Earlier Jia's pov
As we reached the hotel, we approached the hotel staff, seeking our room keys. My bodyguards trailing close behind, they held the shopping bags containing clothes Bella had purchased me for tonight. Fortunately, no one was able to recognize us, as we had carefully donned masks to maintain our anonymity.
"Good evening," Bella greeted the staff. "Would you mind checking if the room keys have been prepared? I made an online booking in the morning."
The hotel's staff politely requested our names and other information for verification. Bella provided her own name, along with the names of my bodyguards. When Bella mentioned my name, the staff glanced at me, then back at Bella, disbelief evident in his gaze.
"Is she the real Kang Jia?" the staff asked, his voice tinged with curiosity. "She bears quite a resemblance to the actress of the same name, you know."
"Because she is Kang Jia." Bella confidently responded, making him surprised.
The hotel staff's excitement was palpable after hearing the words as he gushed, "My daughter is such a huge fan of yours! She watches your dramas and movies all day and night; she's absolutely smitten with you." He extended a pen and paper, eyes gleaming with anticipation. "May I kindly ask for your autograph for her? She really adores you."
Without hesitation, I graciously offered my signature, pleased to indulge his request. "Of course, it would be my pleasure."
The staff expressed his gratitude, "Thank you so much, wait let me check all of your room bookings,"
Suddenly his expression shifted from calm to concern as he scrutinised the computer screen, diligently typing on the keyboard.
Bella queried, "Is everything alright? You appear quite troubled."
Apologetically, the staff explained, "My apologies, ma'am. There seem to be some technical difficulties. Would you mind waiting a bit?"
"No problem," Bella replied before glancing at me, signaling to wait.
The staff reciprocated with gratitude, diverting his attention back to the computer.
After some time elapsed, he once again captured our attention by speaking up.
He apologized for the protracted wait and proceeded to inform us about our room arrangements, "For the ease of all of you, let me provide you with the details of your rooms. Your rooms are situated on the seventh and eighth floors, and your room keys will display the corresponding room numbers." He distributed the keys to the bodyguards, continuing, "As for your rooms," he turned to Bella and me, "your rooms are on the top floor." With a broad smile, he extended our keys, completing the room assignments.
Our appreciation was conveyed through silent smiles and courteous bows, mirroring the staff's gracious gestures. My bodyguards headed towards their designated floor via the same elevator, entrusting the shopping bags to Bella as they expressed their respect with a deep bow before departing.
Upon reaching the top floor, Bella and I disembarked from the elevator, navigating along the hallway until we reached my reserved room.
"I'll arrange room service for your dinner," Bella said, setting the shopping bag on the sofa. "In case you need anything else, don't hesitate to call. My room is right next door."
I nodded in response, "Alright."
"Now I'm leaving, take care of yourself." With a smile, Bella bid farewell, exiting the room. I closed the door behind her before heading into the bathroom for a refreshing shower.
Having finished my shower, I emerged from the bathroom wrapped in a soft towel only to get utterly stunned by an unexpected sight.
In the room's soft glow, a 5'10 feet tall, muscular figure stood near the glass window, clad only in jeans, his bare upper body on display. The intricate ink of his tattoos mimicked a black panther, wrapping around his right arm in a captivating display. Smoke curled about him like wisps of shadow, creating an aura of mystery. The contours of his solid body, even from behind, commanded attention, like a darkness incarnate.
"Who are you?? How did you get in?" I immediately asked with so many negative emotions.
End of Jia's pov
~~~~~~
Jae swiftly turned around upon hearing the girl's voice, only to be greeted by the sight of her standing in the bathroom's doorway, clad in a towel that covered her from her chest to mid-thigh. Long and thick wet hair hung behind her, trickling droplets of water onto the floor. As his gaze locked with her honey-doe eyes, it appeared as if the very cosmos resided within them. Her naturally rosy lips resembled a petal of blushing akito. Water droplets, akin to dewdrops on a flower, cascaded over her face and body. For a few moments, Jae was rendered speechless, captivated by her endearing presence.
"Don't look!!! Don't look here." She screamed, immediately running towards the bed before grasping the blanket and hastily enveloping her entire body in it.
Jae regained his composure and inquired, "Who are you?"
"This was my line....who are you?" She retorted, "And how did you get inside my room?"
"What do you mean by your room?"
"I've booked this room, that's what I mean."
"What the hell are you saying?"
"It's my right to ask questions here! Now you explain how you got into my room?" Her voice turned demanding.
"With the help of a key."
"Well, then where is your key?" She retorted.
He pointed towards the nightstand, adding, "It's right there on the nightstand."
Jia followed the path of his finger, her skeptical gaze landing on the key. She turned her gaze back to him, inquiring, "Who gave you this key?"
"My manager," he replied.
She shot back with an accusation, "So you're stalking me with your manager? You're a sasaeng fan?"
"What? What are you talking about? His irritation flared as he questioned, "Wait...why am I even answering all your questions?" He threw the cigarette aside before making his way towards her.
"Hold on! What are you doing? Don't come any closer." Her grip on the blanket tightened as she retreated, backing away until she bumped into something behind her. Her eyes darted behind her, settling on a nightstand.
She quickly turned her gaze forward again, only to find Jae standing extremely close, their eyes locked. Goosebumps erupted on her body as her heart pounded wildly in aghast. She felt her legs grow weak, and her knees turned to jelly, yet she remained frozen in place.
She attempted to speak, only to stutter, "G-g-get... away from me..."
He leaned in closer, extending his hand towards her. Despite her efforts to retreat, she found herself cornered, with the nightstand and wall blocking her escape route.
But suddenly, caught off guard, she watched him pick up the key from the nightstand behind her before putting on the hoodie.
He muttered, "I will kill them," under his breath, leaving her dumbfounded. As he headed for the door, the doorbell rang, causing her eyes to widen in surprise. Jae was about to open it when she called out, stopping him in his tracks.
"Don't open the door! If someone sees us like this, they'll definitely draw the wrong conclusions." She protested, "I need my clothes first!"
He interjected, his jaw clenching in frustration. "No. You need a doctor first."
"What do you mean by that?" She asked in indignation.
"Stop wasting my time. Get dressed, now." He ignored her question, his impatience evident.
She exclaimed, "Like this?"
He raised an eyebrow, his expression one of skepticism.
"I mean, turn your gaze somewhere else... I need to use the bathroom. Don't you grasp this basic concept?" She scowled in disbelief, while he sighed and averted his gaze, mumbling, "Hurry up."
In a swift motion, she discarded the blanket, letting it fall to the floor. She dashed towards the sofa, seizing the shopping bag containing her clothes, before rushing into the bathroom. Once inside, she quickly locked the door behind her. As she dressed, memories of the recent events danced through her mind as she gazed into the mirror, taking in her reflection.
She cautiously stepped out of the bathroom, sweeping her gaze across the room, only to find no sign of the person she was searching for, while the door of the room was slightly ajar. Stepping toward the door, she pushed it open completely, taking a couple of steps forward. Suddenly, her feet collided with something, causing her to bow her head down before widening her eyes in a mixture of shock and fear. There, lying on the floor, was the overturned room service trolley, accompanied by scattered food.
But what truly caused her dread were the blood-soaked floor markings that appeared to have been caused by someone being dragged. She automatically followed them, leading her to the elevator. Once inside, she pressed the button for the ground floor, not knowing where to go.
As the elevator doors opened on the ground floor, she was stunned to find the marks continuing, leading ahead.
She cautiously stepped out of the elevator and peered around, but completely taken aback by the scene unfolding before her.
Carnage surrounded the scene as blood splattered everywhere in the hall. The staff and guards lay on the ground, writhing in agony, while a man could be heard relentlessly assaulting and shouting at them, seemingly like a rabid beast. No one dared to meet his gaze or halt his actions. The sounds of bones snapping and shrieks of agony filled the air. Jia stood frozen in place, utterly horrified to see that the aggressor was none other than Jae, mercilessly assaulting everyone in sight.
"HAVE YOU ALL FORGOTTEN THAT YOU WORK UNDER ME? HOW DARE YOU MAKE SUCH A GROSS NEGLIGENCE???" He shouted, his fury fueling every beating.
"S-sir, t-there were s-some technical issues in the computer," the manager managed to utter between gasps of pain. "Wh-when we provided the key, your room appeared unbooked on the screen..."
"Damn computer... WHY THE HELL DO YOU KEEP THIS WORTHLESS BOX HERE?" He bellowed, seizing the computer and yanking it from the counter, causing sparks to fly from the cables. With a powerful throw, he flung it viciously to the floor, creating a loud shattering sound that sent a shudder through everyone, including Jia. But before he could lash out on them again, his rampage was cut off by the sound of Jia's voice.
"STOP!"
Everyone present was left speechless as no one dared to stop him, but in that moment, she did. While he spun around to face her, his bloodshot eyes fixed on her with menacing disbelief.
"You?"
He started making his way towards her, taking menacing strides while she remained frozen in place, but her gaze unwavering.
"How dare you stop me? Huh?!" he spat out, each step closer to her and her locking eye contact without hesitation heightening his increasing anger.
"HOW DARE YOU STOP ME?" He roared right in her face, towering over her.
She shrank back slightly, but met his gaze unflinchingly.
"You don't have the right to beat them like this," she asserted, her voice firm.
"And you don't have the right to stop me," he retorted, his voice a deep, dangerous rumble.
"Have you any kindness within you?" she countered. "Do you not see them on the verge of death? Yet, you continue your merciless assault for a mere mistake."
"In my world, mistakes are not tolerated, much less discussed."
She fired back, "But guess what? Your world contains only you. Your rules have no place here."
"So is it customary for you to stand in front of a man wearing only a towel? That's why you consider this a mere mista–,"
she interrupted, slapping him hard.
The onlookers gasped in horror, their wide eyes reflecting their profound fear.
"Mind your tongue, mister," she hissed, her anger evident.
Jae stood still, completely taken aback, staring at her in disbelief. Suddenly, the sound of approaching people grabbed everyone's attention.
"What's going on here?" the first man inquired.
"What are you doing there, Jae?" the second asked.
"Is that Kang Jia?" the third man added, his curiosity piqued.
As the three men arrived at the scene, their faces etched with bewilderment at the sight of the injured staff and guards and the aftermath of Jae's earlier outburst.
"Who could possibly wreak such havoc, making it look like a storm just swept through?" the first man inquired, perplexed by the chaos.
"A beast, consumed by a destructive obsession with his own domain," Jia asserted, her gaze fixed on Jae.
"You mean Jae? I doubt anyone else could achieve such chaos," the second man commented, chuckling as he regarded her.
"Take them all to the hospital, now," the first man instructed, signaling the bodyguards stationed at the hotel entrance who had accompanied them.
Responding swiftly, the bodyguards promptly lifted the injured staff and guards from the ground, supporting some who were faint or writhing in pain, and carried them away to receive medical attention.
"The rest of you, get back to your tasks," the first man commanded, which was promptly heeded without hesitation.
"Why did you beat them?" the first man queried, his attention fixed on Jae, who seemed lost in disbelief by the incredible scene that had unfolded just minutes ago. As his question went unanswered, he tried again. "Jae? Are you even listenin–,?"
His sentence was abruptly cut off, when suddenly he was distracted by the third man, who stood gawking wide-eyed and open-mouthed at Jia, caught between shock and disbelief. The second man and Jia followed the first man's gaze, watching the baffled figure standing there like a comical statue, struggling to come to terms with what he was seeing.
"I... I'm..." Struggling to find his words, the third man finally introduced himself, "I'm…Leo…you can call me Love."
His eyes remained fixated on Jia, unflinching and unblinking as he stood frozen in place. Suddenly Jae also shifted his gaze towards him.
"C-can I have an autograph?" he asked, then met with multiple head shakes of his own. "Can I take a selfie with you?" Again, a firm head shake. "Can I touch you?" Another shake of the head. "No, no...Can I be your boyfriend?"
"SHUT YOUR DAMN MOUTH, YOU IDIOT!!"
Jae's voice suddenly boomed, snapping Leo out of his daze. All of them were taken aback, looking at Jae incredulously after hearing his sudden outburst.
"I was just talking to MY Jia. What happened to you? Why the hell did you bark at me for no goddamn reason?" Leo protested, his face etched with aghast.
"I told you to SHUT YOUR FRICKING MOUTH!" Jae snapped, his jaw clenched tight.
"Hey, get this straight, pal. He's telling you to shut up because your breath smells like horse shit. Brush your damn teeth, will you?" The second man taunted mockingly, drawing a frustrated eye roll from Leo.
The first man turned his attention back to Jae and Jia, his voice commanding. "Will someone PLEASE explain why the hell you beat those people up?"
"I'll make your life a living hell, you'll be begging for death. Be prepared to see yourself ruined..." Jae issued a menacing warning, his gaze directed solely at Jia before he stalked off, leaving behind the dumbfounded group.
The first man turned to Jia, his face filled with bewilderment. "Was that a warning for you? But what did you do to him? He seemed quite enraged."
"He was–," Jia's response was interrupted by another voice.
Bella approached Jia, her worry etched on her face. "Jia, are you okay? This blood, this devastation... What on earth happened here?"
While Bella was turning Jia around to check for any injuries, Leo interrupted, looking enthusiastically at both Jia and Bella without blinking as if they would disappear from his sight at any moment if he blinked, exclaiming, "Oh my god! It's my lucky day! I feel like I'm in heaven because I get to see both Kang Jia and her gorgeous bodyguard in front of me right now."
Bella shot Leo a puzzled look, hearing his sudden voice. But then posed the question again, her confusion evident. "I asked what happened here... why all this blood and chaos?"
The first man grumbled in frustration. "That's what I was trying to figure out, but if someone here hadn't come, I might have got the answer."
"Exuse me? What do you mean?" Bella raised her eyebrow at him.
He shot Bella a disdainful look, muttering, "It's unbelievable that someone working as a bodyguard lacks the common sense to grasp this simple thing."
"What exactly are you implying?" Bella shot back, her irritation clear in her tone.
"You really don't get it, do you? Now I'm certain you're just a brainless goat."
Her jaw dropped in disbelief as she retorted, "Did you just call me a goat?"
"I did." He smirked, his tone dripping with condescension.
"How dare you?! You gorilla-face jerk!" She snapped, losing her cool.
"What? I have a gorilla face?... Look at yourself, your face is so scary, even witches would flee just by catching a glimpse of it."
"Shut your mouth! You kid's lollipop thief!" She yelled, jabbing her finger at him.
"Don't insult me as a petty thief!" he hissed, jabbing his own finger back at her.
"Is being a member of the mafia or a gangster any better?" she scoffed, arching an eyebrow at him, making him silent. "And I can't figure out why you're constantly trying to compare me to different types of creatures since then without any reason?" With a mix of annoyance and amusement, she shrugged, awaiting his response.
"Because you're a brain-dead creature." He retorted, causing her frustration to reach boiling point.
"Don't provoke me to bury you 10 feet under this very ground," she warned.
The bickering duo got so busy that they even forgot the other three witnesses to their verbal fight.
"Aagh!! Stop it, both of you. That's enough!" Jia interjected, her voice cutting through their heated exchange.
Upon Jia's intervention, both of them stood there silent, the heated exchange subsiding as they looked at her.
Jia lamented, "Earlier that monster has assaulted my intellectual capabilities, and now you two are attacking my senses with your squabbling."
To this, the second man couldn't help but chuckle. "Are you referring to Jae, by any chance?"
"Yeah… Jae." A tinge of disdain evident in her tone. Even uttering his name felt foreign to her. "Anyway, what's the connection between you three and that demon? She inquired.
Upon hearing her, the second man introduced himself and Leo to her, explaining, "We're Jae's elder maternal cousins. And I'm Max," as he gestured towards himself and then to Leo.
"And I'm Jackson, Jae's elder paternal cousin." The first man introduced.
Leo, unable to resist, chimed in, "And I'm Leo, but you can call me Love as I've already told you." He gave a cheeky wink, directed at Jia.
[Profile.
Name: Jitoku Jackson.
Age: 28
Occupation: Businessman and CEO of multiple companies, but secretly a mafia, serving as the vice commander for the notorious Deadly Fang organization, whose boss is Jitoku Jae.
Family: Information Unknown.
Relationship Status: Jackson is currently single.
(Not many people have seen him in an undercover criminal world as a mafia. But everyone is afraid of him as he is part of the most dangerous mafia boss's gang.)]
[Profile.
Name: Max Andre.
Age: 27
Occupation: Businessman.
Family: Brother, Leo Andre.
Relationship Status: Max is currently single.
(Both originating from Italy, Max and Leo were the sons of Jae's maternal aunt. Unfortunately, their parents had passed away, leaving them on their own early in life.)]
[Profile.
Name: Leo Andre.
Age: 26
Occupation: Chef.
Family: Brother, Max Andre.
Relationship Status: Ladies man.
(With a reputation as a playboy, Leo makes flirting with girls a daily habit. His charm and charismatic nature has earned him a legion of admirers, yet he remained unattached, preferring the thrill of the chase to any serious relationships.)]
"It's been a pleasure meeting all of you," Jia greeted, bowing respectfully as they did the same.
"Well, whatever occurred today can be discussed tomorrow. Since it's already late, both of you should consider getting some rest." Max suggested.
Leo with a playful glint in his eyes, interjected, "Yeah, yeah, It's not good to stay up late. You'll get dark circles under your eyes, and it can be harmful to your beauty." His gaze lingering on Jia.
Bella chuckled in agreement before saying, "You've got a point."
After this Jia made her way towards the elevator, bidding them farewell, while Bella gave Jackson a last glare before following Jia, exiting the place.
Jackson's gaze followed their departure, his expression hardening as he issued instructions to his bodyguards, "Clean up the chaos quickly, and ensure that this incident remains confined within these walls. No leaks, Understood?"
With a nod, the bodyguards acknowledged the order before the trio, including Jackson, Max, and Leo, departed the scene.
●◇◇◇◇◇◇●
At 3 o'clock in the night
The room was immersed in silence, but Jia's troubled sleep broke the tranquility. Clenching the bed sheet tightly in her fists, her breathing grew increasingly erratic. Sweat trickled down her forehead as she fidgeted in her sleep. In her struggle to break free from whatever haunted her dreams, she tossed and turned on the bed, attempting to escape the grip of the haunting slumber.
○□○□○□○□○□○□○
The doorbell was continuously ringing. A man was lounging on the sofa, playing with a little girl on his lap, when his wife's voice from the kitchen called out. "What are you doing? Go and answer that door."
He swiftly lifted the little girl onto the sofa and responded nonchalantly, "Yeah, I was about to open it."
The lady's voice rang out again, urgency lacing her words. "Then do it quickly."
The man gently held the little girl's face, affectionately cupping her cheeks. "My princess," he whispered, a smile grazing his lips. "Stay right here, okay? Your mother gets a bit jealous when we play together, but your daddy won't be gone for long."
The little girl, resembling a fairy with her long dark brown hair, honey doe eyes, and naturally pink lips, nodded her understanding. The man then turned to the door, preparing to answer the persistent ringing.
After some seconds, a gunshot echoed within the house, followed by a loud groan of pain. Startled, the lady quickly emerged from the kitchen, sprinting towards the door. The little girl, frightened, followed her mother, witnessing the shocking sight.
The man was sprawled on the floor, his leg oozing blood, as he writhed in agony from the bullet wound. Standing over him were some men clad in black suits, their guns held firmly in hand.
The little girl's voice pierced the air, calling out, "Dad!" Drawing the attention of everyone in the room.
Among them, a man donning a pair of black goggles turned his gaze to the little girl, a wicked smile playing on his lips.
"Ah, my sweet princess Jia. There you are."
In a sudden burst of urgency, Jia's father yelled, "RUN AWAY FROM HERE WITH HER! QUICKLY!"
The lady swiftly scooped up little Jia in her arms, bolting upstairs upon hearing her husband's desperate plea.
The black suits men followed in pursuit of the mother-daughter duo, but not before firing shots at the man lying on the floor, ending his life instantly.
Throughout the frantic escape, the young Jia wailed in anguish, desperately calling out for her father, her heart breaking at witnessing his lifeless body.
The lady clutched little Jia tightly, desperately attempting to soothe her terror, "Hush, don't look there. Everything's fine, baby. Please don't cry," she murmured, her voice trembling.
The goggle-clad man's taunting words echoed through the vast hallway, his voice tinged with a sinister tone.
"There's no point in running. You know you're going to die today. Your escape attempts are futile."
Quickly finding refuge in a random room, the lady locked the door firmly from the inside, shielding both herself and little Jia as she hurriedly placed her child inside a large cupboard. She bent down before the trembling Jia, her eyes filled with desperate determination.
"Listen to me carefully, Jia. No matter what happens, don't come out of it. You hear me? And please, stop your tears, my child. Can you do that for mommy?" Her voice trembled with fear. Her hands trembling as having no time, with a heavy heart, she quickly closed the cupboard door, only partially opening it to allow Jia to breathe.
The lady made her way towards the door and as she opened the door, her heart froze at the sight before her. Standing directly in front of her were the group of all-black-clad men, their menacing presence sending chills down her spine.
"I warned you...there's no point in running," the goggle-clad man remarked, his voice filled with malevolent triumph. He took slow, measured steps towards her, his gaze scanning the room. Meanwhile, little Jia watched helplessly through the slight opening in the cupboard door.
"Did you hide her?" he asked, a sinister smirk playing across his lips. "But she won't be hidden forever." With a cruel finality, he fired a shot, the bullet piercing the lady's forehead, ending her life instantly.
"MOM!!!" Jia screamed.
•□•□•□•□•□•
"MOM!!" Jia woke up from her sleep and sat on the bed with her full force while gasping for breath as tears streamed down her face. But suddenly she felt someone's presence beside her. She turned her head to meet with a terrifying sight. There, the same man with the sinister smirk, watching her with a chilling gaze. Fear seized her, and she hastily scooted away, inching backward on the bed, desperately trying to create distance between them.
Jia's trembling voice escaped her lips, "Y-you... you're alive? But... you perished before my eyes. How is this possible?"
His sinister chuckle echoed through the room as the man responded, "Yes, I am alive... specifically, for your impending death."
In an instant, he lunged onto Jia, his hands swiftly encircling her throat, cutting off her oxygen supply. She struggled desperately to break free, but the iron grip only tightened, causing unbearable pain to course through her body. And she failed to save herself.
○□○□○□○□○□○□○
Jia jolted awake, her eyes widening in shock, gasping for air. She frantically touched her throat, checking for any signs of a real attack. Panic surged through her as she hastily jumped off the bed and dashed into the bathroom. With a swift movement, she splashed water on her face, desperately trying to confirm she was out of her nightmare before staring intently at her reflection in the mirror, searching for reassurance as she just saw a false awakening in her dream.
She shook her head, her breath slowly normalising. "It...It was just a dream.... just a nightmare… He is not alive..."
●◇◇◇◇◇◇●