Chapter 3 Chapter 3 Chapter Three

Before he could even reach Serena, a sudden, sharp pain shot up from his knee.

That one kick from her felt like getting slammed with a sledgehammer.

Dylan Price cried out in agony, collapsing hard onto the floor, clutching his knee as he wailed miserably.

His lackey panicked when he saw their boss downed. He charged over with a baseball bat, yelling, "You crazy bitch! Lay a hand on Dylan and I'll end you!"

Then, a flash of silver.

No one caught how Serena moved.

All they heard was a sickening "squelch" - the lackey froze, eyes wide, hands wrapped tightly around his bleeding throat. Blood poured between his fingers, staining the red spider lily on his neck even darker.

He stared in disbelief, then crashed to the ground - dead silent.

Seeing his guy drop lifeless right next to him, Dylan was instantly terrified. Forgetting about the pain, he scrambled back on hands and knees, voice shaking. "Who the hell are you?! You're not scared of the Douglas family?"

Gavin Moore had just taken down the rest - some had twisted necks, others couldn't move their limbs. They lay all around like broken dolls.

Hearing Dylan, he pulled a gun from his coat and coldly pressed the dark barrel right to Dylan's temple. His voice was ice. "The Douglases? In front of Her Highness, they're nothing."

Just as Gavin was about to pull the trigger, Serena gave a subtle wave with her slender hand.

Her tone was flat, but left no room for questions. "Don't kill him yet."

Gavin immediately paused, holstered the gun, though he didn't quite get it. "Your Highness, he just insulted you and tried to lay hands on you. Why let him live?"

"He's more useful alive."

Serena bent down, looming over Dylan Price as she stepped on half his face and smiled. "Go tell your boss at the Douglas family - Serena is back."

Dylan glanced at the gun still at Gavin's side and frantically nodded.

"Who did you just say came back?!"

In the Douglas family's grand hall, the crystal chandelier above flickered so hard it made people dizzy.

Aria Douglas was twirling a diamond ring as she looked at her clearly rattled mother. "Mom, who's Serena?"

With a loud "clink," Esther slammed her teacup on the table, causing tea to splash everywhere.

No amount of makeup could hide her shock. "Serena's actually alive? That fat prisoner back then swore she'd taken care of her. Took the money, did nothing!"

She shot to her feet, pacing the floor like a storm, her fury barely contained. "She was sentenced to thirty years. Even if she's not dead, she's not supposed to be out! Did she escape prison?"

Then her steps stopped.

A malicious smile curled on her lips. "Fine. If she's bold enough to show up again, I'll make sure she regrets it. I got her locked up once - don't think I can't make her vanish for good."

As she spoke, her eyes slid over to Dylan Price, still barely standing with help - and full of disgust.

His knee was supposedly shattered, thick gauze wrapped around it. He looked completely wrecked.

She snorted. "Seriously? You let a woman mess you up like that? Pathetic. What about the mall-did you manage to tear it down?"

Dylan Price shook his head, face like thunder.

"We barely got there before she stopped us. My guys-some are dead, some crippled. That's no ordinary woman..."

"Enough. Spare me the excuses."

A servant brought over a fresh cup of tea. Esther took a sip, her mood getting worse by the second. "Can you believe it? The city still hasn't approved the demolition. That's why I wanted you to just force it. And you can't even handle that?"

She waved her hand in annoyance. "Forget it. Stay out of the mall mess-I'll talk to General Gavin Moore myself and try to smooth things over. As for you-"

Esther's voice turned icy. "I'll give you a new team. Don't bother with anything else-I just want Serena dead."

Meanwhile, at the mall.

Serena and Gavin Moore had just wrapped up a walkthrough.

The manager had rushed over the moment he heard the big boss was around, falling over himself to report.

Serena couldn't be bothered. "You deal with it," she told Gavin, and turned to leave.

Honestly, after all those years out in the field, she hadn't had time to enjoy something as simple as a mall stroll. She figured she'd pick up some chamomile tea and supplements for Mabel. The old lady already had bad sleep-finding out Serena was back would probably keep her up from pure excitement.

She stepped into the elevator and pressed a button.

Just before the doors closed, they slid open again-and in stumbled two women practically dragging a man between them.

The guy's head hung low, messy bangs covering his face. He reeked faintly of alcohol, his steps unsteady. Clearly drugged, letting the women pull him along without resistance.

The second the women saw Serena's face, they froze for a beat-then narrowed their eyes with visible hostility.

Serena knew her looks often made her a target. She rarely gave random hostility any mind. Eyes closed, she leaned back and pretended to nap.

Apparently, the silence made them think she was intimidated. Both women looked smug, rolling their eyes and shifting back into pose.

One of them hit the elevator button, then sneered, "Once Cora gets his first time, we get our turn. I'm filming it, too. Dunno if he can even perform with how strongly we dosed him."

The other laughed. "If he can't, we'll spike him again. He's not getting away today! Cora's waiting."

Serena's brow twitched, eyes snapping open.

Love-sick girls chasing a guy? Maybe. But like this? Drugging him? That's not love-that's assault.

She was just about to say something when-ding-the elevator reached the 8th floor, and they quickly dragged the man out.

One of them kept yammering, voice full of mockery:"Act all high and mighty, Evan Carter, but look at you now. Too good to even glance at us before, and today you're falling right into our hands-Cora's little plaything now!"

Serena froze at the name, her face going hard.

Evan?

Her body moved before her brain caught up-she sprinted straight out of the elevator.