Leo was slumped against a wall in a deserted alley, a short distance away from Ellui Club. The night was eerily quiet, the only sound filling the air being the occasional sound of a stray animal or the distant hum of the city. He was alone, his stomach brutally stabbed multiple times, leaving him covered in his Blood, which had pooled on the ground around him, the foul stench of his Blood filled the air. As he sat back against the wall, his eyes fixed on the sky above, desperately trying to keep them open.
His phone was resting in his blood covered hand. His gasps for breath were laboured and pained, each one sending a fresh wave of agony through his body. However, despite the intense pain and difficulty breathing, he stubbornly fought to stay conscious. He knew that every breath he took, every gasp and groan of pain, was a small victory in his struggle to stay alive.
Although the chances of his survival seemed slim, he refused to give up hope, his mind focused on one single thought - the hope that his brother Max would arrive before it was too late. There was no one else around to help him, and the odds were stacked against him. But he knew that if he could just hold on a little longer, Max would find him and appear in front of his eyes, which he desperately needed.
Suddenly the sound of an approaching ambulance filled the air. The wailing siren grew louder with each passing moment, followed closely by the growing sound of footsteps that seemed to be approaching him. Leo's weary eyes, still fixed on the sky, suddenly flickered with a hint of hope as he heard a voice calling out his name in the distance.
It was Max and Jae, urgently searching for him.
Leo's expression, which had been filled with pain and exhaustion, relaxed just a little as the sound of his both brothers' voices grew louder. He knew that his wait was finally over.
As Jae, Max, and Jia frantically searched for Leo, they finally spotted him slumped against the wall of the alley. With hearts racing, they urgently rushed towards him, their eyes widening in shock and horror at the sight of his condition. The three quickly reached his side, with Max and Jae taking their places on either side of him while Jia stood beside them, unable to hide the look of concern and horror on her face.
Max took his wounded brother in his arms, and Leo groaned in pain as he struggled to move. Both Max and Jae felt their hearts twist in agony at the sight of his state.
Max urgently asked, "Leo! Leo! How did this happen? Who did this to you?" Leo's expression remained stoic, but the corner of his eyes began to well up with tears as he struggled to respond.
"It was…it was someone close," he managed to say. "Very close." Despite the pain and the effort it took to speak, Leo's voice was firm and laced with a hint of betrayal.
As soon as Jae heard Leo's words, his expression darkened, and he immediately asked, "Who was it, Leo?"
But before Leo could answer, a loud, pain-filled groan escaped his lips. He was struggling to maintain consciousness and strength, and it was clear that he was losing the battle. Seeing his condition, Max and Jae quickly moved to lift him up, intending to carry him to the ambulance, but Leo grasped Max's arm weakly, stopping him.
"No...stop...please," Leo said, his voice filled with vulnerability, and both Jae and Max looked at him with concern and trepidation.
At the moment as Jia stood by their side, something suddenly caught her attention under her feet. She shifted her foot slightly to get a better look and realised that it was something familiar lying on the ground. She quickly picked it up, squinting in the dim light to try and get a clearer look.
It was a neck chain, a familiar piece of jewellery, seeing which a frown appeared on her face. As she examined the object closely, her expression turned to one of shock and confusion as she recognized it. She quickly looked towards Leo then back at it, her mind racing as she tried to understand why it was here in this place and the complete shock and confusion engulfed her.
Meanwhile, Max and Jae, staring at injured Leo. Suddenly, a bitter smile appeared on Leo's face as he managed to speak, his voice laced with resignation. "I….I got a very good beginning but…but not a good end." he said.
Max and Jae's hearts ached at his words.
Max tried to reassure him, desperately wanting to believe that they could save him. "Don't talk nonsense, we're going to get you to the hospital and you'll be fine," he said, urgently attempting to lift him up.
But Leo again stopped him, his voice weary and soft. "Max, I c-can't… . don't…..don't have much time left, please just ... .just stay with me," he pleaded.
Jae intervened, his voice filled with determination. "Don't say that, Leo. We can save you," he insisted.
Just then Leo's eyes shifted to Jia, a small smile spread across his face. "Jia!" he called out, his voice laced with affection.
Jia was suddenly jolted from her thoughts, her concern and shock intensifying as she looked at Leo. At that moment, Jae also turned in her direction, noticing something in her hand, but quickly dismissed it as he turned back to Leo, who continued to look at Jia.
"Remember me, will you?" Leo said, his voice weakening yet filled with warmth. "My name is Leo, but you can call me Love."
Tears immediately welled in Jia's eyes, and she struggled to hold back her sobs, her hand tightly covering her mouth to muffle her emotions.
Then, Leo shifted his gaze to Jae and scoffingly said, "I don't know why I'm being given this death, whether I deserve it or not." As he spoke, he looked toward Max, his expression softening. "But at least you guys are with me."
The moment the words left Leo's lips, his eyes slowly closed, and his body went limp. Max, Jia and Jae froze in horror and disbelief, unable to comprehend what had just happened.
Max's eyes widened in shock as he quickly shook Leo, trying to rouse him. "No..no, Leo, please. Open your eyes...wake up," he pleaded, his voice filled with desperation.
He continued to shake Leo urgently, his voice trembling with panic and grief, "Leo, you can't do this! You have to wake up! We need you! I need you!"
Max refused to give up, his voice filled with urgency and desperation. "We have to take him to the hospital!" he exclaimed, his words laced with an intense determination.
Without wasting a moment, he attempted to lift Leo, and Jae quickly joined him. Together, they hurried towards the ambulance with Leo in their arms. Jia clutched the necklace tightly in her hands, struggling to hold back her sobs as she fought to maintain her composure.
As they reached the ambulance, Max and Jae carefully placed Leo inside with the help of two ambulance personnel, their expressions a mix of anxiety and helplessness. They tried to keep their emotions in check, but the weight of the situation was overwhelming.
Meanwhile, Jia stood nearby, her body trembling with suppressed sobs. Max quickly climbed into the ambulance alongside Leo. Without wasting any time, the ambulance sped off, its siren blaring through the night air.
Meanwhile, Jae hurriedly led Jia towards his car and helped her into the passenger seat before getting into the driver's seat himself. He started the car and quickly pulled out, following closely behind the ambulance.
***
By the time they reached the hospital, Leo's unconscious body was quickly placed on a trolley and wheeled through the hallway as they all hurried behind. Max held Leo's motionless hand, silently praying for a miracle, hoping that he would wake up at any moment. Jae and Jia followed closely, their faces filled with worry and anxiety. Just then, a doctor rushed towards them, taking notice of their urgent demeanour.
Seeing the doctor they all immediately stopped and the Doctor began examining Leo. As the doctor examined, Max, Jae and Jia watched anxiously, holding onto hope. They silently prayed that the doctor would say that they could save him.
However, the doctor's expression turned sombre and disappointed as he finished his examination, taking a deep breath before speaking. "I'm sorry," he said gently. "He's already passed away."
Silence filled the air as Max, Jae, and Jia processed the doctor's words. Their hopes were shattered, and grief and disbelief settled upon them heavily.
Max's grip on Leo's hand tightened involuntarily, and a painful lump formed in his throat.
Jae's eyes widened, his body going rigid as he struggled to comprehend reality.
Jia's eyes welled up with tears, her hand coming up to cover her mouth as a small sob escaped her lips.
Their minds became overwhelmed with memories of the time they had spent with Leo.
Max's hands trembled as he held Leo's face, his eyes flooded with disbelief. "Leo," he choked out, struggling to speak through his tears. "You've disrespected me, your older brother, for so long. You always did things to irritate me, didn't you? Why did you have to do this now? You weren't supposed to die. You actually didn't want to die. You were meant to keep living, weren't you? Why did you give up so quickly?"
Max's words were broken by tears, his body shaking as he clung to the hope that this was all just a nightmare.
Jae, on the other hand, leaned against a nearby wall, his body going limp as he slid down to the floor, overwhelmed by grief.
Max continued to sob heavily, his voice growing louder and more desperate. "Leo, wake up! Please….. . you don't understand the pain I'm feeling. Please wake up… . My dear brother! You can't leave me like this, I only have you!"
Max's anguish echoed through the hospital hallway, drawing the attention of anyone in the vicinity. It was as if Max's anguish had become the centre of the world, and everyone in the vicinity could feel his agony. The staff at the hospital attempted to maintain a certain level of professional distance, but they were unable to remain indifferent to the raw emotions being displayed in front of them.
The sight of Max, Jae, and Jia in such a state of mourning had a profound effect on the people around them. They could feel the weight of Max's grief in their hearts, even if they didn't know him.
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As the sun setted, casting a warm golden hue over the scene, the hall where Leo's death ceremony was taking place became a hallowed space. Soft music played in the background, creating a sombre yet peaceful atmosphere.
Max, Jae, Jia, Jackson, Bella, Daniel, and Daisy stood in the front, their faces a mix of sadness and nostalgia. The guests who had joined them, their expressions reflecting the sense of loss they felt at the passing of Leo. The ceremony proceeded with traditional rituals and prayers, paying tribute to Leo's life and the memories he left behind.
The air was filled with a unique blend of sadness and acceptance, as everyone present tried to come to terms with the reality of Leo's departure. As the ceremony came to a close, the guests began to pay their last respects to Leo and offer their condolences to Leo's family.
Jae, who was standing next to Jackson, his eyes fixed on Leo's picture, spoke up, his determination and pain evident as he said, "Whoever killed Leo, their death shall be written by my hands."
Jackson, who was standing beside Jae, felt a mixture of determination and sadness as he listened to Jae's words.
"Tell Daniel to check the CCTV footage from every place Leo passed through yesterday," Jae added, his voice filled with a steely determination. Jackson nodded in agreement, his resolve strengthened by Jae's words.
After this, Jae, unable to contain his emotions, stormed out of the hall, seeking solitude to calm himself and gain control over his feelings. As he walked, Jackson followed behind him discreetly, giving him space but also making sure he wasn't alone in his moment of vulnerability.
They both stepped outside into the open ground, only to find Bella already sitting on the bench alone, looking sad. She had gone outside for some fresh air, seeking solitude in her moment of grief. Jae and Jackson both approached Bella, their steps quickening as they drew closer to her. Bella, who had been gazing into the distance, turned towards them as they came near, her expression still sombre.
Jae and Jackson sat beside her, Jackson was sitting in the middle of the bench, their presence offering a small measure of comfort in the midst of their shared grief.
They sat silently for a moment, each lost in their own thoughts as they gazed at the open ground in front of them where no one was present except them. The weight of their sadness and loss hung heavily in the air, creating a palpable sense of melancholy.
Suddenly Bella, lost in thought, chuckled bitterly as she reminisced about her first meeting with Leo. "You know," she said, her voice tinged with sadness, "I remember when I met Leo for the first time. Do you recall what the first words he said to me were? He said, '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.'"
Jackson, feeling the depth of Bella's emotions, wrapped his arm around her shoulder, offering silent comfort and support. The three of them sat in silence for a few more moments, the only sound being their own breaths and the occasional sigh. The air was crisp and cool, offering a small respite from the intensity of their emotions.
Suddenly, several men appeared, their faces hidden behind the mask, pointing their guns at the trio.
Caught off guard, Jae, Jackson, and Bella were momentarily stunned, but they quickly snapped into action, drawing their own weapons and aiming them at the group surrounding them. The tension in the air grew palpable as the standoff continued.
Jackson, his eyes still fixed on the armed men, spoke to Bella without looking in her direction. "Bella, stay behind me," he said, his voice firm.
Bella, her own gun trained on the group surrounding them, narrowed her eyes as she noticed those men's eyes and realised something.
"These are my enemies," she said, her voice filled with realisation and determination.
Hearing her words, Jackson, confused, turned his head to Bella but was surprised to see a gun in Bella's hand, and quickly asked, "You have a gun?"
"Some bodyguards also have guns." Bella responded quickly, Jackson nodded in understanding and refocused his attention on the men surrounding them.
But suddenly Jackson's thoughts returned to Bella's earlier statement, a look of confusion and shock crossed his face. He turned to Bella again and asked, "How are these men your enemies?"
Without paying much attention to Jackson's questions, Jae interjected, his voice serious. "This is not the right place to fire."
Bella nodded in agreement, adding, "We have to fight without weapons."
Jackson, still trying to puzzle out the situation, voiced his question again. "But how are these men your enemies, and why have they come to attack us?"
Ignoring Jackson's question once more, Bella turned to Jae and said, "They're not shooting at us either, it's a good chance."
As soon as she finished speaking, both Bella and Jae attacked the men without warning, using their impressive combat skills to take them down quickly and silently, even though they were heavily outnumbered.
Jackson, still trying to wrap his head around the situation, watched in awe and disbelief as how both Bella and Jae were swiftly handling the opponents.
In some moments Bella and Jae knocked out all the opponents. Despite the fact that the attackers had guns, Bella and Jae had efficiently taken them out without giving any of them a chance to fire their weapons.
After taking out the attackers, Bella explained to Jae, her gaze fixed on the unconscious men. "These men used to be members of my gang, but they crossed a line that I couldn't tolerate. I kicked them out, but ever since then, they've been filled with hate, wanting to kill me." Jae listened intently, his gaze lingering on the fallen opponents.
Jackson, still in disbelief and confusion, spoke up from behind them, "What gang, what members are you talking about?" His voice caught Bella and Jae's attention, causing them to turn around.
Bella regarded Jackson with an annoyed and exhausted expression, stating, "Both Daniel and Daisy realised it without me having to explain anything. But you, you don't seem to know anything yet."
Jackson's confusion deepened further, and he expressed his frustration, saying, "Will you just explain things to me properly?"
Hearing Jackson's plea, Bella took a deep breath, irritation evident on her face. She then revealed, "I'm also a Mafia boss, Canadian Mafia of an Organisation named Crimson Hawks."
Jackson's eyes widened, and he stared at Bella in shock, unable to hide his surprise. This revelation hit Jackson like a bolt out of the blue. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. He continued to stare at Bella, his shock and disbelief palpable. His gaze shifted to Jae, and seeing no reaction on Jae's face, Jackson realised Jae must have already known.
Frustrated, Jackson turned back to Bella, his expression filled with disgust, and blurted, "No wonder why this woman is so dangerous, just like a vamp or a devil."
Just as the words left Jackson's mouth, Bella swiftly executed a mighty flying kick to Jackson's head, knocking him down to the ground.
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Jia stood in the elevator within the apartment building, her hand tightly clutching the neck chain which she found in that deserted alley where Leo was found injured. Her expression was a mix of determination and confusion, her grip on the neck chain reflecting her inner turmoil. She was deep in thought, her mind grappling with the events of the past and the significance of the neck chain clutched in her hand.
As the elevator door opened, Jia quickly stepped out and moved towards Sarah's apartment. To her surprise, she found Sarah outside her apartment with several boxes, as if she was packing to move out. Jia frowned, puzzled by this sight, and started walking towards Sarah.
But at that moment, Sarah's gaze fell upon Jia, noticing her approach. Sarah hastily attempted to close the door, but Jia quickly lunged forward, pushing the door open with all her strength and entering the apartment.
As soon as she stepped inside, Jia noticed a strange darkness in Sarah's eyes that she had never seen before. Upon entering the apartment, Jia glanced around, taking in the sight of the packed boxes. The atmosphere seemed charged with a sense of urgency and unease. The look in Sarah's eyes only heightened Jia's confusion and growing apprehension.
"Are you leaving somewhere?" Jia asked with concern.
"Why are you here? Get out of here." Sarah responded coldly, then she grabbed Jia's arm and tried to forcefully push her outside. However, Jia quickly refused and closed the apartment door, preventing Sarah from pushing her out.
After shaking off Sarah's grip, Jia turned to Sarah and asked, "Sarah, what's going on? Why are you talking like this?"
"Just get out of here." Sarah demanded in a frustrated tone.
But Jia refused to listen, stepping further into the apartment and stopping in front of a table near the entrance.
Standing her ground, she declared, "I'm not leaving."
Following closely behind, Sarah began to glare angrily at Jia, but just as she was about to say something, Jia laid the neck chain on the table, causing Sarah to silently be shocked, although she tried to hide it from her face.
Then, Jia turned her gaze to Sarah and questioned, "I got this from where we found Leo injured. Is this the same chain I had designed for you?"
As Jia waited for Sarah's response, their eyes locked in a tense silence. The air between them felt thick with an unspoken tension. Sarah continued to maintain her stoic expression, refusing to show any emotions on her face.
"Sarah, what was the chain doing there?" Jia asked again.
"Do you suspect me?" Sarah responded impassively.
Hearing this, Jia's expression softened, and she took a step closer to Sarah, trying to reassure her. "No, Sarah, that's not what I mean."
However, just as Jia was about to reach out to touch Sarah, Sarah suddenly spoke in a cold tone while looking at her with cold eyes,
"I'm the one who killed Leo."
As soon as Sarah's words reached Jia's ear, she was stunned, and frozen in her tracks in shock. The room grew eerily silent as Jia just stared at Sarah in shock. Confusion and disbelief washed over her face. She tried to find any sign of dishonesty in Sarah's expression, hoping for some sort of explanation or denial.
"Sarah, this can't be true." Jia questioned in a whisper, her voice laced with disbelief.
"It is the truth." Sarah responded assertively.
In that moment, Jia's feelings of shock, confusion, and disbelief overwhelmed her, leading her to ask, "Why did you do it?"
Sarah didn't bother to answer, instead trying to pull Jia towards the door. However, Jia quickly freed her arm from Sarah's grip and grabbed hold of Sarah's shoulders, beseeching urgently.
"Sarah, what's going on? Tell me, we can fix this together. Please tell me what's wrong."
The mix of emotions swirling within Jia was palpable – confusion, disbelief, desperation. She wanted answers, but Sarah's silence was deafening.
With her hands firmly gripping Sarah's shoulders, Jia tried to get through to her. "Tell me what's wrong, Sarah. We can work through this. Please, just talk to me." Jia's voice was filled with a mixture of desperation and concern, her eyes searching Sarah's face, desperately trying to understand what had led to this situation.
Frustration and anger flared in Sarah, and she yelled at Jia while pushing her away, "DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND? GET OUT OF HERE!!"
Jia immediately steadied herself after almost falling from the forceful push, she tried to reason with Sarah, her voice calm and pleading. "Sarah, please tell me what happened. I know you could never hurt anyone. Please trust me, we can fix this together."
Jia took a step closer, desperately trying to make Sarah understand, when suddenly, Sarah pulled out a gun and pressed it against Jia's forehead.
Jia froze in shock, her eyes wide. At that moment, all the air seemed to leave the room. The gun felt cold and heavy against Jia's forehead, and the seriousness of the situation hit her like a ton of bricks. Jia's heart raced, and her mind buzzed with uncertainty and fear.
"Before I shoot you, just leave." Sarah coldly stated.
But shaking her head in denial, Jia attempted to approach Sarah, trying to reach out to her despite the gun still pressed against her forehead.
However, Sarah pushed her back forcefully, causing Jia to fall to the floor. Then swiftly grabbed Jia by the throat, pinning her head roughly against the floor and keeping the gun pointed at her forehead.
Her jaw clenched, as she spoke through gritted teeth, her gaze fixed on Jia's eyes. "Why don't you understand that I'll really shoot you?"
The room grew eerily silent, the only sound the heavy breaths of Jia. The cold metal of the gun against her forehead served as a constant reminder of the dire situation she found herself in. Sarah's grip on her neck was firm, and her eyes locked onto Jia's, silently demanding submission.
"Sarah, please! You're not like this. Something has changed, something has happened to you. Please, try to tell me what it is. Even if you decide to shoot me after, just talk to me." Jia said again, her voice was filled with desperation.
But Sarah pressed the gun with even more pressure against Jia's forehead, their eyes locked in a silent battle.
Jia searched Sarah's eyes, trying to understand the first glimpse of painful darkness she saw there. The intensity of the moment was palpable. Sarah's eyes remained fixed on Jia, her expression cold and unwavering.
Getting Sarah's silence, tears streamed down Jia's face, she tearfully spoke in a low voice, "Sarah, I trust you, and I always will. I know you could never hurt anyone willingly. There must be some reason behind it. Something happened to you, it's not you." Jia continued, crying, her eyes fixed on Sarah.
But without warning, Sarah grasped Jia's arm tightly, lifting her up and leading her towards the door without giving her a chance to resist this time.
Jia struggled to reason with Sarah, but it was in vain. Sarah swiftly opened the door and pushed Jia out of the apartment, slamming the door shut behind her.
The sound of the door slamming echoed in the air as Jia found herself standing outside, emotionally shattered and alone. The conversation had ended abruptly, leaving her with a whirlwind of confusion and unanswered questions.
But despite the door being slammed shut in her face, Jia refused to give up. She continued to knock on the door. Her voice was laced with anguish and desperation as she pleaded, "Sarah, please open the door. We need to talk, whatever it is, we can work through it. You're my Sarah. You would never do something bad. Please, just talk to me, Sarah. Open the door."
Jia's voice trembled as she continued to knock, her tears staining her cheeks. The mixture of frustration and helplessness was etched across her face as she waited for a response that never came.
As she stood there, knocking the door constantly, she couldn't help but feel a sense of betrayal mixed with desperation.
For an excruciatingly long time, Jia continued knocking on the door, desperately trying to get Sarah to open up and engage in conversation. However, no response came.
Second after Second, Minute after minute, hope seemed to fade as the silence prevailed.
With a sigh, Jia leaned her forehead against the door and spoke softly, her voice tinged with exhaustion. "Sarah, whenever you feel like talking or need to come to me, I'll always be there, willing to listen. I promise."
A few more moments passed, Jia still standing there, her eyes continuing to shed tears. The weight of emotions continued to bear down on her, the silence from the other side of the door only adding to her sense of helplessness. It was a moment of vulnerability for Jia, her heart yearning for closure yet being met with the cold hard surface of the door.
After what felt like an eternity, Jia finally made up her mind to leave. With a deep breath, she raised her head, wiping away her tears. One last time, she glanced at the door, her heart heavy with unfulfilled hope. Then, with a resigned sigh, she turned away and slowly started to walk away.
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