Baby.

No matter where you are, I will find you.

Anyone who’s ever hurt you…they’ll pay with their lives.

As long as you live, I’ll live.

But if you die, I’ll go with you.

Hell doesn’t scare me—being without you does.

—Alexander Grant

Blinding surgical lights.

A stinging disinfectant smell filled the air.

Lily Johnson was lying on the operating table, completely numb under anesthesia.

This wasn’t some treatment—she had been kidnapped and thrown here.

The man in the surgical gown, face masked, held a scalpel that glinted coldly.

He was a real doctor, but working for the black market.

“Silly Lily, you’re seriously the dumbest person I’ve ever seen,” Sophia Johnson said, her voice light but mocking. “But hey, since you’ve always been a clueless idiot, I’ll do you one solid before you die—let you know the truth.”

Standing right by the operating table, Sophia’s pitiful mask had vanished. Her lips curled in a satisfied smirk.

Lily wanted to scream, shake with rage, but couldn’t move a muscle.

All she could do was stare at Sophia with wide, pained eyes.

She just wanted a real home, a family that would love her.

That’s why she gave everything to the Johnsons—genuine care, full-on sacrifice.

And where did that get her?

Right here, helpless under the knife.

She’d been so blind, treating Sophia like some fragile sister in need.

Even went as far as offering to donate her kidney.

“I pushed Mom down the stairs,” Sophia said casually. “Perfect timing—Alexander Grant showed up at the scene. So I just pinned it on him.”

“And you? You did exactly what I hoped. Lost your mind trying to avenge her.”

The tone in Sophia’s voice dripped with triumph.

She enjoyed watching Lily crumble like this.

Mom... was murdered by Sophia?!

Every word out of her mouth felt like a knife stabbing into Lily’s heart.

She was silently screaming, her soul ripping apart.

“Oh, and Nate? He didn’t die because of Alexander either. He wanted to bring you back home. Alexander refused, and of course I couldn’t let that happen, so I helped someone lure him out.”

“And Nate, that clever guy, bought it the second I said I had a plan to get you out.”

“You probably don’t even know this—when he was dying, still barely breathing, all he thought about was protecting you. Guess what? That killed me—his heart was always with you.”

“As for Alexander, well, someone needed to take the blame. You were so set on hating him already, it wasn’t hard to convince you it was all him.”

Lily’s eyes filled with torment and regret.

So it had all been a setup.

Nate’s death in some godforsaken place… orchestrated by Sophia.

And the worst part? She’d never even believed in Alexander.

All of it—her doing.

Sophia’s grin said it all: she’d won.

“Wanna know why you’re here on this table?” she asked with fake sweetness.

“Because… someone important wants your heart.”

“So, can’t really blame me. I’m just the middleman.”

“And as for those kidneys of yours—”"You’re gonna die without a heart anyway, so I might as well make good use of it. Can’t help it—our blood type is just that rare."

Her kidneys had failed, and with such a unique blood type, only Lily Johnson’s organs could give her a fighting chance.

"If you wanna blame someone, blame Alexander Grant. He wouldn't let you donate blood to me, let alone a kidney. That guy treats you like treasure."

Lily, that naive thing, was actually fine with donating. But Alexander refused to let her go.

But it worked out—now one turned into two. Sophia Johnson could recover sooner.

Watching the doctor take out that still-beating heart, Sophia’s lips curled into a twisted sneer.

"After you disappeared, Alexander went nuts looking for you."

"Can you imagine his face when he sees you like this? Bet he'll completely lose it."

No. She couldn’t let him see. Not like this.

He really would go mad.

She tried so hard to please everyone else, yet treated him like the devil—pushed him away, hated him.

Dumped all her pain and blame on him.

She hated him so much she wanted to drag him through hell. Tried every trick to crush him.

And now?

All she wanted was for him not to find her. Not to catch even one glimpse of her dying like this.

"Lily Johnson, in the end, I still won. You’re not taking what’s mine."

"You can just lie here and breathe your last nice and slow."

A phone call came through. After answering, Sophia rushed the doctors, telling them to speed it up.

Before leaving, she leaned down and said with a smirk, “Good news: Alexander’s here.”

Lily, fading fast, could only keep praying in her heart.

Alexander, please don’t. Don't come. Don't see me like this.

But of course… fate had other plans.

Alexander Grant came anyway.

The man who once looked like he ruled the world—polished, proud, unstoppable—now showed up with stubble on his face, thin and worn down.

He clutched her hand like it was the only thing keeping him grounded, his other hand trembling as it brushed her cheek.

"Kitten, don’t be scared. I’m here now."

"See? I told you you couldn’t run from me. No matter where you hide, I’ll always find you. We’ll never be apart."

"Kitten, I messed up. I won’t lock you away again, I swear. Just... don't run so fast this time, okay? Wait for me.”

That nickname—“Kitten”—he used to murmur it when they were close, when he held her so tight it felt like no one else existed.

She grew up being called a jinx. That’s why they named her Lily, close in sound to the ancient beast that devoured people—hoping a fearsome name might protect her.

But Alexander didn’t care about all that. Said even if she were a monster, she'd still be his kitten.

Said he, a cursed star himself, was born to match her.

Every time he had her in his arms, he’d whisper that name right into her ear, again and again.

"Kitten."

She used to hate it. Now... it sank deep into her bones.

A single tear slid down Lily’s cheek.

Fine. She gave in.

She wouldn’t run anymore. She’d wait for him, like he said.

Whatever he wanted, she’d do it.

If there’s a next life, she wouldn’t be afraid—not even if he caged her.

She’d hold on tight.

Never let go.