[Present continues.]

  How are villains made? People aren't born evil. Everyone was born with goodness in their heart. Yet, for Kaden who was despised since birth, he grew up with hatred. He was certain there was no hope in the world for him. Women would claim to love him, but they adored his flashy titles, his limitless wealth, and his power. Everyone would state they loved him out of the good intentions of their heart.

  Lies.

  Everyone was a liar. Everyone wanted one thing from Kaden. But Lina? Lina whose loyalty was always questioned, whose smile was hesitant, and gaze filled with fear? He couldn't help, but want her. She wasn't certain of her intentions with him.

  Kaden could take a bullet for Lina—only to find out she was pulling the trigger. Then, she'd turn the gun to her own head and place a bullet in the same spot that went through him.

  Lina, his beloved. His dove. His beautiful little caged bird. The first time they met, they wanted mutual things. The second time she laid eyes on him, she was terrified. She wanted nothing from him. Nothing at all. Her tender smile as she turned to look at him, her shaky laughter, and the curl of her gaze, he could not fall for anyone else.

  It had to be Lina. It had to be her, not due to fate or destiny, but because Kaden knew he'd love her even before their first encounter—simply not for the fact of them being some god or goddess. The reason was that she was Lina, and it was the only explanation that mattered.

  "Ack!" Mia let out a scream as Kaden gripped her shoulders tightly. She cried out in pain, feeling his fingers press firmly into her skin. She whimpered, clawing at his hand. She had never seen him so vicious before.

  A dark beast haunting the night. The nightmare of children. The man your mother warned you from and your father hid you from. He was a monster. A creature of the darkest abyss. And he was all she cared for.

  "Kaden, it hurts!" Mia sobbed, her entire body quivering. She had never felt her blood turn this cold in front of him. There was no inclination in his eyes. No emotion, but hatred. He was violent and on the brink of sanity.

  "Say it again," Kaden murmured in an indifferent tone, revealing a sinister smile. Hollow. That was what he was without Lina. That was all he could be.

  "Boss," Sebastian stressed, worried about the implications with the Li family if Mia was harmed. She was their Young Miss, the most cherished of them all. Their family history was complicated, but Mia was respected even by her grandparents.

  "Boss, she misspoke, please forgive her," Sebastian advised, approaching Kaden.

  It took a single look. That was all Sebastian needed to freeze in his spot. Quietly, he bowed his head.

  "Please, it hurts!" Mia complained, feeling her collarbone begin to rattle from the intensity that spread throughout her entire body. If he wanted to, he could have paralyzed her in an instant. A broken collarbone was the most agonizing recovery. Each breath was like needles in the skin and blood in your lungs.

  "Kaden!" Mia exasperated, feeling herself being forced to her knees. She shakily looked up at him, like a saint before her god. Her lips trembled. All she wanted to do was help him.

  "You want me to kill my Lina? My precious, darling Lina?"

  "No!" Mia choked out, suddenly changing her mind. "I-I—"

  "Lina will never die," Kaden informed her, squatting down to her height.

  Mia froze. She had never felt so much fear in her life. Breaking out into a cold sweat, her eyes began to blur. She never thought he'd hurt her. But he was a cruel man who loved only one woman. She didn't even want his love, all she wanted was his attention. There was something about him that had drawn her to him in the five years. But now, she wanted to burn her hard work up in smoke. All she wanted to do was run.

  "Is that clear?" Kaden softly asked.

  What frightened Mia the most wasn't his anger. It was how calm he was. She thought he'd yell. She thought he'd throw a violent tantrum. But no. That was not how he terrorized people.

  "Y-yes," Mia choked out.

  In great defeat, Mia bowed her head, whimpering with tears in her eyes. Finally, he released her. She cried out in relief, clutching her shoulders.

  "Let me escort you away, Miss Mia," Sebastian softly said to her.

  Warmth draped over her shoulders and she realized it was Sebastian placing his suit jacket over her. She sobbed on the ground, hugging her body tightly. Unable to control her tears, she sniffled and wept so much, there could have been a puddle on the ground.

  All Mia saw in her blurry vision was his polished leather shoes. He didn't even comfort her. Instead, he turned on his heels and returned to his spot. She gritted her teeth, throwing a hateful glare towards the vegetable on the bed.

  If only Lina hadn't taken the bullet for Kaden. If only she had been smart enough to understand he would not die! But perhaps that was what was so romantic about the gesture. She'd rather her life be taken than for him to go through pain. She'd rather witness her life flash before her eyes than the thought of him bleeding out beside her.

  What a foolish couple.

  "There's a way," Mia managed to gasp out. Despite what Kaden did to her, she still wanted to help him. He was kind to her when no one else was. When she was shamed by the world for her affair behind her fiance's back, he helped her rise from the ashes again.

  When everyone closed their doors to her, he opened his. She could never stop repaying him for his help. Because of him, she was able to snatch back everyone's favor. Through her wits and persistence, she had intertwined herself with two of the most powerful men in the entire city.

  "Lina…" Kaden whispered.

  Kaden didn't bother glancing at her. Instead, he attended to Lina. He brushed her hair to the side. He had sullied her ears. Gently, he tucked the blanket closer to her, as if that'd change anything. Stroking her fingers with his thumb, he stared down at her with desperation.

  Lina, it was the name of his first love. His eternal love. There would never be another woman besides her. Ever.

  "Is the dream that sweet, my dove?" Kaden asked her in a low, defeated voice. "Must you dream so long when your reality is much better?"

  Kaden pressed a kiss to her knuckles. "You must wake up, dove of mine. You must return to me."

  "There's a way to save her," Mia finally said. "You will not like it, she will hate it, but I ran the tests. I did the research."

  "You can make her a Pure-Blood," Mia declared. "The chances of survival are low, but Lina and Atlantis have compatible blood types—AH!"

  Mia screamed when Kaden flung the vase at her. She flinched from the attack, but realized he never intended to hit her. He only wanted her to shut up. She eyed the shattered porcelain by her feet.

  Truly, Atlantis and Lina were starcrossed lovers. They were perfect for each other, their bodies and blood complementing each other greatly. Had it not been for Kaden, the two would've been the most celebrated couple in the entirety of Ritan. A childhood friend to lovers story, who wouldn't swoon at the thought?

  "Or," Mia breathed out. "You can subject her to eternal suffering."

  At this, Kaden calmly turned his head in her direction.

  Mia wanted to give Lina a way out. At least becoming a Pure-Blood meant death was inevitable. What if Lina didn't want to outlive all of her friends and family? What if she didn't want to live that long? Being a Pure-Blood was much better than an Immortal, but Kaden left Mia with no choice.

  "You can try turning her into an immortal and that way, her body will heal indefinitely," Mia stated. "Without her consent."

  Kaden's eyes flashed. It was the most immoral thing he could do to Lina—and he was considering it.

  "Y-you can attempt to drain her body of blood and fill it with yours. She will resent you for all of her immortality, but at the least, you two will never separate. There will be a risk and she could never wake up, but that's better than her low chance of 1% survival from this coma. What do you say?"

  Kaden realized she would hate him for the rest of her life, and it was a damn long one. But he had the rest of eternity to beg for forgiveness.

  Finally, Kaden nodded his head.

  "Prepare the blood transfer."