Sherina's POV.
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"Please... let me work here."
She begged, her voice trembling as she faced the woman behind the desk.
The boss leaned back in her chair, a cigarette balanced between her fingers, eyes cold and assessing.
"Like I said," she exhaled a slow cloud of smoke,
"We don't accept pure women here. This job is dangerous... and dirty. You won't be able to handle it."
She drew a deep breath, fingers tightening around each other."I can do it. I'll prove to you that I can be one of your best girls in this club—"
The boss let out a dry, mocking laugh.
"Please," she continued, desperation cracking her voice,
"Just give me a chance. I don't have any other options. This job pays more than anything I can find. Let me prove myself."
The laughter faded. The boss studied her in silence for a long moment, then spoke quietly,
"Three months."
"What...?"
"I don't usually entertain foolish ideas like this. But you've got the face, the body... and that fire in your eyes..."
The boss took another drag, smoke curling lazily between them before she speak again.
"I'll give you a chance. I won't let my clients touch you. You've got three months. If you survive, if you become one of my best girls, you can stay."
And that was how it started.
For three months, she worked without rest.Since she refused to do what the others did—no sleeping with men, no dating them, no pleasing them beyond the surface—she had to find another way to survive.
Drinking, talking, and playing cards became her weapons.And there were men who wanted only that—companionship, charm, mystery.
Those men became her allies, her shields, her stepping stones.
A year passed. She succeeded. She endured. She learned.
With nothing but her beauty, her wit, and relentless determination, she rose higher than anyone expected. The boss began to see her differently—admiring her strength, even protecting her from clients who dared to cross the line.
She became the diamond of the club, the woman who had proven everyone wrong.
But when she thought she had already tasted the worst of misery, fate proved her wrong—there was still an edge of hell left for her to face.
And when that day came, everything she had built, everything she had fought for, would be torn apart.
The day her world turned upside down.
And all she could do was scream in silence—her voice trapped in the darkness, unheard, unseen.
'If anyone can hear me...'
'if anyone can reach me...'
'Please, save me from myself...'
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"You're mine now."
A voice.
Cold. Final. A declaration that echoed in the dark, absolute in its claim.
And with that voice came a touch, a searing, electric touch wrapped around her body like smoke and fire, awakening the life she thought had already burned away.
It was not gentle, yet not cruel. A touch that demanded, possessed, and marked. It was cold and burning all at once—dangerous, intoxicating, and impossible to resist.
He thrust deeper..
A devastating, claiming plunge.
The sudden, brutal depth was enough to snap her dazing mind back to sharp clarity. Her eyes, raw and swollen from crying, struggled to open, desperate to have a glimpse of his face.
But his lips were already crushing hers.
It was deep, long, a devouring motion that dragged her back into the daze.
Through the blur, she saw only the outline of a face—a pair of eyes, sharp as the night itself.
He moved like a merciless beast, feasting on his prey, ensuring nothing of her remained unclaimed.
She knew then: she was no longer her own.
'How did this happen?'
'Why did I surrender myself to someone I barely knew… someone whose shadow I can't escape?'
How?
The question echoed through the hollow space inside her, but no answer came.
Then, through the storm of her thoughts, another voice came, striking through her chest like thunder.
"If you really love me, Sherina… you'll help me with everything you have."
She could still hear him — calm, certain, cruel.
The words that shattered her replayed over and over.
Give yourself....
That was the day she realized —
Love could destroy you more completely than hate ever could.
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My eyes snapped open. I sat upright, breath ragged, heart pounding against my ribs like a frantic drum.
The air burned in my lungs as I drew in a shaky breath, the faint taste of salt on my tongue—had I been crying in my sleep?
It took a moment for my mind to catch up—to realize I was awake, not sinking into that same suffocating dream. The one I knew too well. The one that always left me gasping, as if I had truly been drowning.
When my breathing finally steadied, I turned toward the window.Sunlight had already spilled across the room, bright and golden, touching the curtains and warming the floor.
It was a beautiful morning... the kind that made endings feel too final.
My last day at the villa.
The cool tiles of the bathroom grounded me as I stepped inside.Mint stung my tongue as I brushed my teeth, the froth bitter in my mouth.The shower hissed to life, steam wrapping around my bare shoulders, but even the heat couldn't quiet my thoughts.
Today, I was leaving. And Leon would be with me.
He had offered to take me to Edenia City since he was heading there himself.I'd refused at first, insisting the train station was close to home.But the elders were firm, their kind eyes leaving no room for argument.They said they'd rest easier knowing I was with him.
And so, I gave in.
I dressed carefully: a light white crop top that brushed my skin, fitted jeans that traced the shape of my legs. I tied my hair into a ponytail, baring the line of my neck, then slipped my shoulder bag into place.Catching my reflection in the mirror, I whispered softly, "Ready."
Then suddenly, a knock interrupted me."Miss Sze, the master is waiting for you downstairs," Mr. Kang's calm voice.I opened the door quickly. "Yes, I'm ready."
He stood tall and formal, and I followed him down the wide staircase.
The scent of brewed coffee and faint tobacco drifted through the air as we reached the ground floor.Leon stood with the elders, morning light catching in the smoke from his hand.A black shirt fit neatly across his shoulders, an expensive watch glinting at his wrist.His hair was perfectly unkempt—the kind that looked natural but wasn't.And when his eyes met mine, they didn't waver.
He took a slow drag from his cigarette, the ember glowing briefly before he exhaled, smoke curling lazily toward the ceiling.But his gaze stayed locked on me.
"Sherina, beautiful as always," Grandma Deliala's voice broke the silence as she wrapped me in a warm embrace."I swear, any clothes would look perfect on you," she said with a playful twinkle in her eye.
I laughed softly, though my eyes still found him beyond her shoulder.Grandma patted my hand gently. "The city can be lonely sometimes. Come back whenever it feels too quiet."
"Thank you," I murmured. The words felt heavier than they should.
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Four hours later, the road's rhythm had lulled me to sleep.
When I woke, the car had already left the open countryside behind.Concrete walls rose outside the window, painted in the muted colors of the city's edge.
I stretched in my seat, a small yawn escaping before I rubbed the sleep from my eyes.The leather beneath my fingertips was warm.
In the front, Mr. Kang drove in silence, his attention fixed on the road.Beside me, Leon's gaze was buried in the glow of his laptop screen, fingers moving with sharp, precise motions across the keys.
"Still busy, huh?" I murmured, mostly to myself, letting out a quiet sigh.
His typing stopped.As if my words had pulled him back, Leon looked up, closed the laptop, and set it aside."Sleepy?" he asked, eyes meeting mine. "I didn't want to wake you. You seemed tired."
"Yeah. I had a nightmare last night," I admitted before I could stop myself.
A small, private smirk touched his lips."Me too."His gaze stayed on me—steady, unreadable—as if searching for something I wasn't ready to give.
I looked away first, turning toward the front."You should rest. The backseat's comfortable."
He didn't answer immediately. When I glanced back, his grin was already waiting."Can I rest at your place instead?" His tone was playful, almost innocent—eyes widening like a child asking for candy.
I frowned. "Nope.""Please?" He batted his lashes dramatically."Why would you even want to?" I sighed."Just 'cause," he said lightly.
I scoffed, lips curving into a half-smile. "Thanks, Delly's brother, but no.."
He froze, like the words had hit him."Well then… as Delliana's brother. You wouldn't send her tired little brother home alone, right?" He leaned back, smirking
"Give it up," I said flatly, crossing my arms.
He chuckled, raising his hands in surrender. "Alright, alright."
Outside the window, the long bridge to the city stretched before us, its lights flickering over the water.Eventually, Mr. Kang turned into a narrow alley deep in the heart of Edenia. My apartment door waited halfway down—weathered, but familiar.
"This is my stop," I said, smiling at Leon. "Thank you for the ride."
Leon slipped a cigarette between his lips, the click of the lighter sharp in the quiet car.He took a slow drag, eyes on me through the smoke."Sure you don't want me to walk you in?"
"No, it's fine. Mr. Kang will help me."
"Alright…" His gaze lingered as I stepped out.
The cold night wrapped around me as the door shut behind.Mr. Kang retrieved my bag from the trunk and walked me to my door.We exchanged polite bows before I slipped inside, closing the door softly behind me.
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Kang Minho's POV
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I stood in front of her door for a moment, letting my hand linger on the handle before slowly withdrawing it.A quiet breath escaped me — heavy and deliberate.
Straightening my suit jacket, I adjusted my tie and slid my glasses higher up the bridge of my nose.
Composure first — always composure.
Then I turned away from her door, my steps unhurried, almost reluctant. The sound of my polished shoes was soft against the worn floor of the street.By the time I reached the car, I had shed all trace of hesitation from my expression.I opened the driver's door, settled into my seat, and closed it with a measured click.
A glance at the rearview mirror caught him — Leon — resting his head against his hand, eyes narrowed at the document he was holding.Silence filled the car, heavy and unbroken, except for the faint rustle of paper when he turned a page.
Leon worked day and night, even during vacations. For weeks, he had been pushing without pause, handling both the Liu family business and his own growing empire. The weight on his shoulders would have broken most men — yet he never faltered.
He had pushed through a month's worth of work ahead of schedule just to carve out leisure time... for her.
It still amazes me that he hasn't collapsed under the weight of it all.
Leon Hak Liu — always the chairman's favorite.Even as an illegitimate son, his leadership, sharp instincts, and the cold precision in his decision-making all spoke of the chairman's bloodline.His presence alone could unnerve anyone — an intimidating aura so palpable it made lesser men step back.
If you placed Leon beside Signor Ledo, most people — those who didn't know the truth — would swear Leon was the legitimate son.And that was exactly why Signor Ledo's hatred burned so violently.
Signor Ledo wanted to be the only successor, the only one worthy of the family name.
But no matter what he did, Leon remained the perfect model for the position.Still, it would never be simple — not with the power Signora Rossi, the chairwoman, wielded, and her iron-fisted protection over her one and only son.
"Minho..."
I heard him call my name. I turned around to face him.
He said nothing for a moment, only finishing the last drag of his cigarette. The smoke curled in the air between us before fading into the wind.
"Let's head to the company," he said finally, his voice calm but commanding.
"Yes, Master," I replied, starting the engine.
He had no plans to rest — not even for a day.
As the car rolled down the quiet road, my thoughts drifted back to the past —back to the days I spent with the Liu family.
I had been with them since childhood. My father was the head gardener at their estate in Italy, and because of him, I grew up within those walls — surrounded by wealth, beauty, and silence.
And among the many faces in that grand house, hers stood out the most.
Delliana.
Even now, her name stings like a thorn pressed into my heart.
She was my true master — the eldest child of Signor Liu and Signora Rossi.Bright, graceful, and full of life. The heir everyone admired.
Until tragedy struck.
That single event destroyed everything — her smile, her spirit, her place in the world.The family never spoke of it again. They erased her name from every record, every photograph.
It was as if she had never existed.
Their most gifted child suddenly became their most broken one — a daughter the family abandoned, as though she were a flaw to be forgotten.
And then came Leon —a child from another woman. The family's second chance.
They hoped he would become the light Delliana once was.And they weren't wrong.
Leon surpassed every expectation.At just twenty, he built his own empire — Hawk Bank — from nothing but his own drive and ambition.
He didn't rely on the Liu name. He became his own name.
But that spark of greatness ignited conflict between the Liu children.The second son, Ledo, was never fond of it. He tormented Leon in their youth — bullied him, hurt him, tried to break him.
Yet Leon never flinched.He bore it all in silence, like a boy made of steel, enduring every cruelty without a single complaint.
Still, Ledo was not a fool. Spoiled and reckless, yes — but undeniably brilliant in his own right.He inherited the Liu Mall empire from his grandfather and turned it into one of the most dominant forces in the business world.
And thus, the rivalry between Master Leon and Signor Ledo was born —Two heirs of the same bloodline, raised under different suns, destined to clash.