"I just wanted to text back!" Michael yelled after him.
Daniel didn't slow down.
He simply kept walking.
Michael rolled his eyes and hurried after him anyway.
Outside, the villa driveway was already alive.
Engines roared. Headlights sliced through the night. Music from Milo's portable speakers thumped faintly in the background as everyone prepared to leave.
Vikey leaned casually against his sports car, keys spinning around his finger.
"I've got the yacht ready," he announced proudly. "Games, drinks, private rooms… and enough ladies and gentlemen to keep everyone entertained."
He winked shamelessly.
Cheers followed immediately.
Rose tossed Aria's jeep keys in the air before catching them smoothly.
"Shotgun!" she declared, already sliding into the driver's seat as bikini-clad girls piled into the vehicle laughing.
Daisy jumped into Milo's car, stealing his sunglasses despite it being night.
Amos entered his Aura while Prim followed, still muttering about his stolen barbecue.
Daniel had already entered his car.
Engine running.
Waiting for no one.
The passenger door suddenly opened.
Michael slid in comfortably.
"You can drive now," he said, smiling like he owned the seat.
Daniel didn't even look at him.
The car shot forward.
Silence filled the vehicle except for the growl of the engine.
"Are you angry?" Michael asked.
No response.
Music filled the car as Michael casually turned on the radio.
Still nothing.
He sighed dramatically.
"I said I was sorry. If you're this upset, you can go back to stuffing your face into that stripper's mouth."
Daniel's grip tightened slightly on the steering wheel.
"I'm not angry," he said flatly.
The speedometer climbed.
Fast.
Too fast.
Streetlights blurred past like streaks of light.
Michael calmly bit into the chicken wing still in his hand while scrolling through his phone.
The faster his fingers moved while texting—
the faster Daniel drove.
Michael finally turned the screen toward him.
"See? I told her I don't have time. I didn't interrupt your passionate night just to abandon you."
Daniel gave the phone a brief glance before snorting.
Michael studied his face.
"Smile for me," he said casually. "You look ugly when you sulk."
He poked Daniel's cheek.
"Get lost," Daniel muttered.
Michael clicked his tongue.
"Daniel, I'm protecting your future marriage. If you keep wasting your stamina every night, what happens when your wedding night comes?"
A dangerous smile formed on Daniel's lips.
"Do you want to die?" he asked softly.
Michael laughed.
"Sorry, sorry."
Then—
"Open your mouth."
Daniel frowned slightly—
but Michael pushed the chicken wing toward him anyway.
Daniel leaned in.
Took a bite.
From the exact spot Michael had bitten moments earlier.
Their shoulders brushed.
Michael didn't move away.
Instead, he casually took another bite from the same place while watching videos on his phone like nothing happened.
The car sped toward the port under the silent tension neither acknowledged.
The harbor glittered under city lights.
Vikey's massive yacht waited like floating luxury — white lights reflecting across dark ocean waves while staff lined the entrance.
As the convoy arrived, engines died one after another.
Workers bowed respectfully as everyone stepped out.
Music was already echoing from onboard speakers.
Beautiful men and women moved across the deck preparing drinks, games, and lounges.
Just as the yacht prepared to sail—
a taxi screeched to a stop.
The girl Michael had pushed into the pool earlier rushed out, hair still slightly damp, determination written across her face as she boarded before departure.
The party exploded instantly.
Milo and Amos took over the music deck, bass vibrating through the yacht as lights flashed across dancing bodies.
Andrew was already surrounded, effortlessly charming every girl within reach.
Rose challenged three handsome men to a drinking competition, slamming shots down while cheers erupted around her.
Vikey and Daisy dominated the dance floor.
Prim abandoned civilization entirely and went fishing with several amused crew members.
At the bar—
Michael mixed drinks like a professional, bottles spinning between his fingers.
"Everyone!" he shouted.
Liquid splashed into crystal cups.
"Let's drink!"
Cheers roared.
Daniel sat alone on one of the lounge couches, scrolling through his phone.
The girl approached again, sliding beside him.
"Should we continue where we stopped, handsome?" she whispered, leaning close.
Daniel lifted one finger.
Pressed it gently against her forehead.
And pushed her back.
"The moment passed."
She pouted and leaned closer anyway, lips brushing his neck.
Across the deck—
Michael whistled loudly as drinks were distributed.
Daniel leaned slightly toward the girl and murmured,
"Stay away from me… unless you want Michael to throw you into the ocean next."
His smile widened.
"This time, maybe before you are rescued the shark already taken a piece of you."
The girl went pale.
She stood up immediately and disappeared into the crowd.
Daniel chuckled under his breath before walking toward the bar.
Music thundered.
Bodies moved.
Laughter mixed with ocean wind.
Michael handed Daniel a drink before passing another to Prim.
Then he grabbed one more and walked toward the girl he had pushed earlier.
Before he could hand it over—
she froze.
Eyes wide.
Like she'd seen danger itself.
Then she turned and fled.
Amos burst into laughter.
"Damn, Michael! Even girls are scared of you now!"
The group laughed loudly.
Michael pouted.
From the corner of his eye—
he caught Daniel laughing quietly as he sipped his drink.
Michael narrowed his eyes slightly.
Meanwhile…
The night was quiet when Mia's car rolled into the private garage belonging to the Atals family estate.
Headlights swept across expensive vehicles lined neatly in silence — polished metal reflecting faint golden light from overhead lamps. The place smelled of oil, steel, and cold wealth.
Mia turned off the engine.
For a moment, everything was still.
She stepped out, heels clicking softly against the concrete floor, keys spinning lazily around her finger as she walked toward the elevator entrance.
She didn't notice the shadow moving behind one of the pillars.
Didn't hear the rushed footsteps.
Didn't see the metal rod rising.
Thud.
Pain exploded at the back of her head.
Her vision shattered into darkness before she even hit the ground.
"Are you trying to kill her already?!" a man hissed.
"Oh, shut up," Debbie replied, rolling her eyes as she crouched beside Mia's unconscious body.
Her lips curled into something ugly.
Cruel.
She poked Mia's cheek repeatedly.
Laughing.
"Anyway, we're going to kill her. Does it really matter when or how?"
Her smile twisted further.
"Why should I be the only one suffering?"
Her voice suddenly rose, sharp with resentment.
"My family abandoned me! They sacrificed me to save themselves—and she gets to live happily like nothing happened?!"
The man sighed in annoyance.
"Stop whining."
He bent down, lifted Mia effortlessly, and threw her into the backseat of her own car.
"Get in. We're wasting time."
Debbie slid into the passenger seat while he started the engine.
The car pulled out of the garage and disappeared into the night.
As city lights faded behind them, the man spoke again.
"her father wants her dead. Before that, we transfer all her assets back to him. That's the deal."
"I know," Debbie said lazily.
Then she smiled.
"But death is too easy."
Her eyes gleamed with madness.
"I don't want her dead quickly. I want my entire family dragged into hell with me."
She laughed softly.
"I did everything for them… and they betrayed me just to survive."
The man glanced at her uneasily.
"What exactly are you planning?"
Debbie's grin widened.
"Breaking news," she said dramatically.
"My dear brother forces himself on Mia… she kills him… then commits suicide."
She clapped once, delighted.
"A perfect tragedy. One incident—two destroyed families."
A chill ran down the driver's spine.
"We can't do that! Mr. Atals wants the property, not a scandal. He'll lose his mind if his family name is ruined!"
Debbie rolled her eyes.
"It's flawless."
She tapped her phone.
"I already gathered evidence of Mia's so-called crimes. We leak everything to the media first. It'll look like she cut ties with the Atals family out of guilt… transferred her wealth to her father… then lost control after killing my brother."
Her smile turned vicious.
"End result? Suicide."
The man swallowed.
That… could actually work.
Damn.
This woman is insane.
A quiet voice suddenly spoke from the backseat.
"Did anyone ask if I agreed to your plan?"
Both froze.
Before the driver could react—
Stab!
A sharp hairpin drove into the side of his neck.
He screamed.
Mia's eyes were open.
Cold.
Fully awake.
She kicked forward violently, her heel slamming into the driver's seat.
The steering wheel jerked.
The car swerved wildly across the road.
Debbie screamed, fumbling desperately to fasten her seatbelt as the vehicle zigzagged uncontrollably.
"STOP THE CAR!"
The driver slammed the brakes.
Tires screeched.
Smoke burned against asphalt.
The moment the car halted—
Mia kicked the door open and ran.
Straight into the dark forest bordering the road.
"DAMN BITCH!" Debbie shrieked, jumping out of the car.
"I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!"
Behind her, the man groaned in pain, clutching his bleeding neck.
Debbie spun toward him furiously.
"Idiot! She escaped?! You didn't even tie her hands and you call yourself a professional?!"
Her scream echoed into the trees.
"Shut it! Shut the hell up!"
The man roared suddenly, fury snapping whatever restraint he had left.
He yanked the hairpin violently from his neck, blood immediately soaking through his collar as pain twisted his expression into something savage.
Before Debbie could react—
His hand wrapped around her throat.
"I will fucking kill you," he snarled, lifting her slightly off the ground. "I'm tired of you useless bitches!"
He slammed her against the warehouse wall nearby.
Debbie choked, nails clawing helplessly at his wrist.
Instead of screaming for help, his voice dropped into something colder.
"Go find her… or you'll be the one I bury. Understand?"
He released her roughly.
Debbie collapsed to the ground, coughing and sobbing from pain.
The man grabbed a combat knife from the car dashboard, rage burning in his eyes before he sprinted straight into the forest after Mia.
For several seconds—
Debbie stayed on the ground.
Laughing.
Crying.
Both sounds mixing into something broken.
Her gaze shifted between the dark warehouse… and the endless forest.
"I'm so tired…" she whispered hoarsely.
Her laughter suddenly rose louder.
"Tired of being treated like trash!"
She grabbed an iron rod lying near abandoned equipment.
"Fuck all of you!"
And ran after them.
Deep inside the forest—
Branches snapped beneath hurried footsteps.
The man finally caught sight of Mia ahead.
He lunged—
But Mia turned instantly still clutching her bag she took her Taser.
Electric sparks flashed.
Zzzzt!
The taser discharged directly into his chest.
The man convulsed violently before crashing onto the ground.
Mia moved without hesitation.
She kicked the knife from his grip, picked it up, then grabbed his hair harshly and forced his head back.
Stab!
The blade sank into his shoulder.
He screamed.
"Take your phone out," Mia said calmly, breath uneven but eyes terrifyingly clear.
"Call my father."
Another stab drove deeper into the same wound.
"And repeat the entire plan."
Her voice lowered.
"Record it."
The man cried out, shaking violently as blood soaked the dirt beneath him.
With trembling hands, he obeyed.
The call connected.
Every word.
Every order.
Every betrayal—
Recorded.
When it ended, he handed the phone to her weakly.
Mia smiled faintly.
"Good boy."
She raised the knife.
"Now… time to—"
Suddenly—
Bang!
The man kicked her hard in the stomach.
Air exploded from her lungs as she flew backward.
He ripped the knife free despite screaming from pain and staggered upright, rage overcoming fear.
Mia recovered instantly—
Her heel slammed into his head.
He collapsed again.
She stepped on his injured arm, bone grinding beneath her weight—
—
CRACK!
Pain exploded across her skull.
Debbie stood behind her.
Iron rod raised.
Eyes wild.
She swung again.
And again.
Metal struck Mia's back.
Her leg.
Her shoulder.
Mia screamed as her body finally gave way.
Debbie laughed hysterically.
"Looks like you're the one dying tonight, Mia."
She turned toward the sobbing man on the ground.
"Stop crying and get up! Take her to the warehouse!"
Debbie walked ahead casually, as if nothing had happened.
The man staggered up, fury returning.
He kicked Mia in the stomach repeatedly.
Once.
Twice.
Again.
Before grabbing her hair and dragging her across dirt and broken branches.
Her body scraped helplessly against the forest floor until warehouse lights appeared ahead.
He threw her inside like trash.
Then punches rained down.
Heavy.
Brutal.
Uncontrolled.
Debbie rushed forward and shoved him away.
"Stop it! Don't kill her yet! My brother hasn't arrived—we still need her property transferred!"
Her words barely finished—
Punch!
The man struck her across the face.
She crashed onto the floor.
He grabbed her hair violently.
"Don't tell me what to do," he growled.
"You think you matter? I've survived in this business longer than you've been alive.
"
He threw her aside like nothing.
Silence followed—
Until laughter echoed weakly across the warehouse.
Mia.
Bleeding.
Barely conscious.
Laughing.
"Seems…" she coughed, blood staining her lips, "…you're still just a dog."
Her eyes slid toward Debbie mockingly.
"No matter how smart you think you are… you still obey orders… baby girl."
Slap!
Debbie struck her hard.
"Shut up!"
"Tie her," the man ordered coldly before walking away to treat his wounds.
Ropes tightened around Mia's wrists.