Tawan held Ira all night, both sleeping soundly until the continuous ringing of the phone finally woke them up. Tawan squinted at the window; the sun was already peeking through. This was the first time she had slept so deeply, and Ira was the same. Previously, no matter how late she went to bed, Ira would wake up at exactly 5 AM out of habit, but today, she slept until 7 AM.

Ira opened her eyes to see Tawan's face right in front of her, she gave a gentle smile. If every morning could be like this, Ira would gladly be lazy forever. Tawan also noticed Ira was awake and smiling at her, so she returned the smile. With Ira as her pillow, Tawan's sleep was truly peaceful, free from dreams, a serene slumber until morning.

"Good morning, P'Tawan!" - Ira said, still hugging Tawan tightly.

"Morning!" - Tawan reached over to reject the incoming call, then continued holding Ira and smiled back.

The two gazed at each other for a while, saying nothing, just smiling brightly at one another.

"Do you have any plans today?"

"Not until 10 a.m., when I have to be at the training room."

'Then I'll ask someone to prepare breakfast for you. Stay home and rest. I have something to take care of, but I'll be back before 10 to take you to work." - Tawan spoke gently, her tone noticeably softer than before.

"Okay! I'll wait for you!" - Ira noticed the change in Tawan's demeanor and felt her heart soften as well.

Tawan called Aunt Pleu to come over and prepare breakfast while looking after Ira.

"This is Aunt Pleu. She's taken care of me since I was little, so there's no need to feel shy." - Tawan introduced her to Ira.

"Sawaadee kha! I'm Ira!" - Ira greeted politely.

"Alright, our sweet young lady. What would you like to eat? I'll make it for you." - Aunt Pleu looked at Ira with approval. She seemed well-mannered, gentle, yet strong—a far cry from the clingy, shallow women who used to hover around Tawan.

"I have to go. Please take care of her for me, Aunt Pleu." - Tawan hugged the older woman warmly.

"Don't worry, just go."

Tawan waved goodbye to the two in the house and quickly left in her car. That morning, she had received a call from Pey. Not wanting to disturb Ira, she had turned off her phone. However, the message Pey sent afterward made her leave in haste:

**[Boss! Dara is missing!]**

Stopping her car at the villa, Tawan entered with a cold expression. She headed upstairs, where Pey and Ace were overseeing the cleanup.

"Boss!"

"Hmm."

"She broke the window to escape!"

"How many traitors?" - Tawan knew the structure of the place all too well to realise someone must have helped Dara to escape soundly. An incompetent woman like Dara couldn't possibly evade her team on her own.

"Two people." - Pey bowed her head. These two were the same ones Dara had seduced and slept with, completely infatuating them to the point of betrayal.

"Hunt them down. No need to spare anyone." - Tawan's tone was icy. - "Her included."

After giving her orders, Tawan quickly drove back to pick Ira up for work. She pressed down on the gas pedal, rushing as the round trip took a lot of time. She didn't want Ira to wait for her, and she certainly didn't want Ira to be late.

*
"You don't have any plans this afternoon, right?" - Tawan glanced at the person sitting in the passenger seat, who was gazing at her with admiration.

"That's right, I checked the schedule already. Today's training ends at 4 PM!" - Ira smiled, her eyes still fixed on Tawan.

"Do you like Japanese food? Let's have Omakase tonight."

"Sure! I like it too, but I rarely have time to go, and eating alone is boring."

"Then after training, I'll take you home to shower and change before we go. How does that sound?"

"Perfect! Thank you, P'Tawan." - Ira beamed, enjoying the feeling of being pampered by Tawan.

"Hang on" - Tawan stopped her just as she was about to open the car door.

"Huh?" - Ira blinked in surprise, watching as Tawan reached into her pocket and pulled out a small box.

"This is for you."

"Thank you, P'Tawan!" - Ira's cheeks turned a light shade of pink as she smiled brightly, carefully putting the box into her handbag, planning to open it later at home.

"You can open it now." - Tawan spoke softly.

Nodding, Ira took the small box and opened it. Inside was a delicate bracelet with a charming blue butterfly charm. Behind the charm was the engraved name "IRA." Ira looked at Tawan, deeply touched, realizing this bracelet must have been custom-made just for her.

"It's beautiful! I love it. Thank you so much!" - Ira's excitement was palpable, her smile as radiant as the sun.

"Let me put it on for you. Since it's custom-made, there's a specific way to put it on and take it off." - Tawan turned toward Ira and gently fastened the bracelet on her wrist, explaining in a calm voice. - "As long as you don't take it off, no matter where you are, I'll be able to find you."

Ira was moved to the point of tears, nodding repeatedly as she looked at the intricately designed white gold bracelet with her own personal symbol. Her heart melted with happiness, filling her soul with joy.

"Thank you so much" - Ira smiled with pure joy.

"Alright. Head inside first. I'll park the car."

Ira nodded, opened the car door, and stepped out. Tawan stayed in the car, watching until Ira entered the building before reversing the car to find a parking spot.

From a quiet corner of the room, Tawan observed. She watched as Ira focused on her training, the bracelet glinting subtly under the lights. Then—a sudden vibration. Ira's phone buzzed against the table. Tawan glanced at the screen. "Sushi."
Tawan answered the call, but the person on the other end immediately hung up. Another call came through, but again, it ended before she could pick up. Tawan assumed Sushi had accidentally pocket-dialed and didn't feel the need to call Ira over.

During a break, Ira picked up her phone and noticed two missed calls from Sushi. When she called back, the other person declined the call. Confused, Ira was about to tell Tawan when a message from Sushi arrived:

[I'm in a meeting with P'Dew. Can't answer the phone! Come to the office immediately.]

"P'Sushi just told me to meet P'Dew. She's in a meeting and can't pick up the phone, so I'll head up now." - Ira turned to Tawan.

"I'll go with you." - Tawan didn't want Ira out of her sight.

"It's okay. I can manage on my own. The private elevator leads straight to the meeting room, and it's a one-on-one with P'Dew." - Ira explained. She had already hired her own bodyguards, which was outside the company's policy. Bringing Tawan into a private meeting room might get P'Sushi into trouble with P'Dew.

"Alright. I'll wait for you here."

Ira nodded, grabbed her phone, and left. Tawan glanced at the clock—it was close to 4 PM. She began gathering Ira's belongings, slinging her bag over her shoulder before stepping outside the gym to admire the view of Bangkok while waiting.

After more than ten minutes, Tawan still hadn't seen Ira return. She had no idea how long the meeting would take and decided to grab coffee, intending to get Ira a matcha latte as well. Waiting by the elevator, she was surprised to see Sushi rushing out as the doors opened.

"P'Sushi? Weren't you in a meeting? Is it over? Where's Ira?" - Tawan asked, confused.

"Meeting? What meeting? I don't know anything about that! I've been looking for my phone! I lost it after coming out of the restroom earlier. I tried calling it, but no one picked up. All my schedules and data are in there!"

"What did you say?"

Tawan's breath hitched. For a second—just a split second—her heart faltered. A sharp wave of unease crashed over her. She didn't waste time with more questions. Without another word, she strode into the elevator, pressing the button with practiced urgency.
As the doors slid shut, her fingers moved swiftly over her phone screen. She accessed a hidden app—one she had built herself. The custom tracking system linked to the bracelet she had given Ira. A precaution. And now—a lifeline. Her gaze locked onto the screen, her brows knitting together.
The small butterfly-shaped icon—the one that marked Ira's location—was no longer in HC3 Tower. It was moving. Fast. Heading toward the outskirts of the city. Tawan's eyes darkened.

This direction...

A realization struck her like lightning. Her jaw tightened. No hesitation. Her thumb hit the dial.
"Pey! Mode A. Now."

"Got it! Location?"

"Daw's old house! I'm heading there now!"

"Roger that!"

Tawan ended the call and made another one.

"Jaja! Head to Daw's old house immediately!"

"On it!"

Tawan's heart burned with urgency. The moment she stepped out of the elevator, she broke into a run, sprinting toward the parking lot. Luckily, her car was parked close to the entrance today. Wasting no time, she jumped in, fired up the engine, and slammed her foot on the gas.

The car roared to life, tearing out of the lot. She placed her phone on the dashboard, eyes locked on the small blue butterfly icon— Ira's location. It was moving. Further. Further away. Tawan's grip on the steering wheel tightened like a vice. Her heart felt like it was resting on a bed of molten lava, scorching with every passing second.

She forced herself to stay calm, to focus, to chase.

[Ring~~]

Just as Tawan exited the city, her phone rang. Glancing at the screen, she saw Ira's number. The butterfly icon on her app had stopped moving. Answering the call, her voice was icy.

"Hello?"

"So, you've found out?" - The voice on the other end was unmistakably Dara's.

"You're testing my patience, Dara."

"Oh? I want to see just how mad you can get!" - Dara's tone was mocking and playful.

"I hope you won't regret this!" - Tawan couldn't hide the cruelty in her voice.

"I thought this time you would play around with a mature, free-spirited woman, turns out I've been wrong all along? So you prefer this fresh, young grass, huh?"

"If Ira loses even a single hair, I'll make you regret it bitterly!" - Tawan glanced at the GPS, she was only 5 minutes away from Ira now, she accelerated.

"I'm waiting for you then! Because this little brat won't just lose some hair! Hahaha!" - Dara laughed maniacally before hanging up.

Tawan didn't panic; it was clear Dara wanted her to come to witness some kind of drama, so Ira would be temporarily safe until she arrived. At this moment, Tawan also received a signal from Pey that she would be there within 15 minutes. Tawan gripped the steering wheel tightly, her gaze fixed forward, the rage in her heart blazing fiercely.

Gripping the steering wheel tightly, Tawan's eyes burned with fury as she sped toward the target.

"Ira, hold on. I'm coming."

**
Tawan turned her car sharply into a glass-covered villa, stepping out and heading straight inside without encountering any resistance. She walked through the spacious rooms with familiarity until she reached a large hall. She had been here before and knew the place well.

"That was fast!" - Dara sat smugly in the center of the room, her voice dripping with mockery as she addressed Tawan, who had just entered.

Tawan ignored Dara entirely, her gaze shifting to the right, where she spotted Ira lying unconscious on the floor inside a glass-walled room. Her sharp eyes scanned Ira's body, ensuring there were no injuries. Only then did she let out a subtle sigh of relief.

"Damn it!" Dara cursed under her breath, her frustration boiling over. Ever since Tawan walked into the room, she hadn't spared Dara even a single glance. Not once. Instead, her eyes were scanning for someone else. Ira. That realization sent a fresh wave of rage coursing through Dara's veins.

"Enough."
Tawan's voice finally cut through the air—cold, sharp, absolute. For the first time, she turned her gaze to Dara. But her eyes— They were like ice. Emotionless. Empty.

"You..." - Dara raised her hand, showing off the bracelet she was holding, its charm glinting in the light. - "...still into these tracking bracelet tricks, huh?"

... - Tawan didn't reply. She couldn't be bothered to engage with Dara; even looking at her felt like a waste of effort.

"Answer me!!" - Dara shrieked, standing abruptly and glaring at Tawan with bloodshot eyes.

"What do you want to know?" - Tawan's tone was indifferent, her gaze shifting briefly back to the glass room to check on Ira.

"P'Tawan! I've waited for it for over 6 years..." - Dara held up the bracelet in front of Tawan, her eyes burning with resentment - "...but I've never received it! The first person to get it was my sister, if she hadn't shown me how to remove it, I wouldn't have been able to take this bracelet off that brat! Why? Why did you give it to her?"

"There's no why!" - Tawan replied coldly, her look filled with disdain and disgust towards Dara.

"What's with that look?" - Dara noticed the disdain and disgust in Tawan's eyes, she screamed like she was losing her mind -

"You despise me? You find me disgusting? Haha... You people... everyone looks down on me, don't you?"

... - Tawan frowned as she watched Dara's unhinged behavior.

"You're disgusted with me because I'm depraved, aren't you?" Dara's voice was laced with bitterness, her gaze brazenly fixed on Tawan.

Tears streamed down her face, smudging her makeup, distorting her features into something almost grotesque. "But tell me—who made me this way? Who, Tawan?!"

Tawan's expression remained unchanged. "I never forced you."
Her tone was flat, indifferent, as if none of this had anything to do with her.

"No, you didn't force me! But it's because of you that I became this way!"

"..." - Tawan's brows furrowed, her eyes flickering back to Ira inside the glass room, who had yet to wake up. - "I did nothing to you."

"But if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have gotten so drunk that I didn't know what was happening, wouldn't have been drugged, wouldn't have lost my virginity then! And after I lost it, what happened? You left me for someone else to take care of because of your sister, what am I to you? What am I? I loved you like that? But have you ever looked at me? Paid attention to me? Huh!!!???"

Tawan's voice was cold, unyielding.
"Your love for me was your own choice. I rejected you because I don't love you. And what happened that night? That wasn't my fault."

Her words cut through the air like a blade. "I told you countless times—I only saw you as a younger sister. But you were the one who refused to accept it. You were the one who destroyed yourself. And now you want to blame me?" - Tawan's tone remained steady, emotionless. She left no room for retreat.

"Hahaha! Yes! It's all my fault! My fault for falling in love with someone whose heart is icy cold!" - Dara's laughter grew louder, her tears flowing uncontrollably as she staggered backward.

Tawan's brows furrowed. From behind, she sensed several large men approaching. A quick glance to the right—Her frown deepened. Two heavily built men had just entered the room where Ira was being held.

And inside— Ira was waking up. Tawan's heart clenched. A rare, unwelcome feeling— Fear.

"What are you planning to do?" - Tawan's voice was tense, her body on full alert.

"Are you worried? Are you scared? Why haven't I seen this expression on you in all these years?" - Dara turned her vicious gaze towards Ira, who had just woken up, her eyes filled with hatred and murderous intent as she spoke each word - "Is it because of that wench, isn't it?"

"Dara! Don't push me!" - Tawan's voice was ice-cold, her words sharp and controlled, though her fury was barely restrained.

"It's come to this; I have nothing left to lose. Even if I stop now, with your personality, would you really let me go?" - Dara sneered, her lips curling in a twisted grin.

"Let Ira go, and I'll spare you!" - Tawan's voice was firm, her eyes unwavering.

"Haha... So Tawan can make deals for someone else, break her own principles for someone else." - Dara laughed hoarsely, her voice dripping with venom. - "But the more you want her safe, the more I want to destroy her!"

"What are you planning?" - Tawan ground her teeth, her heart pounding with fear she hadn't felt in years.

"Do you know what this is?" Dara pulled a small vial from her pocket, holding it up. Inside—only a few drops of liquid remained. Tawan's eyes darkened.

"This..." Dara's fingers tightened around the glass, her voice dropping to a cruel whisper. "This is the very thing that destroyed me six years ago. Turned me into nothing more than a broken doll."
Her breath hitched—then her lips stretched into a wicked grin. "And guess what? On my way here, I gave your little angel a taste of it."

Tawan's pulse pounded violently in her ears.

"Soon, you'll see her fall apart. You'll watch as she loses control—right before your eyes. Let's see if she's still the pure, untouchable saint you think she is. Or if she'll end up just as filthy and ruined as me." A chilling laugh echoed through the room.

Tawan's heart trembled, her soul filled with fear. She panicked as she looked into the room; Ira had also realized she was being held captive, retreating to a corner with a face full of fear, tears streaming down her cheeks. Without hesitation, Tawan ran towards the room where Ira was detained.

"Stop her!"

Dara screamed, and more than ten burly thugs rushed towards Tawan. One of them quickly moved to punch her, but Tawan stepped back to dodge, grabbing his arm and delivering a punch that sent him flying backward. Her injured right hand was a significant hindrance; she took off her jacket to avoid any restriction, her forearm still wrapped in a pristine white bandage. Tawan looked at Ira inside the room, who was desperately resisting, hearing her helpless screams.

"GET OUT OF MY WAY!!"
Ira's body felt strange—burning, restless. A heat she couldn't control coiled inside her, growing stronger. Her vision blurred slightly as she caught sight of the two men approaching her.

From outside— Tawan. She wasn't focused. She was too worried about Ira. And because of that - CRACK! A wooden baton slammed into her back. Tawan staggered forward, gritting her teeth against the pain. But her reaction was swift. She twisted back, delivering a brutal punch to her attacker, sending him flying backward. Before she could recover—Another one came. A second blow, aimed straight at her. Tawan's body tensed.

With no choice, she raised her right arm to block. THWACK! A sharp pain shot through her limb. Her wound—not yet healed—ripped open once more. She sucked in a breath. The clean, white bandages soaked through, staining deep crimson.

"TAWAN!!"

Ira screamed in agony, she was scared herself, but seeing Tawan get hit on her old wound because she was distracted by concern for her made her heart ache to the point of breathlessness. Ira tried to rush towards the glass door, only to be grabbed by the shoulder and thrown back inside by another thug.

"IRA!!!"

Tawan, seeing Ira being hit, was like possessed by a demon, ignoring the condition of her right hand, she once again endured the pain and smashed a punch into the glass.

**"BANG"**

A deafening crash. Glass didn't shatter. But pain exploded through her hand. She could feel it— The sharp, raw sensation of stitches ripping open. Blood seeped from the fresh wound, soaking through the bandages entirely. The glass remained intact. Tawan's jaw tightened.

Inside, Ira fought back. In desperation, she grabbed the nearest object - A vase.
With all her strength, she smashed it against her attacker's head. But before she could move— SLAP! A violent backhand struck her across the face. Her head snapped to the side.

"IRA!!"

Tawan's eyes burned with fury, and her vision blurred with red as she struck the glass again.

**"BANG!"**

The second punch made a small crack, but it wasn't enough. Her injured arm hung limp, her hand swollen and unresponsive. Preparing for a third strike, she was caught off guard when another attacker kicked her in the back. Tawan was sent crashing into the glass, bouncing off with a sharp gasp of pain. She staggered but immediately turned to check on Ira. Tawan knew turning her back on her enemies was a fatal mistake in combat, but she couldn't care less. Her only concern was the terrified girl trapped inside the room.

"You're wasting your time! This room is made of bulletproof glass, and you know it well!" - Dara's mocking voice rang out. - "Regular glass would've shattered from your punch, but this? It's special."

"TAWAN!! WATCH OUT!!"
Ira's scream jolted Tawan as another attacker lunged at her.

Inside the room, Ira held a shard of the broken vase, waving it in front of the two men as a warning. Noticing Tawan looking at her without paying attention to what was behind, she saw one of the thugs raising a bat to strike from behind. In fear, Ira screamed.

Hearing Ira's scream, Tawan quickly looked at the reflection in the glass, dodging a potentially fatal blow by flipping around.
However, in that split second of distraction because she was worried for Tawan, Ira was grabbed by one of the thugs who snatched the shard from her, slapped her, then pinned her hands above her head. With one hand, he tore Ira's shirt, revealing a captivating expanse of skin covered by a black, seductive bra, their eyes turned greedy and lustful.

"Tawan! Don't look!! Don't look at me!! Please... don't look..."

Ira cried out helplessly; she didn't want Tawan to see her in this state, she didn't want to become soiled in the eyes of the person she loved.

Tawan's gaze locked onto Ira as she struggled. Her expression turned cold, the heat of her panic replaced by a bone-chilling fury. The air around her grew heavy, suffused with a bloodthirsty aura. This was no ordinary anger—this was the presence of someone who had waded through rivers of blood and danced on the edge of death. The men around her hesitated, instinctively recoiling under the oppressive weight of her killing intent.

Inside the room, the two men holding Ira paused, noticing the sudden tension in the air and the petrified expressions of their comrades outside. They turned to meet Tawan's glare, her eyes filled with deathly resolve. For a fleeting moment, fear gripped them, and their hold on Ira loosened. Taking advantage of the moment, Ira retreated to the wall, clutching the torn fabric over her chest, her eyes filled with pain and terror.

Tawan didn't hesitate; she placed her bleeding right hand on the glass, moving along it towards Ira. The thugs, jolted back to reality by Dara's loud shout, moved to block Tawan. At this moment, Tawan was eerily calm and cold, her right hand still pressed against the glass, muttering to herself while dodging attacks and feeling her way along the glass. Dara was right, this was bulletproof glass, and for a moment, Tawan felt a sense of helplessness, ready to give up. But a comment from Dara snapped her back to clarity.

"You know this room well!"

INDEED, she knew this room well; after all, she designed it and chose the materials.
Initially, she didn't recognize it because the decor had changed. The previous owner had renovated the house, so Tawan thought the room had been redone. But Dara's words made her realize that while the entire house had been renovated, this room alone had not been touched.

While dodging attacks, Tawan quickly determined the right position. When her right hand touched the mullion, she tapped it lightly, the sound reaching her ears made her pause. She grabbed the arm of a thug charging towards her, spun around, and executed a throw that sent him flying towards the glass. Everyone there thought the large man would hit the glass and bounce back, but Tawan smirked triumphantly. Just when it seemed like he would be repelled and the glass would remain inviolable, a cracking sound echoed.

***CRACK.... SHATTER***

The glass—once thought to be unbreakable, then shattered.

Tawan didn't hesitate. She didn't wait for anyone to react. In a single motion, she stepped onto the man who had unwillingly broken the glass and launched herself forward. Within seconds,  She reached the bastard restraining Ira. Her fingers snatched his hair, yanking his head violently backward. The other man barely had time to react before—

*CRACK.*

A vicious kick sent him slamming into the wall. He collapsed, groaning, struggling to get back up. Tawan's attacks—merciless. Precise. Unforgiving.

"Ira! Close your eyes!" - Tawan's cold, commanding voice rang out. Ira obeyed instantly, squeezing her eyes shut.

"ARRRGHHHH!" - A blood-curdling scream tore through the room as Tawan's fingers dug into the first man's eyes. Blood dripped from her hand as she pulled them free. She then picked up a sharp shard of glass and slashed two deep cuts across his arms, leaving him writhing on the floor in agony.

The remaining thug inside, seeing his accomplice's eye gouged out by Tawan and his tendons severed, was trembling with fear. However, he knew that if he didn't fight back, he'd end up like the other. With this thought, he charged at her. Tawan, with the gaze of death, dodged to the side, and a shard of glass plunged straight into the eye of the attacker. She grabbed his hand, applying force without mercy.

"CRACK...!" The sound of a bone breaking echoed, causing the group outside to recoil in fear. They weren't amateurs; they were all professionals, but Tawan's terrifying aura was suppressing their spirits and will, making them weak.

Tawan turned and knelt beside Ira, who was still huddled against the wall, clutching the torn fabric over her chest. Her gaze softened as she took in Ira's bruised and battered form—the purpling skin near her collarbone, the red swelling on her face. A pang of guilt and sorrow gripped Tawan's heart. She glanced around for something to cover Ira but found nothing. Reaching out to stroke Ira's head, she stopped when she noticed the blood staining her hand. Blood—**not hers, but the filth she had just slain—**stained her hands.

"Stay here. Wait for me. Once I finish, I'll take you home." - Tawan's voice was tender, a stark contrast to her earlier savagery.

"Okay." - Ira opened her eyes, her vision blurring with tears as she looked at Tawan's injured, bloodied face.

Tawan stood and strode toward a cabinet. If this room was still the one she remembered, there would be something inside. She opened a drawer and reached toward the top interior edge, her lips curling into a cold smirk as her fingers found what she was looking for. Her hand emerged, holding a meticulously crafted short blade. Tawan turned to the remaining men outside the room, her gaze like that of a predator sizing up its prey.

"You reap what you sow. There is no escape from sin."

Her voice was laced with icy finality. Ira was now safe behind her, shielded from harm. With no reason to hold back anymore, Tawan unleashed her fury.

The aura around her changed entirely, exuding the presence of a reaper on the hunt. Each time she moved, a man fell, screaming in pain. Tawan's strikes were not extravagant but ruthlessly efficient. She targeted critical areas with precision, severing tendons in wrists and ankles. The room was soon drenched in the stench of blood and the sound of anguish, a chilling storm of violence that left none unscathed.

Approaching Dara last, she found her collapsed like a kite with a broken string, looking utterly defeated.

"Tawan... I'm sorry... I was wrong... please forgive me!" - Dara knelt on the floor, hands clasped in a pleading gesture, her body trembling with fear at the sight of Tawan, who exuded the aura of a vengeful demon.

"You only got one chance." - Tawan's voice was cold, like a verdict from the underworld.

**"SLAP!"**

Without hesitation, Tawan delivered a brutal slap across Dara's face. Blood spattered from her nose, and her mouth dripped crimson as a tooth fell out.

**"SLAP!"**
Another resounding blow landed, leaving Dara's face bloodied and battered, her body crumpled like a broken doll.

Tawan's eyes were vacant. Yet beneath that emptiness— A storm raged. She had reached the peak of her fury. At this moment, she didn't just want revenge. She wanted to break the woman before her. To make her suffer. To quench the bloodlust clawing at her insides. Tawan lowered herself, crouching before Dara. Her movements—unhurried, deliberate. In her hand—The blade gleamed, its edge pressed against Dara's cheek.

"No... no!" - Dara's voice trembled.

Her entire body shrank away from the touch of cold steel. "Don't—don't ruin my face!" ... "Please... I beg you, Tawan..."

Her breath hitched, panic overtaking her. "I was wrong—I know I was wrong!" Her voice broke into desperate pleas. "Please... please, Tawan...!"

"When you decided to harm her, you should've known this moment would come."

Tawan gave a chilling smile, increasing the pressure of the blade against Dara's skin, slowly drawing a long line from her cheek down to her chin. Dara squirmed in pain, but Tawan held her firmly, even forgetting her own physical pain, laughing in a ghostly manner.

Ira had been watching everything. Tears welled in her eyes. This wasn't her Tawan—the one who, despite her cold exterior, always carried a quiet warmth. The woman before her was a stranger. Ruthless. Terrifying. Consumed by bloodlust. The air around Tawan felt suffocating, oppressive.
Ira fought against her trembling body, pushing through the pain, forcing herself to stand. Step by step, she made her way toward her. She didn't want to see Tawan like this. She didn't want her to become this. She wanted HER Tawan back.

Tawan dragged the blade one final time, carving an X deep into Dara's skin. Then she stood, watching as Dara clutched her ruined face, sobbing hysterically. A smirk flickered across Tawan's lips. But it wasn't enough. She wasn't done. Her gaze shifted.

Nearby, one of the men—the brute whose tendons she had severed—lay crumpled in a pool of his own sweat, his face pale with pain and terror. His eyes pleaded with her. She ignored him. Instead, she focused on the iron bat lying next to him. Her smirk darkened.

Without hesitation, she spun the knife in her fingers and drove it deep into the man's shoulder. A piercing scream echoed through the room. Tawan paid no mind. She simply reached down, gripping the rod, and dragged it across the floor. The metal scraped against the concrete, producing a grating, bone-chilling screech. And she walked—straight toward Dara

"In your next life, learn where a person's limits lie."

Tawan gripped the bat tightly, raised it high, and prepared to strike.

"NO!!" - Ira's desperate voice broke through the tension as she threw herself around Tawan, stopping the swing just inches from Dara's head. - "Enough, Tawan! It's enough! I'm okay! Please, Tawan!"

"Ira..." - Tawan froze at the warm embrace around her, the icy fury in her heart beginning to melt.

"I'm here." - Ira's trembling hands reached up to gently take the bloodstained rod from Tawan's grasp. Dara, overwhelmed with fear, fainted where she sat.

"Ira..." - Tawan's voice cracked as her rationality returned. She looked at the girl in front of her, her hands shaking uncontrollably.

"I'm fine... I'm okay." - Ira cupped Tawan's face with her hands, her voice soft and reassuring. - You've protected me. I'm safe now.

Tawan said nothing, pulling Ira into a tight embrace. Her grip was so firm that it made Ira wince in pain, but she didn't resist. Instead, she wrapped her arms around Tawan, gently rubbing her back as she felt the other woman tremble.

Suddenly, Ira's legs gave way, and she began to collapse. Tawan quickly caught her, guiding her to sit on the floor.

"Ira? What's wrong?"

"I... don't know... Tawan... I feel strange... so hot..." - Ira's voice was faint, her eyes unfocused as she clung to Tawan. - "Earlier... it was the same, but I was too scared to feel it. Now it's back... I feel... uncomfortable..."

Tawan placed her hand on Ira's forehead, realizing her body temperature was unnaturally high. Her breathing grew heavier, and her gaze began to change, taking on a hazy, seductive quality. Tawan frowned deeply, her mind racing as she recalled Dara's earlier words about the vial of liquid.

"The drug is starting to take effect!" - Tawan frowned, glancing toward the entrance, wondering why her team and Jaja hadn't arrived yet. - "Hold on for a moment!"

Tawan gently sat Ira down, quickly retrieving her discarded jacket. She dusted it off and draped it over Ira's shoulders, carefully buttoning it to cover her exposed chest.

"Stand up, I'll help you to the car. We're going to the hospital!"

"Tawan... " - Ira's voice was weak, her consciousness slipping as Tawan's faint scent enveloped her. It only made the heat coursing through her body worse. - "I... I feel so irritated..."

"Hang in there!" - Tawan's voice was firm, though her heart was clenched with worry. She helped Ira up, but the girl clung tightly to her, her lips brushing against Tawan's neck like a spark of electricity. Tawan gently pushed her back. - "Ira, stay with me. Focus!"

"Tawan... it's unbearable..."

Just as Tawan was at a loss, the sound of footsteps echoed from outside. A group of her team stormed in, swiftly subduing the scattered attackers.

"Good heavens!" - Jaja rushed over, her face scratched from battle. - "What happened here?"

"She was injected with a drug!" - Tawan glanced from Jaja's concerned face to Pey behind her. Noticing the blood seeping through Pey's bandaged arm, she didn't need to ask why they were late.

Jaja assessed Ira's condition and quickly prepared a syringe, drawing a dose of medicine with practiced efficiency before injecting it into Ira.

"I'm not entirely sure what they used, but this should keep her stable for now. Get her home, and we'll deal with the rest later."

"Got it." - Tawan nodded and softly reassured Ira. - "I'm taking you home."

"Tawan, let Pey carry her. Let me treat your hand first!"

"No!" - Tawan insisted, holding Ira close, her grip protective, her eyes still haunted by lingering fear.

"You stubborn fool! Do you want to be amputated?" - Jaja snapped in frustration.

"Tawan... I'm okay now... Please let them take care of you..." - Ira's raspy voice broke through, the residual heat in her body already lessened thanks to the injection.

Tawan hesitated but eventually nodded. She signaled Pey to take Ira, then extended her arm to Jaja for treatment. Jaja unwrapped the blood-soaked bandage, revealing the reopened wound. The injury was swollen, oozing with fresh blood, and her hand was grotesquely inflamed. Pressing gently, Jaja observed Tawan's clenched jaw and the beads of sweat on her forehead.

"Probably fractured" - Jaja thought to herself as she applied the temporary care on Tawan's wound before motioning everyone to head back to their base for proper treatment.

In the car, Tawan sat in the backseat with Ira lying on her lap. Her left hand gently stroked Ira's hair as the girl slept, exhaustion finally taking over. Tawan's heart, which had been tightly wound, began to relax. Fear had gripped her earlier—fear that Ira would be harmed, that the light in her amber eyes would be extinguished, that her sweet smile would disappear forever. She had never been this afraid before, not even in the face of death. But in that moment, the thought of losing Ira had paralyzed her with terror.

"What are you to me...? Why does the thought of losing you petrify me that much"

END CHAP 10