The news of my undercover investigation into the contaminated pulled pork processing plant had been leaked.

The butcher, brandishing a cleaver, chased after me.

In desperation, I called my fiancé, Liam Mendoza, for help, but on the other end, I heard the voice of his childhood friend, Analia Mendoza.

As soon as she realized it was me, she hung up.

With my strength fading and the butcher closing in, the police arrived just in time to save me and took me to the hospital.

Later, Liam and Analia visited me. Liam said, "She's young, don't take it to heart."

I brushed my fingers over the scars on my face and managed a faint smile.

That evening, Analia posted on Facebook: "No matter how big the trouble, someone will always have my back."

I liked the post, quietly signed myself out of the hospital, and left the city.

I chose not to dwell on anything about him anymore.

But Liam, why did you change your mind?

---

This wasn’t my first undercover investigation, but it was the first time I’d been sold out.

The butcher pretended not to recognize me, leading me into the processing plant.

I heard the doors creak shut secretly behind me, while the guard dogs were ready to attack.

Sensing danger, I bolted, narrowly escaping before the main doors slammed shut.

The guard dog pursued relentlessly, but I threw a can of knockout spray.

The dog fell as expected, but the butcher emerged from the mist, unaffected.

The dosage was too small to affect a human.

The butcher, wielding a massive cleaver, looked terrifying. While running, I dialed Liam’s number.

He was my emergency contact.

When the call connected, Analia's voice came through: "Hey, Liam's asleep here, don't think you can bother him."

She hung up, and with my energy drained, I stumbled over a large rock and fell.

The butcher halted too, his cleaver gleaming menacingly in his hand.

He snarled, "If no one had tipped us off, this little stunt of yours would’ve ruined the whole town’s livelihood."

As he prepared to strike, a voice interrupted, "Freeze, everybody!"

Startled, he dropped the cleaver, and it flew towards me.

I couldn’t dodge in time, my mind went blank, and I closed my eyes.

The cleaver clanged to the ground with a loud thud.

After a moment, I felt a cool sensation on my face and opened my eyes.

The cleaver had embedded itself in the ground beside me, stained with blood.

Instinctively, I touched my face, and my hand came away red.

In the distance, the butcher had already been subdued. The police officer looked at me with concern. My tension released, and I fainted on the spot.

As soon as I opened my eyes, Liam's handsome face appeared in my vision. He had dark circles under his eyes, clearly worried. When he saw I was awake, a gleam of happiness flashed across his face, and he gave Analia a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

Analia, standing next to him, looked down and spoke softly, “I’m sorry, Aunt Reina. Liam was actually asleep at the time. He specifically asked not to be disturbed before going to bed.”

She put a particular emphasis on the word "aunt," as if to remind me of my place in the family.

Liam said, “Look, Analia has apologized to you. Let’s not make things harder for her.”

I was stunned. Here I was, just waking up, and already being pushed to forgive someone who nearly cost me my life.

I scoffed, slapping the table as I turned to Liam. “Tell her to leave.”

Analia’s eyes welled up with tears, and she tugged on Liam’s sleeve, her voice barely a whisper, “Brother, she’s being mean to me.”

Liam frowned, “Reina, don’t overreact. She’s just a kid.”

I laughed incredulously.

Twenty-two and still a kid?

With biting sarcasm, I said, “Does she still drink from a bottle, this 'kid'?”

Liam interrupted, “Reina, that’s enough.”

Suddenly, Analia started gasping for breath. “Brother Liam, I think my heart is acting up.” She collapsed against him.

Liam hurriedly patted her back and pressed on her chest, speaking coldly to me, “You know Analia has a congenital heart condition, yet you provoke her. Besides, aren’t you okay now?”

Okay?

I reached up, touching the scar on my face. That knife had spared my life but had nearly ruined my appearance.

Supporting Analia, he left, shutting the door with a forceful click, leaving behind a chilly remark: "I’ll see you when you’re discharged."

That evening, I opened Facebook and saw Analia’s post with a close-up picture of her and Liam, heads together. The caption read, “No matter the trouble, there’s always someone to be my rock.”

I looked out the window, silent.

Just before this last undercover mission, Liam had been on his knees, begging me to marry him.