After Nate hung up, he lunged at ra once more.


    "ra, you heard it yourself. Your mom doesn''t give a damn whether you live or die. So why should I care? If you try anything stupid, I''ll make sure there''s a video out there to shame your corpse. Even in death, you won''t find peace."


    ra''s hand shook at his words. She tried to back away, but there was nowhere to go. The windows were barred, making escape impossible.


    With Naomi''s approval, Nate felt invincible. He thought nothing would happen even if things got deadly.


    She was barely holding on, unable to avoid his assault, and found herself pinned to the bed. Blood from her palms was smeared everywhere.


    Nate''s grin was twisted. "Finally got you on the bed, sweetheart. Don''t worry, I''ll take good care of you."


    "Get off!" ra fought back, the wound on her neck bleeding even more, but Nate didn''t care. His hand moved down, grabbing at her waistband.


    Her mind was a blur, and her struggles became frantic, only to be met with a harsh p across her face.


    "Stop moving, you little brat! You want me to get rough, huh?!"


    Despair dulled ra''s eyes, leaving them empty.


    Just then, the hospital room door flew open with a kick. Before she could process it, Nate was pulled away.


    Nate was about to hurl curses but froze when a gun was pressed against his head, the barrel dark and threatening.


    "Who... who are you?" he stammered, fear creeping into his voice.


    Holding a gun in this city meant these people weren''t ordinary.


    ray there, her wrist suddenly yanked into an embrace. She buried her head, not bothering to see who it was.


    A suit jacket was draped over her shoulders, and the familiar scent immediately soothed her.


    It was Dn.


    She looked up, spotting Nate kneeling by the wall. His face was pale as a ghost.


    Two bodyguards nked him, guns aimed at his head.


    ra clutched the suit jacket tightly, and soon, theforting embrace returned, holding her close from behind.


    She suddenly realized something was ced in her hands.


    Dn''s chin rested on her shoulder, his voice calm, "Remember how to use it?"


    Confusion flickered in her eyes, only just noticing the gun in her hand.


    He was guiding her from behind, teaching her how to load it.


    ra''s mind was nk, but anger boiled within her.


    She replied firmly, "I can learn."


    Dn''s hand guided hers, step by step.


    "This is how you load it. This is the trigger. Aim carefully."


    His chin stayed on her shoulder, and witnessing this, the bodyguards almost lost


    their grip on their guns. Was this really their boss?


    From their angle, Dn''s form nearly enveloped ra entirely.


    But ra, still reeling from the shock, didn''t notice.


    Dn let go of her hand after his instructions.


    In other words, the decision to shoot was hers.


    ra gripped the gun tightly, hearing Nate''s desperate pleas.


    "ra, don''t do anything rash. This is illegal! And remember who I am. I''m


    Simon''s uncle. You like Simon, right? Think about how you''ll exin this to him."


    The moment he finished, a gunshot rang out.


    "Aaaahhh!"


    Nate screamed, clutching his thigh.


    Then, a second and third shot followed.


    ra turned to look at Dn.


    Dn''s chin was still on her shoulder, and as she turned, her lips brushed his cheek.


    Only then did she notice the intimacy, and the gun in her hand fired identally, hitting Nate in the chest.


    Nate couldn''t even scream anymore and copsed.


    ra''s expression shifted, and she quickly pulled away from Dn, her first question blurted out.


    "Mr. Dn, did I mess up?"


    One of the bodyguards quickly checked on Nate.


    "Ms. ra, he''s still breathing, but he''ll be a vegetable now."


    ra breathed a sigh of relief. As long as he was alive, being a vegetable was the best oue for Nate.


    She nced at the blood-stained gun in her hand. Even Dn''s fingertips were marked with blood.


    She hurried to find tissues, unable to imagine someone like Dn associated with such a mess.


    But her quick retreat clouded Dn''s eyes with a hint of darkness.


    He stood slightly, leaning against the wall, his demeanor suddenly fragile.


    Moments ago, he was somanding, yet now he seemed to need protection.


    ra was startled, her own injuries forgotten, and rushed to support him. "Mr. Dn, are you okay?"


    He shook his head, his expression calm. "Just a bit shaken."


    ra immediately felt guilty. Was Dn unustomed to such bloody scenes?


    Or was it the car ident years ago that left him with a lingering fear?


    She quickly wrapped his suit tighter around her, cautiously supporting him.


    "I''ll help you to the wheelchair. I''m sorry, I''ll clean up right away."


    Dn''s face was pale. He hesitated for a moment before taking hold of her wrist.


    ra looked at him, surprised, as he turned his gaze away.


    "Go to Palm Bay for treatment."


    "Oh, okay, okay. Mr. Dn, do you want to sleep?"


    She hadn''t forgotten she was his remedy for insomnia.


    Dn''s lips pressed into a thin line, and he murmured a quiet "Yeah."