2023-03-27 14:35:28By evening, Lian found himself in one of the most famous nightclubs in Vegas. It wasn’t his kind of place, at least in now days but with his current company, he had no choice.
He didn’t have time for luxury or relaxation—he needed money. But the girl hanging onto his arm wasn’t taking "no" for an answer. That’s why he’d been avoiding her for the last three months. Her name? Celine Drayton. Inside, the thumping music made the walls vibrate. Lian made his way to a chair and ordered a drink as soon as he sat down. "You don’t want to dance with me?" Celine asked with accusation. "Or is it that you don’t want me anymore?" She crossed her arms, "If this is about money, I can give you more. But don’t you dare keep working those disgusting part-time jobs. I can’t stand to see my man suffering." Lian stared at her, stunned. He took a long gulp of his drink, letting the alcohol blur the sharp edges of their toxic relationship. He remembered when he’d met her—back when he worked for her family’s business. Well, not exactly a business. It was her brother’s gang, and Lian had gotten out, but that chapter wasn’t closed. If her brother found him, it would be a lot more trouble than she was. Celine had practically ordered him to be her boyfriend. For the past five months, she had meddled in every aspect of his life, and he felt trapped. How did she always manage to find him, no matter where he went? She stormed off, but Lian didn’t follow. He was relieved to be rid of her, even for a moment. His eyes wandered to a nearby table where a girl sat alone, lazily shaking her beer in a glass. Something about her tugged at his memory, but he couldn’t place it. Before he could think too much, a man approached her. "Hey," the guy said, trying too hard to sound smooth. "Are you alone?" The girl looked up, her eyes cold and sharp, cutting through him like a knife. The man visibly shrank under her gaze, stammering for a moment before retreating. Without saying a word, she stood and walked away. Lian couldn’t help but watch her until she vanished from sight. There was something about her... but he couldn’t figure out what. Later, Lian was in a car with Celine, one of her bodyguards driving while the other sat beside them in the back. Celine was in the middle, pouting, her mood poisoning the air. Everyone in the car stayed silent, too afraid to say anything. Lian stared out the window, trying to escape her wrath. Celine pulled an envelope from her purse and dropped it onto the seat next to him, still fuming. Lian frowned, confused. She must’ve found some "better" job for him. He opened the envelope, and as his eyes scanned the document inside, he froze. "You always wanted to find your family," Celine said, arms crossed. "I thought I’d help you... a little." A little? This wasn’t "a little" at all. The documents held information about the parents he’d been searching for. He couldn’t believe she’d remembered something he’d drunkenly mentioned. Before he could say anything, the car jerked to a sudden stop, throwing them forward. Just as they began to recover from the shock, something small dropped through the open window on Lian’s side. Smoke started filling the car. Instinctively, the bodyguard opened the door to investigate, but as soon as she stepped out, a gunshot rang out, and her body crumpled to the ground. Celine screamed in terror, slamming the door shut. "No, don’t—" Lian tried to warn her, but she was too panicked to listen. The gas was still filling the car. Another gunshot shattered the window, striking the other bodyguard in the head. Blood splattered across the seat. Without thinking, Lian moved toward Celine, trying to shield her with his body. They were trapped. The gas was suffocating, and every breath felt like his last. He was terrified, but not for himself—for her. He tried the door, but his strength was fading fast. His vision blurred, and when he glanced at Celine, she was slumped over, her eyes closing. His heart pounded with fear—not for his own life, but for hers. Summoning whatever strength he had left, he slammed his elbow into the window, trying to break it. Then, suddenly, the door on the other side opened. Through the haze of smoke, Lian saw a figure—someone he couldn’t make out clearly. The person grabbed Celine, dragging her out of the car before shutting the door again, leaving him inside. His heart raced. Who was that? What were they going to do to her? Just as he was about to lose consciousness, the door beside him opened. The figure pulled him out, laying him on the ground. Gasping for air, Lian felt a brief sense of relief as the fresh air filled his lungs. He looked up, trying to make out who had saved him, but darkness claimed him before he could see.
Previous Chapter
Related Chapters
BAD HEROINES 4. The Threats
Lian opened his eyes to an unfamiliar ceiling. For a moment, he thought he might be dreaming and started to drift back into sleep when a sharp unease crept in. He sat up slowly, his hand throbbing from the IV tube connected to it. A nurse, adjusting the line beside him, looked up as he watched her in confusion. "How do you feel?" she softly asked. Lian’s voice rasped with confusion, "Why am I here?" His mind was still foggy, but flashes of memory started piecing together. The club. No, the car with Celine. Then… the ambush. He glanced around, his pulse quickening. Where was she? "Your friend brought you in after you passed out from gas poisoning," the nurse explained. "You’re lucky it wasn’t worse." He gave her a strange gaze. Friend? Who? Lian’s thoughts scrambled. He remembered fainting, but everything after that was a blur. Was Celine okay? Before he could ask more, a woman approached the bed, clearly not a doctor. She had an edge to her look—short honey-colored hair, jeans,
BAD HEROINES 5. Escaped Death
The vast field was packed with more than twenty motorbikes lined up in perfect rows, their engines purring in anticipation. Lian stood among the crowd, blending in yet separate. The thrill of the race had always been his escape from the chaos of life. After everything that had happened, this was the only place he could think of to distract himself. These street races were always illegal, which made the nightfall the perfect time to gather. Lian had been a regular for years, always borrowing a bike from his friend Rogan. As one of the best racers, his reputation preceded him, and while most of the others had partners clinging to them, Lian always preferred to ride solo. The solitude helped him focus. Besides, Celine’s brother had originally brought him into the gang because of his skills with bikes. As he checked the bike’s gears, a soft yet confident voice caught him off guard. "Mind if I ride with you?" He turned, ready to brush her off like he did with most girls who tried t
BAD HEROINES 6. Just In Time
He was walking down a dimlight alley as he made his way towards his apartment. Most nights, he had taken this same route, hopping to catch a glimpe of a mysterious woman he had dropped off here. Thoughts of the mysterious woman he had encountered before lingered in his mind. But for two days, she had not shown up. That should have brought relief but only served to deepen his unease. The card she had given him, just a hotel address, was a distant memory now and wondered if she toyed with him. As he turned a corner, a powerful hand shot out of the shadows, grabbing his collar and throwing him violently to the ground. He tried to make sense of what happened, and he blinked up at the figure looming over him. His forehead wrinkled as his eyes focused on the heavyset man, a menacing beast tattoo marking his bald head like a brand. Recognition hit Lian's eyes. "Jake." He cursed his luck under his breath."Why is it so hard to leave the past behind?" He groaned, pushing himself up. The
BAD HEROINES 7. She Was Dangerous
The rider, clad in a sleek black jumpsuit and reflective helmet, moved with the assured grace of someone who knew she was in control. Even without seeing her face, Lian could sense it—it was a woman. One look at the customized bike and the way she dressed, he had a good guess who it might be. He smiled faintly, though wariness lingered behind his eyes. The woman reached out, handing him a spare helmet without a word. A flicker of recognition sparked within him, and without hesitation, he grabbed it, slipping it on before hopping behind her. She revved the engine, and the bike shot forward, leaving Jake and his men scrambling to their car, cursing as they tried in vain to catch up. Within seconds, the city blurred around them as she wove through traffic effortlessly, the wind whipping past them. By the time they reached the outskirts, Jake and his crew were nothing more than a memory. The bike skidded to a stop outside a quiet restaurant, and Lian dismounted, still reeling from
BAD HEROINES 8. She Won't Hide
She moved cautiously down the narrow corridor, her footsteps nearly silent under the dim, flickering lights. She passed door after door, the numbers blurring until she reached the one she sought—304. Sliding the key card before entering. The door closed behind her with a quiet click, sealing her in the stillness of the room. The moment she pocketed the card, her phone buzzed in her hand. She glanced down at the screen. An unknown number. Without a second thought, she tossed the phone onto the table, hoping to ignore whatever it was. Ever since she survived the poison, she had lived on the edge, wary of every step she took. The how and why of it gnawed at her constantly. She hadn't found the culprit, didn't know how they slipped the poison into her life, or what twisted motive lay behind the attack. But then the phone buzzed again. This time, a message. 'You won’t hide forever, Lin Lijun. They will know about you' Lijun’s heart stuttered. Her fingers tightened around the phone
BAD HEROINES 9. The Betrayer
Her eyes fluttered briefly before snapping open, her chest rising and falling rapidly. She scanned the unfamiliar room, her gaze locking onto the IV tube attached to her hand. She was in a hospital gown. The last thing she remembered was being in that hotel room—a trap, she realized now, expertly set. Her brow furrowed. Whoever was behind it hadn’t wanted to kill her right away. They wanted her alive for something worse. But who was it? The thought gnawed at her, an uneasy feeling tightening in her chest. She wasn’t afraid of him but the uncertainty unsettled her. She had to leave. Now. She tried to move but a sharp pain shot through her stomach, forcing a grimace. Pulling the gown aside, she saw the bandage. Of course, she thought. But if she fell into that man’s hands, this wound would be the least of her concerns. Gritting her teeth, she forced herself out of bed. She pulled the IV as she sat up, blood dripping to the floor. She ignored it, staggering toward the window, one hand
BAD HEROINES 10. Scared Of Her
The next day, the nurse came in to check on Lijun. After checking on her, she nodded to herself and stepped out. As she closed the door behind her, she stopped, startled by the sight of a girl standing there, staring blankly at the door. The girl looked young, maybe sixteen or seventeen, dressed in a school uniform, with short bobbed hair and blunt bangs. There was something unnerving about her—an unsettling stillness that made the nurse unease. If Lijun had seemed strange, this girl felt like something entirely different. “How is she?” the girl asked, her voice flat, devoid of any warmth. The nurse hesitated, unsure how much she should say, but the girl turned her head slightly, her eyes cutting into her. “She’s my sister.” “Oh—uh, yes, you can see her,” the nurse stammered. “She’s doing well.” Without another word, the girl turned toward the door and opened it, stepping inside without even a glance back at the nurse. The girl, Evelyn Lin, stood just inside the room, her pale
BAD HEROINES 11. Notorious Criminal
Rogan dragged Lian to the doctor for a checkup. It wasn’t unusual—Rogan constantly worried about Lian’s Congenital Insensitivity to Pain (CIP) condition and took it upon himself to force him into these appointments. Lian would have refused, but today he had something else on his mind, something he needed Rogan’s help with. He needed to find the envelope he’d left in the car the night of the ambush, and more importantly, he needed information on Riley. There was something off about her, and it gnawed at him. After the appointment, Rogan dragged him to an internet café, completely ignoring Lian’s reluctance. "Why don’t you just play at home?" Lian asked, genuinely puzzled. Rogan’s family was loaded, and he had the best gaming setup imaginable, yet he still preferred these dingy, crowded cafés. Rogan scoffed, his face scrunched in disbelief. "You kiddin’ me? My mom’s a freakin’ control freak, man. She gives me, like, one hour—one hour! What can I do with that?" They settled into thei
Latest Chapter
30. The Only Way
Lijun took a step back, still clutching a shard of glass, her eyes sharp and deadly. “You have no idea who you’re dealing with,” she said, voice chilling. “Threatening me was your first mistake. Thinking you could manipulate me was your second.”When she smashed the bottle over his head, she acted on pure instinct, her anger flared that it drowned out all thought. The fury of being manipulated, his threats, ignited something deep within her.But as the glass shattered, realization set in, and her heart hammered in her chest. She knew she screwed herself. There would be no easy escape now. If she was going to get out of this alive, she’d have to fight—and that meant taking on the entire camp?“Now it’s your turn to pay. For every drop of blood of my comrades, and this …" He showed his three fingers. Her grip tightened. Those words confirmed her thoughts, no way without a fight. Since was the case, she should do everything she could. Her eyes glinted as she stared at Andrew, who made
29. Time For Payment
The room fell silent as Andrew uttered the name. Every pair of eyes turned to her, widening in shock. He descended the stairs quickly, his gaze locked on her. When he stopped, just a few steps away, he looked her over with a strange, almost intensity gaze.What the hell is going on…Andrew spread his arms with a crooked grin. “Well, well, well. Are you all seeing this? The infamous ‘Scupper’ herself! Terrorist, fugitive... my idol!” He pointed at her with a hand missing two fingers. “Please, have a seat. Make yourself comfortable.”Lijun stiffened. If she had to choose between getting beheaded or dealing with this, both would be a nightmare. She stole a glance at Lian; he was pale, his jaw clenched. He wasn’t just frightened; he hated this situation as much as she did.They were led to a room where they sat across from Andrew, who lounged with a smug, while a woman brought food and liquor to the table. He studied her as if he had the upper hand, savouring every moment of her discomf
28. I'm Not Her
They remained outside, catching their breath after the fight. Lijun leaned against a tree, watching Lian as he tried to pick up his knife, his hands trembling. She noticed something strange—despite his injuries, he showed no sign of pain, as if his body was numb.She moved toward him, wanting to inspect the damage she’d caused to his hand. She needed him alive; whatever their current situation, he was still useful. She knew the same men from earlier might return, so she had to patch him up quickly before they left. But as she drew closer, Lian’s sharp gaze stopped her.Ignoring his silent warning, she stepped closer and crouched beside him. "Don’t trouble yourself. Honestly, I’m not looking forward to playing nurse here."His dark eyes deepened, studying her in silence.Despite their hostility, Lijun realized that Lian wasn’t a bad person, not really—not the way he wanted her to see him. Even though he clearly wanted something from her, he could have abandoned her. She was nothing
27. Hatred And Mistrust
The tension between them simmered, thick as she narrowed her eyes at him."What? Go to the village?" she spat, her voice cutting through the silence. "Are you out of your mind?"Lian arched a brow, clearly unimpressed by her tone. "You want to stay hidden here forever? I thought you were smarter than that."For three days, they'd been holed up in that abandoned shack, each day stretching longer as they tried to ignore the trouble looming just beyond those thin walls. She barely knew him—this man who seemed to know far too much about her, who claimed he wanted to help her regain her memories and find someone.His proposal seemed absurd. The village was no place for her, not with her face practically branded as a target. He might have a chance there, but she wouldn’t. He still didn’t understand that, and his stubbornness grated at her."The sooner we leave, the sooner we’ll reach before sunset," he arguedShe scoffed. "And I suppose you'll carry me all the way there?" She folded her ar
26. A Good Person
When Lijun jumped, she wasn’t sure she would survive—and truthfully, she didn’t want to. Since the day she’d awakened with no memory and the world’s hateful eyes on her, thoughts of death had become a haunting comfort. But dying was about escaping; she wanted them to think she was gone while she hid, somewhere, still breathing, beyond their reach.When she opened her eyes to find herself not submerged in water, her thoughts returned immediately to Celine’s brother, and she jolted upright from the bed. For reasons she couldn’t explain, that man haunted her. The room around her was worn, built from rough wood and clearly neglected.Nearby, a figure lay on the floor, back turned to her. Her eyes narrowed, suspicion flaring. It couldn’t be him—could it? Whoever he was, he had to be the one who dragged her from the lake.“Why don’t you leave me alone!” she burst out, her voice with frustration.The man stirred, and his voice replied coldly, “You don’t deserve to die… nor live.” As he sat
25. Deep Grave
That evening, Rochelle drove up to Evelyn’s mansion. Though Evelyn had never given her the address, Rochelle had her ways. After all, if she could track down the most elusive criminals, finding one young woman’s home wasn’t exactly a challenge.She wasn’t expecting Lijun to be here, and Rochelle had come for a different reason. However, she had many reasons to believe Evelyn was hiding something valuable.Dialing the house number, Rochelle listened as the phone rang unanswered. She narrowed her eyes, gaze fixed on the mansion. Though the curtains were drawn, the lights on inside suggested Evelyn was home.Rochelle tried again, bracing herself. If Evelyn didn’t answer, she'd take it as a sign of trouble—and barge right in.Finally, Evelyn picked up. Rochelle kept her tone light, though her gaze was steely. “I’ve been outside your place forever. Care to let me in? It's freezing out here.”Silence followed, and Rochelle waited, expecting Evelyn to rush to open the gate. Instead, the dela
24. Unexpected Visitor
Evelyn arrived in front of her opulent two-story house in her stunning sports car, the engine purring as she parked in the driveway. Just as she made her way towards the entrance, the house came alive with light, causing her to freeze mid-step. Aside from the occasional maids who came and went during the day, she was the sole occupant of the residence. Her home was equipped with a high-tech security system with its unique codes, which was supposed to be known by only her. Noticing a strange situation, a sudden jolt of unease crept in her, Furrowing her brow, she retrieved her iPad and quickly accessed the security footage of her home. After scanning through several clips, she paused, her attention narrowing on one particular frame. There was something unsettling in the footage that demanded her full concentration. On the screen, a woman with brown skin lounged in a cozy living room, casually waving at the camera. She tightened her grip on her phone, suddenly feeling a wave of un
23. Finding Her
Down the hall, Evelyn moved confidently through a line of officers who glanced at her with frowns, clearly puzzled by her presence. She was young, barely an adult, and to them, looked out of place at a crime scene. They exchanged skeptical glances, but she ignored their stares, focused on her mission. Her eyes locked on the empty bed, and her heart dropped—Lijun was gone. Beside the bed stood a doctor and a middle-aged woman with short, ear-length hair, dark strands falling over half of her face. Her beauty was striking, but what caught Evelyns attention was her aura: cold, detached, and intimidating. She recognized her instantly as a detective from China, sent here to retrieve Lijun. This woman was the type who wouldn’t hesitate to act if necessary, and she knew better than to provoke her. Their eyes met, and Evelyn emotionless asked “Where’s Rochelle?” One of the officers tilted his head, seemingly trying to size her up. When it became clear they weren’t going to answer, She le
22. The Conditions
She took a slow, steady breath, her gaze drifting out over the dark water that stretched endlessly around the boat. Was this not proof enough for her situation? He intended to kill her, and no one would know. If she didn't find a way out, no one would. Five mascular men stood on the deck, arms crossed, watching indifferently as she was brought by Lian. Then he put her on the chair. She sat up, lifting her gaze to stare across the deck where Japser stood, silhouetted against the moonlight. A cold resolve settled over her. 'Fine,' She thought clenched her fists. 'If I'm the one with what you want, then you will be talking business with me. Unless you're ready to kill me and lose her in the process,' Leaning back in her chair, she fixed her eyes on him. Her voice was smooth and mocking. "You care about her, don’t you? Let’s see just how far you're willing to go. " Her words made everyone froze. They almost forgot who were dealing with due to her weakling body. But for Japser was
