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I thought I wouldn’t see Asher again before the wedding, but I was wrong. When I returned to the bridal suite I had booked, I came face to face with him as soon as I opened the door.
Before I could speak, he strode past me and left. My body hadn’t fully recovered, and seeing a bowl of perfectly warm ginger soup on the dining table filled my heart with conflicting emotions. In a daze, I remembered my previous life. Though he always complained about me, he still took care of me when I was injured or ill. Because my parents had asked him to look after me before they died, even after our fiercest arguments, he’d unhesitatingly donate 600cc of blood when I was injured and needed a transfusion. Even if we’d just sworn to never see each other
again, he’d still rush to push me out of the way of an oncoming car. He was simply repaying a
debt, while I always craved his love as well.
Sipping the ginger soup, possibly the last I’d ever have, a memory surfaced. A glance at the
date sent a jolt through me. I slammed the bowl down and, while slipping on my shoes, barked
into the phone, “Get to Alley No. 8 on 17th Street, now!”
Rain lashed down, but I bolted out without an umbrella. Guided by the memories of my past
life, I found the alley where Sia was to be assaulted. Just as I remembered, a dozen burly men
were surrounding a girl.
“Don’t think your parents‘ death means you’re off the hook. I’ve given you until today. Still can’t
pay? Then you’ll pay with your body!” The ringleader snarled.
“Stop!” I grabbed a beer bottle and smashed it over the leader’s head, then I grabbed Sia’s
hand and ran.
“Ah!” Sia slipped on the rain–slicked ground and fell hard. I tried to pull her up, but I couldn’t.
The dozen or so men were closing in. I had no choice but to shield her behind me. “Run! I’ll hold
them off!”
“I… I…” Sia seemed terrified, hugging herself and shivering.
“Run!” I struggled to fend off the people rushing toward me. Although I’d studied Taekwondo
for ten years, I couldn’t withstand being attacked by a dozen men. “I can’t hold them off for long!
Go find the police, quickly!”
“I… I’m so scared… I can’t move…” Sia’s voice trembled violently.
I gritted my teeth and kicked a man away, buying myself some time. I turned back and tried to pull her up with all my strength, but she suddenly screamed and shoved me away. A knife pierced my body, and I gasped for breath.
“B–blood?” The leader clearly hadn’t expected that. The hand gripping the knife handle was
unsteady.
My eyes widened as I looked at Sia. She hugged her head, trembling, and said, “I’m… I’m so
sorry… I was so scared…”
Gritting my teeth, I yanked out the knife and swung it at them. They hadn’t wanted to kill anyone in the first place, and seeing me lash out like that, they scattered and fled in terror.
I staggered, nearly losing my balance. The rain blurred my vision, but I thought I heard footsteps rapidly approaching. Instinctively, I reached out for support, only to be shoved with
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22:39 Thu, 17 Apr M
Gritting my teeth, I yanked out the knife and swung it at them. Iney naant wanted to KIII anyone in the first place, and seeing me lash out like that, they scattered and fled in terror.
I staggered, nearly losing my balance. The rain blurred my vision, but I thought I heard
footsteps rapidly approaching. Instinctively, I reached out for support, only to be shoved with tremendous force, my back slamming against the wall.
Asher held the trembling Sia in his arms, gritting his teeth as he looked at me: “I already promised to marry you. Why are you still trying to kill her?” The wound tore, sending excruciating pain through me. I clutched my heart and swallowed a mouthful of blood with difficulty. “Asher, I didn’t…”
“Shut up!” Asher picked up Sia. “I will never believe another word you say.”
“Asher… I… I…” Sia trembled, leaning against him. Asher immediately lowered his head, his eyes filled with heartache. “Don’t be afraid. I’ll take you to the hospital right away.”
“Asher…” I wanted to say something, but I fell heavily to the ground. Blood pooled around m and in a daze, I only saw Asher’s back. He carried Sia into the car, never once looking back at m
The icy rain chilled me to the bone, and I shivered uncontrollably. My outstretched hand fe limply into the blood. Before I closed my eyes, I thought I saw my assistant’s car and flashing police lights.
