Chapter 3

3.

When I composed myself and walked out, a cold gun barrel pressed against my lower back.

I froze and looked toward the holy water font.

Lily had already collapsed by the stone railing, unconscious.

Just my luck.

The next second, the butt of the gun smashed into the back of my neck.

I woke up on the edge of a cliff in the middle of nowhere.

Lily and I were handcuffed to a tree.

Two steps forward, and we would fall into the abyss.

She sobbed quietly. "Who are you... why did you take us..."

Before she could finish, a slap landed hard on her face.

The leader, a one-eyed man, grabbed her hair.

"Why? Asher Knight destroyed my business in Colombia and killed my brothers!"

"Doesn't he treasure you the most? Today, I'll let him taste the pain of losing his true love!"

I quietly twisted my wrist, pulling a thin wire from my bracelet. I began to feel for the lock mechanism.

I had been through this too many times. I always kept a trick up my sleeve.

One-Eye found my ID. He sneered.

"Serafina? Bad luck for you to be caught in this! Next life, be careful who you associate with!"

"Don't... don't hurt her..." Lily stammered. "My husband will come to save us. He's very powerful..."

Her voice was full of trust, as if Asher were a god.

My hands paused. I said nothing.

Suddenly, One-Eye roared into the phone.

"Asher Knight doesn't believe me? Fine! Send him a gift!"

"This chick is pretty, and she's pregnant. Boys, have some fun! When you're done, send the photos to Asher!"

Lily shook violently. Tears covered her face. Her crying was soft and weak, which only excited the thugs more.

Someone reached out to rip her clothes, revealing her pale shoulder.

Click.

My handcuffs sprang open.

I didn't think. I lunged.

I tackled One-Eye and shielded Lily with my body.

"F*ck! Beat her to death!"

Fists and feet rained down on me. I curled up, protecting Lily, taking every blow with my back.

"Miss Serafina... leave me... please..."

She cried, trying to push me away, but I held her down tight.

Just then, the roar of a helicopter came from the cliff edge. The sound of silenced sniper fire cut through the air!

Everyone froze.

Asher rushed in with his men. His eyes locked onto Lily immediately.

He practically flew to her, pulling her trembling body into his arms. His voice was frantic.

"Lily! Don't be afraid. I'm here. It's okay now..."

Lily whimpered in his arms, finally finding safety. Her tears broke like a dam, and she fainted from exhaustion.

He picked her up bridal style.

He didn't even glance at me, battered and bleeding on the ground. He carried her straight to the car outside.

I struggled to stand up.

The next moment, Asher returned. He stood in front of me.

The way he looked at me was like looking at a pile of rotting garbage.

"Serafina."

His voice was low, but every word carried a bone-chilling coldness.

"Why are you here?"

I swallowed the taste of copper in my throat. I tried to smile but failed.

"If I said it was just a coincidence, would you believe me?"

He struck suddenly, grabbing my throat and slamming me against the tree!

The impact made my vision go black. I couldn't breathe.

"A coincidence?" He scoffed, his eyes full of violence. "Do you take me for a fool?"

The wound on my neck tore open. Warm blood slid down my spine.

I looked at the face I once loved deeply, and suddenly, I had no energy to defend myself.

He let go. I slid to the ground.

Then, he raised his foot and stomped hard on my wrist―the one cut by the handcuffs when I picked the lock. He ground his heel into it.

I curled up in agony, cold sweat soaking my hair.

"Speak. What were you planning by getting close to her?"

"I didn't..."

He clearly didn't believe me.

Asher turned, grabbed a dagger, and sliced off the ear of one of the kidnappers on the floor.

A scream echoed through the warehouse.

He stepped on the man's chest, the tip of the knife pressing against his eyeball. "Did she order this?"

The kidnapper was terrified out of his mind. He pointed a shaking finger at me.

"Yes... it was her! It was Miss Serafina! She said she'd pay us... to ruin that girl's purity..."

"You liar!" I screamed, but his men pinned me to the ground. I couldn't move.

Asher's eyes darkened. He smashed the hilt of the dagger into the kidnapper's temple, knocking him out cold.

He walked back to me, crouching down slowly. He tapped my cheek with the cold blade of the knife.

"Serafina, you never listen."

His tone was calm. "You touched someone you shouldn't have. Now you pay the price."

He stood up, looking down at me from above. He gave a calm order to his men.

"Since she's always watching what she shouldn't watch, and hearing what she shouldn't hear... let's give her some peace and quiet."

Before I could react, I was roughly dragged up from the ground.

The next second, a heavy blow slammed into my left ear.

Then my right ear was struck just as hard!

The world instantly plunged into a buzzing silence. All sound was swallowed by a tide, leaving only a hollow void.

My eardrums were gone.

"No! Asher! You can't..."

I struggled frantically, but I couldn't even hear my own screams.

He just turned away coldly. His lips moved.

I read the silent words: "Take her away."

"Asher Knight! I should have let you die ten years ago! I wish you had died!"

I screamed with everything I had, but I couldn't hear a single syllable. only the tearing pain in my ears was real.

His departing steps paused for a microsecond.

But in the end, he didn't stop.

I was dragged away by two men.

The last thing clear in my mind was what he said to me years ago, hugging me from behind after I played the piano, kissing my earlobe:

"Serafina's hands were born to save lives. From now on, I will protect you. I won't let a single noise disturb you."

Ten years ago, I pulled him back from the edge of hell.

Ten years later, he personally pushed me into eternal silence.

I was thrown into a windowless dark room. My ears buzzed relentlessly. Blood soaked my collar.

I don't know how much time passed before my loyal subordinate found me.

He spoke to me, but I heard nothing. I only saw his lips moving anxiously.

Two hours later, Grandma and I were on a private jet leaving New York.

I couldn't hear my own voice, but my mind was terrifyingly calm.

"Once the plane takes off, wipe all my identity information."

"From now on, the 'Scalpel' Serafina no longer exists."