2023-03-27 13:30:49Warm light struck her eyes, her forehead wrinkling as she forced them open until she blinked them clear. The white ceiling came into focus, and she blinked in confusion.
An IV tube was taped to her skin, with clear liquid dripping steadily from a bag hanging above the stand. She had been in the interrogation room when the sudden sharp twist hit her stomach, and the terror that followed as she collapsed, not knowing why, was even worse. Her fists clenched as questions stormed through her mind: Who wanted her dead—and why? She pushed herself upright, arms trembling. Her legs felt heavy as she swung them over the bed, every muscle screaming—she had barely escaped death. 'How long have I been unconscious?' She glanced at her nearly empty IV bag, then carefully pulled the plastic tube from her arm, a strange numbness spreading through her limbs. After changing back into her black jumpsuit, she forced her unsteady legs forward and headed toward the exit. She pushed the door open and froze. She had never considered she might be caught escaping, and now someone was there. A young woman in light blue scrubs stood holding a tray of medicines. The nurse's eyes went wide as they fixed on her pale face. 'I can't deal with this right now. I have to get out before they find me,' Reina thought as she forced her weak body forward. Before she could take a step, a metallic crash echoed down the sterile hallway. The nurse's metal tray clattered on the floor, syringes and vials scattered as the nurse crouched frantically to gather them. Reina crouched down and picked up a syringe from the floor. She turned to read the nurse's name tag and spoke the name aloud slowly. "Wong... Yan?" The nurse's eyes nearly bulged from her skull. Reina smiled coldly. "You were expecting me to be unconscious? What exactly were you planning to give me? I thought I was cured." "You are awake!" The nurse sprang to her feet as if suddenly remembering her role. "You should lie down—I'll get the doctor. Just stay there." Without another word, the nurse hurried away down the corridor. Reina frowned at the nurse's retreating figure. She hadn't even asked about her condition. Her frown deepened as she saw another figure passing that suspicious nurse. She wasn't ready to face her. Michelle walked with the confident stride of someone who believed everything was under her control. "In a hurry to go somewhere?" Michelle asked, her voice light but her eyes sharp as she walked closer. She glanced at the nurse who was rushing away, then back to Reina. Reina forced a smile, rising to her feet with strained effort. "I just needed some fresh air." Michelle's relief was evident as she reached Reina. "How are you feeling? Were you discharged?" she inquired, glancing at Reina's hastily donned clothes with suspicion. "I assume I'm free to go, Detective. I am not under arrest, am I?" Reina's response was flat, but a defensive edge crept into her voice. She had no intention of lingering here, especially not around police officers. Michelle's expression hardened, growing thoughtful. "Most people would be shaken after what you went through. Do you really not care what happened to you? Or are you just pretending it didn't?" Reina suppressed a groan, frustration mounting. "Detective, I can't afford to stay here any longer." Michelle regarded her with disbelief. Reina's nonchalance about her health made it clear she was trying to flee from something. She recalled something that Reina had never revealed. "It's quite touching to have family who care about our wellbeing, don't you agree?" she said simply, watching for a reaction. "I think your dedication to this case is far more interesting," Reina said, forcing a small smile, her voice steady despite the panic clawing at her chest. 'Yumi met with the detective?' There was no other family she had besides her. Michelle raised an eyebrow. "Oh." She took a measured breath, then returned her gaze to Reina, realizing it would be pointless to detain her—she wasn't a criminal, after all. "You're free to go, but perhaps you could help me with some questions." She took out her notebook as she headed into the room, expecting Reina to follow so they could talk. But Reina cut her off. "I seriously have no idea who poisoned me or any details about that casino case. I'm just a victim in all of this. I hope you will be the one to enlighten me, Detective. Who tried to kill me?" Michelle studied Reina for a moment. The look Reina had worn when she was about to leave and the one she had now were completely different. She had seen it before—suspects who thought they could outsmart her. Michelle frowned. "I never said 'murder attempt.' That's an interesting assumption, Reina." She smiled coolly. "I don't have any leads yet, but I promise I'm going to find out." Even if she had leads, she wouldn't share them. It was obvious that Reina was more involved than she was letting on. She wouldn't discover the truth just by pressuring her with questions. So she thought about something else—watching what she did. Which meant letting her think she was free. Michelle pulled out her business card and handed it over. "I'll need your cooperation for the ongoing investigation... as a victim. And I know you'll want to stay informed about our progress. If anything comes up, call me immediately." Reina glanced at the card, not even bothering to hide her disinterest. "Sure. I'll keep that in mind," she said curtly before turning to leave. Reina hurried down the hallway, glancing over her shoulder to ensure Michelle wasn't following. Her fingers tightened around the card, its edges biting into her palm. The police were the last people she could trust—they would only drag her deeper into this mess. With a sharp flick, she tossed it into the nearest trash can, quickening her steps. She wanted nothing to do with the police and was determined to stay out of their investigation. From the top floor, Michelle watched Reina, a thin smile crossing her lips. What was she avoiding? Michelle asked herself as she watched Reina's figure vanish through the door. If Reina was truly a victim, then she was either no stranger to danger—or she already knew what was coming. Reina's guarded behavior and quick departure marked her as someone with secrets worth uncovering. Maybe she had been wrong about how to investigate this case from the beginning. As Reina walked away, she suddenly turned, her gaze meeting Michelle's. She nodded once before turning and exiting the hospital. Michelle's eyes narrowed. She took out her phone, her jaw tight as she dialed. "Get me everything on Reina Lau," she said, her voice low. "And tell Rat to tail her—wherever she goes, whatever she does, especially who she talks to." Outside, Reina was already typing a message on her phone: "Find me everything about Wong Yan. Immediately."
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30. The Only Way
Lijun took a step back, still clutching a shard of glass, her eyes sharp and deadly. “You have no idea who you’re dealing with,” she said, voice chilling. “Threatening me was your first mistake. Thinking you could manipulate me was your second.”When she smashed the bottle over his head, she acted on pure instinct, her anger flared that it drowned out all thought. The fury of being manipulated, his threats, ignited something deep within her.But as the glass shattered, realization set in, and her heart hammered in her chest. She knew she screwed herself. There would be no easy escape now. If she was going to get out of this alive, she’d have to fight—and that meant taking on the entire camp?“Now it’s your turn to pay. For every drop of blood of my comrades, and this …" He showed his three fingers. Her grip tightened. Those words confirmed her thoughts, no way without a fight. Since was the case, she should do everything she could. Her eyes glinted as she stared at Andrew, who made
29. Time For Payment
The room fell silent as Andrew uttered the name. Every pair of eyes turned to her, widening in shock. He descended the stairs quickly, his gaze locked on her. When he stopped, just a few steps away, he looked her over with a strange, almost intensity gaze.What the hell is going on…Andrew spread his arms with a crooked grin. “Well, well, well. Are you all seeing this? The infamous ‘Scupper’ herself! Terrorist, fugitive... my idol!” He pointed at her with a hand missing two fingers. “Please, have a seat. Make yourself comfortable.”Lijun stiffened. If she had to choose between getting beheaded or dealing with this, both would be a nightmare. She stole a glance at Lian; he was pale, his jaw clenched. He wasn’t just frightened; he hated this situation as much as she did.They were led to a room where they sat across from Andrew, who lounged with a smug, while a woman brought food and liquor to the table. He studied her as if he had the upper hand, savouring every moment of her discomf
28. I'm Not Her
They remained outside, catching their breath after the fight. Lijun leaned against a tree, watching Lian as he tried to pick up his knife, his hands trembling. She noticed something strange—despite his injuries, he showed no sign of pain, as if his body was numb.She moved toward him, wanting to inspect the damage she’d caused to his hand. She needed him alive; whatever their current situation, he was still useful. She knew the same men from earlier might return, so she had to patch him up quickly before they left. But as she drew closer, Lian’s sharp gaze stopped her.Ignoring his silent warning, she stepped closer and crouched beside him. "Don’t trouble yourself. Honestly, I’m not looking forward to playing nurse here."His dark eyes deepened, studying her in silence.Despite their hostility, Lijun realized that Lian wasn’t a bad person, not really—not the way he wanted her to see him. Even though he clearly wanted something from her, he could have abandoned her. She was nothing
27. Hatred And Mistrust
The tension between them simmered, thick as she narrowed her eyes at him."What? Go to the village?" she spat, her voice cutting through the silence. "Are you out of your mind?"Lian arched a brow, clearly unimpressed by her tone. "You want to stay hidden here forever? I thought you were smarter than that."For three days, they'd been holed up in that abandoned shack, each day stretching longer as they tried to ignore the trouble looming just beyond those thin walls. She barely knew him—this man who seemed to know far too much about her, who claimed he wanted to help her regain her memories and find someone.His proposal seemed absurd. The village was no place for her, not with her face practically branded as a target. He might have a chance there, but she wouldn’t. He still didn’t understand that, and his stubbornness grated at her."The sooner we leave, the sooner we’ll reach before sunset," he arguedShe scoffed. "And I suppose you'll carry me all the way there?" She folded her ar
26. A Good Person
When Lijun jumped, she wasn’t sure she would survive—and truthfully, she didn’t want to. Since the day she’d awakened with no memory and the world’s hateful eyes on her, thoughts of death had become a haunting comfort. But dying was about escaping; she wanted them to think she was gone while she hid, somewhere, still breathing, beyond their reach.When she opened her eyes to find herself not submerged in water, her thoughts returned immediately to Celine’s brother, and she jolted upright from the bed. For reasons she couldn’t explain, that man haunted her. The room around her was worn, built from rough wood and clearly neglected.Nearby, a figure lay on the floor, back turned to her. Her eyes narrowed, suspicion flaring. It couldn’t be him—could it? Whoever he was, he had to be the one who dragged her from the lake.“Why don’t you leave me alone!” she burst out, her voice with frustration.The man stirred, and his voice replied coldly, “You don’t deserve to die… nor live.” As he sat
25. Deep Grave
That evening, Rochelle drove up to Evelyn’s mansion. Though Evelyn had never given her the address, Rochelle had her ways. After all, if she could track down the most elusive criminals, finding one young woman’s home wasn’t exactly a challenge.She wasn’t expecting Lijun to be here, and Rochelle had come for a different reason. However, she had many reasons to believe Evelyn was hiding something valuable.Dialing the house number, Rochelle listened as the phone rang unanswered. She narrowed her eyes, gaze fixed on the mansion. Though the curtains were drawn, the lights on inside suggested Evelyn was home.Rochelle tried again, bracing herself. If Evelyn didn’t answer, she'd take it as a sign of trouble—and barge right in.Finally, Evelyn picked up. Rochelle kept her tone light, though her gaze was steely. “I’ve been outside your place forever. Care to let me in? It's freezing out here.”Silence followed, and Rochelle waited, expecting Evelyn to rush to open the gate. Instead, the dela
