Kill Me Love Me

The rain had just stopped when a yellow taxi slowed down at the side of the Manhattan road. The city lights reflected off the puddles, creating a silvery glint along the asphalt. As soon as the door opened, an elegant woman with jet-black hair stepped out, wearing a long dark coat that hugged her slender figure. The driver pulled a small suitcase from the trunk before driving away, leaving the beautiful woman standing on the wet sidewalk, her eyes looking across the street, toward the tall building with a luxurious wedding banner stretched across its top that read Alea Ardane & Lucien Volkov — A Night of Eternity. Zalea Ardane was the woman's name. She took a slow breath, then opened her small bag and took out an ivory-white invitation tucked neatly inside. For a month, there had been much talk about the wedding that was being held tonight. The wedding of Alea Ardane and Lucien Volkov was said to be the grandest wedding at the end of this year, where the two heirs to the largest business empires in the country would finally be united. She touched the surface of the card, the object that had brought her back after years of leaving her homeland. Her face hardened as memories of this place flashed before her eyes. Although she and Alea both bore the Ardane surname, Zalea's existence was unknown. Some reports even claimed that she had died in the Ardane family accident 15 years ago, with no one knowing the truth behind the incident. The incident devastated Zalea, causing her to hate the Ardane family completely, except for Alea Ardane, her twin sister. Zalea's eyes softened as she looked at the name Alea Ardane, then the corners of her lips lifted slightly. "The chatterbox has grown up, it seems," she muttered. She closed the invitation and put it back in her bag. For a moment, she stood still before the flash of a sedan's headlights broke her train of thought. A black Rolls-Royce stopped in front of the building, its doors opening slowly. From behind them, a woman stepped out in a long white dress, a woman who looked exactly like Zalea. It was Alea. For a split second, Zalea's world stopped. The two women's gazes met, and Alea's eyes widened. She recognized Zalea. A small smile spread across her face. Alea's hand rose, as did Zalea's, even though her body felt stiff at the sight of her sister, whom she hadn't seen in years. There was something in her chest that felt warm and painful at the same time. Alea smiled even wider. Then she started running towards Zalea. "Alea..." Zalea's voice came out softly. She took half a step forward. The wet asphalt reflected the light from the street lamps, blinding her eyes. Meanwhile, Alea, who was standing a few meters across from her, began to run toward her, lifting her wedding dress. "Sister Zalea!" Alea's voice echoed through the seemingly empty streets, and her cheerful expression made Zalea chuckle. Then the sound of an engine could be heard in the distance. Zalea turned toward the sound. A black sports car sped down the street at high speed toward Alea, who was running. "Alea, stop!" Zalea lunged forward, but it was too late. The black car had hit Alea's body hard, throwing her forward, several meters from the point of impact, blood beginning to seep through her dress. The car didn't stop, continuing on and disappearing around the corner, leaving Zalea frozen in place. Her steps faltered as she slowly approached the slender body lying on the road. Alea's head was tilted to the side. Her eyes were half open, unfocused. Blood continued to flow from under her body, spreading across the wet asphalt. Zalea knelt beside her. Her hands immediately moved to press down on the wounds on Alea's body, searching for where the blood was coming from. "Wake up," Zalea said softly. "Look at me, Alea." Zalea's voice was hoarse, her hands pressing the wound began to tremble, Zalea's gaze filled with the fear that enveloped her. Zalea quickly glanced around at the people standing frozen on the sidewalk. But no one moved to help. "Call an ambulance!" she shouted at everyone. She looked down again. Alea's face was growing paler. Her lips were cold to the touch. Fear gripped Zalea's chest, making her breath catch. She gripped one of Alea's hands tightly. "Please... hang on a little longer," she whispered. "Listen to me." Zalea wiped Alea's cheek with her blood-stained hand. She kept pressing the wound until her hand began to weaken. In her head, there was only one fear spinning endlessly, if Alea left now, she would be completely alone. "Alea... don't leave me. Not now. I beg you..." *** The hospital corridor was bustling with activity, and she stared blankly at the medical staff rushing back and forth in front of the operating room. The smell of antiseptic was the only scent that had accompanied her sense of smell for the past hour. Zalea stared fixedly at the operating room door, which had not yet opened. She did not move from her spot, impatiently waiting for her sister to finish her surgery. Her hands trembled as she repeatedly checked her watch. Thirty minutes later, the door opened. Zalea, her eyes filled with hope, stepped toward the doctor. "Doctor... how is she?" The doctor sighed heavily, his gaze dropping for a moment before lifting again. "Miss... we did our best. The injury to your sister's head was too severe. We..." He paused for a moment, "...I'm sorry." Zalea's face hardened, her gaze sharp as she looked at the doctor. "Doctor... my sister... she couldn't have survived, could she?" "We're sorry." "That's not what I want to hear!" Zalea snapped. "You succeeded with the operation, right? I'll pay whatever it takes! Just save my sister. I beg you, save her!" Zalea tremblingly grabbed the doctor's arm, but the doctor responded by patting her shoulder weakly. "Miss... your sister had heart complications... her life could not be saved. She has passed away." Zalea did not respond immediately. The world around her seemed to dim. The voice was still there, but its meaning only hit her a few seconds later. Alea... was gone... A few moments later, when Zalea stepped into the morgue, she stared unblinkingly at the pale body lying in the middle of the room. Zalea approached slowly. Her hand rose hesitantly, then touched that cheek. Alea's skin was so cold. The same face now seemed to be closed helplessly. The face that always looked at her with a warm smile. Zalea's breathing became irregular. Her gaze fell on Alea's pale face. Her fingers reached out, touching her sister's cheek. "Alea..." the voice came out softly. "Why did this have to happen to you..." she said, more like a murmur drowned out by the hum of the air conditioner. She took a slow breath. A long pause passed before she placed her palm beside Alea's body, supporting herself to stay standing. The metal door suddenly swung open. The creaking sound of the hinges broke the silence. "Miss Zalea..." a man's voice sounded hesitant from the doorway. "Don't bother me, Edie." Her words were low. There was no raised tone, but it was enough to make anyone stop breathing for a moment. "But, Miss... this is important." Zalea slowly lifted her face, her eyes staring at the man with a sharp gaze. "I don't want to be disturbed." The man hesitated for a moment before deciding to step to Zalea's side. "This is about the accident that just happened to your sister." Zalea took a deep breath. "Tell me." "We found the car that hit Miss Alea. The license plate, CCTV footage, everything matches." "And?" Zalea asked, growing impatient. Edie opened the folder, the sound of rustling paper clearly audible. “The car… is registered under the name Lucien Volkov.” The room fell silent again. For a moment, Zalea froze. “Lucien Volkov…” Zalea repeated the name softly. The man who was supposed to stand at the altar with Alea. The man whose family was united with the Ardane family in what was said to be the biggest party of the year. The man Alea loves... A thin line appeared at the corner of Zalea's lips. "Okay," she said finally, her voice calm again. "Send me all the data," she said when she reached the man. She stopped right in front of him, staring at him with a gaze as cold as sharp, thin ice. "Hide Alea's death, bury her quietly in her best resting place." After giving that order, she stared at Edie until the man nodded and backed away. Only then did Zalea shift her body, returning to the steel table where Alea lay. She leaned closer, her forehead almost touching Alea's. "I'm sorry." The words came out so softly, they were almost inaudible. "Because all this time, I wasn't there when you needed me. And as for that man..." Her gaze turned sharp. "Lucien Volkov..." The name came out of her lips coldly. "He caused your death, so I will take care of him myself."