Prim ordered a bottle of chilled water and stepped out onto the first floor balcony, the cool air brushing against his skin. Daniel was already there, leaning against the railing with a cigarette between his fingers, unlit.
Prim stopped beside him, one hand slipping into his pocket.
"You've been itching to say something," he said calmly. "What is it?"
Daniel exhaled slowly. "For starters, James has decided when the rematch will happen. Location too—Blue Ivy Underground Club."
Prim raised an eyebrow. "Isn't that one of the Blake family's side branches?"
Daniel nodded. "Exactly."
"So," Prim said lazily, "you're suspecting he's connected to the Blakes."
"Either directly," Daniel replied, "or he's some rich family's precious son doing business with them. I dug into his background—apparently he's a distant, distant, distant royal relative or something ridiculous like that. Either way, he's definitely plotting something."
Prim glanced at him, amused. "You sound excited. Like you're waiting for a drama to explode." He tapped under his own eye lightly. "It's written all over your face."
"Why can't I be?" Daniel smirked—then paused, looking past Prim. "Looks like your girlfriend's here."
Prim turned slowly.
A girl was walking toward them, heels clicking softly against the floor, posture straight and confident.
"And who told you she's my girlfriend?" Prim asked, folding his arms as he watched her approach.
Daniel chuckled. "She's definitely not your fling. Trust me—I know all of them."
Prim smiled faintly. "I know you like me. I'm your type. You probably sleep with all my sex buddy just to get petty revenge on me." He added lightly, "But I should warn you—I'm straight."
"Damn bastard," Daniel muttered, flicking his cigarette away. "You're definitely not the one I'm after."
He walked back inside.
Prim tilted his head slightly.
"…He didn't deny the important part .. about him being gay ," he murmured to himself.
"Prim."
The girl reached him and wrapped her arms around him in a familiar hug.
"You're back from Paris?" Prim asked.
"I came back yesterday," she replied. "I saw in the group chat that everyone was hanging out. They said you went to order water—didn't expect to find you on the balcony." Her gaze flicked briefly toward the door. "Daniel still smoking, huh?"
Her name was Vera Thornwood—the only daughter of the Thornwood family. Her father was a powerful senator; her mother came from a medical dynasty that owned one of the world's largest hospital and pharmaceutical groups. Few people knew that Vera's mother, Ella, was also Emily Nathan Carter's childhood friend and her family made sure to get Ella in their circle the girls has literally few idea at their habits.
Prim nodded lightly. "Let's go back inside. The guys are probably waiting by now."
He turned to leave.
Vera caught his hand.
"I heard you broke up with your ex," she said softly.
Prim looked back at her, calm and unbothered. "I'm not doing relationships. Not ready."
Up close, Vera had to admit it again—every time, it hit her the same way. His face was almost unfair: beautiful enough to rival any girl, yet sharp and composed enough to eclipse most men. His hazel eyes were calm, cat-like, deep enough to pull people in without effort. His skin was flawless, and the blue diamond stud in his ear added a faint, dangerous edge.
Prim snapped his fingers in front of her face.
Vera flushed, lowering her gaze.
"I know you don't want to date me because you're afraid our families will force an arranged marriage," she said honestly. "But I really like you. I want to date you—even if it has to stay secret."
Prim studied her for a moment, then spoke plainly.
"I don't do relationships. And to be honest, you're not my type. Relationships mean endless headaches—and fake affection from my side."
Before he could step back, Vera lifted her hands, cupped his face, and kissed him.
"Vera, stop."
Prim stepped back, but she followed, rising on her toes, kissing him again—too desperate, too fast.
Something struck her head.
"What the hell—?!" Vera cried out, staggering back.
She looked up toward the upper balcony. All she caught was the back of a tall figure disappearing into the shadows, footsteps fading like it had never happened.
Her breath shook as she turned back to Prim.
He wasn't looking at her.
He pulled a napkin from the table nearby and wiped his mouth slowly, methodically. Then his hands. Once. Twice. Like he was removing something unpleasant from his skin.
"Prim…" Her voice trembled.
In the next second, his hand was at her neck.
Not tight enough to choke—but firm enough to make her freeze.
"If you don't want to learn what it feels like to fall from a very high place," Prim said quietly, his voice flat, eyes empty, "don't test me."
He released her and stepped back as if she disgusted him.
"And you're pathetic if you think this stunt will force me into some arranged-marriage fantasy." His gaze sharpened. "I'm a Carter. If I actually fell for something this obvious, I'd already be dead."
He snapped his fingers.
The girls hiding near the hallway—Vera's friends, phones raised, lenses trembling—froze.
Before they could react, men in black suits closed in from every direction. Phones were seized and crushed without hesitation. Screams echoed as the girls were dragged out of the restaurant, begging, crying, calling Vera's name.
Prim didn't look back.
He walked straight into the restroom and turned on the sink, washing his hands again.
"You and your father really attract all kinds of women."
Luis was already there, leaning against the counter as if he'd been waiting.
Prim didn't respond.
Luis stepped closer and raised his phone. "Look." He smirked. "A woman just came out of your father's hotel room. She could barely walk. Seems your dad is… energetic."
Prim glanced at the screen once. Then away.
"Sorry you don't know what it's like to be chased by women," Prim said calmly. "If you want lessons, I could teach you—but you'd need to be better-looking first."
Luis laughed softly.
"As for who my dad sleeps with," Prim continued, drying his hands, "how is that my business?"
"Aren't you worried?" Luis asked. "What if she becomes your new mother? Her children could take over your family company."
Prim smiled faintly.
"First, who says she'll marry him?" he said. "Second, if she does, my mother would've already taken half the property. I'd be living with her."
He tilted his head.
"And I don't have a fetish for calling another woman 'Mom' unless she's paying me ten million every time I say it."
Luis chuckled. "So you're not angry your father cheats—and you price your dignity."
"My parents are in an arranged marriage," Prim replied coolly. "No love. The fact they're still married is a miracle. Honestly, I always thought my mom would be the one to cheat first—and upgrade."
He turned to face Luis fully.
"You're very interested in my family," Prim said lightly. "Does the Blake family have that much free time?"
Luis folded one arm, tapping his chin with a finger. "I don't know what you mean. I'm just a rich guy who does business with them."
"You were listening earlier," Prim said, leaning against the sink. "The whole time."
"I happened to be on the upper balcony," Luis replied smoothly. "And thank God I was. Otherwise I'd have missed that… interesting scene."
He stepped closer.
"Are you scared of her family?" Luis murmured. "Should I help you handle—"
His fingers brushed Prim's lip as he slipped a lollipop from Prim's pocket and waved it lazily.
Prim clicked his tongue and pressed a finger to Luis's chest, forcing distance between them.
"Keep that up," Prim said softly, "and I might stop being polite and also I don't need your help."
His nose wrinkled.
"And don't touch me. You smell like blood."
Luis paused, eyes narrowing slightly. "You've got a sharp nose. Want to guess whose blood it is?"
"I don't want to get involved," Prim replied with a faint smile.
"Why?" Luis asked. "I'm interesting."
Prim chuckled, snatched the lollipop back, and turned away, humming under his breath.
Outside, his bodyguards straightened instantly.
"Tell Daniel," Prim said as the elevator doors slid open, "danger in paradise."
He stepped inside.
"And get the car ready," he added coolly. "I smell like him all blood and smoke disgusting."
The doors closed.
Inside the private barbecue room, laughter and clinking glasses still filled the air when the door opened.
The bodyguard's presence alone silenced half the table.
He walked straight to Daniel, leaned down, and spoke only three words.
"Danger in paradise."
Then he turned and left as if nothing had happened.
Daniel set his cup down slowly. He brushed imaginary dust from his sleeve and stood.
"Milo," he said calmly, "isn't it past your curfew?"
Milo frowned. "Which one of us actually follows a curfew?"
"If you want to leave, go ahead," Michael laughed, lifting his glass. "We're still having fun here—"
Daniel's hand shot out, grabbing the back of Michael's head.
"What the—!"
Daniel dragged him toward the door without another word.
As he passed Milo, Daniel lifted his hand and made a subtle gun gesture with his fingers.
Milo stiffened.
Someone's about to die, he understood instantly. And it's going to implicate this entire restaurant.
"Wow," Milo said loudly, forcing a grin as he stood. "I'm so full I can barely walk."
"Hey, where are you guys going?" one of the boys asked, confused.
"Club," Milo replied smoothly. "Let's keep the night going."
Cheers erupted as they filed out, none of them noticing how tightly Milo's was looking around for fear the criminal will jump out and size him he is too handsome to die.
Damm it I just came out for fun and now I'm in a supposed crime scene Milo thought
Outside.
Daniel shoved Michael into the passenger seat and slammed the door before getting into the driver's side. The car roared to life and pulled away.
"Damn you, Daniel!" Michael snapped. He grabbed his phone. "Just drop me at the club—they said they'll be there—"
Daniel flicked his hand, and the phone flew to the backseat.
"Stop talking," Daniel said coldly. "You're drunk."
"I had fruit punch," Michael protested. "Between the two of us, you're the alcoholic. And don't change the subject—what did you and Prim talk about? I know you didn't go out to smoke. You hate smoke."
He leaned closer, face near Daniel's ear.
Daniel turned his head.
Their lips brushed , making Michael shiver.
Michael froze, then jerked back and sat upright. "Fuck—why did you turn around like that?!"
Daniel calmly lifted a finger and wiped his lip, eyes still on the road.
"You're very chatty tonight," he said. "Want me to tell your grandfather to send you to the army? Or should I start with how you cheated on your exams?"
Michael glared, instantly quiet.
The car turned into Daniel's private villa, the iron gates sliding shut behind them.
Michael's phone rang from the backseat. He grabbed it quickly, glancing at the screen.
"Your date?" Daniel asked without looking at him.
"Why do you sound shocked?" Michael replied, trying to smile. "I'm not ugly."
"You didn't tell anyone," Daniel said.
"Of course not," Michael muttered. "Every time I do, it's like I jinx myself."
The car stopped in the garage.
"I'm going to shower," Michael said quickly, opening the door. "I'll be in the guest room."
He hurried inside, leaving Daniel alone in the car.
Daniel didn't move for a moment,his hand tapping the Steering wheel .
Upstairs at the barbecue restaurant, the atmosphere was nothing like the lively chaos below.
Luis stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, hands in his pockets, watching as Prim's car disappeared from the parking lot, followed shortly by the rest of his friends. A slow chuckle escaped him as he turned away from the glass.
Behind him, the room was a different world entirely.
In the center, a man knelt on the carpet, blood soaking through his trousers where he had been wounded. His hands trembled violently, injuries forcing him to keep his head lowered. Around the room, several men and women were tied and gagged, pressed into corners like discarded furniture.
Neo sat comfortably in a chair opposite the kneeling man, legs crossed, posture relaxed—as if this were a business meeting rather than an execution waiting to happen.
"Just sign the contract," Neo said calmly. "Is wealth really worth your life?"
The man glared at him, eyes filled with hatred and fear.
Neo sighed, mildly disappointed. "We were thinking of leaving something behind for your elderly parents," he said, tilting his head. "But now? I don't think I will cause you run out of grace."
Two bodyguards entered swiftly.
"We found the seal," one reported. "He hid it with his wife and son outside the city."
The man let out a broken scream.
Neo's gaze sharpened. "So you had a family," he said softly. "And you hid them from the world."
He stood.
"You steal from the Blake family, attempt to cheat us, run away, secretly cooperate with others, and then spend years suppressing our expansion here," Neo continued, voice steady. "And you thought you would survive?
Neo fired a gunshots at his wound.
"Stay still don't ruin my art ," Neo said almost kindly. "We already have the seal. Your property will be left to your wife—we're not monsters."
He smiled.Neo lowered the weapon slowly, unfazed by the man's scream.
"But the projects you hid? Those belong to us now."
The man opened his mouth, shaking. "The law—"
"The law won't let you get away with this," the man gasped desperately.
Luis laughed, the sound sharp and amused.
"For a corrupt politician," he said, stepping closer, "you're awfully fond of pretending the law works equally the so called law work for the rich only and the powerful make laws."
He crouched slightly, eyes gleaming.
"The headlines tomorrow will say a corrupt official was killed by a hitman who confess to isent by the Kim family to end you for betrayal," Luis continued smoothly. "Your crimes. Their crimes. All exposed. A perfect ending."Luis said as he stabbed the man head
The room fell silent.
Neo exhaled. "You ruined my aesthetic."
He waved his hand. "Take the body. Get his fingerprints."
As the men moved, Neo turned toward the tied witnesses.
"And here we have spies sent by the Kim family," he said lightly, clapping his hands once. "Betraying their own masters."
" The Kim family won't let you go " one of the man who managed to remove the gag said
" We won't let the Kim family go we are going to use them as an example so the other dog stay still" neo said,as he took out an injection and administered it swiftly. One by one, their bodies went limp.
"Have her hypnotize them properly," Neo ordered. "They'll confess everything in court."
He sat back down, crossing his legs again.
"So," Neo said casually, "where were you?"
"The bathroom," Luis replied, lighting a cigarette.
He exhaled smoke lazily. "I met an interesting toy," he added. "Gave me a strange feeling. Too interesting to explain."
Neo raised an eyebrow. "That's not mental instability, is it?"
Luis looked at him.
The warmth in his eyes was far more unsettling than anger.
---