Elvis tightly held Elsie''s hand as they dashed through the ornate yet perilous corridor.


    Assassins burst out from every corner, firing their guns at them. Elvis shielded Elsie with his body, but even with the beauty in his arms, it didn''t hinder the speed with which he drew his gun. With precise and ruthless shots, he took down each attacker with a burst to the head!


    Suddenly, from their left, another attacker lunged!


    Before Elvis could turn around, Elsie''s eyes darkened.


    In the blink of an eye, she used the golden hairpin in her hand to deftly slit the attacker''s throat. Blood sprayed out, dotting her dress with crimson specks.


    Elvis looked at her intensely, his heart pounding uncontrobly against his ribs, his eyes filled with a tumultuous surge of emotion.


    "That was close," Elsie wiped the sweat from her cheek with the back of her hand, identally smearing her face with blood, adding a haunting allure to her appearance.


    Assassins prowled the premises like hyenas, searching frantically for them.


    Unable to escape immediately, Elsie found a storage room cluttered with misceneous items. They hid inside, locked the door, and barricaded it with a


    shelf.


    "Elvis, I can''t go with you anymore."


    Despite her reluctance, Elsie knew she had to make a decision, "I''ll stay here to draw their attention. With your skills, you should be able to escape easily. If we stay together, it will only make Avery''s men more ruthless. We might all end up dead here!"


    "So, you don''t want to die with me that much?" Elvis raised an eyebrow, still gripping her hand tightly.


    "I don''t."


    Elsie didn''t hesitate; she turned away her blood-stained face, "I still have many things to do, and if I have to die, it definitely won''t be today!"


    Elvis'' eyes reddened, his Adam''s apple bobbing as he suddenly pushed her against the wall and kissed her fiercely.


    Elsie trembled, hastily covering his mouth with her hand. His eyes, deep and longing, did not wane in their intensity.


    "Don''t." Tears welled up in Elsie''s eyes, her shoulders shaking gently, "I''m dirty."


    Because she loved him, deeply and dearly. And that was why she wanted him to remain pristine; even if he were to find someone else in the future, it should be a perfect and outstanding woman, not her, a flower trampled by circumstances.


    A profound ache spread across Elvis'' chest, moistening his reddened eyes. He forcefully removed her hand from his lips, his voice deep and hoarse, "In the future, if anyone dares call you dirty, I''ll kill him."


    His kiss was fervent andmanding, their breaths mingling as their lips and tongues intertwined.


    Elsie gazed into his eyes, which rippled with tenderness, and she sank deeper into her emotions.


    This should be her first kiss.


    Content, she thought, her life was nowplete, even if it ended here.


    Flushed, Elsie took his hand and pressed something into his palm.


    "Hmm? A token of our love?" Elvis raised an eyebrow, uncurling his hand to reveal a packet of blue pills, "What''s this?"


    "The drug that man talked about, the one Avery had him distribute."


    Elsie looked at him intently, "I found it on that guy. You have to survive, get out, and take this to Ms. Evadne Ashbourne and Mr. Thaddeus Abernathy. They need to investigate what this is exactly and better trace its source. Also, you must tell them about Avery possibly using addicts for drug experiments!"


    "Elsie." Elvis'' voice caught, his arms tightening around her waist.


    "I''ve always been by Avery''s side gathering info. There are two more things."


    Elsie knew what he wanted to say, but they had no time for tender words, "First, Avery has a secret deal with Warner Bright of the Bright family, likely rted to this drug. Second, be wary of Police Chief Wayne Jones; he''s Avery''s minion!"


    Her words were rapid, urgent. It felt like this might be theirst meeting. Suddenly, they smelled smoke growing stronger.


    "Shoot! The mansion''s on fire!" Elsie''s eyes widened in rm, staring out the window!


    The mes reflected on the ss, wing at them like malevolent spirits, eager to devour them.


    "Huh, seems you were too idealistic."


    Elvis felt the temperature rise rapidly but showed no fear, soothingly stroking her neck with hisrge hand, "From the start, you were the bait Avery used to lure me in. He never intended for you to walk away unscathed. What he wanted was for us to die together!"