"I'm standing behind the stage. The cameras behind him constantly flashes, dazzling my eyes. For the first time in my life, I hold my breath for seeing his chiseled face."

"The most joyful moment of my life was the moment he entered me. I long to hear him say that he loves me."

"Moral, rationale, I don't want to be anymore. I only want to be with you, Razeen."

Standing by the riverbank, the gurgling water couldn't dim the man's angry voice.

He was holding a women's style phone, gnashing his teeth while reading the notes in it.

Isabelle Dorado quietly listened, her hands tied her hands behind her back.

The secret conflicts between her and Razeen Quincy, through his mistress's words of love, gradually surfaced.

The man forcefully pressed her head down. Cold air entered her nose, and then her face was thrust into the suffocating water.

She struggled with all her strength. The man loosened his grip, and the air quickly returned to her lungs, but she stumbled and fell to the ground because of the force.

"Are you deaf? Didn't you hear the love letter my woman wrote to your husband?"

The man's fierce face glowed under the dim street lights.

Isabelle's left cheek got hurt. The phone hit her face then fell to her feet.

She lowered her head. The phone's screen saver dimly glowed. It was a photo.

It was in a poor-lit hotel. A beautiful, charming woman leaned in a man's arms. Her eyebrows arched and her eyes smiled like crescent moons. The two were lacing their fingers. The man's eyes were full of love. The woman's exposed neck was covered with different shades of hickeys, which were very sexy.

A light flashed in Isabelle's eyes but disappeared into the darkness quickly.

"You, talk! Your husband slept with my woman!" The man said in a rough voice.

"Wasn't your woman enjoying it?" Isabelle said softly.

The man was stunned, and he was unable to snap back.

"If you come to me for an explanation, isn't it ridiculous? You woman climbed to my husband's bed as his secretary. By rights, I am also a victim. Of course, if you want to seek comfort, I am sorry, I have no time."

"You!" The man screamed incredulously, "Don't pretend. Don't you mind it at all?"

Isabelle glanced at the man who was submerged with anger. "Razeen Quincy's scandals dominate the front pages in Zion City every day. Do I mind to come seek for my justice? I just want to remind you that with his current status, he cannot tolerate other people's provocations against him. Besides, you kidnapped his wife. If you have the guts to hit his face, you should be ready to receive his revenge."

She said it casually, but the man was so scared he started to sweat.

Just as he was about to speak, the phone in his pocket rang, sounding particularly harsh in the dark, silent night.

He picked up. It was a video call. In a shabby warehouse, a middle-aged woman's cry suddenly came.

"Hubert, I'm so scared. Come and save me... I don't want to die..."

Hubert's mind went chaotic. "What are you doing?! Release my mother!"

"Well, you've abducted my wife, of course, I need to invite your mother to be my guest. It is impolite not to return the favor. Don't you think so? Hubert?"

A deep male voice came slowly. Although it was interweaving with the cry of the middle-aged woman, it was surprisingly clear and even pleasing to the ear.

Terror flashed in Hubert's eyes. "Razeen, how dare you do this to me!"

On the phone's screen, Razeen's perfectly shape appeared, sitting cross-legged on the couch. His long and slender fingers supported his chin as he comfortably breathed out smoke. His lowered gaze hid the radiance within, but the nobility and coldness that came from him poured out from his movements.

"Hubert, are you standing up for that woman? She isn't worth it. Ask them to let me go..."

"Hubert, I heard that your mother got some heart issue. What do you think? If she gets constant shocks and is not treated in time, what will the result be?"

Razeen's deep eyes were cold, and time seemed to be still at this moment.

Hubert trembled and fell to the ground. His face became ashen.

Razeen put out the cigarette in his hand, still smiling, his deep eyes deadly sharp.

"You'd better make sure that my wife is safe and sound, otherwise... you should be ready to come home and mourn your mom."

"Razeen, you're not a human! You're a complete madman!"

But the call was ended, leaving only a string of beeping sound.

Shaking, Hubert untied Isabelle and stumbled, running away.

Isabelle watched him scooting far away. She turned around and walked towards the exit by the river bank, her body blending into the darkness.

She was not familiar with this erea. Judging from the empty streets, she guessed she was in the suburbs. She had been walking on the road for nearly half an hour and seen not a single car.

Thick fog shrouded the night, and the ground was wet by the dense water vapor in the air.

She wrapped the torn coat around her tightly. The moment she heard the sound of the wheels rubbing against the road, she took a step forward, raising her hand to signal the coming vehicle to stop.

Screech--

An ear-piercing screech of brakes broke through the air. Isabelle looked indifferent, as if she was not the person who was only ten centimeters away from the car.

She quickly got into the car and put a bill on the dashboard. "Hello, please take me to the Iggy Community."

The driver didn't even look at the high value bill, but he turned to look at her. The lights inside the car were dim, and his face was hidden in the shadows. Only his eyes were as black and shiny as agate.

"It's dangerous to stop a car like this."

Isabelle awkwardly adjusted her face. "I am safe and sound now, aren't I?"

The driver tapped the steering wheel with his well-defined index fingers, frowning. "I mean, your rash behavior will put me in danger."

"I know it's late now," Isabelle said flatly then took out another two notes from her wallet. "This amount is sufficient to circle around Zion City. Now, can you drive?"

"You seem to think that it's not a big deal to get in a stranger's car."

Isabelle's beautiful face was slightly wrinkled. "If it's the case, why did you stop just now?"

She opened the door and was about to get off.

An arm blocked her way. The car door was closed right away, blocking the cold air outside.

"You seem to misunderstand me." The man's voice was low, a faint smile hiding within.

The car started to speed along the road.

"Thank you." After a long time, Isabelle's dry voice sounded.

"No need." The man raised his chin and said, "Please put those in my wallet." He meant the money Isabelle placed on the dashboard.

Isabelle's fingertips trembled. She was unwilling, but she still did as she was told.

The man saw through her mind and smiled lightly. "This money is to pay the gasoline and cleaning fee. You're not at a loss."

Isabelle followed his gaze and found a puddle of water on her seat and under her feet. Drops of water were still dripping from her hair.

"Maybe, you're right."

The man looked at her, assessing. Her hair was messy and there were two pieces of water weed on it. "What happened to you..."

Isabelle was startled. She checked herself in the rearview mirror. Looking a little downward, blood was oozing from the scratches made by the rope that tied her wrists, and the nail on her right thumb was also broken.

She remained silent, using this quiet gaze as an answer.

The man lifted his eyelids. "There are towels and iodine in the compartment."

"No need."

The man could see her fatigue. A moment later, he said, "If you are tired, then take a nap first. It's still quite far to our destination."

Isabelle put her forearm to cover her eyes and began to breathe lightly.

"You always give trust to strangers like this?" The man smiled lightly.

"I have nothing to lose."

As she spoke, Isabelle leaned her head against the headrest. Her icy cold hands stuck into her sleeves slowly tightened.

The night became darker, and it was drizzling outside the window, rhythmically knocking on the glass...

She dropped the TV remote control and opened the door. A familiar figure stood at the entrance, his chiseled face partly hidden by the angle of the light. The visible half of his face was well-defined and handsome, but his eyes seemed to be concealed in the rain, which was vague enough to make people think it was just a dream.

She stood by the door with a look of astonishment on her face that she had no time to hide.

He didn't open his umbrella. There were streaks of rain water on his dry jacket and mud on his feet.

The two were silent. The outside world was grey. The dark night fell quietly, but the rain was so heavy that it made crackling sounds on the windowsill.

Looking at his right hand wrapped in gauze, she asked softly, "Have you figured it out?"

"Yes." Razeen Quincy nodded. 

He suddenly approached her. His left hand placed on the door frame, his tall and straight body towering her whole body.

"Isabelle, I want to marry you. Family and the past aren't things we can choose. All of this has nothing to do with you..."

"Miss, we're at the Iggy Community."

The man's voice pulled Isabelle out of her dream.

She sat upright and looked ahead with eyes wide-open. A moment later, she opened the door and got out. "Thank you."

The laughter of young men and women came to her ears. Not far away, under the neon lights, a couple was kissing. The night in the city was particularly lively.

Isabelle subconsciously hugged her arms. The cold wind cut her face and made her feel painful. Even her breath became steam.

Above her head, the huge movie post reminded her that today was February 14th, day of the lovers.

"How frustrating, didn't you say you can book tickets online? Why is it already sold out?"

"I've booked, but the balance in my card is insufficient. I wanted to buy the tickets at the cinema, and I didn't expect there to be so many people. Should we try somewhere else?"

A couple was quarreling next to her.

Isabelle stopped in her tracks. She turned around, took out two movie tickets from her pocket, then walked to the young couples, giving them the tickets.

The sudden appearance of the movie tickets and a gentle-looking woman in front of them made the young couple unable to react.

"I don't need them. Take them. I wish you a happy holiday," said Isabelle.

The young man smiled happily and was slightly embarrassed. "Aren't you going to watch the movie with your boyfriend?"

Isabelle smiled faintly, "He is very busy now."

Before the couple could respond, she turned and walked towards Iggy Community.

The man in the car followed Isabelle's figure with his black eyes until she disappeared at the gate of the community. He stopped looking at her and withdrew his pensive eyes.

His phone in the compartment started to buzz.

The man turned on the light in the car and reached for the compartment, only to find something on the side of the dashboard.

A staff ID card.

"Hey, brother, my brother. No, you're my grandpa now. Grandpa, please show kindness and return the car to me!" 

The man raised his eyebrows, listening to the complaints from the other end of the call, but his eyes were fixed on the ID card.