CHAPTER EIGHT: THE DEVIL'S SURPRISE

I walked out of the school cafeteria with my head held high.

For the first time in my life, I had defended myself.

I, Carla Mayday, had slapped Ella Benson.

The same girl who had made my school life miserable for years.

I couldn't believe it.

A small smile appeared on my face as I remembered the shocked expression on hers.

Maybe I wasn't as weak as everyone thought.

Maybe I was finally learning to stand up for myself.

I was about to enter my classroom when three familiar figures blocked my path.

Oh, great!

Just when I thought my day was getting better.

Dylan Eddie stood before me with his friends, Daniel Raymond and Danny Shane.

His handsome face was twisted with anger.

"How dare you slap my girlfriend, Car Midnight?"

I folded my arms.

"It's Carla Mayday, Dylan."

He ignored my correction.

"Do you have any idea what you've done?"

"Yes. I slapped someone who insulted my late mother."

Dylan stepped closer.

"You're going to apologize to Ella."

I stared at him.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me. Go to my girlfriend, kneel before her, and apologize."

I almost laughed.

Was this boy serious?

After everything Ella had done to me, he still expected me to beg her?

"No."

Dylan blinked.

"What did you say?"

"I said no. Your girlfriend should be the one apologizing to me."

Daniel scoffed.

"How dare you disrespect your seniors, Car Midnight?"

I turned toward him.

"It's Carla Mayday. And being older doesn't give you the right to insult me."

Danny chuckled.

"Someone has suddenly become brave."

I tightened my grip on my schoolbag.

"Listen, I don't have time for your nonsense. Excuse me."

I stepped around them.

"Come back here, Carla!" Dylan yelled.

But I kept walking.

For once, I wasn't going to let his handsome face control my decisions.

I had wasted enough years crushing on someone who couldn't even treat me with basic respect.

Maybe it was finally time to move on.

---

**(AFTER LECTURES)**

I walked out of Queen's University, feeling exhausted but strangely proud.

Something unusual had happened after the cafeteria incident.

Ella, Bella, and Rena hadn't returned to class.

Normally, they would have spent the entire afternoon plotting revenge against me.

But today, they had disappeared.

Maybe Ella was too embarrassed to show her face.

I smiled.

Serves her right.

I stood near the school gate, searching for a taxi.

Five minutes passed.

Then ten.

Not a single available taxi stopped.

"Seriously?" I muttered.

Had all the taxi drivers in New York suddenly gone on strike?

I looked down the road.

There was no way I wanted to walk home again.

My legs still hurt from yesterday.

But waiting forever wasn't an option.

I adjusted my bag and began walking.

As I moved along the pavement, my thoughts returned to Ella.

What had possessed me to slap her?

Was it the anger I had buried for years?

Or was it because of something Bryan De Luca had told me?

*You need to learn to stand up for yourself.*

I frowned.

Why was I remembering that psycho's words?

He was the last person I should be taking advice from.

Still, I couldn't deny that standing up to Ella had felt good.

I was so lost in thought that I barely noticed the black luxury car following me.

At first, I ignored it.

But when I turned onto another street, the car followed.

My heartbeat quickened.

Oh, no.

Was someone following me?

I stopped walking.

The car slowed down too.

I considered running, but something told me I wouldn't get far.

Then the tinted window slowly rolled down.

And there he was.

The devil himself.

Bryan De Luca.

His beautiful green eyes met mine, and my stomach did that annoying little flip again.

"Where are you going, Doll?"

I rolled my eyes.

"That's none of your business, psycho."

Bryan raised an eyebrow.

"Interesting."

He smiled.

"My Doll is learning how to talk back."

"It's Carla Mayday, not Doll."

He ignored me.

"Believe me, I love this new version of you."

Then he slowly bit his lower lip.

Oh, goodness gracious!

Why did he have to do that?

He looked dangerously handsome.

I almost forgot I was supposed to hate him.

Almost.

"Stop looking at me like that," I muttered.

Bryan chuckled.

"Like what, Doll?"

"Like... never mind."

He opened the car door.

"Come in. I'll take you home."

I narrowed my eyes.

"Why should I trust you?"

"Because I'm asking nicely."

I laughed sarcastically.

"That's supposed to make me feel better?"

He smiled again.

"Please, Doll. Get in."

Oh, God!

This man would be the death of me.

How was I supposed to resist that charming smile?

But I wasn't stupid.

Not completely, anyway.

"Promise you'll take me straight home."

Bryan placed a hand over his chest.

"I swear on you, Doll."

I hesitated.

Then I took a deep breath and entered the car.

Maybe he wasn't planning anything terrible today.

Maybe.

---

**(INSIDE THE CAR)**

The interior smelled of expensive leather and Bryan's familiar strawberry perfume.

I settled into the seat, keeping a safe distance from him.

For several minutes, nobody spoke.

Then I looked through the window.

Wait a minute.

This wasn't the road to my house.

"Hey!"

The driver remained focused on the road.

"Where are you going? This isn't the way to my house!"

"I'm sorry, Boss Lady," he replied nervously. "I'm following Boss's instructions."

I turned toward Bryan.

"You lied to me!"

He smiled.

"Doll, calm down."

"Don't tell me to calm down! You promised to take me home!"

"I want to show you something at my villa."

I stared at him.

"Your villa?"

"Yes."

"Bryan De Luca, you lying bastard!"

He chuckled.

"I promise you'll like it."

"And what if I don't?"

"Then I'll take you home."

I narrowed my eyes.

"You promise?"

"Yes, Doll."

I folded my arms.

"You'd better keep your word this time."

Bryan leaned closer.

"I also have a gift for you."

My eyes widened slightly.

"A gift?"

"Yes."

I immediately became suspicious.

"Please tell me it's not a wedding dress."

Bryan laughed.

"Good guess, Doll. Unfortunately, it isn't."

I sighed in relief.

"But if you're interested, we can get married sooner."

I almost choked.

"Why would I marry someone like you?"

His smile slowly faded.

"Careful, Doll."

His green eyes darkened.

"I'll make you eat those words someday."

I swallowed hard.

There it was.

The dangerous Bryan De Luca.

The one who could switch from charming to terrifying within seconds.

He reached into his jacket and brought out a small, elegant box.

"Here."

I stared at it.

"What is that?"

"Open it."

The box had two words engraved across its surface.

**MY DOLL.**

I rolled my eyes.

Of course.

Everything had to involve that ridiculous nickname.

I carefully opened the box.

And my mouth fell open.

Inside was a beautiful diamond necklace.

The delicate chain sparkled beneath the car's interior lights, and hanging from it was a pendant spelling one word.

**DOLL.**

I stared at it in amazement.

It was beautiful.

Probably more expensive than anything I had ever bought for myself.

"Do you like it?" Bryan asked.

I nodded slowly.

"It's beautiful."

His expression softened.

"Turn around."

"Why?"

"So I can put it on you."

I hesitated before turning slightly.

He gently moved my blonde hair aside and fastened the necklace around my neck.

His fingers brushed against my skin.

A strange shiver travelled down my spine.

"There," he whispered.

I looked at the pendant.

It fitted perfectly.

"It looks beautiful on you, Doll."

Before I could respond, he leaned closer and brushed his lips against my earlobe.

"Ah!"

A small sound escaped my mouth.

I immediately covered my lips.

Oh, my goodness!

Did I just make that sound?

Bryan chuckled.

"Yes, Doll. You did."

My face became hot.

"I didn't say anything!"

"Of course you didn't."

His smile widened.

"That sound was music to my ears. I'd love to hear it every day."

I turned away.

"Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you."

He laughed.

I touched the necklace again.

"Thank you, Bryan."

He looked pleasantly surprised.

"For what?"

"The gift."

I smiled faintly.

"It's the first time someone outside my family has given me something this beautiful."

His expression changed.

For a moment, he looked almost gentle.

"Then I'm happy to be the first, Doll."

He leaned forward and kissed my cheek.

My entire face burned.

"Are you blushing?"

"No!"

Bryan raised an eyebrow.

"Really?"

"I'm just feeling hot."

"But the air conditioner is on."

I looked away.

"Then it's not working properly!"

He burst into laughter.

I wanted to disappear.

Thankfully, the driver's voice interrupted us.

"Boss, we're here."

Finally!

I couldn't survive another minute of Bryan's teasing.

---

**(BRYAN'S VILLA)**

The moment I stepped out of the car, my mouth fell open.

Goodness gracious!

The mansion before me was enormous.

It made my father's beautiful house look almost ordinary.

The compound was filled with expensive cars, magnificent fountains, and perfectly arranged gardens.

Everything looked luxurious.

"Do you like it, Doll?"

I nodded.

"It's beautiful."

Bryan smiled.

"But you're more beautiful."

I rolled my eyes, although I couldn't stop the smile threatening to appear on my lips.

"Do you ever stop flirting?"

"Not with my Doll."

He took my hand.

I considered pulling away, but his grip was firm.

We walked toward the entrance.

The inside was even more impressive.

Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and the marble floors shone beneath our feet.

For a moment, I almost forgot who owned the place.

Then Bryan turned toward a familiar man standing nearby.

"Ace."

"Yes, Boss."

"Where are they?"

My eyebrows drew together.

They?

Who was he talking about?

"In the basement, Boss."

I looked between them.

"Who's in the basement?"

Neither answered.

"Bryan, where's the thing you wanted to show me?"

He smiled.

"Come with me, Doll."

I reluctantly followed him.

We descended a staircase leading beneath the mansion.

The farther we walked, the colder the air became.

At the end of the corridor stood a large black door.

Something about it made my stomach tighten.

"Why is it so dark here?" I whispered.

Bryan squeezed my hand.

"Don't be frightened, Doll."

Easy for him to say.

He was the most dangerous mafia boss in New York.

I was just a university student who wanted to go home.

Ace opened the door.

The room beyond was completely dark.

I stopped walking.

"Bryan, I don't like this."

He smiled.

"Just wait."

Then the lights came on.

And my entire body froze.

Three girls were tied to chairs in the middle of the room.

Ella Benson.

Bella Anderson.

Rena Wene.

Their faces were filled with terror.

I stared at them in disbelief.

"What... what is this?"

Before I could move, three heavily built men approached Rena.

"No!" she screamed.

My heart began pounding.

"Bryan, what are they doing?"

He didn't answer.

One of the men untied Rena and forced her forward.

She struggled desperately.

"Please! Somebody help me!"

I stepped backwards.

"Bryan, tell them to stop!"

But nobody listened.

Then everything happened so quickly.

A weapon flashed beneath the bright lights.

Rena's scream was cut short.

I watched in horror as the men killed her, then began cutting apart her body.

My hands flew to my mouth.

I couldn't breathe.

I couldn't scream.

Ella and Bella were crying uncontrollably.

The beautiful necklace around my neck suddenly felt unbearably heavy.

Just minutes ago, Bryan had been smiling, flirting, and giving me gifts.

Now he was standing beside me while someone was being murdered.

I slowly turned toward him.

His handsome face carried the same charming smile.

As though nothing terrible had happened.

As though this was all perfectly normal.

He leaned closer, his green eyes shining with frightening satisfaction.

Then he whispered two words that made my blood run cold.

Surprise, Doll