CHAPTER 2 – Screams in the Silent Night

Nadine's eyes began to feel heavy. Since the night before, she had not stopped working. One by one, visitors came and went, using the restroom without caring how difficult her job was.

But now, it was already three in the morning. Only one more hour, and her night shift would be over. The young woman breathed a sigh of relief, though her body felt so tired and achy.

She sat in her chair, trying to calm herself.

But as she was about to close her eyes for a moment, the figures of two men appeared at the end of the hallway. One of them was tall, muscular, and had an intimidating aura. He wore an elegant black suit that made him look sophisticated yet cold. In his hand, he was pulling the collar of another man who looked thinner, his face covered in wounds, and his body trembling.

“Please, Mr. Justin… forgive me… I promise I won’t do it again,” the thin man said in a voice filled with despair.

Justin didn’t respond. His gaze was sharp, his jaw clenched.

“Do you know what I do to traitors?” his voice was calm, but its coldness pierced the bones.

Nadine, who had been watching from behind her desk, immediately lowered her head. Her legs trembled, her hands clutching the edge of the chair. She saw blood flowing from the thin man’s lips, and fear locked her body.

Justin dragged the man into the men’s restroom. The door slammed shut. Then…

Screams echoed.

“Aaaaargh! Please… I beg you… don’t!”

The sounds of blows rang out clearly. Nadine covered her ears, her body shaking violently. She couldn’t bear to imagine what was happening inside.

“You knew the risks of betraying me!” Justin shouted.

Then the sound of a hard blow echoed again, accompanied by the crack of bones.

“My fingers… my fingers… Sir… please…” the man screamed, but there was no mercy.

A kick landed directly on his face. His temple was split open, blood flowing freely onto the floor.

Justin could have killed the man with a single bullet, but that wasn’t what he wanted tonight. He wanted the man to feel every second of suffering, to realize how high the price of betrayal was.

In the corner of the bathroom, the man now sat limp, his body covered in blood. His breathing was heavy, but he no longer begged. He only hoped his family was safe with his partner, Tio knew he wouldn’t survive Justin’s rage.

“Death is too easy for you,” Justin said coldly. “I’ll make you blind, so you’ll live in darkness forever.”

“As you wish… Mr. Justin…” the man murmured, then laughed softly. But his laughter was cut short as his left chest was struck hard. He choked on blood, vomiting it onto the bathroom floor.

Nadine remained frozen in place, trembling, not moving an inch.

Shortly thereafter, two large men dressed in black entered the restroom. They dragged the bloodied body out and placed it into the waiting vehicle outside.

Justin washed his hands at the sink, then stared at his reflection in the mirror.

However, his anger had not subsided.

His fists clenched, occasionally striking the empty air, as if he wanted to destroy something invisible. He never imagined that the person he had trusted all this time could betray him so cruelly.

His steps carried the tall figure out of the bathroom. As soon as he stepped out, his gaze fell on a young girl sitting frozen behind the desk.

“Did you see everything?” he asked flatly, standing directly in front of Nadine. One hand rested on the table.

“I... I won’t tell anyone, sir,” Nadine replied nervously, her voice trembling.

Justin narrowed his eyes, studying the pale girl’s face. His gaze was sharp, as if reading someone’s inner thoughts.

Suddenly, he grabbed Nadine’s uniform collar and lifted her small body from her chair.

“Are you an undercover agent? A spy, huh?!”

“No! I’m just a janitor here! I... I’m nobody...”

Nadine dared not meet the man’s eyes. Her body trembled violently, her face already pale.

Justin threw Nadine’s body to the floor. He grabbed the black hat on her head and pulled it off. Nadine’s long hair fell loose.

In an instant... Justin’s gaze changed.

A girl... beautiful... with eyes filled with fear, and a petite body clearly not from the same world as his.

But he felt no pity.

“Don’t think you can deceive me with a face like that.”

His hands gripped Nadine’s long hair, roughly dragging her away from the chair.

“Sir… I beg you… I’m just an employee here…”

Nadine’s tears broke free. Her hands tried to release Justin’s rough grip on her hair, but to no avail.

***