Love or Vengeance

Chapter 10: Looking for Chef

Louise's POV

I began stretching before starting my jog.

"5:30," I said, glancing at my wristwatch.

The sky was dark, as if a heavy downpour was about to fall. The air felt cold, carrying with it the warning of an approaching storm.

I stopped in front of Ate Miley's house and smiled as I remembered Kylie—such a playful and intelligent child, just like her dad.

A part of me wanted to tell Kuya the truth about Kylie, so he could better protect her and Ate Miley.

But I held back.

I didn't want to interfere in their relationship.

I walked around the entire village.

"I need to memorize every corner of this place—there's a good chance they'll come looking for me here," I thought, smirking.

I was heading back to the house when I noticed a man in a black jacket. He had slightly curly, shoulder-length hair.

He was watching Emilie's house intently.

It was the same man who'd been tailing me—wherever I went, he was there. Just watching. Never doing anything.

"Idiot."

I moved slowly, silently, circling around behind him.

Then, with one quick motion, I grabbed his shoulder.

His eyes widened in shock.

He moved quickly and charged at me with a punch.

I stepped back slightly, letting him waste his energy on a flurry of useless attacks—none of which landed.

He stopped, panting heavily.

Tsk... maybe he should try going on a diet. Fat spy.

"Hahahaha!" I burst out laughing. "You really should try dieting."

He glared at me in frustration.

"Oww," I said, covering my mouth mockingly. "So scary."

He charged again, but being the fool he was, he didn't even notice my simple sidestep—followed by a quick trip that sent him falling to the ground.

"Stop following me unless you want to get hurt," I said, shaking my head as I walked away.

To be honest, I'm not the type who enjoys hurting people.

But I have a feeling that avoiding it won't be easy anymore—especially when they're Judas's men, even if they're just following orders.

When I got back to the house, I went straight to my room and jumped into the shower.

Under the flowing water, I couldn't help but think—

"Billionaire's Eyes"...

Is that the reason why Mommy and I were kidnapped back then?

Growing up, I never met or even heard anything about Mommy's family.

Dad never really talked about them either.

Aside from Judas's people constantly watching my every move, there's someone—or something—else that keeps following me.

If there's one thing I'm sure of right now...

It's that Judas isn't the only one I need to worry about.

That night, on our way home from the mall, Emilie and I nearly got into an accident—someone had shot at our car's tire.

She's not used to danger, and that's exactly what worried me.

She could've been hurt.

Maybe I should've stayed away from her. Maybe she's safer without me around.

In my selfish desire to keep her close while I'm still here, I didn't stop to think... she could get dragged into the chaos I'm in.

You're stupid, Louise.

I finished my shower and changed into denim shorts and a t-shirt.

Suddenly, heavy rain started pouring outside.

I sat by the window seat, watching the rain fall.

I hate the rain.

Because rain never brings good memories.

It was raining the day Dad refused to let me become an actress like Aisha.

It was raining the day my beloved cat Yui was hit by a car.

It was raining the day when Mommy, and I were kidnapped.

It rained while we were held hostage.

It rained while I was stuck in the hospital, desperately clinging to the hope that she was still alive.

And it rained on the day we buried Mommy.

There's nothing about the rain that brings me peace.

I stared at the raindrops trailing down the glass of my window.

They looked like tears.

Tears of sadness.

"Bestie! Breakfast is ready!" Emilie called out to me.

"Coming, bestie!" I replied, quickly wiping the tears off my cheeks.

As I opened the door, a man dressed in all black appeared in front of me with a smirk.

A visitor.

Before I could react, he kicked the door wide open, forcing me to step back.

He rushed at me—but I grabbed his left arm and drove my knee straight into his stomach.

He doubled over in pain.

Without hesitation, I kicked him in the face, knocking him unconscious.

I immediately thought of Emilie.

I dashed out of the room and was about to run down the stairs when I saw three men coming up.

The first two lunged at me.

I grabbed the first by the wrist, twisted his arm behind his back, and slammed him into the wall.

I kicked the second one in the face—sending him tumbling down the stairs.

I shoved the first man down as well, watching him crash to the bottom.

The last guy stood confidently, flipping a butterfly knife in his hand with arrogance.

His expression turned to shock as I disarmed him in a blink—

Then, grinning, I stabbed his hand into the wall with his own blade.

He screamed in agony, especially when I twisted the knife while it was still lodged deep in his flesh...

Then yanked it out harshly.

He collapsed onto the stairs, clutching his bleeding hand, completely weakened.

I looked at the man's left wrist.

Confirmed.

He's one of Judas' men.

I was startled when the door suddenly opened the Grim Reaper himself stood there.nAlongside him was Rimjel.

Both their eyes were wide with shock and silent questions.

I sensed movement behind me—a presence rushing in.

I quickly ducked, spun around, and positioned myself behind the attacker.

Tsk... so he's already awake.

With a sharp strike of my palm to the back of his neck, I made him drop to his knees.

As he knelt in pain, I kicked him hard, sending him tumbling down the stairs—right back to his companions.

"Tell whoever sent you—thanks for the visit. Next time you break in here, I won't hesitate to slit your throats."

Rim stepped forward, ready to grab them, but I motioned for him to stop.

"GET OUT!!!"

The four of them scrambled to their feet and bolted out of the house like scared rats.

I picked up my phone and called Christian.

"Hello, Louise."

"Start the operation."

That was all I said before hanging up.

I could see the confusion written all over the faces of the two men.

I headed straight to the kitchen and looked for Emilie.

She was crouched under the table, clutching her phone tightly.

I reached out my hand, and she immediately took it.

I pulled her into a tight embrace.

"I'm really sorry you got caught up in this," I whispered.

She just shook her head repeatedly, as if telling me it was okay.

"But I'll do everything I can to protect you."

I helped her to the sofa so she could sit down and catch her breath.

"Are you alright, hon?" Rimjel asked Emilie with concern. "What happened?"

"I called Allejah upstairs to eat, then I went back to the kitchen. That's when I noticed a few men in black entering the house. I was about to call her and warn her not to come down, but then I heard a loud noise from upstairs... That's when I decided to call you instead."

"Allejah, are you okay?" Rimjel asked, concern in his voice.

"I'm fine," I replied.

"Hmm... good thing I was with Ivan, so I got here quickly."

"Who's Ivan?" I asked.

"That's me," Mr. Grim Reaper said, and I laughed out loud.

"Why are you laughing?"

"Nothing... I just didn't expect your name to be Ivan."

"Tsk... at least you can still laugh," I shrugged.

"Stay here with Emilie for now," I said.

"Why? Where are you going?" Mr. Grim Reaper asked.

"To my room. I still have to fix the door they broke. Those idiots didn't even bother to fix the door before leaving."

"I'll help you," he offered, and beat me to the stairs.

"Hmm... Allejah, is it okay if I stay here for now?"

"It's fine with me — it's good for Besty to have company all the time."

It's better if Rim stays here, especially since I've been leaving the house more often lately.

"Thanks," Rim said with a grateful smile.

"You're asking me for permission, when your girlfriend is the one who owns this house? I'm just staying here," I said, raising a brow.

"Hehehe, that's exactly why I asked you," he pointed at Emilie with a grin. "So she can't say no."

"Clever move," I muttered.

"Besty," Emilie chimed in, "did any of your picture frames get broken? Because if they did, I've got a bunch of empty ones upstairs."

"No..." I replied with a smile—until a sudden memory hit me.

I sprinted upstairs to my room.

And there he was the Grim Reaper or rather, Ivan—standing right in front of my pictures, staring at them.

I rushed over, grabbed a blanket, and threw it over his head.

"Don't you dare take that off," I warned, referring to the blanket, my voice edged with threat — though he just laughed, for the first time since we met.

"Too late, I already saw them," he said, pulling off the blanket and turning to face me.

"You're into pink?"

He sat down casually on the window seat, his eyes scanning my room.

"Yeah... used to be," I replied, plopping down on my bean bag. "What about you? What's your favorite color?"

"Dark blue."

His gaze lingered a bit too long, making me glance away awkwardly.

"Do you know the guy who broke in earlier?"

"No."

I stared straight into his eyes. "But I do know who sent them — and don't ask me who it is." Because if you find out it's the man who almost became your father-in-law... tsk. Ivan.

"It's okay, if you're not ready to talk about it."

He stood up and started fixing the door.

"But there's something I've been meaning to ask."

My heart skipped at that.

Here it comes...

"Go on, what is it?"

As long as it's not 'Is there something I should know?' That's the kind of line you save for dramatic reveals.

"Where did you learn to fight like that?"

"You want the truth?"

"No, please lie to me," he said with a sarcastic tone, making me laugh despite myself.

"It's called self-defense. I studied it."

"Ah," he nodded thoughtfully. "Why?"

"What do you mean why?"

"Why did you learn self-defense?"

"So I'd know how to protect myself," I answered, my eyes locked on his.

A beat of silence passed. Then he asked softly, "You really didn't follow me here, did you?"

"No... I came here for a different reason. Honestly, the first time I saw you here... I actually wondered why you were here."

"One more thing," he said, putting down the tools and turning to me with a serious look. Gulp.

"Why was the mall security chasing you?"

I let out a relieved sigh. Whew.

"At least it's not the worst question."

"Doesn't make sense for you to be a shoplifter," he added, raising a brow. "Just by the way you dress, anyone can tell you're rich."

(O_O) Oh yeah... he saw me being chased by my bodyguards after I escaped from them.

"Oh that," I scratched my head.

Should I tell him the truth? Or make something up?

"Don't bother thinking whether to lie or not," he interrupted. "I can always tell when someone's lying."

"Tss."

"Hahaha. So? What's the story?"

"They're my bodyguards," I admitted. "They were chasing me because I ditched them."

"I see."

He resumed fixing the door.

"So... where's your family? And why are you here alone?"

"You said that last one was your final question," I pointed out, standing up. I didn't want to talk about that.

"Mr. Grim Reaper—finish that up already, I'm starving."

"Alright, alright, I won't ask about your family anymore. Just one more—"

"I said that was your last question earlier! Don't push it!"

I cut him off quickly—because I had a feeling his next question would hit closer than I was ready for.

"Why do you keep calling me a Grim Reaper huh?" he asked, clearly not done with his Q&A session. "Answer me already. The first time you called me that was the day you were stupidly crossing the street."

I swear, I could punch this guy right now... "Stupidly?"

"Correction, Mr. Grim Reaper, there's a difference between being stupid and being in a hurry," I snapped, emphasizing my words.

"Alright, alright—you weren't stupid, just... in a hurry," he said with a cheeky grin.

"Wow. You really had to repeat it."

"Come on, just answer so I don't have to say stup—"

"What the heck!!!" I yelled at him before he could finish.

"Hehehe, okay okay, I'll stop. Now just tell me."

"It's because you were all dressed in black that night. You even looked like a stupid driver who didn't know what he was doing." I burst into laughter as I left him behind in the room and went downstairs.

"Hello, newlyweds~" I teased the two who were cuddling while cooking in the kitchen.

They just laughed and continued what they were doing.

"Wow, that smells amazing!"

"You should learn how to cook," Rimjel suggested with a smirk.

"Forget it... when I get married, I'm going to choose someone who's the best at cooking so he can cook for me every day," I said as I pulled out a tub of Rocky Road ice cream from the fridge and grabbed a spoon.

"Ah! Grim Reaper!" I yelped when I turned around and saw him suddenly there.

"Tch. I'm done," Ivan said plainly.

"Thank you," I replied and sat at the counter, starting to eat my ice cream.

"Speaking of marriage, besty," Emilie chimed in, "it's hard to find a guy who's actually good at cooking. Most of them only know how to work."

"Then I'll hold auditions!" I replied, lips pouting. "I want someone handsome, muscular, responsible—and most importantly, a chef."

"You better start holding those auditions now, besty. Have you forgotten? You don't even have a boyfriend!" Emilie teased, and the three of them burst out laughing.

"Okay, okay! You don't have to broadcast to the whole world that I'm single!" I pouted, leaving the three of them and heading to the living room to watch TV.

.............................................

Hi-Yu