(Luther)I WOKE up when I felt a soft hand on my cheek. When I opened my eyes, I saw Alexandra sleeping beside me on the grass in the backyard. When I glanced at my wristwatch, it was almost eleven in the evening. She really did stay.For others, this woman was my poison. And maybe she truly was my poison the same way she was my cure. Only this woman could build me up, break me, and then build me again. Tonight, because she was beside me, I was able to breathe just fine. The whole time without her felt like there was something stuck in my chest that I couldn’t get out.Things don’t magically become okay just because we are with the ones we love. That bullshit only happens in movies, in books. But I realized that somehow, with Alexandra around, things become a lot less painful, they become… endurable.And how I wished my mother was able to feel something like this too when she was still alive. But from the day she fell in love until her last breath, love just remained a poison to her.

“I WARNED you, but you didn’t listen and asked for this,” I told the guy who looked like victory was in his hands already just because he had bullets laced with aconite. Before he could shoot, I was already in front of him. I grabbed his head, my fingers dug into his skull as I slammed my other hand into his ribs. I heard his ribs crack as he fell on the ground and winced from pain.I pulled the next guy toward me. I drove my knee into his groin and thrust forward with my hips. I only released him when he fainted as I quickly moved to another guy. My fist went straight onto his throat and crushed his windpipe. I pulled out the knife under my skirt and threw it onto the fourth guy’s neck. Luther dealt with the remaining four men and fired them at their knees and shoulders.“I didn’t even have to shift to beat your ass. Who do you think you are for me to shift just for you?” I told the first guy when I walked toward him. Gone was his confidence. He had gotten so pale.“I’m sorry-““It’s

“IS SOMETHING wrong?” I asked Suzanna when I caught her wiping her tears after she saw me wearing the red strapless long gown she delivered to me. I applied a light make-up on my face and tied my hair with a gold clip which was included in the box Luther had sent for me. I only left a few curly strands on my face.The only thing left to do now was to wear the four-inch red stilettos.“Forgive me, ma’am. I’m just happy that you’re here, that when something so terrible happened to the Boss’ family, you were with him. He listens to you. And you could stop him from caving into the darkness. When we talked a while ago, he told me that his safety pin is right by his side so he couldn’t allow himself to shatter,” Suzanna explained. “The Boss never smiles. If ever he does, I could tell that he was only faking it. But with you, no matter how heartbreaking the situation is, he could still give a real smile. You changed him.”“How can you be sure that it’s because of me when you told me that Lut

(Alexandra)“I DO NOT remember inviting you here,” Senator Guerrero told Luther as he blocked our path when we were in the hallway. His guards all stood behind him while pointing us their guns.The guests who were supposed to head inside the function room all stopped to watch the drama.Luther shrugged. “And here I thought my invitation just got lost somewhere that’s why I invited myself and my wife, too, thinking that you would be happy to see me. You are hurting my feelings, Senator. Are you sure you can afford to do this, though?” He smoothened the Senator’s collar. “If you insist on pointing your weapons toward me and insulting me in front of my wife, then you’d give me no choice but to play rough as well. I let my beloved Alexandra come with me after she made a promise never to tell a word about this auction to any wolf. She also promised to buy all the wolves in whatever price you offer. They have the money. You have everything to gain and nothing to lose, Senator. Think wisely.

ANTHONY had dropped on the floor with his knees while weeping. In the end, his own father’s guards were the ones who shot him.“I’m sorry, Dad. I was wrong,” Anthony whispered while blood was pouring down from different parts of his body. He fell beside his father and tried reaching out to hold his hand. “Would you believe me if I say that I did all those terrible things because I was waiting for you to notice me? And you finally noticed me tonight, Dad. You’ve always been blaming me for not being good enough no matter how much I tried, always comparing me to my brothers. While you brag about them, telling the world how much you love them, you hide me out of shame. Until the very last minute, I didn’t hear you say you love me. But tonight, I felt your love although it was too late. I love you too, Dad. In our next life, if I get to be your son again, I will be good. I will make you proud,” he whispered before closing his eyes.The guests became more desperate to flee that they were be