Chapter 2 Threat

"Leave, boss."

Someone hustled me. My gun was taken away, and they pushed me into the sea. The salty sea breeze brought in a drizzle, drenching me to my very bones.

Once I swam back to the pier, I looked at the countless scars on my wrist and dialed a specific number. "Bomb the pier tonight."

…

I was standing at the shore when the flames engulfed the ships. I watched the whole pier burn to ashes. The fires were still lingering when Gus and Henry came charging at me.

"You've just destroyed everyone's livelihoods by bombing the pier! That was impulsive, boss!" Gus jabbed a finger at me.

Henry heaved a long sigh. "I can see why Mr. Quinton didn't choose you. This is disheartening."

Gus grew up with me, while Henry was always there since I was a kid. They were two of my closest friends, but they had chosen to stand against me.

I choked on tears as I questioned them sharply, "Why didn't you tell me? It's been five whole years! You saw the hell I've been going through!"

Gus scratched his nose. "You had the pier. You had all the riches you could ever want. You had everything, but Zoe only has Mr. Quinton!"

He even seemed indignant about it as he continued, "He'd never have dumped you if you had been less controlling! You should reflect on yourself!"

Henry nodded. "She brings us presents whenever she visits us, and she's the one who did all the work. We helped them fake their deaths to repay their kindness."

Gus added, "Zoe's been nice to me. She was the one who took care of me when your punishment landed me in the hospital."

I froze, my heart filled with shock and disgust. They were grateful for her actions, but I was the one who ordered her to do it. She never would've done it on her own initiative. Yet, she had somehow won over everyone anyway.

I laughed. "I was the one who asked her to do those things."

Gus was stunned, but he stuck to his guns as he argued, "So what? What matters is she did it instead of you. It doesn't matter why she did it! That fact remains that she's the one who actually helped us!"

Henry held my hands like an elder who wanted to give sagely advice. "Let them go if only for our sake. It's already hard enough that she helped you tend to Mr. Quinton for five years. Besides, she's pregnant now."

I tried to say something, but I didn't have the words. Gus took out an invitation from his shirt. "Zoe said you have to be the witness, or all of Porton will always see her as a homewrecker."

I stared at the invitation, and I fell into a calm silence. "Fine, I'll be there."

…

Three days later, the whole of Porton was airing Christopher's wedding.

"A Revival? No, Quinton Heir Faked Death to Cheer Up His True Love!"

I came into the hall wearing a black dress, and everyone's eyes fell upon me.

"The demoness is here. This is going to be good."

"Do you think she'll shoot them? We should stay far, far away just in case."

Christopher came up to me, holding Zoe. He mocked, "At least you're not totally stupid." Then, he shoved the speech into my hand, but I let it fall to the ground.

"You…"

He was about to rip me a new one when he saw my red eyes, making him freeze in his tracks. He looked in the direction of my gaze, and what he saw shut him up.

Zoe was in a pearl-white satin wedding gown. It was a custom-made gown Christopher had designed himself five years ago, and he had even gone overseas to have it commissioned.

That dress was our engagement present. On the day of our engagement, he proposed to me with an emerald ring he got at an auction. Now, that ring was on Zoe's ring finger.

My face fell as I felt the last of my hopes wither and die in my chest. Christopher coughed awkwardly. "Wedding's starting soon. Get to the stage."

I was holding the dusty speech. "I wish you a long-living…"

My stomach churned as I clenched my fists and snarled. "As if!"

I turned to leave, but Christopher tossed a photo at me. It was a picture of my sister. She was supposed to be studying abroad, but now she was hogtied with a knife held to her throat. "Are you sure you want to leave?"