting some distance between me and Sean at the same time. His expression was grim. A flicker of guilt finally stirred within me. I opened my mouth to speak, but for some reason, Jason's hand suddenly brushed against my neck. I knew the spot beneath his hand must have been red from Eric's iron grip earlier. Jason's fingertips were ice-cold. When they came into contact with my skin, I flinched instinctively. He withdrew his hand, his gaze deep yet unreadable. He adjusted my collar before speaking in a low voice. "We'll talk about this when we get back." A mediator stood between us all, attempting to intervene. He sweated nervously, reluctant to offend either side. "Both of your injuries seem minor enough. How about we not make a mountain out of a molehill and just let this slide?" No one spoke. Jason shielded me behind him. I could only see his assistant walk over to Eric and hand him a business card. Jason said calmly, "Mr. Sanders, we will cover all your medical expenses. Should any issues arise, please feel free to call the number on the card. "Also, going forward, please watch your words and your actions. The cost of your medical bills matters little to us. I just don't think your body will survive another ordeal like this one." Jason's threat was thinly veiled. If we'd been anywhere else, I would be letting my inner thug loose and making a scene by now. Eric was equally stunned. He seemed unsure whether he should take the card or leave it. He glanced helplessly at Sean. The latter remained silent. Jason, having lost his patience, took my hand and steered us past the crowd toward the exit. As we walked past Sean, I felt someone seize my wrists in a tight grip. I turned around and saw the corners of Sean's eyes redden. He rarely showed such raw emotion. Now, he looked both unsettled and vicious. I pulled away with all my strength. I didn't look back again until I got into Jason's car. The drive back was quiet. Jason didn't ask me any further questions, and my spirits were low enough. I soon dozed off, only awakening when the car came to a stop. I found Jason watching me from the driver's seat as I woke up. "What's wrong?" I asked. His gaze was deep. Under the dimly lit backdrop, it seemed unusually gentle. "Let's get you out of the car first," he said, avoiding my question. As we got out of the car, a fluffy, plump Malamute came bounding over, wagging its tail furiously. "Chubs?" I called out. Chubs was the birthday present I'd gotten myself on my 18th birthday. Unfortunately, days after I brought him home, Dad returned from a business trip, and I discovered he was allergic to dog hair. After that, Adrian gave Chubs away to Jason, who ended up taking care of him. Come to think of it, I had indeed named Chubs myself. Back then, I was obsessed with chocolate yogurt. After I brought Chubs home, he would rummage through the trash, looking for my empty yogurt cups. That was how he got his name. Now, I crouched down and petted the dog on the head. "Why isn't he bigger, though?" I wondered out loud. Jason fell silent for a moment before speaking. "This is Chubs' pup. His name is Pudgy," he said. I was speechless. The puppy in my arms perked up upon hearing his name and barked excitedly. Jason crouched down as well and scratched Pudgy's chin. The puppy closed his eyes contentedly, his tail wagging wildly. Jason continued, "Chubs' mate just had a new litter the other day. We're running low on dog food at home, so you, as the grandma, should help out." That was fine by me. There was no one at home now who would stop me from keeping the puppy anyway. I picked Pudgy up and gave him a kiss. When I looked up, I saw Jason staring thoughtfully at the puppy, lost in his thoughts. "Pudgy is such a terrible name," I said. "Since he's coming with me, I might as well give him a new name. Fresh start and all." A faint smile graced Jason's lips. "Whatever you want," he said.