Before he could even reach Serena, a sudden, sharp pain shot up from his knee.

That one kick from her felt like getting slammed with a sledgehammer.

Dylan Price cried out in agony, collapsing hard onto the floor, clutching his knee as he wailed miserably.

His lackey panicked when he saw their boss downed. He charged over with a baseball bat, yelling, "You crazy bitch! Lay a hand on Dylan and I'll end you!"

Then, a flash of silver.

No one caught how Serena moved.

All they heard was a sickening "squelch" - the lackey froze, eyes wide, hands wrapped tightly around his bleeding throat. Blood poured between his fingers, staining the red spider lily on his neck even darker.

He stared in disbelief, then crashed to the ground - dead silent.

Seeing his guy drop lifeless right next to him, Dylan was instantly terrified. Forgetting about the pain, he scrambled back on hands and knees, voice shaking. "Who the hell are you?! You're not scared of the Douglas family?"

Gavin Moore had just taken down the rest - some had twisted necks, others couldn't move their limbs. They lay all around like broken dolls.

Hearing Dylan, he pulled a gun from his coat and coldly pressed the dark barrel right to Dylan's temple. His voice was ice. "The Douglases? In front of Her Highness, they're nothing."

Just as Gavin was about to pull the trigger, Serena gave a subtle wave with her slender hand.

Her tone was flat, but left no room for questions. "Don't kill him yet."

Gavin immediately paused, holstered the gun, though he didn't quite get it. "Your Highness, he just insulted you and tried to lay hands on you. Why let him live?"

"He's more useful alive."

Serena bent down, looming over Dylan Price as she stepped on half his face and smiled. "Go tell your boss at the Douglas family - Serena is back."

Dylan glanced at the gun still at Gavin's side and frantically nodded.

"Who did you just say came back?!"

In the Douglas family's grand hall, the crystal chandelier above flickered so hard it made people dizzy.

Aria Douglas was twirling a diamond ring as she looked at her clearly rattled mother. "Mom, who's Serena?"

With a loud "clink," Esther slammed her teacup on the table, causing tea to splash everywhere.

No amount of makeup could hide her shock. "Serena's actually alive? That fat prisoner back then swore she'd taken care of her. Took the money, did nothing!"

She shot to her feet, pacing the floor like a storm, her fury barely contained. "She was sentenced to thirty years. Even if she's not dead, she's not supposed to be out! Did she escape prison?"

Then her steps stopped.

A malicious smile curled on her lips. "Fine. If she's bold enough to show up again, I'll make sure she regrets it. I got her locked up once - don't think I can't make her vanish for good."

As she spoke, her eyes slid over to Dylan Price, still barely standing with help - and full of disgust.

His knee was supposedly shattered, thick gauze wrapped around it. He looked completely wrecked.

She snorted. "Seriously? You let a woman mess you up like that? Pathetic. What about the mall-did you manage to tear it down?"

Dylan Price shook his head, face like thunder.

"We barely got there before she stopped us. My guys-some are dead, some crippled. That's no ordinary woman..."

"Enough. Spare me the excuses."

A servant brought over a fresh cup of tea. Esther took a sip, her mood getting worse by the second. "Can you believe it? The city still hasn't approved the demolition. That's why I wanted you to just force it. And you can't even handle that?"

She waved her hand in annoyance. "Forget it. Stay out of the mall mess-I'll talk to General Gavin Moore myself and try to smooth things over. As for you-"

Esther's voice turned icy. "I'll give you a new team. Don't bother with anything else-I just want Serena dead."

Meanwhile, at the mall.

Serena and Gavin Moore had just wrapped up a walkthrough.

The manager had rushed over the moment he heard the big boss was around, falling over himself to report.

Serena couldn't be bothered. "You deal with it," she told Gavin, and turned to leave.

Honestly, after all those years out in the field, she hadn't had time to enjoy something as simple as a mall stroll. She figured she'd pick up some chamomile tea and supplements for Mabel. The old lady already had bad sleep-finding out Serena was back would probably keep her up from pure excitement.

She stepped into the elevator and pressed a button.

Just before the doors closed, they slid open again-and in stumbled two women practically dragging a man between them.

The guy's head hung low, messy bangs covering his face. He reeked faintly of alcohol, his steps unsteady. Clearly drugged, letting the women pull him along without resistance.

The second the women saw Serena's face, they froze for a beat-then narrowed their eyes with visible hostility.

Serena knew her looks often made her a target. She rarely gave random hostility any mind. Eyes closed, she leaned back and pretended to nap.

Apparently, the silence made them think she was intimidated. Both women looked smug, rolling their eyes and shifting back into pose.

One of them hit the elevator button, then sneered, "Once Cora gets his first time, we get our turn. I'm filming it, too. Dunno if he can even perform with how strongly we dosed him."

The other laughed. "If he can't, we'll spike him again. He's not getting away today! Cora's waiting."

Serena's brow twitched, eyes snapping open.

Love-sick girls chasing a guy? Maybe. But like this? Drugging him? That's not love-that's assault.

She was just about to say something when-ding-the elevator reached the 8th floor, and they quickly dragged the man out.

One of them kept yammering, voice full of mockery:"Act all high and mighty, Evan Carter, but look at you now. Too good to even glance at us before, and today you're falling right into our hands-Cora's little plaything now!"

Serena froze at the name, her face going hard.

Evan?

Her body moved before her brain caught up-she sprinted straight out of the elevator.

She rushed down the corridor, but the two women had already vanished.

The eighth floor was all luxury suites, thick carpets muffling every step like walking on clouds.

Serena flared her nostrils slightly, picking up the trail of cheap perfume the two women had drenched themselves in. It didn't take her long to narrow it down to a small area.

She took the elevator down in silence and headed for the front desk.

The moment she stepped into the lobby, the front desk girl's eyes lit up.

Red dress, snow-white skin, features delicate like a painting-stunning at first sight.

Swallowing nervously, the receptionist hurried over. "Hello, miss. Can I help you with anything?"

Serena didn't waste words. Her gaze flicked to the tablet in the receptionist's hand, locking on the recent check-ins: Karen Bennett, Nina Bennett, Suite 801.

"I'm with those two. Room 801. I need a key card."

Her voice was calm, but it carried weight-a quiet kind you couldn't ignore.

The receptionist hesitated-but between Serena's looks, her confidence, and the way she said it like a fact, she just nodded.

"Of course. Here you go."

Serena took the card without another word and headed straight for the elevators.

Moments later, she was standing at the door to Suite 801.

Beep-

As the door unlocked, a man's strained voice came through from inside.

She pushed the door open. Through the entry partition, she caught sight of three women by the bed-none of them noticed her arrival.

The two from the elevator had their phones out, filming. And the one climbing onto the bed? Must be the "Cora" they mentioned earlier.

Evan was chained by all four limbs to the bedposts, his wrists already red and bruised. He forced his head up, voice hoarse. "Cora, let me go! I'd rather die than let this happen!"

Cora Bennett smirked, running a hand over Evan's face, her voice sickeningly sweet and twisted. "Didn't wanna marry me? Fine. Then I'll make you into some cheap thing anyone can use."

"Should've just said yes. Would've saved you all this." She reached for his shirt buttons. "But no worries... your first time? It's mine regardless. After that-"

"Ah!"

Before she could finish, her scream ripped through the room. She flailed and tumbled off the bed.

In the camera feeds of Karen and Nina, a hairpin had shot straight at Cora's wrist, right as she touched Evan's shirt, then embedded itself cleanly in the wall.

Blood gushed from the hole now punched through her wrist.

The pin still gleamed, unstained by a single drop of blood.

Karen and Nina froze like statues, eyes locked on the wound, too stunned to even scream.

Cora's face twisted in agony, tears spilling immediately.

She stared at the hairpin in sheer disbelief, then whipped her head around toward Serena, voice shaking. "Who the hell are you?! Did I do something to you?!"

Serena's tone was ice-cold. "I'm your worst nightmare."

Without sparing her another glance, she strode to the bed.

"Evan? You okay?"

There was no answer, only a low groan. He was clearly out of it, completely drugged.

Karen and Nina finally snapped out of their daze.

"You were the woman in the elevator!"

"And you knew his name?"

Karen, clutching Cora who was still gasping in pain, suddenly had a lightbulb moment. "Wait-I know who she is! She's that Serena! The one who got thirty years and vanished! She can't be out yet, must've broken out!"

"So she's a convict?!"

Nina Bennett instantly lost all fear. "Then what are we even scared of? Seriously, our family's full of cops-if she's stupid enough to break out and hurt Cora, she's basically asking for it."

Cora was shaking from the pain, her whole face twisted in fury. Her voice was sharp and venomous. "I already messaged my brother! He's the chief of police-he's on his way!

"You hear me? You better start begging for forgiveness now, or I'll have you thrown into a co-ed prison, serving a hundred men. You still have a chance to say sorry!"

Serena didn't bother replying. Instead, she quickly undid the chains around Evan.

But the second she removed them, the drug hit him full force. His face flushed red, and he started tugging at his own clothes, even reaching for Serena's skirt in a drugged haze.

Serena narrowed her eyes, pulled a silver needle from the hidden slit in her sleeve, and stabbed it into a pressure point on top of his head with surgical precision.

As the needle went in, Evan trembled, and his gaze slowly cleared. He blinked, gripping her hand tightly. "Serena? Is it really you?"

"It's me, Evan. I'm back." Serena gently patted his hand. "Don't worry. What they did today? I'm not letting it slide."

She pierced another point, sending him into a peaceful sleep.

Then she turned, her eyes landing on Cora and her two lackeys trying to sneak out.

Cora froze under Serena's gaze, instinctively recoiling a couple steps. Pain shot through her injured wrist, but she still tried to act tough. "I already called backup! You're dead meat!"

As long as her brother showed up, she'd make Serena regret ever being born.

But Serena's approach had her legs shaking. When Serena got close, Cora instinctively raised her arms to shield her head, terrified she'd get hit again by something sharp.

Serena let out a soft scoff. Pathetic bully who only picks on the weak.

She walked right past her, pulled the hairpin out of the wall with ease, and calmly wiped it clean.

Cora stood there stunned.

Seeing she wasn't being attacked, she thought her threats had worked and her smugness returned. Still pissed about being humiliated, she shot Serena a hateful glare and barked at Karen and Nina, "Well? What are you standing around for? Get me to the hospital already, I'm in agony!"

Serena slid the slender hairpin back into her bun. Just as the three were inching toward the door, she spoke, slow and cold: "Did I say you could leave?

"We're not done talking about what you did to Evan."

Cora swore under her breath. "Fck off! You think I'm scared? Karen, Nina-she's just one person! Grab her!"

Karen and Nina glanced at each other. They were scared, but the numbers gave them confidence. They charged forward, thinking strength in numbers might work.

But before they even touched Serena, she countered with two slaps, fast as lightning.

"Smack!"

"Smack!"

Both girls hit the ground with a crash, blood trickling from their mouths and swelling blossoming on their cheeks.

Seeing that, Cora turned and bolted, only to be yanked back by her hair.

Serena pulled hard, forcing her to look up, and the pain had Cora howling curses. "Let go! Btch! When my brother gets here, you're toast!"

Serena clicked her tongue. "With a potty mouth like that, bet you're used to chewing on crap."

"How about a reminder?"

With that, she dragged Cora straight into the bathroom and shoved her head into the toilet like it was nothing.

Cora panicked. "Karen, Nina, you useless cowards, help me already!"

Karen Bennett and Nina Bennett stood frozen, red handprints stark on their cheeks, both trembling like leaves in the wind, neither daring to say a word.

Cora gagged as she stared into the toilet bowl filled with filth-her stomach churned like it wanted to empty out everything from the last three days.

She hadn't even flushed after using it. Disgusting didn't even cover it.

Ignoring the burning pain in her wrists, she quickly braced her elbows on the toilet seat, desperate to struggle free. No way was she putting her face anywhere near that mess.

But the pressure on her head kept increasing, and as the dirty water got closer and closer, she finally snapped. Her entire body shook from fear.

She choked out a sob, her voice breaking, "I'm sorry! I shouldn't have kidnapped Evan, I shouldn't have threatened you! You already stabbed through my wrist, isn't that enough? Can we call it even now, please?"

"I swear, if you let me go, I'll leave you alone forever! Let's move on!"

Serena let out a cold laugh. "Even? This is your idea of evening the score?"

"Yes, yes!" Cora nodded like crazy, hair sticking to her tear-streaked face, thinking the nightmare might finally be over.

Feeling the pressure on her head lighten, she exhaled in relief. But hatred burned hard in her eyes.

Wait till her brother showed up. She'd make Serena eat crap.

Just as the thought passed, Serena tilted her head and said casually, "Nope."

Cora blinked, confused. "What do you mean, nope?"

"I mean, I'm not done yet."

With a chilling grin still on her lips and eyes that could freeze fire, Serena suddenly kicked Cora hard in the back, slamming her face-first into the toilet.

"Mm-gahhh-!"

At that exact moment, the bathroom door was kicked open with a deafening bang.

A group of men stormed in, and the one at the rear walked in slowly, with a deep scar across his left cheek and a straight-backed posture that screamed military training.

"Who the hell touched my sister?"

Karen and Nina looked like they'd just seen God, puffy faces lighting up with hope. They scrambled over, voices shaky as they pointed to the bathroom. "Oscar! She's in the bathroom!"

Oscar Bennett stared at them, frowning, then made his way toward the door.

Right then, a woman came stumbling out, soaked in filth, stinking so bad it made people gag on instinct.

Seeing her about to lunge at him, Oscar reflexively kicked her away. "What lunatic is-"

Cora crashed into the floor, blood and mess all over her, sobbing painfully. "It's me! It's Cora! Your sister, goddammit! Gahhh-!"

Oscar's eyes widened. "Cora?! Who the hell did this to you?!"

He took a step forward, then retched at the smell and froze, staring at her with a mix of shock and disbelief.

Cora was crying so hard she could barely speak. "It-it was-"

Oscar leaned in but seemed to grow impatient. "Who? Speak clearly!"

"It was me."

Serena stepped out of the bathroom slowly, owning it without hesitation. She even had a casual smile on her face.

Cora instantly pointed at her, both scared and pissed off. "It's her! Bro, get her for me-kill her if you have to!"

Oscar Bennett looked up at the shout.

He was stunned for a second by Serena's looks, but the moment he saw his sister all messed up, rage started bubbling up.

"You kidding me? You did this to my sister?"

Serena shrugged, totally unfazed. "Yeah, that was me."

Oscar choked for a second, not expecting her to admit it so easily.

"Bro, she messed up my wrist-look at it! It hurts so bad!" Cora whined, lifting her arm. The bloody mess was hard to ignore.

Oscar's heart clenched. He turned and barked, "You two, get Cora to the hospital, now!"

Karen and Nina Bennett didn't need telling twice-they were more than ready to leave. Each grabbed one of Cora's arms to help her out.

But then-

"Who said you could move?"

Serena's voice came out like a whip-sharp, cold, and dangerous.

The moment she spoke, both Karen and Nina froze mid-reach. The room felt like the temperature dropped ten degrees. Just that one sentence made their hands start to shake.

Still, Karen sneaked a glance at Oscar and got a bit of courage. "What... what do you even want?"

As soon as she looked into Serena's eyes, though, any trace of confidence vanished.

Those eyes were cold as ice. One look, and Karen turned her head away fast, neck shrinking back as if she could disappear. She didn't dare breathe loud.

"It's pretty simple," Serena said slowly, her gaze dropping to the still-crumpled Cora. Her cold smile crept up. "She kneels and apologizes to Evan. Then you three? Off to co-ed jail, just like she suggested. Play babysitter for a hundred inmates. Do that, and I'm done."

Cora gave a sharp laugh, full of disdain. "My brother's right here. You really think I'm still scared of you?"

"Try it and see." Oscar stepped up, scowling hard enough to crack concrete. His protectiveness radiated off him. "You're a pretty face with a rotten heart. Lay one finger on my family, and you'll find out what I'm made of."

"Rotten? Seems like that label fits your sister way better," Serena said, lifting a hand like it was no big deal. But there was no humor in her eyes. "She's the one who said she'd throw me into jail and let me get torn apart. I just repeated her words. Somehow that's worse?"

She leaned forward a bit, her voice turning into ice. "Isn't that right, Miss Bennett?"

Being called out lit something in Cora-adrenaline kicked in, even dulled her aching wrist. Hatred pinned her upright.

She grabbed Oscar's arm, face twisted. "Bro, stop wasting time. Grab her!

"Serena, right? I changed my mind-I don't want you dead anymore. I want you to suffer. I want you to wish you were!"

Once Oscar got his hands on Serena, Cora would lock that btch up in the Bennett family's basement and torture her every damn day.

Just a nobody orphan. An escaped convict, no less. And she had the audacity to shove Cora's head in a toilet?

That kind of humiliation? Even killing her a hundred times wouldn't be enough.

Cora would brand that vixen-like face of hers with a red-hot iron, strip away every inch of beauty until there was nothing left to love.

She'd feed her scraps off the floor-hell, maybe even make her live off her own filth. Yeah. Exactly that. Let her choke on it.

"Go ahead, try me."

Four simple words-but they hit like a hammer.

Cora's pupils shrank as if some hellish flower was flying straight toward the center of her forehead. Her whole back stiffened, hairs standing on end. That stabbing pain in her wrist came rushing back too.

She immediately shrank behind Oscar. "B-Bro, protect me!"

Hiding behind her brother was always her safest bet.

She'd killed someone before by accident, and even then, Oscar flipped the whole thing and pinned the blame on the dead guy.

And come on, Oscar was a government official. He had power. No way Serena had the guts to lay a finger on him.

Sure enough, Serena didn't move.

But then Oscar's brows furrowed a little.

Serena? Douglas family?

Oscar studied her, eyes narrowing. "You're with the Douglas family?"

She looked young, but she did kinda resemble Esther facially, especially around the eyes.

He'd worked with the Douglas family for years, cleaned up plenty of "messes" for them, and considered himself a close ally. Never once did he hear about Esther having another daughter besides Aria.

Could she be a secret child? Or maybe just some phony clout-chaser?

"What, you think being from the Douglas family means your sister's getting a free pass from prison?" Serena scoffed, her tone full of mockery.

That hit a nerve. Oscar's protectiveness flared.

"You've got a death wish."

He was just about to throw a punch when-bang! Cora dropped to the floor hard, her wrist gushing blood again. Her face went ghost white.

"Cora!"

Oscar caught her just in time, then yanked his gun from his waistband like lightning, aiming it straight at Serena.

"I don't give a damn who you think you are-the truth's whatever I say it is! Enough talking. You two, get her to the hospital!"

Then to his men: "Take that woman down! Now!"

But before the last word even left his mouth, Serena moved.

A knee, a kick-so fast she was a blur.

Thud! The gun went flying from Oscar's hand.

Before anyone could blink, Serena hooked a finger midair. The gun spun right into her palm, and in one smooth move, she flipped it and pressed the barrel dead center against Oscar's forehead.