The devil as a soft side.
1007 Words
Chapter Eight
Elena froze.
The cold barrel of the gun pressed against her forehead, stealing every ounce of warmth from her body.
Her heartbeat thundered in her ears.
So this is how it ends...
A bitter smile slowly formed on her lips.
If fate had already decided tonight would be her last, then there was no point begging for mercy.
She took a shaky breath and lifted her chin.
"Go ahead..." she shouted, though fear trembled beneath her voice. "Shoot!"
Bang!
A gunshot exploded through the silent street.
"Aaaah!"
Instead of feeling pain, Elena heard the assassin scream.
She slowly opened her eyes.
The assassin stumbled backward, clutching his bleeding wrist as his pistol crashed onto the ground.
Blood dripped between his fingers.
Before anyone could react—
Bang! Bang!
Two more shots echoed across the street.
The remaining assassins instantly ducked behind the abandoned vehicles.
"Who is it?"
One of them cautiously peeked around the corner.
His face instantly turned pale.
"T-That's..."
His lips trembled.
"Jax Zen!"
The name alone was enough to drain every trace of courage from them.
"Retreat!"
"Run!"
Within seconds, the assassins disappeared into the darkness without looking back.
Silence fell once again.
Only Elena's rapid breathing broke the stillness.
Slow, steady footsteps echoed toward them.
A tall man emerged from the shadows.
He wore a long black coat that swayed gently with the evening breeze.
Dark sunglasses concealed his eyes despite the night, and a silver pistol rested casually in his gloved hand.
The air around him felt suffocating.
Behind him, several luxury vehicles stopped in perfect formation.
Dozens of bodyguards stepped out, each standing silently behind him.
No one dared to speak.
No one even dared to breathe.
One of Miss Blaze's bodyguards immediately lowered his head.
"Thank you, Mr. Jax."
"If you hadn't arrived when you did, Miss Blaze and Mrs. Elena wouldn't have survived tonight."
Jax Zen's expression didn't change.
"It's nothing."
His voice was calm.
Cold.
Emotionless.
Without another word, he turned and walked away.
His long coat disappeared into the darkness as quietly as he had arrived.
To him, saving lives seemed like nothing more than another ordinary task.
Moments later, hurried footsteps echoed behind Elena.
"Mrs. Elena!"
"Miss Blaze!"
Malachai Thorne rushed over with the remaining bodyguards.
Alia pushed through them and immediately embraced Elena.
"Oh, thank God you're alright!"
Her voice cracked as tears filled her eyes.
She carefully checked Elena's face and arms.
"Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine."
Elena forced a faint smile.
"I'm really okay."
She stood firmly like nothing happened.
Alia noticed.
Mrs. Elena looked calm...
Not even a trace of fear in her eyes only her trembled hand give her away.
How much fear was she hiding behind that smile?
Anne was in the back seat of the car all her strength disappeared.
She hugged her knees tightly.
Her entire body trembled.
"Please..."
She whispered between uneven breaths.
"God... please protect us."
"Don't let anything happen to Mrs. Elena"
"Please..."
She repeated the prayer over and over until the words became nothing more than silent sobs.
Suddenly—
The car door opened.
Anne flinched violently.
She covered her head with both hands.
"Please!"
"Don't shoot me!"
"I don't want to die!"
"It's okay."
A familiar voice interrupted her panic.
"We're safe now."
Anne slowly looked up.
The moment she saw Elena standing before her, every wall she had built collapsed.
Tears streamed freely down her cheeks.
She threw herself into Elena arms.
"I thought..."
Her voice broke.
"I thought I would never see you again."
Elena hugged her tightly.
"I'm sorry."
"It was my fault."
She lowered her head in guilt.
"I knew many people didn't want your return to the Blaze family."
"I should have expected something like this."
"I should have protected you better."
Anne gently shook her head.
"You did your best."
"We're all alive."
"That's what matters."
Alia , who had remained silent all this time, finally released the breath she had been holding.
Her legs were still weak.
"If anything had happened to either of you..."
She swallowed hard.
"I don't even know what I would've done."
The atmosphere inside the car slowly became lighter.
Just then, Alia's curiosity returned.
She leaned toward Elena with sparkling eyes.
"Mrs. Elena..."
"Who exactly was that man?"
Before Elena could answer, Malachai spoke.
"Jax Zen."
"The sole heir of the most powerful corporation in the capital."
Anne froze.
Her eyes widened.
"Jax... Zen?"
Elena noticed her unusual reaction.
"You know him?"
"N-No!"
Anne quickly waved both hands.
"I've never met him."
She forced an awkward smile.
"He was... one of the important clients at the place where I used to work."
Realization dawned on Alia.
"Oh!"
"So he's the mysterious client who always wore a mask?"
Anne nodded slowly.
"I never imagined..."
"It would really be him."
Malachai's face became serious.
"In this city, everyone knows Jax Zen."
"He controls businesses."
"He controls power."
"And some people believe..."
"He even controls the law."
Elena quietly added,
"If you value your life, never make him your enemy."
"His influence stretches far beyond this capital."
"No one dares challenge him."
The discussion continue but Anne couldn't help but thinking if she made the right choice by returning to the blaze family.
The convoy slowly drove away.
Outside the window, the bright city lights blurred into streaks of gold.
Inside the car, silence settled over everyone.
Each person was lost in their own thoughts.
Anne quietly lowered her gaze.
Her fingers instinctively tightened around the pendant hanging from her neck.
Who could you be...
Sleeping with a woman then ditched her.
The question echoed inside her mind.
She had convincing herself she would forget everything that happens that night, but she couldn't.
She had buried every memory connected to that scene.
Yet somehow...
Fate had another plan for her.
She slowly closed her eyes.
She didn't know that this unexpected encounter would change her life forever.
Because the next time she stood before Jax Zen...
He wouldn't let her disappear again.
- Writer
